The Allusionist, hosted by Helen Zaltzman, explores language, its history and its quirks, from etymology to naming and linguistic oddities. The show has 256 episodes, releasing roughly every two weeks, with a median length of about 37 minutes. Estimated downloads are 5,000 to 25,000 per episode (estimated), with a host-read rate of about $90 to $630 per episode.
A high-production language show with a loyal, educated listenership and a 4.7 Apple rating
- Apple Podcasts shows 3,013 ratings with a 4.7 average across a show running since 2015
- 256 episodes at a steady biweekly cadence with a median length of about 37 minutes
- Listeners are drawn to etymology and word history, a curious and engaged audience
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- solo monologue, narrative, themed series
- Tone
- witty, curious
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 30 to 45 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- None yet
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- No
No sponsor mentions found in the feed
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Family friendly
Episode titles such as 'Banned Books' and 'Draculae part 3' are about literature and history, with no explicit flags in the feed.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | art19.com/shows/the-allusionist |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id957430475 |
| RSS feed | rss.art19.com/the-allusionist |
Benchmark score: 37 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 234. No Names | 2026-09-22 | 34 min |
| 233. Phobia | 2026-09-09 | 40 min |
| 232. Vega | 2026-08-25 | 33 min |
| Tranquillusionist: cheesy cheesybobs | 2026-08-11 | 21 min |
| 231. Lingthusionist | 2026-07-13 | 25 min |
| 230. Draculae part 4: Transformation | 2026-06-26 | 46 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 27 days ago, a new one about every 15 days.
Adventures in language with Helen Zaltzman. TheAllusionist.org
About The Allusionist
The Allusionist is a podcast about language, hosted by Helen Zaltzman, according to the show's feed and its website at art19.com. Each episode explores words, their origins and the history behind them, delivered as solo monologues and narrative episodes. The show has released 256 episodes since January 2015, currently on a biweekly cadence, with a median episode length of roughly 37 minutes.
Apple Podcasts lists the show with 3,013 ratings and a 4.7 average, which suggests a sizeable and engaged listenership. Based on these signals, downloads are estimated at 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, though this is an estimate and not a published figure. The audience is likely to be English-speaking, with listeners in the United States and the United Kingdom among the largest groups.
The feed shows no sponsor mentions in the last 20 episodes. Based on an estimated 5,000 to 25,000 downloads, a host-read mid-roll ad is estimated at $90 to $630 per episode. This suits education, language-learning and book-related brands that want to reach curious, well-read listeners.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. The Allusionist can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about The Allusionist
How much does The Allusionist charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on estimated downloads of 5,000 to 25,000 per episode, a host-read mid-roll ad is estimated at $90 to $630. Actual rates depend on the terms agreed with the show.
What is The Allusionist about?
The Allusionist is a podcast hosted by Helen Zaltzman that explores language, word origins, and the history and quirks behind how we speak and write.
How do I contact The Allusionist about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80, and boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked.
Similar creators
Podcast and other creators in language, ranked by score.
| Creator | Niches | Est. downloads | Median views | Rate | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Citation Neededpodcast | comedyhistory | 15k | – | $90–620 | 100 |
The Deprogrampodcast | political economyhistory | 15k | – | $90–620 | 100 |
You're Dead to Mepodcast · GB | historycomedy | 50k | – | $360–2000 | 100 |
The Book Clubpodcast | booksliterature | 15k | – | $90–620 | 99 |
Conversations with Tylerpodcast · US | economicsintellectual interviews | 50k | – | $360–2000 | 93 |
History of Japanpodcast | historyjapanese history | 15k | – | $90–620 | 92 |