It’s a brand new joyful joyful episode of Go Fact Yourself ! In this episode… Guests: Lisa Ann Walter endeared herself to an entire generation for her role in The Parent Trap . She was so grateful to embody such an iconic character and never expected to impact audiences like that again… but then she got her role on “Abbott Elementary.” She’ll tell us more about her varied career and how her mom helped her win “Celebrity Jeopardy!” Tre’vell Anderson is a writer and journalist who’s been busy: the...
Sep 13, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 156
J. Keith shares an update on Go Fact Yourself's upcoming radio debut on NPR station LAist 89.3 -- plus a preview of our debut episode! Starting September 14th, you can look forward to the show on the radio regionally and online globally -- Saturdays at 10 AM and 5 PM and Sundays at 8 PM (All Pacific Time) Credits: Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun’s Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell . Seeing our next live-audience shows in LA by YOU!...
Sep 06, 2024•5 min
It’s trivia for the whole family on this episode of Go Fact Yourself ! In this episode… Guests: Negin Farsad is a comedian and host of the comedy and news podcast, Fake the Nation . Her career has taken her on some pretty interesting journeys – including an actual psychedelic trip. She’ll tell us about that and why she thinks humanity is actually a lot of fun right now. Shane O’Neill writes The Style Memo newsletter for The Washington Post (which you can sign up to read for free). He’ll provide ...
Aug 16, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 155
Go for gold with this Best of the Olympics special of Go Fact Yourself ! In this episode… Erin Foley from ep. 72 Heidi Gardner from ep. 78 Denise Crosby from ep. 108 Liz Miele from ep. 110 George Hahn from ep. 135 Ify Nwadiwe from ep. 145 Frank Turner from ep. 154 With guest experts: Julie Heldman : Olympic Gold Medalist and one of women’s tennis’ Original Nine. Her book, Driven: A Daughter’s Odyssey , is available now. Des Linden : two-time US Olympian, world-record holder in the 50k, and winne...
Aug 02, 2024•57 min
We’ve got some killer trivia on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself ! In this episode… Guests: Frank Turner is a musician with a decades-long career that includes setting a new world record for touring. He’ll tell us what that was like and why he’s glad to never try something like it again. Frank’s newest album, “ Undefeated ,” is out now. Rachel Feinstein is a comedian, whose new special “ Big Guy ” is available now on Netflix. The show’s title comes from the affectionate(?) nickname Rachel...
Jul 19, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 154
We agree to rock! – Live from the inaugural Quiz Show Expo in Burbank, California, it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself ! In this episode… Guests: Joyce Bulifant has a prolific television career that includes TV (“The Mary Tyler Moore Show”), film ( Airplane! ), and game shows (“Match Game”). She’ll share some stories from her time in show business, including teaching Fred Astaire how to dance. Check out her book, My Four Hollywood Husbands . Todd Newton is an Emmy-award winning game sho...
Jul 05, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 153
Hey you guyyyyyyyys! It’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself ! In this episode… Guests: Blair Socci is a comedian who got involved in the trade in an unusual way: She started out wanting to be a novelist and got a burst of inspiration… in the shower. Along the way she wrote for magazines, was a volleyball player and even learned how to make a great salmon. Blair’s debut special '' Live from the Big Dog '' is available now. Alonso Durlade is a prominent podcaster, hosting shows like ''Deck T...
Jun 21, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 152
It’s Friday night and the lights are on bright for a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself ! In this episode… Guests: Carmen Lynch is a comedian who recently released not one, but TWO comedy specials, one in spanish and one in english . She’ll tell us about how the two audiences react differently to comedy. Plus, she’ll explain why “less is more” sums up her advice when traveling. Bobby Massie is a ten year veteran of the NFL. He’ll tell us about his time in the league, including why mental prep...
Jun 07, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 151
Twivia is what bwings us togewer on a bwand new episode of Go Fact Yourself ! In this episode… Guest Co-host: Muffy Marracco is a renowned trivia expert, often seen on the Game Show Network. She also previously appeared on episode 120 of Go Fact Yourself. Guests: Buzzy Cohen is a “Jeopardy!” champion and “Jeopardy! Tournament of Champions” champion. To what does he owe his success on the show? He says it’s all about his specialized training regiment. It may be stressful, but you can’t argue with...
May 17, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 150
It's a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself! It’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself ! In this episode… Guests: Adam Felber is a writer, co-host of the “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone” podcast, and frequent panelist on the NPR quiz show “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!” In contrast with other people who appear on that program, he actually doesn’t care that much about winning. He’ll explain. Plus, Adam tells us why he often has to explain to people that his weight loss journey was absolutely...
May 03, 2024•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 149
You’re not hallucinating here – it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself! In this episode… Guests: Ivy Le is a comedian, actor, and the creator of the podcast FOGO- Fear of Going Outside . Ivy says she had to start from square one for the podcast: From Googling “How to find the outdoors” all the way to learning how to camp. She’ll also tell us about “Tongue In Cheek,” her queer-focused open mic in Austin, Texas. A.J. Jacobs is an author and puzzle podcaster. Most of his books center on his p...
Apr 19, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 148
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 i...
Apr 05, 2024•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 147
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/join Credits: Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's S...
Mar 29, 2024•23 min
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/join Appearing in this episode: Listeners: Steven Webster Kristen Anderson Giovanni Sanchez Diana Hsu Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong C...
Mar 28, 2024•7 min
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 McLeo...
Mar 27, 2024•17 min
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 ...
Mar 22, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 146
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...
Mar 18, 2024•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 145
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 Joh...
Mar 18, 2024•17 min
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 ...
Mar 15, 2024•30 min
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 14 John Hodgman fr...
Mar 01, 2024•1 hr 8 min
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 cr...
Feb 16, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 144
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 bests...
Feb 02, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 143
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 voice...
Jan 19, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 142
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 comple...
Jan 05, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 141
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 T...
Dec 15, 2023•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 140
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 ...
Dec 01, 2023•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 139
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 S...
Nov 17, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 138
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,” h...
Nov 03, 2023•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 137
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!
Oct 27, 2023•3 min
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 ...
Oct 13, 2023•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 136
