Wed, 9 July 2014
It's a minisode this week and boy, do we have a challenge for your ear holes! See if you can solve this special music puzzle and maybe, you might win yourself some GJB goodies. |
Mon, 30 June 2014
EXTREME!!! Pull out your Dunkaroos and dive into the artificially colored frosting of 90's trivia: fads, foods, music and more! 90's snack food facts, Ninja turtles, and famous firsts in TV, movies, and world news. Slap on some knowledge about the invention and science behind the slap bracelet. And walk down memory lane as we discuss the omnipresent activist ribbon explosion, and the Y2K hysteria. And test your pop knowledge with the ultimate boy band quiz. |
Tue, 24 June 2014
Keep your arms and legs inside the vehicle as we freefall into a bumpy ride of amusement park trivia. Rides, food, parks and more! Chris is back from the press preview event of the new addition to the Harry Potter theme park in Orlando, and tells us all about the tricks and technology in this new era of amusement parks. Karen shares her very extensive rollercoaster experience and how binaural sound almost made her pee. And it's time for a round of "ROLLERCOASTER? Or HEAVY METAL ALBUM?" And whet your appetite with the amusement park food invention quiz. Also: Clam the clam. |
Wed, 18 June 2014
Listen up all you Joey Triviannis and Trivia Newton Johns - are you ready for another quiz-filled scrumptious audio eclair?! In our All Quiz #23, we zoom from fantasy (Chris' Harry Potter and the Wiki Hole quiz in preparation for his press junket for the opening of Diagon Alley in Universal Studios Orlando) to current events (Colin's quick World Cup primer). Dana found some relaly weird name origins behind famous bands, and it's us against Google in our auto-complete game show challenge. And E.L.V.I.S. is back! ALSO: Pressure quiz |
Wed, 11 June 2014
Continuing our 2-part celebration of pub trivia! Sharing our own stories and tips from our own pub quiz experience, and lamenting our topic weaknesses. And of course, what we think are common topics to know: videogame firsts, US States, and an extremely punny mnemonic that helps you memorize the 12 gods of Mount Olympus, their Greek + Roman names, and their domain. ALSO: Pub food factoids (WHY ARE SAUSAGES CALLED BANGERS?!) |
Thu, 5 June 2014
OUR TRIVIA SECRETS REVEALED! This week, we are celebrating pub trivia by sharing our stories, our strategies, and our tips in hopes to help YOU score big at your local. Find out what topics to study, and how to settle answer disputes. Take Karen's geography quiz, and if you're not a sports person, then let Colin help you with some handy sportsball facts to arm your trivia arsenal. We also dive into the origin of pub trivia and general nuggest about pub culture. Also: Our Lando Squarespace ode
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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 |
Wed, 19 March 2014
Turbo charge your ear-holes with our episode about things speedy, fast, and instant. Find out about the weird origin of FedEx (hint: it involved some Las Vegas craziness). And exactly fast are the fastest things in the world? Play our Price-Is-Right speed test, and can you hold on to this FAST word puzzle? Colin captivates us with the wacky and illegal world of coast-to-coast racing. And what actually makes instant noodles instant? ALSO: Carmin San Mateo, Lobetrotter You can be our wingman anytime. |
Wed, 12 March 2014
Ah yes, the "Um, Actually..." - a phrase in every trivia fan's utility belt. We dedicate the whole episode to the culture of corrections, misquoted facts, and nerdery. It's time to load up your trivia ammo! Colin schools EVERYONE on a misused vocabulary quiz, and Chris shares how we've been doing things wrong in the kitchen. Dana's snoops around Snopes.com, and blows our mind about blood. Karen finds out where words like "nerd" and "dweeb" come from. ALSO: Good Job, BRIAN! quiz, Carmin San Mateo, Lobetrotter |
Wed, 5 March 2014
Lots of festivity in our 2nd anniversary and 100th episode! We're celebrating this milestone by celebrating...YOU. Warm up your hearts with listener messages and questions sprinkled throughout the show. And warm up your brains with some tricky quizzes: Chris gets animated in his movie round, Nerak's got a weird word elzzup, Colin has 100 on the mind, and Dana needs help with change. And can you identify these classic literary works by their 1-star Amazon reviews? ALSO: Music Round, New Zealand Challenge, and a visit from a familiar face voice |
Tue, 18 February 2014
Our wallets may be a little lighter but we're winning big in titillating facts and trivia about Sin City. Did you know before Super Mario and Zelda, Nintendo had a Vegas connection? Colin obsesses over blackjack and the history of card-counting, and Dana's got a celebrity quiz about quicky weddings. Karen answers some of her burning questions about playing cards and Chris shares hotel facts that might literally shock you. |
Tue, 11 February 2014
May luck be a lady tonight! We're actually in Las Vegas this week - so be prepared for a jackpot of shiny facts about gambling, hotels, games, Hoover Dam, and more. Chris gets clever with a hotel name puzzle quiz, and Karen checks in to ridiculously themed Vegas hotel that (luckily) never got built. Find out what those cherries and BARs on slot machines really mean, and Dana's dips into a grab bag of trivia bites about this sparkly town. And see if you know your gamblin' games. ALSO: The Tonight Show top list, and the hotels of our dreams |
Wed, 5 February 2014
It's a free-for-all this week as we decided to bring out own topics for this episode. So naturally, it's a nutty grab bag of some jaw-dropping trivia. Where else can you learn about the birth of the smiley emoticon, how to grow a pineapple in your own house, the jellyfish that is IMMORTAL, and why do people call the Academy Award "Oscar." So bust out your suspenders because this week is crazy pants. ALSO: Immortality quiz, Hawaiian mystery candy |
Wed, 29 January 2014
Bust out your monacle, twirl up that 'stache, and stroke your reaky hairless cat because it's time to get evil. This week, we're headed to our secret island lair to celebrate trivia about villains. Where did the word come from? And we all know that the butler did it, but who was the first butler to actually do it? Colin discovers the real Goldfinger behind James Bond lore, and Dana makes us do impressions for her villain catchphrase quiz. Karen keeps the bat at bay with a quiz about ridiculous Batman villains. ALSO: E.L.V.I.S. is back!, Lobetrotter trivia |
Wed, 22 January 2014
We all made quizzes that are a little wackier and more off-the-beaten path this week! Colin hosts a round of "BRAD PITT.....OR LASERS?!" and quizzes us on famous things named after a who, a what, or a where. Dana treats us to some dangerously tasting traditional candy from Sweden while we try to guess the flavor. Karen invites everyone to explore American regional dialects with a vocab test, and Chris came up with questions about strange airline facts while on an airplane. ALSO: Karen tells the classic tale, "How My Mom Got Punched in the Face." |
Wed, 15 January 2014
Orange you glad we're back for more in 2014? We put fruit facts into the limelight this week and cherry-picked some pretty juicy trivia. Colin gets to the core of fruit name origins, Chris grapples with a hybrid fruit challenge, and Karen puckers up to the miracle fruit. And don't just split yet, Dana's got an a-peeling quiz about bananas. It's a fruit party, so we're all raisin the roof. ALSO: Lynda.com teacher quiz, tweeting sharks |
Tue, 7 January 2014
Bit of trivia and a quiz this week in this mini episode. New year, new announcements, same bat time, same bat channel. Find out why are there actually twelve days of Christmas, and put your perky ears to the test with a Music Round! And we have announcements and exciting news galore. Happy New Year, y'alls! |
Tue, 31 December 2013
It's our KING SIZE year-end episode! With the help of our listeners, we've curated some of the best quizzes, stories, facts, nightmare animals, and music rounds from 2013. Thanks to you guys, dear listeners, for a fantastic year! May your new year be brainy and bright. |
Tue, 24 December 2013
We're a lot giddier than usual this week as we explore the trivia of things on the side. Chris gets kicky with a sidekick quiz, and Dana's got a list of things that are more famous for their side effects than their intended use. Colin takes us on a lol-lercoaster of ridiculous sideline behavior in sports. Karen dives into the snippy history of the human face profile. Do you know your heads, tails, and the sides of your money? And why are there so many darn chickens crossing the road? ALSO: anniversary gift symbolism, Mashup Music Round! |
Tue, 17 December 2013
Lace up your shoes and strap on that shiny leotard because it's time to sweat. Trivia and origin stories of things, people, and places that keep yourself fit. Take the atheletic brand quiz and find out where the names like Reebok and Adidas came from. Karen admits to some very candid and personal issues people go through when engaging in endurance sports. Find out why people hit the gym, and where the concept of "the gym" originate from. Do you know your infomercial fitness products and the celebrities who endorse them? |
Tue, 10 December 2013
Oil up your noodle so you can slurp up some quiz time deliciousness. Dana heats up our brains (and meatballs) with "SWEDEN? OR NOT SWEDEN?" Chris has Christmas music on his mind while Karen made a quiz about entertainers solely for the purpose of embarrassing everybody else. Colin dips into wordplay for his "Word in a Word" quiz. And can you identify these famous quotes when slowed down to "witness protection" speed? And witness how we all completely lose it during Dana's segment about processed foods. |
Mon, 2 December 2013
Ah, the foot; the meatbrick with 5 sprouting flesh morsels can hold so much mystery, wonder, and microbes. Let us rock your socks off with trivia and tales about our glorious feet: what does the "pink" in "pinky toe" mean? Why do we hang up stockings for Christmas? And where did the measurement of feet and miles come from? Karen blows minds with the phenomenon of "Frito Feet," and we dip our toes in Chris' idiom quiz. ALSO: Check your body for some mildly odd genetic traits. Just sayin'. |
Tue, 26 November 2013
Chin up, elbows off the table, and stop picking your nose! We explore the world of manners and etiquette this week. Chris quizzes us on the torturous and delightfully wacky rules of table manners. Learn about the Do's and Don'ts of pub trivia, the violent origin of the handshake, and old-timey advice to present thy proper self. Who's got two thumbs and might piss off other cultures? - Colin's public service announcement about common hand gestures that might mean not-so-great things in certain countries. ALSO: Warby Parker EYE-Q quiz, the number 88 |
Tue, 19 November 2013
BREAKING MEWS! Put your paws up for some barking mad trivia about our furry companions: the amazing death-defying righting reflex of cats and "high-rise syndrome," we sift through the colorful history of cat litter, the many faces of Cerberus, and a purr-fect quiz. We try to answer burning questions like do dogs really watch and understand TV? How many toes can a cat actually have? ALSO: "Um, Actually" double-header |
Tue, 12 November 2013
Strap on your floaties because we're going out to sea. Marinate on these marvelous marine morsels of trivia: the history of the first ever submarine and its very silly name, what exactly made Disney's The Little Mermaid a complete hit and turning point for the studio, handy/horrible mnemonics for memorizing bodies of water, and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Anchors aweigh in a nautical term quiz, and find out what happens to aquariums when abandoned. |
Tue, 5 November 2013
We're down a person but we're making it up by SMUSHING MORE QUIZZES UP YOUR EAR-HOLES. Yo dawg, I heard you like portmanteaus - so enjoy a crazy portmanteau-ception! Chris gets musical with "Who am I?" and blows our minds with tricky foreign-sounding company name quiz. Colin whets our appetite with questions about restaurants and cooking, and listeners Ben & Jon crafted us a rather....sinister segment. ALSO: E.L.V.I.S. watches TV! |
Tue, 29 October 2013
OOoooOOoOoooOoooOooOo~ Salutations spooks and spectres! Munch on these trivia treats: Tim Burton quiz, eye-opening statistics on the most popular costumes throughout the year, what might actually happen in case of a zombie attack, and the origin and history of the quintessential "spooky" sounds. ALSO: Music Round, Bizarre Headlines, RIP Haribo |
Wed, 23 October 2013
Pooping, peeing, puking, and plummeting - this *uplifting* episode sure got things covered. Rise to the top and touch the sky with trivia, quizzes, and stories about aerial matters: what is believed to be the worst airplane in history, the wondrous nature of bird poop, the hair-raising history of window cleaners, clouds and the atmosphere, and some real a-hole birds. ALSO: Merch store news!, "Double-Double" Quiz, a fantastic "Um, Actually..." |
Tue, 15 October 2013
We couldn't record a regular show because it was our co-host Chris' wedding over the weekend. BUT TRIVIA CANNOT BE STOPPED. So we recorded short segments in secret at the wedding reception as a surprise for him. Why are wedding gowns white? Why don't people throw rice at weddings anymore? Where does the word "honeymoon" come from? Laughs were chortled, love was celebrated, and wine was drunk. Lots of wine. Lots. Thanks for letting us share this moment with you guys, listeners. And congrats to Chris and Regina, may their life together be prosperous and brainy! |
Wed, 9 October 2013
BODY MODIFICATIONS - ways to decorate and enhance the body! Plastic surgery tidbits and vocabulary quiz, outrageous/cool/eyeroll-inducing celebrity tattoos, and hacking your own body with....home electronics? The amazing body transformations of the mimic octopus, and breakthroughs in sports reconstructive surgery. And pee tattoo. ALSO: Second Chance Pub Quiz, Brainiacs' Book Club |
Tue, 1 October 2013
Watch out, brains because it's going to get dangerous up in here. Learn about the deadly secrets behind animal kingdom's own goofball - the blowfish, and why people actually want to eat it. (Get it? Goof-BALL? Ok.) Hear Dana ROAR about the legendary "Big 5." Just exactly how lethal are your day-to-day activities? Find out about the most dangerous jobs in America, and why Alfred Nobel was such a (smart) weirdo. And why a turn-of-the-century craze is still haunting France and France's wallet today. ALSO: 1960's Jeopardy, SQUARE TRIVIA! |
Tue, 24 September 2013
Get out your smoothie cup because we're about to whip up your melon with some quenching quizzes! Let's play "Japan, Or Not Japan?" and "Angels & Demons." Fire up your follicles with a quiz all about hair-removing products (and pain, we suppose). Karen's got a list of animals whose species names are all dedicated to celebrities, and Dana brings it with a lightning round of TV's beloved anti-heroes. Colin's doubled over duos, and Chris is just "plane crazy." ALSO: World's Ugliest Animal, podcast facts |
Tue, 17 September 2013
Overload on trivia about OVERLOADING! Find out what happens to your body when you eat too many carrots, and the very dangerous (and poisonous!) nature of drinking way too much water. Ever feel weird about words when they are repeated over and over and over and over again? "Too Much" quiz, and learn about some odd names for nutty maladies from doing too much of specific activities ALSO: Music Round, Time Travel Beaver |
Tue, 10 September 2013
Prepare your face for some eyebrow-raising and completely bonkers trivia about school: the odd history behind the classic No. 2 yellow pencil (WHY IS IT NUMBER TWO? WHY IS IT YELLOW? THE WORLD MUST KNOW!), the surreal and the bedazzled things rival colleges fight for, celebrities who used to be teachers, and the impact Minnesota had on videogames. And where did the phrase "freshman fifteen" come from? And are *YOU* smarter than a 1895 eighth grader? ALSO: 1960's Jeopardy!, listener questions, prep school movie quiz |
Thu, 5 September 2013
Chris discovers the magical and mystical properties of the number nine, and Karen finds mathematical shapes in videogames, snacks, and Las Vegas. Learn a whole lotta nothing... uh... we mean zero! E.L.V.I.S. is back with another quiz - this time with numerically-titled songs. And find out the history and reasoning behind your phone number. And please excuse my dear aunt Sally, and not because she farted, but because she forgot all the silly math mnemonics from elementary school! ALSO: 1960's Jeopardy! |
Wed, 28 August 2013
We're going to make your skull-stuffing sweat with some trivia that is hot, hot, hot! How hot is the world's hottest chili pepper? And what is the most efficient remedy to cool of a scorched tongue? Find out all the "tricks" to fire-walking, and don't forget to get some delicious hot anagrams. Learn another nightmare animal that practically boils up the competition. And Chris is a really good Donna Summer. ALSO: Bizarre headlines, The Peppermaster |
Tue, 20 August 2013
Better get your THINK TANK ready because we're fishing for BRAIN-BOW TROUT in our 15th ALL QUIZ episode! Dana's got a hangover-free quiz about cocktails and drinky-drinks. Chris' current game obsession bleeds into his quiz segment about Disney characters, and Colin hosts another round of "WHAT'S...THE...DIFFERENCE?!" Do you know what *your* demonym is? And Karen prepared an international music round, and a wacky celebrity inventor quiz. Betcha don't know what celebrity has the patent for a naughty jacuzzi. ALSO: totally rad 80's Squarespace ad, Where Do You GJB? |
Tue, 13 August 2013
One is good, but is two really better? Test your movie tagline chops with our movie sequel quiz. Do you know the full titles of some of these blockbuster sequels? And what about sequels of people? Karen shares some odd findings on the "Junior" naming tradition. Colin regales us with tales of weird shampoo product sequels that leave us scratching our heads. (Because we're perplexed, not because he gave us lice or anything.) ALSO: Bizarre headlines (TURTLE BURGER!), Jeopardy! |
Wed, 7 August 2013
Tsk tsk tsk. For shame! Tales and trivia about notable cheaters: the marathon runner whose time seemed too good, the journalist whose reports seemed too colorful, and the gutsy guy whose casino caper seemed too easy. And of course, the awesome anti-cheating mechanisms, like plagiarism software and RFID tags, to battle against sneaky behavior! And how a couple of Canadian thieves got themselves in a STICKY situation. ALSO: Squarespace Internet Quiz, Pop Quiz with vacationing listeners! |
Wed, 31 July 2013
Get our your goggles and saddle for your giant pet mole, and suit up - because we're going on an underground adventure! We dig deep into the marvel and the twists behind the birth of NYC subway, we find out what's exactly underneath Disney World, and what's up with these weirdo mysterious gobin caves in Bavaria. Take our "Top? Or Bottom?" underwear quiz, and find out what was the building that won WWII and how it became invisible. ALSO: "It's Good to be Bad" Villains Quiz, Jeopardy! |
Tue, 23 July 2013
TEN-HUT! Time to go all bootcamp on your brain with this quiz-only episode. Are you a cake person or a pie person? Sweeten your day with Karen's quiz on dessert flavors and wacky names. Sprint across the finish line with Colin's music segment "Cut to the Chase!" and see if you can identify some of the most iconic movie chase scene scores. Chris prepared us a (very, very hard) literary author pseudonym test as well as a reprise of GIRL vs. BOYS. Think you know your nursery rhymes? Then see how high you can score on Dana's Mother Goose challenge. ALSO: "Call the Doctor" and country anagrams. |
Tue, 16 July 2013
Hey, Mr. Big Stuff, who do you think you are? From the big man (Colossus of Rhodes) to the Big Mac, we share awesome facts and quizzes about things that are BIG. We find out what space might actually smell like, the noisy nature of oceans, and the mysterious, wondrous, bittersweet....and... "explosive" nature of whales. ALSO: We try out auditory palindromes!!! And a special Dnuor Cisum quiz! |
Tue, 9 July 2013
The hills are alive with SO MANY FACTS ABOUT MUSIC: the oldest instrument of the history of mankind, notable moments in recording history, the first talking doll recordings (creepy!), music scandals on TV quiz, the actual lowdown on hidden secret messages and the whole backward-song craze that swept the nation. Where exactly "is the place in France where the naked ladies dance"?, and just why singing the Happy Birthday song might get you in legal trouble. ALSO: Fictional workplace quiz, Chicago World's Fair |
Tue, 2 July 2013
Ready for summer vacation? Load this episode up while you bask under the red hot day-star! Tan your brain with awesome glowing facts: the (kind of gross) history of the icecream cone, weird trivia about daylight saving time, wacky watermelon stories, the inspiration behind the Slip N Slide, and the summer nectar of the gods - Slurpee. Summer jams lyrics quiz. And what makes a movie a "blockbuster"? Why is it even called that? ALSO: Tech company animal mascot quiz, "Um...Actually..." |
Tue, 25 June 2013
Paging Doctor Feelgood! We need 100cc of trivia facts STAT!!! We explore the trivia-filled world of medicine - specifically, the weird and wacky medical treatments: old-timey snake oil, traveling medicine shows, alcohol, quacks, that wonder drug "calomel", leeches (no, no, they're actually quite nice!), Hollywood "script doctors," and an odd story about... ancient Chinese ingenuity? Yeah... ALSO: Dog Show facts, XYZ quiz |
Tue, 18 June 2013
Are you lonesome tonight? Well, these people sure are! We salute and celebrate the ones who tend to do things by themselves: the crazy solo life of the hermit crab (and its nightmare cousin, the coconut crab), the physical and psychological effects of human isolation experiments, the amazing trail-blazing lone wolf game designers of the Atari age, and of course, famous band members who struck it big with their own solo careers. ALSO: marathon mnemonic and factoids, and E.L.V.I.S. music quiz! |
Wed, 12 June 2013
Yeeeaaaahhhhh! Another quiz-filled tasty entree to satisfy your hunger for weird information. Are you a boardgame expert? Then Dana gotcha covered in her boardgame pieces test. Chris had colors on his mind, and also a very intriguing (and maybe infuriating?) "middle in line" movie quiz. Karen makes everyone play Family Feud, and Colin want us to get into his "domain." MOST IMPORTANTLY- we host our first ever taste test quiz and try to name the wacky flavors of snack Colin brought back from Asia. |
Wed, 5 June 2013
Shrink ray, pew pew! Toy dogs, woof woof! Mini golf, putt putt! We celebrate the things that come in smaller packages around us. Trivia about the invention of the miniskirt (oo la la) and weird laws around tiny liquor bottles. See if you can name the baby versions of top cartoon shows, and how many movies about shrinking people can you think of? ALSO: Brainiacs Book Club [NOTE: We had some audio technical difficulties during our recording session. We apologize if this episode sounds a little off!] |
Tue, 28 May 2013
(Let's see how many corn puns we can fit in this episode description) Ah shucks! So many kernels of facts in this husky episode about corn. Let's stalk the whereabouts of this golden plant: from car parts to Doritos, from liquor to Beavis & Butthead. Enter the freaky world of corn reproduction and find out the real reason behind corned beef's name. Smile from ear to ear as we explore the corny universe of pick-up lines. ALSO: Fictional language quiz, and Dana's big game debut! |
Tue, 21 May 2013
LATHER UP for some amazing quizzes and facts about things that are squeaky clean: famous cleaners on TV, infomercials, marketing deodorant, the rise and fall of a surprising cleaning product... and what exactly IS soap? Learn about the massive undertaking of cleaning the Statue of Liberty, and the after-dark secretsssss of tidying up Disneyland. ALSO: Music Round! |
Tue, 14 May 2013
Good morning, brains! Love it or hate it, getting up in the morning is something we have to face every single day. Well, unless...you're a nocturnal mole-person. We gab about juicy trivia and silly histories behind some of our favorite and least favorite parts of the morning ritual: Saturday morning cartoons, extremely hyper morning drink quiz, the dreaded hangover, the morning commute, the worst/best invention of the world - the snooze button, and play a round of "ENERGY DRINK?...Or SHOW ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL?" ALSO: Awful jokes by children, and Elements quiz |
Tue, 7 May 2013
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.) |
Tue, 30 April 2013
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. |
Tue, 23 April 2013
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. |
Tue, 16 April 2013
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. |
Tue, 9 April 2013
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. |
Tue, 2 April 2013
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! |
Tue, 26 March 2013
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." |
Tue, 19 March 2013
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. |
Mon, 11 March 2013
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 |
Mon, 4 March 2013
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 |
Mon, 25 February 2013
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. |
Mon, 18 February 2013
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! |
Tue, 12 February 2013
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 |
Mon, 4 February 2013
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 homerun 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, and a really weird Bonobos skit. |
Mon, 28 January 2013
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 |
Mon, 21 January 2013
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 |
Mon, 14 January 2013
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. |
Mon, 7 January 2013
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"? |
Mon, 31 December 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! |
Mon, 24 December 2012
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?" |
Mon, 17 December 2012
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. |
Mon, 10 December 2012
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! |
Mon, 3 December 2012
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. |
Mon, 26 November 2012
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. |
Mon, 19 November 2012
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? |
Tue, 13 November 2012
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. |
Mon, 5 November 2012
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! |
Mon, 29 October 2012
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. |
Mon, 22 October 2012
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! |
Mon, 15 October 2012
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! |
Mon, 8 October 2012
Still remember how to do the Macarena? We reminisce and discuss the origins of Pogs, singing raisins, ridiculous trend diets, Sanrio, and Hello Kitty. If you think modern fads are nuts, we also talk about the ridiculous crazes from the old-timey days like collecting limes, portable marionettes, and the first 3D movie mania. ALSO: bizarre headlines, and we finally caught Carmin San Mateo and got our music quiz back! |
Mon, 1 October 2012
Roses are red / violets are blue / we can't talk about color / without mentioning poo. We dive into the world of color: weird color names, chameleons, the legitimacy of purple, cheddar cheese vs. flamingos, color character name quiz, Crayola crayon controversy, heterochromia, and why we'd want to take Monet to a rave party. ALSO: animal collective nouns, wine quiz |
Mon, 24 September 2012
SWEAT. Flex those Adonis mental muscles because it's another All Quiz Bonanza! Video game trivia, "Belgium or Not Belgium?," Tarantino flicks, famous scientist anagrams, name that X-Men power, rockstar alter egos, and movie trivia GALORE. This episode is dedicated to our superfriend and superlistener Fred G who's our top Kickstarter backer! |
Mon, 17 September 2012
Prepare for the inevitable robot uprising by learning about...well, robots! Eymology, first appearances in culture, hanging out in the uncanny valley, historical Japanese tea-serving automatons and French duck robots. Inspiration behind C3PO & R2D2, TV + Movie Robot quiz, and of course, our own robot E.L.V.I.S. is back! ALSO: Brainiacs Book Club, and a *VERY AWESOME* music round. |
Mon, 10 September 2012
Watch out for those ACME anvils because we're transporting everyone into the world of TV cartoons this week! Brief history of animation, why you have to thank the government for the 80's cartoon explosion, mind-blowing origins behind our favorites, Villains quiz, cartoon bands, how Simpsons was created in a moment of panic, and more! ALSO: "What's in a Name?" quiz |
Mon, 3 September 2012
All aboard! Mind-blowing facts about transportation. We find out what's up with those old-timey bikes with the humongous front wheel, airplane secrets, the Hindenburg, JK Rowling's minor error, and train facts that will make your brain go OOoOooOooOoO! ALSO: "Whose Ride is it Anyways" quiz, and "One Letter Off" word puzzle and new listener challenge. |
Mon, 27 August 2012
DO IT, ROCKAPELLA. We celebrate our half-birthday milestone by talking about our favorite world landmarks: Eiffel Tower, Great Wall of China, Giza Pyramids, and Chris reveals his Statue of Liberty obsession. And of course, the gang relives the golden sleuthing days of Carmen Sandiego. ALSO: Our new favorite words, special edition listener challenge, easy trick for memorizing the colors of the eBay and Google logos in order |
Mon, 20 August 2012
Our most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational all-quiz show! Dana's got a round of Muppets trivia, Colin's got a geography and mononym celebrity names, Karen mixes things up with a mash-up round, and Chris quizzes us on very MAN-ly superhero names. ALSO: mind-blowing history behind the fortune cookie, the best/worst/sleaziest International Date Line pick-up line ever, and of course, a mini-segment of our favorite animal sex facts. |
Mon, 13 August 2012
Go for the gold with these lesser known Olympics trivia and history tidbits: hot air ballooning, mascot quiz, the weird link between pole vaulting and Donkey Kong, Olympic ring color mnemonic, Fatso the Wombat, and the strange science behind official equipment. ALSO: the cure for jet-lagged hamsters, Oklahoma's state vegetable, "Hey! That Sounds Familiar!" Music Round, and GO BANANAS with our very special announcement! |
Mon, 6 August 2012
We invite you to lean back, relax, and indulge in a nice refreshing beverage with us! Quench your thirst with amazing facts about beloved beverages: milkshakes, boba tea, sodas, and hot chocolate. Dana tries to stump us with Snapple lid factoids, and Chris hosts the game "Coke or Pepsi?" ALSO: 80's quiz battle, and a very special round of New York City trivia |