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PODCAST

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

A short, fun and occasionally not unintentionally educational podcast in which two fans of the New York Times crossword describe their puzzle-solving travails.

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All Episodes

17:15

Thursday, March 5, 2026 - Pee Wee REESE, champion of...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/03/06

Making any crossword is challenging; but making a crossword like this one seems almost impossible. Fortunately, constructor Hanh Huynh doesn't know the meaning of the word impossible ... no wait, he probably does: but unless he's some sort of polyglot he almost surely doesn't know the meaning of the word кинути, which explains at least in part the existence of today's magnificent puzzle. Deets inside. Show note imagery: Heroism comes in many forms, just ask Jackie Robinson (left), and Pee Wee...

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12:23

Wednesday, March 4, 2026 - Wowzers, this crossword...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/03/05

Wayne Bergman has crafted a brilliant Wednesday crossword, with several genuinely LOL clues. We discuss several in today's episode, but we'd also like to give a shoutout to 14A, April Fools' Day sign, ARIES (nice!); 34A, Part of a rock band?, ORE (that just rocks! 😉); and 64A, Pay for play, perhaps, TYPO (LOL or groan, you be the judge — but our vote's for LOL 😀). Show note imagery: Behold, the one, the only — well, almost: they certainly didn't sell as many as they'd hoped — EDSEL! We ...

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16:38

Tuesday, March 3, 2026 - By gum, this crossword...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/03/04

This was a terrific Tuesday crossword by Drew Schmenner, his seventh for the NYTimes since 2021. As expected, it ticked all the right boxes: a kind, gentle yet clever theme ✅a slew of intriguing yet accessible clues ✅absolutely no spelling mistakes ✅the presence of at least one reference to OREOs ✅Since all the right boxes were ticked, we were not: rather, we were tickled — pink, to be precise. Check out today's episode for all the deets (as well as, of course, our first Triplet Tuesday...

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14:40

Monday, March 2, 2026 - Mmm, pass me another slice of...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/03/03

This was a very pleasing debut crossword by Leslie Benson, who provides, on xwordinfo.com, an amusing description of this puzzle's construction — some of which apparently took place while she was in a "fuzzy hypnagogic state". Fuzzy or not, the crossword itself was a smooth solve, and an enjoyable one. Check out the podcast for all the deets. In addition to the podcast, in honor of Monday we have selected our JAMCOTWA™️ (Jean & Mike Crossword Of The Week Award), and we are going to ...

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16:51

Sunday, March 1, 2026 - In like a 🦁, out like a 🐑

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/03/02

Some of the NYTimes' finest crosswords were created by university students. For example, consider, oh, say, today's, by Western University students Matt Proulx and Jeffrey Martinovic. The theme is slick (which should resonate as hilarious as soon as you've sussed out that theme), the grid very colorful, and the clues perfect for a Sunday, with just a bit of bite. For instance, we had 28D, Nurse, SIP; 38D, They might be head-scratching, FINGERNAILS (and indeed, we were!); and 29A, Is in ...

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10:03

Saturday, February 28, 2026 - A FEDORA in the grid?...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/03/01

This marks Adam Levav's fourth NYTimes crossword in just over a year, and you can see from today's awesome puzzle why he keeps getting published. This themeless beast had scads of challenging clues, although nothing too outré — just how we like 'em. For that reason (and many others enumerated in today's episode) we give this a full five squares on the JAMCR scale. Show note imagery: The Blues Brothers, sporting some fine FEDORAs We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listen...

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16:13

Friday, February 27, 2026 - Happy AEOF...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/28

Today's crossword was a debut by Caroline Hand. Getting any crossword published in the NYTimes is an incredible achievement — and to debut on a Friday doubly so. And now for the numbers: there were 6, count'em, 6 grid-spanning answers, 2 stacks of 3 grid-spanners apiece. The grid contained 4 debut answers, including one of our favorites, 11D, Antediluvian, OLDASDIRT, and the wry 3D, Delivery methods?, CESAREANS. In honor of it being Friday, we also have a Fun Fact Friday™️ segment about...

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16:43

Thursday, February 26, 2026 - BYGUM this was a...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/27

Yitzi Snow has created a masterpiece of a crossword: perhaps it's not hanging at the Louvre yet, but we know it'll get there someday. Why, you ask? For three main reasons: ThemeThemeThemeOh, and one more thing: Theme.😀 Show note imagery: A chiliagon, a 1000-sided polygon that looks suspiciously like a circle (but isn't, quite). We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we're on FaceBook, so feel free to d...

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18:26

Wednesday, February 25, 2026 - EMO hair, it's gonna...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/26

This was Brad Lively's second New York Times crossword, and it was stunning, especially, as one might imagine, the ingenious theme. None of the clues were too over the top — with the possible exception of 11A, ___ hair (edgy 2000s trend, EMO. 😀 We particularly enjoyed learning about and perusing A.F.I.'s "100 Years ... 100 Heroes & Villains" list, although we were surprised to learn that Darth Vader only made it to # 3. We have a spot of listener mail to round off the episode, so check

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15:38

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 - The State of the...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/25

This was a fine Tuesday crossword by Adam Aaronson, with a subtle theme and a subtler revealer. We were surprised to see, among the 6 debut answers in today's puzzle, 24A, Fender Stratocaster, e.g., ELECTRICGUITAR, and 12D, Festivals often featuring jousting knights, for short, RENFAIRES. We just assumed that, for a crossword that came into existence in 1942, by now someone would have worked these two into the grid — but no, it took Adam to make it happen. In addition to the crossword, also h...

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12:26

Monday, February 23, 2026 - Alright, there's a...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/24

It's hard not to like a crossword with a DELOREAN in the grid, as we can attest: we adored today's puzzle, the fourth in the NYTimes by Hannah Binney. There was a certain novelty and freshness to the clues that made this a particularly pleasing solve, culminating in the most exciting way ever to clue an otherwise mundane answer, 11D, 4.75 seconds to assemble a Mr. Potato Head, per Guinness, RECORD. Brava!* Show note imagery: A time machine that needs no introduction ... if you were born in th...

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18:50

Sunday, February 22, 2026 - A crossword of biblical...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/23

This was a delectable Sunday crossword by Jill Rataloff and Michelle Sontarp, who happen to both work at the same law firm. That might explain 21A, Certain head jurors, FOREMEN, and 125A, Bars, legally, ESTOPS, but does not explain the remainder of this fine puzzle. That's what we, amici curiae, are here to do (as well as show off our knowledge of Latin, or at least how to use Google Translate 😀). Besides our usual cutting-edge analysis, we have some awesome listener mail clearing up a ...

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16:01

Saturday, February 21, 2026 - Now *that's* a Saturday...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/21

Traditionally, NYTimes crosswords increase in difficulty from Monday to Saturday*. So, if you had problems with today's puzzle, that's perfectly normal and by design: it was built that way. The clues were magnificent, all designed to exercise those little grey cells. We covered the best of these in the podcast, but the rest (still very, very good) included 13D, Many key changes take place in it, CARSHARE (yikes!); 20A, The third primary chakra is located just above it, NAVEL (quick, the...

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15:37

Friday, February 20, 2026 - Miracle on the MARNE

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/21

This was a very pleasing Friday crossword by Kate Hawkins. Being Friday, there was no theme, but that just meant that the rest of the clues had to pull their weight, and they certainly did here. We were delighted to see a reference to our favorite streaming series in 29A, Actress Seehorn of "Pluribus", RHEA. We were chagrinned to discover that we did not recognize 39A, Miracle on the ___ (surprise French/English victory of W.W. I), MARNE. Finally we appreciated the straightforward no-nonsense...

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15:04

Thursday, February 19, 2026 - Laila ALI is back in...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/20

There were so many great clues and answers in today's puzzle, it's amazing that John Ewbank managed to wrestle them all into a 15x15 grid, but somehow he did. We appreciated the altruism and surely deliberate parallels between 64A, Volunteer's words, ICAN and 45D, "I'm at your disposal", USEME. We also liked the somewhat related onomatopoeia of 25A, Sound of disapproval, HISS and 59D, "Over here!", PSST. Of course, the best part of the crossword was the theme, and to hear all about that, chec...

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17:49

Wednesday, February 18, 2026 - A HUMDINGER of a...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/19

If Emojis make your heart go pitter-patter, then put your cardiologist on speed dial because today's puzzle — the fourth by Victor Schmitt — is teeming with them. OK, "teeming" might be a bit of an exaggeration, but they are certainly more prevalent than usual, and contribute to the crossword's high EQ (Entertainment Quotient). Deets inside. In addition to our color commentary on today's crossword, we also have a (belated) Triplet Tuesday segment for your edification. Enjoy! Show note i...

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14:04

Tuesday, February 17, 2026 - A 99.9% SNAFU-free...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/19

If this crossword was a car, it would be a Bugatti; if it was a watch, it would be a Patek Philippe Grandmaster Chime. In short, this was a top-of-the-line Tuesday crossword, built with precision, love, and care, and yet, surprisingly, priced exactly the same as all the other NYTimes crosswords, not a farthing more for that extra pizzazz. What were some of those pizzazz-y clues, you ask? Our favorite was 35D, Tough-but-loving fathers, informally, PAPABEARS (a debut). Our second (and it ...

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10:27

Monday, February 16, 2026 - Ian Livengood is baaaaaack!

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/17

Ian Livengood had written a SLEW of NYTimes crosswords between 2010 and 2016. Then, most mysteriously, he vanished — nary a puzzle in sight until, after almost a decade of radio silence, he is back with a fine, extra crunchy Monday crossword, and the world is a better place for it! Show note imagery: Architecture, museums, an awesome university, LILLE has it all... We love feedback! Send us a text... Contact Info: We love listener mail! Drop us a line, crosswordpodcast@icloud.com. Also, we'r...

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19:03

Sunday, February 15, 2026 - A masterpiece in a 21x21...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/16

Michael Lieberman and Rebecca Goldstein are, individually, great crossword constructors: together they are greater, as today's puzzle makes abundantly clear. We loved the theme, we loved the clues, Sunday is indeed funday when it includes a crossword this refined. Besides the numerous clues we tackled on the podcast, we would also like to draw your attention to 114A, Calls to task?, PAGES (😀); 87A, Rest area?, BED ( 🤭); and our favorite, 89D, Deck out?, DEAL (🤣). Show note imagery: NOHO...

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14:30

Saturday, February 14, 2026 - A *lovely* Saturday...

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword ·

2026/02/15

This was a fine crossword by David Carp, his sixth for the NYTimes and his third to appear on a Saturday. The crossword was not outrageously difficult by Saturday standards, the clues were cute, and the grid itself was worth the price of admission. We have all the deets inside, so please, have a listen (and don't forget to subscribe, so you don't miss an episode). Did you forget to send a special something to that special someone on this special day? Fear not, you can send a subscription to t...

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2,017 results

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