Hello, Puzzlers, and welcome to the Puzzler Podcast, the Raspberry Jelly center of your glazed puzzle donut. I am your host, AJ Jacobs, and today's guest is the great Malika Andrews, Emmy winning journalist, host of NBA Today on ESPN many other things, and author of that intro phrase about donuts. Thank you, Malika, and welcome.

Hello, Puzzlers, and welcome to the Puzzler Podcast, the Raspberry Jelly center of your glazed puzzle donut. I am your host, AJ Jacobs, and today's guest is the great Malika Andrews, Emmy winning journalist, host of NBA Today on ESPN many other things, and author of that intro phrase about donuts. Thank you, Malika, and welcome.

Thank you so much. Aj. I am as much a donut enthusiast as I am a puzzle enthusiast, so I'm very excited to be here.

Thank you so much. Aj. I am as much a donut enthusiast as I am a puzzle enthusiast, so I'm very excited to be here.

Well, yes, they are both delightful and delicious, and yes we are honored that you are a Puzzler listener, and you also are a fan of other types. What are your other favorite puzzles?

Well, yes, they are both delightful and delicious, and yes we are honored that you are a Puzzler listener, and you also are a fan of other types. What are your other favorite puzzles?

So not words is actually one that a former Puzzler guest, Mina Kimes turned me on to who does them way faster than I do? And I love puzzles sitting on my floor crisscross and putting together a puzzle. I got reintroduced to that love in the Pandemic, so I really enjoy both of those. I ventured to dip my toe into the New York Times, but I'm not to the weekends yet.

So not words is actually one that a former Puzzler guest, Mina Kimes turned me on to who does them way faster than I do? And I love puzzles sitting on my floor crisscross and putting together a puzzle. I got reintroduced to that love in the Pandemic, so I really enjoy both of those. I ventured to dip my toe into the New York Times, but I'm not to the weekends yet.

Fair enough. No, it took me many years to work off to the weekends. And what was the last jigsaw puzzle?

Fair enough. No, it took me many years to work off to the weekends. And what was the last jigsaw puzzle?

Was it?

Was it?

I'm actually doing one right now with the kittens and donuts.

I'm actually doing one right now with the kittens and donuts.

Yeah, so it was meant to be. My last one that I did was Hot Air Balloons, and I very much love the colors blending into another made it pretty challenging. But the sky, yeah, why the sky was challenging and it was a two thousand so it was pretty.

Yeah, so it was meant to be. My last one that I did was Hot Air Balloons, and I very much love the colors blending into another made it pretty challenging. But the sky, yeah, why the sky was challenging and it was a two thousand so it was pretty.

Oh right, well then you are going to be fine. You have nothing these well, these are not two thousand piece puzzle level. So for our first puzzle, as you might know, we like to write puzzles tailor to to our guests, so we thought we would start off with a puzzle that isn't an homage to your first name Malika, which, according to my pre show googling, means queen or angel. Is that my googling press.

Oh right, well then you are going to be fine. You have nothing these well, these are not two thousand piece puzzle level. So for our first puzzle, as you might know, we like to write puzzles tailor to to our guests, so we thought we would start off with a puzzle that isn't an homage to your first name Malika, which, according to my pre show googling, means queen or angel. Is that my googling press.

Right in Swahili, it is cori Arabic, it is it is.

Right in Swahili, it is cori Arabic, it is it is.

Yeah. Well, the answers to all of these clues are words that rhyme with Malika. So if I said this, Malika rhyme is a town in Kansas, actually the capital of Kansas. The answer would be, Well.

Yeah. Well, the answers to all of these clues are words that rhyme with Malika. So if I said this, Malika rhyme is a town in Kansas, actually the capital of Kansas. The answer would be, Well.

My childhood nickname was Mika Pika, which helps me with this one. So Malika toka exactly.

My childhood nickname was Mika Pika, which helps me with this one. So Malika toka exactly.

All right, I'm gone, yeah, let's call it. Well this, By the way, this puzzle was written by associate puzzler Andrea Schomberg, who also informed me that the name Topeka comes from the Kansas O sage word meaning a good place to dig potatoes. So that's a fun fact.

All right, I'm gone, yeah, let's call it. Well this, By the way, this puzzle was written by associate puzzler Andrea Schomberg, who also informed me that the name Topeka comes from the Kansas O sage word meaning a good place to dig potatoes. So that's a fun fact.

So go there and get potato moderately fun.

So go there and get potato moderately fun.

There you go. All right, you ready for some more? Yes, this melika rhyme might be said after you strike gold, or if you're a Greek mathematician who just discovered a formula from being in a bathtomb.

There you go. All right, you ready for some more? Yes, this melika rhyme might be said after you strike gold, or if you're a Greek mathematician who just discovered a formula from being in a bathtomb.

So I didn't ever knew so many words rhymed with melika. And I'm, you know, sitting here in California, and I remember learning about the Gold rustaurant I was growing up. What about Melika Eureka? I found it, that's it.

So I didn't ever knew so many words rhymed with melika. And I'm, you know, sitting here in California, and I remember learning about the Gold rustaurant I was growing up. What about Melika Eureka? I found it, that's it.

I love it, exactly, by the way, Eureka College, Red Devils, that's my I'm throwing in the basketball to look like I know what I'm talking about. What I totally don't. All right, what about this Malika rhyme is a spice made from red peppers, can be found on goulash potatoes. I'm sorry potatos bravos or deviled.

I love it, exactly, by the way, Eureka College, Red Devils, that's my I'm throwing in the basketball to look like I know what I'm talking about. What I totally don't. All right, what about this Malika rhyme is a spice made from red peppers, can be found on goulash potatoes. I'm sorry potatos bravos or deviled.

Eggs, but potatoes yupika.

Eggs, but potatoes yupika.

Exactly, and use all of these in a sentence. That's the final yes, and that's the final test.

Exactly, and use all of these in a sentence. That's the final yes, and that's the final test.

I get extra points for that. What if if I like spicy food? So what if I was a Malika Paprika exactly?

I get extra points for that. What if if I like spicy food? So what if I was a Malika Paprika exactly?

You're rolling through, all right? I got a couple more for you. This Melika rhyme, by the way, this one is two words, but ok.

You're rolling through, all right? I got a couple more for you. This Melika rhyme, by the way, this one is two words, but ok.

Not just.

Not just.

We're not that fancy. This Malika rhyme is a country that can be found between Panama and Nicaragua, with the national motto good life for pure life.

We're not that fancy. This Malika rhyme is a country that can be found between Panama and Nicaragua, with the national motto good life for pure life.

Okay, So it's uh two words that ran with Melika. So I would say it might be Malika. I don't know why I'm putting my name in front of them.

Okay, So it's uh two words that ran with Melika. So I would say it might be Malika. I don't know why I'm putting my name in front of them.

I love cost it Isla, Costa Rica exactly. And I looked for a Costa Rica basketball connection. The only one I could find is a Costa Rican player in the University of Maryland terps Dian Martinez.

I love cost it Isla, Costa Rica exactly. And I looked for a Costa Rica basketball connection. The only one I could find is a Costa Rican player in the University of Maryland terps Dian Martinez.

Well, I like the attempted at finding all.

Well, I like the attempted at finding all.

It's a stretch. It's a stretch, but it was an attempt. Well, can I give you an even more of a stretch? You think about this? Costa Rica famous for its turtles. University of Marylands.

It's a stretch. It's a stretch, but it was an attempt. Well, can I give you an even more of a stretch? You think about this? Costa Rica famous for its turtles. University of Marylands.

What it's all part of of the the symposium that we're all.

What it's all part of of the the symposium that we're all.

Zatly all right? Just two more. However, this is something you might yell when you spot a mouse, as in blank mouse again it's two words, that's but it does rhyme with malika.

Zatly all right? Just two more. However, this is something you might yell when you spot a mouse, as in blank mouse again it's two words, that's but it does rhyme with malika.

Two words? Is it rhymes with maliko? And you might say blank mouse?

Two words? Is it rhymes with maliko? And you might say blank mouse?

Yeah, you see it, and you're like, you're kind of you're not a fan of mice.

Yeah, you see it, and you're like, you're kind of you're not a fan of mice.

You're not a fan of mice. Say something much more eating and interesting. Let's see, what would I say if I saw a mouse that rhymes with malika? Uh, mice go squeaker.

You're not a fan of mice. Say something much more eating and interesting. Let's see, what would I say if I saw a mouse that rhymes with malika? Uh, mice go squeaker.

Close.

Close.

You're in there.

You're in there.

Forget about the rhyming with with Malika. What do you say if you see a mouse? What's the stereotypical thing? You're standing on a chair? You go, I screamed, you go, and you go ek ek exactly so you might say ink mouse.

Forget about the rhyming with with Malika. What do you say if you see a mouse? What's the stereotypical thing? You're standing on a chair? You go, I screamed, you go, and you go ek ek exactly so you might say ink mouse.

I forgetting you were talking to my dad before this, because I was Meeka mouse as a kid. That's something so for for Halloween, I understand Eke Malik a mouse, I got it exactly.

I forgetting you were talking to my dad before this, because I was Meeka mouse as a kid. That's something so for for Halloween, I understand Eke Malik a mouse, I got it exactly.

I love it until then, I love the h I love the little autobiographical that. So we got Ika.

I love it until then, I love the h I love the little autobiographical that. So we got Ika.

Alka, Pika, Mika, Pika Topka. Now apparently, yeah, we're we're going all the way back down memory.

Alka, Pika, Mika, Pika Topka. Now apparently, yeah, we're we're going all the way back down memory.

Last well, speaking of which I don't know, do you might you might not be the right age group for this. My son is this is Pika choose catchphrase in Pokemon?

Last well, speaking of which I don't know, do you might you might not be the right age group for this. My son is this is Pika choose catchphrase in Pokemon?

You can choose catchphrase in Pokemon. I do know this because he would say, wouldn't he say? Didn't he did? He just say, pikach you, I love you? Wasn't that what he said? What else does he say that?

You can choose catchphrase in Pokemon. I do know this because he would say, wouldn't he say? Didn't he did? He just say, pikach you, I love you? Wasn't that what he said? What else does he say that?

I don't know that you got the the first part, right, Pika, I love you?

I don't know that you got the the first part, right, Pika, I love you?

Maybe it changed when I was a kid. Pika, Pika.

Maybe it changed when I was a kid. Pika, Pika.

I think what you did is you translated what he was actually saying. And because you speak Pikachu. So I'm very impressed, Pikachu I love you, or Pica Pika pikaa so, Pica Pica Malika. Well, that was fantastic. You did wonderfully and we learned all your different names, and where can people find more of you. I know, very exciting. You are the first woman who's going to be doing the NBA Draft.

I think what you did is you translated what he was actually saying. And because you speak Pikachu. So I'm very impressed, Pikachu I love you, or Pica Pika pikaa so, Pica Pica Malika. Well, that was fantastic. You did wonderfully and we learned all your different names, and where can people find more of you. I know, very exciting. You are the first woman who's going to be doing the NBA Draft.

Yeah, that's right. So Monday through Friday on ESPN noon Pacific, three o'clock Eastern, you can find me hosting NBA Today and in the evenings hosting NBA Countdown, and hopefully we can do a little bit a little more puzzling on our show as.

Yeah, that's right. So Monday through Friday on ESPN noon Pacific, three o'clock Eastern, you can find me hosting NBA Today and in the evenings hosting NBA Countdown, and hopefully we can do a little bit a little more puzzling on our show as.

Wellh Well, listen, Greg and I would be happy to come on. Greg actually knows about sports so well. It was lovely having you. We are very sports friendly puzzle podcast. We've had Mina, your friend Charlotte Wilder. There you go, yeah, exactly. All right, Well, before we wrap up, one for the puzzlers at home. This is a Persian word meaning bits or pieces, which is very hard. But I'm going to give you a little more, which is chicken blank massala. So that blank means bits or pieces and it rhymes with topeka, Pika, pika and ika and all of the others. So if you don't know it, come back tomorrow and we will tell you. But come back anyway even if you know it, and please rate us. That really helps, and tell your friends and we'll meet you here tomorrow for more puzzling puzzles that will puzzle you puzzlingly.

Wellh Well, listen, Greg and I would be happy to come on. Greg actually knows about sports so well. It was lovely having you. We are very sports friendly puzzle podcast. We've had Mina, your friend Charlotte Wilder. There you go, yeah, exactly. All right, Well, before we wrap up, one for the puzzlers at home. This is a Persian word meaning bits or pieces, which is very hard. But I'm going to give you a little more, which is chicken blank massala. So that blank means bits or pieces and it rhymes with topeka, Pika, pika and ika and all of the others. So if you don't know it, come back tomorrow and we will tell you. But come back anyway even if you know it, and please rate us. That really helps, and tell your friends and we'll meet you here tomorrow for more puzzling puzzles that will puzzle you puzzlingly.

Hello puzzlers.

Hello puzzlers.

Greg Klisker here with the extra credit answer from our previous episode we did food Charades with Dan Pashman.

Greg Klisker here with the extra credit answer from our previous episode we did food Charades with Dan Pashman.

Your extra credit clue was this product made by maiden Form, dog Breed, Border Blank and football player Gronkowski. Those three parts.

Your extra credit clue was this product made by maiden Form, dog Breed, Border Blank and football player Gronkowski. Those three parts.

Are bra Collie and Rob.

Are bra Collie and Rob.

And you put them together and you get broccoli Rob. Enjoy your broccoli, Rob, and come back here and enjoy more of the Puzzler Podcast with AJ Jacobs

And you put them together and you get broccoli Rob. Enjoy your broccoli, Rob, and come back here and enjoy more of the Puzzler Podcast with AJ Jacobs