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Lexicon Valley

Lexicon Valley
English Language
Linguistics
Indo-European Language Family
Pronouns
Proto-Indo-European
Language Evolution
Language
Business
Etymology
Old English
Russian Language
English
Indo-European
Indo-European Languages
Rabbit
Hare
Gender Neutrality
Spanish Language
The Brothers Karamazov
Thai Language

A podcast about language, with hosts Mike Vuolo, Bob Garfield and John McWhorter.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes295Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Lexicon Valley

Latest Episodes

The world was shocked by a controversial article published by "John McWhorter." Here, he sets the record straight.

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Raise a glass to browned bread ... now you're toast!

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Facebook: facebook.com/LexiconValley

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Oxford English Dictionary editor Fiona McPherson talks to Mike Vuolo about the terms that caught her attention in 2025.

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Author John Koenig talks about inventing words for those subtle emotions that hitherto had no name.

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Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
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The GistPeach Fish Productions
The New Yorker Radio Hour
The New Yorker Radio HourWNYC Studios and The New Yorker
On the Media
On the MediaWNYC Studios

Recent Guests

Fiona McPherson
Executive Editor on the New Words Team for the Oxford English Dictionary
Oxford English Dictionary
Episode: All the Rage Bait
John Koenig
Author of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Episode: The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Richard Tofel
Author of Sounding the Trumpet, The Making of John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
ProPublica
Episode: Ask Not ...?

Hosts

Mike Vuolo
Co-host of the show, likely offers insights into linguistic topics while bringing a humorous touch to discussions.
Bob Garfield
Co-host who likely provides sharp cultural commentary and humor during discussions about language.
John McWhorter
Respected linguist and host who brings in-depth knowledge and scholarly perspective on various language issues.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 982 ratings
  • Missing personality

    Johns departure removed all the soul of the podcast. He delved deep and connected the lessons across multiple languages and gave real examples of the usage of the phrases in a musical format. It’s a waste of time otherwise to listen to two people try to be clever to mask their incompetence

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    DisgruntledAficionado
    United States3 months ago
  • Oh no, John!

    John, I’m so sorry you won’t be regularly hosting anymore. I love the brilliant content and I love your presentation, including the corny/historic music selections. I enjoy the contrast between your warm, folksy pod style and your erudite writing for the NYT. I’ll miss you!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    IroniB
    United States3 months ago
  • Informative and Fun

    Love love love. So well written and delivered.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Brooklyn11 in CA
    United States4 months ago
  • So sad Bob Garfield is Back

    John McWhorter did a great job with this podcast. Now Bob Garfield is back -- a loudmouth jerk who was obnoxious enough to colleagues get himself fired from WNYC after an independent investigation. I'm unsubscribing now.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    slayqueen frog
    United States4 months ago
  • Wth?

    John has been doing this podcast for so long that many of his listeners will have no idea that it was just a temporary gig, and he’s now (in September 2025) going to be replaced by the original hosts. What a letdown. John is by far the best.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Spadina
    Canada4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

The podcast is praised for being informative, entertaining, and free from overt political bias, providing a pleasant approach to academic topics.
Listeners express sadness at changes in hosting but appreciate the insightful content that spans historical and contemporary language.
John McWhorter adds charm and an infectious love for language, making complex ideas fun and engaging.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#210
Ukraine/Society & Culture
Apple Podcasts
#234
Israel/Society & Culture

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

All the Rage Bait
Q: When do we find this new meaning being used for the first time?
The new meaning of Ragebait has been documented since about 1999, with notable increases in use reflecting online culture's evolution.
All the Rage Bait
Q: What is Ragebait?
Ragebait is online content designed to provoke feelings of anger or outrage, often to drive engagement or traffic to a web page or social media account.
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Q: Can you talk about what happened with the word Sonder and first of all, what that means?
Sonder far and away had the biggest impact of any of my words, but I had the least amount of faith in it.
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows
Q: Where did this impulse, this compulsion, I guess, where did it originate?
I grew up in Geneva, Switzerland, just surrounded by tons of different languages.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Lexicon Valley

What is Lexicon Valley about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This podcast focuses on various aspects of language, bringing listeners a mix of linguistic exploration, cultural commentary, and humor. Notable themes include the evolution of slang, the influence of different generations on language, and the intersections between linguistics and pop culture. Episodes often incorporate historical references, offering a deeper understanding of how language shapes our interactions and reflects societal changes. The interplay between hosts ensures a dynamic discussion, making complex linguistic concepts accessible and engaging for a broad audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for Lexicon Valley?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Lexicon Valley. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Lexicon Valley and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Lexicon Valley get?

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What are the audience demographics for Lexicon Valley?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Lexicon Valley, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Lexicon Valley have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Lexicon Valley has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Lexicon Valley?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Lexicon Valley:

1. The Ezra Klein Show
2. Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
3. The Gist
4. The New Yorker Radio Hour
5. On the Media

How many episodes of Lexicon Valley are there?

Lexicon Valley launched 4 years ago and published 295 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Lexicon Valley?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Lexicon Valley?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Lexicon Valley from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Lexicon Valley?

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What guests have appeared on Lexicon Valley?

Recent guests on Lexicon Valley include:

1. Fiona McPherson
2. John Koenig
3. Richard Tofel

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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