The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs

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The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs

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Finally, your daily puzzle fix—in audio form! Every day, New York Times bestselling author A.J. Jacobs and his celebrity guests will puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old puzzle favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask Chat GPT” and audio rebuses. Plus, Chief Puzzle Officer Greg Pliska joins A.J. each week to present new puzzles from the Puzzle Lab. And there’s a daily Extra Credit Puzzler for our Puzzlers at home. (Answers revealed in the following episode.) Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast today for more puzzling puzzles that will puzzle you, puzzlingly! "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.

27 minutes 32 seconds

Holy Sugar! Fudge That!

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: A.J. & Greg present puzzling puzzles to each other.
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

28 January 2026, 12:00 pm
47 minutes 56 seconds

Jeff Hiller plays "Eat, Pry, Love"

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: Emmy winner for Somebody Somewhere and author of Actress of a Certain Age, Jeff Hiller!
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

26 January 2026, 12:00 pm
32 minutes 21 seconds

Humble Pie and Bonnet Rippers

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: Greg and A.J. read listener mail and celebrate National Pie Day.
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

23 January 2026, 9:00 am
20 minutes 37 seconds

Misdirections

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: A.J. & Greg present puzzling puzzles to each other.
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

21 January 2026, 9:00 am
44 minutes 8 seconds

Grant Sanderson plays "Which Big Number is Bigger"

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: creator of the educational Youtube channel 3Blue1Brown, Grant Sanderson!
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 January 2026, 9:00 am
33 minutes 33 seconds

Piano Tunas and Words of the Year

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: Greg and A.J. play a Boston-inspired puzzle and discuss the 2025 words of the year.
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 January 2026, 9:00 am
29 minutes 18 seconds

The Dark Side of Disney

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: A.J. & Greg present puzzling puzzles to each other.
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 January 2026, 9:00 am
36 minutes 46 seconds

John Koenig plays "Ponder Sonder"

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: creator of The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows, John Koenig!
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 January 2026, 9:00 am
31 minutes 47 seconds

The Lengthy, Serpentine Pathway

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: Greg and A.J. play a listener-submitted puzzle and honor the late crossword constructor, Mel Taub.
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 January 2026, 9:00 am
20 minutes 28 seconds

The Three Kinks

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: A.J. & Greg present puzzling puzzles to each other.
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 January 2026, 9:00 am
41 minutes 34 seconds

Adam Felber plays "Bent Movies"

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: writer, podcaster, and friend-of-the-show, Adam Felber!
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.
Subscribe to Hello, Puzzlers! wherever you get your podcasts! And come join our growing puzzle community over on Patreon, where you can find bonus episodes and other exclusive content!
Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas.
The show is produced by Claire Bidigare-Curtis.
Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.
Our community manager is Gary Buchler.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 January 2026, 9:00 am
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