
Jess Zafarris and Rob Watts unravel the stories behind everyday words. Want to watch our episodes too? Subscribe to our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UC8R3ZnESMdsuTevq4ib9CvA
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 88 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EducationSelf-ImprovementSociety & Culture | |||

Let's explore the mysteries of our weird alphabet. Rob and Jess are joined by Danny Bate, author of Why Q Needs U, to discuss where our letters came from and why they make the noises they make.
🅰️ How was A originally an ox?
𝑄 Why does Q always app... more
Rob and Jess are guffawing their way through a world of comedic words.
🎭 What does 'comedy' literally mean?
🤡 Who should you hit with a 'slapstick'?
🥄 What was a spoof? (It's not a type of spoon)
These questions answered, and many many more, in... more
Rob and Jess are exploring the Arabic words hiding in English.
🛜 Who was the original ‘algorithm’ named after?
🥷 How did ‘assassins’ get their name?
🔢 Why does English use Arabic numerals?
These questions answered, and many more, in another Word... more
This episode is all in the mind, as Rob and Jess explore the origins of psychological terms.
💕 What did Oedipus doe to his mother?
🛋️ What did Sigmund Freud actually believe?
😳 What is "catagelaphobia"?
🥼 Why has "therapy speak" become such a pr... more
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A comforting joy. It's like hearing very kind and smart friends chat over coffee (or tea).
Jess and Rob work well together. Love hearing the roots of words we use today.
Maybe it’s just the recent topics, but you seem to be injecting much more “politically correct” commentary than you used to = makes the show less entertaining
Like lake chargoggagoggmanchauggagoggchaubunagungamaugg (45 letters long) or hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (38 letters long) or pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (29 or 30 something letters) but this overall is the one of the best podcasts I have heard
This podcast is soo fun, I love learning about words! I was wondering about the word Zenzizenzizenzic it describes a number to the 8th power. Where did it come from and why don’t we use it anymore?
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Apple Podcasts | #145 | |
Apple Podcasts | #207 |
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A thoughtful exploration of words, their origins, and how language shapes culture. Hosts Rob Watts and Jess Zafarris unravel etymology, branding, and linguistic quirks across a wide range of topics—from brand-name origins and city names to medical terms and idioms—often weaving humor with accessible explanations. Listeners can expect playful debates, deep dives into word histories, and plenty of practical takeaways for writers, marketers, educators, and curious word-lovers who enjoy learning why language evolves the way it does. A distinctive trait is the friendly dynamic between hosts and their cross-disciplinary angles, which makes complex terms feel approachable without sacrificing depth or wit.
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These podcasts share a similar audience with Words Unravelled:
1. Lingthusiasm - A podcast that's enthusiastic about linguistics
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3. A Problem Squared
4. Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
5. Let's Learn Everything!
Words Unravelled launched 2 years ago and published 88 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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Recent guests on Words Unravelled include:
1. John McWhorter
2. Joshua Blackburn
3. Mignon Fogarty
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