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In episode 91 of I Hate Talking, the hosts tackle another word or phrase of the episode—this time the idiom “beating a dead horse.” After clarifying its proper form (“beat a dead horse”) and meaning—wasting energy on a lost cause—they explore its 19th‑century origins and related alternatives such as “chasing rainbows” or “tilting at windmills,” the latter traced to Don Quixote (1615). Their lighthearted detour even touches on modern misquotes, like “get the horse in the water,” and how mangled idioms can slip naturally into everyday speech.

Then, in the latest installment of their travel‑review mini‑series, the hosts recount their 2025 family trip to Universal Studios Hollywood. From long lines to magical moments, they relive highlights from Jurassic Park, Super Nintendo World, and The Wizarding World of Harry Potter—plus the chaos of ordering food at Krusty Burger and a surprise favorite: the Studio Tour. They share tips on using AI to plan ride order, why “preferred parking” was worth it, and how to balance saving money with letting the kids enjoy souvenirs and butterbeer. It’s a mix of wordplay, theme‑park strategy, and parenting humor, all delivered—as always—with good‑natured candor.

Keywords: beat a dead horse, idiom meaning, phrase origins, Don Quixote, tilting at windmills, Universal Studios Hollywood, Jurassic Park ride, Super Nintendo World, Harry Potter World, Studio Tour review, travel tips, theme park planning, I Hate Talking podcast.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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In episode 90 of I Hate Talking, the hosts welcome new listeners for the new year with a quick refresher on their show’s format—each episode features a word or phrase of the week, its definition and etymology, and a real-life discussion it inspires. This time, the word is “defunct”, meaning something that no longer exists or functions. The conversation begins with the closure of all 99¢ Only Stores in 2024 and moves into the history of the term, tracing it from Latin roots meaning “to perform” and its later English use meaning “deceased” or “obsolete.” They even touch on how it’s often confused with “debunked,” clearing up the difference and laughing about spelling mix-ups like “defunk.”

From there, the episode transitions into something far from defunct—family fun at Great Wolf Lodge. The hosts share a detailed review of their visit: the indoor water park, slides, wave pool, and lazy river all live up to the hype; however, the optional MagiQuest adventure earns mixed reviews for being expensive, time-consuming, and easy to reset by mistake. They also discuss budgeting tips, DoorDash dinners over pricey resort food, and the joy of wolf-ear souvenirs.

Keywords: defunct, word meaning, etymology, 99¢ Only Stores closure, Latin roots, Great Wolf Lodge review, indoor water park, MagiQuest, DoorDash travel hacks, family travel, vacation reviews, I Hate Talking podcast.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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In episode 89 of I Hate Talking, the hosts return from the holidays with a full conversation centered on the word aplomb—a fitting term for confidence, balance, and maintaining composure under pressure. After tracing its French roots (à plomb, “according to the plumb line”), they explain how it evolved to describe someone poised and self-assured even in demanding situations. The discussion cleverly ties the literal idea of a perfectly vertical plumb line to the metaphorical steadiness required to face challenges “with aplomb.”

That sense of balance sets up the second half of the episode: a funny, chaotic, and good‑natured retelling of their Cub Scout fundraising pies‑in‑the‑face tradition. From pie counts to safety goggles to why shaving cream beats whipped cream (for hygiene and safety reasons), listeners get an inside look at how this messy annual ritual brings joy to the pack—and how the hosts handle it with both humor and, of course, aplomb. The episode wraps with reflections on living in the moment, capturing memories, and debating the best (edible) pies, leaving listeners smiling and maybe craving dessert instead of shaving cream.

Keywords: aplomb, word meaning, etymology, French origin, poise, confidence, scouting traditions, Cub Scouts, fundraising, shaving cream pies, leadership, humor, holiday return, I Hate Talking podcast.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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This New Year’s mini episode skips the usual full-length conversation so the hosts can briefly ring in 2026 and connect with listeners. Dropping on January 1, they share lighthearted New Year’s resolutions: one aims to see or watch a stand-up comedy show at least once a month to prioritize joy and laughter, while the other jokingly renews an old “resolution” to never make formal resolutions again, but admits wanting to get back to healthier habits around diet and exercise.

They invite listeners to share their own resolutions via comments, email, or text, and confirm that regular episodes of I Hate Talking will resume with a full show on January 8, 2026. The tone is warm, quick, and hopeful—offering a short “happy New Year” touchpoint before the podcast returns to its usual weekly rhythm.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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This Christmas-day mini episode is a warm holiday check‑in rather than a full installment. The hosts pause regular programming on December 25, 2025 to wish listeners a Merry Christmas, acknowledging that many are spending the day with friends and family, working essential jobs, or maybe even heading to a movie theater instead of a big gathering. They invite anyone who feels alone—or just wants some company while commuting or cooking—to revisit past episodes, suggesting their November 21, 2024 episode “Under the Auspices of I Hate Talking, a New Podcast Appears” and the January 23, 2025 synesthesia episode as especially fun listens tied to favorite colors and how blue and teal often top the global “favorite color” lists.​

They also clear up a mystery from the previous episode: there never actually was a dedicated “Color of the Year 2024” episode, even though one host was sure they’d recorded it; instead, they had only researched Pantone and color popularity while preparing the earlier color-themed discussion. The update wraps with a quick programming note—no full New Year’s episode either, with regular weekly episodes scheduled to resume on January 8, 2026—and a final Christmas wish from their family to everyone listening.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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In episode 88 of I Hate Talking, the hosts revisit the idea of “color of the year” and unpack Pantone’s 2026 pick: Cloud Dancer. Instead of finding it calming or inspiring, they both react strongly against it, describing the off‑white shade as dingy, dirty, and more like a stained wall or leaky dishwasher water than a serene, billowy cloud. They also read and gently roast Pantone’s poetic marketing language about clarity, creativity, and fresh starts, noting how little it matches their actual emotional response to the color.

To frame the discussion, they introduce Pantone as both a company and a standardized color-matching system used in printing, fashion, and product design, explaining how it aims to make colors consistent across inks and materials. From there, the conversation wanders delightfully: who gets to name colors, why some design choices spark internet backlash, and whether anyone genuinely likes Cloud Dancer or if it’s being universally dragged online. They also detour into “color seasons” (like soft summer), AI-driven palette analysis, and whether couples might share similar color profiles over time. The episode closes with an open invitation for listeners to hunt down any past “color of the year” episode they may or may not have actually recorded and to weigh in on whether Cloud Dancer deserves its controversial spotlight.

Keywords: Pantone, Pantone Color of the Year, Cloud Dancer, off‑white, neutral color, color naming, color marketing language, color psychology, color backlash, standardized color system, design and printing, fashion color trends, soft summer color season, personal color analysis, AI color analysis, I Hate Talking podcast, 2026 color trends.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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Episode 87 of I Hate Talking dives into the surprisingly rich world of pants—sparked by the hosts’ recent closet decluttering and reflections on how many clothes a typical American household accumulates. They start with definitions and regional differences: in North America, “pants” means trousers, while in British English “pants” often means underwear and can even be slang for “nonsense” or “rubbish.” They trace the word back through “pantaloons,” to the comic Italian character Pantalone, whose too-tight breeches helped give the garment its name.

From there, the conversation branches into culture, gender, and clothing norms: who “wears the pants” in a relationship, why women historically wore dresses instead of pants, and how pockets (or the lack of them) feed modern “patriarchy and purses” theories. They touch on kilts, boys’ short pants, capris, and their family’s “Yes Day” tradition that once led to Dad in a dress—plus why he’s not planning a full-time wardrobe change. The episode closes with a look at sustainable fashion: how much clothing is overproduced, what to do with unworn items, and practical ideas like the backward-hanger trick, reselling, and donating instead of trashing.

Keywords: pants, pantaloons, Pantalone, trousers vs pants, British vs American English, pants etymology, clothing history, gender norms, who wears the pants, pockets and patriarchy, dresses vs pants, kilts, capris, short pants, sustainable fashion, clothing overproduction, decluttering, backward hanger trick, clothing donation, Yes Day, family traditions, I Hate Talking podcast.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.

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In episode 86 of I Hate Talking, the hosts take on the deceptively simple word “goodbye” and discover how emotionally loaded it has become in modern conversation. They unpack why “goodbye” can feel harsh or final—more like a relationship-ending period than a casual sign‑off—and contrast it with softer alternatives such as “bye,” “see you later,” and even the more cheerful “good morning.”

Digging into etymology, they explain how “goodbye” began as the devotional phrase “God be with ye,” was shortened in writing (like an old-school “BRB”), and eventually morphed into the single word used today. From there, the discussion widens into different styles of leave-taking: formal farewells, the “silent goodbye” (a.k.a. French leave/Irish exit), and how culture, personality, and even gender shape whether you feel obligated to make rounds or just slip out the door. Along the way, they share funny family stories, including accidental “I love you”s on work calls, midwestern marathon goodbyes, and a grandparent who would simply stand up from dinner and go sit in the car.

The episode closes with a self-aware twist: for them, this isn’t goodbye—just another conversation about how the words we choose reveal what we value in relationships, endings, and everything in between.

Keywords: goodbye, etymology of goodbye, God be with ye, farewell language, silent goodbye, French leave, Irish exit, social etiquette, parting phrases, good morning vs goodbye, midwestern goodbye, small talk, cultural communication, relationship endings, I Hate Talking podcast.

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Any views expressed on this podcast are those solely of the hosts and is for entertainment purposes only. None of the content is medical advice or financial advice.

Special thanks to Tim Wright aka CoLD SToRAGE for his permission to use the song Operatique.