I've Only Seen it Written

Ben Nikota
  • 5.0 (3)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED MONTHLY

I’ve Only Seen it Written is a podcast about etymology and so much more. We trace not only the roots of English words, but the stories behind them. Ben and Amy chat about everything from myth to monsters, from aliens to alpha privatives (you’ll learn what those are later), and all the miscellanea in-between. Special thanks to Jim Mann for the music: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWL2nZyVEcv2BbkXhxnz6CQ

Episodes

  1. 09/21/2022

    Episode 3: Monsters, or, creatures from myth that I think are just misunderstood.

    After taking summer vacation off from podcasting, Ben and Amy are back! On this month's episode, they're talking monsters. What is a poltergeist and what does it do? What is the connection between Sphinx and and the act of squeezing? What is the difference between a hob and regular goblin? All this and more await you on the third episode of "I've Only Seen it Written!"

    47 min

  2. 06/23/2022

    Episode 2: Space Words, or, to boldly etymologize where no one has etymologized before

    I've Only Seen it Written Continues! On this episode Ben and Amy discuss words about space and the myths that inspire them. Ben tries to talk about Hebrew and makes several Hebrew and zoological mistakes. Amy, as per usual, quizzes Ben on some etymologies on the spot. We close the episode with Ben ranting about and disparaging astrology, and telling you, dear listener, to read some Nietzsche and become who you are.

    43 min
  3. Episode 1: Myth Words, The Words from Mythology

    05/04/2022

    Episode 1: Myth Words, The Words from Mythology

    I've Only Seen it Written begins here! Ben and Amy discuss words that come into English from Greek and Roman mythology. Ben talks about Tantalus and reads some poetry, Amy quizzes Ben on words that come from the names of the gods Mercury, Mars, and Hera, and our dynamic duo introduce themselves through some of their favo(u)rite etymologies. Ben reads a passage of Camus that goes on a little bit too long, but it's only because he REALLY wants you, the listener, to go read some French existentialist philosophy.

    36 min

  4. 05/03/2022

    Episode 0: Introduction

    Ben and Amy introduce themselves with a quick little episode zero. They tell you why they're doing an etymology podcast, why they're better than big corporate word pods, and why they're interested in where words come from.

    15 min
  • 4 Episodes

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

I’ve Only Seen it Written is a podcast about etymology and so much more. We trace not only the roots of English words, but the stories behind them. Ben and Amy chat about everything from myth to monsters, from aliens to alpha privatives (you’ll learn what those are later), and all the miscellanea in-between. Special thanks to Jim Mann for the music: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWL2nZyVEcv2BbkXhxnz6CQ

Information