Ep. 50: Dictate

 Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, gather around to hear the latest word from our great leaders, Aaron, Abraham, Efren, and Josh as they talk about today's word, dictate. Their word goes, so make sure to take dictation so you can catch every delicious and deadly implication. Marvel as they weave Hitler into the conversation in a mere 11 minutes. Be amazed as they discuss dictatorial cities, governments, and more. Efren brings a poem by Jimmy Santiago Baca that reminds us all that poems aren't all sunshine and roses, but you probably already knew that. After all, you are a graduate of the University of Extreme Vocabulary. Class is over, and this episode is your diploma! That's right, we resurrected this podcast just to give it a proper sendoff (at least in its current form). But stay in touch with us by emailing us at extremevocabulary@gmail.com or by commenting here. It's been real!

Listen now

Ep. 49: Gothic

Join us on this episode to learn how those goth girls you were attracted to in high school are a commentary on the Roman Empire. Yeah, Abe's research is just that good. Efren brings a poem by Rickey Laurentiis and we choose a song from the Crow soundtrack. 

Listen here

Ep. 48: Delicious

Stop what you're eating. Is it really yummy enough? If not, why not join us on a tasty adventure through the history of our week's word: delicious. Learn what types of food the Extreme Vocabulary gang likes to eat, how they make their syllabi, and what their rhymes taste like. Abe's research will get your tastebuds rocking, while Efren brings a delectable piece of literature from a little known author named Herman Melville. Put that low-calorie podcast down, and pick up the juiciest piece of podcast candy you have ever had, on today's episode. 

Listen

Episode 47: Persuasion

We are here to convince, urge, strong-arm, and maybe just order at gunpoint you into appreciating the depths of today's word. Don't worry, when we're done, you will think it was your idea. If you can be persuaded to listen to this episode, you will hear all about the history of suasion, what words it is and isn't related to, as well as a conversation about the role of persuasion in today's bifurcated landscape. Dr. Efren P.H.D. brings a poem by Li-Young Lee, and we go out on a sixties classic. 

Listen

Episode 46: Revenge

Have you ever wished that you could punish all those other podcasts who waste your time with pointless speculation? Welcome back to Extreme Vocabulary, where our success has caused such consternation among our peers that our very existence is vengeance itself. On today’s episode we take revenge out on all the other podcasts with Abe’s research on today’s word as well as a poetry reading by Efren of a work by Heid E. Erdrich titled “Ghost Prisoner.” And just in case you still demand satisfaction, we choose a Pearl Jam song to go out on. So don’t just wait for the scales of justice to weigh in your favor, take things into your own hands on today’s episode of Extreme Vocabulary! 

Listen here.

Episode 45: Conundrum

You are at a crossroads. Should you listen to this podcast, where we take a deep-dive into our word of the day, which was created as a joke? Or should you watch another episode of Cobra Kai, where every time you try to do the right thing, things just get worse? Some might call this some kind of conundrum, and we hope that you choose to do the right thing, and listen to us as we answer some classic conundrums before  discussing the conundrums of our times. Abe does the research, and Efren brings a poem by George Bowering, and Aaron and Josh still don't know what to do all on this episode of Extreme Vocabulary.  

Listen here

Ep 44: Maudlin

Have you ever had a friend who seems to show up at all the most important moments of your life? If your name is Jesus, that friend is probably Mary Magdalene; or so the story goes. But what does Mary Magdalene have to do with today's word? Well, as it turns out, everything and almost nothing at all. Sometimes we give birth to things that have nothing to do with us. It's enough to make you cry, really. Efren brings a poem by Linda Gregerson. And we read a letter by Joshua Clover, whose poetry was featured on this very show. Our adventure keeps getting bigger, and our vocabulary keeps getting more extreme, but you don't have to take my word for it. Join us today. 

Listen now

Ep. 43: Mezzanine

In the middle of life's journey, one might encounter fancy and laborious words like mezzanine, but we're here to help. In this episode, we talk about elevated floors and why upper-middle class people fantasize about them on Pinterest Boards, and why Home Depot workers fall from them, and why John Wilkes Booth had to traverse one to commit his horrible deed. Efren brings a poem about mezzanines and identity, and Aaron chooses today's song. So, come join us up here on the mezzanine called Extreme Vocabulary!

Listen Now

Ep. 42: Miracle

What if I told you that miracles happen everyday? What if Abe also told you that's really not a big deal because the etymology of the word reveals that miracles aren't about anything unusual anyways? In today's episode, we venture into discussions of consciousness, the Christmas story, and the power of movies. Efren brings a piece of literature from Jorge Luis Borges, and Aaron does the hosting. This was a liveshow so thanks go out to anybody who joined us on our Zoom call, especially Hugo, who helped us choose the song. Were the times good? Well, they were a miracle.

Listen now.

Ep. 41: Loot

On today's episode we look at the history of this rich word. Aaron hosts the guys as they react to recent news events by looking up a word. Abraham has done the research revealing its various definitions over the years, and discovers that the Oxford English Dictionary has not updated its entry to include how the word is often used today. Efren brings us a great poem by Lenelle Moise, and Josh edits out a curseword, all on this episode of Extreme Vocabulary.

Listen now

Ep. 40: Sartorial

On today's episode we ask you a sexy question: What are you wearing? As we talk about the word Sartorial, we discuss scientifically engineered clothes, T&C Surf Designs, pretending to be upper class, comfortability, double-breasted suits, kimonos, hamstrings, the ridiculousness of rock star clothing, and the philosophy of clothes in general. We also discuss how COVID-19 has changed our clothing style. Efren brings a fashionable poem by Eileen R. Tabios about the white-collar working class. Josh chooses ZZ Top's "Sharp Dressed Man." And Abe and Aaron wear their hair big. So put on some pajamas and get comfy with Extreme Vocabulary!

Listen Now

Ep. 39: Commune

In this second of our two-part series, we think about communism's root word commune. We ask, what can humans commune with? What is left of the commons? Air? Water? Desert? And Efren offers Planet Fitness as a utopian model of communism. Wait! Hear us out! Efren brings a poem by Brian Komei Dempster, Abe tells us about the Paris commune, Josh tells us about the E.T. Atari games in the desert, and Aaron teaches us how to commune with each other here on Extreme Vocabulary!

Listen Now

Ep. 38: Capital

Today's episode is the first of a two-part discussion on the opposing terms CAPITAL and COMMUNE, roots of the words capitalism and communism. And you bet that our discussion will rattle your head as we take on the debate between capital and commune! Abraham looks at the many definitions of capital from head, to pillar, to manuscripts, to economic value. Meanwhile, Efren brings us a poem by Joshua Clover. Who will win the debate between capital and commune? It depends. What do you value, dear listener?

Listen Now

Ep. 37: No Word

Today we take a break from our usual programming to catch up with each other and reveal tiny slivers of our usually concealed identities. Also, some number of impressions are done. 

Listen Now

EV 36: Blunt

On today's episode, we are missing Aaron so we lose our edge as we discuss today's not-so-sharp word, "blunt." So join us as we consider the history of how warfare generates our metaphors, insults make us dance, and salsa inspires the salivary glands for us all. Abe takes us back in time through the origins of this word, while Efren brings a recent example from a work of literature by Justin Torres.

Listen Now

BONUS: now you can join us for the never-ending Extreme Vocabulary Dance Party by listening to our playlist on Apple Music (spotify links forthcoming). Enjoy!

Ep. 35: Abstract

Today we find ourselves at the precipice between what is symbol and what is phenomena, and we discuss how words and numbers help us crossover from our crude matter into our minds and back out into the cosmos. Art itself supports and is supported by today's word. We also discuss weighty philosophical matters such as, what is the best time to eat a banana? And what the definition of is is. Abe did the researdch, while Efren brings us a piece of literature from Hector Tobar, and we choose a piece of music too. In the end though, it's really hard to say how anything really ever happened.

Listen Now

Ep. 34: Skulduggery

This is no act of deceit or treachery, this is a real episode of Extreme Vocabulary, where we define one of the least rooted words we've ever had. Join us to learn the tale of how a Scottish word came to be used to describe a sex crime in old catholic documents, only to be later used to describe financial crimes in our own century. Then join us for one two many impressions, a poem by Vachel Lindsay, and a special helping of cool music.

Listen Now

Ep. 33: Ubiquitous

Psst! It's us. We're right behind you. And in front of you. And also in these little wafers. That's right we are using our godlike powers to reach you yet again for another episode of Extreme Vocabulary. On this episode, we study another word with its roots in Christian history, but whose implications seem to have changed over time. Then, we listen to a passage from Borges, and choose a song to go out on. You know, the usual.

Listen Now

Ep. 32: Sonder

On this episode, The Extreme Vocabularians find a recently-coined word and critique its poetic, philosophical, and psychological possibilities. In other words, we hate it. But even though this word is new, it has a mysterious and disputed history that you may have insight into. And in the spirit of coining new words, Abe and Josh decide to coin their own with interesting results. Then, Efren finds a tumblr blog, and Aaron wisely curates today's music selection. So, don't just feel the depths of our reality from afar, join it, by listening to today's episode of EXTREME VOCABULARY!

Listen Now

Ep. 31: Defenestrate

Word recommender and guest host, Renee joins Extreme Vocabulary this week for a discussion on one of the deadliest words we've ever featured. Tracing this word's histories back to the time of the Reformation, we learn about how people used DEFENESTRATION as a particularly effective way to remove a religious authority from power? Is there a way to DEFENESTRATE things in our own time? Efren brings us a meditation on today's word from Elijah Matthew Tubbs, author of "In Through a Door, out a Window," and we all contemplate the many reasons we might find ourselves flying out a window. So, come to our window and join us for another great episode of EXTREME VOCABULARY.

Listen Now