Jen Porter

Nothing's For Sale (Episode 018) November 2025 In this episode: Lost in Metaversal Translation Truth for November Poll & Freebie True Story Tech (& Science) The Status of Making Things Up Serial Fiction with Friends Featured Book Deals Free & Bargain Book Sales In honor of Buy Nothing Day this month (a.k.a. Black Friday, November 28), we're exploring the metaversal evolution of the word nothing — a word whose resumé is really...something. According to the terrestrial dictionary, nothing comes...

Galactic Girl Bosses (Episode 017) October 2025 In this episode*: A Word From Our Sponsors Truth for October Grab This Book! True Story Tech (& Science) The Status of Making Things Up Introducing My New Intern Serial Fiction with Friends Featured Book Deals Free & Bargain Book Sales October is a cosmic convergence of administrative paperwork and inspirational youth. With International Day of the Girl Child (Oct. 11) inspiring greatness and International Checklist Day (Oct. 30) demanding...

Love and Red Shirts (Episode 016) September 2025 In this episode*: A Word From Our Sponsors Truth for September True Story Tech (& Science) The Status of Making Things Up Serial Fiction with Friends Featured Book Deals Free & Bargain Book Sales *Note: table of contents links may not work on mobile. We bring you this episode in honor of: September 8 -- Star Trek Day September 17 -- Time's Up Day September 28 -- Ask a Stupid Question Day In case you've lost your love for Star Trek: The Original...

Level Up Your Nerd Game (Episode 015) July/August 2025 In this episode*: A Word From Our Sponsors Truth for July/August True Story Tech (& Science) The Status of Making Things Up Serial Fiction with Friends Featured Book Deals Free & Bargain Book Sales *Note: table of contents links may not work on mobile. 😢 This episode is sponsored by some of my favorite shows, in honor of Anti-Boredom Month (July), National Golf Month (August), and geeks and dorks everywhere -- regardless of planetary...

'Productivity' Terms & Conditions (Episode 014) June 2025 In this episode*: A Word From Our Sponsor Truth for June Quick Question's Answer True Story Tech (& Science) The Status of Making Things Up Serial Fiction with Friends Featured Book Deals Free & Bargain Book Sales *Note: table of contents links may not work on mobile. 😢 This episode is brought to you by Doctor Who, Harry Potter, Star Trek, and Alien, in honor of the three "Take Your Best Friend to Work Days": June 8 -- Best Friends Day...

Pretend It's a Plan (Episode 013) May 2025 In this episode*: A Word From Our Sponsor Truth for May Quick Question True Story Tech The Status of Making Things Up Serial Fiction with Friends Featured Book Deals Free & Bargain Book Sales *Note: links may not work on mobile. 😢 This episode is brought to you by Doctor Who, in honor of Mental Health Awareness Week (UK) from May 12-18, and National Creativity Day (USA) on May 30th. In the words of the Eleventh Doctor to Lily Arwell, when her mother...

Wormhole-Wear Wednesdays (Episode 012) April 2025 Lost in Multiversal Translation April 16th is Wear Your Pajamas to Work Day. Ever paused to wonder about the cosmic origins of these dreamy garments? We commonly trace our Earth word pajamas to Persian roots—pai (leg) and jamah (clothing)—referring to a comfortable drawstring pant design that later spread and evolved into the word and forms we know today, thanks to the British Empire (c. 1801). However, Bajoran linguists might raise an...

Spectrum Envy? (Episode 011) March 2025 Lost in Multiversal Translation Merriam-Webster defines the word spectrum as, basically, the color spectrum, a range of light or energy, or another continuum. It says spectrum comes from the Latin specere, "appearance." The word specter actually comes from the word spectrum...much like the appearance of "magic" often comes from technology. For once, the dictionary's got the history right! But to fully understand how the word first appeared, we must look...

The Valentine Fantasy (Episode 010) February 2024 Lost in Multiversal Translation Merriam-Webster defines the word valentine as a person chosen as a sweetheart, or a gift given to a sweetheart on Valentine's Day. The word and the holiday seem to have originated in the Middle Ages. Valentinus (meaning "strong," "worthy," or "powerful") was a popular name between 200-800 AD (much like the name Avery -- "elf power" -- today). History.com tells us that some men (and at least one woman) by the...