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Artwork for Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

MP
New York Times Crossword
Crossword Puzzles
New York Times
Crossword Puzzle
Crossword
The New York Times Crossword
Triplet Tuesday
Thanksgiving
Valentine's Day
Pop Culture
Cutco
Roman Numerals
Fab Five
Rena Cohen
Wisconsin
New Year's Eve
Jeffrey Martinovic
Wordplay
Music
Nate Hall

A short, fun and occasionally not unintentionally educational podcast in which two fans of the New York Times crossword describe their puzzle-solving travails.

PublishesDailyEpisodes2082Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
LeisureEducationHobbiesLanguage Learning

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Jean & Mike Do The New York Times Crossword

Latest Episodes

This was Victoria Fernandez Grande's second NYTimes crossword, and her first came just 2 months ago, so she is off to an impressive start! Monday crosswords are designed to be the easiest crosswords of the week, but that doesn't imply drab cluing, no... more

This was a Sunday debut by Hannah Slovut, and a rather novel one. You could tell it was a debut since xwordinfo.com said so; you could tell it was novel because the grid had 27 rows and 17 columns (the standard grid is 21x21). The shape was perfectly... more

Katie Hoody makes magnificent Saturday crosswords, and today's is no exception. It is a master class in crossword construction, featuring clues so brilliant that sunglasses are advised when working on it. 😎 We have full coverage in today's episode, ... more

Today's crossword — a debut by Jack Hatchett — was an epic struggle for both cohosts, as the puzzle was brimming with craftily clued debuts. We were definitely not expecting 10D, Sudden reversal of fortune, in literature, PERIPETEIA (from the Latin, ... more

Key Facts

Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Rafael Musa
Crossword constructor mentioned in the episode
Constructor (with Sala Wanetick)
Episode: Thursday, April 16, 2026 - 🎵Two for tea, and tea for two 🎶 🫖☕️
Sala Wanetick
Crossword constructor mentioned in the episode
Constructor (with Rafael Musa)
Episode: Thursday, April 16, 2026 - 🎵Two for tea, and tea for two 🎶 🫖☕️
Ian Livengood
Crossword constructor known for his Monday puzzles
Episode: Monday, February 16, 2026 - Ian Livengood is baaaaaack!
Unnamed Daughter
Jean and Mike's daughter who assists in crossword solving
Episode: Friday, September 12, 2025 - OCEANOLOGY: OCEANOGRAPHY's lesser known cousin 🙄
Laura Dershewitz
Crossword puzzle creator and author of the featured crossword
New York Times
Episode: Monday, July 22, 2024 - Laura Dershewitz KEEPSITREAL!
Tarun Krishnamurthy
16-year-old crossword constructor based in Seattle, Washington
New York Times Crossword
Episode: Monday, July 15, 2024 - The Big Interview 😀

Hosts

Jean
Co-host, occasional solo episodes when present; longstanding contributor to the NYT crossword discussion.
Mike
Host of the show; frequent co-solver and solo commentary in some episodes.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 57 ratings
  • Crossword Fun 😍

    Just found this podcast a couple of weeks ago & have really been enjoying it. Nothing fancy, just going through today’s NYT crossword. Love the banter between the 2 hosts & find Mike’s frequency stats very interesting. Thanks for making it not too short (or too long!) & keep up the good work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    edie7562
    United Statesa year ago
  • Love it

    Enjoy your podcast very much. It has helped me to get better at solving. Thanks for sharing your love of the puzzle.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    OoMikeoOo
    United States2 years ago
  • Fun daily podcast for us crossword nerds

    Thank you for an entertaining 20 minutes every day.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    slrsofl
    United States2 years ago
  • Best Crossword Podcast On Apple

    I love your podcast! It’s really fun how you go a lot of the clues of the crossword. I find myself looking up the words myself because a lot of them are words I didn’t know before. :) I also find myself guessing along with you guys during the game portion. I don’t know who writes those but they are always amazing. Jean

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Greatapp2013
    United States2 years ago
  • Enjoyable

    This is a fun podcast to listen to!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    rholpo
    United States4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise the friendly banter and practical solving tips that are easy to follow while solving along.
Fans enjoy the concise, 20-minute format and the hosts' enthusiasm for puzzle lore.
Reviewers frequently cite the hosts' chemistry and the helpful breakdown of clues as a strong reason to subscribe.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#223
Ireland/Leisure/Hobbies

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Friday, September 19, 2025 - You can pronounce magniloquence? OK but don't BRAG about it 😉
Q: Have either of you ever encountered an NYT crossword that you absolutely could not finish using your own wheelhouse of knowledge?
Yes, both Jean and Mike have experienced struggles with tough puzzles, especially on Fridays and Saturdays, often resorting to limited research for unfamiliar clues.
Monday, August 4, 2025 - ARIL showers bring ... a need for a more attentive spell-checker 🙄
Q: Did the crossword seem mildly harder than most Mondays?
Seemed more like a Tuesday than a Monday.
Monday, August 4, 2025 - ARIL showers bring ... a need for a more attentive spell-checker 🙄
Q: Did you find this crossword to be especially difficult?
No, but it took me forever to get it done.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - Just like 5D, this crossword was ALLGOOD!
Q: Did the crossword leave you feeling good?
Pretty good, yes. I learned something.
Tuesday, May 27, 2025 - Just like 5D, this crossword was ALLGOOD!
Q: Did you believe the crossword?
Yes, I did believe the crossword.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Two puzzle-loving hosts break down daily and Sunday NYT crosswords with a casual, conversational style. They share solving strategies, missteps, favorite clues, and light trivia about constructors, often weaving in personal anecdotes that make the solving process feel approachable. The show is short, informative, and fun for listeners who want quick, practical crossword insights plus a friendly banter dynamic. Notable for its steady cadence, accessible tips, and a consistent focus on solving technique and puzzle lore, which makes it appealing to dedicated crossword fans and learners alike.

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These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
2. Stuff You Should Know
3. The Daily
4. Science Friday
5. The Book Review

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 2082 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Rafael Musa
2. Sala Wanetick
3. Ian Livengood
4. Unnamed Daughter
5. Laura Dershewitz
6. Tarun Krishnamurthy

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