The Quiz Fix

Cyril Gaillard

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. 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.

    17 min
  2. 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.

    17 min

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.