Why We Stopped Teaching Children How to Read

On the possible origins of a provocative — and thoroughly caprine — phrase, featuring lexicographer Ben Zimmer. Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios Production. Episode 47: "Get One's Goat." With Bob Garfield, Mike Vuolo and Ben Zimmer. Edited and produced by Mike Vuolo. Produced by Livia Blo…

Legend has it that Samuel Maverick was a 19th-century rancher who refused to brand his cattle — but was he really such a maverick? Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios Production. Episode 305: "The Original Maverick." With Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo. Edited and produced by Mike Vuolo. Produc…

A buck is a male deer. Or a dollar bill. Or a strapping lad. Or an old poker term. Are they related? Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios Production. Episode 308: "A Quick Buck." With Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo. Edited and produced by Mike Vuolo. Produced by Livia Bloom Ingram. All rights re…

Play along and guess the correct chronological order of the following phrases: Great White Hope, Great White Shark and Great White Way. And check out our other *great* episodes: The Amazing Great: Good is no longer good enough. Everyone is awesome, superlative or great. The G.O.A.T.: An aggrandi…