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-alusionist.

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

This is the illusionist, in which I, Helen Zoltzman, tried to lure language down into the

drains. It is name season here at the illusionist. Over the next few episodes, we're going

to be exploring names because people have a lot of feelings and opinions about their names,

and it's been really fascinating to hear yours since the episode a few weeks ago about

noun names. I've been thinking about mine too, Helen, sort of right, I don't have a great

attachment to it, but I don't mind it. Wish it had more proper consonants. Zoltzman,

well, the Zs are a treat, but people see them and they panic about how to pronounce the

name, and even when I'm spelling it out for them, they will write down A-s instead of Z.

Still, I would love being at the end of the alphabet. Also, there is a mission for you

to contribute to a future episode if you like. Stick around, I'll tell you more about it

at the end. On with the show.

The way people pronounce my name incorrectly has become different over the years. I used

...