What makes something a word, and who decides? Scholar, author, and podcaster, Michelle Franklin, joins us to explore the surprising origins of words like "púca" and "like," and how slang, dialect, and identity shape the way we communicate.

Mentioned on the show:

• https://www.youtube.com/@authormichellefranklin
• https://www.instagram.com/authormichellefranklin/
• https://bsky.app/profile/michellefranklin.bsky.social
• https://www.tiktok.com/@authormichellefranklin

📝 Full transcript: https://smitinathan.com/the-secret-past-lives-of-words

🎁 Bonus content: patreon.com/smitinathan

✉️ Get in touch at [email protected]