Best Shauna Harrison Podcasts (2024)

1
RETRO 135 Cool as a Cucumber 35:48

13m ago35:48

35:48

RETRO: Shauna and Dan take a cool drink of gourd water this week as they explore the phrase Cool as a Cucumber. We learn Dan abhors cucumbers unless they've been drowned in vinegar and he dislikes some of the previous words for cucumbers. It seems some old-timey folks disliked them, too. Bonus discussion: is cereal a soup? Copyright 2024 by The Rea…

1
239 Horseshoes and Hand Grenades 32:20

1h ago32:20

32:20

This week Shauna and Dan look at the phrase, "Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades", which is way more modern than Dan thought. Also, Shauna points out Clydesdale horses bring their own Ugg boots to the party, while Dan notes that trebuchets are the superior siege engines. Bonus: Shippy Shippers and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for the…

1
238 Soup to Nuts 27:37

2d ago27:37

27:37

This week Shauna and Dan dive into the phrase "Soup to Nuts". Bonus: The Irish phrase "To take the soup", the Three Stooges, and gloves versus mittens. Copyright 2024 All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
237 Tickled Pink 31:32

9d ago31:32

31:32

1
236 Armchair Quarterback 31:10

16d ago31:10

31:10

This week Shauna and Dan yell at the TV like good armchair quarterbacks should. You might think this phrase started with American Football, but if you thought that you'd be wrong. Bonus: Travellers, Critics, Strategists, and Generals Copyright 2024 All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
235 All Hell Breaks Loose 30:49

23d ago30:49

30:49

1
234 Saved by the Bell 31:38

1M ago31:38

31:38

This week Shauna and Dan look into the origins of Saved by the Bell. Spoiler alert: It does NOT come from taphophobia, or the fear of being buried alive. That is a particularly persistent myth with no evidence to support it. Bonus: Dan crushes on Kelly, Lisa, and Jessie. Plus, SPORTS! Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved…

1
233 Cradle to the Grave 30:42

1M ago30:42

30:42

This week Shauna and Dan delve into the phrase, Cradle to the Grave. Dan prefers the contemporary term, Womb to the Tomb, but we know he has a simple mind and likes rhyming things. Bonus: Shauna enjoys metal music, plus your hosts discuss awesome names. Copyright 2024 All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
232 If I Had a Nickel 28:34

2M ago28:34

28:34

If Shauna and Dan had a nickel for every episode of Bunny Trails they released, they'd have $11.60, which isn't alot, but it's not nothing. Bonus: Rich women of the Barony of Glenard, Mark Twain, and Memes. Copyright 2024 All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
231 Law of the Jungle / It's a Jungle Out There 31:00

2M ago31:00

31:00

This week Shauna and Dan delve into two similar phrases, Law of the Jungle and It's a Jungle Out There. And yes, we talk about Kipling and Disney again. Bonus: Dan becomes an art critic. Shauna fails to choose a fruit. Remember to drink respectfully. Copyright 2024 All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
230 Pie in the Sky 31:26

2M ago31:26

31:26

This week Shauna and Dan explore the surprising origins of pie in the sky. From workers rights to great British actors this episode has tons of cool facts! Bonus: Biggest meal of the day Copyright 2024 All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
RETRO 98 Calm Before The Storm 31:07

2M ago31:07

31:07

This week Shauna and Dan take a look at the Calm Before The Storm. Then quickly learn there is SO MUCH MORE to this phrase! Join them on a whimsical adventure to explore the calm before and after the tempest. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
229 Tough Nut to Crack 30:47

3M ago30:47

30:47

This week Shauna and Dan look into the phrase, a Tough Nut to Crack. Dan gets super confused about the history of window blinds and then does a quick Aaron Neville impression. Bonus: The best Superman actors Copyright 2024 All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
228 Fly Off the Handle 32:17

3M ago32:17

32:17

This week Shauna and Dan try not to Fly Off the Handle as the dig into old dictionaries and early uses of the phrase. Bonus: Maine becomes a State, Buddy Rich, and our favorite pen colors. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
227 Speak of the Devil 29:35

3M ago29:35

29:35

This week Shauna and Dan decide to Speak of the Devil. Or sometimes, Talk of the Devil. Which do you say when someone you were just talking about shows up? Bonus: The devil has rattling bones and Dan hates horror games. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
226 Whole Kit and Caboodle 32:37

3M ago32:37

32:37

This week Shauna and Dan look into the whole kit and caboodle. Interesting, both of the phrases existed by themselves before they made common cause to outlast many of their rival phrases. Bonus: Make-up tackleboxes, planting people, and clowns! Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved…

1
225 Spit Into the Wind 32:00

3M ago32:00

32:00

This week Shauna and Dan talk about spitting into the wind. Gross. Fortunately, there is an early phrase that is less gross. Bonus: Our thanks to archivists, language researchers, and other professional word nerds. Also, combatants fighting the invisible opponents. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved…

1
RETRO 105 Crossing the Rubicon 30:34

4M ago30:34

30:34

RETRO: This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase Crossing the Rubicon. Dan takes a guess at the origin of this phrase, but can't even get the right "ancient crosser of things". It's a mix of Crash Course World History and etymological fun on this week's Bunny Trails! Don't forget to be awesome! Originally aired March 24, 2021. Copyright 2024 by T…

1
224 When Pigs Fly 31:21

4M ago31:21

31:21

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase "when pigs fly". This one comes to English from Latin, and was quite a bit longer than the phrase we use today. Bonus: Reese's Peanut Butter Blobs and other holiday candy. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
223 Not My Cup of Tea 31:40

4M ago31:40

31:40

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase "not my cup of tea". Bonus: The silk road, black drag culture, and the age old question: Sunrise or Sunset? Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
222 Pecking Order 31:01

4M ago31:01

31:01

This week Shauna and Dan discuss the origins of the phrase Pecking Order. Bonus: Dan shares a secret, Shauna rolls a Nat 20 on charisma, and Dan gives you a new way to read Lord of the Flies. Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
221 Pins and Needles 29:52

5M ago29:52

29:52

This week Shauna and Dan explore what it means to be on pins and needles. Bonus: Shauna reviews tiny artwork while Dan fawns over children's books. Plus which would you rather be, a cheerleader or the mascot? Copyright 2024 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
220 Hell Freezes Over 31:47

5M ago31:47

31:47

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase "hell freezes over". We start with the concept of hell and how it became to be known as an eternal, fiery place. Then we look at all the interesting ways this phrase has been used. Bonus: Dan hates speedboats, Shauna stans Doré, and we answer the question of bad hair cut or bad dye job. Copyright 2024 by …

1
219 Cold Feet 31:03

5M ago31:03

31:03

Welcome to our 7th season of Bunny Trails: A Word History Podcast! This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase cold feet. Shauna gets cold feet on the subject of corns while Dan finally learns what corns even are. Bonus: The great onion ring vs fry debate. All Rights Reserved, 2024By Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
218 Spam Messages 37:03

6M ago37:03

37:03

This week Shauna and Dan learn why we call those pesky emails spam messages. Bonus: The first spam messages (way older that you might think) and why Hormel's canned meat is called SPAM. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
RETRO 92 Christmas Spirit and other Christmastime Phrases 29:56

6M ago29:56

29:56

We are digging into the archives this week to bring you the Christmas Spirit. Plus we talk *No Spoilers* about the new Christmas musical, Spirited. Then we jump into a RETRO episode on Christmas phrases, originally released December 23, 2020. This week we get into the Christmas Spirit while talking about the Christmas Blues. New plan, let's talk ab…

1
217 A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss 31:07

6M ago31:07

31:07

This week Shauna and Dan discover why a rolling stone gathers no moss. Bonus: Dan confuses moss for algae, Shauna forgets about Mick Jagger, and introverts unite. Also, did you know a rolling stone gathers no potato chips? Do with that information what you will. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved…

1
216 Snowball Effect 28:50

6M ago28:50

28:50

This week Shauna and Dan explore the history of the snowball effect. Bonus: Snowpersons, Science Fiction Matriarchs, and Snake Oil Sales Folk. Double Bonus: Air travel tips!By Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
215 Easy as Pie 29:27

7M ago29:27

29:27

This week Shauna and Dan make a podcast easy as pie. Though Dan points out that making a pie from scratch isn't always that easy. Bonus: The rankine scale, dream interpretations, and doodlewash. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
214 Ticker Tape Parade 30:05

7M ago30:05

30:05

This week Shauna and Dan celebrate life with a ticker tape parade! What is ticker tape? When was the first ticker tape parade? Bonus: Bad budgets and pool parties. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
213 Birds of a Feather 30:03

7M ago30:03

30:03

This week Shauna and Dan review why birds of a feather tend to flock together. Bonus: Pictures of cats before the internet, Dodos in the magical world, and Dan gets lost in armed robbery. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
212 Stab in the Back 30:03

8M ago30:03

30:03

Shauna and Dan explore the treachery of being stabbed in the back. Bonus: Ancient Greeks, World War II, and the most hated household cleaning jobs. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
211 With Flying Colors 29:37

8M ago29:37

29:37

This week Shauna and Dan pass the podcasting test "with flying colors"! We explore flags, heralds, banners, and even liveries to find the origins of this phrase. Bonus: Synonyms with Roget, Crowsnests with Ensign Crusher, and Georgian Portia's with Miss Ferguson. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved…

1
210 As Hungry as a Horse 30:37

8M ago30:37

30:37

This week Shauna and Dan decide if they are as hungry as a horse or if they are so hungry they could eat a horse. Better question, would they eat the saddle, too? Bonus: Hungry like a wolf, oxen, hawk, and farmhand. #BunnyTrailsBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
209 The Last Straw 32:04

8M ago32:04

32:04

This week Shauna and Dan reach the last straw. The final straw. The straw that broke the camel's back. Also, apparently, of feathers and horses. Bonus: Alliterative anthropomorphic animals, Habitual nuns, and a request of xkcd. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
208 Act of Congress 31:15

8M ago31:15

31:15

This week Shauna and Dan go back to school to learn a history of the United States legislative bodies to help understand the idiomatic phrase, Act of Congress. Spoiler: The USA is predictable throughout its entire history so far. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved…

1
RETRO 142: Jump the Shark 34:49

9M ago34:49

34:49

RETRO: Shauna and Dan dig into the origins of Jump the Shark while documenting the phrases shift from TV failures to a plethora of topics. As a bonus, there are shows that ran for years after supposedly jumping the shark and other shows that jumped the shark twice! Despite the negative phrase it's all Happy Days on this week's #BunnyTrails Original…

1
207 Fighting Tooth and Nail 30:49

9M ago30:49

30:49

This week Shauna and Dan delve into the history books to learn about Fighting Tooth and Nail, including when we started adding word like "fight" in front of the more common "tooth and nail". Bonus: Hipster Blacksmiths, Cultist Communions, and the best Stage Musicals. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved…

1
206 Bite the Bullet 32:17

9M ago32:17

32:17

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase bite the bullet. We discover the predecessor phrase and debunk several origination myths for this one. Bonus: Valets, Sepoys, and Artificial Intelligence. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
205 Albatross Around Your Neck 33:49

10M ago33:49

33:49

This week Shauna and Dan explore the phrase, Albatross Around Your Neck. Shauna delves into the etymology of albatross with some pretty cool connections. Bonus: Cubism, Lisa Loeb glasses, and Dan talking to the FBI person who is listening in on the recordings. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved…

1
204 Tug at Your Heartstrings 30:20

10M ago30:20

30:20

This week Shauna and Dan explore heartstrings and their journey from literal, though misunderstood supporting structures to the marionette strings of your emotions. Bonus: Sad animated films, underused guitarists, and the best pizza places. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved…

1
203 Ghost Town 33:41

10M ago33:41

33:41

This week Shauna and Dan explore the spookiness behind Ghost Town. Shauna talks about old mining towns while Dan talks about the Gettysburg battlefields. Bonus: The great Coke vs Pepsi debate has a surprise winner. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
RETRO 138 Gild the Lily 30:21

10M ago30:21

30:21

What happens when we, as speakers of a language, just decide to misquote a phrase until it takes on a life of its own? You get something like "Gild the Lily". Hear Shauna swoon over Heath Ledger in a Knight's Tale while Dan treks through Oscar Wilde shade, bad technicolor movies, and puppy-sized elephants to tell this week's story on #BunnyTrails. …

1
202 Fourth Wall 32:30

10M ago32:30

32:30

This week Shauna and Dan delve into the phrase, "Fourth Wall". Whether it's Deadpool, Jim Halpert, or Zack Morris, breaking that Fourth Wall is part of performance art. Bonus: Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, Don Gruffo, and Light bulbs. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
201 Let Bygones be Bygones 30:06

11M ago30:06

30:06

This week Shauna and Dan practice forgiveness as they explore the phrase, Let Bygones be Bygones. Bonus: Truth bombs from lyrical genius Tupac Shakur and Cobra mercenary Major Bludd. Plus... unicycles? #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
200 Hang Ten and Other Surfing Slang 32:25

11M ago32:25

32:25

What is a Hang Ten? How does one Hang Loose? Is it bad to Drop In? This week Shauna and Dan talk about their recent first time surfing and all the slang that goes with it. Bonus: Surfing Etiquette, the word 'brah', and traveling the world. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Reserved…

1
199 Back Track 31:35

11M ago31:35

31:35

This week Shauna and Dan try to go forward in a straight line while discussing the origins of the term, back track. Spoiler, they bunny trail anyway. Bonus: Dan gets angry with a guy from 1829, Shauna talks early FPS games for the Game Boy Advance, and our Patrons show some to San Diego. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights Rese…

1
198 That Dog Won't Hunt 30:47

11M ago30:47

30:47

This week Shauna and Dan explore the southern standby, that dog won't hunt. Did you know there is an early version featuring roosters? Bonus: US Presidents, Outlaw Country Music, and Hot vs Cold Coffee. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
197 Don't Bug Me and Other Insect Idioms 33:37

12M ago33:37

33:37

This week Shauna and Dan talk about the insect idioms that have crawled their way into the English language. Bonus: Phineas and Ferb, a foxtrot, and legendary scary monsters. Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights ReservedBy Shauna Harrison, Dan Pugh

1
196 Give Up the Ghost 31:47

12M ago31:47

31:47

This week Shauna and Dan get spooky with Give Up the Ghost. This one is fascinating as it has remained mostly unchanged for 900+ years, though it's early usage wasn't meant to be figurative. Bonus: Generational Labels, Zany cartoon characters, and Shakespeare's rhyming schemes. #BunnyTrails Copyright 2023 by The Readiness Corner, LLC - All Rights R…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Shauna Harrison Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Quick Reference Guide