Best Comma Press Podcasts (2024)

1
Why singers lose their accents. Why the 'I before E' rule is weird. 18:29

2d ago18:29

18:29

1007. Why do Adele and Susan Boyle sound American when they sing? We have answers. Plus, with all the talk about "weird" lately, we think it's time to examine the old "I before E except after C" rule that has so many exceptions it's hardly a rule at all — until you add W for "weird." The singing segment is written by Susan K. Herman, a former multi…

1
Ep346 - Brian Stokes Mitchell: Life Is Just Full of Commas 1:07:03

2h ago1:07:03

1:07:03

Brian Stokes Mitchell is a two-time Tony Award-winning actor who has always thought the universe chose him. Born on Halloween when “people dress up in costumes and pretend to be other people”, the stars have indeed decided. Aside from performing, he also writes, dances, produces his own music, and orchestrates, but out of all the things he can do, …

1
Why 'I' takes plural verbs. Making names that end in S, like Harris and Biles, possessive. Marinate. 14:40

9d ago14:40

14:40

1006. We look at why the pronoun "I" seems to take plural verbs, and then we talk about a grammar topic that's in the news: how to make names that end in S (like Harris and Biles) possessive. | Share a recording of your familect story with me on WhatsApp, Threads, Instagram, or Mastodon. | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simpleca…

1
Ep345 - André Ward: The Part of a Lifetime in the Show of a Lifetime 48:44

9d ago48:44

48:44

André Ward never played house when he was little, but he always played “New York City Apartment”, and with impressive Broadway credits, he can fully say he’s finally living in the midst of his dream. Growing up a “talkative” child, his teacher recommended he might need to find a way to work out some of his excess energy, and so they sent him to a c…

1
A brief history of English (aka when they spoke French in England). Killer death meat. 19:21

16d ago19:21

19:21

1005. You asked, so I have a brief history of English from invading Germanic tribes to the Modern English era. We talk about Vikings, the Norman Conquest, the Black Death, the Tyndale Bible, the printing press, and more. | Share a recording of your familect story with me on Threads, Instagram, or Mastodon. | Edited transcript with links: https://gr…

1
Ep344 - Conrad Ricamora (from the vault) 50:08

5h ago50:08

50:08

Originally aired as episode 276 on July 18, 2023. Conrad Ricamora is a talented actor known for his roles on Broadway and his portrayal of Oliver Hampton in the hit TV series "How to Get Away with Murder." He shares his insights as they delve into his background, including his family's journey from moving to the U.S. to growing up in military bases…

1
The power of words: Conscious language, with Karen Yin 42:08

4d ago42:08

42:08

1004. This week, Karen Yin, author of "The Conscious Style Guide," discusses the concept of conscious language and its importance in promoting equity and respect. We explore the differences between conscious language and political correctness, the evolution of the singular "they," and how to navigate language change. Karen also shares insights on a…

1
Ep343 - Lori Alan: Talking Reefer Madness with Pearl Krabs 1:08:26

15d ago1:08:26

1:08:26

Growing up in a family deeply entrenched in the arts, Lori Alan naturally gravitated towards the stage and microphone. Her parents were theater majors who later ventured into advertising and directing, so it’s no surprise that growing up in a creative environment played a pivotal role in shaping her career path. She looks back on the early stages o…

1
How to write about zero. Are your emails accidentally rude? PAPST. 17:23

9d ago17:23

17:23

1003. This week, we look at zero — what a weird number! It has two plurals, sometimes you use the word and sometimes you use the numeral, and it gave rise to a bunch of idioms in the World War II era. Then we turn our attention to email. Generational differences can lead to misunderstandings. We explain why and how to avoid them. | Edited transcrip…

1
AI: Friend or foe? A conversation with Martha Brockenbrough 22:29

2d ago22:29

22:29

1002. This week, Mignon talks with author Martha Brockenbrough about the good and bad sides of using artificial intelligence for writing and education, including ethical concerns about using AI-generated content, strategies for teaching writing in the age of AI, and the potential effects on teachers' jobs. Martha's new book, "Future Tense": https:/…

1
The unspoken rules of adjectives. The rise of 'yeah-nah.' Sundies 17:43

4d ago17:43

17:43

1001. This week, we explore the often-overlooked rules for ordering adjectives in English and when to use commas between them. Then, spurred by a recent shout-out at a Taylor Swift concert in Australia, we look at the rise of the phrase "yeah-nah" (and its American cousin "yeah-no"). | Edited transcript with links: https://grammar-girl.simplecast.c…

1
Ep342 - Alexi Melvin: Broadway Producing and Queer Social Media Influencing 50:21

4d ago50:21

50:21

Alexi Melvin is making significant strides in the Broadway community as a producer in shows like "Here Lies Love," "The Outsiders," and "The Notebook". She highlights the struggle of balancing commercial success with artistic bravery, advocating for more support for innovative and risk-taking productions. Growing up with a professional baseball pla…

1
Grammar Girl at 1000: Words, wisdom, and a dash of whimsy 25:35

25d ago25:35

25:35

1000. In this special 1000th episode, I take the hot seat to answer your questions. Hear what made the first year of the podcast so wild, what I wish I had done differently, what mistakes I still make, how I still find fresh topics after all these years, and the title of my secret dream show (hint: it involves penguins!). It's a celebration of lang…

1
The birth of American English. How to recognize a phrasal verb. Cucka-nucka. 19:06

1M ago19:06

19:06

999. This week, we look at what shaped early American English, from Native American words to Noah Webster's spelling reforms. Then, we explore phrasal verbs, looking at their grammatical peculiarities and some tips to distinguish them from other types of verbs. The "American English" segment was written by Valerie Fridland, a professor of linguisti…

1
Ep341 - Mary Testa: No One Is Better at Cold Readings 41:24

1M ago41:24

41:24

From loving TikTok to enjoying cold readings playing “delightfully stupid” characters, Mary Testa is a talented actress who’s “not on a stardom path and never will be”. She starts off where her acting journey began: choosing between law school and performing. Ultimately, she pursued the latter and eventually moved to New York in 1976, explaining wh…

1
Buying your hometown newspaper, with Samantha & Greg Enslen 46:13

19d ago46:13

46:13

998. This week, I talked with Samantha and Greg Enslen, who recently purchased their hometown newspaper, the "Tippecanoe Gazette" in Tipp City, Ohio. Sam and Greg shared how they are making it work, from updating antiquated systems to expanding news coverage and readership. We also discussed balancing print and digital content, the challenges of ad…

1
Ep340 - Jessica Fontana: Every Day Special 42:22

17d ago42:22

42:22

Jessica Fontana admits that her need to feel like she’s in control impacts her journey in balancing her professional and personal life. Her passion for performing arts began with ballet, which eventually set the stage for her career in musical theater. While Jessica’s mom highly supported her artistic endeavors, her father initially wasn’t. She tal…

1
'Which' versus 'that.' Words for walking. Bottleadammit. 16:18

1M ago16:18

16:18

997. This week, I help you learn (and remember!) the difference between "which" and "that" with practical tips and examples about cupcakes. Then, we take a linguistic stroll through walking-related terms, including "perambulate," "sashay," and "traipse." The "words for walking" segment was written by Michaela Dunn, a Wyoming-based editor and publis…

1
Ep339 - Jonathan Groff, Kara Young, George C. Wolfe, Daniel Radcliffe, Maleah Joi Moon & more at the 2024 Tony Awards 35:16

1M ago35:16

35:16

Listen in behind the scenes with this special episode featuring media room speeches from 2024 Tony Award winners Shaina Taub, Dede Ayite, Tom Scutt, George C. Wolfe, Justin Peck, Ryan Rumery, Nikiya Mathis, Will Brill, Kara Young, Daniel Radcliffe, Kecia Lewis, Branden Jacobs-Jenkins, Sarah Paulson, Jonathan Groff, and Maleah Joi Moon. Guest hosted…

1
BONUS - "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" Recap with Alan Seales of The Theatre Podcast 38:23

1M ago38:23

38:23

"I love this show and I love this production. This production was so much fun because it spans all theater fans, all ballroom fans, and just people who want to go have a good time will like this." This bonus episode is a recap of "CATS: The Jellicle Ball" featuring Mike and Alan Seales of the Theatre Podcast recorded immediately after seeing a prev…

1
Ep338 - Jeremy Jordan: Bonnie & Clyde LIVE 8:51

2M ago8:51

8:51

Currently captivating audiences as Jay Gatsby in the Broadway production of “The Great Gatsby”, Jeremy shares insights into his career, both on stage and screen as we join him for a special press event discussing the upcoming pro-shot release of “Bonnie and Clyde”. After initially performing B&C on Broadway in 2011. He shares the differences betwee…

1
The Hidden Stories of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart 39:41

23d ago39:41

39:41

996. This week, you'll learn about the rich linguistic history of African American English with Dr. Sonja Lanehart, an advisor to the Oxford Dictionary of African American English. We talked about what goes into making an entirely new dictionary and about some of the first entries, including "kitchen," "Aunt Hagar's Children," and "do rag." Find Dr…

1
The art of punctuation and the charm of 'kerfuffle.' Nicing. 18:18

25d ago18:18

18:18

995. This week, we look at when to use parentheses, dashes, and commas and how the choice can change the tone of your writing. Then, we dive into the history of words for describing a big fuss — "kerfuffle," "hullabaloo," "hoopla," and more. The "big fuss" segment was written by Samantha Enslen, who runs Dragonfly Editorial. You can find her at Dra…

1
Ep337 - Andy Mientus: The Ultimate Spring Awakening Stan 1:04:17

26d ago1:04:17

1:04:17

Welcome to a crossover episode of "Was it Chance" where Alan Seales and Heather Vickery peel back the layers of serendipity to uncover the hard work and opportunities behind what looks like mere chance. In today's episode, we bring you a conversation with the extremely handsome and talented Andy Mientus, a true maverick of the stage and screen. Fro…

151
Ep336 - Eden Espinosa: Friendship Bracelets and Theatre 57:32

1M ago57:32

57:32

Eden Espinosa’s performance as Tamara in “Lempicka” garnered her a Tony Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical…and she’s not guilty about it. She highlights both the triumphs and tribulations of her career – from being a part of Colby's Clubhouse and working at Disneyland when she was young to dealing with rejections and criticisms. Maybe b…

1
Exploring the Language of 'Dune': An Interview with Kevin J. Anderson and Scott Brick 44:42

2M ago44:42

44:42

994. This week, I sat down with the prolific "Dune" author Kevin J. Anderson and the famed "Dune" narrator Scott Brick to explore the language challenges in the "Dune" series. Learn how Kevin and Scott navigated Frank Herbert's original vocabulary, stayed true to the cultural influences of the names and terms, and created an extensive pronunciation…

1
Ep335 - Dorian Harewood: A 47 Year Return to Broadway 1:03:19

1M ago1:03:19

1:03:19

Dorian Harewood's career journey is anything but ordinary, and he's got three wonderful women (and luck) to thank for it. And after over 45 years, he’s back on the Broadway stage as Older Noah in “The Notebook”. He shares what made him want to come back, owing it to his manager who pushed him to audition for the role. With almost 200 credits under …

1
The power of sign language in 'Dune.' The words we use for dad. Chee 16:42

1M ago16:42

16:42

993. This week, we cover the strategic use of sign language by the Bene Gesserit in the 'Dune' movies, including its importance in covert communication. Then, we look at the many words for 'father' and their historical and linguistic significance, from early baby talk to more formal terms for adults. Dune sign language supercut video: https://youtu…

1
Ep334 - Rick Elice: Rescued by Water for Elephants 58:44

1M ago58:44

58:44

If there’s one lesson to take away from Rick Elice’s life story, it’s to never say no to a free lunch. He shares anecdotes from his past, including childhood memories of seeing theatre productions that got him to pursue acting and getting fired for his first Broadway show as an actor. While he’s always loved theatre, Rick also looks back on the beg…

1
The crossword craze — now and then — with Ben Zimmer 27:11

1M ago27:11

27:11

992. What began as a simple word game in 1913 sparked a nationwide craze just a decade later, causing a moral panic and changing American publishing forever. This week, Ben Zimmer, a prolific crossword constructor and language commentator, takes us through the crossword puzzle's surprising early history and enduring legacy. He also explores the mod…

1
Ep333 - All Things Liza Minnelli, with Bruce David Klein (A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story) 59:25

1M ago59:25

59:25

Liza lovers, this episode is for you! We had the incredible Bruce David Klein, director of the brand new documentary, "LIZA: A Truly Terrific Absolutely True Story," in the virtual studio dishing all about the film and the legendary Liza Minnelli herself. The first and only documentary Liza has personally approved and allowed herself to appear in, …

1
From 'dog' to 'hot dog.' The 'audience of one' trick. More on the long S. Footbridge. 20:29

2M ago20:29

20:29

991. This week, we trace the origin and meaning of the word "dog," from its mysterious beginning to its current use in phrases like "hot dog" and "hair of the dog." Then we go through the "audience of one" concept, which involves tailoring content to a single, imagined recipient; and we look at how this approach can make your writing more understan…

1
Ep332 - Maryann Plunkett: Theatre is Great if You're Shy 53:20

1M ago53:20

53:20

For Tony Award winner Maryann Plunkett, she will always be a shy person. But thanks to theatre she's learned how to enter a room and own it. Currently playing as Older Allie in the Broadway adaptation of "The Notebook," Maryann delves into her approach to embodying the character, the collaborative process with her co-stars and director, and the imp…

1
Ep331 - David Korins: Don't Do Stupid Things 52:46

2M ago52:46

52:46

Four time Tony Awards nominee David Korins lets us into his world as he talks about his creative process and the intricacies of set design. He shares insights into his work's detailed and often granular nature, emphasizing the importance of even the smallest elements in creating a believable world for actors and audiences alike. He discusses set de…

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