The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs

Get the App

The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs

iHeartPodcasts

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.

22 minutes 42 seconds

Who Actually Started the Fire? Plus Monday Moonday

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.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 February 2026, 9:00 am
37 minutes 23 seconds

Stephen Fishbach plays "Word Survivor"

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: former Survivor contestant and author of "Escape!", Stephen Fishbach!
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.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 February 2026, 9:00 am
26 minutes 3 seconds

Aha Moments and Presidential Secrets

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: Greg and A.J. 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.

13 February 2026, 9:00 am
33 minutes 45 seconds

The Hunting of the Shark

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: A.J. & Greg play some puzzles from Lone Shark Games! You can purchase The Hunting of the Shark puzzle book from their website!
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.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 February 2026, 9:00 am
47 minutes 13 seconds

Brad Meltzer plays "Earbus"

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: author Brad Meltzer!
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.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 February 2026, 9:00 am
27 minutes 42 seconds

Working Naked, Sex Cells, and Re-Words

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: Greg and A.J. play a listener-submitted puzzle and celebrate National Working Naked 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.

6 February 2026, 12:00 pm
27 minutes 40 seconds

Sadistological Words

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.

4 February 2026, 12:00 pm
41 minutes 20 seconds

Taylor Rooks plays "Bird Word Inferred"

Hello, Puzzlers! Puzzling with us today: sports journalist and broadcaster, Taylor Rooks!
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.

2 February 2026, 12:00 pm
26 minutes 25 seconds

X-Treme Puzzles

Hello, Puzzlers! Today: Greg and A.J. read listener mail and play more math puzzles.
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.

30 January 2026, 12:00 pm
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
More Episodes? Get the App