Oh, you thought the Eurovision Song Contest was about songs? Or a fun international TV event that brings people together in lots of different countries? Or watching extremely vigorous dance numbers? OK, it is, but it's also about some pretty thorny language-related politics. Historian Dean Vuletic, author of Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, discusses Eurovision's many linguistic controversies, and the ways the contest has been exploited politically - and caused political kick-offs too.

This is the second instalment of a two-part Eurovisionallusionist. In the first part: a whole lot of tussling about which languages to compete in.

Find out more about this episode at theallusionist.org/eurovision2, where there's also a transcript.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get glimpses into how the podsausage is made, regular livestreams, AND membership of the delightful Allusioverse Discord community with whom I will be watching the Eurovision final on 13 May - join us!

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via PaleBirdMusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk lovingly and winningly about your product or thing, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Kitsch, who make products to care for your hair and skin - shampoo and conditioner bars, soaps, sleep bonnets, heatless rollers, satin pillowcases and hoodies... Get a whopping 30% off your entire order at MyKitsch.com/allusionist.
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a beautifully designed website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

Oh, you thought the Eurovision Song Contest was about songs? Or a fun international TV event that brings people together in lots of different countries? Or watching extremely vigorous dance numbers? OK, it is, but it's also about some pretty thorny language-related politics. Historian <a>Dean Vuletic</a>, author of Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, discusses Eurovision's many linguistic controversies, and the ways the contest has been exploited politically - and caused political kick-offs too.
This is the second instalment of a two-part Eurovisionallusionist. In the first part: a whole lot of tussling about which languages to compete in.
Find out more about this episode at <a>theallusionist.org/eurovision2</a>, where there's also a transcript.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a><a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a>youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>.
Support the show at <a>theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get glimpses into how the podsausage is made, regular livestreams, AND membership of the delightful Allusioverse Discord community with whom I will be watching the Eurovision final on 13 May - join us!
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com/">PaleBirdMusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk lovingly and winningly about your product or thing, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a>bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Kitsch, who make products to care for your hair and skin - shampoo and conditioner bars, soaps, sleep bonnets, heatless rollers, satin pillowcases and hoodies... Get a whopping 30% off your entire order at <a>MyKitsch.com/allusionist</a>. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a beautifully designed website. Go to <a>squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

Adventures in language with Helen Zaltzman. TheAllusionist.org

Adventures in language with Helen Zaltzman

The Allusionist

175. Eurovision part 2

There aren't many multilingual, multinational television shows that have been running for nearly seven decades. But what makes the Eurovision Song Contest so special to me is not the music, or the dancing, or the costumes that range from spangletastic to tear-off: no, it's the people butting heads about language. Historian Dean Vuletic, author of Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, recounts the many changes in Eurovision's language rules, and its language hopes and dreams.

This is the first of a two-part Eurovisionallusionist. In the next instalment: dictators. Protests. Boom Bang-A-Bang Ding-a-Dong Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley. Find out more about this episode at theallusionist.org/eurovision1, where there's also a transcript.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get glimpses into how the podsausage is made, regular livestreams, AND membership of the delightful Allusioverse Discord community with whom I will be watching the Eurovision final next month.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via PaleBirdMusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk lovingly and winningly about your product or thing, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a beautifully designed website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

There aren't many multilingual, multinational television shows that have been running for nearly seven decades. But what makes the Eurovision Song Contest so special to me is not the music, or the dancing, or the costumes that range from spangletastic to tear-off: no, it's the people butting heads about language. Historian <a href="deanvuletic.com">Dean Vuletic</a>, author of Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, recounts the many changes in Eurovision's language rules, and its language hopes and dreams.
This is the first of a two-part Eurovisionallusionist. In the next instalment: dictators. Protests. Boom Bang-A-Bang Ding-a-Dong Diggi-Loo Diggi-Ley. Find out more about this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/eurovision1">theallusionist.org/eurovision1</a>, where there's also a transcript.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a><a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a>youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>.
Support the show at <a>theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get glimpses into how the podsausage is made, regular livestreams, AND membership of the delightful Allusioverse Discord community with whom I will be watching the Eurovision final next month.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com/">PaleBirdMusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk lovingly and winningly about your product or thing, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a>bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a beautifully designed website. Go to <a>squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

174. Eurovision part 1

"You can't redead the dead by you saying something shit," says Cariad Lloyd of Griefcast and author of You Are Not Alone; nevertheless when you're bereaved, people still are usually so nervous to say the wrong thing that they often don't say anything at all. And especially not the word 'dead'. Maybe what we need, says council funeral officer Evie King, author of Ashes To Admin, is a "jazzy snazzy term for death, the 'bottomless brunch' of death..."

Content warning: this episode is about death*. And it contains mentions of cancer and Parkinson’s, and there are several category B swears and one category A swear.

*But it’s a pretty fun listen, it doesn't get sad.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/death, where there's also a transcript.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, regular livestreams, the delightful Allusioverse Discord community AND you get to listen to a one-off show I made with Arnie Niekamp of Hello from the Magic Tavern where we planned our own funerals!

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via PaleBirdMusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk beguilingly about your product or thing, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

"You can't redead the dead by you saying something shit," says Cariad Lloyd of Griefcast and author of You Are Not Alone; nevertheless when you're bereaved, people still are usually so nervous to say the wrong thing that they often don't say anything at all. And especially not the word 'dead'. Maybe what we need, says council funeral officer Evie King, author of Ashes To Admin, is a "jazzy snazzy term for death, the 'bottomless brunch' of death..."
Content warning: this episode is about death*. And it contains mentions of cancer and Parkinson’s, and there are several category B swears and one category A swear.
*But it’s a pretty fun listen, it doesn't get sad.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a>theallusionist.org/death</a>, where there's also a transcript.
Support the show at <a>theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, regular livestreams, the delightful Allusioverse Discord community AND you get to listen to a one-off show I made with Arnie Niekamp of Hello from the Magic Tavern where we planned our own funerals!
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a><a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a>youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com/">PaleBirdMusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk beguilingly about your product or thing, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a>bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a>squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

173. Death

"The myths, or the received wisdom, about Portuguese language in Brazil is that, of course we know we speak a very different version of the language, but this has always been explained to us as maybe perhaps a defect of sorts?" says linguist and translator Caetano Galindo, author of Latim em Pó, a history of Brazilian Portuguese. "You look deeper into things and you find you have to wrap your mind around a very different reality.” 

Content note: this episode discusses the enslavement of African people.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/brazilian-portuguese, where there's also a transcript.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, and the delightful Allusioverse Discord community with their disco kettles and knitted octopus tentacles.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via PaleBirdMusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

"The myths, or the received wisdom, about Portuguese language in Brazil is that, of course we know we speak a very different version of the language, but this has always been explained to us as maybe perhaps a defect of sorts?" says linguist and translator Caetano Galindo, author of Latim em Pó, a history of Brazilian Portuguese. "You look deeper into things and you find you have to wrap your mind around a very different reality.” 
Content note: this episode discusses the enslavement of African people.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/brazilian-portuguese">theallusionist.org/brazilian-portuguese</a>, where there's also a transcript.
Support the show at <a href="theallusionist.org/donate">theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, and the delightful Allusioverse Discord community with their disco kettles and knitted octopus tentacles.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a> <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="youtube.com/allusionistshow">youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">PaleBirdMusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

172. A Brief History of Brazilian Portuguese

Last episode, I mentioned that in London, Ontario, in 2019 a 9-year-old named Lyla Wheeler had launched a petition to rename her street, currently called Plantation Road. This episode, Lyla, now aged nearly thirteen, and her mom Kristin Daley recount the reasons why Lyla campaigned for this name change, how the neighbours reacted, what happened when the wider world heard about it, and why the street's name is still Plantation Road.

I hope you will not be deterred from campaigning for different, better words.

Content note: the episode contains references to enslavement of Black people and a brief description of the Canadian residential school system.

This is an instalment of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming. Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/supplantation, where there's also a transcript.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, and the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via PaleBirdMusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 
• NordVPN is offering exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the deal on this trusty VPN at nordvpn.com/allusionist, and try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Last episode, I mentioned that in London, Ontario, in 2019 a 9-year-old named Lyla Wheeler had launched a petition to rename her street, currently called Plantation Road. This episode, Lyla, now aged nearly thirteen, and her mom Kristin Daley recount the reasons why Lyla campaigned for this name change, how the neighbours reacted, what happened when the wider world heard about it, and why the street's name is still Plantation Road.
I hope you will not be deterred from campaigning for different, better words.
Content note: the episode contains references to enslavement of Black people and a brief description of the Canadian residential school system.
This is an instalment of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming. Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/supplantation">theallusionist.org/supplantation</a>, where there's also a transcript.
Support the show at <a href="theallusionist.org/donate">theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, and the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a> <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="youtube.com/allusionistshow">youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">PaleBirdMusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.  • NordVPN is offering exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the deal on this trusty VPN at <a href="https://nordvpn.com/allusionist">nordvpn.com/allusionist</a>, and try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

171. Supplantation

Over the past few years, numerous products and places with the word 'plantation' in their names have rebranded. As for the word 'plantation' itself, architect and writer Kennedy Whiters of unRedactTheFacts.com advocates for replacing it with a more truthful term. She also watches out for use of the grammatical passive voice, because "It hides who did what to whom."

Content note: this episode contains discussions of anti-Black racism, violence and sexual violence.

This is an instalment of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming. Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/actively-passive, where there's also a transcript.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via PaleBirdMusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 
• NordVPN is offering exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the deal on this trusty VPN at nordvpn.com/allusionist, and try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Over the past few years, numerous products and places with the word 'plantation' in their names have rebranded. As for the word 'plantation' itself, architect and writer Kennedy Whiters of unRedactTheFacts.com advocates for replacing it with a more truthful term. She also watches out for use of the grammatical passive voice, because "It hides who did what to whom."
Content note: this episode contains discussions of anti-Black racism, violence and sexual violence.
This is an instalment of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming. Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/actively-passive">theallusionist.org/actively-passive</a>, where there's also a transcript.
Support the show at <a href="theallusionist.org/donate">theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a> <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="youtube.com/allusionistshow">youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">PaleBirdMusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. If you want me to talk compellingly about your product, sponsor an episode: contact Multitude at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.  • NordVPN is offering exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the deal on this trusty VPN at <a href="https://nordvpn.com/allusionist">nordvpn.com/allusionist</a>, and try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

170. Actively Passive

Erwin Schrödinger is one of the "fathers of quantum mechanics". He also sexually abused children. Trinity College Dublin recently denamed a lecture theatre that had been named after him - but his name is still on an equation that won the Nobel Prize for physics. And a cat.

Writer and historian Subhadra Das recounts how and why you rename a university building, and retired physicist Martin Austwick considers that renaming an eponymous equation or theory might be more difficult than unscrewing a sign from a wall.

This is an instalment of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming.

Content note: this episode contains references to  racism and eugenics, and to the sexual abuse of children. There is also a Category B swear.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/box, where there's also a transcript.

Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow, while it still stands.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show in 2023, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 
• NordVPN is offering exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the deal on this trusty VPN at nordvpn.com/allusionist, and try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Erwin Schrödinger is one of the "fathers of quantum mechanics". He also sexually abused children. Trinity College Dublin recently denamed a lecture theatre that had been named after him - but his name is still on an equation that won the Nobel Prize for physics. And a cat.
Writer and historian Subhadra Das recounts how and why you rename a university building, and retired physicist Martin Austwick considers that renaming an eponymous equation or theory might be more difficult than unscrewing a sign from a wall.
This is an instalment of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming.
Content note: this episode contains references to  racism and eugenics, and to the sexual abuse of children. There is also a <a href="http://theallusionist.org/c-bomb">Category B swear.</a>
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/box">theallusionist.org/box</a>, where there's also a transcript.
Support the show at <a href="theallusionist.org/donate">theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a> <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="youtube.com/allusionistshow">youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, while it still stands.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provides the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show in 2023, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.  • NordVPN is offering exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the deal on this trusty VPN at <a href="https://nordvpn.com/allusionist">nordvpn.com/allusionist</a>, and try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.

169. The Box

There’s been a recurring theme on the show over the years, of filling gaps in language, removing stigma and bias, finding better ways to express ourselves and talk about our feelings and our bodies. Today Kalle Rocklinger, sex educator with RFSU, the National Association for Sexuality Education in Sweden, talks about how and why over the years, the RFSU has come up with and publicised new terms for body parts and sexual acts, and what they would still like to change. This is the first part of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming things.

Content note: this episode contains discussions of sex and the associated body parts. Towards the end, there’s discussion of consent which includes references to rape (there are no descriptions of acts or anybody’s experiences). I mention when we’re about to arrive at that part of the conversation, so anybody who needs to duck out during that section has some warning.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/debuts, where there's also a transcript.

Join me for the Allusionist's 8th birthday celebration livestream! 14 January 2023, 10-11pm UK time at youtube.com/allusionistshow. There'll be dictionary readings, live Tranquillusionist, and chitchat and camaraderie.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow, while it still stands. Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provided editorial help and the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show in 2023, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

There’s been a recurring theme on the show over the years, of filling gaps in language, removing stigma and bias, finding better ways to express ourselves and talk about our feelings and our bodies. Today Kalle Rocklinger, sex educator with RFSU, the National Association for Sexuality Education in Sweden, talks about how and why over the years, the RFSU has come up with and publicised new terms for body parts and sexual acts, and what they would still like to change. This is the first part of the Telling Other Stories series, about renaming things.
Content note: this episode contains discussions of sex and the associated body parts. Towards the end, there’s discussion of consent which includes references to rape (there are no descriptions of acts or anybody’s experiences). I mention when we’re about to arrive at that part of the conversation, so anybody who needs to duck out during that section has some warning.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/debuts">theallusionist.org/debuts</a>, where there's also a transcript.
Join me for the Allusionist's 8th birthday celebration livestream! 14 January 2023, 10-11pm UK time at youtube.com/allusionistshow. There'll be dictionary readings, live Tranquillusionist, and chitchat and camaraderie.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a> <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="youtube.com/allusionistshow">youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, while it still stands. Support the show at <a href="theallusionist.org/donate">theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Over the next few weeks, we're watching Great Pottery Throwdown together.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provided editorial help and the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show in 2023, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

168. Debuts

What do the hippocampus, homophones, Little Women, worrying and egg hacks have in common? They all star in the 2022 parade of Allusionist bonus bits! This year's guests provide some extra fascinating facts, thoughts and feelings: in order of reappearance, Jing Tsu, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Tim Clare, Stephanie Foo, Lewis Raven Wallace, Charlotte Lydia Riley, Hannah McGregor, Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg.

Content note: there's an allusion to bawdy talk, one category A swear, discussions of mental health, and a brief reference to parental violence. 

Get extra information about the topics in this episode and find the transcript at theallusionist.org/bonus2022. This is the last Allusionist for 2022 but the show will be back mid-January 2023.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow. Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Tonight, we're watching The Muppet Christmas Carol together!

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provided editorial help and the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show in 2023, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Wondrium, the online library of lectures, courses, tutorials, documentaries and more. Get 50% off your first three months of Wondrium at wondrium.com/allusionist.
• NordVPN is offering exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the deal on this trusty VPN at nordvpn.com/allusionist, and try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Mint Mobile:cut your cellphone bill to a mere $15 a month at mintmobile.com/allusionist.
• Catan, the endlessly reconfigurable board game. Shop at catanshop.com/allusionist and get 10% off the original base game CATAN by using the promo code ALLUSIONIST at checkout. 

What do the hippocampus, homophones, Little Women, worrying and egg hacks have in common? They all star in the 2022 parade of Allusionist bonus bits! This year's guests provide some extra fascinating facts, thoughts and feelings: in order of reappearance, Jing Tsu, Morénike Giwa Onaiwu, Tim Clare, Stephanie Foo, Lewis Raven Wallace, Charlotte Lydia Riley, Hannah McGregor, Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg.
Content note: there's an allusion to bawdy talk, one category A swear, discussions of mental health, and a brief reference to parental violence. 
Get extra information about the topics in this episode and find the transcript at <a href="theallusionist.org/bonus2022">theallusionist.org/bonus2022</a>. This is the last Allusionist for 2022 but the show will be back mid-January 2023.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a> <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="youtube.com/allusionistshow">youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>. Support the show at <a href="theallusionist.org/donate">theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community. Tonight, we're watching The Muppet Christmas Carol together!
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provided editorial help and the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show in 2023, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Wondrium, the online library of lectures, courses, tutorials, documentaries and more. Get 50% off your first three months of Wondrium at <a href="wondrium.com/allusionist">wondrium.com/allusionist</a>. • NordVPN is offering exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the deal on this trusty VPN at <a href="https://nordvpn.com/allusionist">nordvpn.com/allusionist</a>, and try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee. • Mint Mobile: cut your cellphone bill to a mere $15 a month at <a href="mintmobile.com/allusionist">mintmobile.com/allusionist</a>. • Catan, the endlessly reconfigurable board game. Shop at <a href="catanshop.com/allusionist">catanshop.com/allusionist</a> and get 10% off the original base game CATAN by using the promo code ALLUSIONIST at checkout.

167. Bonus 2022

“I don't think that anyone should come away from this conversation not wanting to use the name Fiona. I think this is a beautiful and rich history. It might not be quite the history that you imagined, but I think it's a beautiful history," says writer and performer Harry Josie Giles. She and PhD researcher Moll Heaton-Callaway investigate this complicated name with fascinating history. This is the second half of a pair of episodes about the name Fiona; listen to the first episode before this one! theallusionist.org/fiona1.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/fiona2, where there's also a transcript.

Both Josie and I relied heavily on Sharon Krossa's research into the etymology of Fiona; read it at medievalscotland.org/problem/names/fiona.shtml.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow, while it still stands. Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provided editorial help and the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Wondrium, the online library of lectures, courses, tutorials, documentaries and more. Get 50% off your first three months of Wondrium at wondrium.com/allusionist.
• Brilliant.org: short fun interactive lessons in STEM subjects. To get started for free, visitbrilliant.org/allusionist. The first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant's annual premium subscription. 
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

“I don't think that anyone should come away from this conversation not wanting to use the name Fiona. I think this is a beautiful and rich history. It might not be quite the history that you imagined, but I think it's a beautiful history," says writer and performer Harry Josie Giles. She and PhD researcher Moll Heaton-Callaway investigate this complicated name with fascinating history. This is the second half of a pair of episodes about the name Fiona; listen to the first episode before this one! <a href="theallusionist.org/fiona1">theallusionist.org/fiona1</a>.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/fiona2">theallusionist.org/fiona2</a>, where there's also a transcript.
Both Josie and I relied heavily on Sharon Krossa's research into the etymology of Fiona; read it at <a href="https://medievalscotland.org/problem/names/fiona.shtml">medievalscotland.org/problem/names/fiona.shtml</a>.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a> <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="youtube.com/allusionistshow">youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, while it still stands. Support the show at <a href="theallusionist.org/donate">theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Martin Austwick provided editorial help and the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Wondrium, the online library of lectures, courses, tutorials, documentaries and more. Get 50% off your first three months of Wondrium at <a href="wondrium.com/allusionist">wondrium.com/allusionist</a>. • Brilliant.org: short fun interactive lessons in STEM subjects. To get started for free, visit<a href="http://brilliant.org/[YOUR"> </a><a href="brilliant.org/allusionist">brilliant.org/allusionist</a>. The first 200 of you will get 20% off Brilliant's annual premium subscription.  • Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

166. Fiona part 2

A lot of people assume that Fiona is a very old Scottish name, but the first known Scottish Fiona is from the 1890s: Fiona Macleod, the enormously popular novelist of Scotland's Celtic Revival movement. But when she suddenly stopped writing in 1905...and there turned out to be far more surprises about Fiona Macleod than the novelty of her name. Writer and performer Harry Josie Giles and PhD researcher Moll Callaway-Heaton consider the first Scottish Fiona.

This is part one of a pair of episodes about the name Fiona; part two will explore the etymology of the name and similar ones in various languages, and examine the first appearance of Fiona in literature, which comes with its own cocktail of complication.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/fiona1, where there's also a transcript.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at facebook.com/allusionistshow,instagram.com/allusionistshow, youtube.com/allusionistshow and twitter.com/allusionistshow, while it still stands. Support the show at theallusionist.org/donate and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Thanks to Anne Pond from the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall for boat information, and to Martin Austwick for editorial help and the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Wondrium, the online library of lectures, courses, tutorials, documentaries and more. Get 50% off your first three months of Wondrium at wondrium.com/allusionist.
• Mint Mobile: cut your cellphone bill to a mere $15 a month at mintmobile.com/allusionist.
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

A lot of people assume that Fiona is a very old Scottish name, but the first known Scottish Fiona is from the 1890s: Fiona Macleod, the enormously popular novelist of Scotland's Celtic Revival movement. But when she suddenly stopped writing in 1905...and there turned out to be far more surprises about Fiona Macleod than the novelty of her name. Writer and performer Harry Josie Giles and PhD researcher Moll Callaway-Heaton consider the first Scottish Fiona.
This is part one of a pair of episodes about the name Fiona; part two will explore the etymology of the name and similar ones in various languages, and examine the first appearance of Fiona in literature, which comes with its own cocktail of complication.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/fiona1">theallusionist.org/fiona1</a>, where there's also a transcript.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow,</a> <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="youtube.com/allusionistshow">youtube.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, while it still stands. Support the show at <a href="theallusionist.org/donate">theallusionist.org/donate</a> and as well as keeping this independent podcast going, you also get behind-the-scenes glimpses of the show, fortnightly livestreams, special perks at live shows, and best of all the Allusioverse Discord community.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. Thanks to Anne Pond from the National Maritime Museum in Cornwall for boat information, and to Martin Austwick for editorial help and the original music. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Wondrium, the online library of lectures, courses, tutorials, documentaries and more. Get 50% off your first three months of Wondrium at <a href="wondrium.com/allusionist">wondrium.com/allusionist</a>. • Mint Mobile: cut your cellphone bill to a mere $15 a month at <a href="mintmobile.com/allusionist">mintmobile.com/allusionist</a>. • Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

165. Fiona part 1

When is a war not a war? When the British Empire called it an 'emergency' so they didn't have to abide by wartime rules or lose their insurance payouts. Artist and researcher Sim Chi Yin reflects on the Malayan Emergency, a 12-year conflict that doesn't get talked about much now by either side; and historian Charlotte Lydia Riley considers the various reasons why the British opted for the term 'emergency', and why they don't celebrate even when they supposedly won them.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/emergency, where there's also a transcript.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Wondrium, the online library of lectures, courses, tutorials, documentaries and more. Get 50% off your first three months of Wondrium at wondrium.com/allusionist.
• Catan, the endlessly reconfigurable board game. Shop at catanshop.com/allusionist and get 10% off the original base game CATAN by using the promo code ALLUSIONIST at checkout. 
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

When is a war not a war? When the British Empire called it an 'emergency' so they didn't have to abide by wartime rules or lose their insurance payouts. Artist and researcher <a href="http://chiyinsim.com/">Sim Chi Yin</a> reflects on the Malayan Emergency, a 12-year conflict that doesn't get talked about much now by either side; and historian <a href="https://www.southampton.ac.uk/people/5xfhx8/doctor-charlotte-riley">Charlotte Lydia Riley</a> considers the various reasons why the British opted for the term 'emergency', and why they don't celebrate even when they supposedly won them.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/emergency">theallusionist.org/emergency</a>, where there's also a transcript.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Wondrium, the online library of lectures, courses, tutorials, documentaries and more. Get 50% off your first three months of Wondrium at <a href="wondrium.com/allusionist">wondrium.com/allusionist</a>. • Catan, the endlessly reconfigurable board game. Shop at <a href="catanshop.com/allusionist">catanshop.com/allusionist</a> and get 10% off the original base game CATAN by using the promo code ALLUSIONIST at checkout.  • Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

164. Emergency

Provoked by current events, we've got three political eponyms for turmoiled times. Get ready for explosives, presidential pigs, Supreme Court scrapping, and wronged rhinos.

Content note: there is some description of torture about halfway through the episode.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/rhino, where there's also a transcript.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Dipsea, the app full of short, sexy stories. Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/allusionist.
• Mint Mobile: cut your cellphone bill to a mere $15 a month at mintmobile.com/allusionist.
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

Provoked by current events, we've got three political eponyms for turmoiled times. Get ready for explosives, presidential pigs, Supreme Court scrapping, and wronged rhinos.
Content note: there is some description of torture about halfway through the episode.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/rhino">theallusionist.org/rhino</a>, where there's also a transcript.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Dipsea, the app full of short, sexy stories. Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to <a href="DipseaStories.com/allusionist">DipseaStories.com/allusionist</a>. • Mint Mobile: cut your cellphone bill to a mere $15 a month at <a href="mintmobile.com/allusionist">mintmobile.com/allusionist</a>. • Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

163. Rhino Borked Guy

Self-help is a multibillion dollar genre of books, and Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg of By the Book podcast have lived by the advice of more than eighty of them. They discuss the ways these books use language to get into your brain, the negging and the euphemisms, what can actually be helpful, and why we should be more like dog.

Content note: we discuss dieting and sizeism, and there are fleeting mentions of rape and abuse. There are also category A and B swears.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/self-help, where there's also a transcript.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Dipsea, the app full of short, sexy stories. Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/allusionist.
• Catan, the endlessly reconfigurable board game. Shop at catanshop.com/allusionist and get 10% off the original base game CATAN by using the promo code ALLUSIONIST at checkout. 
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

Self-help is a multibillion dollar genre of books, and Kristen Meinzer and Jolenta Greenberg of <a href="https://bythebookpod.com/">By the Book</a> podcast have lived by the advice of more than eighty of them. They discuss the ways these books use language to get into your brain, the negging and the euphemisms, what can actually be helpful, and why we should be more like dog.
Content note: we discuss dieting and sizeism, and there are fleeting mentions of rape and abuse. There are also category A and B swears.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/self-help">theallusionist.org/self-help</a>, where there's also a transcript.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Dipsea, the app full of short, sexy stories. Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to <a href="DipseaStories.com/allusionist">DipseaStories.com/allusionist</a>. • Catan, the endlessly reconfigurable board game. Shop at <a href="catanshop.com/allusionist">catanshop.com/allusionist</a> and get 10% off the original base game CATAN by using the promo code ALLUSIONIST at checkout. • Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

162. Self-Help

Empathy and kindness can be noble concepts in themselves, but as terms are thrown around enough to have become buzzwords, and in the process lose some of their meaning and purpose. Audiomakers Sandhya Dirks and Julia Furlan, and academic and podcaster Hannah McGregor, discuss the value and pitfalls of appealing to the emotions.

Content note: there are mentions of parental death, cancer in adults and babies, and suicide. There are also a few category B swears.

Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at theallusionist.org/sentiment, where there's also a transcript.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Dipsea, the app full of short, sexy stories. Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/allusionist.
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• BetterHelp, online therapy with licensed professional counsellors. Allusionist listeners get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/allusionist. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

Empathy and kindness can be noble concepts in themselves, but as terms are thrown around enough to have become buzzwords, and in the process lose some of their meaning and purpose. Audiomakers Sandhya Dirks and Julia Furlan, and academic and podcaster Hannah McGregor, discuss the value and pitfalls of appealing to the emotions.
Content note: there are mentions of parental death, cancer in adults and babies, and suicide. There are also a few category B swears.
Find out more about this episode and get extra information about the topics therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/sentiment">theallusionist.org/sentiment</a>, where there's also a transcript.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Dipsea, the app full of short, sexy stories. Dipsea is offering an extended 30 day free trial when you go to DipseaStories.com/allusionist. • Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • BetterHelp, online therapy with licensed professional counsellors. Allusionist listeners get 10% off your first month at <a href="betterhelp.com/allusionist">betterhelp.com/allusionist</a>.  • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

161. Sentiment

“Anxiety is the parrot sidekick that rides on my shoulder and occasionally squawks warnings in my ear,” says Tim Clare, poet and podcaster and author of the book Coward: Why We Get Anxious & What We Can Do About It. We talk about anxiety, cowardice, magic bullets vs silver bullets, the scary Bible, and seagulls.

Content note for discussion about mental health, unsurprisingly, and colonial and military harmful practices.

Find out more about this episode and some sources of the information therein at theallusionist.org/coward, where there's also a transcript. Find Tim's books, podcasts, writing courses and more at timclarepoet.co.uk.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• NordVPN. Browse safe, browse fast. And, exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the NordVPN deal at nordvpn.com/allusionist. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

“Anxiety is the parrot sidekick that rides on my shoulder and occasionally squawks warnings in my ear,” says Tim Clare, poet and podcaster and author of the book Coward: Why We Get Anxious &amp; What We Can Do About It. We talk about anxiety, cowardice, magic bullets vs silver bullets, the scary Bible, and seagulls.
Content note for discussion about mental health, unsurprisingly, and colonial and military harmful practices.
Find out more about this episode and some sources of the information therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/coward">theallusionist.org/coward</a>, where there's also a transcript. Find Tim's books, podcasts, writing courses and more at timclarepoet.co.uk.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • NordVPN. Browse safe, browse fast. And, exclusivelusionist big discounts: grab the NordVPN deal at <a href="https://nordvpn.com/allusionist">nordvpn.com/allusionist</a>. Try it risk-free now with a 30-day money-back guarantee. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

160. Coward

Grab your stake and crucifix pendant, we're going vampire-hunting! Well, vampire-etymology-hunting. The podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer, which recaps the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode by episode, invited me to answer their listeners' questions of language that the show had provoked. Together with BVTS hosts Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs, I tackle the etymology of coven, vampire/vampyre, wigging out, the name Buffy and Bovril; as well as google as a verb, conlang on TV, and why Latin is so often the language of spells and spookiness.

There are several swears in this episode.

Find out more about this episode and some sources of the information therein at theallusionist.org/bufflusionist, where there's also a transcript.

Listen to Buffering the Vampire Slayer on your pod app and at bufferingthevampireslayer.com, where you can also hear the original XL version of this episode, and get tickets for their upcoming live and livestreamed grand finale.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, crafts, pet pics and word games.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• BetterHelp, online therapy with licensed professional counsellors. Allusionist listeners get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/allusionist. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

Grab your stake and crucifix pendant, we're going vampire-hunting! Well, vampire-etymology-hunting. The podcast Buffering the Vampire Slayer, which recaps the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode by episode, invited me to answer their listeners' questions of language that the show had provoked. Together with BVTS hosts Kristin Russo and Jenny Owen Youngs, I tackle the etymology of coven, vampire/vampyre, wigging out, the name Buffy and Bovril; as well as google as a verb, conlang on TV, and why Latin is so often the language of spells and spookiness.
There are several swears in this episode.
Find out more about this episode and some sources of the information therein at <a href="theallusionist.org/bufflusionist">theallusionist.org/bufflusionist</a>, where there's also a transcript.
Listen to Buffering the Vampire Slayer on your pod app and at <a href="bufferingthevampireslayer.com">bufferingthevampireslayer.com</a>, where you can also hear the original XL version of this episode, and get tickets for their upcoming live and livestreamed grand finale.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, crafts, pet pics and word games.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • BetterHelp, online therapy with licensed professional counsellors. Allusionist listeners get 10% off your first month at <a href="betterhelp.com/allusionist">betterhelp.com/allusionist</a>. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

159. Bufflusionist

There's lots of fun etymology of creatures and a lot of fun etymology derived from creatures, and now it is gathered into this fun playalong quiz about animal etymologies!

There's an interactive answer sheet at theallusionist.org/creaturequiz, plus more information about various animals and etymologies, and as always the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

And come to see the new live show Your Name Here in Aotearoa New Zealand this month of August 2022! Ticket links are at theallusionist.org/events, and everyone gets a special Allusionist pencil. Each!

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, crafts, pet pics and word games.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• BetterHelp, online therapy with licensed professional counsellors. Allusionist listeners get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/allusionist. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

There's lots of fun etymology of creatures and a lot of fun etymology derived from creatures, and now it is gathered into this fun playalong quiz about animal etymologies!
There's an interactive answer sheet at <a href="http://theallusionist.org/creaturequiz">theallusionist.org/creaturequiz</a>, plus more information about various animals and etymologies, and as always the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
And come to see the new live show Your Name Here in Aotearoa New Zealand this month of August 2022! Ticket links are at <a href="theallusionist.org/events">theallusionist.org/events,</a> and everyone gets a special Allusionist pencil. Each!
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, crafts, pet pics and word games.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • BetterHelp, online therapy with licensed professional counsellors. Allusionist listeners get 10% off your first month at <a href="betterhelp.com/allusionist">betterhelp.com/allusionist</a>. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

158. Creature Quiz

This is the Tranquillusionist, in which I, Helen Zaltzman, say a load of deliberately boring words to distract your interior monologue from whatever dystopian stew it is in. Today: a list of the Big Things of Australia. 

The Allusionist is on tour in Australia with the new live show Your Name Here, all about eponyms. Before you get too tranquil, visit theallusionist.org/events for dates and tickets to the remaining shows in Australia and the upcoming ones in Aotearoa New Zealand. Hurry!! OK, back to tranqullity.

Find a transcript and some photos of the Big Things I've encountered at theallusionist.org/big-things. All the Allusionist episodes - other Tranquillusionists and also ones that are actually about something - are at theallusionist.org.

The original music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird Spotify and Bandcamp, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

This is the Tranquillusionist, in which I, Helen Zaltzman, say a load of deliberately boring words to distract your interior monologue from whatever dystopian stew it is in. Today: a list of the Big Things of Australia. 
The Allusionist is on tour in Australia with the new live show Your Name Here, all about eponyms. Before you get too tranquil, visit theallusionist.org/events for dates and tickets to the remaining shows in Australia and the upcoming ones in Aotearoa New Zealand. Hurry!! OK, back to tranqullity.
Find a transcript and some photos of the Big Things I've encountered at theallusionist.org/big-things. All the Allusionist episodes - other Tranquillusionists and also ones that are actually about something - are at theallusionist.org.
The original music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird Spotify and Bandcamp, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.
The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

Tranquillusionist: Australia's Big Things

The term 'queerbaiting' has evolved from meaning entrapment to marketing ploy to drawing "queer audiences into a piece of media that has no intention of actually meaningfully exploring queerness" says Leigh Pfeffer, host and producer of the podcast History Is Gay. Leigh tracks where the word's various incarnations came from, and why it should not be confused with 'queer coding'.

This episode contains some swears.

Find out more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/queerbaiting, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

And come to see the new live show Your Name Here in Australia and New Zealand! Ticket links are at theallusionist.org/events, and everyone gets a special Allusionist pencil. Each! You don't even have to share the same pencil!

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, crafts, pet pics and word games.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase. 
• BetterHelp, online therapy with licensed professional counsellors. Allusionist listeners get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/allusionist. 
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

The term 'queerbaiting' has evolved from meaning entrapment to marketing ploy to drawing "queer audiences into a piece of media that has no intention of actually meaningfully exploring queerness" says Leigh Pfeffer, host and producer of the podcast History Is Gay. Leigh tracks where the word's various incarnations came from, and why it should not be confused with 'queer coding'.
This episode contains some swears.
Find out more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="http://theallusionist.org/queerbaiting">theallusionist.org/queerbaiting</a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
And come to see the new live show Your Name Here in Australia and New Zealand! Ticket links are at <a href="theallusionist.org/events">theallusionist.org/events,</a> and everyone gets a special Allusionist pencil. Each! You don't even have to share the same pencil!
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, crafts, pet pics and word games.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. • BetterHelp, online therapy with licensed professional counsellors. Allusionist listeners get 10% off your first month at <a href="betterhelp.com/allusionist">betterhelp.com/allusionist</a>. • Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.

157. Queerbaiting

From whitewash (the paint) we got whitewashing (the covering up of misdeeds) and from there greenwashing, redwashing, bluewashing, purplewashing, pinkwashing - and now rainbow washing, where companies will put Pride flags all over products and posts during the month of June, but behind the scenes will not necessarily be useful - and sometimes they'll be anti-useful. Mitra Kaboli, host of the new podcast Welcome to Provincetown, helps sort the real allyship from the rainbow-washing; and writer Sarah Schulman, who popularised the term 'pinkwashing', explains the more political meaning of that word.

This episode contains some swears.

Find out more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/rainbow-washing, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. And come to see the new live show Your Name Here in Australia and New Zealand! Ticket links are at theallusionist.org/events.

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is composed and sung by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at multitude.productions/ads. This episode is sponsored by:

• Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to bombas.com/allusionist to get 20% off your first purchase.
• Catan, the building and trading board game where no two games are the same. Allusionist listeners get 10 percent off the original base game at catanshop.com/allusionist.
• Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to squarespace.com/allusionist for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist. 

From whitewash (the paint) we got whitewashing (the covering up of misdeeds) and from there greenwashing, redwashing, bluewashing, purplewashing, pinkwashing - and now rainbow washing, where companies will put Pride flags all over products and posts during the month of June, but behind the scenes will not necessarily be useful - and sometimes they'll be anti-useful. Mitra Kaboli, host of the new podcast Welcome to Provincetown, helps sort the real allyship from the rainbow-washing; and writer Sarah Schulman, who popularised the term 'pinkwashing', explains the more political meaning of that word.
This episode contains some swears.
Find out more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="http://theallusionist.org/rainbow-washing">theallusionist.org/rainbow-washing</a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. And come to see the new live show Your Name Here in Australia and New Zealand! Ticket links are at <a href="theallusionist.org/events">theallusionist.org/events</a>.
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is composed and sung by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.
Our ad partner is Multitude. To sponsor the show, contact them at <a href="http://multitude.productions/ads">multitude.productions/ads</a>. This episode is sponsored by:
&bull; Bombas, whose mission is to make the comfiest clothes ever, and match every item sold with an equal item donated. Go to <a href="bombas.com/allusionist">bombas.com/allusionist</a> to get 20% off your first purchase. &bull; Catan, the building and trading board game where no two games are the same. Allusionist listeners get 10 percent off the original base game at <a href="catanshop.com/allusionist">catanshop.com/allusionist</a>. &bull; Squarespace, your one-stop shop for building and running a sleek website. Go to <a href="squarespace.com/allusionist">squarespace.com/allusionist</a> for a free 2-week trial, and get 10 percent off your first purchase of a website or domain with the code allusionist.&nbsp;

156. Rainbow Washing

The name Tiffany has been around for some 800 years. But you can't name a character in a historical novel 'Tiffany', because people don't believe the name is old. Science fiction and fantasy author Jo Walton coined the term "The Tiffany Problem" to express the disparity between historical facts and the common perception of the past.

Find out more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/tiffany, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is composed and sung by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

The name Tiffany has been around for some 800 years. But you can't name a character in a historical novel 'Tiffany', because people don't believe the name is old. Science fiction and fantasy author Jo Walton coined the term "The Tiffany Problem" to express the disparity between historical facts and the common perception of the past.
Find out more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/objectivity"></a><a href="theallusionist.org/tiffany">theallusionist.org/tiffany</a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting an independent podcast, you get patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is composed and sung by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.

155. The Tiffany Problem

Couple of easy straightforward questions for us to chew on: 1. What is ‘objectivity’ supposed to mean? And 2. does it exist? Lewis Raven Wallace, a journalist and audiomaker fired from his public radio job over his blog post entitled ‘Objectivity is dead and I'm okay with it’, considers the principals and practice of objectivity, and what might be fairer ones.

Find out more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/objectivity, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Couple of easy straightforward questions for us to chew on: 1. What is ‘objectivity’ supposed to mean? And 2. does it exist? Lewis Raven Wallace, a journalist and audiomaker <a href="https://medium.com/@lewispants/i-was-fired-from-my-journalism-job-ten-days-into-trump-c3bc014ce51d">fired from his public radio job</a> over his blog post entitled ‘<a href="https://medium.com/@lewispants/objectivity-is-dead-and-im-okay-with-it-7fd2b4b5c58f ">Objectivity is dead and I'm okay with it</a>’, considers the principals and practice of objectivity, and what might be fairer ones.
Find out more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/objectivity">theallusionist.org/objectivity</a><a href="theallusionist.org/beesknees"></a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.

154. Objectivity

Chinese is one of the oldest still-spoken languages in the world. But when technologies arrived like telegraphy and computing, designed with the Roman alphabet in mind, if Chinese wanted to be able to participate then it had to choose between adapting, or paying a heavy price. And sometimes both were inevitable. Jing Tsu, author of Kingdom of Characters: the Language Revolution that Made China Modern, recounts how Chinese contended with obstacles like alphabetisation, Romanisation and standardisation.

Find out more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/character, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Chinese is one of the oldest still-spoken languages in the world. But when technologies arrived like telegraphy and computing, designed with the Roman alphabet in mind, if Chinese wanted to be able to participate then it had to choose between adapting, or paying a heavy price. And sometimes both were inevitable. Jing Tsu, author of Kingdom of Characters: the Language Revolution that Made China Modern, recounts how Chinese contended with obstacles like alphabetisation, Romanisation and standardisation.
Find out more information about the topics in this episode at<a href="theallusionist.org/character"> theallusionist.org/character</a><a href="theallusionist.org/beesknees"></a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
The Allusionist is produced by me, Helen Zaltzman. The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.

153. In Character

Hans Asperger would have been merely "a footnote in the history of autism", so why did he get to be the eponym in Asperger's syndrome? Because along with the usual problems medical eponyms pose, and his work not really earning him the honour, he collaborated with Nazis and sent children to a hospital where they would be experimented on and even killed.

Activist, writer and academic Morénike Giwa Onaiwu discusses the stigma around terms like Asperger’s syndrome and autism, and historian Edith Sheffer talks about Hans Asperger and child psychiatry in Nazi Vienna.

Content notes: Nazis, eugenics, ableism, child abuse, murder. 

There are two versions of this episode. The content is the same, but this version contains background music; if you would prefer one with no music, you can get it right next to where you obtained this one.

Find out more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/asperger, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie!

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Hans Asperger would have been merely "a footnote in the history of autism", so why did he get to be the eponym in Asperger's syndrome? Because along with the usual problems medical eponyms pose, and his work not really earning him the honour, he collaborated with Nazis and sent children to a hospital where they would be experimented on and even killed.
Activist, writer and academic Morénike Giwa Onaiwu discusses the stigma around terms like Asperger’s syndrome and autism, and historian Edith Sheffer talks about Hans Asperger and child psychiatry in Nazi Vienna.
Content notes: Nazis, eugenics, ableism, child abuse, murder. 
There are two versions of this episode. The content is the same, but this version contains background music; if you would prefer one with no music, you can get it right next to where you obtained this one.
Find out more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/asperger">theallusionist.org/asperger</a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie!
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.

152. Asperger

Hans Asperger would have been merely "a footnote in the history of autism", so why did he get to be the eponym in Asperger's syndrome? Because along with the usual problems medical eponyms pose, and his work not really earning him the honour, he collaborated with Nazis and sent children to a hospital where they would be experimented on and even killed.

Activist, writer and academic Morénike Giwa Onaiwu discusses the stigma around terms like Asperger’s syndrome and autism, and historian Edith Sheffer talks about Hans Asperger and child psychiatry in Nazi Vienna.

Content notes: Nazis, eugenics, ableism, child abuse, murder. 

There are two versions of this episode. The content is the same, but this version contains no background music, just speech; if you would prefer one with music, you can get it right next to where you obtained this one.

Find out more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/asperger, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie!

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Hans Asperger would have been merely "a footnote in the history of autism", so why did he get to be the eponym in Asperger's syndrome? Because along with the usual problems medical eponyms pose, and his work not really earning him the honour, he collaborated with Nazis and sent children to a hospital where they would be experimented on and even killed.
Activist, writer and academic Morénike Giwa Onaiwu discusses the stigma around terms like Asperger’s syndrome and autism, and historian Edith Sheffer talks about Hans Asperger and child psychiatry in Nazi Vienna.
Content notes: Nazis, eugenics, ableism, child abuse, murder. 
There are two versions of this episode. The content is the same, but this version contains no background music, just speech; if you would prefer one with music, you can get it right next to where you obtained this one.
Find out more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/asperger">theallusionist.org/asperger</a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie!
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.

152. Asperger - music-free version

Bad hats, cat's pyjamas, banting, goops, creatures, and playing possum - what WERE people going on about during the Golden Age of detective fiction? Caroline Crampton of Shedunnit podcast and I get sleuthing into the slang of the mystery novels of the 1920s and 1930s.

Find out more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/beesknees, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word. Versions of this episode were originally released by Caroline Crampton's Shedunnit podcast and the Shedunnit Book Club. Find both at shedunnitshow.com.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Bad hats, cat's pyjamas, banting, goops, creatures, and playing possum - what WERE people going on about during the Golden Age of detective fiction? Caroline Crampton of <a href="shedunnitshow.com">Shedunnit podcast</a> and I get sleuthing into the slang of the mystery novels of the 1920s and 1930s.
Find out more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/beesknees">theallusionist.org/beesknees</a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word. Versions of this episode were originally released by Caroline Crampton's <a href="https://shedunnitshow.com/">Shedunnit podcast</a> and the Shedunnit Book Club. Find both at <a href="shedunnitshow.com">shedunnitshow.com</a>.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.

151. The Bee's Knees

"Warning: read and keep," says the piece of paper inside Kinder Surprise Eggs, in 34 languages; yet most people do neither thing. But sociologist Keith Kahn-Harris did read and keep it, and study what the egg is trying to tell us: about Kinder Egg toy safety, yes, but also about multilingualism, about an object that says 'yes!' but the warning says 'no!', about the signs of human idiosyncracy that show themselves even in a mandatory corporate message.

Find out more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/kinderegg, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie!

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

The music is by Martin Austwick, made with Kinder Eggs. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

"Warning: read and keep," says the piece of paper inside Kinder Surprise Eggs, in 34 languages; yet most people do neither thing. But sociologist Keith Kahn-Harris did read and keep it, and study what the egg is trying to tell us: about Kinder Egg toy safety, yes, but also about multilingualism, about an object that says 'yes!' but the warning says 'no!', about the signs of human idiosyncracy that show themselves even in a mandatory corporate message.
Find out more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/kinderegg">theallusionist.org/kinderegg</a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie!
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
The music is by Martin Austwick, made with Kinder Eggs. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.

150. The Egg's Warning

Complex PTSD is different to PTSD, but there's not that much understanding of it as its own condition - which was not much help to Stephanie Foo when she was diagnosed with it in 2018. We talk about facing trauma rather than burying it, self-care and self-soothing, endurance being an underrated word, and why people can quit sniping about triggers. Stephanie’s new book is What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma. 

Content note: Stephanie refers fleetingly to the parental violence and abandonment she experienced, and we also mention sexual violence; but, we don’t discuss any of these things in detail. It’s a more general conversation about psychology and trauma, rather than stories of traumatisation. There are also a couple of swears.

Find out more information about the topics in this episde at theallusionist.org/cptsd, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie!

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via palebirdmusic.com.

Complex PTSD is different to PTSD, but there's not that much understanding of it as its own condition - which was not much help to Stephanie Foo when she was diagnosed with it in 2018. We talk about facing trauma rather than burying it, self-care and self-soothing, endurance being an underrated word, and why people can quit sniping about triggers. Stephanie’s new book is <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/658389/what-my-bones-know-by-stephanie-foo/">What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma</a>. 
Content note: Stephanie refers fleetingly to the parental violence and abandonment she experienced, and we also mention sexual violence; but, we don’t discuss any of these things in detail. It’s a more general conversation about psychology and trauma, rather than stories of traumatisation. There are also a couple of swears.
Find out more information about the topics in this episde at <a href="theallusionist.org/cptsd">theallusionist.org/cptsd</a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and not only are you supporting independent podcast, you get fortnightly patron-exclusive video livestreams and a Discord community full of language chat, craft pics and word game camaraderie!
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs via <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com</a>.

149. Complex PTSD

I've been saving them up all year, and now it's time for the annual selection box of Bonus Bits! Things this year's guests said that couldn't fit into their episode, or weren't related to language, but ARE related to being a bonus bit. We've got percussive pan protests; the mating habits, and male-killing habits, of ladybirds; Icelandic aunts/uncles/cousins/wait which member of the extended family are you referring to?; Morse code machines; and a surprisingly heated topic, the semantics of salad.

Links to all the original episodes featuring these guests are at theallusionist.org/bonus2021, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.

The show will return in February 2022, but sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist for patron-exclusive livestreams in January!

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

Visit theallusionist.org/merch to obtain your Potato Fugue State sweatshirts and multidenominational Wintervalwear.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

I've been saving them up all year, and now it's time for the annual selection box of Bonus Bits! Things this year's guests said that couldn't fit into their episode, or weren't related to language, but ARE related to being a bonus bit. We've got percussive pan protests; the mating habits, and male-killing habits, of ladybirds; Icelandic aunts/uncles/cousins/wait which member of the extended family are you referring to?; Morse code machines; and a surprisingly heated topic, the semantics of salad.
Links to all the original episodes featuring these guests are at <a href="theallusionist.org/bonus2021">theallusionist.org/bonus2021</a>, plus a transcript and the full dictionary entry for the randomly selected word.
The show will return in February 2022, but sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> for patron-exclusive livestreams in January!
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
Visit <a href="https://theallusionist.squarespace.com/allusionist/theallusionist.org/merch">theallusionist.org/merch</a> to obtain your <a href="https://www.theallusionist.org/mistletoe">Potato Fugue State</a> sweatshirts and multidenominational <a href="https://www.theallusionist.org/winterval">Winterval</a>wear.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.

148. Bonus 2021

"It's really good if we can get the changes through here - that can be an inspiration for other other countries or other places in the world," says Þorbjörg Þorvaldsdóttir, chair of Samtökin ’78, the national queer organization of Iceland. In 2019, Iceland passed the Gender Autonomy Act, which added an option for people to register their official gender as X; with it, the country's strictly binary-gendered naming laws were suddenly transformed. Other changes, like a new genderfree pronoun, are catching on; but overhauling a whole grammatically gendered language is no easy undertaking.

Find out more about the topics covered in this episode, and a transcript, at theallusionist.org/todaytomorrow2; and browse down your podfeed to listen to Today, Tomorrow part 1 about how Icelandic officially obtains new words, and navigates the challenges of being an old language in the present day; and the episode Name V Law, about the Icelandic Naming Committee and the strict laws before the updates discusssed in this episode.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses, bonus etymologies, a trip around Iceland's museums via me, AND a delightful community of Teamlusionists!

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. 

Visit theallusionist.org/merch to obtain your Potato Fugue State sweatshirts and multidenominational Wintervalwear.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

"It's really good if we can get the changes through here - that can be an inspiration for other other countries or other places in the world," says Þorbjörg Þorvaldsdóttir, chair of <a href="https://samtokin78.is/english/">Samtökin ’78</a>, the national queer organization of Iceland. In 2019, Iceland passed the Gender Autonomy Act, which added an option for people to register their official gender as X; with it, the country's strictly binary-gendered naming laws were suddenly transformed. Other changes, like a new genderfree pronoun, are catching on; but overhauling a whole grammatically gendered language is no easy undertaking.
Find out more about the topics covered in this episode, and a transcript, at <a href="theallusionist.org/todaytomorrow2">theallusionist.org/todaytomorrow2</a>; and browse down your podfeed to listen to <a href="theallusionist.org/todaytomorrow1">Today, Tomorrow part 1</a> about how Icelandic officially obtains new words, and navigates the challenges of being an old language in the present day; and the episode <a href="theallusionist.org/icelandic-names">Name V Law</a>, about the Icelandic Naming Committee and the strict laws before the updates discusssed in this episode.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses, bonus etymologies, a trip around Iceland's museums via me, AND a delightful community of Teamlusionists!
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. 
Visit <a href="https://theallusionist.squarespace.com/allusionist/theallusionist.org/merch">theallusionist.org/merch</a> to obtain your <a href="https://www.theallusionist.org/mistletoe">Potato Fugue State</a> sweatshirts and multidenominational <a href="https://www.theallusionist.org/winterval">Winterval</a>wear.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.

147. Survival: Today, Tomorrow part 2

The Icelandic language has remained so stable over the centuries, speakers can read manuscripts from 900 years ago without too much trouble. And when they need a new word for more recent concepts, there are committees to coin one, so that the modern Icelandic lexicon includes such things as the internet, helicopters and mansplaining. Defending the language from the encroachment of English, however, is rather more challenging.

Find out more about the topics covered in this episode, and a transcript, at theallusionist.org/todaytomorrow1.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses, bonus etymologies, a trip around Iceland's museums via me, AND a delightful community of Teamlusionists!

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The Icelandic language has remained so stable over the centuries, speakers can read manuscripts from 900 years ago without too much trouble. And when they need a new word for more recent concepts, there are committees to coin one, so that the modern Icelandic lexicon includes such things as the internet, helicopters and mansplaining. Defending the language from the encroachment of English, however, is rather more challenging.
Find out more about the topics covered in this episode, and a transcript, at <a href="theallusionist.org/todaytomorrow1">theallusionist.org/todaytomorrow1</a>.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses, bonus etymologies, a trip around Iceland's museums via me, AND a delightful community of Teamlusionists!
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

146. Survival: Today, Tomorrow part 1

When you're trans and pregnant, some of the vocabulary of pregnancy, birth and parenting might not fit you. In fact, some of it might not even work for people of ANY gender. Trans parents Freddy McConnell and CJ talk about gender-additive language, inclusive for women and other genders, and about how in English law, the word 'mother' becomes semantically very complicated indeed.

Find out more about the topics covered in this episode at theallusionist.org/parents.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses and bonus etymologies, AND a delightful community of Teamlusionists!

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

When you're trans and pregnant, some of the vocabulary of pregnancy, birth and parenting might not fit you. In fact, some of it might not even work for people of ANY gender. Trans parents Freddy McConnell and CJ talk about gender-additive language, inclusive for women and other genders, and about how in English law, the word 'mother' becomes semantically very complicated indeed.
Find out more about the topics covered in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/parents">theallusionist.org/parents</a>.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses and bonus etymologies, AND a delightful community of Teamlusionists!
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

145. Parents

The word 'asexual' has been used by humans describing themselves for several decades; 'aromantic' is newer. Both words enable people to voice identities that were unacknowledged for centuries, to find each other and build communities together, and to provide counternarratives to what the allosexuals are pushing.

Lewis Brown, a writer and poet, speaks on behalf of AUREA, the Aromantic spectrum Union for Recognition, Education and Advocacy, about the history and use of 'asexual' and 'aromantic'. Happy Ace Week! aceweek.org.

Find out more about the topics covered in this episode at theallusionist.org/aroace.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses and bonus etymologies, AND a delightful community of Teamlusionists!

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

The word 'asexual' has been used by humans describing themselves for several decades; 'aromantic' is newer. Both words enable people to voice identities that were unacknowledged for centuries, to find each other and build communities together, and to provide counternarratives to what the allosexuals are pushing.
Lewis Brown, a writer and poet, speaks on behalf of AUREA, the Aromantic spectrum Union for Recognition, Education and Advocacy, about the history and use of 'asexual' and 'aromantic'. Happy Ace Week! aceweek.org.
Find out more about the topics covered in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/aroace">theallusionist.org/aroace</a>.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses and bonus etymologies, AND a delightful community of Teamlusionists!
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

144. Aro Ace

Today it's the etymologies you requested! And a few you didn't! We've got witches, wizards, warlocks; conjurers and cloves; wood shavings, nice gone nasty, and a whole lot more. Plus, a bold method of scaring away a ghost, if you must.

Find out more about the topics covered in this episode at theallusionist.org/hedgerider.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses and bonus etymologies.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

Today it's the etymologies you requested! And a few you didn't! We've got witches, wizards, warlocks; conjurers and cloves; wood shavings, nice gone nasty, and a whole lot more. Plus, a bold method of scaring away a ghost, if you must.
Find out more about the topics covered in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/hedgerider">theallusionist.org/hedgerider</a>.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses and bonus etymologies.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

143. Hedge Rider

Did any number cause as much trouble as zero? It stranded ships; it scrambles the brains of mathematicians, calendar users and computers; it even got itself banned in Florence. Math(s) communicator and drag queen Kyne explains the Terminator of numbers.

Find out more about this episode at theallusionist.org/zero. And submit requests for words you'd like me to investigate in the next episode at theallusionist.org/requests.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses, and discounted tickets for the Allusionist stage show.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

Did any number cause as much trouble as zero? It stranded ships; it scrambles the brains of mathematicians, calendar users and computers; it even got itself banned in Florence. Math(s) communicator and drag queen <a href="https://beacons.page/onlinekyne">Kyne</a> explains the Terminator of numbers.
Find out more about this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/zero">theallusionist.org/zero</a>. And submit requests for words you'd like me to investigate in the next episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/requests">theallusionist.org/requests</a>.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses, and discounted tickets for the Allusionist stage show.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

142. Zero

Quiz time! Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway of Home Cooking podcast join to deliver questions about food etymology, as well as what are the two words that make a dance track, and whether 'za' is an acceptable abbreviation for 'pizza'.

Play along and keep track of your score using the interactive scoresheet at theallusionist.org/foodquiz.

For the rest of September 2021, you can stream the London Podfest performance of the new Allusionist live show, full of eponyms, music and planets. Link is at theallusionist.org/events.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses, and discounted tickets for the Allusionist live show.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. Let me know what you scored in the quiz!

Quiz time! Samin Nosrat and Hrishikesh Hirway of Home Cooking podcast join to deliver questions about food etymology, as well as what are the two words that make a dance track, and whether 'za' is an acceptable abbreviation for 'pizza'.
Play along and keep track of your score using the interactive scoresheet at <a href="theallusionist.org/foodquiz">theallusionist.org/foodquiz</a>.
For the rest of September 2021, you can stream the London Podfest performance of the new Allusionist live show, full of eponyms, music and planets. Link is at <a href="theallusionist.org/events">theallusionist.org/events</a>.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and as well as supporting the show, you get behind the scenes glimpses, and discounted tickets for the Allusionist live show.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. Let me know what you scored in the quiz!

141. Food Quiz

We use verbal numbers and we use numerals - why do we need both? Why do we have the ones we have? What happened to Roman numerals? And what's loserish about the fiftieth Super Bowl? Stephen Chrisomalis, professor of anthropology and linguistics and author of the book Reckonings: Numerals, Cognition and History, returns to the Allusionist to explain our current numbers, and why we shouldn't get too arrogant about them.

There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at theallusionist.org/numbers.

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get discounted tickets to the upcoming Allusionist live show on 4 September 2021.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

We use verbal numbers and we use numerals - why do we need both? Why do we have the ones we have? What happened to Roman numerals? And what's loserish about the fiftieth Super Bowl? Stephen Chrisomalis, professor of anthropology and linguistics and author of the book Reckonings: Numerals, Cognition and History, returns to the Allusionist to explain our current numbers, and why we shouldn't get too arrogant about them.
There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at <a href="theallusionist.org/numbers">theallusionist.org/numbers</a>.
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and as well as supporting the show, you get discounted tickets to the upcoming Allusionist live show on 4 September 2021.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

140. Num8er5

This is the Tranquillusionist, in which I, Helen Zaltzman, read all the salads from the 1950 recipe book 282 Ways of Making a Salad, with Favourite Recipes by British and American Personalities and Stars  by Bebe Daniels and Jill Algood, with the purpose of giving your internal monologue a break by replacing it with some absolutely inconsequential words. Note: this is NOT the usual Allusionist. You will not learn anything about language at all, in fact the ideal outcome of the Tranquillusionists is that you’re asleep before the end. 

Find all the Allusionist episodes - other Tranquillusionists and also ones that are actually about something - at theallusionist.org.

The original music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s songs at palebirdmusic.com or on Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. And listen to his podcasts Neutrino Watch and Song By Song.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist.

This is the Tranquillusionist, in which I, Helen Zaltzman, read all the salads from the 1950 recipe book 282 Ways of Making a Salad, with Favourite Recipes by British and American Personalities and Stars by Bebe Daniels and Jill Algood, with the purpose of giving your internal monologue a break by replacing it with some absolutely inconsequential words. Note: this is NOT the usual Allusionist. You will not learn anything about language at all, in fact the ideal outcome of the Tranquillusionists is that you’re asleep before the end. 
Find all the Allusionist episodes - other Tranquillusionists and also ones that are actually about something - at <a href="http://theallusionist.org/alarm-bells">theallusionist.org</a>.
The original music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or on Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. And listen to his podcasts <a href="https://neutrinowatch.org/">Neutrino Watch</a> and <a href="http://www.songbysongpodcast.com/">Song By Song</a>.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>.

Tranquillusionist: 282 Salads

They're not ladies and they're not birds; they're not even technically bugs! But that's not the most surprising thing about ladybirds/ladybugs and their brilliant variety of names. Tamsin Majerus AKA Dr Ladybird explains why ladybirds are so great; and Johanna Mayer and Elah Feder of the podcast Science Diction, about words and the science stories behind them, consider what's in a (ladybird) name.

This episode is one half of a collaboration with Science Diction, so go to their feed to listen to their episode It’ll Never Fly, where they set me a quiz about the outlandish and intriguing names given to fruitfly genes.

There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at theallusionist.org/ladybird.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist and as well as supporting the show, you get discounted tickets to the upcoming Allusionist live show on 4 September 2021, plus the story of my all too brief spell of having a loveliness of pet ladybirds.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

They're not ladies and they're not birds; they're not even technically bugs! But that's not the most surprising thing about ladybirds/ladybugs and their brilliant variety of names. Tamsin Majerus AKA <a href="twitter.com/dr_Ladybird">Dr Ladybird</a> explains why ladybirds are so great; and Johanna Mayer and Elah Feder of the podcast <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/science-diction">Science Diction</a>, about words and the science stories behind them, consider what's in a (ladybird) name.
This episode is one half of a collaboration with Science Diction, so go to their feed to listen to their episode <a href="https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/science-diction/articles/whats-in-a-fruit-fly-gene-name">It’ll Never Fly</a>, where they set me a quiz about the outlandish and intriguing names given to fruitfly genes.
There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at <a href="theallusionist.org/ladybird">theallusionist.org/ladybird</a>.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> and as well as supporting the show, you get discounted tickets to the upcoming Allusionist live show on 4 September 2021, plus the story of my all too brief spell of having a loveliness of pet ladybirds.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

139 Ladybird Ladybug

Crazy, insane, nuts, mad, bonkers, psycho, schizo, OCD - casual vocabulary is strewn with mental health terms, but perhaps shouldn't be? Psychotherapist and podcaster Lily Sloane talks about what we're really saying when we use such words.

Content note: in the second half of the show there is some mention of eating disorders. So if that’s not what you need to hear about today, tap out at the ad break.

There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at theallusionist.org/mind-my-mind.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

Sign up to be a patron at patreon.com/allusionist by the end of June 2021, and I'll record the word or phrase of your choice to use as your phone alert or alarm!

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

Crazy, insane, nuts, mad, bonkers, psycho, schizo, OCD - casual vocabulary is strewn with mental health terms, but perhaps shouldn't be? <a href="http://lilysloane.com/">Psychotherapist</a> and <a href="lilymakessound.com">podcaster</a> Lily Sloane talks about what we're really saying when we use such words.
Content note: in the second half of the show there is some mention of eating disorders. So if that’s not what you need to hear about today, tap out at the ad break.
There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at <a href="theallusionist.org/mind-my-mind">theallusionist.org/mind-my-mind</a>.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 
Sign up to be a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> by the end of June 2021, and I'll record the word or phrase of your choice to use as your phone alert or alarm!
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

138. Mind My Mind

Exclamation; sign of agreement OR disapproval; gendered, but circumstantially gender-neutral; term of endearment: 'dude' can do it all! But its connotations of a laid-back, cool, masculine person are only a few decades old; before that, it meant...an uptight city-dwelling tourist?? Dude, seriously!

There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at theallusionist.org/dude. Callie Wright's podcast is Queersplaining, which you can find in the kinds of places you obtain this podcast, and at queersplaining.com. 

Want to be barked awake/gently introduced to the day by me saying the word of your choice? Become a patreon at patreon.com/allusionist by the end of this month of June 2021, and I will record the word or short phrase of your choice to use as your phone alert or alarm! All patrons get to choose a word, and all patrons get the recordings of all the patrons’ choices. This is going to be fun. Oh and you’re helping fund the show too, of course.

The Allusionist theme is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. His new podcast is Neutrino Watch, and it's different every time you download it.

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionists how and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

Exclamation; sign of agreement OR disapproval; gendered, but circumstantially gender-neutral; term of endearment: 'dude' can do it all! But its connotations of a laid-back, cool, masculine person are only a few decades old; before that, it meant...an uptight city-dwelling tourist?? Dude, seriously!
There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at <a href="theallusionist.org/dude">theallusionist.org/dude</a>. Callie Wright's podcast is <a href="queersplaining.com">Queersplaining</a>, which you can find in the kinds of places you obtain this podcast, and at <a href="queersplaining.com">queersplaining.com</a>.&nbsp;
Want to be barked awake/gently introduced to the day by me saying the word of your choice? Become a patreon at <a href="https://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a> by the end of this month of June 2021, and I will record the word or short phrase of your choice to use as your phone alert or alarm! All patrons get to choose a word, and all patrons get the recordings of all the patrons&rsquo; choices. This is going to be fun. Oh and you&rsquo;re helping fund the show too, of course.
The Allusionist theme is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he&rsquo;s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. His new podcast is Neutrino Watch, and it's different every time you download it.
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionists how</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

137. Dude

“It's hard to address something if you can't actually name what it is,” says Moya Bailey, who coined a term that enables people to discuss a specific combination of racism and sexism: misogynoir.

Find Moya Bailey's work at moyabailey.com. Her new book is Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women's Digital Resistance. 

There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at theallusionist.org/misogynoir.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionists how and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

&ldquo;It's hard to address something if you can't actually name what it is,&rdquo; says Moya Bailey, who coined a term that enables people to discuss a specific combination of racism and sexism: misogynoir.
Find Moya Bailey's work at <a href="moyabailey.com">moyabailey.com</a>. Her new book is Misogynoir Transformed: Black Women's Digital Resistance.&nbsp;
There's more about this episode, and a transcript, at <a href="theallusionist.org/misogynoir">theallusionist.org/misogynoir</a>.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he&rsquo;s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.&nbsp;
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionists how</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

136. Misogynoir

SOS is a really versatile distress call. You can shout it; you can tap it out in Morse code; you can honk it on a horn; you can signal it with flashes of light; you can spell it out on the beach with debris from your wrecked ship.

Explaining where SOS came from and what it means are maritime archivist Christian Ostersehlte from the German Maritime Museum, and Paul Tyreman from PK Porthcurno, the Museum of Global Telecommunications.

Find more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/sos. 

There are a couple of category B swears in this episode.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionists how and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

SOS is a really versatile distress call. You can shout it; you can tap it out in Morse code; you can honk it on a horn; you can signal it with flashes of light; you can spell it out on the beach with debris from your wrecked ship.
Explaining where SOS came from and what it means are maritime archivist Christian Ostersehlte from the German Maritime Museum, and Paul Tyreman from PK Porthcurno, the Museum of Global Telecommunications.
Find more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/sos">theallusionist.org/sos</a>.&nbsp;
There are a couple of category B swears in this episode.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he&rsquo;s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.&nbsp;
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionists how</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

135. SOS

It’s August 2007. Lauren Marks is a 27-year-old actor and a PhD student, spending the month directing a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She’s in a bar, standing onstage, performing a karaoke duet of ‘Total Eclipse of the Heart’…and then a blood vessel in her brain bursts. When she wakes up in hospital, days later, she has no internal monologue, and a vocabulary of only about forty words. 

This is a rerun of an all time fave Allusionist, but with a few extra little bits added. Content note: this episode is about a medical crisis (everyone survives, though!), and has some Category A swears in it.

Find out more about this episode at http://theallusionist.org/totaleclipse, and more about Lauren at http://astitchoftime.com.

The special music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionists how and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

It&rsquo;s August 2007. Lauren Marks is a 27-year-old actor and a PhD student, spending the month directing a play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She&rsquo;s in a bar, standing onstage, performing a karaoke duet of &lsquo;Total Eclipse of the Heart&rsquo;&hellip;and then a blood vessel in her brain bursts. When she wakes up in hospital, days later, she has no internal monologue, and a vocabulary of only about forty words.&nbsp;
This is a rerun of an all time fave Allusionist, but with a few extra little bits added. Content note: this episode is about a medical crisis (everyone survives, though!), and has some Category A swears in it.
Find out more about this episode at <a href="http://theallusionist.org/totaleclipse">http://theallusionist.org/totaleclipse</a>, and more about Lauren at <a href="http://astitchoftime.com">http://astitchoftime.com</a>.
The special music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he&rsquo;s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.&nbsp;
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionists how</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

Allusionist: Eclipse+

If you were in Brazil during the military dictatorship of 1964-1985, tried to bake a cake from a recipe in the newspaper, and were served with a sorry mess that tasted disgustingly salty, it wasn't your fault. What you thought was a recipe was actually a message from the newspaper that they were being censored. 

Designer and researcher Crystian Cruz opens up the TOP SECRET files, to share the fake weather reports, single nipples vs a pair, soap opera characters getting bumped off, and the problems with kung fu. 

Find more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/lacuna. 

There is one swear towards the end of this episode.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionists how and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

If you were in Brazil during the military dictatorship of 1964-1985, tried to bake a cake from a recipe in the newspaper, and were served with a sorry mess that tasted disgustingly salty, it wasn't your fault. What you thought was a recipe was actually a message from the newspaper that they were being censored.&nbsp;
Designer and researcher <a href="https://crystiancruz.myportfolio.com">Crystian Cruz</a> opens up the TOP SECRET files, to share the fake weather reports, single nipples vs a pair, soap opera characters getting bumped off, and the problems with kung fu.&nbsp;
Find more information about the topics in this episode at <a href="theallusionist.org/lacuna">theallusionist.org/lacuna</a>.&nbsp;
There is one swear towards the end of this episode.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he&rsquo;s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.&nbsp;
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionists how</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

134. Lacuna

What to do to stick it to the powers that be? Send your message through something they really care about: cake.

In Buenos Aires, local tour guides Madi Lang and Juan Palacios introduce me to priest's balls and little cannons, the pastries laced with the sweet taste of 1880s trade union protests.

There are a few swears and saucy references in this episode.

Find more information about the topics in this episode at theallusionist.org/cake-sword. 

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionists how and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

What to do to stick it to the powers that be? Send your message through something they really care about: cake.
In Buenos Aires, local tour guides Madi Lang and Juan Palacios introduce me to priest's balls and little cannons, the pastries laced with the sweet taste of 1880s trade union protests.
There are a few swears and saucy references in this episode.
Find more information about the topics in this episode at<a href="theallusionist.org/cake-sword"> theallusionist.org/cake-sword</a>.&nbsp;
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he&rsquo;s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.&nbsp;
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionists how</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

133. Cake is Mighter than the Sword

"Sometimes I've heard people talk about losing a child and people say it's like losing a limb. And as someone who's lost both things, I just want to say, the realities are very different." Musician and writer Christa Couture has experienced way too much of people trying to convey sympathy and instead expressing their discomfort about disability and death. 

Content note: we talk about ableism, cancer and bereavement. Part of the conversation is about the deaths of two of Christa's babies, so stop listening at the 20-minute mark if you need not to hear about that subject right now.

Find more about this episode at theallusionist.org/additions-losses. Christa Couture's website is christacouture.com. Her excellent new memoir How To Lose Everything is out now, and her music is available on Bandcamp, Spotify etc.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionists how and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

"Sometimes I've heard people talk about losing a child and people say it's like losing a limb. And as someone who's lost both things, I just want to say, the realities are very different." Musician and writer Christa Couture has experienced way too much of people trying to convey sympathy and instead expressing their discomfort about disability and death.&nbsp;
Content note: we talk about ableism, cancer and bereavement. Part of the conversation is about the deaths of two of Christa's babies, so stop listening at the 20-minute mark if you need not to hear about that subject right now.
Find more about this episode at<a href="theallusionist.org/additions-losses"> theallusionist.org/additions-losses</a>. Christa Couture's website is <a href="christacouture.com">christacouture.com</a>. Her excellent new memoir How To Lose Everything is out now, and her music is available on Bandcamp, Spotify etc.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he&rsquo;s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.&nbsp;
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionists how</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

132. Additions and Losses

In their podcasts Mija and Moonface, Lory Martinez and James Kim create autobiographical fiction in multiple languages. 

There are a few swears in this episode.

Find out more about this episode at theallusionist.org/podlingual and hear the whole conversation, and the others in the series, on Scripps College's podcast feed. 

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

In their podcasts <a href="https://ochentastudio.com/mija-podcast">Mija</a> and <a href="jmstkm.com">Moonface</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/LoryMart1nez">Lory Martinez</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/TooManyJames_s">James Kim</a> create autobiographical fiction in multiple languages.&nbsp;
There are a few swears in this episode.
Find out more about this episode at <a href="http://theallusionist.org/podlingual">theallusionist.org/podlingual</a>&nbsp;and hear the whole conversation, and the others in the series, on Scripps College's podcast feed.&nbsp;
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he&rsquo;s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.&nbsp;
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

131. Podlingual

St Valentine's name may nowadays be all over the romance-related merch for 14 February, but he was also the patron saint of beekeepers, epilepsy and plagues. Let's get to know this multi-hyphenate saint a bit better.

Find out more about topics covered in this episode at theallusionist.org/valentine. All the information in this episode is real, even though it sounds like it's not.

The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin’s own songs at palebirdmusic.com or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he’s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram. 

The Allusionist's online home is theallusionist.org. Support the show by becoming a patron at patreon.com/allusionist. Stay in touch at twitter.com/allusionistshow, facebook.com/allusionistshow and instagram.com/allusionistshow.

St Valentine's name may nowadays be all over the romance-related merch for 14 February, but he was also the patron saint of beekeepers, epilepsy and plagues. Let's get to know this multi-hyphenate saint a bit better.
Find out more about topics covered in this episode at <a href="http://theallusionist.org/valentine">theallusionist.org/valentine</a>. All the information in this episode is real, even though it sounds like it's not.
The music is by Martin Austwick. Hear Martin&rsquo;s own songs at <a href="http://palebirdmusic.com">palebirdmusic.com </a>or search for Pale Bird on Bandcamp and Spotify, and he&rsquo;s @martinaustwick on Twitter and Instagram.&nbsp;
The Allusionist's online home is <a href="http://theallusionist.org/">theallusionist.org</a>. Support the show by becoming a patron at <a href="http://patreon.com/allusionist">patreon.com/allusionist</a>. Stay in touch at <a href="http://twitter.com/allusionistshow">twitter.com/allusionistshow</a>, <a href="http://facebook.com/allusionistshow">facebook.com/allusionistshow</a> and <a href="http://instagram.com/allusionistshow">instagram.com/allusionistshow</a>.

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