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.

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword is a leisure podcast hosted by MP, with 1,000 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

MP hosts Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword, a leisure show with 1,000 episodes published.

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  Episode #38

  Tuesday, August 18, 2026 —No, You Can't Forfend the Use of Forfend!

  Aug 18, 202614 minS17

  Kudos and congrats to Jeremy Venook on getting his debut crossword in the NYTimes! He had us when he name-dropped URIAH Heep, and kept us enthralled with a theme that was ideal for a Tuesday. Well done! Speaking of Tuesday, we have, as per custom, a Triplet Tuesday™️ segment, and this time Jean's the interrogatee. How'd she do? The answer is as close as your download button! Show note imagery: RIAN Johnson (l) on the set of Star Wars: The Last Jedi 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 drop by there and strike up a conversation!

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  Episode #37

  Monday, August 17, 2026 — Green Day and Pink Floyd and the Kingsmen, Oh, My!

  Aug 17, 202612 minS17

  You would expect that someone who has published 85 (!) NYTimes crosswords, including 31 Mondays, would craft a fine Monday puzzle, and your expectations would be met and then some. Zhouqin Burnikel has produced a picture-perfect Monday, with a lemon meringue of a theme and some awesome clues. Some that did not make into the podcast include 49D, Sound asleep?, SNORE (); 36D, "Sounds like a plan!", LETS ( ); and clearly the greatest song of all time, anywhere, 10D, 1963 Kingsmen hit with a repetitive title, LOUIELOUIE ( ). Nice work, Zhouqin! Show note imagery: Daniel R. Day, aka DAPPERDAN, the "Godfather of Hip-Hop Fashion". Show note videography: Speaking of mondegreens, what may be LOUIELOUIE , by the Kingsmen 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 drop by there and strike up a conversation!

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  Episode #36

  Sunday, August 16, 2026 — Today's Crossword Features CADGE, Uncaged!!

  Aug 16, 202620 minS17

  This marks Sam Brody's fourth NYTimes crossword, and we found it quite appealing. The theme was suitably punny, and we learned oodles. For instance, we now know 40D, Bum, CADGE, Mike can now speak knowledgeably about 95A, Fiber also known as viscose, RAYON; and both cohosts can now confidently spell 31A, Water nymphs of Greek myth, NYIAD ... no, half a mo, NIAID, no ... come back tomorrow, we'll have it figured out by then. Show note imagery: Some dizzying OPART ! 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 drop by there and strike up a conversation!

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  Episode #35

  Saturday, August 15, 2026 — Blake Slonecker Dials It Up To Eleven!

  Aug 15, 202616 minS17

  This was a challenging Saturday crossword, requiring that both cohosts really put their backs into it — which, since we are talking about crosswords, involves moving hardly a millimeter while staring at their screens with an intensity that could melt untreated glass (fortunately, their computers come with Apple's optional "stare resistant coating" ). The crossword represents Blake Sonecker's sixth Saturday opus. We thought the clues were great, greatly deceiving, and a lot of fun — definitely worth a full 5 squares on the JAMCR scale. Check out today's podcast for the full 411. Show note imagery: Japan's kitchen, aka Osaka 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 drop by there and strike up a conversation!

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  Episode #34

  Friday, August 14, 2026 — Zhou Zhang's Friday Debut is a Beaut!

  Aug 14, 202620 minS17

  Zhou Zhang is gradually working through the days of the week: this crossword marked her Friday debut . The only days on which she has not published are Tuesday and Saturday, but we expect those in short order. We also expect, based on prior experience, great cluing, and Zhou Zhang certainly does not disappoint here — every clue pulled its weight, and the puzzle as a whole was fabulous. Deets inside. Based on a Fan Mail note (thanks, Los Angeles Fan!), we have a Fun Fact Friday™️ segment on mondegreens. For even more mondegreens, check out Dr. Barber's slightly retro but very funny list . Show note imagery: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, playing Truman Capote in the one-man show Tru. 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 drop by there and strike up a conversation!

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