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A PODCAST ABOUT LANGUAGE
BY HELEN ZALTZMAN

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The Allusionist

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Allusionist 82 A Novel Remedy transcript

August 13, 2018 The Allusionist
A82 logo A Novel Remedy.jpg

When you’re not feeling well, which books do you turn to to make yourself feel better?

I asked this question on the Allusionist Facebook and Twitter, and hundreds of you responded, but a few answers came up again and again:
Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, JRR Tolkien.
Makes sense. Science fiction, fantasy: what’s more escapist?
Jane Austen. PG Wodehouse.
Also escapist, thanks to period setting - and, rich people problems not health problems.
Things you read when you were a child: Moomins, What Katy Did, Anne of Green Gables…
Taking you back to a time in your life that perhaps felt safer, or simpler...
...Harry Potter.
Boarding school shenanigans! Wizard problems not real life problems!
And, Agatha Christie.
Poison! Gunshots! Stabbing! Hang on, why would stories about murder make us feel better?

Well, they’re kind of supposed to make you feel better.

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In transcript Tags words, language, linguistics, education, comedy, entertainment, society & culture, psychology, OCD, mental health, books, fiction, audiobooks, novels, reading, amusement, distraction, wellness, illness, health, psychological, history, writers, authors, detectives, PI, sleuths, WW1, WW2, World War One, First World War, Second World War, World War Two, PTSD, trauma, personal, sickness, hospital, cortisol, childhood, kids, children, escape, escapism, nostalgia, Agatha Christie, mysteries, murder mystery, Hercule Poirot, crime, Miss Marple, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham, James Bond, Ian Fleming, Harry Potter, JK Rowling, science fiction, fantasy, Alison Light, literature of convalescence, convalescents, convalescence, jougs, Helen Zaltzman, Jane Gregory, Guy Cuthbertson

Allusionist 49: Bonus 2016 - transcript

December 30, 2016 The Allusionist

Why is gaslighting 'gaslighting'? What do bodily fluids have to do with personality traits? Why does 'cataract' mean a waterfall and an eye condition? And do doctors really say 'Stat!' or is that just in ER?

It's the end-of-2016 bonus edition of the Allusionist, containing some of your etymological requests and extra chat from some of this year's guests

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In transcript Tags four humours, four humors, sanguine, blood, bloody, Isaac Siemens, medicine, quack, cataract, waterfall, branding, care, hospital, doctors, bonus episode, bonus, Nancy Friedman, marijuana, Jane Solomon, search, words, dictionary.com, dictionary, dictionaries, gaslighting, gaslight, breaking up, divorce, nuchal, etymology, Nick Allen
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Allusionist 221. Scribe
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Allusionist 220. Disobedience
Allusionist 219. Making Trouble
Allusionist 219. Making Trouble
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Allusionist 218. Banned Books
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Allusionist 217. Bread and Roses, and Coffee
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Allusionist 216. Four Letter Words: Terisk
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Allusionist 215. Two-Letter Words
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Allusionist 214. Four Letter Words: Bane Bain Bath
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Allusionist 213. Four Letter Words: Dino
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Allusionist 212. Four Letter Words: Park
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Allusionist 211. Four Letter Words: -gate
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Allusionist 210. Four Letter Words: 4x4x4 Quiz
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