This time, we're unwrapping etymology through the history of Christmas gifting. The word gift in both English and German comes from the same root, though in German it evolved to mean poison. Must-have toys often cause a frenzy, like Teletubbies and Tickle Me Elmo, with the word frenzy tracing back to an ancient Greek word that also gave us frenetic and schizophrenia. Chocolate advent calendars only became popular in the 1990s; the term advent derives from a Latin term meaning to come. Listen for the history of holiday gifting and the legend behind stockings by the fireplace. This podcast returns in January 2025.

In this episode, we tune in to the origins of television terms. TV broadcasts date back to the late 1920s, but the first remote control, a wired device called the "lazy bones", arrived in the 1950s. The phrase "jump the shark" originated from an episode of Happy Days in the 1970s, though it only gained popularity two decades later. The word binge started as Midlands (England) slang meaning to soak in water, evolving to mean over-drinking, and eventually extended to doing anything to excess, hence the term binge-watching.

This time, we're going around the world of words tied to the British Empire, from terms of governance like dominion, protectorate and territory to words describing those settling new lands, such as coloniser, imperialist and conquistador. Discover how Australia, Jamaica, Pakistan, Trinidad and America got their names, and learn about the English father-son duo behind the place names of Dalhousie across empire territories. Also explored is the link between the words pioneer and pawn, both tracing back to an Old French term meaning foot soldier. Plus, learn how many convicts were sent to the penal colony of Australia and the origins of the word penal.