Reviews
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“The Allusionist is simply a great podcast. I have learned so much about the use and evolution of language, and Helen always has the most interesting and enlightening guests. She’s also ridiculously entertaining—I always look forward to her special episodes like the quizzes and...”Read full review »
La Manifesta via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
04/08/24
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“There is a more accurate word for health anxiety. I first came across VALETUDINARIAN in a Victorian novel and have come across it the odd time in other 19 century writing. it perfectly describes someone in frail health who has legitimate concerns that are not related to emotional disfunction.”
Tangled garden via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
03/28/24
“Thanks for years of great listening, Helen! Love the show.”
Mr. Music Head via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
03/12/24
“Ostensibly about language, The Allusionist visits all the weird and wonderful ways that language intersects with people’s lives. It covers topics that other language podcasts don’t, often topics that are too obscure or controversial for other podcasts. Feel-good and comfy, Helen’s podcast has...”Read full review »
futzle via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
03/11/24
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“This podcast has made me smarter, and more aware of the world around me. Language is always a work in progress, moving and changing with the times. Finding out what shaped it in the past and what’s redefining it now is a blast.”
DamnMel via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
03/11/24
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“What a joy to listen to. Surprising and interesting perspectives on so many new things.”
SRRpod via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
02/26/24
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“Helen Zaltzman gives great podcast”
KatGyg via Apple Podcasts ·
Switzerland ·
02/21/24
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“A perfect podcast for word nerds. I’ve learned so much and enjoyed Helen’s humour and whimsy.”
KKFFS via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
02/19/24
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“This show is hard enough to listen to and understand because tha American accents are unintelligible. Add to this try hard women trying to imitate stupid influencers with that fake put on croaky voice and you just can’t understand a single word they say. Seems to be an American thing. Grow up...”Read full review »
Logvbuytr via Apple Podcasts ·
Australia ·
02/11/24
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“Found Helen via Answer Me This and discovered my new hero! She tackles interesting linguistic subjects, and in the middle of the night while my mind is in overdrive, her calm demeanour makes me feel 100% better. Thank you Helen.”
No nickname verified via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
02/05/24
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“Came to echo what others have said. It used to be a great show about words. Now its a social justice podcast.
Love Helen, agree with her overall, but I’m not really in for what the show has become. Maybe branching them into two separate podcasts would be a good idea?
Either way. The old...”Read full review »
Gnomen. via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
01/31/24
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“Well done, researched and entertaining as well.”
Radio days rocked via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
01/05/24
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“I am writing this review based on the Gems and Patties episode. The audio quality is so bad that my spouse wanted to unsubscribe because of it. Helen, we have such great audio tools now—I am trying to get your attention because otherwise your podcast is a TEN in my book.”
etherdog via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
11/29/23
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“I heard this plugged on ologies and am so glad I gave it a listen. Helen is a wonderful host and I am always pleased with the insightful discussion on myriad topics.”
Asmorian via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
11/21/23
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“Helen and her guests make the history of language interesting and inspire listeners to go out on their own to learn more! One of my favorites!”
Titania Red via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
11/08/23
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“I love this pod.
Always fascinating, always entertaining.
Not often you get good entertainment and deep learning in the same space. Helen is brilliant; dry, clever, astute and careful to hold language (and her privilege) with care and compassion.
Treat yourself, it is a most wonderful pod….long...”Read full review »
pyywackett 42 via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
11/02/23
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“The old episodes were really good, but then it got so woke it hurt my ears”
TheDonutr via Apple Podcasts ·
Netherlands ·
10/21/23
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“One of the best podcasts I have ever listened to. Helen is just hilarious.”
TeagardenRi via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/07/23
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“I appreciate the production! The music is great. Helen’s calm voice is at the perfect distance and the content lulls my brain into a pleasant interested learning state. I also am down for the swears”
Celi_yuck via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/06/23
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“I really listening to this pod! It’s funky, it’s cool! Honestly, I vibe with the fun song about Uranus( traditionally Uranous) and wish more people would listen to it! Keep in mind that politics and culture is woven into linguistics, and we don’t control what she puts out!✨✨”
🌸✨💎Pearl💎✨🌸 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/30/23
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“Love this pod so much. :)”
olivecat via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/12/23
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“This used to be a show about words and linguistics. I don’t even disagree with Helen’s take on more recent subjects; it’s just that I get enough of that elsewhere and there’s only so much I can take. This show used to be interesting and lighthearted.
As a fat dude, two entire episodes dedicated...”Read full review »
Marty McGuy via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
08/11/23
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“Cannot get enough episodes…love the in-depth look at language and the beautiful context Helen weaves in. Episode 178 Uranus made me literally LOL while walking down the street and I think I was actually saying it out loud too!”
GeorgiaM via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
06/27/23
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“I’m a total nerd for language & linguistics & history so when I first found this podcast I was in love! I would’ve given it 5 stars, easy. Lately though it really seems to have shifted its focus to more timely issues, some political. Like a lot of the other reviewers who have mentioned...”Read full review »
vinyldash via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
06/25/23
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“…. best episode in quite a while, a great example of Helen’s dry, wry wit”
simpy cat via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
06/25/23
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“tickles my brain in all the autistic places.
also loved the gender euphoria of having my voice featured and not realising it was mine for a second.”
DeltaSkelter via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
06/19/23
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“Fat part 1 & Fat part 2 are some of the bestt podcasts you will listen to this year. Part 2 in particular is magnificent and should be required listening in schools”
TomasT321 via Apple Podcasts ·
Ireland ·
06/15/23
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“Love having my unconscious biases challenged! Thank you. BTW your reading out of list’s during the pandemic really helped with my mental health! Thanks again!! X”
LittleKazzzzz via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
06/04/23
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“Used to love this pod! But I clicked on multiple episodes and yup! It seems to have gone super political. (WAY to the left not that it matters… either way would have been annoying) I AM very much a liberal.. but I dont need to hear leftist political talking points on a podcast about words,...”Read full review »
Yendoggy via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/29/23
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“I listen to MANY podcasts (I’m a community social worker, so I’m on the road for several hours a day, and podcasts keep me sane as I fight against capitalism and stigma on behalf of my clients) and this is the one I universally recommend. I have found something to find joy in, learn, and/or be...”Read full review »
PippiShirley via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
05/27/23
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“I’m always excited to hear what surprising, clever, funny and human language adventure Helen has in store for us.”
mspassell via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/15/23
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“I love Helen’s range of seriousness to silliness. I find myself informed on so many diverse areas but also a lot of giggling.”
TMOPMO via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
05/12/23
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“The Allusionist was one of the first linguistics podcasts I ever listened to and it has led me down a rabbit hole of many others. I’ve learned so much. Really enjoyable.”
Jennisok via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
03/19/23
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“I used to absolutely love this show. Helen’s wit and erudition made it a must-listen, and I dutifully delved through the whole history when I discovered the podcast in 2020. Lately though, I find that we seem to have veered away from a focus on fun and interesting linguistic stuff. The current...”Read full review »
EKH0577 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
03/11/23
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“This pod is terrific so far. Just finished The Box and now listening to Actively Passive - I imagine after I’m finished with this ep, I’ll dive into another one. Smart and thoughtful.”
cagey_01 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
02/22/23
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“Completely, totally brilliant!”
LudditetheSlow via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
01/30/23
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“Love Helen’s style since AMT. Always interesting, different.”
Jrockay via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
12/16/22
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“The best podcasts ably bridge the gap between their ostensible themes with many other topics.
The Allusionist does this and much more. Through the host’s gentle and insightful interviewing style, curiosity, humour and unpretentiousness, I learn about language but of course about so much...”Read full review »
junezaria via Apple Podcasts ·
Canada ·
10/09/22
“I felt compelled to say after Helen Z mentioned at the start of the episode that someone rated that there were too many swears for their taste. I can respect that opinion while also being of the opinion that while there is some swearing in this show, none of it is gratuitous, and it is all...”Read full review »
NikoGreenwood via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/08/22
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“I have just finished listening to 161 episode of The Allusionist.
I don’t remember how I was first made aware of Helen Zaltzman and her etymological work on her podcast The Allusionist. It was probably from one of her many guest spots on Buffering the Vampire Slayer, Ologies, or Science Diction....”Read full review »
eikt12333 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
10/05/22
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“Love the way these fascinating ideas are presented in such a humorous way. That each episode is quite short is brilliant.”
tlasham via Apple Podcasts ·
Great Britain ·
10/02/22
“Helen brings such a thoughtful, well-informed perspective to important, interesting, and fun language topics. Have a listen!”
PodFan032021 via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
09/25/22
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“A really excellent show—both interesting and witty. Love the intro and all the order little stuff Helen does like the opening language metaphor or the Randomly Selected Word From the Dictionary, but the frequency of swearing in the feed means considerably less episodes for us tender-eared...”Read full review »
Helen from Dallas via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
09/10/22
“A podcast that dives deep into language coupled with Helen Zaltzman’s delightfully dry wit is a no-brainer. Do yourself a favor and start listening now if you’re not already.”
BradleyGC via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
07/21/22
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“Helen is an absolute joy to listen to. I love her passion for language and for humanity, which she seems to hold in equal parts.”
BonnieKarpay via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
07/09/22
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“I can’t believe it but we’ve done it. We’ve found the best podcast.”
stforeman via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
06/30/22
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“Teachers of the language should pay attention to be reminded how vital intelligent, engaging communication is to instill a lifelong love of the subject. Far too few instructors are as engaging and able to hold interest by using insightful, often humorous, related tidbits that provide clarity...”Read full review »
Gary Wallen via Apple Podcasts ·
United States of America ·
05/15/22
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