Good Job, Brain! - podcast cover

Good Job, Brain!

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Part quiz show, part offbeat trivia, and all awesome. We here are nuts about trivia and pub quiz! And we are darn sure there are people out there who share our unusual obsession. Play along and laugh along as Karen, Colin, Dana, and Chris school each other on some of the weirdest and most interesting facts about our funny little world. Do you relish beating your friends at Trivial Pursuit? Do you blab out the answers at the gym when Jeopardy! is on? And don't you just loathe badly worded questions? Gggrraahhh! Then this podcast, fellow trivia nut, is the ultimate mental nutrition for your very big brain. So eat up!
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Episodes

Fun-Size Mini Show: William Fakespeare

WE'RE ON SITE! We had a bit of a scheduling conflict this week because we made it to the PUB TRIVIA GRAND FINALS. So please enjoy this little fun-size episode featuring our pal, William Fakespeare... and see if you can identify the lyrics line by line! (Sadly, we did not win first place. Close, but no cigar. We're sad pandas.) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 07, 20135 min

60: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #12

Don't slam that snooze button because it's TRIVIA O'CLOCK. We got a chock-full of quizzical goodness. Dana's got a meaty round of....meats, and an even meatier round of famous sidekicks. Colin's obsessed with secret origins of seemingly plain household iteams, and Karen has a special M-U-S-I-C R-O-U-N-D. ALSO: Pub trivia US States questions, and movie biographies. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 30, 201349 min

59: Creepy Crawlies

Bllyyeeechhh....we celebrate the slimey, slithery, and creepy creatures of our world! Crunchy facts about crime-solving bugs, deceptively cute snails, and the guinea worm. Learn the right first aid steps of how to remove a bug stuck inside your ear. And when life gives you toads, you make "toad sausages." ALSO: a quiz about the master of creep - Stephen King, and a sssssssssspecial dedication. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 23, 201343 min

58: Hey Ladies!

We did The Man Show, and it's the girls' turn this time! Find out how well you'll fare in Chris' epic battle of the sexes challenge. "Electrifying" facts behind fashion, famous firsts, women in song titles, and Karen's....seaweed... shirt? We try to find out why pink is for girls and blue is for boys, and just how high Susan B. Anthony ranks on the Sass-o-Meter. ALSO: Music Round and a special message for Boston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 16, 201352 min

57: Fake It Till You Make It

Impostors! Countefeits! Forgeries! Decoys! Yes, a show all about FAKES. The history of counterfeit money may surprise you, but probably not as much as the shocking secrets of that ol' regular inkjet printer sitting in your house RIGHT NOW! We also talk about stunningly weird (and perhaps, frightening) examples of biomimicry in the animal kingdom. Chris quizzes us on notable fake bands, and Dana shares a crazy-pants story about faking one's own death...for fun. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Apr 09, 201347 min

56: Your Body is a Wonderland

The human body is truly amazing! We HEAD up the discussion about body gunk, and the mysterious and wonderful world *inside* your belly button. Colin blesses us with tales of mysterious sneezing phenomenon, and Karen ponders why your pee smells weird after eating asparagus. Learn the origin behind the saying "5 o'clock shadow" and just what to watch for if you're a lifeguard. ALSO: Capital Capitals Quiz Part II! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Apr 03, 201353 min

55: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #11

GET. PUMPED. YES. So many quizzes in all shapes and sizes! Get inside Colin's head and see if you can identify some of his favorite instrumental TV theme songs. Karen is totally excited to see if people enjoy her "William Shakespeare Goes to a House Party Quiz." Dana's got an apPEAling and PEAceful word game, and "What Would Keanu Do?" And Chris presents a round of "Last in Line 2: The Overblown Sequel." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 26, 201346 min

54: Epic Fail

Flops, failures, and follies! We dedicate this show to all those who have picked themselves up after falling down. Facts and juicy stories about New Coke, the wobbly Tacoma Narrows Bridge, the dotcom boom, and the biggest financial movie flop in the world. And why "sexy yogurt" should NEVER exist. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 19, 201349 min

53: Take A Bite Outta Crime

Bada bing! Keep your eyes open as we head down the dark alley of crime. Learn about the history of the tommy gun, mafia lingo, and the fascinating start of early crime scene investigation. Test your crime IQ with our quizzes about notable real and fictional criminals, and play a round of "Stolen? Or Not Stolen?" about famous (and possibly purloined) prized possessions. ALSO: Listener's Choice Music Round, L&O:GJB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 11, 201352 min

52: Trivia About Trivia

It's our first birthday and it's our TRIVIACEPTION show! Believe it or not, amazing facts about the king of amazing facts, Robert Ripley. The business behind bad trivia. We try our luck in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire, and gush over other TV game shows. Famous riddlers and question-askers throughout literary history, and exactly why is a raven like a writing desk? ALSO: "Initial Here" quiz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 04, 201351 min

51: Oh What a Circus

Come one, come all! Behold as we uncover tasty circus and carnival factoids from under the big top: circus lingo, superstitions, and codes for danger. If so many people are scared of clowns, why are they an integral part of the circus? Join in on our elephant parade of pachyderm myths and the story behind Jumbo. And find out how carnival games are rigged and the best ways to beat them. ALSO: International House of Pancakes quiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 26, 201347 min

50: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #10

Unclog and do some mental plumbing with some extra strength BRAINO. In this rad all quiz episode, Chris celebrates the number 50, and shares classic lateral thinking puzzles & brain teasers. Karen's got a round of science and brings back "Mash It Up!" And IN A LAND... IN A TIME... ONE WOMAN (Dana) quizzes us on blockbuster taglines. Colin's got age on the mind and.... E.L.V.I.S. IS BACK! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 19, 201342 min

49: LOL

Prepare to get your funnybone/ulner nerve tickled! We take a closer look at the things that make us laugh: the rich surprise history of "That's What She Said" jokes, the invention of the Laugh Track, how MAD magazine came to be, comedy duos, and what actually makes hyenas laugh so much. ALSO: Wachamacallit Quiz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 12, 201353 min

48: Sports Trivia for Non-Sports People

SPORTS: you either love it or it makes you groan. Fear not! We SERVE up intriguing sports facts that you will lurve... so heads up! We finally learn why football is called "soccer," the hotly contested origin of tennis, and what sport is awesomely known as "flutterguts." Chris bats a home run sports anagram quiz, Colin tells us the nightmarish tale of being a professional sports accountant, and Dana gives us some "English Pleasure." ALSO: DO DOGS REALLY DREAM?, Puzzle Music Round Learn more abou...

Feb 04, 201348 min

47: Zzzzzzzz...

Warning! Our show on sleep is actually far from a snoozefest! We find out about the eye-popping origin of the word "nightmare," the amazingly INTENSE sleep behavior of hummingbirds, why you feel the falling sensation when drifting to sleep, the fascinating history about beds, and what's actually *in* your bed. ALSO: a special TV theme song Music Round, and awful riddles written by children Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 28, 201349 min

46: Baby, It's Cold Outside

BRR! Whip up a cup of hot chocolate as we gab about things that are cool, cold, and icy. We teach you how to build an igloo, how the ice industry started, what happens to your body when you're stuck in the cold depths of outer space, and why you feel like going to the bathroom a lot more during cold weather. (Yay, pee.) Speaking of hot chocolate, learn about a secret delicious plant that cures sore throats! ALSO: Chris' insane Music Round Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adch...

Jan 21, 201345 min

45: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #9

Knead your noggin and noodle with this quiz-filled episode! Awesome segments like "First In Line" and "Metal Band Or Disease?" What exactly is the name and origin of the Michelin Man? Find out who wrote the awesomely titled autobiography "Soulacoaster." Also: Music Round, Shakespeare superlatives, noodles, and company logos. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 14, 201347 min

Fun-Size Mini Show

We're resting up our brains this week so enjoy this little fun-size mini episode with the usual segments: Pop Quiz, Hot Shot!, Um...Actually..., and what exactly is the origin of the term "jaywalking"? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jan 07, 20138 min

44: BEST OF 2012

The weirdest, the poopiest, the funniest, and the silliest moments of Good Job, Brain! all in one end-of-year episode. We share are favorite quizzes, facts, and histories. That's right, there ain't no shame in having a clips show! Have a happy and brainy new year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 31, 201256 min

43: Our Favorite Things

Brown paper packages tied up with string...these are a few of my favorite things! Chris shares his Nintendo expertise and that old box of videogames in your attic might be worth lots of money! Colin quizzes us on his love of typography. Karen's favorite thing is actually extremely poisonous. And Dana schools us on her favorite thing: wordplay. ALSO: how to prepare for a quiz bowl, genetic hybrids (ZORSE!), the trivia-heavy story of Fleetwood Mac, and "Painter? Or Cheese?" Learn more about your a...

Dec 24, 201248 min

42: Season's Eatings!

Put on your stretchy pants and prepare to feast on these holiday food facts: fermented shark from Iceland's midwinter festival, superstitions around Christmas pudding, Jell-O (with cheese?), and the prowess of the Easter hare. ALSO: Country name quiz, 42 & antipodes, and our failed attempts at coming up with alternate names for vegetarian haggis. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 17, 201248 min

41: Celebrity Secretttsssss

Unwind with us while we indulge in the guilty pleasure of weird celeb gossip: famous stars with crazy high IQ, why you should not let Prince rent your house, intriguing human body anomalies and the famous people who have them, stage names vs. real names. ALSO: Music Round, eyeball mnemonic, and the BONOBOS SMARTY PANTS LISTENER CHALLENGE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 10, 201249 min

40: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #8

Turn up the Trivia Newton John because your brain's about to get PHYSICAL! Can you name the popular hang-out spots from TV shows? See if you know any of Dana's weird words for weird things segment. Karen's get into character for a round of literature. Chris schools us on video game consoles, and Colin asks, "What's the Difference?" ALSO: military stinkbombs, and Scooby Doo's real name. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dec 04, 201245 min

39: Smell Ya Later

Hey, who farted? We sniff out the story behind scents and smells! How our brains associate smells with memories, Smell-o-vision at the movies, bizarre perfume ingredients, the odd world of celebrity fragrances, how stores are manipulating you with scents, anosmia, and can you trademark a smell? ALSO: fantastic old-timey words, "First in Line" quiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 26, 201250 min

38: The Man Show

Grrah! Get ready to punch trivia in the face with your MANLINESS because we are celebrating MAN stuff: important moments in beard history, etymology behind BBQ, snacks designed for men only, innovations in urinals, and the classic(?) American folktale of Paul Bunyan. ALSO: Pepsi's new fat-blocking soda, collective nouns, and what exactly does "begging the question" mean? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 20, 201250 min

37: Hold Your Tongue!

Let's have fun fumbling through the English language! Think you know when to use i.e., e.g., [sic], etc.? Misheard lyrics, "eggcorns," finger fumblers, and more! Is there a special profession meaning behind YOUR last name? Drink your can of Bite the Wax Tadpole while Karen quizzes the gang on mind-bogglingly stellar examples of translation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 13, 201244 min

36: Happiest Podcast On Earth

Zippadeedoodah! Our mind-blowing offbeat Disney episode: the tale behind early Lucas/Disney collaboration, the secret psychology of waiting in lines in Disney parks, Disney song quiz, Walt Disney's lesser-known roots, Michael Jackson, and.... A REAL-LIFE VIDEOGAME ISLAND?! ALSO: Album art music challenge, CSI: GJB! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nov 06, 201249 min

35: I WANT CANDY

Let's get hopped up on sugar GUYS, GALS, & GILA MONSTERS. Controversy! Intrigue! Hot molten explosions in your face! We dive into the weird world of candy just in time for Halloween. Serving the sweet scoop on Cadbury Creme Eggs, Tootsie Roll Pops, Gobstoppers, and more. ALSO: "Wonka? Or Urban Dictionary?," candy name quiz, a very special comics quiz formulated for extra awesomeness and gamma radiation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 29, 201250 min

34: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #7

Get out your sandpaper because this one's for the quiz buffs! So many individual quiz segments. Karen rounded up her favorite film scores for a special Music Round, Chris grills us on burgers, Colin's got travel on the mind, and Dana describes dancing diddies. ALSO: the best punctuation mark, license plates, brain anagram puzzles, and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 22, 201242 min

33: Have You Seen My Stapler?

Let's spend a day at the office! We find out how the modern office cubicle came into being, the shockingly old history behind the vending machine, office movie trivia, coffee breaks, and the not-so-nice origin of the Scotch tape. ALSO: secrets to identifying major African nations, science quiz, the world's fastest clown, and a very special listener challenge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oct 15, 201249 min
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