Best Rob Schilling Podcasts (2025)

1
Why simplified spelling nearly took over America (and why it didn't), with Gabe Henry 31:06

6h ago31:06

31:06

1084. This week, Gabe Henry talks about his new book, "Enough Is Enuf," and the long, strange quest to simplify English spelling. Learn why the "Chicago Tribune" made simplified spelling its house style for decades and why Roosevelt's attempt to make it law backfired. Find Gabe Henry at http://GabeHenry.com. 🔗 Use the code MACMIL for $50 off my Rag…

1
Why 'wake' is so confusing. The playful language of vacations. 18:20

2d ago18:20

18:20

1083. Is it "woke," "woken," or "waked"? We break down why the verb "wake" is one of the trickiest in English, with four competing forms and centuries of change. Then, we lighten things up with a look at vacation vocabulary—from "staycation" to "glamping." The "wake" segment was written by Natalie Schilling, a professor emerita of linguistics at Ge…

1
Ambrose Bierce, from ‘The Devil’s Dictionary’ to disappearing in Mexico, with Jim Norrena 30:01

7d ago30:01

30:01

1082. Copy editor Jim Norrena joins us this week for a conversation about Ambrose Bierce, his famous "Devil's Dictionary," and his darkly funny take on the world. We look at Bierce’s fascinating (and tragic) life, his legendary wordplay, and his mysterious disappearance in Mexico. Plus, we share our favorite biting definitions and quirky facts abou…

1
Why 'epitome' is confusing. Quirky stories behind baby animal names. Alice doors 18:43

9d ago18:43

18:43

1081. Is an epitome a summary or a shining example? We look at why this word trips people up and how its meaning has changed over time. Then, we take a linguistic safari through the world of baby animal names—and what they tell us about language, culture, and human history. The "baby animal names" segment is by Karen Lunde, a career writer and edit…

1
John Schilling, The AZTR organizer we don't deserve 1:17:53

10d ago1:17:53

1:17:53

John Shilling took over AZT bike race responsibilities from Scott Morris a few years back and has been killing it. The route and all it's wilderness work-a-rounds has become spectaular...spetacularly hard, but spectacular none the less. We talk all things AZT on a bike. Thank you for your service John. Ben helped out with the audio on this one...if…

1
Marc Beckman: How AI is going to change everything 29:10

11d ago29:10

29:10

Marc Beckman is the CEO of DMA United, an award-winning ad agency. He’s author of the new book, Some Future Day: How AI Is Going to Change Everything In this exclusive Schilling Show Unleashed Podcast interview, Beckman discusses our AI war with China, AI’s impact on creatives, and forthcoming neural implants to provide instant access to AI.…

1
Rob Bauer, the AZT lengend you may not yet know. 2:07:24

12d ago2:07:24

2:07:24

Rob is everywhere on the AZT. The gates, the roll-overs, the rain collectors, huge swaths of the trail itself. Rob and his wife michelle have been tirelessly making the AZT what it is today throught their efforts in trail infrastructre improvment over the past decade. If my AZT experience wasn't already impacted enough by one person...Rob is also t…

1
Katie Strempke, Andrew Strempke, Eszter Horanyi, yes for real 1:07:36

13d ago1:07:36

1:07:36

Star studded AZT interview. The Strempkes calling in from Moab with a bonus Eszter Horanyi to boot. Can't beleive our luck. We talk...what else?...Arizona Trail. As well as some updates from Eszter and a quick chat about Andrew and Katie's bikepacking bag operation, Dispersed Bikepacking.

1
Juicy Dubois, the Desolationist himself 1:28:36

14d ago1:28:36

1:28:36

My fastest friend, Justin Dubois. We hash up, what else, the AZT. I love his perspective on racing and getting after it for these bikepack races. A super motivated and capable dude. Always a pleasure. also..don't sleep on the Hachtia Give-a-way. Will pull a name early next week. Brown and Wood Auto in Greenville are the ones to thank. Just make an …

1
How YouTubers' voices evolve, with Andrew Cheng 21:40

14d ago21:40

21:40

1080. Linguist Andrew Cheng explains why people’s accents shift over time, especially when they move—and how YouTubers make perfect data subjects. If you've ever cringed at your old voice recordings, this one’s for you. Andrew Cheng is a professor of linguistics at the University of Hawaii. You can find him on Bluesky at LinguistAndrew. NEW: Sign u…

1
Grouchin Houchin and No-Shoes are AZT addicts 1:59:06

15d ago1:59:06

1:59:06

Alexandra Houchin and Johnny Price are two of my favorite people on the earth's crust. They are also chronic AZT competors. There work ethic and competative spirit is infectious. If I can display 1% of their character in my life I take that as a win. We talk lots about the new coarse, the grand canyon portage, among other fun AZT topics. Don't forg…

1
What dictionary labels tell us about words. Why we say 'mama'. DU, STU, and LO. 17:00

16d ago17:00

17:00

1079. Ever wonder what labels like "informal," "archaic," or "offensive" mean in a dictionary entry? We explain how different dictionaries use labels to describe when, where, and how to use words. Then, we explore why so many babies say "dada" first and why babies say "mama" almost everywhere. The "dictionary labels" segment was written by Susan He…

1
The secret to writing ‘the same but different,’ with Mary Robinette Kowal 20:26

21d ago20:26

20:26

1078. Mary Robinette Kowal talks about going from writing magic-filled Regency romances to Hugo-nominated science fiction, what it's like to work with an agent, and how she keeps her career moving forward. Plus, she gave us three great book recommendations (and I've already read and loved one of them!). Find Mary at maryrobinettekowal.com. 🔗 Share …

1
'Lit' vs. 'lighted.' The mysteries of the dollar sign. Redd up. 19:04

23d ago19:04

19:04

1077. Is it “lit” or “lighted”? Both are correct, but we look at how their popularity has switched over time. Then we investigate four of the competing theories about the origin of the dollar sign and end with tips about how to use it. The "dollar sign" segment was written by Jim Norrena, MFA, who has been writing and editing for more than thirty-f…

1
Ghostwriters, book deals, and AI: What you didn’t know about publishing, with Dan Gerstein 22:44

28d ago22:44

22:44

1076. Dan Gerstein, founder of Gotham Ghostwriters, looks at how ghostwriting fiction really works, who’s hiring ghostwriters, and why AI can’t replace human storytelling. We also talked about how ghostwriters negotiate royalties, film rights, and what makes a great collaboration work. Find Dan at GothamGhostwriters.com. 🔗 Share your familect recor…

1
'I.e.' versus 'e.g.' What Shakespeare actually added to English. Four schnitzels. 18:01

1M ago18:01

18:01

1075. People often confuse "i.e." and "e.g." We'll help you get them right — no Latin required. Then, in honor of Shakespeare’s birthday, we look at five common myths about his contributions to the English language, including whether he coined thousands of words and how much Latin he actually knew. The "Shakespeare" segment was by Jonathan Culpeper…

1
AI and the future of dictionaries, with Erin McKean 26:02

1M ago26:02

26:02

1074. Is AI good enough to replace lexicographers? Wordnik founder Erin McKean shares what works, what doesn’t, and why the future of dictionaries is far from settled. Find Erin McKean at wordnik.com, dressaday.com, and [email protected]. 🔗 Share your familect recording in a WhatsApp chat. 🔗 Watch my LinkedIn Learning writing courses. 🔗 Subscribe…

1
Better paragraph breaks. The story behind 'mad money' and 'pin money.' Bruce bad. 15:52

1M ago15:52

15:52

1073. Today, we have practical tips for writing better paragraphs (and it's not the formulaic topic-sentence structure). Then, we look at the surprising history of phrases like “mad money” and “pin money” and what they show about women’s roles and financial independence through time. The "paragraph" segment originally appeared on the OUP Blog, and …

1
The future of editing jobs in the age of AI, with Samantha Enslen 17:01

1M ago17:01

17:01

1072. Is AI coming for our jobs—or just the boring parts? This week, Samantha Enslen of Dragonfly Editorial talks about how she sees AI changing the work of writers and editors. We talked about real clients, real fears, and hope for the future. Plus, Samantha shares her favorite old-school fiction (spoiler: Agatha Christie strikes again!). Find Sam…

1
How to write photo captions. The real difference between ‘immigrate’ and ‘emigrate.’ Ko Pha-ngan'd 16:57

1M ago16:57

16:57

1071. Is it "Taylor and I" or "Taylor and me"? We explain why photo captions follow their own grammar rules. Then, we explore the subtle difference between "immigrate" and "emigrate," how the terms are used historically, and why their meanings often depend on perspective. The "photo captions" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Quick & Dirty Tips e…

1
The hidden techniques behind well-paced fiction, with Joshua Essoe 25:35

2M ago25:35

25:35

1070. Fiction editor Joshua Essoe explains the hidden techniques behind pacing in storytelling. Learn how good pacing shapes reader engagement, why well-placed story beats and emotional shifts matter, and how popular films like Memento and Fight Club use pacing to captivate audiences. Joshua also looks at managing flashbacks, using white space stra…

1
Denise Shick: Winning the battle of gender identity 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

Denise Shick is founder and executive director of Help 4 Families Ministry; executive director of Living Stones Ministries; and author of, Out of Darkness and Into the Light: Winning the Battle of Gender Identity In this exclusive Schilling Show Unleashed Podcast interview, Shick discusses her personal story of family transgenderism, the phenomena …

1
Why don't we say the L in 'walk'? Never use 'always.' PABST 15:17

2M ago15:17

15:17

1069. Have you ever wondered why we have silent L's in words like "walk" and "half"? Those questions lead us to L-vocalization, spelling pronunciation, and why American and British speakers differ. Plus, we look at some of the most dangerous words in the English language: "always" and "never." The "L vocalization" segment is by Karen Lunde, a forme…

1
Exploring slang, AI ghost words, and language change, with Heddwen Newton 31:13

2M ago31:13

31:13

1068. Did Yosemite Sam ever actually say "tarnation"? What’s "fridgescaping," and why is it trending? And why is AI filling the internet with nonsense words like “lrtsjerk”? Linguist and translator Heddwen Newton shares her favorite new slang, explains the Mandela Effect, and breaks down how AI-generated content is making language even messier. Fin…

1
What’s wrong with "'til"? Why tiny words control conversations. How many cookies? 17:25

2M ago17:25

17:25

1067. Think "'til" is a valid alternative to "until"? Think again! We learn about the difference between "till" and "until" and why many style guides frown on "'til." Then, we uncover the hidden power of interjections—words like "um," "huh," and "mm-hmm"—and how they help us negotiate meaning, keep conversations flowing, and even challenge artifici…

1
The best punctuation book, period, with June Casagrande 25:04

2M ago25:04

25:04

1066. Do you really need that comma? Should your dashes have spaces? Is there ever just one "right" way to punctuate? June Casagrande, author of "The Best Punctuation Book, Period," busts punctuation myths, compares style guides, and looks at the surprising complexity of the humble em dash. Find June Casagrande at grammarunderground.com. 🔗 Share yo…

1
Why we say ‘OK.’ How tea shaped English slang. Poetry winner 17:29

2M ago17:29

17:29

1065. Is it "OK" or "okay"? We look at the surprising history of one of the world’s most recognized English words and how a 19th-century election campaign helped it stick. Then, we have some fun with Victorian tea culture and the many idioms it inspired, from Cockney rhyming slang to "scandal broth." The "tea" segment is by Karen Lunde, a former Qu…

1
Behind the scenes of Wikipedia: editing, accuracy, and notability, with Jonathan Rick 27:38

2M ago27:38

27:38

1064. Is Wikipedia the last refuge on online truth? With AI-generated content and misinformation spreading online, Wikipedia is growing in esteem, but who decides what gets published? How does Wikipedia determine things like credibility and notability? Wikipedia consultant Jonathan Rick gives us the inside scoop on Wikipedia’s strict sourcing rules…

1
How did our holidays become so 'corny'? Why do some words have accent marks in English? Cubby hole 15:42

2M ago15:42

15:42

1063. Why is it called "corned beef" when there’s no corn involved? We look at how the word "corn" evolved to mean different things over time. Then, we look at the role of accent marks in English — why some words keep them, why others lose them, and what they tell us about language. The "corn" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Rob Schilling Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide