Podcasts by Whats in a Name?

Episode 12 - Yetimology (Cryptids) from 2022-04-07T20:45:31

Anna and James return to investigate the uncanny world of cryptozoology - at least, in linguistic terms, we're not doing anything that might actually put us in danger or need actual work. In thi...

Episode 11 - That was an episode of Star Trek (Pastries) from 2022-03-05T16:28:11

In the post(ish) COVID world, there is one again room for word-based musings and meanderings. That's right, Anna and James are back with a new episode looking at your favourite baked goods. What do...

Crabcast - Episode 389 (April 1st 2021) from 2021-04-01T04:00

Crabcast - Episode 389 April 1st 2021

Opening Music: Deep And Dirty by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5045-deep-and-dirty License: https://filmmusic.io/standard...

Episode 10 - The Original Nymphomaniac (Greek Names) from 2021-01-28T22:47:47

Back for a second season (ahem) of etymological excitement, James and Anna have been playing Hades and that's why this month's episode digs into Greek myths to discover everything there is to know ...

Episode 9 - After Judge Dredd, Before Star Trek (Architecture) from 2020-06-14T18:55:19

It's time to get technical as James and Anna look at the language of architecture. What has brutalism got to do with being smart? What distinguishes a gargoyle from a grotesque? Can James correctly...

Episode 8 - The Gentleman's Game (Sports) from 2020-05-08T14:13:51

This week Anna and James use their mutual love of sport (and more specifically, the not playing of it) as a springboard for their etymological enquiries. What does boxing have to do with boxes? Wha...

Episode 7 - A Punk Version of Monopoly (Board Games) from 2020-04-17T15:39:09

Yahtzee! And indeed, chess. That's right, in this episode we investigate the origins of the oldest game. No, not that one, board games only. Anna digs into exactly why it is that Monopoly is so dul...

Episode 6 - Beethoven Cinematic Universe (Dog Breeds) from 2020-04-03T16:35:53

What's up, dog? Anna, James and special guest Katie investigate the strange world of dog breeds. Who was St. Bernard? What have puppies got to do with butterflies? And can we possibly track down th...

Episode 5 - Treesles (Diseases) from 2020-03-20T10:03:06

It's a social isolation special as, in the midst of a global coronavirus pandemic, we take a look at the etymology of disease names. That's right, we're redefining the concept of being a social med...

Episode 4 - Of from gold (Cities) from 2020-03-13T11:41:20

In which we take a tour of the great cities of the world. And Coventry. We learn how close New York came to NOT being the Big Apple, why Paris is literally a melting pot, and then visit the fiction...

Episode 3 - Milkshakes are a Vegetable (Herbs) from 2020-02-28T09:26:15

In which we pick some herbs (metaphorically speaking) and ask: Are YOU going to Scarborough Fair? And do you wanna score some aromatic weeds on the way? Plus, why vanilla is not at all vanilla, and...

Episode 2 - A Secret Cabal of Farmers (Months) from 2020-02-21T00:59:14

In which we look at the calendar and ask: just what sort of racket is Big Diary perpetrating with this nonsense? James tries (and fails) to explain what April means, while Anna digs into etymology ...

Episode 1 - Sad Clam Erasure (Emotions) from 2020-02-12T18:28:30

In which we tackle the simple subject of emotions, asking: how are you feeling, and why do you say that? But not in a Sigmund Freud way. Meanwhile, James has learned exactly what it is that makes c...