The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs

Finally, your daily puzzle fix—in audio form! Every day, New York Times bestselling author A.J. Jacobs and his celebrity guests will puzzle–and laugh–their way through new spins on old puzzle favorites, like anagrams and palindromes, as well as quirky originals such as “Ask Chat GPT” and audio rebuses. 

Plus, Chief Puzzle Officer Greg Pliska joins A.J. each week to present new puzzles from the Puzzle Lab. And there’s a daily Extra Credit Puzzler for our Puzzlers at home. (Answers revealed in the following episode.) 


Subscribe to The Puzzler podcast today for more puzzling puzzles that will puzzle you, puzzlingly!


"The Puzzler with A.J. Jacobs" is distributed by iHeartPodcasts and is a co-production with Neuhaus Ideas. 


Our executive producers are Neely Lohmann and Adam Neuhaus of Neuhaus Ideas, and Lindsay Hoffman of iHeart Podcasts.


The show is produced by Jody Avirgan and Brittani Brown of Roulette Productions. 


Our Chief Puzzle Officer is Greg Pliska. Our associate producer is Andrea Schoenberg.

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Recent Episodes
  • "Tales from the American Crossword Puzzle Tournament" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Apr 18, 2025 – 21:13
  • "Columbo's Gumbo" w/ Mark Brotherhood
    Apr 17, 2025 – 20:00
  • "Mall Tease" w/ Karen Bergreen and Cynthia Kaplan
    Apr 16, 2025 – 17:11
  • "KB vs. CK" w/ Karen Bergreen and Cynthia Kaplan
    Apr 15, 2025 – 15:01
  • "All Quiet on the Western Font" w/ Karen Bergreen and Cynthia Kaplan
    Apr 14, 2025 – 18:07
  • "T for Two, April May June, and Vague Value!" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Apr 11, 2025 – 20:47
  • "Alphabet/Siblings Day" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Apr 10, 2025 – 18:13
  • "Bizarro Household Items" w/ Karen Puzzles
    Apr 9, 2025 – 20:04
  • "Sank to Sanka" w/ Adam Sank
    Apr 9, 2025 – 18:46
  • "Chuck's Chuck" w/ Karen Puzzles
    Apr 8, 2025 – 20:54
  • "Din Ding Dingo" w/ Karen Puzzles
    Apr 7, 2025 – 17:45
  • "Bubblers, Vowels, and Popes!" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Apr 4, 2025 – 21:13
  • "Bird Calls" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Apr 3, 2025 – 18:47
  • "Big Foul Sports Teams" w/ Mina Kimes
    Apr 1, 2025 – 16:34
  • "Audio Connections" w/ Mina Kimes
    Mar 31, 2025 – 19:20
  • "Smart Fish, Backronyms and Jocularity!" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Mar 28, 2025 – 21:39
  • "Polish polishing" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Mar 27, 2025 – 19:49
  • "Hodgman's Hobos" w/ John Hodgman
    Mar 26, 2025 – 20:41
  • "Odd Hodgman Out" w/ John Hodgman
    Mar 25, 2025 – 14:12
  • "Earbuses" w/ John Hodgman
    Mar 24, 2025 – 19:32
  • "Vogue, Vowels, and Hugh Jackman" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Mar 21, 2025 – 19:55
  • "Giving T.Hanks" w/ Peter Gordon
    Mar 20, 2025 – 20:20
  • "Sabia Mania" w/ Joe Sabia
    Mar 19, 2025 – 20:04
  • "Calm Poe, Sir" w/ Joe Sabia
    Mar 18, 2025 – 18:37
  • "Ditloids" w/ Joe Sabia
    Mar 17, 2025 – 15:21
  • "Inside the Puzzle Lab" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Mar 14, 2025 – 20:33
  • "Puzzler Live" w/ Mo Rocca
    Mar 13, 2025 – 18:49
  • "Confounding Comics" w/ Alex Edelman
    Mar 12, 2025 – 14:03
  • "Best Baseball Teams...Literally" w/ Alex Edelman
    Mar 11, 2025 – 17:31
  • "Chilly Chili" w/ Alex Edelman
    Mar 10, 2025 – 17:58
  • "Inside the Puzzle Lab" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Mar 7, 2025 – 24:08
  • "Alphabet/Trademarks" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Mar 6, 2025 – 21:50
  • "Instruments of Mass Distraction" w/ Alexandra Petri
    Mar 5, 2025 – 20:35
  • "Everyone is Hiding Something" w/ Alexandra Petri
    Mar 4, 2025 – 13:58
  • "Bill Clinton's Bill" w/ Alexandra Petri
    Mar 3, 2025 – 17:30
  • "Inside the Puzzle Lab" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Feb 28, 2025 – 24:58
  • "Oscar Oscars" w/ Julie Jacobs
    Feb 27, 2025 – 23:09
  • "Long Vowels Short/Tongue Twisters" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Feb 26, 2025 – 22:09
  • "Blue or Hill" w/ Dan Barber
    Feb 25, 2025 – 17:36
  • "Barber's Arbor" w/ Dan Barber
    Feb 24, 2025 – 20:17
  • "Grammar Day" w/ Ellen Jovin and Brandt Johnson
    Feb 21, 2025 – 24:18
  • "Palindromes" w/ Adam Sank
    Feb 20, 2025 – 16:24
  • "Bizarro the Sequel" w/ Barry Sonnenfeld
    Feb 19, 2025 – 20:39
  • "Barry Sonnenfeld's B.S." w/ Barry Sonnenfeld
    Feb 18, 2025 – 19:53
  • "Bizarro Movie Titles" w/ Barry Sonnenfeld
    Feb 17, 2025 – 22:12
  • "Valentine's Day Puzzles" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Feb 14, 2025 – 22:42
  • "Inside the Puzzle Lab" w/ A.J. & Greg
    Feb 13, 2025 – 19:16
  • "Spring or Field" w/ Mike Reiss
    Feb 12, 2025 – 18:01
  • "Budapest Bud" w/ Mike Reiss
    Feb 11, 2025 – 19:19
  • "Tom Hanks' Hanky" w/ Mike Reiss
    Feb 10, 2025 – 20:55
Recent Reviews
  • jlg84
    Perfect for these troubling times
    I just discovered this podcast after looking for things to listen to that offer me a bit of a respite from the endless bad news that had been coming through my speakers. This is a lovely change of pace, offering something that challenges the brain and entertains as well. Many thanks!
  • Runtfish
    Julie Bowen
    Love the Julie Bowen episode! She’s engaging, brilliant, and a blast!
  • Newsfellow
    More puzzles, less talk please
    I enjoyed the first season, but the second one is getting on my nerves. I don’t need celebrity chit-chat. I don’t care what projects the guests are working on or what movie stars they’re pals with. Even some of the puzzles aren’t so much puzzles as they are trivia questions. Get back to the lab and leave the dishy stuff to Access Hollywood.
  • Mae.Stevens
    Love this podcast!
    A must-listen for me, my boyfriend and a ton of my friends! If you love the NYT games app, this is the podcast for you. Plus AJ and Greg are funny and smart, and they have great guests!! Highly recommend!!
  • TriscuitK
    A Day-Starter or Well-Earned Break
    The Puzzler is a bit of focused creativity and fun. Lots of variety, lots of laughter, and a rewarding break when I just need a few minutes to smile with some friendly and thoughtful people.
  • Linguist Sammy
    A podcast of commercials
    Geez Louise, what a shameless commercial-laden podcast. More commercials than content. I think I’m gonna unsubscribe on principle.
  • Emily in MVCA
    Have pulled over several times
    Like so many other reviewers, this is a daily commute listen for me. I want to get the puzzles so much that sometimes I pull over for everyone's safety so I can turn my full attention to the podcast. I binged the first season and I like the second season even more, for the more in-depth conversations with guests and the Friday Farrago. It is truly the shiny red sole of my puzzling Jimmy Choos!
  • coasterbear
    Season 1 was great. Season 2, not so much
    The Puzzler was a daily listen all through the first season. But this year the episodes are padded with random chat with the guests. They are about twice as long as they used to be and are now often so long that they get interrupted with a mid-podcast several-minute-long ad break. There are many places to listen to random chat with random people and not many places to do puzzles, andI wish this would go back to what it was like the first season. (Also…no, I can’t just skip to the next podcast when the chat section begins, because there is always a final puzzle at the end, and the answer to the previous day.) Less blather, more puzzles!
  • Akpeach7
    Daily listen
    Great audio puzzle that keeps my mind sharp - I don’t always get the extra credit puzzle but I definitely feel smarter when I do. I appreciate the banter and the new puzzle content throughout the week.
  • maineislove
    Too repetitive.
    They’re doing better about it, but when these first episodes were releasing they were SO short that the run time was 80% ads. I appreciate their continuing to interview their guests and talk a little more in later episodes. Also…why are they re-releasing shows as best-of when the show is barely a year old??? It’s clogging up my podcast feed! I don’t want to hear these again! If someone wanted to hear them they could just scroll through the back catalogue.
  • N I C K Name
    Morning Brain Boost
    I have to listen every morning to The Puzzler with AJ Jacobs! It gives me a great start to my day.
  • Rainy606
    Awesome pod, too many ads
    Love this pod, a quick daily hit of puzzling, but it’s 5 minutes of ads for less than 10 minutes of podcast.
  • runner-runner73
    Run, don’t walk
    This show is amazing
  • Unkle Bubba
    The Weeknd problem
    I enjoy listening to this podcast and I would like to give it five stars, but I can’t because of the weekend problem. When they rebroadcast episodes on the weekends, they don’t give the answer to the extra credit problem which I feel is unfair.
  • JudyHopeR
    Fun quick daily podcast
    Very clever. It’s a quick audio puzzle everyday. Plus they always include an extra puzzle that they answer the next day. So it keeps you coming back.
  • T-mansmom
    Daily Brainteaser Fix
    I look forward to this daily pod to see if I can guess the puzzle solutions. The host is engaging and the guests are always willing to laugh even when they get it wrong. Homework puzzles are a bonus!
  • 337SW4790
    Quick burst of fun
    Nice chatter from the host, plus a light puzzle you can “play” as you listen
  • Snowy_7
    Just right!
    Just challenging enough and the guests introduce me to other books or podcasts or topics I might be interested in. And the length keeps me coming back each day.
  • Joe999a
    Satisfies your daily puzzle itch
    Fun, clever and just the right level of challenge at just the right length
  • Wbfoxii
    Nice, clever diversion
    Spend a few minutes with some really sharp folks and celebrities stretching your self outside the box.
  • Gcsuhre
    Fun! But so many ads
    This show is great other than the fact that almost 25% of it is ads!
  • Al Chris P
    Fun and quick
    A delightful, quick podcast that gets you thinking
  • Crys from
    I listen every day
    It’s the perfect companion for my daily early morning walk with the dog. About 10 minutes is perfect for fun, fast-paced puzzles. Keep ‘em coming!
  • Shoupski
    A quick smile & brain teaser to start the day!
    This is one of the most entertaining podcasts there is! A.J. Jacobs and Greg Pliska team up to bring you wonderful brain teasers every day and I look forward to it SO much!! It’s short so you can squeeze it in anytime. Perfection!
  • sunshineblack74
    A highlight in the footnotes in my day
    Day one listener. LITERALLY laughing out loud today with Ted Allen and “Get Ted Fed”. Spoiler: I had the pass mass gas answer 😂 I tell any puzzler I find…”go listen to A.J Jacobs! Also, your chief puzzle officer gets an A+. Gold stars all around ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
  • Ren12702
    Absolutely enjoy the podcast!
    LOVE the podcast!!!! But please, NO MORE Kara Swisher!!!
  • kinaleigh
    A delightful daily diversion!
    I absolutely adore this podcast. From playing along with the guests to puzzling over the extra credit (and feeling an unreasonable sense of pride when I figure out a tough one), The Puzzler is the cream cheese frosting on my red velvet puzzle cake.
  • Sodajanie
    Great show
    Fun.
  • CharleyTaps
    Fun!
    Thanks AJ for bringing us the delightful challenge, learning and brightness of this podcast!!!
  • donutanddjsmom
    As much legal fun to be had while driving on the beltway!
    Been a fan of AJ Jacobs for years. He’s so clever and funny ! This show is fun , gets my neurons warmed up . Interesting , accessible and I love it! Thank you.
  • Hank G123
    A great way to start the day
    My new favorite podcast! I was curious about this podcast because it was hosted by AJ Jacobs. After my first listen, I know I’m going to be revisiting often. It’s as if you’re sitting around a table of smart, funny, personable friends who don’t take themselves too seriously. It has the perfect balance of spark, fun and engaging puzzle play. It’s a great way to start the day!
  • Qosqo runa
    Good break when I’m working.
    Entertaining and relaxing. Short enough to not feel guilty when you have a break of work.
  • Katiesdad829
    This review sponsored by…..
    8 minutes of puzzles, 6 minutes of ads. I’d have already unsubscribed if the puzzles were bad.
  • Tyfgnm
    Beyond Trite
    Ugh This “production” is an excuse for commercials and begging to get listeners for the flailing and mediocre iHeart catalogue If you would be interested in hearing 4th graders argue about films or television I’d Batman vs Superman - this is your thing. Buy a lifetime subscription because sensible folk will cancel this drudgery!
  • emilyclaire23
    Let people think!
    AJ, please let your guests think for half a second before giving hints to the puzzles! I know you have to keep the episodes short, but multiple times people have known the answer or had it on the tip of their tongue, and AJ starts basically giving away the answer with hints. One of the guests even told him to stop talking for a second. 😅 Maybe let them say “I give up” first? Just a suggestion, because if it drives me crazy, I’m probably not the only one!
  • RelNiss
    Wow 🤩
    This show so quickly became part of my daily routine
  • ????argh???!
    ‘Clean’ but watch for surprise sex talk
    I want to like this and listen to it with my kids, but I’ve had to turn it off twice during its short lifetime because of raunchy language. Did you really need to include ‘sadomasochistic foreplay’ when picking puzzles and clues?
  • BrianL001
    There’s a puzzle in there somewhere
    A puzzle wrapped in an ad wrapped in an ad wrapped in an ad.
  • mspassell
    3478906577 stars!!!
    A fun, morning espresso shot for your brain.
  • Donald 2014
    Tickles the Brain
    Perfect length and great way to get your brain going.
  • VT Daisy
    Wonderful!
    I love AJ’s books and this is another great way to enjoy his combination of humor, curiosity and smarts. Really great show!
  • LizzieHopes
    Brain candy!
    This little micro podcast is perfect way to turn on your brain on the way to work or start to wind down on the commute home. Its clever and fun!
  • DavidHeeky
    Works your mind, and funny none..
    Very entertaining, and love how concise the episodes are. AJ is a wonderful host.
  • sally 32
    Brizzy
    What fun! I love it
  • sjblshelby
    Short sweet and clever
    Shor, sweet, and clever! For all puzzle and trivia lovers.
  • camrinsheil
    Fun, quick and clever way to start your day!
    A.J. Jacobs does not disappoint, once again, this time with his puzzler podcast! I look forward to the next episode!
  • Ndsodsjes1
    Fun and Entertaining!
    Such a unique, fun and entertaining podcast that makes you think (and also laugh)! Great stuff in bite size pieces. Love it!
  • AL_WC
    Best 8 mins of the day
    Better than the book because it is LIVE! perfect way to start, end, or just interrupt your day.
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