Our regularly scheduled episode has been moved to next week for the #MaxFunDrive. This mini-episode of Go Fact Yourself was recorded as part of a live open for Judge John Hodgman. First, Bailiff Jesse Thorn gives a warm welcome to the audience. Then J. Keith and Helen will share some laughs and get to know members of the crowd. After that, the games begin: Two rounds of “What’s the Difference?” featuring the following topics: What is the difference between a cruise ship and an ocean liner? What ...
Mar 15, 2019•20 min
Fans of comedy, cars and Howard Stern rejoice: This episode of Go Fact Yourself is sure to delight! Shawn Pelofsky is a comedian whose special "Stretch It Out" is available now. She’s ready to be quizzed about her favorite things; But she’s also excited to share a personal experience with one of her greatest loves: Bette Midler. Shawn goes up against comedian Greg Fitzsimmons , who you can hear hosting two podcasts: "Ftizdog Radio" and "Childish." He tells us about why his brief time as an athle...
Mar 01, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 31
"The Simpsons," Quentin Tarantino and comedy come together on Go Fact Yourself! Sasheer Zamata is best known for her roles on "Saturday Night Live" and as the host of the variety showcase Sasheer Zamata Party Time . She’ll tell us about why a very... confusing invasion of her privacy has her so protective of her personal possessions. Sasheer will go up against actor Samm Levine , who you may know from the Quentin Tarentino film Inglorious Basterds . He’s also in the beloved, but short-lived, TV ...
Feb 15, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 30
It's a collision of comedians on this episode of Go Fact Yourself! Scott Thompson is known for being part of the famed comedy troupe The Kids in the Hall . How did he become a part of such a well-regarded group of funny people? Let's just say that it all started with a table full of donuts. He'll explain the rest. Scott faces off against comedian Jenny Yang . Growing up, she thought that she was destined for a career in political activism. But through a long road that included lobbying and poetr...
Feb 01, 2019•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 29
It’s a trivia mix of film, TV and the internet this week on Go Fact Yourself with two of the creative forces behind Netlfix's “Mystery Science Theater 3000!” Elliot Kalan is a newly published children’s author of the book Horse Meets Dog . He’s also the host of fellow Maximum Fun podcast The Flop House . The show is all about discussing bad movies, but Elliott’s made sure that that never impacts his love of great films… even if he can only watch them on his iPad these days. Facing off against El...
Jan 18, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 28
Happy National Trivia Day! Let’s celebrate with a collision of journalists who also host podcasts! Cara Santa Maria is the host of the podcast Talk Nerdy with Cara Santa Maria . She’s also a science communicator and there’s a chance that her proficiency in STEM will lead her to victory in this trivia battle. Her opponent is Glen Weldon , panelist on NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour podcast. He’s written the book on Batman and Superman (literally) but will that knowledge be enough to guide him to vic...
Jan 04, 2019•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 27
Nerdy media of the past and present collide on this edition of Go Fact Yourself! Lea Thompson is an actress, perhaps best known for her role in the classic Back to the Future series. But lately, she’s developed a reputation for losing reality TV competitions to such illustrious pop culture fixtures like Cheech Marin, Tommy Chong and Alfonso Ribiero. But she’s ready to end that trend on this show! Competing against Thompson is Sandeep Parikh , star of the series The Guild . Growing up, he worked ...
Dec 21, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 26
It’s the very first couple-edition of Go Fact Yourself! Wil Wheaton is an actor, writer and geek-culture legend. He’s been in everything from Star Trek: The Next Generation where he starred as the character Wesley Crusher, to his YouTube series TableTop . He’s glad to come onto the show and answer trivia questions about his interests; but he also is eager to prove that he knows these subjects well enough to stump the hosts too. Competing against Wil is Anne Wheaton , author of the children’s boo...
Dec 07, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 25
Go Fact Yourself has returned to Los Angeles! Jordan Morris is a podcasting savant. For years he has endeared himself to listeners as one of the hosts of the Max Fun podcast Jordan, Jesse Go! . But these days, he’s getting more attention for the sci-fi/comedy show Bubble , which wrapped up its initial season (spoiler alert: he’s going to tease the future of the series in this episode). Completing our pair of podcasting guests is Alison Rosen , host of Alison Rosen is Your New Best Friend . She’s...
Nov 16, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 24
It's another episode Go Fact Yourself recorded in New York! Ophira Eisenberg is used to being on trivia shows as the host of NPR’s Ask Me Another . But here’s the thing: she doesn’t consider herself a trivia buff. Like, at all. That said, she’s chosen topics that she thoroughly understands… and most of them involve being a proud Canadian. Charles Busch is a Tony-nominated actor, playwright, and drag legend. He’s the creator of the film and play Die, Mommie, Die! , which will soon be produced as ...
Nov 02, 2018•56 min•Ep. 23
It's the first episode of Go Fact Yourself recorded in New York! Fashion stylist Stacy London is a New York Times Bestselling author . And for ten seasons, she was best known as the host of What Not to Wear on TLC. And while she still prides herself on being a fashionista, she insists her advice for others… but Helen still remembers when that wasn’t the case. Scott Rogowsky can be seen on the popular app-based trivia gameshow HQ . He’s also known for the theater talk show Running Late with Scott...
Oct 19, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 22
Maria Bamford is a comedian, and star of the Netflix series Lady Dynamite . She’s normally not one for small talk, but this podcast has just the right amount of organized conversation to make her feel comfortable. Grant Imahara is a former member of the B-Team on Mythbusters , and can currently be seen on Netflix’s White Rabbit Project . He’s a HUGE robotics fan. Why? Two words: Star Wars . In this episode, we’ll get an answer to what happens when a bull is actually let loose in a china shop and...
Oct 05, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 21
Matt Besser is a comedian, actor, writer, director and founding member of The Upright Citizens Brigade. He also hosts the weekly podcast improv4humans . He tells J. Keith about the two word prompts he’s banned at shows (hint: one’s a type of fruit and the other is a type of animal), and how it came about that he’s featured on his very own Topps baseball card. Lyric Lewis is an actress and Groundlings Theater performer who’s perhaps best known for her role as Stef on NBC’s A.P. Bio . You may also...
Sep 21, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 20
Glynn Washington is the host and creator of the public radio show Snap Judgment . Fun fact: He actually got his radio show started by winning a radio contest . Snap Judgment is all about “storytelling with a beat,” and, with a little help from Helen Hong, Glynn will explain why. Alison Becker is an actress who’s perhaps best known for playing Shauna Malwae-Tweep on Parks and Recreation (people still recognize her for it to this day). She’s also the star of the Max Fun Podcast Bubble . In this ep...
Sep 07, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 19
Jodi Miller is a stand-up comedian and actress. She’s also known for her appearance on America’s Got Talent where she explained how guys are like cats. Her comedy album No Child Left Behind is available now. Tom Bergeron has been a fixture on ABC for decades, hosting shows like Dancing with the Stars and America’s Funniest Home Videos . In this episode, we’ll hear about Jodi’s experience on America’s Got Talent and why her relationship with her cat might be an abusive one. We’ll also learn about...
Aug 17, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 18
Louis Virtel is a comedian and a co-host of the podcast Keep It . He’s also the winner of Jeopardy, whose Double Jeopardy celebration went viral shortly after it aired on TV. Laraine Newman returns to Go Fact Yourself , this time as a contestant. Newman is best known as an original cast member of the Not Ready for Primetime Players on Saturday Night Live, and she was a founding member of the legendary Groundlings Theater in Los Angeles. If she sounds familiar to you, you may recognize her as the...
Aug 03, 2018•59 min•Ep. 17
Jonathan Ames created several TV shows, including Bored to Death and Blunt Talk . He’s also the author of many books, including You Were Never Really Here , which was recently adapted into a movie . Janet Varney stars in the TV show Stan Against Evil and hosts of the podcast The JV Corner . In this episode, we’ll learn about Jonathan’s experience with having his book transformed into a movie and why, for all his literary expertise, he still has trouble pronouncing certain words. We’ll also hear ...
Jul 20, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 16
Susan Orlean is a staff writer for the New Yorker and the author of books like The Orchid Thief . Paul F. Tompkins is a comedian whose voice you’ll recognize as the character Mr. Peanutbutter on Bojack Horseman . In this episode, we learn about why Paul can’t stop spoiling upcoming episodes of Bojack Horseman for his wife, and why he should be considered the king of coining new catchphrases. And we’ll also learn which animals in Susan’s life have been named after characters from Bojack (hint: no...
Jul 06, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 15
In this episode, we learn about the time Jackie Kashian’s father hit on Maria Bamford. It was at Jackie’s wedding. To find out how Maria reacted, take a listen. Also, if anyone books a guest-starring role on NBC’s Speechless , John Ross Bowie will not only have your back, but he’ll show you where the craft service table is on set. Plus, if you ever wondered, “What’s it like growing up in the Theater District in New York?”, you’ll soon find out. Do YOU Know the Difference? Areas of Expertise John...
Jun 15, 2018•59 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, J. Keith van Straaten is reunited on stage with fellow thespian Andrea Savage. You may recognize Savage from her starring role on TruTV’s I’m Sorry , and dozens of Angelenos will recognize her from a junior high production of a pirate musical, which also starred J. Keith himself. Alas, Fred Willard did not appear in that seminal musical. He was probably off filming This Is Spinal Tap or SCTV at that time. In any event, fate brought Andrea Savage and Fred Willard together to comp...
Jun 01, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 13
In this episode, actor and comedian Drew Droege faces off against Chelsey Crisp of “Fresh Off the Boat”. We learn lots of interesting facts about Drew and Chelsey in this episode. Chelsey, now a vegan, recalls what it was like eating leeches on Fear Factor . Before Drew began starring in the Charles Busch play Die, Mommie Die! , he was most recognized for his Chloe Sevigny videos . Ever wonder what it’s like to achieve a certain level of fame doing impressions of someone even more famous...and t...
May 18, 2018•59 min•Ep. 12
This week, actress Edi Patterson and comedian Wayne Federman will go head-to-head, answering such biting trivia as the difference between a cemetery and a graveyard, the politics of Beverly Hills and the finer points of childbirth. It’s a competition as funny as it is eclectic! But first, Edi will explain how her time at the Impro theatre primarily leads to the creation of full-length, fully improvised plays (yeah with an intermission and everything). And Wayne will explain what it’s like teachi...
May 05, 2018•53 min•Ep. 11
This week, radio host Stephanie Miller and Let’s Make a Deal ’s Jonathan Mangum compete to determine who’s the facting champion of Go Fact Yourself ! But before they show off their trivia prowess, they talk a little about who they are. Stephanie explains how she decided to channel her frustration with politics into a comedy tour and Jonathan discusses why he wants to continue producing Let’s Make a Deal forever, and the story behind why the show’s audience members and contestants wear crazy cost...
Apr 20, 2018•52 min•Ep. 10
This episode is SO MUCH FUN! Pete Holmes and Annabelle Gurwitch grace Go Fact Yourself with their wit, joy and, yes, abject frustration. And we learn fun facts about the performers. For example, Pete Holmes reveals that The New Yorker rejected his avocado cartoon, and calls into question the magazine’s editorial judgment. J. Keith reminds Annabelle Gurwitch that they both appeared in a pilot together that was so unmemorable...he had to tell her what it was. J. Keith Van Straaten and Helen Hong s...
Apr 06, 2018•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 9
In this episode, we have the hilarious Lennon Parham of Playing House and the podcast Womp It Up . She faces off against TV & film’s Paul Scheer, who also co-hosts the popular movie podcast How Did This Get Made? J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong will test whether or not Scheer and Parham are as knowledgeable as they claim to be. Did you know that Paul knows a lot about Disneyland, parenting and Paw Patrol ? He tries to prove his knowledge in at least one of those areas. And Lennon will g...
Mar 16, 2018•51 min•Ep. 8
In this episode, J. Keith and Helen play host to Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia on Criminal Minds) and Jason Kravits, who is very recognizable from his many many appearances on the big screen and the small screen, as well as Broadway. We learn that Kirsten considers herself an expert on Duran Duran, female sexual anatomy, and vegetarian food. Jason fancies himself an expert of intercontinental geography, crossword puzzles and Young Frankenstein. Will Kirsten be able to name the differences b...
Mar 03, 2018•53 min•Ep. 7
In this episode, J. Keith and Helen play host to comedians Lizz Winstead and Alonzo Bodden. Lizz is the founder of Lady Parts Justice and was the co-creator and head writer of The Daily Show . Lizz’s topics of expertise were: fitted sheet folding, Scrabble, and the 1980s Minneapolis music scene. Winstead also demonstrates that loose lips sink...one’s chances to succeed at game shows. Alonzo won the third season of Last Comic Standing and is a regular panelist on Wait Wait...Don’t Tell Me! His ar...
Feb 16, 2018•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 6
In this episode, writer, comedian and International Waters host Dave Holmes competes against Save Ferris ’ Monique Powell. Holmes shares his number one piece of advice for game show host newbies like J. Keith, and Powell tells us about her hard-partying ways on last year’s Warped Tour. Monique’s areas of expertise include: cat behavior, home remedies, and brisket. Dave’s areas of expertise are: Broadway musicals, beer commercials and Melrose Place . Before their professed expertise is put to the...
Feb 02, 2018•51 min•Ep. 5
In this episode, Maz Jobrani reveals how much he makes per episode on Superior Donuts, and Cristela Alonzo leads the audience in a sing along of one of her favorite songs. In What's the Difference, Cristela and Maz share their theories on the difference between eternal and everlasting, and prison and jail. M az's claimed areas of expertise are: Iran, shaving one's head and bad accents. Cristela claims to know a lot about The Golden Girls, bad 1980s movies and 1980s Radio Hits. Who will triumph i...
Jan 19, 2018•57 min•Ep. 4
In this episode, comic book author and Moana screenwriter Pamela Ribon faces off against former Daily Show correspondent and host of The Frank DeCaro Show , Frank DeCaro. Ribon’s three areas of expertise are: The Goonies , The Outsiders , and Beastie Boys lyrics. DeCaro professes a deep knowledge of The Munsters , the original Batman TV series, and Broadway musicals. Who’s the better expert? Find out. Plus, J. Keith and Helen Hong ask the question that’s on EVERYBODY’S mind: What’s the differenc...
Jan 06, 2018•51 min•Ep. 3
