Go Fact Yourself

Places, everyone! It’s time to lift the curtain on the Best of Broadway special on Go Fact Yourself!

We’ve recently brought the podcast back to live audiences for the first time in two years! To celebrate, we’ve put the spotlight on some of our favorite past guests who love musicals and stage performances that were meant for live audiences. That includes guests like actors Rachel Bloom, Jessica McKenna, Eliza Skinner– and more!

Plus we’ve got an all-star cast of experts that includes Tony-winners, famed performers, and stand-out composers. Time to take the stage!

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Jessica McKenna from Episode 40

Rachel Bloom from Episode 59

Jade Cata-Pretta from Episode 64

Arden Myrin from Episode 65

Eliza Skinner from episode 67

With Guest Experts

Rory O’Malley, Tony Award-nominated actor who’s performed in the stage shows Hamilton and The Book of Mormon.

Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, award-winning songwriters who’ve worked on Broadway and films, including Disney’s Frozen

Wilson Jermaine Heredia, Tony-winning actor from the musical RENT

Lee Wilkof, Actor and originator of the role of Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors.

Michel Cerveris, actor, singer and guitarist who’s won two Tony Awards.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LAby YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Cordon off the area, this an active trivia game show scene – on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Mike Petriello is a writer for MLB.com. He’s still buzzing from the fact that the baseball season happened – and that we got to see such a strong World Series match-up that included the sport’s newest villain. Mike will tell us how he’s made a career out of researching baseball statistics and analytics, and translating them into something that the average fan can understand. You can also hear Mike on the podcast “Ballpark Dimensions.”

Abbi Crutchfield is an actor and comedian. She collaborated with her husband and fellow comedian Luke Thayer on the podcast “The Kid is in School,” where they celebrate the freedom to chat again without a child in their house. Speaking of chatting, Abbi has a lot of thoughts about  all of the changes going on at Twitter, an app that she’s called her “Disneyland.”

Our guests will compete to answer trivia questions about the music and TV hits of the 1990s.

What’s the Difference: Strain

What’s the difference between force and pressure?

What’s the difference between a colander and a strainer?

Areas of Expertise:

Mike: James Bond movies, the best rock records of 1996, and dead sports teams.

Abbi: Nail polish, curly hair care, and the TV show “Murder She Wrote.”

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Mike Petriello

Abbi Crutchfield

With guest experts:

Louis Herthum, actor, whose career includes multiple roles in 25 episodes of “Murder She Wrote."

Chris Ballew, lead singer of The Presidents of the United States of America, and children’s music artist known as Casper Babypants.

Greg Graffin, lead singer of Bad Religion and author of the new book Punk Paradox

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Check out our NEW merch!

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Come to America and bring some new recipes with you – it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Greg Wyshynski is the Senior NHL writer for ESPN. He writes about hockey after a lifetime of being a fan of the sport; as such, he’s seen it change a lot over the years. While he thinks making changes for player safety should always be applauded, there’s a part of him that will always miss the fights on the ice. You can find more of Greg’s thoughts on hockey on the podcast “Puck Soup.”

Zainab Johnson is a comedian and actor. She can be seen on the Amazon Prime show “Upload,” where her character showcases the ability to succeed at some unorthodox sports. She’ll explain. Plus, she’ll tell us about the finer points of why getting booked in Hollywood hardly ever comes down to talent. 

Our guests will compete to answer trivia questions about diverse casts in movies and diverse dishes on cooking shows.

What’s the Difference: Health Food

What’s the difference between healthy and healthful?

What’s the difference between taste and a flavor?

Areas of Expertise:

Greg: The Food Network programming, Taco Bell, and the band The Smashing Pumpkins.

Zainab: The movie Coming to America, Lauryn Hill’s song “The Ex-Factor,” and traditional American breakfast foods.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Greg Wyshynski

Zainab Johnson

With guest experts:

John Landis, writer, producer and director of several films including Coming to America.

Alton Brown, Best-selling author and Peabody-winning host of several shows on “The Food Network”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our 

upcoming live shows in LA

 by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

** Come see us record LIVE in Los Angeles on Sunday, November 6! **

Avengers, Assemble – at the Center for Inquiry for a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Rob Corddry is perhaps best known for “Childrens Hospital,” the comedy show that he created and starred in. It was so well-received, it earned him four Emmy awards. But his first Emmy award actually came years earlier as part of “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart”... sort of. He’ll tell us about that and explain the skills he’s gathered as an Eagle Scout. 

Mimi Pond learned to love drawing early on from her dad and from some of her favorite comics. That led to her creating the graphic memoirs Over Easy and The Customer is Always Wrong. She’ll tell us about why she doesn’t have much patience for stick figures, and discuss the magic of Oakland, California. 

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about comic book characters on the page and small screen. 

What’s the Difference: Hall of Justice

What’s the difference between a hallway and a corridor?

What’s the difference between “illegal” and “unlawful”?

Areas of Expertise:

Rob: The TV show “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,” the movie The Abyss, and CIA tradecraft

Mimi: Mad Magazine, Patty Hearst and shopping at Costco.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Rob Corddry

Mimi Pond

With guest experts:

Mark Evanier, blogger, comic book writer, and author of the book Mad Art : A Visual Celebration of the Art of Mad Magazine and the Idiots Who Create It Paperback.

&

Sergio Aragones, illustrator best known for his contributions to Mad Magazine and creating Groo The Wanderer.

Jed Whedon & Jeffrey Bell, two of the showrunners for “Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.”

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Pour yourself a cup of ambition – it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Clinton Kelly is best known as one of the hosts of the TLC show “What Not to Wear.” For years he critiqued the outfits of others and helped them make better fashion choices. And even though he’s proud of the advice he’s given others, he says his attitude towards clothes has softened these days: If it feels good, wear it! He’ll also tell us about the process of writing his first novel. 

Jackie Fabulous is a comedian who got her big break on “America’s Got Talent.” Her performance was so impressive that it earned her a standing ovation and special show of affection from judge Simon Cowell. But she’ll tell us about how she still hasn’t earned praise from her entire family yet. Jackie is the host of the podcast “Relatable with Jackie Fabulous” and her stand-up special “Menoplause” is streaming now.

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about music, movies, and musicians-turned-movie stars.

What’s the Difference: Grateful Dead

What’s the difference between “thankful” and “grateful”?

What’s the difference between a corpse and a cadaver?

Areas of Expertise:

Jackie: Jennifer Lopez, early hip hop music, and immigration law.

Clinton: The movie 9 to 5, dinner etiquette, and 1980s parody pornography

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Clinton Kelly

Jackie Fabulous

With guest experts:

Patricia Resnick, Tony and BAFTA award nominated writer, whose credits include writing the original screenplay for 9 to 5.

Corey Rooney, Grammy-winning songwriter and music producer, whose work includes multiple hit records with Jennifer Lopez.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

What happens in Vegas will be recorded for a podcast – again! Once more, live from the Game Show Boot Camp in Las Vegas, Nevada, it’s a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Amy Schneider has a 40 game win streak on “Jeopardy!” It’s the second-longest streak in the history of the show; and yet, she and her classmates in 8th grade predicted she would go on to appear on the show. Amy will tell us everything that went into her time as a trivia champion, including perfecting her buzzer technique. 

Brandon Blackwell is also a “Jeopardy!” winner. In fact, he’s competed in trivia all around the world. What’s the difference between winning a competition in the U.S. vs. winning one in the U.K.? It all comes down to the bottom line. Brandon will also tell us why understanding his physical limitations as a child led to his career in trivia. 

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about graduate-level science and high school-era TV shows.

What’s the Difference: Betting the Farm

What’s the difference between betting and gambling?

What’s the difference between a farm and a ranch?

Areas of Expertise:

Amy: The book Moby Dick, the Dutch war for independence, and theTV show “Daria”

Brandon: The Periodic Table, winners of the Nobel Peace Prize, and things Paulie Walnuts has said on the TV show “The Sopranos.”

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Amy Schneider

Brandon Blackwell

With guest experts:

Dr. Eric Scerri, UCLA professor and author of the book The Periodic Table: Its Story and its Significance.

Susie Lewis, Co-creator of the MTV series “Daria” 

Tracy Grandstaff, voice of Daria

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Viva Las Vegas! Live from the Game Show Boot Camp in Las Vegas, Nevada, it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

James Holzhauer is one of the all-time great “Jeopardy!” champions, racking up a 32-game win streak. It helped that he approached the game with his skills as a professional gambler. He’ll explain more about that and tell us about how he’s now banned from most casinos on the Las Vegas strip. You’ll also hear more about James’ charity work with Project 150 to help unhoused students in Las Vegas.

Victoria Groce is also a “Jeopardy!” champion and one of the only people whose trivia knowledge intimidates James. She’ll tell us about how her first day on “Jeopardy!” was part of a whirlwind of life changes that could only be fueled by tea and energy drinks. Plus we finally find where the worlds of trivia and knitting overlap

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about baseball, bargaining, and boys with violins.

What’s the Difference: Dealer’s Choice

What’s the difference between haggling and bargaining?

What’s the difference between a choice and a decision?

Areas of Expertise:

James: 1990s Major League Baseball, the NES game “Tecmo Super Bowl” and “The Simpsons” seasons one through eight.

Yesika: The movie The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, the musician Kishi Bashi, and celiac disease.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

James Holzhauer

Victoria Groce

With guest experts:

Kishi Bashi, musician and subject of the film Omoiyari.

Greg Maddux, Hall-of-Fame baseball player, who led the MLB in wins and Cy Young Awards in the 1990s.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live shows in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

It’s time to have the time of your life on a brand new live-audience episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Drew Carey is no stranger to the world of game shows. In 2007 he became Bob Barkers’ successor as host of “The Price is Right.” He’ll tell us the special advice Bob gave him when he took over, and explain why he doesn’t expect to match the 50-year tenure of his predecessor. You can also hear Drew’s “Friday Night Freakout” weekly on Stevie Van Zandt’s Sirius XM channel “Little Steven’s Underground Garage.”

Yesika Salgado is a poet and activist, whose work has been featured in many publications. She also has a strong presence on social media. She’ll explain why she refers to her fans as “mangos” instead of “followers.” Plus, she’ll tell us about the secret science (and lack thereof) behind slam poetry.

This episode was produced in conjunction with KPCC and recorded live at the Crawford Family Forum in Pasadena.

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about dirty dancing to garage rock.

What’s the Difference: Home plate

What’s the difference between ceramic plates and porcelain plates?

What’s the difference between a “plate appearance” and an “at-bat” in baseball?

Areas of Expertise:

Drew: The movie The Producers, garage band rock, and Cleveland.

Yesika: The movie Dirty Dancing, the show “Sex in the City,” and Catholocism.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Drew Carey

Yesika Salgado

With guest experts:

Miranda Garrison, starred as Mrs. Pressman and worked as an assistant choreographer on Dirty Dancing.

Don Caverhill, rock musician, composer and producer – and original member of The Kingsmen.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our upcoming live show in LA by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

**Come see us LIVE in Las Vegas on August 21! Go to gofactyourpod.com/vegas for tickets!**

Prepare to run from the undead on this episode of Go Fact Yourself!

Alex Goldman just wrapped up eight years of hosting the podcast “Reply All.” Even though he’s naturally curious as a storyteller, he says he’s happy to finally have a break from the grind of his old show. Alex also has a lot of thoughts about how the culture of the internet has changed in the near-decade that he’s been podcasting and what his next project might be.

Liz Miele has been a comedian since she was 16. She says that the secret to going for the job at such an early age is not having friends. But she still had to deal with performing in a lot of venues that she wasn’t legally allowed to spend too much time in, like bars and strip clubs. Liz’s new special “The Ghost of Academic Future” will be available on September 6th, and her book Why Cats are A**holes is available now.

Our guests will compete to answer trivia about medicine, marathons and monsters.

What’s the Difference: Doctor Doctor!

What’s the difference between a doctor and a physician?

What’s the difference between a PhD student and PhD candidate?

Areas of Expertise:

Alex: The Evil Dead movie franchise, 90s indie rock in Southeastern Michigan, and early hip-hop.

Liz: Rom-coms with Meg Ryan, marathon running and training, and taking care of curly hair.

Appearing in this episode:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Alex Goldman

Liz Miele

With guest experts:

Des Linden, two-time US Olympian, world-record holder in the 50k, and winner of the Boston Marathon.

Bruce Campbell, prolific actor, author and producer who played Ash in the Evil Dead franchise.

Go Fact Yourself was devised and is produced by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, in collaboration with Maximum Fun. 

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Sending friends to see us in Las Vegas by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

No new episode this week, but here's a reminder of our upcoming live shows:

August 14th in Pasadena: It's Drew Carey vs. Yesika Salgado.

August 21st in Las Vegas: James Holzhauer vs Victoria Groce and Brandon Blackwell vs Amy Schneider

Get info and tickets at gofactyourpod.com/liveshows

(If anyone asks the Secret Number is 12.)

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact