Go Fact Yourself

We’re tearing the roof off a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Rose Abdoo is an actor you can see now in “Hacks” on Max! She was also on episode 118 of GFY, and tonight she returns as a guest co-host.Guests:Andy Richter is an actor and comedian. He’s most famous for being the sidekick to Conan O’Brien, a role that he learned to love when he realized that it could be anything that he wanted it to be. Andy can be heard on his podcast, “The Three Questions.”Tonya Mosley is the co-host of the legendary radio interview show “Fresh Air” along with Terry Gross. She’s interviewed a lot of people over the years and is happy to share a few tips (and confirm some rumors about Terry Gross). Tonya is also behind the true crime podcast “She Has a Name,” which uses her investigative journalism skills to tell a story that’s very personal. Areas of ExpertiseAndy: Pre-1980s soul and R&B music, professional wrestling in the 20th-century, and hot dogs. Tonya: 1990s pop culture, the musical The Wiz, and ho

It’s a #MaxFunDrive crossover!Go Fact Yourself  host J. Keith van Straten sat down with the podcast Dead Pilots Society. He and fellow MaxFun hosts Jordan Morris and John Moe discuss unscripted pilots that went nowhere.To hear the full episode, go listen to the latest episode of Dead Pilots Society.Want to be a listener who gets to sit in – or be a guest on the show? Make sure to support us in this year’s MaxFunDrive! maximumfun.org/joinCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Show engineer is Dave McKeever.Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Supporting GFY in the MaxFunDrive by YOU – Go to maximumfun.org/join

Last year, we selected a few listeners to sit in on recordings of Go Fact Yourself! They got to see just how much work goes into a recording of the podcast and learned a lot along the way (but don’t tell anyone). And they seem to have enjoyed it!Want to be a listener who gets to sit in? Make sure to support us in this year’s MaxFunDrive! maximumfun.org/joinAppearing in this episode:Listeners:Steven WebsterKristen AndersonGiovanni SanchezDiana HsuHosts:J. Keith van StraatenHelen HongCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Show engineer is Dave McKeever.Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Supporting GFY in the MaxFunDrive by YOU – Go to maximumfun.org/join

Just say yes to a preview of the members-exclusive BoCo from Go Fact Yourself!In the full episode…Guests:Clint McElroy is a former radio broadcaster and the father of the McElroy podcast siblings Justin, Travis, and Griffin. Clint is one of the voices behind “The Adventure Zone” podcast where he plays Dungeons and Dragons along with his sons. Clint will tell us what it’s like turning podcasting into a family business and what it’s like to turn an audio show into a graphic novel. Ella McLeod is one of the hosts of “Comfort Creatures,” an animal enthusiast podcast. But that doesn’t mean that she’s in love with every animal. For instance, she’s not a fan of pigeons. Ella is the author of the upcoming book The Map that Led to You. Areas of Expertise:Clint: The musical Guys and Dolls, the TV show “Star Trek: The Animated Series,” and fantasy football. Ella: Greek gods and goddesses, Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Taylor Swift.What’s the difference: Everyday GrindWhat’s the difference between every day and ever

This episode is part of The #MaxFunDrive! If you love Go Fact Yourself, please go to Maximumfun.org/join to become a MaxFun Member, or to upgrade or boost your existing membership. For a monthly contribution as little as $5 a month, you have a direct hand in helping this show continue. Plus, you have a chance to BE on the show!Happy #MaxFunDrive! We’ve got more fun and surprises for you than ever before. Listen to the pledge breaks for details on all the exciting stuff. And thank you for your support!In this episode…Guests:Rich Permenter is a team leader at a large financial firm in Missouri. He’ll tell us how being a finalist in the Listener Tournament is the culmination of a lifelong love of trivia … at least until he gets on “Jeopardy!”. Rich was so dedicated to joining the podcast that he actually delayed a procedure for his son!Ashley Pagnotta is a professor of physics and astronomy at the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Her research focuses on the science behind exploding stars – which she says

This episode is part of The #MaxFunDrive! If you love Go Fact Yourself, please go to Maximumfun.org/join to become a MaxFun Member. For a monthly contribution as little as $5 a month, you have a direct hand in helping this show continue. Plus, you have a chance to BE on the show!Happy #MaxFunDrive! We’ve got more fun and surprises for you than ever before. Listen to the pledge breaks for details on all the exciting stuff. And thank you for your support!In this episode…Guests:Ify Nwadiwe is a comedian, actor, and one of the hosts of Maximum Film!, which he and his co-hosts describe as “a movie podcast that isn’t just a bunch of straight white dudes.” On the show, Ify prides himself on getting to express his unique taste in film, like his opinion that Pacific Rim is a perfect movie. Laurie Kilmartin is a former writer for “Conan” and one half of the podcast The Jackie and Laurie Show. Every week they discuss the state of women in comedy with their peers. Even though the industry still has a long way to go, they

This special network wide event is a celebration of the MaxFunDrive! If you’d like to support podcasts you love for just $5 a month and get bonus gifts in the process, go to maximumfun.org/join. We’re kicking off the most exciting time of the year for the MaxFun Network with a trivia game show featuring hosts from tons of great podcasts.J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong from “Go Fact Yourself” are joined by:Danielle Radford - “Tights and Fights” John-Luke Roberts -“Sound Heap with John-Luke Roberts” Brea Grant & Mallory O’Meara -“Reading Glasses”If you’d like to hear more hosts competing for trivia supremacy, visit Maximumfun.org for the full version of this show.

In this special mini-episode, we look back on some of the first 144.74 episodes of Go Fact Yourself!As we approach the beginning of the #MaxFunDrive, listeners and GFY staff discuss some of their favorite moments through the years – everything from meeting iconic actors, to literally bowing before your heroes, to personal connections in times of trouble. Plus, we preview some of the special treats coming for you in this year’s drive – starting March 18!In this episode…Guests:Listener Lyn on Bill Kurtis and John Ullinskey from episode 44.Listener Bobby on Adam Ferrara, Ethan Russell, and Glyn Johns from episode 95GFY sound engineer Dave McKeever on Ed Saxon from episode 120GFY Editor and Associate Producer Julian Burrell on Jordan Morris and Yeardley Smith from episode 56Helen Hong on Ryan Kalil, Yeardley Smith, and Anthony Daniels  from episode 75J. Keith van Straaten on Xeni Jardin and Tommy Chong from episode 34Hosts:J. Keith van StraatenHelen HongCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Pr

Face front, true believers! It’s the Best of Comic Books special from Go Fact Yourself!The superheroes of Marvel and DC comics are everywhere in pop culture, so it makes sense that a lot of our contestants over the years would choose them as their areas of expertise.In this omnibus collection, you’ll hear from guests like John Hodgman and Jackie Kashian discussing characters like Spider-Man and the Legion of Super-Heroes.In this episode…Guests:Jackie Kashian from episode 14John Hodgman from episode 102Dylan Brody from episode 38Hal Lublin from episode 60Myq Kaplan from episode 132Experts:Mark Waid: Comic book author who’s written stories for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Boom Studios.Paul Levitz: Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning writer and editor, who was president of DC Comics and wrote The Legion of Super-Heroes for over a decade.Chris Claremont: New York Times bestselling author and writer of the bestselling comic book issue of all time.Matt Forbeck: New York Times bestselling author whose books include Cap

Remember it, write it down, take a picture: it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Krystina Arielle is a host and actor, currently fronting “Star Wars: The High Republic,” a multimedia series about stories from the franchise. She appeared on episode 105 of GFY and joins us today as guest co-host.Guests:Sarah Wayne Callies is an actor, perhaps best known for her roles in “Prison Break” and “The Walking Dead.” She recently launched Caliber Studios, a company devoted to creating podcasts. One of her first projects is her “Prison Break” rewatch series. It’s a big step for Sarah, but not just because of the new business venture; it’s also one of the few times she’s watched her own work. Michael Yo is an emmy-nominated host, actor and comedian. His new special “I Never Thought” is streaming on YouTube. He’ll tell us about how his comedy has evolved over the years and the impact that his jokes have had on his parents. You can hear Michael Yo almost every day on Sirius XM.Areas of Expertise:Sara

Trivia and podcasting are a love story for the ages on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guests:David Wilcox is an award-winning singer and songwriter, who happens to be one of J. Keith’s very favorites. His lyrics showcase his passion for intense and often very personal storytelling, so personal that some people have commissioned him to write songs about their lives – with surprising results. David’s album My Good Friends is available now.Gretchen McCulloch is a bestselling author and award-winning linguist. How did she discover how much she loved linguistics? It all started with a stolen book… and ended with her writing her own book. Gretchen is the host of the podcast Lingthusiasm, where she’s posed important questions to listeners like “Is frowning something you do with your forehead or your mouth?”Areas of Expertise:David: Donald Fagen’s album The Nightfly, model year changes on air-cooled Volkswagens from 1949 to 1973, and plumbing.Gretchen: The YouTube show “The Lizzie Bennet Diar

Pod hearts a trivia show-la on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guests:Billy Gardell is one of the stars of the CBS sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola.” He’s had an extensive career across film and television, but people are always surprised to learn that he’s also a comedian. He’ll explain. Plus, he’ll tell us all about his life-changing weight loss journey.Gina Yashere is a comedian and writer who can also be seen on “Bob Hearts Abishola.” She was one of its creative voices behind the scenes. She’ll tell us about how she influenced the development of the show, including creating a role for herself. Areas of Expertise:Billy: The Pittsburgh Steelers, the TV show “The Honeymooners,” and marriageGina: Pickleball, 1990s hip-hop, and elevatorsWhat’s the Difference:Snob Hearts Gorgonzola What is the difference between a “snob” and an “elite"?What is the difference between “gorgonzola” and “blue cheese”?Experts:Ahmad: Hip-Hop artist who earned a Gold Record for the song “Back in the Day.”James Farri

It’s a hair-raising brand-new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guests:Philip Bowen is a singer and songwriter. Many discovered him on the latest season of “America’s Got Talent,” where he played a System of a Down cover on… the violin. He’ll explain why his biggest competition on the show wasn’t from other musicians… but from dogs and children. Philip’s debut album “Old Kanawa” is out now.Nafis M. White is an interdisciplinary artist. Her main medium? Hair! Check out her complex works that are held together only by bobby pins. She’ll tell us about how she considers the observer’s entire experience – including why the sounds, smells, and a place to sit. Nafis’s next exhibition will be in San Francisco at the Museum of the African Diaspora in March.Areas of Expertise:Philp: West Virginia University Mountaineers athletics, The Wheel of Time series, and coffee.Nafis: Coach Prime Deion Sanders, Durand Bernarr’s Tiny Desk concert, and slime molds.What’s the Difference:Turf TowWhat is the difference betwe

You can’t handle this brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guests:Ron Funches is a comedian and actor. Ron says that growing up, a lot of people used to make fun of his voice. But now that he’s voiced characters in everything from the Trolls movies to “Harley Quinn” on HBO, he’s more than vindicated. He’ll tell us about how his work focuses on positive affirmations and why he’s so proud to be a dad.Ever Carradine is an actor who has appeared in series like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Commander in Chief.” Acting is a family business for her; she’s following in the footsteps of John, David, and Keith Carradine. She’ll explain what it was like growing up on film sets and her new non-acting role at SAG-AFTRA.Areas of Expertise:Ron: 1990s professional wrestling, the TV show “I Love Lucy,” and marijuana strains.Ever: 1990s supermodels, the film A Few Good Men, and the 2004 Boston Red Sox.What’s the Difference:Mary LouWhat is the difference between "happy" and "merry"?What is the difference between a

These fancy things will never come in between you and this brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guests:Yakov Smirnoff is an iconic comedian, who made a name for himself after making Johnny Carson laugh on “The Tonight Show.” He’ll explain how he had to fight for the chance to be on the show and how he learned to make art in the face of tragedy.Salamishah Tillet is a scholar, activist, curator, and writer, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work in The New York Times. She’ll tell us about what it was like to keep that honor a secret – even from her friends and family.Areas of Expertise:Salamishah: The Nadal/Federer tennis rivalry, the Donovan McNabb era of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Beyoncé/Rihanna.Yakov: The Canary Islands, the science of love, and the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love.What’s the Difference:Make Some NoiseWhat is the difference between sound editing and sound mixing?What is the difference between a yell and a shout?Experts:Kuk Harrell and Tricky Stewart: Songwriters, producers and ex

You might as well jump into this brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guest Co-host Niccole Thurman has appeared in shows like HBO’s “Jellystone” and “The Operation with Jordan Klepper” and has very particular criteria for her hotel rooms.Guests:Anna Camp is an actor, best known for her role in the Pitch Perfect movie series. She’ll tell us about some of her upcoming projects and the time that she helped out Morgan Freeman during a difficult moment behind the scenes. Mike Schmidt is a comedian and host of the podcast “The 40-Year-Old Boy.” He’ll tell us about how the show has evolved since it started more than 14 years ago. Plus, we’ll learn why it took three chances before he finally got to appear on this show.Areas of Expertise:Mike: The movie Reservoir Dogs, The Road Warriors wrestling team, and the band Van HalenAnna: Southern cuisine, the play and movie A Streetcar Named Desire, and the TV show “Vanderpump Rules.”What’s the Difference:Cops and RobbersWhat is the difference between a sher

Look closely in the water and you’ll see a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guests:Kathleen Madigan is a comedy icon. How did she get her start? By wanting to have a drink at a decent bar… that just happened to feature stand-up. She’ll tell us what it’s like to have such an extensive career and why throwing the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs baseball game is so complicated. You can find Kathleen on tour.Ron Pope is a singer-songwriter whose song, “A Drop in the Ocean,” has been streamed over one billion times and gone platinum. He’ll tell us how he found success with his music on TV and how he learned to write music in the midst of personal tragedies. Ron’s new album Inside Voices is available now.Areas of Expertise:Kathleen: The Loch Ness Monster, the convenience store chain Buc-cees and “Ozark” the TV show vs. the real Ozarks. Ron: The band Counting Crows, the TV show “Yellowstone” and New York’s best slice of pizza. What’s the Difference:Along Came a Spider and Sat Down Be-CiderWhat is

As the regular version of the podcast is edited down, some moments naturally get left on the cutting room floor. The only way to hear them is to be at the live show… or to be a MaxFun member and hear some in your bonus feeds!We share a brief preview of what MaxFun members can hear right now in their Bonus Content feed!Not a member? Go to maximumfun.org/join and select “Go Fact Yourself” as a podcast you support!

Drop back and avoid the sack, it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guests:Keegan-Michael Key is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning actor, writer, and prodcuer.Elle Key is an award winning film, television, and commercial director and producer. The Keys are the authors of the new book The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey Through the Art and Craft of Humor. Elle and Keegan will tell us about how the book was born from conversations they had as they geeked out about the “science” of comedy, and how they documented the world’s first recorded joke. Plus, Keegan tells us more about how his comic origin story came from seeing his dad laugh at Eddie Murphy. Areas of ExpertiseKeegan: The Matthew Stafford era of the Detroit Lions football team, New York City phrases & slang, and Jewish cooking. Elle: Art, painting & colors, 1980s action movies, and Jewish cooking.What’s the DifferenceAffront and A-backWhat is the difference between an affront and an offense?What is the difference betwe

Your trivia begins… now! It’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!In this episode…Guests:Jason Pargin is known by many for his presence on TikTok, and by many others as the author of the bestselling John Dies at the End book series. He tries to make sure that infrequent readers gain some joy through his books – whether that’s writing a funny title like Zoey Punches the Future in the D*** or not requiring people start at the beginning to enjoy the sequels. Why is he so sensitive to the needs of infrequent readers? Because he’s one too! Check out his latest Zoey Ashe book, available now!Joyelle Nicole Johnson has been touring a solo show entitled “Not the Mama,” where she celebrates having a hysterectomy. (Woo-hoo!) It’s part of her conscious decision not to have children, a choice that she says goes all the way back to her failed attempt at being a middle school teacher. Joyelle will tell us all about that, plus how she made the decision not to attend Sunday school as a child – thanks in part to George Car