Thanks to Canva for sponsoring the illusionist. In the 10 years since Canva began, it has

grown to offer services in over 100 languages. And Canva is freemium, so there is plenty available

for 0 pounds, including free libraries of video, audio, graphics, and their amazing tools,

magic write and magic design, which use AI to help you with your first drafts, get you

through the creative block, whew, because it's easier to start from something than from

a blank page. I put in a few writing prompts and, well, if Canva learns to speak, I think

I can just hand over hosting this show to it entirely. Also, if you and your colleagues

are working together, your human colleagues, that is, you can design and collaborate with

Canva for teams. Right now, you can get a free 45 day extended trial when you go to Canva.me-illusionist.

That's C-A-N-V-A.me-slashillusionist for a free 45 day extended trial. Canva.me-illusionist.

This is the illusionist, in which I, Helen Salzman, take the recommended dose of language.

Stick around till the end of the episode, please, because I have to alay the concerns many

of you expressed after my last dispatch a month ago when I was clearly rather ill. You

can hear now that I am still alive. Hooray! Happy to be here.

On with the show.

Today we are delving into the illusionist mailbag to deal with some of the word queries

you listeners have sent in, and one of my most verbally agile friends has come along to help.

My name is Rishi K. Sheerwey, I'm the host of SongExploder, and I co-host another podcast

called The West Wing Weekly. And today, you are also the illusionist co-host.

Woohoo! Now, you're very good at puns, Rishi, and after warning you, I am operating at

less than usual capacity, so I might just completely miss some clever wordplay that you do.

Oh, I thought you were saying less than usual capacity for puns. Like in your week and

...