Butter No Parsnips

Butter No Parsnips

Butter No Parsnips

Episodes 201
Avg. Duration 37m
Activity Highly Active
Apple Rating 5.0 (15)
Since Jul 2022
Latest Episode Jun 2026

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Schedule
Weekly
Format
Episodic
Consistency
100%
Hosting
anchor.fm

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About This Podcast

Every week on Butter No Parsnips, your hosts Emily Moyers and Kyle Imperatore take you on an adventure through the weird, wacky, wonderful, and sometimes wicked history of one wayside word. Strange characters, delightful bits, and general joyousness abound, join them as they test each other's etymological expertise!

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Recent Episodes

197. Historiaster: …And The Mess Is History

Jun 08, 2026 38m

This week, Kyle and Emily finally throw some shade. In learning the etymology and history of the word historiaster, they’ll unearth a treasure trove of historical diss-tracks and put-downs harsh…

196. Nostrum: An Over-the-Counter History

Jun 01, 2026 34m

This week Emily and Kyle are looking for the perfect cure-all, but all they find are false claims. They’ll separate good remedies from bad, both within the pharmaceutical world and without, as they…

195. Salmagundi: How a Salad Showpiece Made a Big Mess

May 25, 2026 35m

Kyle and Emily are mired in a true word salad this week. Diving into a bit of food history as well as word history, they’ll talk about mish moshes of all different kinds, as well as the meaning and…

194. Eavesdrip: The Rainy Day Origin of Snooping

May 18, 2026 31m

Better pack an umbrella, because this week Emily and Kyle are seeking shelter from the rain. A conversation beginning at thatched roofs trickles down to local snoops, as our hosts discuss the meaning…

193. Verb Your Enthusiasm: Master the Art of the Verb with Sarah L. Kaufman

May 11, 2026 55m

This week, Kyle and Emily talk, chat, banter, converse, and more with author and dance critic Sarah L. Kaufman about her new book Verb Your Enthusiasm. Drawing from her background in dance, Kaufman…

192. Quisling: How WWII Set the Standard for Treason

May 04, 2026 37m

Kyle and Emily have a traitor in their midst, and his name is Quisling. They’ll talk about a decidedly terrible politician, a quagmire of Q words, and a word for all betrayers great and small.This…

191. Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents with Valerie Fridland

Apr 27, 2026 56m

Get ready to think more than ever about the way you talk and the way people talk to you as Emily and Kyle sit down this week with sociolinguist Valerie Fridland to discuss her latest book Why We Talk…

190. Nous: Common Sense and So Much More

Apr 20, 2026 32m

Emily and Kyle think, therefore they are—and this week thinking is the name of the game! They’re digging into the philosophy of human intelligence, the mind that set the universe turning, and common…

189. Adiaphoron: Diogenes & Martin Luther Find the Gray Areas

Apr 13, 2026 40m

How closely does one need to stick to the letter of the law? Emily and Kyle explore just that, as they discuss Greek grouches, Christian controversy, diabolical discourse, and the word adiaphoron.Our…

188. Obviate: Less Obvious Than You Think

Apr 06, 2026 36m

Kyle encounters what he thinks is an obvious word, in more ways than one, but Emily puts some complications in his path. Together they’ll parse through unexpected definitions, clunky phrases, and…

187. Puissant: Our Powerful Past in Prose

Mar 30, 2026 36m

Who’s got the power? Anyone from proper princesses to mighty militias, and devastating dandies to high-jumping horses, as Kyle and Emily reveal in discussing the word puissant.Our hosts dive into yet…

186. Snickersnee: Why the Vorpal Sword Went Snickersnack

Mar 23, 2026 39m

Emily has thrown down the gauntlet and challenged Kyle to a swordfight, but the blade she pulls is a little smaller than expected. The two hack and slash at language and history, as they discuss the…

185. Philtrum: Groovy Loves and Lovely Grooves

Mar 16, 2026 42m

Get ready for some classic love potion hijinks! This week Kyle and Emily are talking about magical concoctions, dubious enchantments, desirable faces, and the word 'philtrum'.This word gets our hosts…

184. Worm.so: Where Readers Burrow Deep

Mar 09, 2026 48m

You can support worm.so directly at https://www.worm.so/worm-plus. After three months of membership, you’ll be eligible to receive a worm.so–branded tote!Kyle and Emily sit down with Kara Raynoha…

183. Parvenu: New Money Through a French Lens

Mar 02, 2026 35m

Emily and Kyle get a little bourgeois this week, and uncover why that’s considered such a bad thing. They’ll look at French history, wealthy upstarts, and some classic New York literature as they…

182. Orrery: Enlightenment Thought and the Science of Stars

Feb 23, 2026 40m

This week Kyle and Emily take a trip to their local planetarium, to learn not about the cosmos but about the machine itself. They’ll chat about astronomy, invention, and perhaps a bit of theater as…

181. Aumbry: Storage for Arms, Alms, and Almonds

Feb 16, 2026 37m

Where can Kyle store all of his chainmail, his holy oil, and of course his loose almonds? Emily has the answer, as the two of them chat about that most versatile vessel: the aumbry.This antique word…

180. Jujube: How the Odyssey Almost Ended Early

Feb 09, 2026 39m

Kyle and Emily unwrap a deceptively sweet treat this week: jujube. What seems only to be a humble fruit quickly reveals a tangled history of biblical proportions. From man’s original sin, to…

179. Zugzwang: From the Rules of Chess to Global Stress

Feb 02, 2026 38m

Kyle and Emily find themselves boxed in this week by a word that describes the worst kind of obligation: zugzwang. It’s a bad decision no matter what as Kyle and Emily are forced to explore the…

178. Guidon: How the Color Guard Got Its Colors

Jan 26, 2026 38m

Kyle and Emily show their true colors in this episode, exploring the history of flags of all kinds and learning the meaning and origin of the word guidon.This word guides our hosts through the vexing…

Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Butter No Parsnips have?

Butter No Parsnips has published 201 episodes since July 2022, covering topics in Comedy.

Is Butter No Parsnips still active?

Butter No Parsnips is currently highly active with new episodes weekly. Average episode length is 37m.

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