Ep. 96: Kevin Allison & Parker Molloy

Face front, true believers! It’s the Best of Comic Books special from Go Fact Yourself!

The superheroes of Marvel and DC comics are everywhere in pop culture, so it makes sense that a lot of our contestants over the years would choose them as their areas of expertise.

In this omnibus collection, you’ll hear from guests like John Hodgman and Jackie Kashian discussing characters like Spider-Man and the Legion of Super-Heroes.

In this episode…

Guests:

Jackie Kashian from episode 14

John Hodgman from episode 102

Dylan Brody from episode 38

Hal Lublin from episode 60

Myq Kaplan from episode 132

Experts:

Mark Waid: Comic book author who’s written stories for Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Boom Studios.

Paul Levitz: Eisner and Inkpot Award-winning writer and editor, who was president of DC Comics and wrote The Legion of Super-Heroes for over a decade.

Chris Claremont: New York Times bestselling author and writer of the bestselling comic book issue of all time.

Matt Forbeck: New York Times bestselling author whose books include Captain America: The Ultimate Guide to the First Avenger.

Marv Wolfman: Legendary and award-winning comic book author and editor, whose career includes creating the character Black Cat for Spider-Man.

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

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

Remember it, write it down, take a picture: it’s a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Krystina Arielle is a host and actor, currently fronting “Star Wars: The High Republic,” a multimedia series about stories from the franchise. She appeared on episode 105 of GFY and joins us today as guest co-host.

Guests:

Sarah Wayne Callies is an actor, perhaps best known for her roles in “Prison Break” and “The Walking Dead.” She recently launched Caliber Studios, a company devoted to creating podcasts. One of her first projects is her “Prison Break” rewatch series. It’s a big step for Sarah, but not just because of the new business venture; it’s also one of the few times she’s watched her own work. 

Michael Yo is an emmy-nominated host, actor and comedian. His new special “I Never Thought” is streaming on YouTube. He’ll tell us about how his comedy has evolved over the years and the impact that his jokes have had on his parents. You can hear Michael Yo almost every day on Sirius XM.

Areas of Expertise:

Sarah: The sonnets of Edna St. Vincent Millay, lyrics from Paul Simon’s Graceland album, and the movie The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert. 

Michael: The movie Friday, the movie Gladiator, the 2001 Miami Hurricanes championship football season.

What’s the Difference:

No Strings Attached

What’s the difference between twine and string?

What’s the difference between attach and affix?

Experts:

Angela Means: Chef and actor, best known for her role as Felisha in the film Friday.

Stephan Elliott: Award-winning writer and director, whose work includes The Adventures of Priscilla Queen of the Desert. 

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Krystina Arielle

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

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

Trivia and podcasting are a love story for the ages on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guests:

David Wilcox is an award-winning singer and songwriter, who happens to be one of J. Keith’s very favorites. His lyrics showcase his passion for intense and often very personal storytelling, so personal that some people have commissioned him to write songs about their lives – with surprising results. David’s album My Good Friends is available now.

Gretchen McCulloch is a bestselling author and award-winning linguist. How did she discover how much she loved linguistics? It all started with a stolen book… and ended with her writing her own book. Gretchen is the host of the podcast Lingthusiasm, where she’s posed important questions to listeners like “Is frowning something you do with your forehead or your mouth?”

Areas of Expertise:

David: Donald Fagen’s album The Nightfly, model year changes on air-cooled Volkswagens from 1949 to 1973, and plumbing.

Gretchen: The YouTube show “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries,” the musical SIX, and unexpected recipes that you can make with rhubarb.

What’s the Difference:

Birds of a Feather

What’s the difference between a nest and a roost?

What’s the difference between denizens and citizens?

Experts:

Will Lee: Grammy award-winning musician, whose thousands of album appearances include The Nightfly.

Ashley Clements: Award-winning actor, who starred in “The Lizzie Bennet Diaries” and hosts the YouTube show, “The Look Back Diaries”

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

Show engineer is Dave McKeever.

Associate Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

Seeing our next 

live-audience show in Los Angeles

 by YOU!

Pod hearts a trivia show-la on a brand new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guests:

Billy Gardell is one of the stars of the CBS sitcom “Bob Hearts Abishola.” He’s had an extensive career across film and television, but people are always surprised to learn that he’s also a comedian. He’ll explain. Plus, he’ll tell us all about his life-changing weight loss journey.

Gina Yashere is a comedian and writer who can also be seen on “Bob Hearts Abishola.” She was one of its creative voices behind the scenes. She’ll tell us about how she influenced the development of the show, including creating a role for herself. 

Areas of Expertise:

Billy: The Pittsburgh Steelers, the TV show “The Honeymooners,” and marriage

Gina: Pickleball, 1990s hip-hop, and elevators

What’s the Difference:

Snob Hearts Gorgonzola 

What is the difference between a “snob” and an “elite"?

What is the difference between “gorgonzola” and “blue cheese”?

Experts:

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

James Farrior: All pro linebacker, two-time Super Bowl champion, and member of the Pittsburgh Steelers hall of honor

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!

It’s a hair-raising brand-new episode of Go Fact Yourself!

In this episode…

Guests:

Philip Bowen is a singer and songwriter. Many discovered him on the latest season of “America’s Got Talent,” where he played a System of a Down cover on… the violin. He’ll explain why his biggest competition on the show wasn’t from other musicians… but from dogs and children. Philip’s debut album “Old Kanawa” is out now.

Nafis M. White is an interdisciplinary artist. Her main medium? Hair! Check out her complex works that are held together only by bobby pins. She’ll tell us about how she considers the observer’s entire experience – including why the sounds, smells, and a place to sit. Nafis’s next exhibition will be in San Francisco at the Museum of the African Diaspora in March.

Areas of Expertise:

Philp: West Virginia University Mountaineers athletics, The Wheel of Time series, and coffee.

Nafis: Coach Prime Deion Sanders, Durand Bernarr’s Tiny Desk concert, and slime molds.

What’s the Difference:

Turf Tow

What is the difference between “turf” and “lawn"?

What is the difference between “tow” and “haul”?

Experts:

Jed Drenning and Owen Schmitt: Former West Virginia University athletes and hosts of the “In the Gun” podcast.

Durand Bernarr: Singer, songwriter, and producer.

Hosts:

J. Keith van Straaten

Helen Hong

Credits:

Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

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 Angeles by YOU!

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!

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!

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!

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!

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!