Outer Space - 8 June 2026

Outer Space - 8 June 2026

From A Way with Words - language, linguistics, and callers from all over by Martha Barnette and Grant Barrett. Produced by Stefanie Levine.

June 8, 2026 · 54 min

About this episode

The episode explores a writer's memoir about a creature found on a country road and discusses invented swear words and various unique terms.

A writer stumbles upon a tiny, motionless creature on a country road and, against all good advice, takes it home. The resulting memoir, Raising Hare, is a lovely meditation on nature and our relationship to it. And: have you ever invented a fake swear word to hide the real ones from little ears? One family’s secret code was bandoozer—and it almost worked. Plus: what do these words have in common: elver, spat, smolt, and leveret? Also, candle bat, hobbyless, jan-ken-pon and Rochambeau, thick as burgoo, pobbies, urp, Rawhead and Bloody Bones, and that’s it, Fort Pitt. Hear hundreds of free episodes and learn more on the A Way with Words website: https://waywordradio.org. Be a part of the show: call or text 1 (877) 929-9673 toll-free in the United States and Canada; elsewhere in the world, call or text +1 619 800 4443. Send voice notes or messages via WhatsApp 16198004443. Email words@waywordradio.org. Copyright Wayword, Inc., a 501(c)(3) corporation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Martha Barnette, Grant Barrett

Topics covered

  • nature
  • memoir
  • language
  • swear words
  • family
  • communication

Keywords

  • memoir
  • nature
  • swear words
  • language
  • communication
  • Raising Hare
  • family code

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: Raising Hare

Places: United States, Canada, Fort Pitt

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