Megan Basham, culture reporter at The Daily Wire and author of the new book, "Shepherds For Sale," joins us to discuss the infiltration of the Evangelical church by leftist ideas.

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Churches Are Being INFILTRATED | Megan Basham

Names don't always mean what you think they mean. Main Street in San Francisco is named after businessman Charles Main, and Snowflake, Arizona, honors two guys named Snow and Flake. Plus, big words for small people: A colorful new book introduces kids to colossal words (including the word colossal!). And limber up those muscles -- we have a trove of terrible tongue twisters to try! Also, invoice, a delicious quiz about food, stilliform, crepuscular, make the cheese more binding, skycap, scofflaw, rutschy, epizootic, and wrongs of passage. http://waywordradio.org

A Way With Words

Pickled Peppers (Full Episode)

If you make a beeline for something, you're taking the shortest route possible. You're also mimicking bee bee-havior! After a bee has visited enough flowers to gather nectar, she flies straight back to the hive. And: Even a word like throttlebottom looks gorgeous if a calligrapher gets hold of it. Plus, the Oxford English Dictionary just added the word babyccino. It's a hot, frothy drink for kids--all milk and caffeine-free. Also, I don't care to, a quiz about imaginary schools besides Hogwarts, how to pronounce species, how to guess someone's dialect, joner and jonered, ejectamenta, snout-fair, and it's dark under the table. http://waywordradio.org

Make a Beeline (Full Episode)

An ambitious effort to install poetry in national parks around the United States features the work of beloved poets in beautiful spots. It's a reminder that "Nature is not a place to visit. Nature is who we are." Also, Google Translate has expanded its offerings with 110 more languages. And: what's an oatsmobile? Hint: it has four legs. Plus, how to pronounce route, bushwhack, POSSLQ, disappoint, an anagrammatic puzzle, King Kong vs. Godzilla, scudding, ary, eustress, chuck a sickie, and toad-in-the-hole. Be there or be square! http://waywordradio.org

Toad in the Hole (Full Episode)

How hot is it? Well, poet Dylan Thomas found lots of memorable ways to describe a heat wave. In one letter to a friend, he wrote that it was so hot "My brains are hanging out like a dog's tongue." And: pestering country music stars for selfies is a big no-no in Nashville. In fact, the locals even have a word for it. Also, why do we say something's easy as pie? After all, baking a pie is a whole lot of work! Plus, nunatak, dwadle, Zaunkönig, a Greek-inspired brain teaser, icing vs. frosting vs. filling, gherm, behead vs. decapitate, manavalins. Have a dingle day! http://waywordradio.org

Easy as Pie (Full Episode)

In this episode, we share some disappointing news: our new house plans have been delayed, impacting our goals and vision for the future. But setbacks can lead to growth! We reflect on our achievements this year and discuss new goals to aim for next year. Join us for an honest conversation on turning challenges into motivation, while learning Chinese along the way. Ideal for those interested in Chinese listening practice and boosting Mandarin conversation skills. Perfect for both beginners and advanced learners wanting more real-life Mandarin content. Tune in now!

#374 - 房屋夢碎了 (Fángwū mèng suì le) | Chinese Learning Podcast, Boost Your Daily Chinese

What exactly is a planet? The controversy over this question led to Pluto's redefinition, along with a brand-new English word. And: Some people now use the phrase all the things to mean and whatnot or You know what I mean. This new sense of all the things comes from a hilarious cartoon in which someone approaches daily tasks with exceptional vigor. Speaking of which, if you're working hard and burning the midnight oil, what kind of oil are you burning, anyway? Plus curfew, shoo it away!, a kibitzing quiz, Irish wristwatch, quemar las pestañas, the Hawk that's a cold wind, hot as brinjer, virar a noite, and sigma male. http://waywordradio.org

Midnight Oil (Full Episode)

In this episode, Tom and Ula dive into the fascinating world of Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn! 📚✨ Join us as we explore this epic fantasy novel and see just how many fantastical words we can understand. 🤔 From allomancy to mistwraiths, Ula reads a few passages to challenge both Tom and our listeners. Can you keep up with the magical terms and complex world-building? 🧙‍♂️🔍 Tune in to test your fantasy vocabulary skills and discover why Mistborn is a must-read for fantasy lovers!

#375 - Mistborn in Mandarin - Reading a Brandon Sanderson book in TWO languages

Do people who work together sound alike? Yes! Over time, they may begin to develop similar patterns of speech, or what might be called an "occupational accent" that helps them communicate efficiently. Plus, lots of familiar words in English got their start not in the languages of Europe, but in Asia--words including bungalow, ketchup, and avatar. And: what's that snowbird on the basketball court? All that, plus an Olympic-style word game, Buxtehude, the many ways to pronounce onion, cut the mustard vs. pass muster, Der Bus hält an jeder Milchkanne, how pet names evolve, a punny joke about being addicted to seaweed, and why you might say someone who's clueless is bored, punched, drilled, or countersunk. http://waywordradio.org

Cut the Mustard (Full Episode)

Scientists have named some recently discovered species of tree frogs after characters from Star Trek. Why? Because of the boops and trills and other sounds that these frogs make. And: naming your children with the virtues you hope they'll develop as adults, like Patience and Hope. But in Puritan and Quaker tradition, so-called virtue names were often far more elaborate. Plus, the phrase fight the good fight may seem modern, but it goes all the way back to biblical times. Also: meteoric rise, One side or a leg off!, polyptoton, a hugger-mugger of a puzzle, main strength and stupidity, pronouncing sixth as "sikth," omadhaun, the marvel of lachryphagy, and walking in tall cotton. http://waywordradio.org

Space Frogs (Full Episode)

The words cushy, cheeky, and non-starter all began as Britishisms, then hopped across the pond to the United States. A new book examines what happens when British words and phrases migrate into American English. Also, if you speak a language besides English, how should you pronounce words and names from that language when you're currently speaking in English? And: in the 13th century, the verb to kench meant "to laugh loudly." Just saying it out loud is fun. So why not revive it? Plus: smarmy, devil strip, whifflement, katish, school butter, spider web vs. cobweb, aught vs. zero vs. 0, on the season, and earrings for an elephant. This episode ate and left no crumbs. http://waywordradio.org

Price of Tea (Full Episode)

The phrase old as Methuselah describes someone quite advanced in years. In ancient scripture, Methuselah was a man who somehow lived to the ripe old age of 969. Plus, a heartwarming book for children tells the story of how a Puerto Rican family adapted their traditions to fit their new life in the Midwest. And if you say This ain't my first rodeo, it simply means you've seen it all before. Plus, barn find, scrumbunctious, neamhchinnte, got melon, a three-way puzzle, Old Edderd sayings, a childhood misunderstanding, and Your mother wears Army boots! http://waywordradio.org

Honkus Bonkus (Full Episode)

Thunderstorms might sound scary, but playful explanations for all those booms can help reassure little ones: How about The potato wagon's rolling over the bridge? Or The angels are going bowling? Plus, if you just finished enjoying an audiobook, you might say you've read it, but a listener asks if there's a better word. And: towns with names that are three letters long--or less. They're fun to say, and super easy to spell! The town of Eek, Alaska, for example, is spelled E-E-K. Plus, the use of humming to mean "stinking," slashfic and shipping, woodshedding, ratcatcher, bib and tucker, a memoir that features recipes handed down through a Black Appalachian family, a "buzzling" puzzle or a puzzling "buzzle," and I had one of those, but the wheels came off. http://waywordradio.org

A Way with Words

Potato Wagon (Full Episode)

The podcast track explores the evolution of automation, contrasting traditional Robotic Process Automation (RPA) with the new paradigm of Agentic Process Automation (APA). It delves into how RPA, while efficient for repetitive tasks, struggles with processes requiring human-like intelligence, particularly in workflow design and dynamic decision-making. The track introduces Large Language Models (LLMs) as the key to advancing automation, enabling the creation of intelligent agents like PROAGENT that can construct and execute workflows based on human instructions. The discussion highlights the Agentic Workflow Description Language used by these agents, which employs JSON for data flow and Python for control flow. Key components like DataAgent and ControlAgent are described, explaining how they manage complex data processing and conditional branching within workflows. The track also touches on the potential of Tool Learning and Process Mining to further enhance agent capabilities in workflow automation. It concludes by addressing ethical considerations such as Automation Bias and the importance of human oversight in an increasingly automated world

+18 ProAgent Agentic Process Automation With LLMs

In 1944, an Italian scientist discovered a drug that he later named for his wife. His wife's name was Marguerite, but she went by Rita--which is why this now familiar drug is known as Ritalin. Plus, a poem about churning butter shows how a writer can draw astonishing beauty out of the most everyday of tasks. And the exclamation Holy Toledo! probably refers to a city thousands of miles from the one in Ohio. Also: anapodoton, white sepulchre, why various languages have different words for with, a heart-healthy quiz, naming litters of puppies, No siree Bob!, nuthouse and nutty, Deadpool and death pool, coagulated sunlight, and I feel like I'm going to hell on a scholarship. http://waywordradio.org

Holy Toledo (Full Episode)

Upright Bass - David Swatek,  Guitar, vocals, production - Randy Raban

How Are You Going

Atlantean Code is a mystical and poetic song that dives deep into the lore of lost civilizations and soul memory. Through sparse, powerful verses and an expansive chorus, the track tells the story of Atlantis, not as a myth, but as a buried frequency still encoded in our blood, our bones, and the structures left behind. With themes of crystal technology, sacred migration, and encoded light, the song evokes a feeling of remembrance. It suggests that Atlantis didn’t vanish, it lives on as a blueprint hidden within us, waiting to be reawakened.

Atlantean Code

This Light Code Transmission invites you into the harmonic geometry of your original blueprint. “The Shape of Wholeness” speaks to the parts of you that have been scattered or silenced, gently calling them back into coherence. As the tones move through you, they activate a remembrance of unity, not as perfection, but as integration. This is not about fixing; it is about reweaving. Let the sound guide you into the sacred architecture of your becoming.

Light codes - The Shape of Wholeness

This Light Code Transmission opens a frequency portal to support those walking the path of the Nodes, between the hunger of the head and the gravity of the tail. It is a vibrational offering to awaken the inner Dragon, restore clarity, and activate remembrance of your soul’s direction.
Transmitted through sound and intention, this energetic language bypasses logic and speaks directly to your field calling forth the part of you that already knows the way.
Use this transmission to:
• Recalibrate your energy as you navigate nodal shifts
• Soften resistance to change and the unknown
• Anchor sovereignty in moments of choice
• Reconnect to your soul’s original momentum

Light Code Transmission The Dragon Within

Important Notice for Inquiries:
If you’re reaching out regarding music collaborations, promotions, or record label opportunities, please include verifiable identity links. I do not respond to unsolicited messages from Gmail accounts, especially from those claiming to be record executives or industry professionals. Thank you for understanding. You can contact me directly at riven.waters.infinite.story@gmail.com.
About My Music:
I create original, genre-blending music that fuses rock, classical, easy listening, and experimental styles. Each song is crafted with deep emotional honesty, often inspired by my own poetry, journal reflections, or personal stories. Whether instrumental or vocal, my focus is to uplift, inspire, and resonate with listeners on a real, human level.
I don’t settle for “good enough.” Every track goes through hundreds of iterations, shaped by a balance of intuition and precision. I use advanced AI music tools to explore sound and emotional tone, then refine everything in Logic Pro for professional production quality. It's a fusion of heart and technology, and through it, I aim to connect, heal, and inspire—one song at a time.

We are Bird River Band (formerly Big Chunk O'Rock) We have started recording and sharing original material.
Randy Raban -  guitar, vocals, production
David Swatek - Bass, vocals, multi instrumentalist

A Way with Words is a fun and funny public radio program about language examined through history, culture, and family. Its mission is to change the way you think about language. The program is heard by broadcast and podcast across the United States and around the world by more than a quarter-million listeners each week. It's produced by Wayword, Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to promote lifelong learning, better human communication, and the value of a thing well-said or well-written. Call or write with your language questions at any time: (877) 929-9673 (toll-free in the US and Canada) or just email us: words@waywordradio.org.

End of Western Civilization got you down? All is tickety-boo on The Andrew Klavan Show as Andrew laughs his way though Armageddon with political satire, cultural commentary, interviews and relentless mockery of racial pieties, sexual perversities, and feminist absurdities. Monday thru Thursday.

Chinese and English Language podcast. A mixed couple (Tom & Ula) living in Taiwan, teach Chinese through the use of Chinglish (Chinese and English) on a variety of topics. Learn Chinese, study methods, Entertainment, news, life, business, hints and tricks to learning Mandarin. Hear a native speaking naturally and at natural pace but with the English translation so you can follow the context of the conversation. Enjoy.

New tracks tagged #language,