The Word Nerds

Dave Shepherd and Howard Chang welcome a voicemail on the Nerd Number from Hillary Israeli, on modern Hebrew as an invented language. (2:06)
Dave and Howard discuss racial labels and epithets, and the boundaries of acceptability. (4:35)
Music bumper from “Nada” by Jaime Beauchamp (16:24)
Race and identity: what is “race”? (17:01)
Song: “Black Madonna,” by Sophia Ramos (25:54)
Rude […]

Dave Shepherd and Howard Shepherd respond to a voicemail from Chad at Me and the Bean about the secret girl language. (1:58)Dave and Howard explore several different sorts of puns. (4:18)
Music bumper from “Nada” by Jaime Beauchamp (11:26)
Some serious puns (12:11)
Song: “Absinthe Minded,” by Adrienne Pierce (16:03)
Rude word of the week: “dullard” (as in somebody […]

Barbara Shepherd returns for the second week as a guest Nerd. She and Dave Shepherd respond to an email from Fred Chalfant about Barbara’s grandmother’s name. (2:52)
Dave and Barbara, who are both musicians, talk about the importance of music in their lives. (4:23)
Music bumper from “Tonight” by Zach Ashton (9:11)
What music does to language: poetry, […]

Since Howard Shepherd and Howard Chang are both travelling the world, Dave Shepherd welcomes a special guest Nerd, Barbara Shepherd (the Love of His Life). (1:57)
Dave and Barbara talk about their favorite new podcast, Washington Travel Cast, produced by their good friends, Julie and Mark. Join Julie and Mark on podcast walking tours of Washington […]

Dave Shepherd welcomes Adam Curry, Ashlee Simpson, and Howard Stern to the Word Nerds’ studio. APRIL FOOLS! Just kidding! It’s really Dave and Howard Chang. Dave and Howard respond to voicemail from Patrick regarding the Rude Word of the Week. (1:59)
On April Fools Day, Dave and Howard explore the relationship of language to deception and […]