Ep 67 The Pleasure Episode: Bengali word "shukhi shoreer"
04/06/2026 | 32 mins.
Maggie and Emily learn the Bengali word shukhi shoreer from Sandeep Mukherjee, discuss Mr. Pleasure with C. Brian Smith, and talk about the democratization of connoisseurship with Paul Jackson. Poem by Maggie: Mr Pleasure.
Ep 66 Word from the Birds: Torpor
28/05/2026 | 33 mins.
Maggie and Emily learn the word torpor from Ballona Wetlands tour guide Susan Levinson and put the word "hardworking" on trial with judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Emily: Surrender.
Ep 65 Sanskrit Buddhist Word: Viriya
21/05/2026 | 25 mins.
Maggie and Emily learn the Sanskrit word viriya from Katherine “Senshin” Griffith, head teacher at the Zen Center of Los Angeles and discuss “sick in bed without a fever day” with Jim Vallely. Poem by Maggie: Tiny Hero.
Rerun of Ep 23 Words from the Language Of Wine: Terroir and Botrytis (Noble Rot)
14/05/2026 | 30 mins.
Maggie and Emily learn the words from “terroir” and “noble rot” from wine educator Nora Murphy. They discover “apisoir” with Michael Alberty and “aha-mnesty” with C. Brian Smith. Poem by Emily: Terroir.
Rerun of Ep 22 Words From Buddhism: Dukkha and Mudita
07/05/2026 | 31 mins.
Maggie and Emily discuss the Buddhist words dukkha and mudita with Zen priest Senshin and put the word “karma” on trial with judge Matthew Laura Aitken. Poem by Maggie: Not To My Liking.
A linguistic expedition into brave new words. Maggie Rowe and Emily John Garcés hunt for words that lack an English equivalent. They like to think of themselves as Dora the Explorers of language, with their rucksacks and hats and notebooks and magnifying glasses, embarking on a cultural adventure, hunting and gathering useful new word specimens from far flung continents, and holding them up to see what new light they shine on old ideas.