Join us on this episode to learn how those goth girls you were attracted to in high school are a commentary on the Roman Empire. Yeah, Abe's research is just that good. Efren brings a poem by Rickey Laurentiis and we choose a song from the Crow soundtrack.

What do John Wilkes Booth, Home Depot workers, and Pinterest Boards have in common? Mezzanine, of course. In the middle of our life's journey, we sometimes encounter fancy and laborious words like mezzanine. But we're here to help. In this episode, we talk about elevated floors and why upper-middle class people fantasize about them on Pinterest Boards, and why Home Depot workers fall from them, and why John Wilkes Booth had to traverse one to commit his horrible deed. Efren brings a poem about mezzanines and personal identity, and Aaron chooses today's song. So, come join us up here on the mezzanine called Extreme Vocabulary!

What if I told you that miracles happen everyday? What if Abe also told you that's really not a big deal because the etymology of the word reveals that miracles aren't about anything unusual anyways? In today's episode, we venture into discussions of consciousness, the Christmas story, and the power of movies. Efren brings a piece of literature from Jorge Luis Borges, and Aaron does the hosting. This was a liveshow so thanks go out to anybody who joined us on our Zoom call, especially Hugo, who helped us choose the song. Were the times good? Well, they were a miracle.

On today's episode we look at the history of this rich word. Aaron hosts the guys as they react to recent news events by looking up a word. Abraham has done the research revealing its various definitions over the years, and discovers that the Oxford English Dictionary has not updated its entry to show how the word is often used today. Efren brings us a great poem by Lenelle Moise, and Josh edits out a curseword, all on this episode of Extreme Vocabulary.

On today's episode we ask you a sexy question: What are you wearing? As we talk about the word Sartorial, we discuss scientifically engineered clothes, TC Surf Designs, pretending to be upper class, comfortability, double-breasted suits, kimonos, hamstrings, the ridiculousness of rock star clothing, and the philosophy of clothes in general. We also discuss how COVID-19 has changed our clothing style. Efren brings a fashionable poem by Eileen R. Tabios about the white-collar working class. Josh chooses ZZ Top. And Abe and Aaron wear their hair big. So put on some pajamas and get comfy with Extreme Vocabulary!

In this second of our two-part series, we think about communism's root word commune. We ask, what can humans commune with? What is left of the commons? Air? Water? Desert? And Efren offers Planet Fitness as a utopian model of communism. Wait! Hear us out! Efren brings a poem by Brian Komei Dempster, Abe tells us about the Paris commune, Josh tells us about the E.T. Atari games in the desert, and Aaron teaches us how to commune with each other here on Extreme Vocabulary!

Today's episode is the first of a two part discussion on the opposing terms CAPITAL and COMMUNE, roots of the words capitalism and communism. And you bet that our discussion will rattle your head as we take on the debate between capital and commune! Abraham looks at the many definitions of capital from head, to pillar, to manuscripts, to economic value. Meanwhile, Efren brings us poem by Joshua Clover. Who will win the debate between capital and commune? It depends. What do you value, dear listener?

Today we take a break from our normal format to reveal tiny slivers of our identities and lives. Also, some number of impressions are made. Don't get knocked down, get up again, and enjoy this episode.

On today's episode, we are missing Aaron so we lose our edge as we discuss today's not-so-sharp word, BLUNT. So join us as we consider the history of how warfare generates our metaphors, insults make us dance, and salsa inspires the salivary glands for us all. Abe takes us back in time through the origins of this word, while Efren brings a recent example from a work of literature by Justin Torres.

Today we find ourselves at the precipice between what is symbol and what is phenomena, and we discuss how words and numbers help us crossover from our crude matter into our minds and back out into the cosmos. Art itself supports and is supported by today's word. We also discuss weighty philosophical matters such as, what is the best time to eat a banana? And what the definition of is is. Abe did the researdch, while Efren brings us a piece of literature from Hector Tobar, and we choose a piece of music too. In the end though, it's really hard to say how anything really ever happened.

Psst! It's us. We're right behind you. And in front of you. And also in these tiny wafers. That's right we are using our godlike powers to reach you yet again for another episode of Extreme Vocabulary. On this episode, we study another word with its roots in religious history. Then, we take a listen to some wise words by Borges.

On this episode, The Extreme Vocabularians find a recently-coined word and critique its poetic, philosophical, and psychological possibilities. In other words, we hate it. But even though this word is new, it has a mysterious and disputed history that you may have insight into. And in the spirit of coining new words, Abe and Josh decide to coin their own with interesting results. Efren finds a tumblr blog, and Aaron wisely curates today's music selection. But don't just feel the depths of our reality, join it, by listening to today's episode of EXTREME VOCABULARY!

Word recommender and guest host, Renee joins Extreme Vocabulary this week for a discussion on one of the deadliest words we've ever featured. Tracing this word's histories back to the time of the Reformation, we learn about how people used DEFENESTRATION as a particularly effective way to remove a religious authority from power? Is there a way to DEFENESTRATE things in our own time? Efren brings us a meditation on today's word from Elijah Matthew Tubbs, author of In Through a Door, out a Window, and we all contemplate the many reasons we might find ourselves flying out a window. So, come to our window and join us for another great episode of EXTREME VOCABULARY.

Hey it’s US again! But if we’re US, then who is everybody else? In our great tradition of defining words that we already know, we are going with a couple of the first words we learn. Are they also some of the first words humans conceptualized? If so, what does that mean for the way we build society around us? Efren brings a poem by David Tomas Martinez, and we choose a straight classic jam to go out with. To find out, don’t listen to THEM, listen to US!

By now, you can probably see where this is going. By analyzing the origins of today's word, we uncover some ancient associations with it that exist to this day in some magical way. Yeah, we've been doing this for a while now, so it's almost as easy as BREATHING. Efren brings some poetry from Walt Whitman, Aaron brings Andre the Giant, Josh forgets his lines, and Abe reveals his vulnerabilities, all on today's EXTREME VOCABULARY.

Cowabunga! We're here to PARTY and do our best to explore the mystery of words. Today's word has lots of definitions and tons of applications. So whether you are a member of a party, at a party, interested in hunting, or a just person who just likes, you may have enjoyed using today's very fun word. Efren is here once again with some poetry by William E. Stafford, and we answer emails. Don't worry if you didn't bring any snacks, we got everything you need on EXTREME VOCABULARY.

Today’s episode tells the story of how the King of England set in motion a series of events that would create what is arguably the longest word in the English language (even if it’s mostly suffixes and prefixes). Then, we pluck this word from its historical context and see if it holds any relevance for the hip kids of today. Efren brings us a short story by Gayle Pemberton, Aaron shows off his knowledge of history, Abe does the research, Josh does bad accents, and we all get together to tell the kids to get off our lawn on today’s episode of EXTREME VOCABULARY.

The Extremers are three-legged in this episode, without the mighty aid and insight of Efren. Abraham, Josh, and Aaron shuffle forward in order to try and figure out the mysteries and mystique of the word fetish. Abe crunches away at our brains with his deep research and encyclopedic knowledge of all things word-y while Josh and Aaron add their unique perspectives to this titillating word and its many implications. Meanwhile, due to the absence of our steadfast literature maven (Efren), Aaron steps up and does his best impression of a person who knows how to read poetry. The showcase piece of lit today happens to be a poem: ARIA by David Barber. Come to this episode with an open mind and a forgiving nature as we whip up a short, but sweet, activity to stimulate your ears and, hopefully, your minds.

Here at Extreme Vocabulary, we are tools of the devil because we ask for your CULTISH devotion, dear listener. Today's word, CULT, reminds us back when civilization was a mere gardening religion thankful to unknown gods for a full stomach. But how did we get from cult as gardening to cult as drinking the cyanide kool-aid? And was it even Kool-Aid? And did Nike sponsor the Heaven's Gate cult? We answer these and other questions because we are your sole authority. Pontiff Efren brings THE MORROW OF TRADITION, Deacon Josh brings his charming good looks, Lord Aaron brings his cult of personality, and Abe wears the ceremonial robes for the comet's arrival-- the comet called EXTREME VOCABULARY.

Hey smarty pants, everybody in class thinks your smart, but is it just because you're holding a book in your hands? Join us on a discovery and decide for yourself who is qualified to expound on the meaning of intelligence. Abe brings us the etymology of the word, as usual, but we also consider some topics like animals, culture, books, and... French? Efren brings a poem by Stanley Kunitz, and of course we choose a song as usual. Don't listen to us because it's cool, listen to us because it's the smart choice.