Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Feb 02 2025 1608 ep. 14 mins 51

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword Podcast artwork

A short, fun and occasionally not unintentionally educational podcast in which two fans of the New York Times crossword describe their puzzle-solving travails.

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Sunday, February 2, 2025 - MRMACGOO, meet MRSDASH 😀

Feb 02 2025 25 mins

This was an extraordinary Sunday crossword, thanks to one of those "oh, I can't believe they did that!" themes that makes crossword solving such an utter delight. This delight came to us courtesy of Derrick Niederman (edited, as always, by Will Shortz), and we will be savoring it for a loooong time to come. To find out exactly why, and possibly how long is loooong, download today's

Saturday, February 1, 2025 - Yup, thar be DIAMONDS in that thar grid! 🙄

Feb 01 2025 11 mins

This was a relatively straightforward Saturday: Jean got through it in record time, and posited that it was too straightforward. Mike knew better than to tempt fate, and so just nodded, noncommittally, on the diagonal -- neither yes, nor no. Besides the crossword, we are pleased to announce our latest JAMCOTWA -- Jean And Mike Crossword Of The Week Award -- winner, and that would b

Friday, January 31, 2025 - Hasta la vista, January

Jan 31 2025 12 mins

This is the last NYTimes crossword of the month, and we're going out on a high note, thanks to Adrian Johnson, who has crafted such an awesome crossword that if we had to pick the best clue we'd be sorely tempted to respond with "all of them". To hear why, check out today's podcast, where we go over some of our favorites. We also have a spot of equally awesome listener mail, so che

Thursday, January 30, 2025 - A review of Edward Gibbon's little known work, The Rise and Fall of the NYTimes Thursday Crossword 😀 😀

Jan 31 2025 14 mins

Today's crossword had another one of those patented "NYTimes Clever Themes" this one courtesy of Joe Marquez. Jean latched onto it straight off, Mike took an order of magnitude longer before the light, belatedly, dawned. Still, better latte than Nespresso, as they say at Starbucks 🙄 Show note imagery: A FATCAT We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener ma

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 - No BADEGGS in this crossword!

Jan 29 2025 17 mins

This was a tricky Wednesday, thanks mainly to its clever theme (created by Sophia Maymudes, adroitly edited by Will Shortz). We have nothing but good things to say about it, although we are now on tenterhooks wondering what Thursday will bring.Just a reminder that our show notes always include a link to the wonderful website xwordinfo.com, where you can find a completed version of

Tuesday, January 28, 2025 - ALL RISE! because, um, ALL RISE is in the grid 🙄😉

Jan 28 2025 15 mins

This was an intriguing Tuesday crossword by Dan Margolis -- his 5th in the NYTimes. The theme was delicious (literally), and indeed the grid was rife with food for thought, including 3D, Cookie with its name on it, OREO; 52D, _______ ghanouj, BABA; and 58D, _______ slaw, COLE. Yum!Also, today being Tuesday, we have another Triplet Tuesday™ segment, and this time Mike's in the hot

Monday, January 27, 2025 - TAPAS and SWISSROLLs and BRIE? Great in a grid, not so great on a plate 😀

Jan 27 2025 14 mins

This was a clever Monday crossword from a clever constructor, Alexander Liebeskind, who seems to excel at Mondays. Both cohosts found today's puzzle a bit crunchier (tougher) than usual, but the entertainment value was higher than usual, so it's a wash. Deets inside, including a fascinating attempt to decode SMH that was, TBH, waaaaay off. Show note imagery: a SWISSROLL -- the Litt

Sunday, January 26, 2025 - Hop on the re-bus 🙄

Jan 26 2025 30 mins

Today's crossword was a rarity -- its themed clues had pictures 🖼️ that had to be interpreted 🧐, as they were part of a rebus. By "rebus", we don't mean the "multiple letters scrunched in one square" variety, encountered frequently on Thursdays. Rather, we mean the more traditional definition: a puzzle in which pictures and typography are used to sound out an answer.This ma

Saturday, January 25, 2025 - Begone, you ARMRESTHOG, you!

Jan 25 2025 18 mins

Today's crossword, by Michael Lieberman, was a bear (not the growly kind, obviously, but one of the tougher-leaning Saturday NYTimes crosswords). It was an excellent mental workout, and the cluing really was deviously delicious, just the way we like it! For those of you just starting to solve NYTimes crosswords, just a reminder that the Saturday NYTimes puzzle is traditionally the

January 24, 2025 - We'd like to AMEND our definition of EMEND 🧐

Jan 24 2025 20 mins

This was a fine Friday crossword, and not just because the FLINTSTONES were in the grid ❤️. Jean tore through it, Mike spent an inordinate amount of time sorting out the difference between AMEND and EMEND. But both eventually got it solved, and had oodles of fun doing so, as you can tell from today's episode.In addition to the crossword, we are honoring the arrival of Friday wi