In It's Puzzling: The Power of Crosswords and Games, host Natan Last, author of the cultural history of crosswords, Across the Universe, moderates a discussion at the Brooklyn Book Festival with Barry Joseph, game designer and author of Matching Minds with Sondheim, and Juliana Pache, the creator of Black Crossword. The conversation delves into the cultural significance of games and puzzles and how they reflect history and community. Barry shares insights from his book while Juliana discusses the creation of Black Crossword and how it connects the African diaspora through daily mini puzzles. They explore themes such as the joy of solving cryptic crosswords, the social dynamics of community-based puzzles, and the personal impacts of puzzling on their own lives. The episode also introduces listeners to the intricacies of cryptic crosswords and how Sondheim popularized them in America. Make sure to get the book everywhere books are found, ⁠⁠or click here⁠⁠. 00:00 Introduction and Book Tour Updates 01:54 Brooklyn Book Festival Panel Introduction 02:49 Meet the Panelists 04:20 The Cultural Significance of Games and Puzzles 09:05 Creating Black Crossword 11:58 Sondheim's Fascination with Games 13:38 The Intersection of Puzzles and Culture 20:00 Challenges and Innovations in Crossword Puzzles 25:55 The Everything Bagel Crossword Controversy 26:25 The Art of Clue Writing 28:38 Community and Crosswords 30:32 The Power of Black Crosswords 34:42 Cryptic Crosswords Explained 37:08 Sondheim's Puzzle Legacy 41:42 Personal Stories and Puzzle Connections 44:26 Closing Thoughts on Crosswords and Community Special Links: Colm Molloy Ann Morrison Mateo Chavez Lewis Natan Last Juliana Pache Brooklyn Book Festival Locavore Variety Store Recent talk: Interview and book reading at The Drama Book Shop Recent talk: Playing and Composing with Graduate Students at NYU Recent talk: Sondheim Week at the New York Public Library for The Performing Arts Matching Minds with Sondheim: The Exhibit Thanks to everyone who contributed behind the scenes to this episode, specifically the musical stingers composed by Mateo Chavez Lewis, and the theme song to our podcast with lyrics and music by Colm Molloy, and sung by the one and only Ann Morrison, who created the role of Mary in Merrily We Roll Along. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices