Strike up the band! It’s another Best-Of edition of Go Fact Yourself ! We’ve gone all the way back to our very first episode to find some of the best segments with guests who chose something in the world of music as their area of expertise. Guests like Alonzo Bodden, Lennon Parham, Emily Heller and more will discuss their favorite artists and genres. Plus, we’ve got a veritable chorus line of special experts that includes authors, songwriters and legendary musicians. Now that’s what we call musi...
Jun 05, 2020•1 hr 17 min
This episode of Go Fact Yourself previously streamed live on video, in partnership with NPR station KPCC and LAist ! You can watch the entire unedited episode here ! Jonathan Coulton (a.k.a. “JoCo”) is folk/comedy musician who has a lot of experience in the world of trivia: he’s been the in-house musician for the NPR program Ask Me Another since 2012. Jonathan’s also known as the founder and namesake of the JoCo Cruise, a geek and culture convention on a cruise ship. How did Jonathan get so succ...
May 15, 2020•1 hr 34 min•Ep. 58
Go Fact Yourself is streaming a LIVE edition of the show -- with video! It happens Tuesday, May 5th at 5 PM Pacific. To find out more and to RSVP for free, go to KPCC’s events page . It’s the first-ever father-daughter edition of Go Fact Yourself! Walter Koenig is a pop culture and science fiction icon. He played the character Pavel Chekov on the original “Star Trek” TV series and films. You’d think that having so much of your career tied to one particular role would get tiring. But Walter’s lea...
May 01, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 57
It’s another quarantine and redemption edition of Go Fact Yourself! Jordan Morris was on episode 24 of the show where he was quizzed on his love of the La Brea Tar Pits. Even though he aced his area of expertise, he came up just short of victory. We’re giving him another shot at proving his trivia prowess as we have fun chats about drinking games, thinking games and cartoon fame! Appearing in this episode: J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong Jordan Morris With Guest Experts: Monique Powell , songwr...
Apr 17, 2020•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 56
The 2020 MLB season is in question, but we’re happy to celebrate baseball on Go Fact Yourself! There have been a lot of contestants who have chosen baseball as their areas of expertise; we’ve quizzed folks like comedy legend Fred Willard, voice actor Phil Lamarr and Maximum Fun founder Jesse Thorn -- and more! We decided to put some of the best segments in one convenient episode. Along the way, we’ve got a murderer’s row of outstanding experts including World Series play-by-play broadcasters, wo...
Apr 03, 2020•1 hr
It’s a special, experimental Quarantine Edition of Go Fact Yourself recorded at our various homes and with no live audience! Jimmy Pardo is a comedian and host of the long-running podcast " Never Not Funny ." He also owns the distinction of being a guest on the very first episode of Go Fact Yourself . When he was first on the show, he answered trivia questions about 1980’s music. But this time we’re revisiting BOTH of his other areas of expertise to determine if he is truly the Facting Champion!...
Mar 27, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 55
Happy Max Fun Drive month! To celebrate, we’re changing up our episode schedule in March. This week, we’ve got a pair of interviews that aired as part of Go Fact Yourself’s shows in Chicago. First, J. Keith and Helen will speak with Larry Potash from WGN TV’s morning show. Then they’ll speak with Bill Leff and Dane Neal from the recently ended "Bill & Wendy Show." Both interviews will feature special mini-versions of our usual trivia games! Go Fact Yourself will be back with full episodes on...
Mar 06, 2020•24 min
Strike up the band! It’s a music-filled episode of Go Fact Yourself! Oscar Nunez is best known for his role as Oscar Martinez in the classic NBC comedy "The Office." Between its original run on television and streaming distribution on Netflix, it’s earned fans of all ages. Oscar will tell us all about some of his most memorable moments in front of the camera, including sharing a kiss with Steve Carrell and performing a strip-tease for Betty White. You can see Oscar on the Netflix series " Mr. Ig...
Feb 21, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 54
Slackers of the world unite! Fire up your flux capacitors! "Go Fact Yourself" has trivia that spans the timeline this week! Gareth Reynolds is best known as one of the hosts of " The Dollop ." It’s a podcast that shares stories from U.S. history in a fun and engaging way. That includes some less savory information -- like the details about George Washington’s teeth. Gareth will also tell us personal stories, including what it was like to be a writer for "Arrested Development" and how he first me...
Feb 07, 2020•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 53
Click your heels three times and remember there’s no place like home: "Go Fact Yourself" is officially the greatest trivia show on ice! Jamie Loftus is a comedian and a host of " The Bechdel Cast " podcast. Her show is all about analyzing film from a feminist perspective. One movie that holds up surprisingly well under such scrutiny? Alien ! She’ll explain. Plus, she’ll discuss what gives her a special edge in this trivia contest: her certification as a Mensa Genius. Jamie’s upcoming appearances...
Jan 17, 2020•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 52
Perfect your comic punchlines and read up on your history for this episode of Go Fact Yourself! Charlie Hankin is perhaps best known for his comics in The New Yorker magazine. For you aspiring cartoonists, he shares the secret to getting your work in the famed publication. He also discusses how he’s already walked away a winner on another game show: "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" Charlie can be seen on his YouTube show " Good Cop, Great Cop. " Also joining us is writer and podcaster Kitty Feld...
Jan 03, 2020•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 51
It’s the 50th episode of Go Fact Yourself! And we’ve got a t-shirt! To help us celebrate, we’ve brought on Maximum Fun founder, Jesse Thorn . These days, MaxFun is known for dozens of quality podcasts. But in Jesse’s early days, he recorded the talk show that would become " Bullseye " in his apartment. The humble beginnings helped him learn a lot about interviewing great guests… and about the value of a good suit. In addition to “Bullseye,” you can hear Jesse on the podcasts " Jordan Jesse Go! "...
Dec 20, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 50
FINALLY! An episode of Go Fact Yourself that celebrates trivia AND elitism! In July, Atsuko Okatsuka had perhaps the most on-brand experience that a comedian can have in LA: she got on stage ready to perform right as an earthquake struck. She’ll tell us about why she was so poorly equipped to deal with the situation. Atsuko is also the host of " Let’s Go Atsuko! " a woke Japanese game show. What exactly makes a game show woke? Well… she’ll explain. Joel Stein is a writer whose work has appeared ...
Dec 06, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 49
Mysteries will be solved and species saved on this episode of Go Fact Yourself! Jenny Jaffe is a comedy writer who grew up with an obsession for 90’s Nickelodeon animated shows. Her career has now come full circle: she’s landed a gig to writing for the upcoming version of "Rugrats!" She’ll tell us about that and some of her other obsessions that haven’t been a part of her work.. yet. Jenny will take on actor/writer Jim Rash . Jim is a pretty accomplished guy. He’s known for his role as Dean Crai...
Nov 15, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 48
This week on Go Fact Yourself, it’s not just a game of trivia: it’s a game of hardcore roller derby AND a game of Super Mario! You probably know Adam Conover from his TruTV show, "Adam Ruins Everything," where he uncovers the complicated, and often problematic, backstories behind topics like voting, football, Hawaii and more. He’ll also tell us about his own complicated backstory: as the only member of his family without a PhD. Adam can also be heard on the podcast "Factually!" . Adam’s opponent...
Nov 01, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 47
Whether you’re in the mood to surf some waves or binge some TV, this episode of Go Fact Yourself is for you! As an actor, Quinn Cummings saw success at an early age. She was nominated for an Oscar for her role in the film The Goodbye Girl . It was a great experience, but one that put a bit of a strain on her relationship with her mother… and her hair. She’ll explain. Quinn can be heard on the podcast "Quinn Cummings Gives Bad Advice" . Like Quinn, Greg Behrendt also has experience giving others ...
Oct 18, 2019•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 46
It’s another helping of Go Fact Yourself in Chicago, now more delicious and savory than ever! Peter Sagal is the host of the NPR program "Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!" But his experience with trivia shows goes all the way back to when he was a contestant on "Jeopardy"… and quickly found himself in the negative dollars. That doesn’t mean he’s bad at trivia; he’s just bad at pressing buttons. He’ll tell us about that and why he’s so dedicated to disrupting the narrative of Chicago deep-dish pizza. O...
Oct 04, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 45
It’s the first episode of Go Fact Yourself from Chicago! Two-time Peabody Award winner Bill Kurtis is a news anchor with one of the most famous voices in television and radio. You may have heard him as the scorekeeper for the program "Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!", but he’s also known for his narration in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy . He’ll explain how that role changed his life forever and share other stories from his extensive career. Bill will compete with his fellow broadcaster and f...
Sep 20, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 44
This episode of Go Fact Yourself features quick wits and facts about hit flicks! Jena Friedman is a comedian and longtime contributor to television, perhaps her best known work was as a producer on "The Daily Show." She’ll talk about how she was so dedicated to her work on the show that she was willing to risk her life if it meant getting the shot that she needed. Jena’s new series "Soft Focus" is on Adult Swim. Jena’s opponent is Jack O’Brien , co-host of "The Daily Zeitgeist" podcast. Before t...
Sep 06, 2019•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 43
C’est l’heure pour un nouvel épisode de Go Fact Yourself*! (In case your French is a little rusty: It’s time for a new episode of Go Fact Yourself!) Jim Beaver is an actor who’s known for his roles in TV shows like, "Breaking Bad," and, "Justified," where he’s earned a reputation as a "tough guy"-type who’s usually associated with guns. He’s also done a lot of research on major Hollywood figures from other eras. He’ll explain why he didn’t let the technological limitations from his youth get in ...
Aug 16, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 42
Go Fact Yourself is coming to Chicago! Join us on August 9 & 10 at Sleeping Village. Visit gofactyourpod.com for tickets and details. Our patented mind-control techniques compel you to hear this episode of Go Fact Yourself! Jamie Kennedy is a comedian and actor. He’s spent most of his life working in film and television with some big names like Frank Oz and David O. Russell. But how did he decide that he wanted to spend his life in Hollywood? It all goes back to his minor background role in ...
Aug 02, 2019•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 41
Go Fact Yourself is coming to Chicago! Join us on August 9 & 10 at Sleeping Village. Visit gofactyourpod.com for tickets and details. Cristela Alonzo is a comedian and former guest on Go Fact Yourself . This week, she’s stepping in as the co-host! Her new book "Music to My Years" will be out in October. Jessica McKenna is known for the podcast "Off Book" where she and her co-host Zach Reino improvise a full musical with special guests… even if the guests aren’t totally aware of what’s going ...
Jul 19, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 40
It’s Go Fact Yourself…. IN SPAAAAACE! Or at least with a lot of discussion about space, plus tons of comedy and trivia! Gaby Dunn is the author of the book Bad With Money and the host of the podcast of the same name . That makes her something of an authority on personal finance. And her findings on commerce are supported by some conspiracy theories that are equally insightful. Opposite Gaby is comedian Dwayne Perkins ! His star has risen in recent years with him getting his own comedy special . ...
Jul 05, 2019•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 39
Are you a true fashionista? Are you surrounded by the lore of classic comics? Do you just want to laugh and learn some great trivia? Whether you check one or all of those boxes, this episode of Go Fact Yourself is for you! Mindy Sterling is an actor who’s perhaps best known for her role in the Austin Powers films. She’s also had several TV roles, earning her two Emmy nominations! The only problem was that those two nominations happened in the same year… and in the same category. You can find Min...
Jun 21, 2019•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 38
Dolphins and music and sports, oh my! It’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself! Margaret Cho is a comedian and actress, known for her role in "30 Rock" as Kim Jong-il, for which she received an Emmy nomination. Margaret is also heavily tattooed, but she’ll explain why she’s ready to slow down the body art now that she only has space on her bodies that would be painful. You can find her tour schedule on her website . Margaret will face off against fellow comedian and actor Jamie Kaler ! He ro...
Jun 07, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 37
This episode of Go Fact Yourself is part of a balanced breakfast of trivia and comedy! Allie Goertz is a writer who hosts the fellow Max Fun podcast "Everything’s Coming up Simpsons" . As if that didn’t give her enough funny things to surround herself with, she’s also the first woman editor for MAD Magazine! She’ll explain why even the silliest MAD content requires a lot of hard work. Allie faces off against Jason Stuart ! He’s a comedian and actor. He’s appeared in a number of films like Birth ...
May 17, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 36
It might be the most highbrow episode of Go Fact Yourself yet! Suzy Nakamura is an actor who’s been seen in shows like "Dr. Ken" and "The Goldbergs". Her work has endeared her to a large number of fans, but she’ll explain what she’s had to correct them about an unfortunate number of times. Suzy’s opponent is Mark L. Walberg ! He’s the host of shows like "Antiques Roadshow" and "Temptation Island" (and is not to be confused with the actor who shares his name). Mark will tell the story of how his ...
May 03, 2019•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 35
This week’s episode of Go Fact Yourself features topics that are really scary and really funny! Dave Anthony is a comedian, but he loves making people think just as much as he loves making them laugh. He hosts the podcast "The Dollop" where he tells people about the U.S. history that they probably didn’t learn in school. That includes some less-discussed details about George Washington’s teeth. Dave’s opponent is Xeni Jardin ! She’s the co-editor of one of the premier blogs on the internet: "Boi...
Apr 19, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 34
Grab your favorite science-fiction novel and settle into your 1400's English outfit for this episode of Go Fact Yourself! Sara Schaefer is an accomplished comedian and writer. She won an Emmy for her time as a blogger on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon." And yes, you can win an Emmy for blogging! But that was not her first Emmy nomination, that came during her time as a writer for a show that might help her out today: "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Sara's new comedy album "LIVE LAUGH LOVE" is av...
Apr 05, 2019•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 33
In honor of the #MaxFunDrive, Go Fact Yourself presents a special network crossover! Guy Branum is a comedian and host of the podcast "Pop Rocket" . He's also a pop culture savant, as detailed in his book My Life as a Goddess . If you want to know more about the pop culture he loves, you'll have to read the book… but he's happy to provide a glimpse through some of his answers today. His opponent is a fellow comedian for whom he has a lot of respect (and fear): Emily Heller ! You can hear her as ...
Mar 22, 2019•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 32
