Arguing About Puzzles

Olive comes in to talk about cultural conventions in puzzlehunts. (Sorry about the audio artifacts in this one, I did my best.)Also: Jeopardy! canon, police sirens, and tiny towns in Massachusetts.(Speaking of Jeopardy!: puzzlehunter Paolo Pasco is on a 5-day Jeopardy winstreak as of today. Go Paolo!)This episode contains discussion of (and spoilers for!) the following puzzles:* Most of the puzzles from the Ascent round (MITMH '23), but particularly* How Come This Got No Grid One? (MITMH '23)* Book of Fixed Stars (MITMH '23)* The Tower of the Eye (MITMH '23)* Ten Lions (GPH '24)This episode's featured round was The DIY Room, with puzzles by Elara Wei, Farid Khuri-Makdisi, Ryan Judge, and Cindy Gao. You can view the round here: https://puzzlehunt.club.cc.cmu.edu/hunt/25/view/Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1SgJHdt6SawfJOCQSyJbeQ09kWKrQv-0eKyw9eIrtF4QIntro music created by Eitan Frank. Originally recorded June 12th, 2025. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

This week, Jonah shares his opinion on the place of ahas in puzzlehunts. Also: surprises, inquiry-based learning, and a crisis of faith. This episode contains discussion of (and spoilers for!) the following puzzles: * Historic Preservation (MSPH23) * A Local Knowledge Puzzle (CMU Spring '25) * Plagiarism (Brown '25) * The State Puzzle (Shardhunt) * To Serve and Protect (MITMH '16) * The Duck Konundrum VI: Now with Way Way Way Way Way Too Much Pepper (MITMH '14) * Classics Round Metas (MSPH23) This episode's featured puzzle was Pyramid Schemes, by Jonah Ostroff. You can view the puzzle here: https://puzzle.university/puzzle/pyramid-schemes.html Intro music created by Eitan Frank. Originally recorded June 11th, 2025. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

In the finale for Season 1, Zach and Thomas demonstrate long-term memory skills. Also: live investigative journalism, being on the same team, and getting skinnerboxed.We are looking to have some special guests on the show for Season 2! If you’re interested in being on an episode of the show, let us know. You can reach out to one of us through Discord, or you can fill out this form: https://forms.gle/x5sw9aGXrgX9Hipp9This episode’s featured round was Computer Science, by Amos Eshel, with help from Jonah Ostroff. You can view the round here: https://puzzle.university/round/computer-science.html (If it’s not working, you might need to mess with your settings on this page first: https://puzzle.university/continuingeducation.html)Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13_Pz26RxjNCwz0aAUTWJtaM2NmSwuHAYQLLHxsPJPL4Intro and outro music created by Eitan Frank. Originally recorded January 5th, 2025. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

In the first house Thomas found puzzles; but the puzzles were too hard. In the second house Zach found puzzles; but the puzzles were too easy. But then they both went to the third house, and there the puzzles were just right.Also: Trackmania, a narrowish distribution, and getting Zach to acquiesce instantly.This episode’s featured puzzle was XYZ-Word, by David Morgan-Mar. You’ll need to piece together the puzzle from the Day 4 jigsaws here: https://www.mezzacotta.net/puzzle/cisra/2013/puzzles.html Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BNSZavJaQctbx8pmDffiJdnrVMMTP0W1JAG7O3odCFkIntro music created by Eitan Frank. Originally recorded November 11th, 2024. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

Must puzzlehunt puzzles have answers? If a puzzle’s goal is simply to interact with a puzzle until a “solved state” is reached, is there something missing? And, seemingly unrelatedly, but arguably entirely relatedly, should a metapuzzle be available at the start of a round? And, if so, does it follow that all rounds should be available at the start of a hunt?This episode will decisively answer none of these questions, but we hope you’ll listen anyway. Also: the Socratic method, fun-seeking entities, and having less of a life.This episode’s featured puzzle was Composition, by Deusovi and Level 51. You can see the puzzle here: https://silphpuzzlehunt.com/puzzle/compositionAlso mentioned: Divided Is Us (incorrectly referred to as “Baba is Us” during the episode), by Evan Chen and Azalea Weisblat, which can be found here: https://puzzles.mit.edu/2021/puzzle/divided-is-us/Transcript:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Ey2bcwJk8XcItqMF-cRTdr9HFKcp-q1oHpzG9AjNVWIIntro music created by Eitan Frank. Originally recorded October 5th, 2024. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

Did you know that Zach and Thomas argued extensively about whether to release this episode, given that some of it had become outdated since its original recording date, and other parts feel repetitive compared to earlier (and future) episodes? Did you know that polar bears have black skin, and it’s their white fur that gives them their distinct marshmallow-like appearance? Did you know that Thomas is the one that writes these blurbs? Also: fudging, advice for new writers, and the wild west days.This episode’s featured puzzle-thing was the Final Keypad Puzzle, by Jack Lance. You can play the entirety of the RT3 Riddle Search here: https://jacklance.github.io/rt3(If you want to see just the Final Keypad Puzzle, you can see instructions for viewing the puzzle here: https://bravopuzzleawards.com/archive/2024/finalists/#footnote-2)Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1E8dFdiUTydVbm0a3yHGUrwCtVoq0uO1EotrRD2jIn8sIntro music created by Eitan Frank. Originally recorded August 18th, 2024. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

Thomas reflects on some past experiences in puzzle variety and standard puzzle types.Also: zen, high horses, and the magic/logic/faith triangle.This episode’s featured puzzle-round-thing was Boo York Times Games, by Megan Carlson, Audrey Feigin, Erin Finn, and Thomas Gordon. You can view the thing here: https://2024.brownpuzzlehunt.com/minorcase/nytTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Q9D4tqswOPY1v9t9f8QzEHyJWYXUXFNRHVpXkWeASew/edit?tab=t.0Intro music created by Eitan Frank. Originally recorded August 15th, 2024. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

Zach and Thomas ramble extensively about competitiveness.Also: luck-based games, throwing red shells, and where to get all of those flamingos.This episode’s featured puzzle was In the Details, by Derek Kisman. You can see the puzzle here: https://puzzles.mit.edu/2013/coinheist.com/get_smart/in_the_details/index.htmlTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A1OtOQUwsUPrZuHNmmjU15X4sp1vz6PpCne-0BJQdLc/edit?tab=t.0Intro music created by Eitan Frank. Originally recorded August 15th, 2024. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

Thomas presents his philosophy about stories in puzzlehunts.Also: a linear stack of puzzles, throwing out half the tools in your toolbox, and light in the darkness.The video essay Thomas references at 7:47 is Story Beats: Bastion by Ian Danskin.This episode’s featured puzzle was Semaphores, by Edric Haleen. You can see the puzzle here: https://www.happinessboard.com/2024ptruzzlehunt/Day_4_Puzzles_files/Semaphores.pdfTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1C_lmjpklx5DMMa-FRPihacL8X9W-8QziZouEcfRpB5oIntro music created by Eitan Frank. Originally recorded August 4th, 2024. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

Zach presents his argument about flavortext in puzzles.Also: semaphore extractions, vibes-based identification, and multiple avenues for cheating at cricket.This episode’s featured puzzle was Intersections, by Brian Chen. You can see the puzzle here: https://2020.galacticpuzzlehunt.com/puzzle/intersections.htmlTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-5TptVQbgviefQDN-A6bs7fnd8vazGx0RwOUHwxbNskIntro music created by Eitan Frank. Song from the puzzle Intersections created by Brian Chen. Originally recorded August 4th, 2024. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

In the debut episode of Clashing on Conundrums, our guest says hello. What occurred during this recording?Answer checker: https://www.puzzlehunt.net/checker#1#ergWXMVuP3EUe4rJ#1otlXCk4VjITUKAjQK6fXTenjZ623VB6#TWluaS1FcGlzb2RlOiBHcmVldGluZ3MgKGZ0LiBNYXggV29naGlyZW4pTranscript: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R_1QHNrnPRWn6zTBWziYBi2mREVgiTIl/viewEdited by Max Woghiren. Solution will drop next week along with the next episode.PS: sorry about the wait, we put The Extraction in charge of our upload schedule This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

New episodes starting September 1st. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com

Zach presents his argument about flavortext in puzzles.Also: semaphore slander, vibes-based identification, and multiple avenues for cheating at cricket.This episode’s featured puzzle was Intersections, by Brian Chen. You can see the puzzle here: https://2020.galacticpuzzlehunt.com/puzzle/intersections.htmlTranscript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-5TptVQbgviefQDN-A6bs7fnd8vazGx0RwOUHwxbNsk/edit?usp=sharingOriginally recorded August 4th, 2024. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit arguingaboutpuzzles.substack.com