The Allusionist

2,790
Arts #48

Adventures in language with Helen Zaltzman. TheAllusionist.org

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Recent Reviews
  • sarahelize
    Always Brilliant
    Helen and The Allusionist are simply always brilliant. I listened to all the episodes and then started over again and now look forward to hearing the new ones and revisiting older ones too. Regularly mind blowing in the best way possible. šŸŽ‰šŸ‘
  • La Manifesta
    Helen Zaltzman is a mensch!
    The Allusionist is simply a great podcast. I have learned so much about the use and evolution of language, and Helen always has the most interesting and enlightening guests. Sheā€™s also ridiculously entertainingā€”I always look forward to her special episodes like the quizzes and Tranquillusionists, where she reads words in a calming tone of voice so you can relax. Her husband Martin Austwickā€™s music is the delightful icing on the cake, and makes every episode richer. But fundamentally, what makes The Allusionist great is that Helen is a truly admirable human being. She regularly has episodes that explore the boundaries of inclusive language. In 2020, she struck out on her own from the Radiotopia podcast network because the networkā€™s roster of shows was overwhelmingly white, and she decided to free up the money paid to her so it could be used to increase the diversity of voices on the network. She walks the talk. If you ever get the chance to see her live, jump at it. And if you support the podcast financially, youā€™ll get a ton of cool material in return. Helen Zaltzman is, indeed, a mensch.
  • Mr. Music Head
    I absolutely love Helen and The Allusionist podcast.
    Thanks for years of great listening, Helen! Love the show.
  • DamnMel
    Brain gains!
    This podcast has made me smarter, and more aware of the world around me. Language is always a work in progress, moving and changing with the times. Finding out what shaped it in the past and whatā€™s redefining it now is a blast.
  • SRRpod
    Helen Zaltzman is the best!
    What a joy to listen to. Surprising and interesting perspectives on so many new things.
  • Gnomen.
    This show has really lost the plot
    Came to echo what others have said. It used to be a great show about words. Now its a social justice podcast. Love Helen, agree with her overall, but Iā€™m not really in for what the show has become. Maybe branching them into two separate podcasts would be a good idea? Either way. The old episodes are great. I hope they get back to the words about words soon.
  • Radio days rocked
    For fans of history and words
    Well done, researched and entertaining as well.
  • etherdog
    Audio quality is paramount
    I am writing this review based on the Gems and Patties episode. The audio quality is so bad that my spouse wanted to unsubscribe because of it. Helen, we have such great audio tools nowā€”I am trying to get your attention because otherwise your podcast is a TEN in my book.
  • Asmorian
    Love listening
    I heard this plugged on ologies and am so glad I gave it a listen. Helen is a wonderful host and I am always pleased with the insightful discussion on myriad topics.
  • Titania Red
    Knowledge and humor!
    Helen and her guests make the history of language interesting and inspire listeners to go out on their own to learn more! One of my favorites!
  • TeagardenRi
    All time favorite
    One of the best podcasts I have ever listened to. Helen is just hilarious.
  • Celi_yuck
    Lovely
    I appreciate the production! The music is great. Helenā€™s calm voice is at the perfect distance and the content lulls my brain into a pleasant interested learning state. I also am down for the swears
  • šŸŒøāœØšŸ’ŽPearlšŸ’ŽāœØšŸŒø
    nerdy niche
    I really listening to this pod! Itā€™s funky, itā€™s cool! Honestly, I vibe with the fun song about Uranus( traditionally Uranous) and wish more people would listen to it! Keep in mind that politics and culture is woven into linguistics, and we donā€™t control what she puts out!āœØāœØ
  • olivecat
    Splendidly engaging
    Love this pod so much. :)
  • Marty McGuy
    Gone off topic
    This used to be a show about words and linguistics. I donā€™t even disagree with Helenā€™s take on more recent subjects; itā€™s just that I get enough of that elsewhere and thereā€™s only so much I can take. This show used to be interesting and lighthearted. As a fat dude, two entire episodes dedicated to complaining about how fat people are treated is just 1.8 episodes too many for me. What was once an entertaining diversion while gardening is now just an extra side of depression with my tomatoes.
  • GeorgiaM
    Absolute gem
    Cannot get enough episodesā€¦love the in-depth look at language and the beautiful context Helen weaves in. Episode 178 Uranus made me literally LOL while walking down the street and I think I was actually saying it out loud too!
  • vinyldash
    What happened?
    Iā€™m a total nerd for language & linguistics & history so when I first found this podcast I was in love! I wouldā€™ve given it 5 stars, easy. Lately though it really seems to have shifted its focus to more timely issues, some political. Like a lot of the other reviewers who have mentioned this shift, Iā€™m definitely progressive/left leaning, and I seek out political/ social justice/news pods when thatā€™s what I want. Here it just feelsā€¦.preachy? And definitely out of place in a language pod. Another thing Iā€™ve noticed of late is that some of the episodes are a bitā€¦weird? Just listened to the phone call bit on the Uranus ep & had to turn it off as it went on so long & ultimately annoyed me so much I couldnā€™t stand it anymore. And what on earth is this Tranquilusionist stuff??? Huh? I donā€™t get it, is this some kind of ASMR for folks who like that? Seems like itā€™s time for our lovely Helen to reassess her intentions for the pod, maybe put out something thatā€™s a bit less scattered in its content.
  • simpy cat
    Naming of Uranus...
    ā€¦. best episode in quite a while, a great example of Helenā€™s dry, wry wit
  • Yendoggy
    They just canā€™t help themselves! Crap!
    Used to love this pod! But I clicked on multiple episodes and yup! It seems to have gone super political. (WAY to the left not that it mattersā€¦ either way would have been annoying) I AM very much a liberal.. but I dont need to hear leftist political talking points on a podcast about words, vocabulary, language, etcā€¦ Itā€™s like these people get popular doing something neutral and non political and then canā€™t help themselves when they have a platform and they start spewing their politics. (See Radio Lab and others) So disappointing.. I erased it off my feed now.
  • mspassell
    45689908645 stars!!!
    Iā€™m always excited to hear what surprising, clever, funny and human language adventure Helen has in store for us.
  • Jennisok
    Excellent and educational
    The Allusionist was one of the first linguistics podcasts I ever listened to and it has led me down a rabbit hole of many others. Iā€™ve learned so much. Really enjoyable.
  • EKH0577
    Not as interesting as it was previously
    I used to absolutely love this show. Helenā€™s wit and erudition made it a must-listen, and I dutifully delved through the whole history when I discovered the podcast in 2020. Lately though, I find that we seem to have veered away from a focus on fun and interesting linguistic stuff. The current direction, which seems heavily geared toward issues of marginalization and social justice/awareness has rendered the show a bit dreary and tedious. Donā€™t get me wrong, Iā€™m all for important and salient discussions - I just prefer pursuing them away from what used to be a rollicking good-time of a podcast. Now it feels a bit like taking my medicine. Quel dommage.
  • cagey_01
    Taking a moment during the ads to sayā€¦
    This pod is terrific so far. Just finished The Box and now listening to Actively Passive - I imagine after Iā€™m finished with this ep, Iā€™ll dive into another one. Smart and thoughtful.
  • LudditetheSlow
    Brilliant
    Completely, totally brilliant!
  • Jrockay
    Funny, Genius
    Love Helenā€™s style since AMT. Always interesting, different.
  • NikoGreenwood
    Excellent, including the use of all of the language, respectfully
    I felt compelled to say after Helen Z mentioned at the start of the episode that someone rated that there were too many swears for their taste. I can respect that opinion while also being of the opinion that while there is some swearing in this show, none of it is gratuitous, and it is all appropriate use of the entire language. The fact that there arenā€™t airs put on to ā€œclean upā€ the language is part of why I like this show so much. Itā€™s a podcast about etymology and itā€™s NOT stuffy and overly snobby. It brings the fascination with words out of the proper classroom treatments and into the everyday living with language. So, to any of you out there who may have read the other review - yes thereā€™s swears, but theyā€™re infrequent and not even particularly rude uses of the no-no words, and she generally gives a heads up at the top of the episode about language and likely triggers. And to you Helen, thank you for being relaxed enough with us, your audience, to not feel the need to ā€œclean upā€ before you show us around. Really.
  • eikt12333
    Canā€™t get enough!
    I have just finished listening to 161 episode of The Allusionist. I donā€™t remember how I was first made aware of Helen Zaltzman and her etymological work on her podcast The Allusionist. It was probably from one of her many guest spots on Buffering the Vampire Slayer, Ologies, or Science Diction. But I do remember when I started listening to The Allusionist. It was this summer when I began a 45 minute to 1 hour and 30 minute train and walking commute. Since then, The Allusionist has also been my campaign for laundry folding, dish washing, and cross country road trips. I am excited to continue to get a biweekly dose of etymology, history, and philosophy now that Iā€™ve caught up. TL;DR: Itā€™s a great show and Iā€™m hooked!
  • PodFan032021
    If you love language, youā€™ll love this podcast!
    Helen brings such a thoughtful, well-informed perspective to important, interesting, and fun language topics. Have a listen!
  • Helen from Dallas
    Great Podcast, bit much swearing
    A really excellent showā€”both interesting and witty. Love the intro and all the order little stuff Helen does like the opening language metaphor or the Randomly Selected Word From the Dictionary, but the frequency of swearing in the feed means considerably less episodes for us tender-eared listeners to enjoy.
  • BradleyGC
    If you love language youā€™ll love The Allusionist
    A podcast that dives deep into language coupled with Helen Zaltzmanā€™s delightfully dry wit is a no-brainer. Do yourself a favor and start listening now if youā€™re not already.
  • BonnieKarpay
    So enjoyable!
    Helen is an absolute joy to listen to. I love her passion for language and for humanity, which she seems to hold in equal parts.
  • stforeman
    Goat
    I canā€™t believe it but weā€™ve done it. Weā€™ve found the best podcast.
  • Gary Wallen
    English-speakers all need to listen
    Teachers of the language should pay attention to be reminded how vital intelligent, engaging communication is to instill a lifelong love of the subject. Far too few instructors are as engaging and able to hold interest by using insightful, often humorous, related tidbits that provide clarity and depth of understanding to the subject discussed. Each episode is fun and fast moving. I have no doubt anyone -from Jonathan Winters to George Carlin, Groucho Marx, and Steve Allen would have been huge fans of Helen Zaltsman if only they could have heard this podcast. I recommend it more than any other of the ones I know.
  • Mlle. Me
    Refreshing
    Clever, interesting and intelligent! My new favourite podcast!!
  • Daniel Jacob Pearson
    Wonderful
    Helenā€™s adventures in language are joy.
  • Bor Geiling
    Really the best kind of pod-cast
    Iā€™ve been a huge fan of this podcast for quite a while. And just discovered Helen Zā€™s older podcast ā€˜Answer me thisā€™. She is brilliant in each. I learn a ton from these - not anything that I needed to know - but things that Iā€™m better for knowing. They are also endlessly entertaining and hilarious. Thank you Helen!
  • Hailrobonia
    Incredibly thought provoking
    The topics of the Allusionist run the gamut from ludicrous and hilarious (old timey slang) to serous and important (oppression and discrimination) and I am always blown away by the thoughtful discussions and amazing guests, not to mention Helen Zaltzmanā€™s brilliant wit.
  • The real Richie
    A continuous comfort and joy
    This was one of my first podcasts to really listen to and as such I think how much Iā€™ve grown with it. Always informative and fun.
  • ę³°ä¹¦åŽ
    brilliant
    my only complaints are that they are following the trend toward politically correct over sensitivity and that there arenā€™t enough episodes. otherwise the show is absolutely fantastic šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»šŸ‘šŸ»
  • Ambiverbal
    Simultaneously calming & thought provoking
    It's a joy to welcome Helen's 3-dimensional personality into my ears. I enjoyed her wit on "Answer Me This", but in "The Allusionist" she has liberated her curiosity, deep concern for justice, and love of language from the former podcast's competitive snark. I eagerly look forward to each episode.
  • Daniel123456789
    Fascinating and informative
    I love The Allusionist podcast. It is always interesting and illuminating about whatever subject the episode covers; whether itā€™s about bugs, gendered language, languages themselves, number words, or how donuts got to have ā€œrudeā€ names in South America, the show is always interesting and I always learn something when I listen. I canā€™t recommend it highly enough. Itā€™s also very validating to have topics related to gender and sexuality covered so gracefully and with such care. Youā€™ve got to subscribe!
  • joannmrgich
    Lifelong Learner
    I learn so much about language from this podcast. Itā€™s somehow obvious, yet still surprising how much language and the words we choose to use reveal about us. Never is that more evident than in the negative reviews for this podcast. Itā€™s truly astonishing how simply learning about A WORD, seems to upset some folksā€™ whole belief system. But I guess it has to be a pretty fragile system to be shaken by so littleā€¦
  • Avg Joe Baker
    Just love it
    Fascinating material, excellent writing, and Helen Zaltzman's amazing speaking voice come together to make a show that I listen to day of every time it comes out. If you've ever learned the origin of a word and gone "huh" then you'll love this podcast
  • Travlr68
    Whatā€™s not to like?
    If you love humans, humor, stories, or specialized knowledge shared with enthusiasm, you will love this podcast.
  • chauvinist????
    I used to like this podcastā€¦ā€¦but
    This podcast used to be interesting. But It seems Helen Zaltzman has drank the victimization kool-aid, and as a male, (not ā€œcisgenderedā€ , but able to look between my legs , simply born male, I canā€™t except that my gender Is responsible for all the evils in the world. The patriarchy? The patriarchy as the problem? Might I remind ms. Zaltzman, that ā€œthe patriarchy ā€œ has provided the comfortable world she lives in , and the radio waves that provide her living. In fact, if the progress of civilization was left to the female sex, weā€™d still be living in grass huts. Iā€™m going to give this one a pass going forward, and besides , found a much better podcast that explores my interest in language =. Something rhymes with purple!!!! Check it out! Really delightful, and without the leftist propaganda!
  • Jonsquared70
    Iā€™m riveted
    Ironically, I cannot conjure the right words to express how much I enjoy this podcast. Helen Zalzmanā€™s dulcet tone is so soothing she can read a phone book and Iā€™ll be entranced! (Wait, was that episode 15?) Keep doing the great work!
  • Bfufam
    Episode 141
    I think they were highā€¦.hilarious!!!!
  • kunlaou
    Dude, I never thought about it that way
    First of all this is an amazing show and Iā€™ve loved almost every episode, partially because I almost always learn something and I do love to learn. My 80-year-old mother refers to me as dude and not because sheā€™s being purposely playful, at least not anymore. She also usually refers to people as man when not using the word dude. Men and women. As did my father. He was four years older than her. I think this has a lot to do with working class versus educated culture. I am the youngest of five at the age of 50 and I feel as if from my generation up to my eldest brothers at the age of 60,Although dude has always had the possibility of referring to a bill and ted style loser, it has also simultaneously grown in the last 20-30 years in my personal life as a term of endearment with anyone I am close with. Somehow, although many years ago it had a similar connotation as guys or man ā€” speaking as a generation X individual, who has worked many kitchen jobs, dude became a word that for the most part was not only excepted by women, but used woman to woman, in particular in the kitchen and working class group of friends I have usually kept. Terms like guys or girls immediately suggested male or female, whereas dude became a word that meant all of us. Although I have once or twice in my adult life encountered women who rejected the title of dude as feminine, and thatā€™s it. However, Hellenā€˜s observation that it was originally a word referring to men, foppish or strong, and that no word referring exclusively to women seems to have made its way to refer to all people, certainly makes me wonder how many women who said nothing weā€™re nonetheless preferring not to be referred to as such. I firmly believe that in the last few decades, so much has changed as far as sexuality and attention to how we refer to one another and how that makes us feel, all the way up to todayā€™s discussions on transgender and non-binary individuals leaves many people uncertain of what theyā€™re supposed to call anyone. Even those of us with the best of intentions. For this reason, it is most important that we consciously think about who we are relating to, but it doesnā€™t surprise me that words like dude have become rather unisex. It feels safe, comfortable, friendly, and outside of all of the conversations on here and she and they and them. It may not be fully unisex, but in 2021 itā€™s about the closest we have
  • ShadowWings
    Fantastic podcast
    This show (in which Helen Zaltzman swishes language around in her mouth to see how it tastes) is amazing - a rare podcast combination of humorous, relevant, and rigorously researched.
  • Aryablindgirl
    Absolutely delightful
    Helen is not only pleasant-voiced, knowledgeable, and witty - she also hosts a fantastic series of guests and leads you on a journey through language that is as educational as it is enjoyable.
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