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MaximumFun.org

Go Fact Yourself

Set sail for Trivia on Go Fact Yourself! 

Christine Lakin is best known for her role as Alicia “Al” Lambert on the sitcom “Step By Step.” She’ll tell us about what it was like being the childhood crush of so many men and women. Plus, what it was like to “fall into” her work as an audiobook narrator.

Jon Lovett is the founder of Crooked Media and host of Lovett or Leave It. He’ll tell us how he manages to feel okay despite being so in tune with the world of politics. And we’ll learn more about how he wound up as a speech writer for the Obama administration… after winning a contest (sort of).

Areas of Expertise:

Christine: The TV show “Below Deck,” the TV show “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,” making the best mint cookies and cream ice cream in the world. 

Jon: Kazuo Ishiguro novels, the TV show “The Real Housewives of New York City,” and Taco Bell

What’s the Difference: Practically Speaking

What’s the difference between a practical solution and a pragmatic solution?

What’s the difference between your larynx and your pharynx?

With Guest Experts:

Courtland Cox: Longtime executive producer of “Below Deck.”

Captain Lee Rosbach: Captain for ten seasons on “Below Deck.”

Dorinda Medley and Alex McCord: Cast members of“The Real Housewives of New York.”

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Ep. 183: Christine Lakin & Jon Lovett

Surprised that there’s no new episode of Go Fact Yourself today? Worry not! We’ve got new episodes coming back to back for the next two weeks.

Plus, give the gift of GFY this holiday season! Check out our merch – including a holiday ornament – at MaxFunStore.com. 

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Ep. 182.1: A Quick Schedule Update from J. Keith

It’s a home box office of trivia with Go Fact Yourself!

Ashly Burch is a YouTuber and comedian who was a recent guest on episode 177 of Go Fact Yourself. She joins us as co-host. 

Lilan Bowden is an actor, perhaps best known for her role in the Netflix series “Murderville.” She’s had an extensive career across film and TV. But she’s been especially affected by her Disney series “Andi Mack,” and how much the role endeared her to kids.

A Martinez is known by public radio listeners as the host of NPR’s Morning Edition. He’s been a part of public radio for years. But before that, he made his name (literally!) in the world of sports radio. That’s also where he learned some… unique interviewing skills. He’ll explain.

Areas of Expertise:

A: The TV show “Veep,” the movie New Jack City, and the 1980s Los Angeles Lakers

Lilan: The TV show “The Comeback,” the YouTube show “Ms. Rachel,” and The Jim Jones Cult aka “The People’s Temple”

What’s the Difference: Taylor Swift

What’s the difference between a tailor and a seamstress?

What’s the difference between fast and quick?

With Guest Experts:

Damian Young: Actor whose career includes playing Mark Berman on HBO’s “The Comeback”

Laura Silverman: Actor who played Jane Benson on HBO’s “The Comeback”

Matt Walsh: Actor and comedian who founded the Upright Citizens Brigade and received two Emmy nominations for his role as Mike McLintock in the series “Veep”

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Ashly Burch

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

This episode was edited by Valerie Moffat

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Ep. 182: Lilan Bowden & A Martinez

It’s time to go to the polls with Go Fact Yourself! It’s a collection of some of our favorite trivia segments that feature politicians as experts.

In this episode:

Peter Sagal and Rebecca Makkai from ep. 45.

Helen Zaltzman and Lewis Black from ep. 79.

Antonio Villaraigosa from ep. 164.

Kitty Felde and Charlie Hankin from ep. 51.

Parker Molloy and Kevin Allison from ep. 99.

Matt Rogers and Mimi Rogers from ep. 178.

With Guest Experts:

Gov. Madeleine May Kunin, author, ambassador and three-term governor of Vermont.

Charlie Uhrig, former mayor of Solvang, California

Kermit Roosevelt III, professor at University of Pennsylvania’s Carey Law School.

Senator Barbara Boxer, representing California in the United States Senate from 1993 to 2017.

Rep. Laura Gillen: United States Congresswoman serving New York’s fourth district.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Ep. 181.5: The Best of Politics Special

After an extensive competition amongst our MaxFun Members, it all culminates in the 2024(ish) Listener Tournament Finals – a new episode of Go Fact Yourself! 

(Do YOU want to be a guest on the show? Make sure to support us in the 2026 MaxFunDrive and stay tuned for our next Listener Tournament!)

Khalil Goodman is a photographer who works in public communications in Barbados. He also loves cosplay and will tell us about some of his favorite characters that he’s encountered – plus, what it would take to get people to cosplay as the hosts of this show.

Kristen Pilotte is a government contractor and aerospace engineer. She’ll tell us about how she’s joining us while she’s on call for very important space-related work. We’ll also learn more about how some of her upcoming projects involve humans in space. And of course, cats!

Areas of Expertise:

Khalil: The animated TV series “X-Men ‘97,” the band Garbage, and the work of Agatha Christie.

Kristen: The “Duck Tales” videogame, the US manned space program, and the TV show “Grey’s Anatomy.”

What’s the Difference: Mind your Manners

What’s the difference between etiquette and manners?

What’s the difference between a cause of death and a manner of death?

With Guest Experts:

Isaac Robinson-Smith, Holly Chou and Alison Sealy-Smith: Voice actors whose work includes playing characters on the series “X-Men ‘97.”

Dr. Don Thomas: Author, engineer, educator, and astronaut.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next 

live-audience shows

 by YOU!

Ep. 181: The 2024(ish) Listener Tournament Finals: Khalil Goodman & Kristen Pilotte

The beat is fresh and so is the trivia on the Best of Hip-hop special of Go Fact Yourself! It’s a boxed set of our favorite rap trivia from over the years, including Hall of Fame MCs and DJs as experts.

Appearing in this episode:

Gina Yashere from ep. 142

Evette Dionne from ep. 121

Seán Devlin from ep. 87

Sarah Jones from ep. 167

DJ Jazzy Jeff from ep. 100

Marc Evan Jackson from ep. 176

Open Mike Eagle from ep. 165

With Guest Experts:

Ahmad: Hip-Hop artist who earned a Gold Record for his track, “Back in the Day.”

Speech: Rapper and founding member of hip-hop group Arrested Development.

DJ Jazzy Jeff: Actor, producer and Grammy-winning hip-hop pioneer.

Big Daddy Kane: Grammy-winning rapper and producer, known for his groundbreaking rhymes.

DJ Spinderella: Grammy-winning DJ, rapper and producer, known for her work as a member of the group Salt-N-Pepa.

Candyman: Rapper and producer who co-wrote and performed the hit song “Knockin’ Boots.”

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels: Founding member of Run-DMC and member of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Ep. 180.5: The Best of Hip-hop Special

Consider yourself at home– with trivia on Go Fact Yourself!

Stephen Tobolowsky is an actor, writer, and director. He’s perhaps best known for his role as Ned Ryerson from the classic film Groundhog Day. He’ll tell us about what it’s like being part of such an iconic movie – and how its fans keep him humble.

Aparna Nancherla is a comedian, who’s also a prolific voice actor. She’ll tell us why voicing the character Moon Tobin on “The Great North” represents a lifelong dream for her. Plus, she’ll workshop some titles for her upcoming stand-up special that will premiere on Dropout TV. 

Areas of Expertise:

Stephen: The work of Charles Dickens, the movie Children of Men, and the Jamaican Switch scam.

Aparna: The movie Home Alone, the movie Jurassic Park, and naked mole rats. 

What’s the Difference: Pay Up

What’s the difference between a deposit and a down-payment?

What’s the difference between extortion and blackmail?

Guest Experts:

Dr. Rochelle Buffenstein: Distinguished Research Professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, known for her groundbreaking work with naked mole rats. 

Shani Wallis: Legendary singer and actor who's appeared in dozens of film and stage productions – including the 1968 Oscar-winning Best Picture Oliver!

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Ep. 180: Stephen Tobolowsky & Aparna Nancherla

It’s a trivia dream come true on Go Fact Yourself!

Cooper Barnes is an actor, best known as the superhero Captain Man in the Nickelodeon “Danger Force” franchise. He’ll tell us what it’s like to have kids as fans, and why portraying a superhero is harder than it looks. (Hint: It rhymes with blandex.)

Larissa FastHorse is an award-winning playwright – the first known female Native American to have a play produced on Broadway. She’ll tell us why it earned her a level of fame she didn’t expect. Plus, how she helped update some famous (and infamous) elements of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.

Areas of Expertise:

Cooper: Comic book artists of the 1990s comic boom, the 1986 Transformers movie, and monkeys.

Larissa: The original play and 1954 musical Peter Pan, the movie The Sound of Music, and Pierre, South Dakota.

What’s the Difference: That’s Fair

What’s the difference between a carnival and a fair?

What’s the difference between just and fair?

Guest Experts:

Dr. Anne Bryant: Composer and producer of numerous songs for television, film and advertising – including the hit theme to Transformers.

Cathy Rigby McCoy: Award-winning actor, producer, and gymnast, who played Peter Pan on stage in thousands of productions around the world.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Ep. 179: Cooper Barnes & Larissa FastHorse

It’s a bouquet of trivia on Go Fact Yourself!

Mimi Rogers is an actor – best known these days for her role in the Amazon series “Bosch.” She’s acted in that family of shows for ten years, but she’ll tell us about how her part was never supposed to last that long. Plus, Mimi reveals some secrets about her time on the set of Austin Powers. 

Matt Rogers is one of the hosts of the podcast Las Culturistas. He’ll tell us about how he started the show with his co-host Bowen Yang, his Christmas themed album and tour that he manifested, and what it was like to actually meet the Queen of Christmas: Mariah Carey. You can stream “The Las Culturistas Culture Awards” on Peacock now.

Areas of Expertise:

Mimi: Types of flowers, Italian cooking, and the TV show “Sex and the City.”

Matt: Mariah Carey, the TV show “The Real Housewives of New York” (pre-reboot), and Long Island. 

What’s the Difference: Boring!

What’s the difference between drilling and boring?

What’s the difference between a hog and a boar?

Guest Experts:

Dr. Nicole Cavender: Director of the Botanical Gardens at The Huntington.

Rep. Laura Gillen: United States Congresswoman serving New York’s fourth district. 

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Ep. 178: Mimi Rogers & Matt Rogers

BELIEVE! In trivia!

Brendan Hunt is best known as Coach Beard on the Apple TV series “Ted Lasso.” He’ll tell us about how the show got started, why they decided to put out another season, and why fans always recognize him in airports.

Ashly Burch is a well-known part of gaming culture. She’s voiced characters of such critically-acclaimed games like Horizon: Zero Dawn and Life is Strange. She’ll demonstrate her voice work and tell us about her YouTube series “I’m Happy You’re Here.”

Areas of Expertise:

Ashly: The show “Parks and Recreation” seasons 3 and 4, 2006’s (aka 2005’s) Pride & Prejudice, and aerial silks.

Brendan: Elvis Costello’s under-appreciated album Spike, the Beatles song “Hey Jude,” and the Great Chicago Fire of 1871

What’s the Difference: Payback

What’s the difference between restitution and reparation?

What’s the difference between a spinal cord and a spinal column?

Guest Experts:

Jeri Heiden and John Heiden: Grammy-winning designers whose work included albums for Madonna, Pink, Elvis Costello, and more.

Mara Marini: Actor who’s appeared in shows like “Parks and Recreation,” “Schitt’s Creek,” and “Blackish.”

Natalie Morales: Actor who’s appeared in shows like “Parks and Recreation” and films like My Dead Friend Zoe.

Hosts: 

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU!

Ep. 177: Brendan Hunt & Ashly Burch

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 is the difference between a casket and a coffin?
 
Finally, we’ll finish with a round of Fast Facts!
 
Appearing in this episode:
 
J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong
 
Go Fact Yourself was devised by Jim Newman and J. Keith van Straaten, and produced in collaboration with Maximum Fun.
 
Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. The show is edited by Julian Burrell.

Bonus Ep. 31.5: opening for Judge John Hodgman

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