Thu, 29 May 2014
We give you the 001101000011000100110001 on the puzzling history and facts about codes, and hidden meanings! This origin story of the Enigma machine, code name quiz, and what the foxtrot is up with the NATO alphabet? Learn how James Brown, Beethoven, and Johnny Cash share a cryptic connection. And sit by the counter with a cup of joe and whistleberries so Chris can serve up the tasty (and weird) history behind coded American diner lingo. ALSO: Lynda's Graduation quiz |
Wed, 21 May 2014
You asked for it, and here it is - our episode about the sizzling world of names and nomenclature. RAWR! Learn about the Pinocchio Rex and other goofy (but real!) dinosaur names and origins. Can you identify movies from their initial or secret working titles? We also have funky trivia about NBA team names, movie sequels, and brand name translations. Are you sitting on a POÄNG while watching TV on a BESTÅ? Discover the weird world of the IKEA naming system. JA! ALSO: Gremlins II
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Wed, 14 May 2014
Replenish your smarts with some brainor-ade in this all-quiz show! Colin tests us to see if we know our acronyms, and takes us hopping around the nation with a city name quiz. Dana's been snooping around Amazon and made a game about hilariously punny celebrity autobiography book titles. Take the "The Pen is Not Mightier Than the Sword" challenge and see how well you know your famous fictional swords. And Karen's back to embarrass the others by forcing them to answer in the form of an impression in her celebrity quiz. ALSO: Boardgames, AND. THE. RETURN. OF. BELGIUM? OR NOT BELGIUM?
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Wed, 7 May 2014
Pick up your shovel and get ready to dig into the world of hidden and buried treasure! Uncover facts behind the fictional golden city of El Dorado, the secrets behind Al Capone's "hotel," the real inspiration behind pirate treasure maps, and what would YOU put in a time capsule representing 2014? And just how well do you know your treasure-hunting movies? Chris is back from the desert and has a first-hand report on the legendary video game mystery of the famed Atari digsite! ALSO: Exploding whale updates |
Wed, 30 April 2014
BIG NEWS! Chris is going to be a dad! We're celebrating his big news with an episode filled with facts and quizzes about babys, kids, and one nightmare animal. Grab a train ticket to Whoville for Chris' Dr Seuss quiz, and learn how Target uses the magic of data to know when you're pregnant before anybody else. Dana reminds us that we are the worst at Oscars superlatives in her young Oscars quiz. Colin has a lullaby rock cover music round, and Karen shares some cool names for baby animals. And as promised, one nightmare animal. ALSO: Harry's shaving mini quiz |
Wed, 23 April 2014
Cha-ching! A whole episode about trivia and sizzling facts about shopping?! CHARGE IT. We buzz about the Lincoln shopping secret, 99-cent pricing, how supermarkets trick you into buying more, and where did those WACKY WAVING INFLATABLE ARM FLAILING TUBE MAN things you see infront of retail lots come from?! Get savvy with shopping in the department store quiz, and learn about how the iconic shopping cart came to be. ALSO: Easter eggs, Brainiacs' Book Club |
Tue, 15 April 2014
Put on your party hats and loosen up that belt for some cake because we're nerding out about parties this week! Festive facts and celebratory stories about party rituals, inventions and more: Shakespeare Goes to a House Party music quiz, etymology of party words, Dana finds the first examples of party balloons (and it's gross), Karen wants to climb the traditional ham pole of Spain's La Tomatina tomato-throwing festival, and Colin explores the weird ritual of having live birds fly out of pies. ALSO: GJB listener John wrote us an "Um, Actually..." theme song! |
Wed, 9 April 2014
Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle because we're about to blast you off to BRAIN TOWN with an all quiz episode. It's time to play another installment of "BRAD PITT?...OR LASER?" and those who miss E.L.V.I.S.' soothing metallic voice are in luck because he's back crooning his favorite opening lines of famous songs. Our minds melted during Dana's pregnancy/baby test, and Chris shows some love to the cat people with a quiz about fictional cats. And see if you can identify these earworm rock songs in reverse! ALSO: Tia/Tamara Mowry mnemonic, Disney's secret unbuilt thrill ride |
Tue, 1 April 2014
The left-handed burger? Trees that grow spaghetti? Celebrate April Fools' Day with us by learning some of the redonkulous trivia behind pranks and hoaxes. Colin regales us with the history behind iconic novelty gags like the Whoopee Cushion, Joy Buzzer, and the Snake Nut Can. Dana impresses us with the Mechanical Turk hoax, and Chris sets off to find out about the origin of April Fools. Karen emits some facts about fart humor (and an accompanying fart quiz), and are you up for the celebrity death hoax challenge? ALSO: Colin's Takedown, Our Patreon Debut! |
Wed, 26 March 2014
Time to face off with facts about your FACE. Chris explores the things in your face, (specifically, up your nostrils) in his dedicated booger segment. Seeing Virgin Mary on your grilled cheese sandwiches? Or seeing fiesty drunk octopodes in bathrooms? Karen offers up a quiz about the psychological phenomenon of interpreting faces. Colin dots this episode with the plump facts about moles. Take our idiom challenge, and learn about the secrets of blurring faces (and butt cracks) on TV. ALSO: Carmin San Mateo, 3-eyed animals |