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Word Savvy, a playful language podcast, is word candy for logophiles and casual wordies alike. We dig as deeply as our keyboards allow to find the origins and interesting facts...
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Word Savvy, a playful language podcast, is word candy for logophiles and casual wordies alike. We dig as deeply as our keyboards allow to find the origins and interesting facts about words that kindle our curiosity. Then we have a ball wrapping these gems in tight, slightly amusing narratives. After listening to our weekly podcast episodes, you’ll find yourself delighting friends and family with rich Word Savvy tidbits!
Wordy Savvy is co-hosted by Megan Cantrill.
“Reading, and learning, and language - these are some of my favorite things! As an educator, I have the privilege of introducing students to the magic of books and the power of the written word and hopefully to inspire them to be lifelong learners.”
Word Savvy is also co-hosted by LaRue Roth.
As a communications professional and creative writer, I have immersed myself in crafting with words and images for many years. Reading fueled my imagination as a child and set me on a lifelong quest to learn as much as I could, to explore the world around me and to create with language.
show less
Wordy Savvy is co-hosted by Megan Cantrill.
“Reading, and learning, and language - these are some of my favorite things! As an educator, I have the privilege of introducing students to the magic of books and the power of the written word and hopefully to inspire them to be lifelong learners.”
Word Savvy is also co-hosted by LaRue Roth.
As a communications professional and creative writer, I have immersed myself in crafting with words and images for many years. Reading fueled my imagination as a child and set me on a lifelong quest to learn as much as I could, to explore the world around me and to create with language.
Episodes & Posts
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Transcribed
31 DEC 2025 · Word Savvy, a playful language podcast, is word candy for logophiles and casual wordies alike. We dig as deeply as our keyboards allow to find the origins and interesting facts about words that kindle our curiosity. Then we have a ball wrapping these gems in tight, slightly amusing narratives. After listening to our weekly podcast episodes, you’ll find yourself delighting friends and family with rich Word Savvy tidbits!
Transcribed
1 JAN 2026 · Why is quiche called quiche?
And why is the “qu” pronounced like a “k” and not like the “qu” in quiet? And wouldn’t other people who love language be interested in learning the backstory of this savory pie?
Today, we’re pleased to introduce Word Savvy with an episode about quiche, a word that represents a popular savory dish that has a humble, yet epic, backstory that goes well beyond eggs and cream!
Transcribed
1 JAN 2026 · What in the world would we do without maps?
I guess the practical answer would be that we’d often get lost trying to find our way to unfamiliar places. But for many of us who love to travel, maps also tease our wanderlust. And there’s nothing like spinning a globe to make us wonder about faraway places.
From a learning perspective, it would be impossible to study history or geography in a meaningful way without maps. And fictional maps help bring many great adventure stories to life - like the ones of Middle Earth, Treasure Island and Neverland.
Listen to this episode to discover the story behind maps!
Transcribed
8 JAN 2026 · Recently Dictionary dot com announced their pick for the 2025 Word of the Year and I don’t think I’m the only one who is a little confused by their choice. It’s actually a number - 6 7.
I know what 10-4 means, but what does 6 7 mean?
That’s a great question and the origin is a bit fuzzy. It could be a reference to a song or a viral TikTok. The sing-songy numerals are usually paired with upturned palms alternately moving up and down. It is sometimes a response meaning ‘so-so’ or ‘this or that’. But often it is just repeated randomly, usually by the Gen Alpha crowd.
Transcribed
15 JAN 2026 · Our obsession with time is reflected in the extensive English vocabulary related to it - way too many words to cover today! But one word that stands out to us is the prefix chrono that defines linear time and came from Greek language and mythology.
Transcribed
22 JAN 2026 · A penny for your thoughts on the demise of the U.S. penny or rather on saying ta-ta to the one cent coin, its official name!
It’s a sudden, but not unexpected ending. After being part of our currency for 230 years, the last penny was minted on November 12, 2025 in Philadelphia because of production costs. While I understand that it doesn’t make sense (he-he) to mint coins that cost more than their value, I’m a little sad to see the end of the U.S. one cent coin.
Transcribed
29 JAN 2026 · Why are we so fascinated with puzzles? We describe our podcast, Word Savvy, as word candy. Do you think that puzzles are a sort of irresistible brain candy?
I guess that’s a playful way to describe puzzles. As a verb, puzzle means to confuse someone. As a noun it can mean a person or thing that’s hard to understand or a game or a problem designed to test ingenuity or knowledge.
Transcribed
5 FEB 2026 · The word superstition sparks the imagination, like an old creaking door that when opened takes us to the world of the supernatural or one with superpowers.
And sometimes it just takes us to making a wish before we blow out the candles on our birthday cake or not opening an umbrella indoors.
We love to share the backstory of the words we feature here on Word Savvy, but in the case of superstition, we’re going to set the stage with a couple of familiar yet key related words: CHANCE and LUCK.
Transcribed
12 FEB 2026 · I can’t wait to dig into the “potato-in-your-shoe” story, but first let’s look at the word origin of socks.
I’ll say once again that every word has a backstory which brings it to life. And the backstory of socks knocked my socks off!
People were wrapping their feet with animal skins and plant matter from earliest times. But the word sock, meaning a knitted or woven covering for the foot that applies today, can be traced back to the Old English word spelled s-o-c-c meaning a slipper or light shoe.
Transcribed
19 FEB 2026 · Curiosity led us to wonder where chocolate comes from, other than the candy aisle.
And looking at the word origin of chocolate helped us solve the mystery. Every word has a back story which brings it to life and the story of chocolate is epic!
Word Savvy, a playful language podcast, is word candy for logophiles and casual wordies alike. We dig as deeply as our keyboards allow to find the origins and interesting facts...
show more
Word Savvy, a playful language podcast, is word candy for logophiles and casual wordies alike. We dig as deeply as our keyboards allow to find the origins and interesting facts about words that kindle our curiosity. Then we have a ball wrapping these gems in tight, slightly amusing narratives. After listening to our weekly podcast episodes, you’ll find yourself delighting friends and family with rich Word Savvy tidbits!
Wordy Savvy is co-hosted by Megan Cantrill.
“Reading, and learning, and language - these are some of my favorite things! As an educator, I have the privilege of introducing students to the magic of books and the power of the written word and hopefully to inspire them to be lifelong learners.”
Word Savvy is also co-hosted by LaRue Roth.
As a communications professional and creative writer, I have immersed myself in crafting with words and images for many years. Reading fueled my imagination as a child and set me on a lifelong quest to learn as much as I could, to explore the world around me and to create with language.
show less
Wordy Savvy is co-hosted by Megan Cantrill.
“Reading, and learning, and language - these are some of my favorite things! As an educator, I have the privilege of introducing students to the magic of books and the power of the written word and hopefully to inspire them to be lifelong learners.”
Word Savvy is also co-hosted by LaRue Roth.
As a communications professional and creative writer, I have immersed myself in crafting with words and images for many years. Reading fueled my imagination as a child and set me on a lifelong quest to learn as much as I could, to explore the world around me and to create with language.
Information
| Author | Megan Cantrill |
| Organization | Megan Cantrill |
| Categories | Language Learning |
| Website | sites.google.com |
| wordsavvypodcast@gmail.com |
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