meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Lexicon Valley

One Giant Leap for Humanity

Lexicon Valley

Lexicon Valley

Society & Culture, Education

4.8611 Ratings

🗓️ 14 May 2012

⏱️ 36 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the third and final installment of the Lexicon Valley series about language and gender, Mike Vuolo and Bob Garfield discuss the ongoing quest for a single, more equitable alternative to “he” and “she.” Since at least the 1850s, English speakers have made many unsuccessful attempts to introduce an epicene pronoun into the language. But University of Michigan professor Anne Curzan argues that we don’t need such a word, since we already have a perfectly acceptable, if controversial, alternative — they. Don’t like that solution? Maybe she’ll convince you. Twitter: @lexiconvalleyFacebook: facebook.com/LexiconValleyWebsite: booksmartstudios.com/LexiconValley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey, I'm Ryan Eggled from TV shows like New Amsterdam, The Blacklist, and of course, leave it to Beaver. You're on that? I was the Beaver. Didn't know. And I'm Adam Rose, an actor on TV, blue cardigan guy on your social medias, and Avid Speedwalker. We're the hosts of Small Stupid Stuff, an important new podcast from Studio 71. Ryan and I talk about the big issues, the heavy questions, pressing topics.

0:21.9

Like coffee date etiquette?

0:23.4

Best time to eat cereal.

0:24.9

And of course, whether you put your toilet paper over or under or around.

0:29.5

I don't know what around is.

0:30.9

I don't either, but I'm definitely an over man.

0:32.7

Yeah.

0:33.1

Every episode, we're joined by a celebrity guest who gives us their hottest takes on the stupidest,

0:38.7

smallest stuff.

0:39.6

Jocco Sims, Michelle Carrey, Alex Breckenridge, Pete Haversberger, Amber Childers.

0:46.6

Our goal is to solve the world's problems by finally figuring out the truth about crap that doesn't

0:51.8

matter.

0:52.3

So listen to Small Stupid Stuff on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

0:57.8

And watch us on YouTube, new episodes every Tuesday.

1:00.6

Stop.

1:05.2

From Washington, D.C. This is Lexicon Valley, a podcast about language.

1:15.5

I'm Bob Garfield with Mike Volo, and today, episode number 10 titled One Giant Leap for Humanity,

1:23.3

wherein we discuss the he said, she said, of the generic pronoun.

1:33.2

Music wherein we discuss the he said she said of the generic pronoun. Yo, Mike.

1:34.6

Hey, Bob.

1:35.3

Did you happen to catch the latest episode of Girls?

1:38.8

You know I did.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Lexicon Valley, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of Lexicon Valley and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.