Why We Stopped Teaching Children How to Read

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…

The aggrandizing acronym that was seeded in the 1960s and born decades later. Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios Production. Episode 304: "The G.O.A.T." With Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo. Edited and produced by Mike Vuolo. Produced by Livia Bloom Ingram. All rights reserved. Learn more abo…

Good is no longer good enough. Everyone is awesome, superlative or great. Visit Lexicon Valley. A Booksmart Studios Production. Episode 280: "The Amazing Great." With Bob Garfield and Mike Vuolo. Edited and produced by Mike Vuolo. Produced by Livia Bloom Ingram. All rights reserved. Learn more a…

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…