Episode 8 of Crosstalk with Kareem Ayas is out now! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/35H0... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Episode 8 with Kareem Ayas is out now! We discuss his first theme attempt, constructing as a non-native speaker, overlaps between puzzles and plays, the best revealers, promoting Arab identity, Puzzles for Palestine, making Times midis, clues as Trojan horses, handling rejection, and much more!

So excited to be nominated for two 2026 Orcas for Best Sunday-Sized Crossword and Best Crossword-Related Media for my Crosstalk episode with @sidsivakumar.bsky.social! 🤗 You can vote for me or any of the many deserving nominees here: crosswordfiend.com/2026-orcas-i...

Episode 7 of Crosstalk with @bewilderingly.bsky.social is out now! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/6x9j... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Episode 7 with @bewilderingly.bsky.social is out now! We discuss solving the ship of Theseus paradox, the qualities of a good crossword editor, training for the ACPT big board, drawing inspiration from visual arts, inferable entries, slightly NSFW clues, craving the weird and wacky, and much more!

At another shameful low point in US history, it's nice to have a respite like the Orcas, the 2nd most snazziest award with those letters. @richproulx.bsky.social and his team have a new puzzle pack of 2026 nominees benefitting the vital Trevor Project! Check it out crosswordfiend.com/2026/01/23/1...

Episode 6 of Crosstalk with @aimeelucido.bsky.social is out now! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/2wpa... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Episode 6 with renowned author and constructor @aimeelucido.bsky.social is out now! We chat about her new crossword-themed book, getting in the comments, our least favorite fill, the pleasures of trivia and etymology, failing the breakfast test, the clues she still thinks about, and much more!

Lil AVCX is looking for new and emerging constructors to be a part of our 2026 constructing roster. Deadline for applications is November 14, 2025. Here's the information: docs.google.com/document/d/1...

Episode 5 of Crosstalk with @norahsharpe.bsky.social is out now! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0c1d... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Episode 5 with super-prolific constructor and 2025 Lollapuzzoola Pairs co-champ @norahsharpe.bsky.social is out now! We chat about creating fresh themes, the secrets of successful collaborations, training for tournaments, repping the Midwest, fave puzzles, advocating for asymmetry, and much more!

Episode 4 of Crosstalk with @melvillmatic.bsky.social is out now! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/0BjW... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Episode 4 with the illustrious @melvillmatic.bsky.social is out now! We cover topics such as designing themelesses, getting a "villain edit," his jumbling of cultural lexicons, the politics of fill, personalizing word lists, the entry he was most excited to include, fave puzzles, and much more!

My new Universal crossword, "Inside Information," is out now! syndication.andrewsmcmeel.com/puzzles/cros...

The word 'clue' was originally a variant spelling of 'clew,' meaning “ball of thread or yarn.” Our modern sense of clue, “guide to the solution of a mystery,” grows out of a motif in myth and folklore, the ball of thread that helps in finding one’s way out of a maze.

attn: xword constructors! spread the word(list) now has all of q1, 2025! new highly-ranked answers @enriqueha.bsky.social and i like: TAMAL, BEDCHEM, OKAYBYE, ACEPRIDE, INDIEDEV, VEGANMENU, JERSEYSWAP, LOGICPUZZLE, IVESEENWORSE, ENERGYVAMPIRE, SPOTIFYWRAPPED, CHOICESWEREMADE spreadthewordlist.com

Episode 3 of Crosstalk with @sidsivakumar.bsky.social is out now! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1sq5... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e...

Sorry for the delay, but Episode 3 with @sidsivakumar.bsky.social is definitely worth the wait! We cover topics like crosswords as art, how science and engineering relate to constructing, South Asian culture, crafting the final ACPT puzzle and Super Mega, and the surprising places Sid writes clues.

My first Thursday in the Times. Hope you enjoy!

If you enjoyed my NYT collaboration with @rafaxword.bsky.social yesterday, check out our discussion of all things crossword in the debut episode of Crosstalk! open.spotify.com/episode/1T1y...

Support These Puzzles Fund Abortion (@tpfa.bsky.social) at www.abortionpuzzles.com and pre-order their new puzzle pack (fund.nnaf.org/campaign/the...) now!

In Episode 2, Rachel shouted out puzzle people such as: - David Steinberg (@davidsteinberg.bsky.social) - Jeff Chen - Nate Cardin (@naytnaytnayt.bsky.social) - Finn Vigeland (@fvigeland.bsky.social) - Claire Rimkus - Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social)

As Rachel mentions in Episode 2, make sure to check out and bookmark this terrific Crossword Publication Specs resource from Matthew Stock: docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

In Episode 2, Rachel and I discuss topics like: - Being mentored and mentoring others - Writing the Wordplay column - The construction process - What makes a good theme - Cryptics - Collaborating with a celebrity - Grid art - Fundraising for These Puzzles Fund Abortion - Advice for constructing

I'm excited to share Episode 2 of Crosstalk with Rachel Fabi (@fabioethics.bsky.social) is out now! We discuss mentorship, cryptics, where to submit, Jeopardy!, and more! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1BMz... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/c... Amazon: music.amazon.com/podcasts/f7c...

In episode 1, folks that Rafa shouted out include: - Sid Sivakumar (@sidsivakumar.bsky.social) - Robyn Weintraub (@robynw414.bsky.social) - Adam Wagner (@adamwagner.bsky.social) - Rebecca Goldstein (@rebecculous.bsky.social) - Kate Chin Park - Michael Lieberman (@footnote24.bsky.social)

In the debut episode, Rafael Musa (@rafaxword.bsky.social) and I touched on topics like: - How he started constructing - His first attempt at a puzzle - Lessons learned - How to start a themeless - Switching to Ingrid - Dream collaborators - The puzzle he "really hated" - Advice for beginners

Last month, the Crosstalk podcast debuted its first episode and got a fantastic response! Thanks to all of our listeners. If you haven't heard it yet, check it out now! Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1T1y... Apple: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e... Amazon: music.amazon.com/podcasts/f7c...