The Quiz Fix

Cyril Gaillard
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The Quiz Fix turns real stories from history, science, and culture into bite-sized episodes you'll actually remember — because every one ends with a quiz. Two formats: Deep-Dive conversations (15–20 minutes) for when you want to sink into a single subject, and Quick-Fire trivia sprints (under 10 minutes) for when you've only got a coffee break. Educational, conversational, never dry. Subscribe and turn dead time into smart time.

Episodes

  1. 3d ago

    Polio, the Vaccine, and the March of Dimes

    Summer once meant pool days, cookouts, and a terrifying annual reminder that polio was still out there. This episode looks at how one of the most feared diseases in America helped spark a major medical breakthrough — and how a simple fundraising idea turned into a national movement. We trace the path from the fear and uncertainty surrounding polio to the development of the vaccine that changed public health forever. Along the way, you’ll hear how Franklin D. Roosevelt’s experience helped bring attention to the disease, how the March of Dimes mobilized millions of small donors, and how Jonas Salk’s vaccine — followed by Albert Sabin’s oral vaccine — transformed the fight against polio. It’s a story about science, persistence, and what can happen when ordinary people help fund extraordinary research. In this episode: • Why polio was so feared in the early and mid-20th century • How Franklin D. Roosevelt helped raise the profile of the disease • The origin and impact of the March of Dimes campaign • Jonas Salk’s inactivated polio vaccine and the massive 1954 trial • Albert Sabin’s oral polio vaccine and its role in wider immunization efforts • How public fundraising helped make a medical breakthrough possible Quiz time: Stick around for a 5-question quiz at the end of the episode. Hosted by Cyril and Olivia. This episode is sponsored by Fyrebox — the no-code platform for building quizzes that grow your audience. fyrebox.com Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

  2. Jul 7

    Roswell, 1947: The Crash That Launched UFO Culture

    If one press release could launch a thousand conspiracy theories, Roswell is the proof. In 1947, a patch of mysterious debris outside a New Mexico ranch became front-page fuel for the modern UFO era. This episode untangles what actually happened at Roswell, why the story shifted so quickly, and how a military explanation that sounded ordinary on paper ended up sounding suspicious to the public. You’ll hear how the incident fit into the postwar flying-saucer craze, why later reports and interviews changed the legend, and how Roswell became a lasting symbol of secrecy, skepticism, and extraterrestrial possibility. It’s a great example of how history and myth can collide — and keep colliding for decades. In this episode: • The July 1947 discovery of debris near Roswell, New Mexico • The Army’s original “flying disc” press release and the rapid correction • Kenneth Arnold, the birth of the term “flying saucer,” and the 1947 UFO craze • Project Mogul and the modern historical explanation for the debris • How later witness accounts and media coverage transformed Roswell into legend • Why Roswell became a cultural symbol of government secrecy and UFO culture Stick around for a 5-question quiz at the end. Hosted by Cyril and Olivia. This episode is sponsored by Fyrebox — the no-code platform for building quizzes that grow your audience. fyrebox.com Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

  3. Jun 30

    The Erie Canal Opens and Changes American Commerce

    What if one 19th-century canal could reroute the flow of American money, goods, and power? In 1825, the Erie Canal did exactly that, and the ripple effects were enormous. This episode digs into how a 363-mile waterway turned New York into a commercial heavyweight and helped stitch together a growing nation. Join us for a conversational deep-dive into the engineering, economics, and ambition behind one of the most important infrastructure projects in U.S. history. You’ll learn why the canal was considered such a bold gamble, how it slashed transportation costs, and why its success mattered far beyond New York State. From western farmers to eastern merchants, the Erie Canal changed who could trade with whom, and at what price. In this episode: • Why the Erie Canal was considered a revolutionary public works project • How the canal linked the Hudson River to Lake Erie • The dramatic impact of lower shipping costs on American commerce • DeWitt Clinton’s role and New York State’s public investment • How the canal boosted New York City and encouraged settlement • The canal’s long-term legacy before railroads took over Plus: a 5-question quiz at the end to test what you remember. Hosted by Cyril and Olivia. This episode is sponsored by Fyrebox — the no-code platform for building quizzes that grow your audience. fyrebox.com Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

  4. Jun 23

    One Giant Leap: Apollo 11 and the First Steps on the Moon

    What does it take to land humans on another world and bring them back safely? Apollo 11 is the answer America watched unfold in real time, from the thunder of the Saturn V to Neil Armstrong’s unforgettable first steps on the Moon. In this episode, we trace the mission from President Kennedy’s Moon challenge through the engineering triumphs that made it possible, including the test flights that paved the way. We also revisit the tense descent to Tranquility Base, the science conducted on the lunar surface, and the return journey that brought Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins safely home. Along the way, you’ll hear why Apollo 11 became a defining moment not just for spaceflight, but for modern history itself. In this episode: • The Space Race and Kennedy’s 1961 Moon landing goal • How Apollo missions 7, 8, 9, and 10 prepared the way • The Saturn V launch and the Apollo 11 crew’s roles • Eagle’s dramatic descent, low fuel, and first Moon landing • Armstrong’s first step, Aldrin’s “magnificent desolation,” and lunar science • The journey back to Earth, splashdown, and quarantine Stick around for a 5-question quiz at the end to see how much of the Moon mission you can recall. Hosted by Cyril and Olivia. This episode is sponsored by Fyrebox — the no-code platform for building quizzes that grow your audience. fyrebox.com Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

  5. Jun 16

    Watergate on Trial: The Senate Hearings That Shook America

    What started as a botched break-in at the Watergate complex turned into one of the most consequential investigations in American history. In this episode, we dig into how the 1973 Senate Watergate hearings exposed a widening cover-up, brought televised accountability into living rooms across the country, and pushed the constitutional system to test its limits. You’ll hear how the Senate Watergate Committee came together, why Sam Ervin became such an unexpected national figure, and how key testimony from insiders like John Dean shifted the entire scandal. We also explore the role of public hearings, investigative journalism, and the revelation of the White House taping system in turning suspicion into hard evidence. In this episode: • The June 1972 Watergate break-in and its ties to Nixon’s reelection campaign • The creation of the Senate Select Committee on Presidential Campaign Activities • Why the live televised hearings captivated the nation • The explosive testimony of James McCord and John Dean • The significance of the White House taping system and congressional oversight • How the hearings helped expose a constitutional crisis The episode ends with a 5-question quiz. Hosted by Cyril and Olivia. This episode is sponsored by Fyrebox — the no-code platform for building quizzes that grow your audience. fyrebox.com Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

  6. Jun 9

    The 1918 Influenza Pandemic and America’s Public Health Response

    When the 1918 influenza pandemic hit the United States, it did more than overwhelm hospitals — it exposed the strengths, limits, and improvisations of early public health in real time. This episode digs into how cities, states, and federal officials responded, and why some places managed the crisis far better than others. Listeners will learn how the pandemic spread, why World War I made the outbreak harder to control, and what tools public health officials had available before modern vaccines, antivirals, or the CDC. We also explore the uneven patchwork of local responses, from school closures and gathering bans to mask rules and the controversies they sparked. Along the way, the episode shows how timing, trust, and communication shaped outcomes during one of the deadliest public health emergencies in American history. In this episode: • How the 1918 influenza pandemic spread and why it was so deadly • The role of World War I in accelerating transmission • How cities used closures, isolation, and mask policies to slow the virus • Why St. Louis and Philadelphia became famous case studies in public health timing • The limits of medical science and the challenges of public communication in 1918 • How volunteers, hospitals, and local communities responded under extreme pressure Stick around for a 5-question quiz at the end. Hosted by Cyril and Olivia. This episode is sponsored by Fyrebox — the no-code platform for building quizzes that grow your audience. fyrebox.com Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

  7. Jun 2

    The 1919 Boston Police Strike: When the Thin Blue Line Went on Strike

    What happens when the people charged with keeping order decide they’ve had enough? In 1919 Boston, that question stopped being hypothetical fast, and the answer made national headlines. The result was a dramatic labor showdown that still echoes through conversations about police, unions, and public trust. In this episode, we dig into the Boston Police Strike of 1919 — why it happened, how quickly the city descended into disorder, and why the response from state leaders changed American politics. You’ll hear how postwar inflation, long hours, low pay, and a fight over union affiliation pushed officers to walk off the job, and why Governor Calvin Coolidge’s hard line made him a national figure. We also unpack why the strike became such a lasting cautionary tale in labor history, especially for public-sector workers. In this episode: • The post-World War I labor unrest that set the stage for the strike • The police officers’ complaints about pay, hours, and working conditions • Why affiliation with the American Federation of Labor became such a flashpoint • How the strike led to looting, riots, and a public safety crisis in Boston • Calvin Coolidge’s response and the famous line that made him a national name • The strike’s long-term impact on police unions and public-sector labor rights Stick around for a 5-question quiz at the end. Hosted by Cyril and Olivia. This episode is sponsored by Fyrebox — the no-code platform for building quizzes that grow your audience. fyrebox.com Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

  8. May 25

    San Francisco, 1906: Earthquake, Fire, and Rebuilding a City

    When the ground shook in San Francisco on April 18, 1906, the disaster was only beginning. The quake triggered fires, overwhelmed water lines, and turned a major American city into a landscape of smoke, rubble, and improvisation. This episode looks at the earthquake itself, the science behind the San Andreas Fault, and the devastating fires that followed. You’ll hear how the city responded, where people sheltered, and why the 1906 disaster became a landmark event for earthquake science, emergency planning, and urban rebuilding. We also dig into the long, complicated process of reconstruction and how San Francisco emerged transformed, not simply restored. In this episode: • The causes and timing of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake • Why the fires caused even more destruction than the quake itself • The human toll, including deaths and mass homelessness • Relief efforts, refugee camps, and the role of the U.S. Army • How Henry Fielding Reid’s work advanced earthquake science • The rebuilding of San Francisco and its lasting impact on city planning Stick around for a 5-question quiz at the end. Hosted by Cyril and Olivia. This episode is sponsored by Fyrebox — the no-code platform for building quizzes that grow your audience. fyrebox.com Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

  • 8 Episodes

About

The Quiz Fix turns real stories from history, science, and culture into bite-sized episodes you'll actually remember — because every one ends with a quiz. Two formats: Deep-Dive conversations (15–20 minutes) for when you want to sink into a single subject, and Quick-Fire trivia sprints (under 10 minutes) for when you've only got a coffee break. Educational, conversational, never dry. Subscribe and turn dead time into smart time.

Information

  • Creator
    Cyril Gaillard
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Quiz Fix
  • Show Website
    The Quiz Fix