Rephonic
Artwork for That's What They Say

That's What They Say

Anne Curzan, Rebecca Hector
Language Evolution
English Language
Language
University Of Michigan
Grammar
All Right
English
Etymology
Double Possessive
Spelling Variations
Possession
Training
Tuna
Slang
Narrative Identity
Ghosting
Gerunds
Forth and Back
Back and Forth
Bookworm

Funner, snuck, and LOL are all things that we're hearing people say these days.That's What They Say is a weekly segment on Michigan Public that explores our changing language. University of Michigan English Professor Anne Curzan studies linguistics and the history of the English language. Each week she'll discuss why we say what we say with Michigan Public All Things Considered host Rebecca Hector... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes32Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Language LearningEducationSociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for That's What They Say

Latest Episodes

When we eat up or fix up or heal up or hurry up, we’re not actually moving in an upward direction.

Funnily enough, two listeners wrote to us this summer about the phrase funnily enough.

Working out with dumbbells may be a fitness craze now, but the fitness craze that started it all sounds even better.

If you’d just as soon not learn about an eggcorn that some language pundits really dislike, then you might want to stop reading now.

Key Facts

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

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over
A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all overMartha Barnette and Grant Barrett. Produced by Stefanie Levine.
Gastropod
GastropodCynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley
Radiolab
RadiolabWNYC Studios

Recent Guests

Anne Curzan
University of Michigan English Professor and author of Says Who? A kinder, funner usage guide for everyone who cares about words.
University of Michigan
Episode: TWTS: The case of "pleaded" v. "pled"

Hosts

Rebecca Hector
Host of a segment that explores changes in language and linguistics, engaging with listeners' inquiries.
Rebecca Kruth
Co-host engaging in discussions about popular terms and language evolution, responding to listener inquiries.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 177 ratings
  • Kiddo- makes me cringe

    You used the word in your piece- “ Kiddo” strikes me as condescending; I truly wish it would go away!

    I’m a retired first grade teacher, and I’ve witnessed the rise in its usage among parents as well as colleagues.

    I hope it’s a fad in our language that eventually fades!

    Love your podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nan Lee Bee
    United States4 months ago
  • ITS CALLED A NATURE STRIP IN AUSTRALIA!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Foundations531
    6 months ago
  • It’s Oscar Season!

    Why do all the Hollywood celebrities use the torturous phrase “I’m appreciative of” instead of “I appreciate” when thanking all the little people during an Oscar acceptance speech?

    This reminds me of another passively torturous phrase, “you are so missed”, in place of “we miss you.” I wonder why people adopt such affected phrasing…

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    EconoPNW
    United States3 years ago
  • I really appreciate this podcast

    I’ve been listening to this podcast for a while now, and wanted to tell the hosts how much I appreciate this program and that there definitely are people like me. I’m not a native English speaker, so whatever word or expression you introduce gives me such a good opportunity to learn something new about English. I’ll keep listening to this podcast for as long as it continues. Thanks for your hardworking!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ももひき小次郎
    Japan3 years ago
  • “I resonate with this.”

    I love this. Please do the word “resonate.” Why the surge in popularity lately and rampant misusage?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    GenXMeg
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

There is enthusiasm for the hosts' chemistry and genuine passion for language, making the content relatable and enjoyable.
Many listeners find the episodes to be a perfect length, offering concise insights into language without overwhelming detail.
Audiences appreciate the fun and informative nature of the discussions, often highlighting how it enhances their understanding of contemporary language.
The interactive aspect, where listeners can ask questions, is praised as a way to engage more deeply with the material.

Chart Rankings

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

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

TWTS: "Peak" felt fine until it was "peaked"
Q: How did peaked come to mean sick or queasy?
The term peaked derives its meaning from the history of the verb 'to peak', indicating a deterioration in health and spirits, referenced in literature since the 1500s.
TWTS: When your ancestors are the descendants of your ancestors
Q: Are these words interchangeable?
In formal contexts, it's important to keep 'ancestor' for those who come before and 'descendant' for those who come after.
TWTS: Presumptions and assumptions about "presume" and "assume"
Q: Now, presumptive has diverged in large part, where presumptive is used to describe a thing that is assumed based on probability; is that different from presumptuous?
Yes, historically they were synonymous, but now presumptive refers to things that give reasonable grounds for inferring or presuming things.
TWTS: Presumptions and assumptions about "presume" and "assume"
Q: Are these two verbs synonyms for you?
Yes and no, I guess, is my answer.
TWTS: Think hard before pointing out language quirks
Q: Have you ever been stopped mid-sentence?
Yes, definitely for little grammar quirks and things like that.

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 That's What They Say

What is That's What They Say about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A unique exploration of language and its evolution, this show offers engaging discussions around the changing dynamics of English. Each episode typically features a combination of listener inquiries, historical insights, and contextual analysis of popular terms and phrases. The hosts, both linguistics enthusiasts, highlight the importance of understanding how language reflects societal changes, illuminating common misconceptions and examining the nuances behind everyday expressions. The show is particularly noteworthy for its interactive format, which invites listeners to submit their own questions, fostering a community of curious language learners and enthusiasts.

Where can I find podcast stats for That's What They Say?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for That's What They Say. 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 That's What They Say and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does That's What They Say get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for That's What They Say, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for That's What They Say?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for That's What They Say, 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 That's What They Say have?

To see how many followers or subscribers That's What They Say 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 That's What They Say?

These podcasts share a similar audience with That's What They Say:

1. How To Do Everything
2. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
3. A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over
4. Gastropod
5. Radiolab

How many episodes of That's What They Say are there?

That's What They Say launched 12 years ago and published 32 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 That's What They Say?

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 That's What They Say?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for That's What They Say from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for That's What They Say?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of That's What They Say. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on That's What They Say?

Recent guests on That's What They Say include:

1. Anne Curzan

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days