Anna and James return to investigate the uncanny world of cryptozoology - at least, in linguistic terms, we're not doing anything that might actually put us in danger or need actual work. In this episode we learn what Yetis eat, find a better n

Episode 11 - That was an episode of Star Trek (Pastries)

Mar 5th, 2022 29m 8s

In the post(ish) COVID world, there is one again room for word-based musings and meanderings. That's right, Anna and James are back with a new episode looking at your favourite baked goods. What does a croissant have to do with a crèche? What t

Crabcast - Episode 389 (April 1st 2021)

Apr 1st, 2021 14m 2s

Crabcast - Episode 389 April 1st 2021 Opening Music: Deep And Dirty by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5045-deep-and-dirty License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Cover Art Crab photo by Fiatlux Link: https://ww

Episode 10 - The Original Nymphomaniac (Greek Names)

Jan 28th, 2021 27m 20s

Back for a second season (ahem) of etymological excitement, James and Anna have been playing Hades and that's why this month's episode digs into Greek myths to discover everything there is to know about the universal antidote, tricking your way

Episode 9 - After Judge Dredd, Before Star Trek (Architecture)

Jun 14th, 2020 34m 30s

It's time to get technical as James and Anna look at the language of architecture. What has brutalism got to do with being smart? What distinguishes a gargoyle from a grotesque? Can James correctly answer ten questions about castles with no pre

Episode 8 - The Gentleman's Game (Sports)

May 8th, 2020 33m 57s

This week Anna and James use their mutual love of sport (and more specifically, the not playing of it) as a springboard for their etymological enquiries. What does boxing have to do with boxes? What has fencing got to do with fences? And what h

Episode 7 - A Punk Version of Monopoly (Board Games)

Apr 17th, 2020 31m 47s

Yahtzee! And indeed, chess. That's right, in this episode we investigate the origins of the oldest game. No, not that one, board games only. Anna digs into exactly why it is that Monopoly is so dull, James finds out what mahjong has to do with

Episode 6 - Beethoven Cinematic Universe (Dog Breeds)

Apr 3rd, 2020 36m 37s

What's up, dog? Anna, James and special guest Katie investigate the strange world of dog breeds. Who was St. Bernard? What have puppies got to do with butterflies? And can we possibly track down the person who named the Olde English Bull Dogge

Episode 5 - Treesles (Diseases)

Mar 20th, 2020 27m 13s

It's a social isolation special as, in the midst of a global coronavirus pandemic, we take a look at the etymology of disease names. That's right, we're redefining the concept of being a social media influenza, unpicking what COVID-19 really me

Episode 4 - Of from gold (Cities)

Mar 13th, 2020 30m 49s

In which we take a tour of the great cities of the world. And Coventry. We learn how close New York came to NOT being the Big Apple, why Paris is literally a melting pot, and then visit the fictional cities of Tolkien, CS Lewis, Milton, and the

Episode 3 - Milkshakes are a Vegetable (Herbs)

Feb 28th, 2020 27m 22s

In which we pick some herbs (metaphorically speaking) and ask: Are YOU going to Scarborough Fair? And do you wanna score some aromatic weeds on the way? Plus, why vanilla is not at all vanilla, and why milkshakes are incontestably a vegetable.

Episode 2 - A Secret Cabal of Farmers (Months)

Feb 21st, 2020 31m 5s

In which we look at the calendar and ask: just what sort of racket is Big Diary perpetrating with this nonsense? James tries (and fails) to explain what April means, while Anna digs into etymology of 'a fortnite' with... can we say surprising r

Episode 1 - Sad Clam Erasure (Emotions)

Feb 12th, 2020 25m 48s

In which we tackle the simple subject of emotions, asking: how are you feeling, and why do you say that? But not in a Sigmund Freud way. Meanwhile, James has learned exactly what it is that makes clams happy, while Anna tells us how it feels wh

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