The Allusionist
@allusionistshow.bsky.social
Podcast of adventures in language with @helenzaltzman. theallusionist.org patreon.com/allusionist
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There’s a new episode on your podfeed, featuring placentas, curses and a very catchy new song by @martinaustwick.bsky.social about poisonous plants theallusionist.org/bane
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Powered by vegan chocolate truffles & queer feminism, this was SO MUCH (fun). Intense & exhilarating!
New episode in your podfeed, starring @suchmayer.bsky.social, whose new book #BadLanguage is out next week! We talk about many things, including coming out as a speech act, power, shame, finding vocab for oneself... Listen/read via theallusionist.org/disobedience and The Podplaces
Allusionist 220. Disobedience — The Allusionist
“The more we look into social structures, the more many of us realize we don't fit into them," says So Mayer, author of the new book Bad Language, "So each phrase or set of vocabulary is another piece...
theallusionist.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Powered by vegan chocolate truffles & queer feminism, this was SO MUCH (fun). Intense & exhilarating!
Reposted by The Allusionist
I *just* listened to this excellent episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social about Dr. Alex Ketchum’s Feminist Restaurant Project and went to check out Bloodroot…only to learn they announced *today* that they’re closing after nearly 50 years!
November 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I *just* listened to this excellent episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social about Dr. Alex Ketchum’s Feminist Restaurant Project and went to check out Bloodroot…only to learn they announced *today* that they’re closing after nearly 50 years!
New episode in your podfeed, starring @suchmayer.bsky.social, whose new book #BadLanguage is out next week! We talk about many things, including coming out as a speech act, power, shame, finding vocab for oneself... Listen/read via theallusionist.org/disobedience and The Podplaces
Allusionist 220. Disobedience — The Allusionist
“The more we look into social structures, the more many of us realize we don't fit into them," says So Mayer, author of the new book Bad Language, "So each phrase or set of vocabulary is another piece...
theallusionist.org
November 11, 2025 at 7:15 PM
New episode in your podfeed, starring @suchmayer.bsky.social, whose new book #BadLanguage is out next week! We talk about many things, including coming out as a speech act, power, shame, finding vocab for oneself... Listen/read via theallusionist.org/disobedience and The Podplaces
Reposted by The Allusionist
Excellent real world example of a chilling effect @allusionistshow.bsky.social
SCOOP: Last year, Ubisoft cancelled an Assassin's Creed game set during Reconstruction. Was to feature a Black Assassin who, among other things, fought the rise of the Klan
Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke
www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...
Sources: Leadership nixed it over concerns re: U.S. political climate, backlash to Yasuke
www.gamefile.news/p/scoop-ubis...
Scoop: Ubisoft cancelled a post-Civil War Assassin’s Creed last year
Company leadership deemed the project too controversial for the moment, sources tell Game File
www.gamefile.news
October 9, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Excellent real world example of a chilling effect @allusionistshow.bsky.social
New episode is in your podfeed, for Banned Books Week theallusionist.org/bannedbooks
Allusionist 218. Banned Books — The Allusionist
It's Banned Books Week. Honorary youth chair Iris Mogul and Sam Helmick, president of the American Library Association, talk about what it is, why it matters so much, and how you can get involved.
theallusionist.org
October 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
New episode is in your podfeed, for Banned Books Week theallusionist.org/bannedbooks
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So excited to have my work featured on @allusionistshow.bsky.social by @helenzaltzman.bsky.social !! www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
Check it out!
@arsenalpulp.bsky.social @concordiapress.bsky.social @mcgillarts.bsky.social @mcgillumedia.bsky.social
Check it out!
@arsenalpulp.bsky.social @concordiapress.bsky.social @mcgillarts.bsky.social @mcgillumedia.bsky.social
Allusionist 217. Feminist coffee houses — The Allusionist
In their heyday of the 1970s and 1980s, there were more than 200 - possibly more than 400 - feminist restaurants and coffee shops in the USA and Canada. These places were aiming to change ways of work...
www.theallusionist.org
September 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
So excited to have my work featured on @allusionistshow.bsky.social by @helenzaltzman.bsky.social !! www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
Check it out!
@arsenalpulp.bsky.social @concordiapress.bsky.social @mcgillarts.bsky.social @mcgillumedia.bsky.social
Check it out!
@arsenalpulp.bsky.social @concordiapress.bsky.social @mcgillarts.bsky.social @mcgillumedia.bsky.social
Reposted by The Allusionist
@allusionistshow.bsky.social I think this might be relevant to a recent episode, 6:27 specifically! youtu.be/yRh6OTPPVwM?...
Let's Look at the Super Sewer!
YouTube video by Jago Hazzard
youtu.be
September 26, 2025 at 7:26 AM
@allusionistshow.bsky.social I think this might be relevant to a recent episode, 6:27 specifically! youtu.be/yRh6OTPPVwM?...
Happy tenth anniversary of Pig-gate theallusionist.org/gate
September 20, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Happy tenth anniversary of Pig-gate theallusionist.org/gate
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Really unexpectedly lovely song about Scunthorpe from @martinaustwick.bsky.social on this episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social
www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
Allusionist 216. Four Letter Words: Terisk — The Allusionist
Watching the film Legally Blonde one day with the subtitles on, numerous perfectly innocuous words were partially asterisked out, because of a technological problem I can't name here lest this episo...
www.theallusionist.org
September 9, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Really unexpectedly lovely song about Scunthorpe from @martinaustwick.bsky.social on this episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social
www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
www.theallusionist.org/allusionist/...
Reposted by The Allusionist
like so many products to come out of silicon valley in the last decade or so, AI is a legal innovation masquerading as a tech innovation. the legal theory seems to be that AI is entitled to everything but liable for nothing.
AI advocates have warned that if every author in the class action filed a claim, it would "financially ruin" the entire industry.
Authors celebrate “historic” settlement coming soon in Anthropic class action
Advocates fear such settlements will “financially ruin” the AI industry.
arstechnica.com
August 27, 2025 at 6:10 PM
like so many products to come out of silicon valley in the last decade or so, AI is a legal innovation masquerading as a tech innovation. the legal theory seems to be that AI is entitled to everything but liable for nothing.
The finale of Four Letter Word season is heading to your podfeed this weekend. Which word do you think it’ll be about?
September 5, 2025 at 11:26 PM
The finale of Four Letter Word season is heading to your podfeed this weekend. Which word do you think it’ll be about?
Reposted by The Allusionist
I love The Allusionist, every so often they will casually release something transcendent
New episode: all the two-letter words you can play in Scrabble. Listen to become unbeatable/annoying theallusionist.org/two
Allusionist 215. Two-Letter Words — The Allusionist
Listener Erica commented: "Perhaps an idea for a bonus ep of Four Letter Word season would be one on two-letter words: there’s an established list that Scrabble nerds end up memorizing, and it’s ful...
theallusionist.org
August 27, 2025 at 11:12 PM
I love The Allusionist, every so often they will casually release something transcendent
Reposted by The Allusionist
Funny how many two letter words from Hawai'i aren't allowed in N. American Scrabble.
August 27, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Funny how many two letter words from Hawai'i aren't allowed in N. American Scrabble.
New episode: all the two-letter words you can play in Scrabble. Listen to become unbeatable/annoying theallusionist.org/two
Allusionist 215. Two-Letter Words — The Allusionist
Listener Erica commented: "Perhaps an idea for a bonus ep of Four Letter Word season would be one on two-letter words: there’s an established list that Scrabble nerds end up memorizing, and it’s ful...
theallusionist.org
August 27, 2025 at 2:26 PM
New episode: all the two-letter words you can play in Scrabble. Listen to become unbeatable/annoying theallusionist.org/two
Reposted by The Allusionist
Get the song here! Pay what you can! palebird.bandcamp.com/track/poison...
August 15, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Get the song here! Pay what you can! palebird.bandcamp.com/track/poison...
There’s a new episode on your podfeed, featuring placentas, curses and a very catchy new song by @martinaustwick.bsky.social about poisonous plants theallusionist.org/bane
August 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
There’s a new episode on your podfeed, featuring placentas, curses and a very catchy new song by @martinaustwick.bsky.social about poisonous plants theallusionist.org/bane
Reposted by The Allusionist
There's a new episode in your podfeed! Next in #FourLetterWord season is 'dino', which means 'terrible'. Hannah McGregor of Material Girls podcast joins to talk about Jurassic Park, and humans' relationship with language for dinosaurs. Hear/read via theallusionist.org/dino and the usual podplaces
Allusionist 213. Four Letter Words: Dino — The Allusionist
The latest four letter word of Four Letter Word season is dino . 'Dinosaur' is derived from Greek 'terrible lizard', and they could have called it 'whopping great lizard' or 'sublime lizard' or 'hey ...
theallusionist.org
July 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
There's a new episode in your podfeed! Next in #FourLetterWord season is 'dino', which means 'terrible'. Hannah McGregor of Material Girls podcast joins to talk about Jurassic Park, and humans' relationship with language for dinosaurs. Hear/read via theallusionist.org/dino and the usual podplaces
There's a new episode in your podfeed! Next in #FourLetterWord season is 'dino', which means 'terrible'. Hannah McGregor of Material Girls podcast joins to talk about Jurassic Park, and humans' relationship with language for dinosaurs. Hear/read via theallusionist.org/dino and the usual podplaces
Allusionist 213. Four Letter Words: Dino — The Allusionist
The latest four letter word of Four Letter Word season is dino . 'Dinosaur' is derived from Greek 'terrible lizard', and they could have called it 'whopping great lizard' or 'sublime lizard' or 'hey ...
theallusionist.org
July 24, 2025 at 3:08 PM
There's a new episode in your podfeed! Next in #FourLetterWord season is 'dino', which means 'terrible'. Hannah McGregor of Material Girls podcast joins to talk about Jurassic Park, and humans' relationship with language for dinosaurs. Hear/read via theallusionist.org/dino and the usual podplaces
Reposted by The Allusionist
This is TODAY and sounds fascinating:
Hey! Our piece #souvenirs is being broadcast on BBC Radio 4 tomorrow, 22 July at 4pm UK time (also available on the internet for a while thereafter), I’d love for you to listen! Especially if you enjoy tales of hurt feelings & petty revenge.
Broken friendship, typefaces, lost words, self-destruction and the legacies we didn’t intend to leave…
Listen to Souvenirs (produced by @allusionistshow.bsky.social’s @helenzaltzman.bsky.social and @martinaustwick.bsky.social) in tomorrow’s Artworks on BBC Radio 4
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Listen to Souvenirs (produced by @allusionistshow.bsky.social’s @helenzaltzman.bsky.social and @martinaustwick.bsky.social) in tomorrow’s Artworks on BBC Radio 4
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
July 22, 2025 at 5:15 AM
This is TODAY and sounds fascinating:
Hey! Our piece #souvenirs is being broadcast on BBC Radio 4 tomorrow, 22 July at 4pm UK time (also available on the internet for a while thereafter), I’d love for you to listen! Especially if you enjoy tales of hurt feelings & petty revenge.
Broken friendship, typefaces, lost words, self-destruction and the legacies we didn’t intend to leave…
Listen to Souvenirs (produced by @allusionistshow.bsky.social’s @helenzaltzman.bsky.social and @martinaustwick.bsky.social) in tomorrow’s Artworks on BBC Radio 4
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
Listen to Souvenirs (produced by @allusionistshow.bsky.social’s @helenzaltzman.bsky.social and @martinaustwick.bsky.social) in tomorrow’s Artworks on BBC Radio 4
www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...
July 21, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Hey! Our piece #souvenirs is being broadcast on BBC Radio 4 tomorrow, 22 July at 4pm UK time (also available on the internet for a while thereafter), I’d love for you to listen! Especially if you enjoy tales of hurt feelings & petty revenge.
oh but language isn't political, the screamers in my inbox tell me www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...
Trump demands Guardians and Commanders revert to previous names out of respect for Native Americans
Donald Trump demanded in a Truth Social post on Sunday that the NFL’s Washington Commanders and MLB’s Cleveland Guardians revert to their old names
www.theguardian.com
July 20, 2025 at 10:47 PM
oh but language isn't political, the screamers in my inbox tell me www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/j...
Reposted by The Allusionist
Got to geek out with another geek about the geekery behind the names and uses and backstories of Vancouver parks.
If that interests you, check out the podcast!
If that interests you, check out the podcast!
A new episode is in your podfeed! We go on a field trip with @jmcelroy.bsky.social around several of Vancouver's parks, to consider what IS park, also how their names can make us feel about them. Listen, see more photos, read the transcript at theallusionist.org/park
July 9, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Got to geek out with another geek about the geekery behind the names and uses and backstories of Vancouver parks.
If that interests you, check out the podcast!
If that interests you, check out the podcast!
A new episode is in your podfeed! We go on a field trip with @jmcelroy.bsky.social around several of Vancouver's parks, to consider what IS park, also how their names can make us feel about them. Listen, see more photos, read the transcript at theallusionist.org/park
July 9, 2025 at 6:12 PM
A new episode is in your podfeed! We go on a field trip with @jmcelroy.bsky.social around several of Vancouver's parks, to consider what IS park, also how their names can make us feel about them. Listen, see more photos, read the transcript at theallusionist.org/park
Reposted by The Allusionist
Delighted to hear Aotearoa mentioned on the '-gate' episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social. And it's a fabulous excuse to post this photo of the incident. I can think of a few current politicians who deserve this treatment. See the whole story at: thespinoff.co.nz/politics/05-...
June 24, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Delighted to hear Aotearoa mentioned on the '-gate' episode of @allusionistshow.bsky.social. And it's a fabulous excuse to post this photo of the incident. I can think of a few current politicians who deserve this treatment. See the whole story at: thespinoff.co.nz/politics/05-...
Reposted by The Allusionist
Starting a new series of interviews on the @lingcomm.bsky.social blog with people who are doing neat community collaboration linguistics projects that don't otherwise have much of a web presence
Starting with Linguistics + Girl Scouts!
lingcomm.org/2025/07/09/l...
Starting with Linguistics + Girl Scouts!
lingcomm.org/2025/07/09/l...
LingComm IRL with Girl Scouts – Interview with Nikole Patson
Nikole Patson is a psycholinguistics professor at the Ohio State University, who’s been doing lingcomm with Girl Scouts in Columbus, Ohio, USA. Dr Patson kindly answered our questions for thi…
lingcomm.org
July 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Starting a new series of interviews on the @lingcomm.bsky.social blog with people who are doing neat community collaboration linguistics projects that don't otherwise have much of a web presence
Starting with Linguistics + Girl Scouts!
lingcomm.org/2025/07/09/l...
Starting with Linguistics + Girl Scouts!
lingcomm.org/2025/07/09/l...