What does 'philosophy' even mean? | PHILOSOPHICAL WORDS
Jess and Rob are digging into the origins of the words behind some of history’s biggest ideas – from stoicism and cynicism to logic, ethics, and metaphysics. Along the way, they trace how ancient Gree...
25 Feb 41min
Why so many terms for 'doing it'? | SEX & LOVE
Jess and Rob are discussing "the shaking of the sheets". Join them to explore the origins of words for 'doing it' and a host of historic terms for firkytoodling, quiffing and dancing Moll Peatley's Ji...
18 Feb 48min
The words English forgot to invent | LEXICAL GAPS
Why doesn't English have a word for someone who is alive? Or a general term for your aunties and uncles? Should we bring back the word 'uhtceare' from Old English or steal 'Torschlusspanik' from Germa...
11 Feb 42min
Could something 'escalate' before the escalator? INVENTIONS
Is necessity the mother of invention? NO! Latin is, etymologically speaking. That's just one of many revelations as Jess and Rob investigates words for innovations.🛗 Could you 'escalate' something be...
4 Feb 44min
Does anyone know what 'London' means? | CITY NAME ORIGINS
Rob and Jess are touring the US and the UK in search of the most interesting city name origin stories.💨 Does 'Chicago' have anything to do with wind?🗽 Is New York actually named after York?🚇 Does a...
28 Jan 48min
What does 'espionage' actually mean? | SECRETS & SPIES
Rob and Jess are going deep undercover to unearth the origins of words from the word of espionage.🕵️♀️ What's the difference between a SPY, and ASSET, and an AGENT?🔍 What does ESPIONAGE literally m...
21 Jan 42min
What did the first internet troll write? | TECH WORDS
Rob and Jess are talking tech! In this episode, they explore the linguistic origins of terms from technology, Sci-fi and the internet.🧌 Who was the first internet troll?🤖 What does 'robot' literally...
14 Jan 47min
What is the 'Nocebo Effect'? | MEDICAL TERMS EXPLAINED
Rob and Jess are taking a surgical look at words from the world of medicine.💊 What is the Nocebo Effect?🩺 Are doctors named after leeches (or the other way round)?🚑 What does "ambulance" literally ...
7 Jan 46min
