John in Bismarck, North Dakota, wants a word that describes a neutral state of emotion, specifically the midpoint between depression and euphoria. Is that insouciant? Apathy? Zen? Affectless? What’s wrong with plain old neutral? This is part...
Martha shares a quote from author Madeleine L’Engle about how growing up means accepting vulnerability. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Madeleine L’Engle Quote” I had a terrific time addressing the...
A woman and her 10-year-old daughter are looking for a word that describes being excited but anxious. It’s not exactly twitterpated, and the Southernismlike a worm in hot ashes is vivid, but a phrase and not a single word. If a single word for...
Some knock-knock jokes stir the emotions, including: Knock-knock. Who’s there? Woo…. This is part of a complete episode. Transcript of “Emotional Knock-Knock” Knock knock. Who’s there? Woo woohoo. Don’t get excited...
Postalgia is a possible new coinage for the sorrowful, time-shifted awareness Alice in Tampa describes when she hears an old podcast interview with someone who has since died, while knowing the speaker had no idea what was coming. Words like...
The Stendhal syndrome is a term used to describe feeling overwhelmed by the beauty of a work of art. The name comes from the French writer Stendhal, who wrote about the dizzying sensation of seeing the art in Florence. It’s somewhat similar to...