3 chapters across the catalog
An excerpt from Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" describes a religious taboo against using the phrase "by the way." According to the text, the phrase was viewed as taking the Lord's name in vain because "Jesus is the way." The etymology of the phrase is debated, contrasting the literary anecdote with historical directional usage.
Verbal Tics, "To Your Point" and Fox News Rhetoric
The hosts discuss their own verbal tics, specifically the frequent use of the phrase "by the way," which was documented 17-21 times in recent episodes. They also critique the common media phrase "to your point," which they interpret as a way for speakers to signal they have a better point to make. This rhetorical habit is blamed largely on Fox News, while CNN is criticized for using "on the other side" as a repetitive transition to commercial breaks.
The episode concludes with the standard sign-off from Adam Curry and John C. Dvorak. A special audio montage is played, featuring a repetitive compilation of the hosts and various news clips using the phrase "by the way." The show ends with a humorous Joe Biden audio clip and a final "amen fist bump."
