Go Fact Yourself

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Comedy
**Go Fact Yourself**

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!

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 140: Ron Funches & Ever Carradine Dec 15, 2023

Show notes

You can’t handle this brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guests:

Ron Funches is a comedian and actor. Ron says that growing up, a lot of people used to make fun of his voice. But now that he’s voiced characters in everything from the Trolls movies to “Harley Quinn” on HBO, he’s more than vindicated. He’ll tell us about how his work focuses on positive affirmations and why he’s so proud to be a dad.

Ever Carradine is an actor who has appeared in series like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Commander in Chief.” Acting is a family business for her; she’s following in the footsteps of John, David, and Keith Carradine. She’ll explain what it was like growing up on film sets and her new non-acting role at SAG-AFTRA.

Areas of Expertise:

Ron: 1990s professional wrestling, the TV show “I Love Lucy,” and marijuana strains.

Ever: 1990s supermodels, the film A Few Good Men, and the 2004 Boston Red Sox.

What’s the Difference:

Mary Lou

What is the difference between "happy" and "merry"?

What is the difference between a bathroom and a loo?

Experts:

Keith Thibodeaux: actor and musician who played “Little” Ricky Ricardo on “I Love Lucy”

Kevin Pollak: award-winning actor and comedian, whose many TV shows and films include A Few Good Men.

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live Show Engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience show in Los Angeles by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Ep. 139: Yakov Smirnoff & Salamishah Tillet Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

These fancy things will never come in between you and this brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guests:

Yakov Smirnoff is an iconic comedian, who made a name for himself after making Johnny Carson laugh on “The Tonight Show.” He’ll explain how he had to fight for the chance to be on the show and how he learned to make art in the face of tragedy.

Salamishah Tillet is a scholar, activist, curator, and writer, who won a Pulitzer Prize for her work in The New York Times. She’ll tell us about what it was like to keep that honor a secret – even from her friends and family.

Areas of Expertise:

Salamishah: The Nadal/Federer tennis rivalry, the Donovan McNabb era of the Philadelphia Eagles, and Beyoncé/Rihanna.

Yakov: The Canary Islands, the science of love, and the movie Crazy, Stupid, Love.

What’s the Difference:

Make Some Noise

What is the difference between sound editing and sound mixing?

What is the difference between a yell and a shout?

Experts:

Kuk Harrell and Tricky Stewart: Songwriters, producers and executives, whose multiple Grammy awards include hit songs with Beyoncé and Rihanna.

Glenn Ficarra and John Requa: Writer, producers, and directors of many TV shows and films, including Crazy, Stupid, Love.

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Guest Live Show Engineer is Jeremy Beavers.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience show in Los Angelesby YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Ep. 138: Anna Camp & Mike Schmidt Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

You might as well jump into this brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guest Co-host Niccole Thurman has appeared in shows like HBO’s “Jellystone” and “The Operation with Jordan Klepper” and has very particular criteria for her hotel rooms.

Guests:

Anna Camp is an actor, best known for her role in the Pitch Perfect movie series. She’ll tell us about some of her upcoming projects and the time that she helped out Morgan Freeman during a difficult moment behind the scenes.

Mike Schmidt is a comedian and host of the podcast “The 40-Year-Old Boy.” He’ll tell us about how the show has evolved since it started more than 14 years ago. Plus, we’ll learn why it took three chances before he finally got to appear on this show.

Areas of Expertise:

Mike: The movie Reservoir Dogs, The Road Warriors wrestling team, and the band Van Halen

Anna: Southern cuisine, the play and movie A Streetcar Named Desire, and the TV show “Vanderpump Rules.”
What’s the Difference:

Cops and Robbers

What is the difference between a sheriff and chief of police?

What is the difference between a criminal and a crook
Experts:

Greg Renoff: Author of the book Van Halen Rising: How a Southern California Backyard Party Band Saved Heavy Metal

Emily Mann & Daphne Rubin-Vega: Director and star, respectively, of the 2012 Broadway revival of A Streetcar Named Desire.

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Niccole Thurman

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live Show Engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience show in Los Angeles by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Ep. 137: Kathleen Madigan & Ron Pope Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

Look closely in the water and you’ll see a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guests:

Kathleen Madigan is a comedy icon. How did she get her start? By wanting to have a drink at a decent bar… that just happened to feature stand-up. She’ll tell us what it’s like to have such an extensive career and why throwing the first pitch at a Chicago Cubs baseball game is so complicated. You can find Kathleen on tour.

Ron Pope is a singer-songwriter whose song, “A Drop in the Ocean,” has been streamed over one billion times and gone platinum. He’ll tell us how he found success with his music on TV and how he learned to write music in the midst of personal tragedies. Ron’s new album Inside Voices is available now.

Areas of Expertise:

Kathleen: The Loch Ness Monster, the convenience store chain Buc-cees and “Ozark” the TV show vs. the real Ozarks.

Ron: The band Counting Crows, the TV show “Yellowstone” and New York’s best slice of pizza.

What’s the Difference:

Along Came a Spider and Sat Down Be-Cider

What is the difference between a spider and an arachnid?

What is the difference between apple cider and apple juice?

Experts:

Adrian Shine: Naturalist who has studied life in Loch Ness for over 50 years.

Steve Bowman: Founding member and drummer for Counting Crows.

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live Show Engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience show in Los Angeles by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Ep. 136.5 BoCo Preview: “GFY Extras!” Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

As the regular version of the podcast is edited down, some moments naturally get left on the cutting room floor. The only way to hear them is to be at the live show… or to be a MaxFun member and hear some in your bonus feeds!

We share a brief preview of what MaxFun members can hear right now in their Bonus Content feed!
Not a member? Go to maximumfun.org/join and select “Go Fact Yourself” as a podcast you support!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Ep. 136: Keegan-Michael Key & Elle Key Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

Drop back and avoid the sack, it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guests:

Keegan-Michael Key is an Emmy and Peabody award-winning actor, writer, and prodcuer.

Elle Key is an award winning film, television, and commercial director and producer.

The Keys are the authors of the new book The History of Sketch Comedy: A Journey Through the Art and Craft of Humor. Elle and Keegan will tell us about how the book was born from conversations they had as they geeked out about the “science” of comedy, and how they documented the world’s first recorded joke. Plus, Keegan tells us more about how his comic origin story came from seeing his dad laugh at Eddie Murphy.

Areas of Expertise

Keegan: The Matthew Stafford era of the Detroit Lions football team, New York City phrases & slang, and Jewish cooking.

Elle: Art, painting & colors, 1980s action movies, and Jewish cooking.

What’s the Difference

Affront and A-back

What is the difference between an affront and an offense?

What is the difference between spare ribs and baby back ribs?

Experts:

Glover Quin: Former Pro-Bowl defensive back for the Detroit Lions.

John Badham: Film director whose films include Saturday Night Fever and several 1980s action movies.

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Live Show Engineer is Dave McKeever.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience show in Los Angele

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Ep. 135: Jason Pargin & Joyelle Nicole Johnson Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

Your trivia begins… now! It’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guests:

Jason Pargin is known by many for his presence on TikTok, and by many others as the author of the bestselling John Dies at the End book series. He tries to make sure that infrequent readers gain some joy through his books – whether that’s writing a funny title like Zoey Punches the Future in the D*** or not requiring people start at the beginning to enjoy the sequels. Why is he so sensitive to the needs of infrequent readers? Because he’s one too! Check out his latest Zoey Ashe book, available now!

Joyelle Nicole Johnson has been touring a solo show entitled “Not the Mama,” where she celebrates having a hysterectomy. (Woo-hoo!) It’s part of her conscious decision not to have children, a choice that she says goes all the way back to her failed attempt at being a middle school teacher. Joyelle will tell us all about that, plus how she made the decision not to attend Sunday school as a child – thanks in part to George Carlin.

Areas of Expertise

Jason: The Patrick Swayze film Roadhouse, the British panel show “Taskmaster,” and Twitter.

Joyelle: Stevie Wonder songs, how to live in luxury in Brooklyn, and drag queens &“Drag Race” & “Drag Race All Stars.”

What’s the Difference

Paper Plains

What’s the difference between paper and parchment?

What’s the difference between a plain and prairie?

Experts:

Alex Horne: Creator, producer, and co-host of “Taskmaster.”

Shea Couleé: “Drag Race” star who appeared on three seasons of the show, including winning Season 5 of “Drag Race All Stars”

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience show in Los Angeles by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Ep. 134: Ed Begley, Jr. & GloZell Sep 15, 2023

Show notes

Is you okay out there?! It’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guests:

Ed Begley, Jr. is a second-generation actor. Why did he decide to get into Hollywood? Because he wanted to do exactly what his dad did. Over the years he’s been nominated for an Emmy seven times, guested on game shows, and even had dinner with the Beatles. Ed’s memoir “To The Temple of Tranquility… And Step On It!” is available for pre-order now.

GloZell is a comedian who has endeared herself to her YouTube audience with catchphrases, green lipstick… and an extreme take on the cinnamon challenge. She’ll tell us about how all of that led to her scoring an interview with President Barack Obama at the White House.

Areas of Expertise

Ed: Electric vehicles, U.S. geography, the movie Midnight Run.

GloZell: The TV show “The Love Boat,” the Alanis Morrisette album Jagged Little Pill, and looking for a cowboy.

What’s the Difference

Do you read me?

What’s the difference between a typeface and a font?

What’s the difference between something being legible and readable?

Experts:

George Gallo: Director, producer and screenwriter of several films, including writing Midnight Run.

Glen Ballard: Songwriter Hall of Famer, who won three Grammys for Jagged Little Pill.

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next live-audience show in Los Angeles by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Ep. 133.5: Best of Animals Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

After several “Best of” episodes focused on humans, we’re finally putting the spotlight where it belongs: on animals! This special episode is dedicated to those guests who chose cute critters as their area of expertise. That includes Monique Powell from the band Save Ferris, author Susan Orlean, comedy writer Jenny Jaffe and more!

Plus, we have an ark full of experts that include scientists, veterinary specialists and AN ACTUAL ANIMAL!

Don’t have a cow; listen now!

In this episode…

Guests:

Monique Powell from Episode 5.

Susan Orlean from Episode 15.

Jenny Jaffe from Episode 48.

Jonatha Brooke from Episode 86.

Alison Leiby from Episode 87.

Experts:

Dr. Rachel Malamed, Veterinary Behaviorist.

Dr. Linnea Newman, Director of Global Technical director of poultry for Merck Animal Health.

Crouton, the most popular resident of Squirrelwood Equine Sanctuary, who has over 60,000 followers on Twitter.

Beth Hyman, co-founder of Squirrelwood Equine Sanctuary who rescued Crouton and helps run his popular Twitter account.

Dr. David Kersey, professor of veterinary sciences and giant panda reproduction expert.

Dr. Nicole Duplaix, senior instructor at Oregon State University’s Department of Fisheries, Wildlife and Conservation Sciences and the founder of the International Union of Conservation for Nature’s “Otter Specialist Group.”

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next

live-audience show in Los Angeles

by YOU!

Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact

Ep. 133: Lisa Lampanelli & Will Leitch Aug 18, 2023

Show notes

Your word is “trivia” on a brand new episode of Go F-A-C-T Yourself!

In this episode…

Sarah Rodenbaugh is a writer, actor and producer, whose new film, Hangman, is playing in festivals around the country. She steps in as guest co-host for this episode.

Guests:

Lisa Lampanelli is a retired comedian. Her 30-year career involved selling out Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall, numerous specials and so much more. She tells us about some of her biggest TV experiences, including “The Celebrity Apprentice” and the US version of “Taskmaster.” And she explains how adjusting from such a busy career to retirement required a lot of trial and error.

Will Leitch is a writer. He balances a career in sportswriting with publishing popular novels. His most recent work, The Time Has Come, is set in his home town of Athens, Georgia – a town that he’s gotten a lot of comments about since the 2020 election. He’ll tell us about how his book got an unexpected boost from the greatest horror writer of all time.

Areas of Expertise:

Lisa: Punctuation, spelling, and 1980s new-wave music

Will: Roger Ebert’s movie reviews, the fighters in the game Mike Tyson’s Punch-Out!!, and songs from Meat Loaf’s Bat Out Of Hell Album.

What’s the Difference:

Jury Box

What’s the difference between a summons and a subpoena?

What’s the difference between a box and a carton?

Experts:

Dev Shah: Winner of the 2023 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Ellen Foley: Actor and singer, known for being the featured female vocalist on Meat Loaf’s “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.”

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten