Rephonic
Artwork for Word of Mouth

Word of Mouth

BBC Radio 4
Language Acquisition
Irish Language
Aging
Communication
Word Order
Celtic Languages
Autism
Adjectives
Language
Arabic
Sanskrit
Michael Morpurgo
Linguistics
English Language
Language and Ageism
Connemara
Dingle Peninsula
Home Signs
Non-Verbal Communication
Animal Communication

Series exploring the world of words and the ways in which we use them

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes206Founded12 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Word of Mouth

Latest Episodes

Michael Rosen talks to James Geary about his lifetime obsession, aphorisms. These short, witty philosophical sayings have been coined by everyone from Emily Dickinson and James Baldwin to Hallmark, and even Michael's mum.

Produced for BBC Audio Bris... more

Michael Rosen talks to digital anthropologist Jennifer Cearns about the rise of AI companions- how do we talk to AI, and how does AI talk to us? They discuss how chatbots work, whether Michael is replaceable, different application for AI, including r... more

As a port city Liverpool has long been open to a wide variety of global influences and languages that developed into a way of speaking that's termed 'Scouse' - from a word that probably originates in the Baltic region derived from the word 'lobscouse... more

Michael Rosen goes on an alphabetical odyssey with linguist Dr Danny Bate, author of the book 'Why Q needs U: A History of Our Letters and how We Use Them'. From A through to Z, where did all our letters come from, and how have they changed over time... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Great Lives
Great LivesBBC Radio 4
Thinking Allowed
Thinking AllowedBBC Radio 4
More or Less
More or LessBBC Radio 4
Last Word
Last WordBBC Radio 4
Sliced Bread
Sliced BreadBBC Radio 4

Recent Guests

James Geary
Author of The World in a Phrase
Episode: Aphorisms: Sayings to Live By
Jennifer Cearns
Digital anthropologist from the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
Episode: Can AI be our friend?
Professor Tony Crowley
Professor at Leeds University School of English specializing in the politics and history of language
Leeds University
Episode: Scouse
Dr. Danny Bate
Linguist and author of "Why Q Needs U"
Episode: The Story of A-Z
Julia Donaldson
Famous children's author and former children's laureate known for her rhyming stories.
Episode: Julia Donaldson: A life in language
Derek Bousfield
Reader in Pragmatics and Communication at Manchester Metropolitan University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Episode: It's not what you say, it's how you say it
Dr. Catherine Laing
Senior Lecturer in Developmental Linguistics
University of York
Episode: Crash Bang Wallop: The Sound of Words
Joanna Hardy-Susskind
Criminal Defence Barrister
Episode: How to Persuade a Courtroom
Samantha Ellis
Author of 'Chopping Onions on My Heart', exploring cultural history and language.
Episode: Keeping My Family's Language Alive

Host

Michael Rosen
Host of discussions on the exploration of language and its nuances, known for his engaging storytelling and insights.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 698 ratings
  • One of the very best.

    Clear and interesting. Excellent.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    R Dows
    United Kingdom5 months ago
  • This was over two years ago. But so on point when I listened to it in August 2025

    Podcast Addict
    5
    5 months ago
  • This was over two years ago. But so on point when I listened to it in August 2025

    Podcast Addict
    5
    WiltshireWizard
    5 months ago
  • Mary M

    No! The Full Stop Must Not Die! You must have respect for the language. Without punctuation clarity is lost. Speak however sloppily you wish, but do not kill coherence and beauty.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    H-o-W
    United Kingdom9 months ago
  • Shhh!

    •EPISODE: “Susie Dent’s World of Words” in which the guest is rendered redundant by the host’s interruptions and self-referencing stories.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    (Gibberer)
    Australiaa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show is regarded as a reliable resource for anyone interested in language, often compared favorably to academic discussions for its accessibility and engagement.
There are occasional criticisms related to pacing or specific episode focus, but the overall reception leans toward positivity about the content's quality and relevance.
Listeners appreciate the depth and engagement of discussions, often finding them both informative and entertaining.
Many express gratitude for the insightful take on language and how it interconnects with personal and societal themes.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Aphorisms: Sayings to Live By
Q: Have you got some very recent aphorisms?
There's a contemporary artist whose aphorism is, "There are no borders here."
Aphorisms: Sayings to Live By
Q: What about your profession, journalism? Do you churn out aphorisms?
There's a great aphorism in journalism: "Shorter is harder."
Aphorisms: Sayings to Live By
Q: Is it an aphorism?
Yes, it is considered an aphorism due to its brevity and wit.
Scouse
Q: So what does one city tell us about the English language?
Liverpool's language is a form that started in the mid to late 18th century, reflecting its diverse population and historical context.
Scouse
Q: And why did you become interested in the language? What drew you to that?
My PhD was on the question of standard language, actually. The history of the term and concept standard English.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Word of Mouth

What is Word of Mouth about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Exploring the intricate world of words and language, this series offers a thoughtful examination of various linguistic topics and their broader implications within society and culture. Featuring guests from diverse backgrounds, listeners can expect engaging discussions on children's literature, courtroom language, the nuances of communication, the significance of preserving cultural languages, and the evolution of both spoken and written forms of expression. With a blend of humor, personal anecdotes, and expert insights, the series seems to uniquely cater to language enthusiasts and those interested in the art of effective communication.

Where can I find podcast stats for Word of Mouth?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Word of Mouth. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Word of Mouth and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Word of Mouth get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Word of Mouth, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Word of Mouth?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Word of Mouth, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Word of Mouth have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Word of Mouth has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Word of Mouth?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Word of Mouth:

1. Great Lives
2. Thinking Allowed
3. More or Less
4. Last Word
5. Sliced Bread

How many episodes of Word of Mouth are there?

Word of Mouth launched 12 years ago and published 206 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Word of Mouth?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Word of Mouth?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Word of Mouth from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Word of Mouth?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Word of Mouth. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Word of Mouth?

Recent guests on Word of Mouth include:

1. James Geary
2. Jennifer Cearns
3. Professor Tony Crowley
4. Dr. Danny Bate
5. Julia Donaldson
6. Derek Bousfield
7. Dr. Catherine Laing
8. Joanna Hardy-Susskind

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days