# 86: Madeupical Word

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2015-01-28
- Length: 1h 12m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/embedded-ep86mp3

## Summary

Erin McKean, founder of Wordnik and Reverb, explains how her background as a lexicographer led to building a natural language processing engine that maps word relationships to power content recommendations. She details the transition from a commercial startup to a nonprofit model, relying on an 'Adopt-a-Word' program and premium API access to sustain the dictionary. McKean also discusses the linguistic nuances of context, 'skunked' words, and the parallels between writing fiction and coding software.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=6) Introduction: Erin McKean and Reaction Housing
- [1:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=72) Lexicography Background and Wordnik Origins
- [3:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=204) Building Wordnik and the Reverb Recommendation Engine
- [7:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=456) NLP, Context, and 'Aboutness' in Text Analysis
- [12:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=720) McKean's Journey from Editor to Programmer
- [18:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=1104) Wordnik API, Developer Community, and Rebranding
- [21:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=1272) Product-Market Fit and Transition to Nonprofit
- [24:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=1486) Contextual Learning vs. Canonical Definitions
- [32:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=1968) Skunked Words, Usage, and Language Evolution
- [48:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=2930) Writing Fiction, Coding, and Software Tests
- [1:02:45](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word#t=3765) Nonprofit Model, Adopt-a-Word, and API Licensing

## Topics

- [Connected products & IoT](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/connected-products-and-iot)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Wordnik (company)
- Reverb (product)
- Thorndike Barnhart (company)
- Oxford University Press (company)
- Reaction Housing (company)
- Wikipedia (other)
- The Century Dictionary (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Wikipedia: Jimmy Wales (2018)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-01-27-wikipedia-jimmy-wales-2018) (How I Built This)
- [Meet The HIBT Fellows: Pierre Paul & Toby Egbuna](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-05-11-meet-the-hibt-fellows-pierre-paul-toby-egbuna) (How I Built This)
- [reCAPTCHA and Duolingo: Luis von Ahn](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-05-25-recaptcha-and-duolingo-luis-von-ahn) (How I Built This)
- [331 - I wrote a book and it's out TODAY!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-12-05-331-i-wrote-a-book-and-its-out-today) (People of Packaging)
- [WordPress & Automattic: Matt Mullenweg](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-03-21-wordpress-automattic-matt-mullenweg) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2015-01-28-86-madeupical-word. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.