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Lexicon Valley

Lexicon Valley
Language Evolution
English Language
Etymology
Linguistics
Openly Racist
Language
Indo-European Language Family
Civil Rights
Racism
Proto-Indo-European
Pronouns
Ukrainian Language
John F. Kennedy
Societal Attitudes
Black English
Angler
Fishing
Southside
Fishing Hooks
Bible

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes381Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Lexicon Valley

Latest Episodes

Guess the chronological order of these early 20th-century words: paramilitary, paranormal and (drug-related) paraphernalia.

Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios Production. Episode 301: "The Dating Game, Paranormal Edition." With Bob Garfield a... more

In our age of AI, the word "parasocial" has gained new relevance. Mike Vuolo and Bob Garfield trace its rise and discuss other "para" words like paragraph and parachute.

Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios Production. Episode 300: "Parasocial ... more

John McWhorter on the hidden logic of "lowkey." Plus, where did all those terms of venery come from? A flamboyance of flamingos?

Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios Production. Episode 299: "The Lowdown on Lowkey." With John McWhorter. Edited ... more

Play along with our new game and guess the correct chronological order of the following phrases: perfect crime, perfect fit, perfect storm and perfect stranger.

Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios Production. Episode 298: "The Dating Game, Per... more

Key Facts

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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Recent Guests

Stefan Fatsis
Author and lexicography expert
Author of Unabridged
Episode: Look It Up! The Story of the Dictionary.
Derek Guy
Writer about men's clothing at Put This On
Put This On
Episode: Derek Guy on the Language of Clothing
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
Host of Lexicon Valley; frequent co-host and executive producer.
Bob Garfield
Co-host and frequent contributor with a long-running role on the show.
John McWhorter
Renowned linguist and co-host renowned for in-depth linguistic analysis.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 1k ratings
  • Yay Bob & Mike are finally back!

    Their humor and banter is the absolute best, I’m so, so, so happy they’ve returned. I’ve been missing their show so much when they took a hosting break 9? years ago. Yay!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LanguageNerrd
    United Statesa month ago
  • Overall, Solid

    Here I add my voice to those of many others who feel that this show was better during the period of time when John McWhorter was the host of the show. While it’s technically true that this show is “about language,” it’s more accurate to say that this show is about etymology; at least, that’s the focus of its current hosts. The show was indeed more about language itself when Professor McWhorter was the full-time host. McWhorter sometimes incorporated etymology into his episodes, but he mostly tal... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Kekoapono
    United States2 months ago
  • Bring McWhorter back

    Ever since the two idiotic babble-makers cane back on the scene this show sux! Literally, WTF!?

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    mikeyivan
    United States2 months ago
  • Jaimy

    I started listening around 2014 and have been addicted ever since. I miss John McWhorter. He is absolutely brilliant.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    WestHamHostage
    United States3 months ago
  • Still good!

    I originally came for John. But the “new” hosts are quite enjoyable. Very different presentation, but it’s still a podcast for those in love with language and I found I liked the post-John show plenty. Give it a shot!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LH3742
    United States6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Mix of guests and topics keeps language nerds engaged.
A thoughtful deep dive into language with sharp wit and clear expertise.
Listeners appreciate the blend of linguistics and culture.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#142
Ukraine/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?

A linguistics-forward show that mines the history, usage, and social meaning of words and phrases. Episodes blend etymology, phonology, and cultural context with witty banter, often tracing terms from roots in religious or classical language to modern everyday speech, slang, and media. The mix of deep dives on language, dictionaries, and word culture—along with guests who are respected in linguistics and lexicography—offers both academic insight and accessible storytelling. Noteworthy is a willingness to explore language evolution across cultures and time, while maintaining a lively, conversational tone that appeals to language enthusiasts and professionals seeking thoughtful, entertaining content.

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?

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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. Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
2. The Gist
3. On the Media
4. 99% Invisible
5. The David Frum Show

How many episodes of Lexicon Valley are there?

Lexicon Valley launched 5 years ago and published 381 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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What guests have appeared on Lexicon Valley?

Recent guests on Lexicon Valley include:

1. Stefan Fatsis
2. Derek Guy
3. Fiona McPherson
4. John Koenig
5. 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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