Award-winning British podcast The Allusionist is a logophile’s dream. 

Ever heard of Toki Pona (said to be ‘the smallest language in the world’) or indefinite hyperbolic numerals (‘zillions, jillions or squillions’)? Have you questioned Western yogic deployments of ‘namaste’, opening lines on dating apps, or dating systems of the BC, AD and BCE kind?

Producer and host Helen Zaltzman is here for you. A veteran podcaster with the long-running, hugely popular indie podcast Answer Me This! in 2007 – Zaltzman started making The Allusionist in 2015. In each episode, she rumbles with language with infectious verve and a generous helping of pop culture. In 2019, Zaltzman returns with a show about taking gender out of language through the power of infotainment -  with musical support from Martin Austwick. Join her for a fascinating and irreverent adventure into the world we make with words.

"My new favourite is The Allusionist, about words and the English language. Episodes are under 20 minutes, and I haven't hit a dud yet" - Margaret Lyons, The New York Times.

"Zaltzman's enthusiasm for the topics and her guests is what is so appealing about this podcast" - Buzzfeed.

"Any podcast involving Helen Zaltzman will always be worth a listen" - The UK Observer 

"The show is filled with good humor and a great deal of levity to make one of the funniest and most educational podcasts around" - The Guardian.