Weekend Favorites: "Random Fandom" w/ Charlotte Wilder
1Digest
Charlotte Wilder, a sports writer and host of the show "Odd Ball," joins AJ Jacobs on "The Puzzler" to discuss the surprising ways in which puzzling can be considered a sport. Charlotte, a member of the 2019 USA Jigsaw Puzzle Championship US team, argues that puzzling meets the criteria of a sport, particularly the "does it feel like sports" criterion. They then play a game of sports-related rhyming puzzles, where Charlotte demonstrates her impressive knowledge of sports trivia and her ability to think on her feet. The game includes puzzles about soccer, polo, lacrosse, hockey, and badminton, with Charlotte even referencing Taylor Swift's Eras Tour as a sporting event. The episode ends with an extra credit puzzle for listeners to solve.
Outlines
Puzzling as a Sport
This Chapter explores the question of whether puzzling can be considered a sport. Charlotte Wilder, a sports writer and host of the show "Odd Ball," argues that puzzling meets the criteria of a sport, particularly the "does it feel like sports" criterion. She shares her experience as a member of the 2019 USA Jigsaw Puzzle Championship US team, highlighting the competitive nature of puzzling.
Sports Rhyming Puzzles
This Chapter features a game of sports-related rhyming puzzles between AJ Jacobs and Charlotte Wilder. The game involves two-word rhyming phrases, with one word always being the name of a sport. Charlotte demonstrates her impressive knowledge of sports trivia and her ability to think on her feet, solving puzzles about soccer, polo, lacrosse, hockey, and badminton. The game also includes a reference to Taylor Swift's Eras Tour as a sporting event.
Extra Credit Puzzle
This Chapter presents an extra credit puzzle for listeners to solve. The puzzle involves a snack that one might have while playing an indoor racket sport. The answer to the puzzle will be revealed in the next episode.
Keywords
Puzzler
The Puzzler is a podcast hosted by AJ Jacobs that explores the world of puzzles and riddles. The podcast features interviews with puzzle experts, discussions about different types of puzzles, and games and challenges for listeners.
Charlotte Wilder
Charlotte Wilder is a sports writer and host of the show "Odd Ball." She is known for her humorous and insightful commentary on sports, particularly basketball. She is also a passionate puzzler and a member of the 2019 USA Jigsaw Puzzle Championship US team.
Odd Ball
Odd Ball is a show hosted by Charlotte Wilder that explores the weird and wonderful side of the NBA. The show features interviews with players, coaches, and other personalities, as well as discussions about the latest news and trends in the league.
Sports Rhyming Puzzles
Sports Rhyming Puzzles is a game where players must come up with two-word rhyming phrases, with one word always being the name of a sport. The game tests players' knowledge of sports trivia and their ability to think creatively.
Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift is an American singer-songwriter who is known for her pop music and her elaborate stage shows. Her Eras Tour, which celebrates her career spanning multiple musical eras, has been praised for its spectacle and its inclusivity.
Q&A
Can puzzling be considered a sport?
Charlotte Wilder argues that puzzling meets the criteria of a sport, particularly the "does it feel like sports" criterion. She shares her experience as a member of the 2019 USA Jigsaw Puzzle Championship US team, highlighting the competitive nature of puzzling.
What are some examples of sports-related rhyming puzzles?
The game includes puzzles about soccer, polo, lacrosse, hockey, and badminton. Charlotte even references Taylor Swift's Eras Tour as a sporting event.
What is the extra credit puzzle for listeners?
The extra credit puzzle involves a snack that one might have while playing an indoor racket sport. The answer to the puzzle will be revealed in the next episode.
Show Notes
From time to time on the weekends, we’ll be bringing you some of our recent favorite episodes. Enjoy your weekend, and we’ll be back with a brand new puzzle on Monday!
Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: sports reporter, writer, and podcast host, Charlotte Wilder!
Join host A.J. Jacobs and his guests as they puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask Chat GPT” and audio rebuses.
Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast wherever you get your podcasts!
"The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas.
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts.
The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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