Ask Me Another

(Episode 308) In 1955, Variety predicted rock 'n roll would be dead by summer. Boy, were they wrong! We can't predict the future either, but we can invite you to learn the ups and downs of hosting your own TV show, from a comedian who's been there — this week's V.I.P., W. Kamau Bell.

In this podcast extra, comedian W. Kamau Bell shares his rather lively appearance on The View, sharing the spotlight with pop star Taylor Swift and why he was heckled by Barbara Walters.

(Rebroadcast, Episode 223) Do you like trivia? Do you enjoy food? This week, you can have your cake and eat it too. Two professional competitive eaters square off in a music round inspired by a certain Twisted Sister song. Our Very Important Puzzler, Bon Appétit editor-in-chief Adam Rapoport, dishes about culinary trends, the scourge of Yelp.com reviews and why he hates giving wine advice. Plus, trivia rounds about nursery rhymes, bad spelling and ironic facts. Find out who's the cream of the crop, and who'll be mincemeat.

In this slightly naughty podcast extra, author Elizabeth Gilbert, reveals some fascinating vocabulary she picked up researching 19th century erotica for her latest novel, The Signature of All Things.

(Episode 307) There’s lots to explore in V.I.P. Elizabeth Gilbert’s adventurous new novel, The Signature of All Things, such as botany and 19th-century erotica. Plus, eat, pray and love your way through games about Italian foods, oddly-named deities and the best part of any newspaper: the funny pages.

(Episode 306) This week’s Very Important Puzzler, designer and potter Jonathan Adler, creates his eye-catching home furnishings much like we aim to design our games — to be colorful, witty and full of joy.

Style guru Simon Doonan graced our stage in Season 1 and gave an interview deemed "too racy for radio." We never intended to air it in full, but it’s too good to keep in the Ask Me Another vault. In this podcast-only extra, hear him reveal what body part Freud compared handbags to, speak in a secret language known as "Palare," and dish out some fashion advice he gleefully calls "demented."

What do you get when you add Jay-Z's "Problems" to Three Dog Night's "Loneliest Number"? In this Season 1 bonus round, puzzle guru Art Chung challenges contestants to solve simple arithmetic problems using numbers found in pop culture. Calculus is a lot less scary when it involves your favorite band.  Plus, Jonathan Coulton performs an original and puzzling song about fractals, "Mandelbrot Set."

(Rebroadcast, Episode 221) If you believe in magic, then this week’s show is for you. Play word games based on Missy Elliott lyrics, do your own version of a TED talk, and brush up on foodie lingo. You’ll also learn about irregular plurals, and take a thesaurus to the Oscars. This week’s V.I.P. is comedian and podcaster Julie Klausner, who dishes on pop culture and her love of The Monkees.

With parodies like "Eat It," "Addicted to Spuds," and "Like a Surgeon," "Weird Al" Yankovic's songs were pretty much begging to be made into an Ask Me Another game. In this bonus round from Season 1, we pay tribute to our favorite accordion-playing, pop culture-loving, food-punning parodist. House musician Jonathan Coulton makes contestants sing along to Weird Al's songs.