"Polish polishing" w/ A.J. & Greg
Digest
The podcast starts with an intriguing puzzle linking Thursday, the element thorium (atomic number 90), and Chris Hemsworth (the answer being Thor's Day). This leads into a discussion of "capitol nims," words whose meaning shifts based on capitalization. Examples like "march" and "polish" illustrate this linguistic phenomenon. The main segment features a fast-paced word game where contestants must name items from categories (holidays, palindromes, state capitals, Oscar winners) beginning with the letters of "March." The game showcases quick thinking and diverse knowledge.
Outlines
Capitol Nims and Linguistic Puzzles
The episode introduces the concept of "capitol nims," words whose meaning changes with capitalization, using examples and solving a puzzle connecting Thursday, thorium, and Chris Hemsworth.
The "March" Category Game
A competitive word game is played, challenging participants to name items from various categories (holidays, palindromes, state capitals, Oscar winners) starting with the letters of "March."
Keywords
Capitol Nims
Words whose meaning changes based on capitalization (e.g., "March," "Polish").
Palindrome
A word or phrase that reads the same backward as forward (e.g., "racecar," "madam").
Word Games
Puzzles and games that test vocabulary and knowledge of words.
Thorium
Chemical element with atomic number 90, named after Thor.
Chris Hemsworth
Actor known for portraying Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Linguistic Puzzle
A puzzle or game based on the rules and structure of language.
Q&A
What are "capitol nims," and how do they work?
"Capitol nims" are words whose meaning changes depending on capitalization; the change alters the word's grammatical function and meaning.
How did the "March" category game work?
Two players took turns naming items from categories (holidays, palindromes, state capitals, Oscar winners) starting with the letters M, A, R, C, H.
What is the connection between Thursday, thorium, and Chris Hemsworth?
Thorium's atomic number (90) links to Thor (Norse god), connecting to Chris Hemsworth (who plays Thor) and Thursday ("Thor's Day").
Show Notes
Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: our very own Chief Puzzle Officer, Greg Pliska.
Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask AI” and audio rebuses.
Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
"The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas.
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts.
The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
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