I Hate Talking
A podcast about talking, including etymology, frustrating topics, current events, and other random subjects.
Want to contact the hosts or have a suggestion for a future episode? Email us at ihatetalkingpodcast@gmail.com.
Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.
Episodes
125 episodes
Acronyms Galore
Episode 112 of I Hate Talking opens with a lighthearted follow-up to the previous episode’s “data vs. data” debate, where the hosts reveal the tally: “data” (long A) dominated, especially from one host, while the other alternated...
Data Centers and Brad Paisley
This episode centers on a discussion about data centers: what they are, why they exist, and why some people object to them. The hosts contrast older ideas of data storage with modern AI-focused facilities, then use Brad Paisley’s oppositi...
Middleman Scams and Lawn Care Professionals
Episode 110 of I Hate Talking explores the phrase “middleman scam” and how scammers can impersonate both buyers and sellers to trick legitimate parties. The hosts break down a real-life example involving a lawn care job, a fake i...
Sweet Succor and Sour Suckers
Episode 109 of I Hate Talking centers on the word “succor,” exploring its pronunciation, etymology, and modern meaning as help, aid, or relief in times of distress. The hosts also compare “succor” with “su...
The Plurality and Singleness of You, Everyone, Y'All, and All Y'All
Episode 108 of I Hate Talking explores the Southern phrase “y’all” and its more emphatic cousin “all y’all,” comparing how each one can shape tone, clarity, and group address. The hosts also dig into the older pronouns “you,” “ye...
Delving into the World of AI Affects on Language
Episode 107 of I Hate Talking digs into the word “delve” and how it has become increasingly common in AI-generated writing and online speech. The hosts explore its meaning, compare it with “dive in” and “dig in,” and trace its tr...
Under the Weather and the Health Dangers of Cruise Ships
Episode 106 of I Hate Talking traces the phrase “under the weather” back to nautical language, where it originally described being below deck in a more stable part of the ship. From there, the hosts discuss how the phrase evolved...
Dictionaries, Paywalls, and Search Engines
Episode 105 of I Hate Talking examines the word “paywall” and how it has come to define access-limited content online, using the Oxford Language Dictionary’s shift behind a paywall as the jumping-off point. The hosts discuss how ...
Open House Concepts and Women's Suffrage
Episode 104 of I Hate Talking unpacks the real meaning of “pro and con,” tracing it back to the Latin pro et contra and the separate root contra meaning against or opposite. The hosts compare this with the earli...
The Conviviality of Open Houses
Episode 103 of I Hate Talking explores the meaning of “convivial,” from its Latin roots to its modern sense of lively, friendly togetherness around food and drink. That idea becomes the springboard for a bigger conversation about...
Blythe, Blithe, and April Fools' Day
Episode 102 of I Hate Talking explores the word “blithe,” tracing its spelling, meaning, and shifting connotations from carefree and lighthearted to heedless or careless. The hosts also dig into the curious connection between the...
First Minutes and Second Minutes
Episode 101 of I Hate Talking dives into the Latin roots of “second,” exploring how time was divided into minutes, seconds, and even smaller units. The hosts then spiral into a funny and surprisingly deep conversation about nanos...
Time Flees - We've Reached Our 100th Episode
In episode 100 of I Hate Talking, the hosts mark their milestone with a reflection on time—how quickly it passes and how much life has changed since they started the podcast. The word of the episode is the Latin phrase “tempus fu...
You're Never Done Mowing
In episode 99 of I Hate Talking, the hosts gear up for a milestone and ask listeners to help them decide what to do for episode 100. Big “top 100” countdown ideas are quickly ruled out as too long, so they invite audience suggest...
The IKEA Episode
In episode 98 of I Hate Talking, the hosts deliver the promised IKEA episode, starting with brief cameos from two young “guest experts” who offer earnest life advice about brushing your teeth and plug a YouTube channel befo...
Overcoming the Diderot Effect
In episode 97 of I Hate Talking, the hosts introduce the Diderot effect, a behavioral economics concept named after French philosopher Denis Diderot. After Diderot received a luxurious new red robe, he suddenly viewed his other p...
We've Moved!
In this episode of I Hate Talking, the hosts explore the word “somniferous,” meaning sleep‑inducing or soporific. They trace its Latin roots from “somnium” (dream) and explain how it’s used to describe drugs or experiences that b...
Sesquipedalian Farming
In episode 95 of I Hate Talking, the hosts introduce the delightfully nerdy word “sesquipedalian”—a term that describes long, multi‑syllabic words or overly long‑winded speech. They trace its roots back to Latin, where it literal...
The Etymology of Errors and Erroneous, and the Oktoberfest Experience
In episode 92 of I Hate Talking, the hosts lean into a real‑life continuity error: the original recording for this episode was corrupted, so they had to re‑record it after already releasing episodes 93 and 94. They use that misha...
The Continuity of Hershey's Chocolate World
In episode 94 of I Hate Talking, the hosts center their discussion on the word “continuity.” They define it both as the unbroken, consistent existence of something over time and, more specifically, as the careful maintenance of c...
Old Hats, New Hats, and WonderWorks
In episode 93 of I Hate Talking, the hosts tackle a listener‑requested phrase: “old hat.” They unpack its meaning as something outdated, overused, or overly familiar, often carrying a slightly negative sense of being boring or un...
Beating a Dead Horse, Tilting at Windmills, and Universal Studios
In episode 91 of I Hate Talking, the hosts tackle another word or phrase of the episode—this time the idiom “beating a dead horse.” After clarifying its proper form (“beat a dead horse”) and meaning—wasting energy on a lost cause...
Defunct Stores and Active Waterparks
In episode 90 of I Hate Talking, the hosts welcome new listeners for the new year with a quick refresher on their show’s format—each episode features a word or phrase of the week, its definition and etymology, and a real-life dis...
Adam Gets Pied in the Face
In episode 89 of I Hate Talking, the hosts return from the holidays with a full conversation centered on the word aplomb—a fitting term for confidence, balance, and maintaining composure under pressure. After tracing its French r...
Happy New Year and a Brief on New Years Resolutions
This New Year’s mini episode skips the usual full-length conversation so the hosts can briefly ring in 2026 and connect with listeners. Dropping on January 1, they share lighthearted New Year’s resolutions: one aims to see or watch a stan...