Go Fact Yourself

4.8 (821)
COMEDY
UPDATED MONTHLY

Twice a month, host J. Keith van Straaten and co-host Helen Hong quiz the smartest celebrities they know to find out why they love what they love! Recorded before a live audience in downtown Los Angeles, this game show features comedians, actors, and musicians answering arcane questions on topics they claim to be experts in. But don't worry; if they slip up, there are real experts on hand to give us the facts!

AUG 15

Ep. 178: Mimi Rogers & Matt Rogers

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!

1h 5m
AUG 1

Ep. 177: Brendan Hunt & Ashly Burch

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!

1h 6m
JUL 18

Ep. 176: Jodie Sweetin & Marc Evan Jackson

We ask the questions, you give the reply on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself! Jodie Sweetin has been in show business for most of her life. She’s famous for her role as Stephanie Tanner on "Full House." She’ll tell us what it was like being on a major TV show at such a young age and how she revisited that time in her podcast, "How Rude Tanneritos." Marc Evan Jackson is best known for his stoic performances across a number of TV roles including for "The Good Place" and "Brooklyn 99." He’ll tell us why he loves the fans of the shows he’s a part of and explain why the art of improv is so important. Areas of Expertise: Marc: The TV show “The Office,” vessels in the Maine windjamming fleet, and the lyrics to the song “Knockin’ Boots” by Candyman Jodie: Jim Henson movies, the TV show “Arrested Development,” and American Girl Dolls. What’s the Difference: Treasure Island What’s the difference between to treasure and to cherish? What’s the difference between a traffic median and a traffic island? Guest Experts: Candyman: Rapper and producer who co-wrote and performed the hit song “Knockin’ Boots.” Dave Goelz: Emmy-winning performer and producer who’s worked with the Muppets for more than 50 years – and in several movies with Jim Henson. 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!

1h 5m
JUL 4

Ep. 175: Georgia Hardstark & Tim Bagley

Get lost in a world of trivia on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself! Georgia Hardstark is best known for her incredibly popular podcast “My Favorite Murder.” It’s a show all about true crime, but she and her co-host still manage to find a lot of humor and heart in their subject matter. She’ll explain. Tim Bagley is an actor, comedian, and writer, who’s earned critical praise (and Emmy buzz) for his performance in the HBO’s “Somebody Somewhere.” He’ll tell us about some of the emotional moments from behind the scenes that turned into great moments for his character. Areas of Expertise: Tim: Chaka Khan, Mitzi Gaynor, and communicating with the dead Georgia: The TV show “Lost,” the band Sublime, and frozen food. What’s the Difference: Ow! What’s the difference between to burn and to scald? What’s the difference between to be hurt and to be injured? Guest Experts: Paulette McWilliams and Kevin Murphy: Founding members of the Grammy Award-winning group Rufus. Jorge Garcia: Award-winning actor and comedian who played Hurley on the TV show “Lost.” 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!

1h 3m
JUN 20

Ep. 174: Steven Weber & Kiran Deol

Set a course for trivia! It’s time to boldly go… Fact Yourself! Steven Weber is an actor with a storied career that includes TV shows like “Wings” and “Chicago Med.” He’ll tell us why he actually has trouble watching some of his earlier work… mainly due to vanity. Plus, he shares about why feels he should have won “Celebrity Jeopardy!” Kiran Deol is a comedian. In her new special, “Joysuck,” she talks about life’s difficulties and how to find joy in spite of them. And then we’ll learn more about what she considers the ideal nap. Areas of Expertise: Kiran: The IN-N-Out burgers menu, the movie The Shawshank Redemption, and types of vodka. Steven: The original “Star Trek” TV Series, Borscht Belt hotels, comedians and singers, and the book The Grapes of Wrath. What’s the Difference: Pickle Ball What’s the difference between pickling and fermenting? What’s the difference between a gala and a ball? Guest Experts: Jeff Zarrinnam: One of the owners and operators of Hollywood Distillery. Walter Koenig: actor and pop culture icon who originated the role of Pavel Chekov on “Star Trek.” 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!

58 min
JUN 6

Ep. 173: Thomas Jane & Grey DeLisle

Kick off your shoes and play some trivia on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself! Thomas Jane is an actor whose roles often required a lot of training. He’ll tell us how he got in shape for The Punisher, learned to play baseball for 61*, and more. Plus, we’ll learn about the unusual way he was paid for his very first film gig. Grey Delisle is a singer and voice actor whose characters can be heard in everything from “The Simpsons” to “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” She’ll give us samples of some of her most well-known voices and tell us about her newest music album, The Grey Album. Areas of Expertise: Grey: The Carter Family, Robert Duvall, and Dr. Pepper. Thomas: Pioneers of UFOlogy (specifically J. Allen Hynek), the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and absinthe. What’s the Difference: Frenemies What’s the difference between genial and congenial? What’s the difference between an enemy and a nemesis? Guest Experts: Carlene Carter: Grammy-nominated musician and third- generation member of the Carter family. Cary Guffey: Former actor known for his childhood role in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. 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!

59 min
MAY 17

Ep. 172: Tom Papa & Rosalind Chao

It’s a silky-smooth brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself! Tom Papa is a comedian known for his podcast, radio show, and TV specials. These days, he may be even better known for his other passion: baking bread. He’ll tell us how that started and how his family indulged his new hobby. Rosalind Chao is an actor who’s appeared in everything from “Star Trek: The Next Generation", The Joy Luck Club, and Netflix’s “The 3 Body Problem.” Before all that, she was on the most-watched episode of television ever – a little thing called the series finale of “M*A*S*H.”” Areas of Expertise: Rosalind: Disneyland in the late 1980s, the TV show “The White Lotus” Season 3, and snacks from Trader Joe’s. Tom: The band The Grateful Dead, Godzilla and the Jersey Shore. What’s the Difference: Fabric Softener What’s the difference between silk and satin? What’s the difference between to cuddle and to snuggle? Guest Experts: Patravadi Mejudhon: Actor, playwright, and director, whose first Western role was in Season 3 of “The White Lotus.” Tom Constanten: Composer, musician, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer as a member of The Grateful Dead. 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!

58 min
MAY 2

Ep. 171: Amy Hill & Alec Mapa

From Broadway to Beverly Hills, it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself! Amy Hill is an actor with an extensive career, including roles in Lilo & Stitch and over 90 episodes of the rebooted “Magnum P.I.” She’ll tell us how she got that part and how it brought her closer to her daughter … literally. Alec Mapa is a comedian and actor, who often plays stereotypically flamboyant characters. He’ll explain why he actually doesn’t mind that, plus what it’s like being a guest judge on “Rupaul’s Drag Race.” Our guest host this week is Mallory O’Meara, who was a contestant on episode 168. Areas of Expertise: Amy: Traveling alone, biographical documentaries, and the TV show “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” Alec: Filipino superstitions, The TV Show Drag Race Philippines and the musical Gypsy What’s the Difference: Lethal Weapon What’s the difference between something lethal and fatal? What’s the difference between a gun and a firearm? Guest Experts: Alex Baskin: Executive Producer of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” and host of the podcast, “Bravo’s Hot Mic” Lane Bradbury, Maureen Moore, Kate Reinders, and Leigh Ann Larkin: Actors whose careers include playing June in Broadway productions of Gypsy from 1959-2008. Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten Mallory O’Meara 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!

1h 2m

See All (215)

Helen Hong

Host
J. Keith Van Straaten

Host
Mallory O'Meara

Guest
Jerry O'Connell

Guest

4.8

out of 5

821 Ratings

NOSE WHISTLE!!

Aug 4

Kimster61

ALWAYS. A great show, but somebody has a MAJOR nose whistle!!
Fact-tastic Fun!

Jul 30

42storms

I love this podcast it is a delightful blend of humor and trivia that keeps you entertained and informed! The hosts' infectious enthusiasm and witty banter make every episode a must-listen! I love listening for the reaction of the guests when the expert is introduced.
Cats + Trivia = Peaceful Car Ride

Jul 22

Mammalian Nuturable

I am a day one listener to Go Fact Yourself and particularly love listening with my family on long drives. Most recently, we had a 4 hour drive planned from New York to Vermont but we also had our two cats with us, Cookie and Churro. When we first got on the road, Cookie was very unhappy in the cat carrier and meowed constantly. I tried putting on Olivia Rodrigo to cover the sound but the meowing still cut through and was very distracting. I switched to an episode of Go Fact Yourself and within seconds of Keith’s intro, Cookie stopped meowing! I don’t know if Cookie just liked Keith’s voice or maybe he’s a trivia fan and we just didn’t know it. Or maybe he knows Keith has a cat named Cookie too? In any case, the rest of the drive was quite enjoyable while our cats relaxed in the back and the rest of us learned some facts. And all joking aside (although this story is 100% true), Go Fact Yourself is one of my favorite podcasts. Sometimes I listen to the episodes in advance just so I can enjoy seeing and hearing how my family reacts when the experts are revealed. Also, just in case you think this was a fluke, we had the same experience with the cats on the drive home.
Affair of the Sausages

Jun 9

Dr. Torbett

I am a history professor. In my Reformation class I always look forward to teaching the Affair of the Sausages. It always gets the students’ attention and a few giggles. On vacation in Zurich I had my picture taken under an Affair of the Sausages historical marker. This show contains the first and only reference to the Affair of the Sausages that I have heard of in any kind of popular culture. I am eternally grateful. Thank you Go Fact Yourseeeeelf!

Twice a month, host J. Keith van Straaten and co-host Helen Hong quiz the smartest celebrities they know to find out why they love what they love! Recorded before a live audience in downtown Los Angeles, this game show features comedians, actors, and musicians answering arcane questions on topics they claim to be experts in. But don't worry; if they slip up, there are real experts on hand to give us the facts!