PLOT TWIST! If you know, you know. And if you don't — give it a listen. Season 9 wraps with one of the most delightful surprises in the history of FMI, and we're not even talking about a brand new contest puzzle (!!!), available at bemoresmarter.com/con457. buff.ly/3K5FPyh

Season Ten! This week's topics: Wilbur, chicken, more chicken, Kealoa, Greek phrases, middle names, a contest puzzle (bemoresmarter.com/con457), a Thunder Round, and some glitchy Zoom. Also: buy the Lollapuzzoola set if you haven't yet! buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

Front runners emerge in the "pick Ryan's middle name" game, but is the voting secure? This week, Ryan and Brian yak about Bangor, Raising Cane's, and names like Cottontail and Intriligator. Sounds like a bunch of tittle-tattle. buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

Ryan is away this week so once again, Brian is joined by The Great and Powerful Barnacle, Ben Zimmer! Topics include baseball nightmares, rhyming word etymology, #rip Googlewhacks, and a new Contest of Now at bemoresmarter.com/contest • buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

It's the return of many things: crosswords in real life, the indeterminate length club, the long lost FMI musical, and best of all, cohost Ryan Zwickel Hecht! (Also, solve our Contest of Still Going On at bemoresmarter.com/contest) • buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

This week, Ryan and Brian bring two new challenges to the table, one you should try and one you should not. Also: how many Fleet Streets, how many spellings of Zihuatanejo, and how many middle names is Ryan allowed to veto? buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

This week, Ryan and Brian enjoy frothy beverages whilst podding, examine the peculiar lyrics of "Pippin," and try out a not-particularly-thrilling variation on Kealoa. Solve our current contest puzzle at bemoresmarter.com/contest. buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

This week, Ryan and Brian argue about what meat is, try to remember movies they haven't seen, and learn what's exciting enough for Brian's personal Mount Rushmore. There's also a new Contest of Now, available at bemoresmarter.com/contest. buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

This week, Ryan and Brian encounter a spicy meatball, try (and fail) to understand how multiverses work, and envision a Punnett square combining baseball and government. buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

This week, Ryan and Brian get Viewer Mail from Alex Verdugo, Little Known Facts from Matt Gritzmacher, and open the Ryan's Middle Name Bracket at bemoresmarter.com/rmn. Plus a new Contest of Now, available at bemoresmarter.com/contest buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

It's Round Two of Ryan's Middle Name -- vote AGAIN in the bracket at bemoresmarter.com/rmn. This week, Ryan and Brian do some non-NYT puzzles in the Thunder Round (links in show notes). Contest: bemoresmarter.com/contest Show: buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

Vegas, baby! Ryan is winning big and Brian is still in Syracuse. Still, the show must go on. Voting continues on Ryan's middle name -- it's the Sweet 16, so vote at bemoresmarter.com/rmn, it's the only power you have in this world. buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

This week, Ryan and Brian try to learn about Canadian geography, Latin computer programming, and French literature. Voting continues for Ryan's middle name at bemoresmarter.com/rmn. We hear you. We always hear you. buff.ly/3K5FPyh #crossword #podcast

This week, Ryan and Brian learn about the powers of Patreon (not the money part), the films of Park Chan-wook (not the Evil Dead part), and the last four candidates for Ryan's new middle name! Vote here: bemoresmarter.com/rmn. #crossword #podcast buff.ly/3K5FPyh

This week, Ryan and Brian discuss forks in Italian cuisine, self-educate in brick-making, and predict the future of outfielder Alex Verdugo. Also, it's the FINAL VOTE for Ryan's new middle name! Vote here: bemoresmarter.com/rmn. #crossword #podcast buff.ly/3K5FPyh

This week, Ryan and Brian visit Utah, doubt Dan Feyer, and learn a new word: toothsinkability. The final votes on Ryan's middle name have been cast, and now only time will tell if it was all worth it. #crossword #podcast buff.ly/3K5FPyh

This week, Ryan and Brian try to understand holidays in the far north, inter-island travel in the south Pacific, and gamble the entirety of Kealoa on a nearly scripted coin toss. #crossword #podcast buff.ly/3K5FPyh

This week, Ryan and Brian attempt to pronounce words that may or may not be from other languages, shore up on knowledge of international parking, and despite their grand dreams, have not unlocked the secrets to time travel. #crossword #podcast buff.ly/3K5FPyh

This week, Ryan and Brian try to warm up to Letter Boxed, look for hidden meaning in AI art, and remember things Zero Mostel wasn't famous for. #crossword #podcast buff.ly/3K5FPyh

This week, Ben Zimmer joins Brian in the FMI studio for a thorough recap of the 2024 Word of the Year! Also: NYT games, the ORCAs, a little known fact about Russian poetry, and a Brian Wecht sighting! #crossword #podcast buff.ly/3K5FPyh