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The Allusionist

Helen Zaltzman
Etymology
Language
Scripps National Spelling Bee
Singlish
Queer Culture
Crossword Puzzles
Toronto
Cunt
Animal Behavior
Linguistics
Hypochondria
Human-Animal Communication
The Allusionist
Health Anxiety
Patty Wars
Misophonia
Language Acquisition In Animals
Emotional Intelligence In Animals
Feminist Restaurants
Banned Books Week

Adventures in language with Helen Zaltzman. TheAllusionist.org

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes256Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsEducation

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Artwork for The Allusionist

Latest Episodes

Alexinomia is the aversion to saying people's names. Psychologist Thomas Ditye explains what it means to have this condition - in some cases not even saying your spouse's name during 25 years of marriage - and the research he and colleague Lisa Welle... more

'Phobia' gets used for anything from a mild aversion to a debilitating anxiety response to various forms of bigotry. Deboki Chakravarti and Sam Jones of the podcast Tiny Matters join to consider the term from its comedic origins with one of the found... more

What do you call yourself if you're a part-time vegetarian? What petty linguistic things would you change? And what do you do if people gripe at you if you say that you are bi or pan? To answer these questions from the Allusionist mailbag are esteeme... more

This is the Tranquillusionist, in which I, Helen Zaltzman, say a series of words to relax your mind, replace a hectic interior monologue, maybe lull you to sleep, hopefully quell the mental uproar just for a little while. Today: nicknames for woodlic... more

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Recent Guests

Deboki Chakravarti
Co-host of Tiny Matters
Tiny Matters
Episode: 233. Phobia
Sam Jones
Co-host of Tiny Matters
Tiny Matters
Episode: 233. Phobia
Lauren Gawne
Linguist, Associate Professor of Linguistics at La Trobe University, co-host of Lingthusiasm
La Trobe University / Lingthusiasm
Episode: 231. Lingthusionist
Elizabeth Minkel
Editor of Fansplaining and co-curator of the Rec Center Newsletter, a guest on the episode
Fansplaining / Rec Center Newsletter
Episode: 230. Draculae part 4: Transformation
Iris Ishichita
Producer, writer, and host of Powers of Darkness podcast
Powers of Darkness
Episode: 229. Draculae part 3: Hunting Down the Count
Will Trimble
English translator and editor of Morkrättsmakta (Swedish Powers of Darkness)
Powers of Darkness translations
Episode: 229. Draculae part 3: Hunting Down the Count
Hans Corneel de Roos
Translator of the Icelandic Powers of Darkness
Machtmyrkra translation
Episode: 229. Draculae part 3: Hunting Down the Count
Ásgeir Jónsson
Icelandic book collector, commentator
Independent researcher
Episode: 228. Draculae part 2: Surprises in the Vaults
John Grindrod
Social historian of modern Britain; author of Tales of the Suburbs, LGBTQ plus lives behind net curtains
Author and Historian
Episode: 226. Suburbia

Host

Helen Zaltzman
Host of The Allusionist

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 6.2k ratings
  • Started out curious and providing niche information about diverse topics, but now seems only interested in covering political topics...

    Podcast Addict
    2
    DVDBZN
    5 months ago
  • Delightful podcast about words and the English language!

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Lord Gro
    7 months ago
  • Thank

    Last night I was sick and feverish and awake in the middle of the night and the way relief crashed over me when I heard the tranquillusionist jingle. Suddenly I was warm and safe and still sick but it was manageable

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    miss Romero
    United States9 months ago
  • A Christmas Gift

    This podcast is always great. The Christmas Dickens reading though is something special. Thank you Helen and Martin

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Boo936
    Australia9 months ago
  • Smart, deep, and funny

    I never failed to be delighted by this completely original, thought-provoking podcast. The creator puts so much work and spirit into every episode. Recommended for anyone who loves language, a.k.a. the layers of the onion that is history, society and life!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    SideHustlerSuki
    United States9 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the host's intelligent yet warm delivery and the show's curiosity-driven approach.
Guests are consistently high-caliber, bringing depth on language and culture.
Ads are well-integrated and engaging, not disruptive to the listening experience.
Some episodes are described as preachy by a subset of listeners with certain political views.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#97
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#45
Canada/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#45
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#32
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#31
New Zealand/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#37
Singapore/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

230. Draculae part 4: Transformation
Q: What exactly counts as fan fiction, and how does the community define it today?
The guest explains that fan fiction ranges from explicit, transformative reimaginings to more subtle derivative works, with a spectrum between a broad tent definition and a smaller, more intentional practice rooted in media fandom.
221. Scribe
Q: Any advice for people for whom handwriting isn't something they can physically do because of, say, hand arthritis?
Use another medium or try to write in a way that is fun, using colors or brushes rather than traditional methods.
220. Disobedience
Q: What do you mean by you let yourself be disturbed? What does that involve?
It involves recognizing the brittle social structures we live in and how much they rely on our compliance.
219. Making Trouble
Q: What would you want to add to school curriculum?
Basic financial management and how to be a person.
219. Making Trouble
Q: Where do ideas come from?
Some ideas come from insomnia or significant moments in my life.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Allusionist

What is The Allusionist about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Language-focused show that blends linguistic history, etymology, and culture with thoughtful interviews and playful explorations of how words shape society. Episodes span topics from phobias and dictionaries to fan cultures and translation, often featuring scholars, translators, writers, and public-facing academics. Noteworthy is the host's mix of rigor and whimsy, plus regular deep-dives into underexplored language ideas, which can appeal to word nerds, researchers, and creative professionals seeking insightful, well-researched conversations with a warm, engaging hosting style.

Where can I find podcast stats for The Allusionist?

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How many listeners does The Allusionist get?

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What are the audience demographics for The Allusionist?

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How many subscribers and views does The Allusionist have?

To see how many followers or subscribers The Allusionist 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 The Allusionist?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Allusionist:

1. Answer Me This!
2. 99% Invisible
3. the memory palace
4. Articles of Interest
5. What Trump Can Teach Us About Con Law

How many episodes of The Allusionist are there?

The Allusionist launched 12 years ago and published 256 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 The Allusionist?

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 The Allusionist?

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What guests have appeared on The Allusionist?

Recent guests on The Allusionist include:

1. Deboki Chakravarti
2. Sam Jones
3. Lauren Gawne
4. Elizabeth Minkel
5. Iris Ishichita
6. Will Trimble
7. Hans Corneel de Roos
8. Ásgeir Jónsson

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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