You might be surprised to learn that a “hoosier” isn’t necessarily from Indiana. In St. Louis, Missouri, the term hoosier has a whole other meaning. And: Scotland is the home of the Golden Spurtle world championship, but what exactly IS a spurtle? Some of the finest kitchens are stocked with spurtles. Plus, a love poem from a now-extinct language still echoes through the centuries. Also, boire en wifi and other synonyms for airsipping, an anagrammatic word challenge, thivel, good times at the hosie, Proto-Indo-European, sprit, bully pulpit, the vocabulary of Schuylkill County in Pennsylvania, water sommelier, and a punny riddle. http://waywordradio.org

Mox Nix (Full Episode)

Why is it harder to talk if we don’t move our hands? Even when we’re talking on the phone we feel the need to gesture to aid communication. A new book offers a look at the relatively new field of gesture studies. And: Ever wonder why we describe the American flag as “red, white, and blue?” Why not “blue, white, and red?” Plus, everyone should have a hellbox for tossing their discards! But where exactly would you find one? Also: a tall glass of water, since dirt was young, since King Hatchet was a hammer, since Hector was a pup, a brain teaser about multiple letters, sold down the river, an alliterative drinking game, upper-case vs. lower-case, why we say red, white, and blue and not blue, white, and red, and how to pronounce pecan. http://waywordradio.org

Tall Drink of Water (Full Episode)

If you like to use emojis, you have some 3800 to choose from—and the organization that approves them is about to announce even more. But do we really need a purple splatter emoji? Or one that looks like Sasquatch? Plus: If you’re retired, you may jokingly call yourself a “geezer.” In the UK, though, the term is downright derogatory. Also, why good eggs make much better company than bad apples. And how to pronounce macabre, the difference between mass nouns and count nouns, an Italian phrase about foolishness, alight from the front, Japanese pager slang, a brain teaser for bookworms, vermilion, crimson, carmine, and cochineal, and You thought like Nelly. http://waywordradio.org

Good Egg, Bad Apple (Full Episode)

How do social media algorithms shape the way we communicate? A new book argues that the competition for clicks is changing the way we speak and write, from the so-called “YouTube accent” to the surprising evolution of the word preppy. Also: A Massachusetts woman complains that a digital highway sign that says Use Ya Blinkah is well-intentioned, but goes too far in making fun of the local dialect. Plus, if you’re puzzling over something--no problem. Just use your Clyde! Also, squatcho and squatchee, wuzzle and fuzzle, juke and jook, gnurr and oosse, the millennial pause and the Gen Z shake, eye dialect, an adverbial brain teaser, the Coanda effect, how to ask for rooiboos tea, and a clever neologism that means “dread.” http://waywordradio.org

Cat Bristle (Full Episode)

Why would some Spanish speakers use adaptations of certain English words when perfectly good Spanish words for the same thing already exists? Plus, handy terms in a dictionary of the Sussex dialect from 150 years ago: Back then, a “dezzick” was “a day’s work” and “January butter” was another term for “mud.” And: You can’t judge a book by its cover, but the outer sides of its pages may impress you. A new trend in publishing features colorful patterns and images that look gorgeous when the book is closed. These decorations are called spredges, from the words “sprayed” and “edges.” Also: brass tacks, beevers, a punning puzzle for cinephiles, shmutzing, lonche, go chalk, archaic names for ladybugs, close-toe vs. close-toed vs. closed-toe, denominalization, mucksig, and God Almighty’s cow. http://waywordradio.org

Brass Tacks (Full Episode)

The Hawaiian word “aloha” is both a greeting and a goodbye, as well as a profound acknowledgement of the oneness with all living things. Plus, what’s a “lemur ball”? That’s the cute little cuddle formed when several of these ring-tailed primates cozy up to each other. A new book will leave you marveling over the mysteries of lemurs, wombats, and other creatures. And: If you’re exhausted after a long day, and you get tired of saying you’re tired, you can always say you’re “forswunk.” Also, sweating buckets, sudar como un pollo, a game featuring imaginary national anthems, fair to middling, sirop de poteau, Se cree la mamá de Tarzán, dilly-dally, cackermander, jassum, swink, skunked, and a 5-year-old’s hilarious misunderstanding. http://waywordradio.org

Big as a Breadbox (Full Episode)

A protest song born from a headline: President Trump kills a U.S.-Canada trade deal over a Reagan ad. Paper-Thin Skin is a folk-rock indictment of fragile power, economic fallout, and the human cost of ego in office. This column breaks down the song, the story behind it, and the real-world consequences of one man's tantrum turned policy.

Trumple-Thin-Skin

Does language acquisition correspond with being ambidextrous? A woman notices her polyglot husband takes notes with his right hand for certain languages, then switches to his left for other ones. And: What's the difference between an orchard and a grove? Is it correct to speak of an apple grove or an orange orchard? Also, some fun slang from Newfoundland: Sit too long on a hard seat, and your badonkadonk will wind up “dunch.” Plus: duckish, woo-woo, a puzzle about werewolves, waxing eloquent about whiskey, muldoon, names coined by famous authors, huerta and horticulture, zerbert, and a hundred feet of chow line. http://waywordradio.org

Chow Line (Full Episode)

A midnight monologue written to someone who’ll never read it. Tender verses give way to explosive choruses, turning regret into release.

1996

Twelve A.M. Confession

Whippoorwills, bob whites, and chickadees. How do we decide the names of birds and what to call their calls? Plus, the last syllables of Arkansas and Kansas are pronounced differently, but they come from the same etymological root. And: What’s the best word to describe your relationship with someone who’s less than a friend but closer than an acquaintance. Is that person one of your friendlies? Also, knobbly monster, cuate, to have one’s bum in the butter, the meaning of confirming, Kelly days, a quiz about common bonds, to have a goat’s mouth, antidisestablishmentarianism, and a Tex-Mex casserole dish. Make no bones about it! http://waywordradio.org

No Bones (Full Episode)

Jericho Records USA – The Story Behind the Sound

So, you’re here… and probably wondering what Jericho Records USA is. It’s not your typical record label. The original Jericho Records was an independent label my father started back in the 1950s — this one is something different. This is my life’s work. My story.

Every song you hear here was written or co-written by me. Music has been in my blood since the day I took my first breath. I grew up singing in church with my parents — my father led the music ministry, and my mother played piano. I picked up the drums at age 5, guitar by 7, then bass, saxophone in school band, and eventually piano.

I’ve been in multiple bands, written close to a thousand songs, and I plan to write at least a thousand more. I’m a graduate of Full Sail University with a degree in Audio Production, blending traditional recording with modern techniques.

I’m a man of many hats and many names — every project has its own sound, its own world, and its own voice. But no matter the name, it all comes from the same place: truth, passion, and purpose.

I’ve been blessed to work with incredible people along the way, including Dez Dickerson, the legendary guitarist for Prince and The Revolution, who recorded and produced one of my records, and Tim Gaines, bassist for Stryper, who also performed on that project. I’ve shared the stage with bands like Drivin’ N’ Cryin, Corey Taylor, Saving Abel, Hinder, Avenged Sevenfold, and many others.

Every song I create is born from something deeper — divine inspiration, lived experience, or imagination. I use a mix of real instruments, live performances, VSTs, and modern AI tools to bring each track to life.

Jericho Records USA isn’t just a label. It’s a journey. A sound. A story I’m still writing. I hope you’ll find something here that connects with your own.

- Jericho

🎧 SoundCloud.com/JerichoRecordsUSA

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.

Retired English teacher writing songs, penning novels, and photographing the world.

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