Best Ben Yagoda Podcasts (2025)

1
Ghostwriters, book deals, and AI: What you didn’t know about publishing, with Dan Gerstein 22:44

2d ago22:44

22:44

1076. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, looks at how ghostwriting fiction really works, who’s hiring ghostwriters, and why AI can’t replace human storytelling. We also talked about how ghostwriters negotiate royalties, film rights, and what makes a great collaboration work. Find Dan at GothamGhostwriters.com. 🔗 Share your familect recor…

1
The Bookshelf Conversation #195: Terry Mosher 28:33

4d ago28:33

28:33

This is really getting to be old-home month, give or take. First it was Danny Gallagher, author of several titles about the Montreal Expos. Then it was Robbie Hart, with his new documentary. Next week, Curtis Pride, the deaf ballplayer who made his Major League debut with the team in 1993, the first of six […]…

1
'I.e.' versus 'e.g.' What Shakespeare actually added to English. Four schnitzels. 18:01

4d ago18:01

18:01

1075. People often confuse "i.e." and "e.g." We'll help you get them right — no Latin required. Then, in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, we look at five common myths about his contributions to the English language, including whether he coined thousands of words and how much Latin he actually knew. The "Shakespeare" segment was by Jonathan Culpeper…

1
David Remnick on John McPhee 36:17

8d ago36:17

36:17

David Remnick has been editor of the New Yorker since 1998 (making him the second-longest-serving editor in the magazine's history, behind William Shawn). Before that, he was a staff writer at the magazine, and before that he was a reporter for the Washington Post. David won a Pulitzer Prize in 1994 for his book Lenin's Tomb: The Last Days of the S…

1
AI and the future of dictionaries, with Erin McKean 26:02

9d ago26:02

26:02

1074. Is AI good enough to replace lexicographers? Wordnik founder Erin McKean shares what works, what doesn’t, and why the future of dictionaries is far from settled. Find Erin McKean at wordnik.com, dressaday.com, and [email protected]. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe…

1
The Bookshelf Conversations #194: Robbie Hart 26:02

11d ago26:02

26:02

If you’d asked me a few years ago about my favorite teams, I definitely would have said the Mets, followed by the Montreal Expos. But now? It just might be the reverse, since I’ve been living in the past lately. I spent many a happy summer in Montreal, where the maternal side of my family […]By Ron Kaplan

1
Better paragraph breaks. The story behind 'mad money' and 'pin money.' Bruce bad. 15:52

11d ago15:52

15:52

1073. Today, we have practical tips for writing better paragraphs (and it's not the formulaic topic-sentence structure). Then, we look at the surprising history of phrases like “mad money” and “pin money” and what they show about women’s roles and financial independence through time. The "paragraph" segment originally appeared on the OUP Blog, and …

1
Folk Icons II: Elijah Wald on Ramblin' Jack Elliott 31:44

15d ago31:44

31:44

Elijah Wald has been singing and playing guitar for almost fifty years in a wide variety of styles, from blues, folk, ragtime, swing, country, and cowboy songs to classic Swahili pop, the Bahamian guitar style of Joseph Spence, and Mexican corridos. He hit the road in his late teens as a rambling busker, and has toured all over the United States an…

1
The future of editing jobs in the age of AI, with Samantha Enslen 17:01

16d ago17:01

17:01

1072. Is AI coming for our jobs—or just the boring parts? This week, Samantha Enslen of Dragonfly Editorial talks about how she sees AI changing the work of writers and editors. We talked about real clients, real fears, and hope for the future. Plus, Samantha shares her favorite old-school fiction (spoiler: Agatha Christie strikes again!). Find Sam…

1
How to write photo captions. The real difference between ‘immigrate’ and ‘emigrate.’ Ko Pha-ngan'd 16:57

18d ago16:57

16:57

1071. Is it "Taylor and I" or "Taylor and me"? We explain why photo captions follow their own grammar rules. Then, we explore the subtle difference between "immigrate" and "emigrate," how the terms are used historically, and why their meanings often depend on perspective. The "photo captions" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips e…

1
Folk Icons I: Varda Bar-Kar on Janis Ian 27:28

22d ago27:28

27:28

Varda Bar-Kar is the director of the 2025 documentary Janis Ian: Breaking Silence, about the singer who burst on the scene in 1966, at the age of fifteen, with her song "Society's Child," Since then Ian's career has, well, careered. from high points to low points and back again, more times than you might think possible. Varda was born in England to…

1
The hidden techniques behind well-paced fiction, with Joshua Essoe 25:35

23d ago25:35

25:35

1070. Fiction editor Joshua Essoe explains the hidden techniques behind pacing in storytelling. Learn how good pacing shapes reader engagement, why well-placed story beats and emotional shifts matter, and how popular films like Memento and Fight Club use pacing to captivate audiences. Joshua also looks at managing flashbacks, using white space stra…

1
Why don't we say the L in 'walk'? Never use 'always.' PABST 15:17

25d ago15:17

15:17

1069. Have you ever wondered why we have silent L's in words like "walk" and "half"? Those questions lead us to L-vocalization, spelling pronunciation, and why American and British speakers differ. Plus, we look at some of the most dangerous words in the English language: "always" and "never." The "L vocalization" segment is by Karen Lunde, a forme…

1
Exploring slang, AI ghost words, and language change, with Heddwen Newton 31:13

1M ago31:13

31:13

1068. Did Yosemite Sam ever actually say "tarnation"? What’s "fridgescaping," and why is it trending? And why is AI filling the internet with nonsense words like “lrtsjerk”? Linguist and translator Heddwen Newton shares her favorite new slang, explains the Mandela Effect, and breaks down how AI-generated content is making language even messier. Fin…

1
What’s wrong with "'til"? Why tiny words control conversations. How many cookies? 17:25

1M ago17:25

17:25

1067. Think "'til" is a valid alternative to "until"? Think again! We learn about the difference between "till" and "until" and why many style guides frown on "'til." Then, we uncover the hidden power of interjections—words like "um," "huh," and "mm-hmm"—and how they help us negotiate meaning, keep conversations flowing, and even challenge artifici…

1
The best punctuation book, period, with June Casagrande 25:04

1M ago25:04

25:04

1066. Do you really need that comma? Should your dashes have spaces? Is there ever just one "right" way to punctuate? June Casagrande, author of "The Best Punctuation Book, Period," busts punctuation myths, compares style guides, and looks at the surprising complexity of the humble em dash. Find June Casagrande at grammarunderground.com. 🔗 Share yo…

1
Why we say ‘OK.’ How tea shaped English slang. Poetry winner 17:29

1M ago17:29

17:29

1065. Is it "OK" or "okay"? We look at the surprising history of one of the world’s most recognized English words and how a 19th-century election campaign helped it stick. Then, we have some fun with Victorian tea culture and the many idioms it inspired, from Cockney rhyming slang to "scandal broth." The "tea" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Qu…

1
Robert Strauss on Lois Smith 26:27

1M ago26:27

26:27

Robert Strauss is a veteran journalist and the author of three books: Daddy's Little Goalie: A Father, His Daughters, and Sports; Worst. President. Ever.: James Buchanan, the POTUS Rating Game, and the Legacy of the Least of the Lesser Presidents; and John Marshall: The Final Founder. His subject is his friend Lois Smith, whose distinguished acting…

1
Behind the scenes of Wikipedia: editing, accuracy, and notability, with Jonathan Rick 27:38

1M ago27:38

27:38

1064. Is Wikipedia the last refuge on online truth? With AI-generated content and misinformation spreading online, Wikipedia is growing in esteem, but who decides what gets published? How does Wikipedia determine things like credibility and notability? Wikipedia consultant Jonathan Rick gives us the inside scoop on Wikipedia’s strict sourcing rules…

1
How did our holidays become so 'corny'? Why do some words have accent marks in English? Cubby hole 15:42

2M ago15:42

15:42

1063. Why is it called "corned beef" when there’s no corn involved? We look at how the word "corn" evolved to mean different things over time. Then, we look at the role of accent marks in English — why some words keep them, why others lose them, and what they tell us about language. The "corn" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of…

1
Why kids can't read (and what we can do about it), with Kate Crist 27:39

2M ago27:39

27:39

1062. Did you know that 21% of U.S. adults struggle with basic literacy? In this eye-opening episode, literacy specialist Kate Crist talks about the literacy crisis in America, how reading is taught incorrectly in schools, and what we can do to fix it. She has real stories of students and adults overcoming reading struggles, the science behind lear…

1
The mystery of ‘it’ in English. The most dramatic moments in grammar history. Ghost Town Mad, the song 16:48

2M ago16:48

16:48

1061. Ever wonder why we say "It's raining" even though "it" doesn't refer to anything? We explain the logic behind this quirky English rule. Then, we look at some of the most dramatic moments in grammar history, including a semicolon duel, a costly comma mistake, and a famous book with 5,000 typos. The "dummy 'it'" segment is by Karen Lunde, a for…

1
From 'Parasite' to 'Emilia Pérez': How movies shape language, with Andrew Cheng 31:28

2M ago31:28

31:28

1060. Why do villains always have British accents? Why was "Parasite" a game-changer for non-English films? And how is AI secretly shaping the voices you hear on screen? With the Oscars coming up, Dr. Andrew Cheng talks about how films are evolving to reflect linguistic authenticity — and why it matters. From heritage speakers in "Anora" to made-up…

1
Why Americans write 'canceled' but still write 'cancellation.' How printing history gave us 'fine print.' Fluff. 15:52

2M ago15:52

15:52

1059. Ever wonder why Americans use "canceled" with one L but still write "cancellation" with two? We explore how spelling rules, stress patterns, and historical quirks explain this inconsistency. Plus, we look at the history of "fine print" — from typesetting in smoky print shops to its modern use in hiding legal loopholes. The "fine print" segmen…

1
John Barth on Bill Siemering 30:50

2M ago30:50

30:50

John Barth has a long and distinguished career in public broadcasting, which started in earnest in the very early 1980s when he got a peculiar and life-changing phone call from Bill Siemering. Siemering--at left in the photo (Barth is at right)--is one of the Founding Fathers of National Public and, it could be argued, has done more than anyone els…

1
Writing Motivation Hacks, with Mary Robinette Kowal 28:00

2M ago28:00

28:00

1058. If you struggle to sit down and write, you’ll love this conversation with award-winning author and podcaster Mary Robinette Kowal. Learn how to conquer writing obstacles with tips on managing distractions, handling research rabbit holes, and making time to write — even when life gets in the way. Mary Robinette Kowal is the author of The Spare…

1
Why we misuse ‘literally.’ How ham radio got its name. District 17:42

2M ago17:42

17:42

1057. Why do people use "literally" when they mean "figuratively"? This week, we look at how the meaning of "literally" changed over time. Plus, we look at how amateur radio operators came to be known as "hams" and why the term stuck. The "literally"segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada in R…

1
How to be a ghostwriter, with Dan Gerstein 33:40

2M ago33:40

33:40

1056. Ghostwriting is more than just anonymous book writing — it’s a thriving industry. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, shares how writers can break into ghostwriting, what types of projects are available, and how much top ghostwriters earn. Plus, we explore the ethical considerations of ghostwriting and how the industry is evolving. …

1
David Leaf on Van Dyke Parks 42:29

2M ago42:29

42:29

David Leaf is the author of SMiLE: The Rise, Fall, and Resurrection of Brian Wilson, which will be published in April 2025. More on his many books, documentaries and music projects at his website. Van Dyke Parks is a legendary American musician, who shows up everywhere from Disney's The Jungle Book, to The Honeymooners, to his historic collaboratio…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Ben Yagoda Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

1
The Lives They're Living

Ben Yagoda

1
“Bookshelf Conversations” – Ron Kaplan's Baseball Bookshelf

Ron Kaplan

1
Grammar Girl Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing

QuickAndDirtyTips.com

1
Ghostwriters, book deals, and AI: What you didn’t know about publishing, with Dan Gerstein 22:44

1
The Bookshelf Conversation #195: Terry Mosher 28:33

1
'I.e.' versus 'e.g.' What Shakespeare actually added to English. Four schnitzels. 18:01

1
David Remnick on John McPhee 36:17

1
AI and the future of dictionaries, with Erin McKean 26:02

1
The Bookshelf Conversations #194: Robbie Hart 26:02

1
Better paragraph breaks. The story behind 'mad money' and 'pin money.' Bruce bad. 15:52

1
Folk Icons II: Elijah Wald on Ramblin' Jack Elliott 31:44

1
The future of editing jobs in the age of AI, with Samantha Enslen 17:01

1
How to write photo captions. The real difference between ‘immigrate’ and ‘emigrate.’ Ko Pha-ngan'd 16:57

1
Folk Icons I: Varda Bar-Kar on Janis Ian 27:28

1
The hidden techniques behind well-paced fiction, with Joshua Essoe 25:35

1
Why don't we say the L in 'walk'? Never use 'always.' PABST 15:17

1
Exploring slang, AI ghost words, and language change, with Heddwen Newton 31:13

1
What’s wrong with "'til"? Why tiny words control conversations. How many cookies? 17:25

1
The best punctuation book, period, with June Casagrande 25:04

1
Why we say ‘OK.’ How tea shaped English slang. Poetry winner 17:29

1
Robert Strauss on Lois Smith 26:27

1
Behind the scenes of Wikipedia: editing, accuracy, and notability, with Jonathan Rick 27:38

1
How did our holidays become so 'corny'? Why do some words have accent marks in English? Cubby hole 15:42

1
Why kids can't read (and what we can do about it), with Kate Crist 27:39

1
The mystery of ‘it’ in English. The most dramatic moments in grammar history. Ghost Town Mad, the song 16:48

1
From 'Parasite' to 'Emilia Pérez': How movies shape language, with Andrew Cheng 31:28

1
Why Americans write 'canceled' but still write 'cancellation.' How printing history gave us 'fine print.' Fluff. 15:52

1
John Barth on Bill Siemering 30:50

1
Writing Motivation Hacks, with Mary Robinette Kowal 28:00

1
Why we misuse ‘literally.’ How ham radio got its name. District 17:42

1
How to be a ghostwriter, with Dan Gerstein 33:40

1
David Leaf on Van Dyke Parks 42:29