Ep. 26: Fetish

The Extremers are three-legged in this episode, without the mighty aid and insight of Efren. Abraham, Josh, and Aaron shuffle forward in order to try and figure out the mysteries and mystique of the word fetish. Abe crunches away at our brains with his deep research and encyclopedic knowledge of all things word-y while Josh and Aaron add their unique perspectives to this titillating word and its many implications. Meanwhile, due to the absence of our steadfast literature maven (Efren), Aaron steps up and does his best impression of a person who knows how to read poetry. The showcase piece of lit today happens to be a poem: "Aria" by David Barber. Come to this episode with an open mind and a forgiving nature as we whip up a short, but sweet, activity to stimulate your ears and, hopefully, your minds.

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Ep. 25: Cult

Here at Extreme Vocabulary, we are tools of the devil because we ask for your "cultish" devotion, dear listener. Today's word, "cult," reminds us back when civilization was a mere gardening religion thankful to unknown gods for a full stomach. But how did we get from cult as gardening to cult as drinking the cyanide kool-aid? And was it even Kool-Aid? And did Nike sponsor the Heaven's Gate cult? We answer these and other questions because we are your sole authority. Pontiff Efren brings "The Marrow of Tradition," Deacon Josh brings his charming good looks, Lord Aaron brings his cult of personality, and Abe wears the ceremonial robes for the comet's arrival-- the comet called "Extreme Vocabulary."

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Ep. 24: Intelligence

Hey smarty pants, everybody in class thinks your smart, but is it just because you're holding a book in your hands? Join us on a discovery and decide for yourself who is qualified to expound on the meaning of intelligence. Abe brings us the etymology of the word, as usual, but we also consider some topics like animals, culture, books, and... French? Efren brings a poem by Stanley Kunitz, and of course we choose a song as usual. Don't listen to us because it's cool, listen to us because it's the smart choice. We're at the link below, or on iTunes.

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Ep. 23: Right

On today's episode of Extreme Vocabulary, we take a look at a very common word with very ancient origins. Unlike left, it's opposite, it has numerous definitions. In fact, the very essence of this word suggests that morality is based on strength. It's weird. Then, Efren brings a piece of literature from Tahia Muhammed Ali, and in a rare feat for this podcast, we never once go off topic. Too good to be true, you say? Well, plug in your earphones and see if I'm right. 

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Ep. 22: Loss

You may have felt at a LOSS this past month without an episode of EXTREME VOCABULARY to keep you company, but don't worry, we are back with another fascinating etymological journey. Our captain is Abe, who, as usual, leads us through the historical and modern meanings of the word loss. He, along with Josh, Efren, and a remarkably off-mic Aaron, explore the loss of culture, loss of weight, and Alex Jones's cult of lost masculinity. Also, there's a lynx in here for some reason. Efren brings a passage from Helena Maria Villamontes's Their Dogs Came With Them, and as usual, we find a song to capture today's word. Where have you been all of our lives? We were lost without you, so click the link, or find us on iTunes.

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Ep. 21: Veil

Extreme Vocabulary is not your typical word-of-the-day podcast. On Extreme Vocabulary, we hide behind our VEIL of secrecy. But just what are we hiding? And from whom are we hiding? Death, sex, marriage, religion, and more get teased through the mesh of our conversation but, one thing we don’t hide is our piece of literature, which Efren, as usual, brings. Today he brings a poem by Dennis Johnson, appropriately named VEIL. What will you see when you pierce this episode? The priest is waiting for your answer, and the flashbulbs are going off on today’s EXTREME VOCABULARY.

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Ep. 20: Drive

Driving is pretty prevalent in our society, but the word itself is older than the Model T. Join us on a journey of discovery as we talk about what humans used to drive as well as what drives humans (you know, like sex and death and stuff). Efren brings a piece of literature from Sandra Cisneros that you may have read very well, and we choose the song of the day. Will we steer you to new understanding, or will we drive you mad? It's worth the price of admission, so join us again on EXTREME VOCABULARY.

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Ep. 19: Dude

Hear ye! Hear ye! All Yankee dudes and dudettes! Our Lord, Jeffrey Lebowski, and our sacred religion of Dudeism, demands that at your leisure (and only really of you have time, if not, whatevers, don't worry about it, everything's cool) you listen to Extreme Vocabulary as the team discusses the American origin of the word "dude".

They ask, who is a dude? Who is the Dude? Can women be dudes or should we call them dudettes? Is dude an insult, compliment, or like whatever? And is dude East coast or So Cal West coast?

Efren dude brings David Foster Wallace's "Infinite Jest", Abe dude brings the research, and all the other dudes just like hang around and do stuff. So, listen to our podcast or like whatever man!

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Ep. 18: Troll

One day Josh crossed a bridge (watched a YouTube video) and decided to look under it (read the comments section), and there he discovered an ugly troll (an insulting ranter).  The troll threatened to eat him (engage him in a verbal rant about nothing), but Josh was clever (trollish) and killed the troll with a kick (ignored him completely). And Josh lived happily ever after (continued reading the comments section).

Troll is the word, and it seems there's a bit of troll in us all thanks to the Internet. Join our trollish mob as we try to answer the Troll's riddles: What is a troll? And who qualifies as a troll in our day? And does the troll have any politics? And is he funny or annoying?

Abe brings the research, and Efren brings us The Three Billy Goats Gruff, while Aaron and Josh troll them with contradictions. It's time for Extreme Trollcabulary!!!

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Ep. 17: Nerd

NNEEERRRRDDDSSS!!!

In this episode of Extreme Vocabulary we nerd out on the word "nerd". Who or what is a nerd? Is it now cool to be a nerd? And what credentials can you show to prove your nerdhood? Listen in as Efren challenges our nerdhood by siding with Pokémon the Trading Card Game, while Josh sides with Pokémon GO, and Abe stays conservative with the main series Pokémon games. But aren't nerds really just social conformists intent on ruling the world? And aren't they the jerkiest gate keepers of their sphere of influence? Or are they genuine social outcasts, like the main character in Junot Diaz's novel The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao? Stay tuned as our inner nerd takes over this episode!!!

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