FACT OF THE MATTER
33 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 5 ratingsSpies in the White House? Alcoholic rat armies? Conan Doyle as a sports reporter? In this series, Rathindra Basu and Joy Bhattacharjya, two senior media professionals and trivia enthusiasts from India, have fun with facts and news from the world of music, books, film, sports, history, science, language etc. Every other week, they will share interesting anecdotes, funny news items and decipher interesting word origins. Fans of trivia can also try contest questions and see Joy and Rathin try to fool each other as well! Reach out to Joy and Rathin at [email protected].
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Episodes
S2 E6 - The "Awards" Special - from bad sex in fiction, weird book titles and Knights of the Garter to the Ig-Nobel, Darwin and Turnip awards and their many illustrious winners!!
January 07, 2023 05:45 - 29 minutes - 27.7 MBIn our sixth episode this season, FACT OF THE MATTER, rounds off the year by diving straight into the Awards Season - with a difference!! In Main Course, Joy and Rathin stay off the regular award season and focus on a few off-beat ones for a change - like the Ig-Nobel, the Darwin and the Turnip awards. Get to know more about bad sex in fiction, weird book titles, automobile inspired sex scenes and a garter or two as Joy skillfully unravels story after story!! So award yourself a quick break,...
S2 E5 - Joy and Rathin return after a break with a lot of words - literally! - words of the year, retronyms, backronyms, contronyms and Joy's quirky updates featuring sideburns and testicles!!!
December 25, 2022 05:47 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBIn our fifth episode this season, FACT OF THE MATTER, decides to go back a step and find out the many wonderful facets of words and their meanings!! In Main Course, hear about words of the year like woman, goblin mode and homer and why they were searched and checked worldwide - and get a load of quirky trivia on the origin of words like sideburn, testament and salary among others. Kick off the Christmas holidays by doing nothing except putting on your earphones and block off every other nois...
S2 E4 - in which we investigate old and new crime fiction, noire detective movies and more - as we trip through Holmes, Poirot, Knives Out, Mountbatten, Sikander Singh and gumshoes from Pinkerton's!!
April 03, 2022 14:32 - 36 minutes - 83.5 MBJack Reacher ordered espresso, double, no peel, no cube, foam cup, no china, and before it arrived he saw a man’s life change forever. Opening lines of The Hard Way – a book by Lee Child where the central character is Jack Reacher, a retired military investigator. In our fourth episode this season, FACT OF THE MATTER, enters the shadowy world of murder, detection, macabre plots and pure crime!! In Main Course, learn about inspirations and connections - as Joy links in Lord Mountbatten and ...
S2 E3 - in which we celebrate love stories - the first love song ever written and the first pop star, Sahir and Amrita, Layla and Patty Boyd, Ben Affleck and a toilet seat and much more!!
February 14, 2022 07:27 - 30 minutes - 70.4 MB"You had me at hello." Renee Zellweger's iconic dialog in the movie Jerry Maguire. In our third episode this season, FACT OF THE MATTER, gets onto the love bandwagon with great enthusiasm!! In Main Course, let Joy tell you how love for Patty Boyd helped create monster audio hits and get a bite of ancient history as Rathin shares details about the world's earliest known love song and a really ancient pop singer-songwriter !! In Believe It or Not, we have some crazy love stories from across ...
S2 E2 - All about thugs, villains and rascals - from screen to real life from Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee to Dushyasana- specially spiced up with a surprise Guest of the Week!!
February 02, 2022 08:59 - 40 minutes - 92.4 MB"You've heard of the golden rule, haven't you? Whoever has the gold makes the rules." The evil Vizier, Jafar, in Aladdin. In our second episode this season, FACT OF THE MATTER, makes a darting run into the dark side!!. In Main Course, get introduced to a tough baddie from the great Indian epic, Mahabharata and also find out interesting stories about legendary screen villains like Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee!! Listen to national award winning Indian writer, Balaji Vittal, ...
S2 E1 - In which Joy and Rathin deep dive into sporting controversies like Cricket and Apartheid, Olympic Boycotts, COVID and NBA, Corruption charges in Baseball and much more!
January 23, 2022 04:57 - 47 minutes - 110 MBWhen the seagulls follow the trawler, they think sardines will be thrown into the sea - Eric Cantona, France and Manchester United football legend, on his controversial rant at media trying to feed of his words to create sensational stories. In this brand new season opener, FACT OF THE MATTER, stunned by the Novak Djokovic affair at the Australian Open, decides to console itself by focusing on key sporting controversies over the years!!. In Main Course, listen to Joy and Rathin do a freewhe...
Episode 16 - A special focus on children in which Jackie Coogan, Shirley Temple, Amir Khan and Meena Kumari rub shoulders with Pakistani batting legend Inzamam Ul Haq and a few nursery rhymes!!
November 20, 2021 09:46 - 35 minutes - 80.6 MBThere can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children - Nelson Mandela. In this episode, FACT OF THE MATTER, celebrates the month of November by checking out stories around children who took their childhood by the scruff of the neck and left an indelible impression on the rest of us. In Main Course, listen to Joy and Rathin talk about child actors from Hollywood and Bollywood - Jackie Coogan, Shirley Temple and Meena Kumari and others - how they ...
Episode 15 - How key assassinations often changed the course of world political history - about Archduke Ferdinand, Reinhard Heydrich and Sir Stanley Jackson - some lucky to survive and some not!!
November 04, 2021 05:44 - 38 minutes - 87.3 MBDemoralize the enemy from within by surprise, terror, sabotage, assassination. This is the war of the future. - Adolf Hitler. In this episode, FACT OF THE MATTER, focuses on famous assassination plots in history - the rationale, the planning, the many operational goof-ups and the often violent repercussions. In Main Course, listen to Joy and Rathin talk about two key political figures from the previous century - the Archduke Francis Ferdinand and Reinhard Heydrich - and how their deaths alt...
Episode 14 - All about airlines and aviation and Rwandan bars - In which Air India and Salvador Dali find place alongside a Broadway musical about a small town called Gander and its incredible people!
October 16, 2021 08:44 - 37 minutes - 84.7 MBIn this episode, FACT OF THE MATTER, celebrates the festival season of Durga Puja and Dussehra by taking off in style!!. In Main Course, listen to Joy and Rathin talk about Air India and its connection with the surrealist genius, Salvador Dali, how airlines sometime lay out a special offer for casino lovers and a Broadway musical about a small town called Gander in Newfoundland and its special position in the 9-11 aftermath!! In Believe It or Not, learn why bars in Rwanda may surprise you w...
FACT OF THE MATTER - Genesis - Trailer
October 08, 2021 05:11 - 2 minutes - 5.83 MBA short clip where Joy and Rathin decide to explain why they started FACT OF THE MATTER - from their college day hunting for obscure facts to their love of trivia and how that ultimately led to the genesis of this pod!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/factofthematter/message
Episode 13 - About stunning football upsets from an unknown Moldovan team, KGB's influence in Russian football, sporting stars and their amazing political journeys and a guide to the well heeled set!!
October 03, 2021 11:06 - 39 minutes - 91.5 MBIn this episode, FACT OF THE MATTER, dives into the fascinating origins of a couple of Russian football clubs (one of whom is making headlines as we speak!!) as Sheriff Tiraspol rubs shoulders with Dynamo Moscow - albeit with some "secret service" involvement!!. In Main Course, listen to Joy as he digs deep into his cricketing archives and connects cricket and politics through carefully crafted snippets about Tiger Pataudi and Tejasvi Yadav!! In Believe It or Not, revel in the exploits of a...
Trailer - Episode 13
October 02, 2021 19:50 - 1 minute - 2.87 MBIn this episode, the spotlight is on connections and intersections between sports, politics, history and current affairs as FACT OF THE MATTER, embarks on a wild journey traversing football clubs in Russia and Moldova, sporting superstars and their political ambitions and much more. Listen to Joy and Rathin as they move seamlessly from cricket and football to chess and pole vault without missing a beat!! Get ready as the weekend is going to get better and better!! Catch the trailer and get...
Episode 12 - In which we discuss leaders from different walks of life - from Lord Krishna, Hannibal of Carthage, General Robert E Lee to Tiger Pataudi, Douglas Jardine and Angela Merkel!!
September 25, 2021 14:57 - 39 minutes - 91 MB" A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves." - Lao Tzu, ancient Chinese Philosopher In this episode, it’s all about leaders - from humble to arrogant, from dictatorial to democratic and from the eccentric to home grown simple as FACT OF THE MATTER, lays out a feast of anecdotes about a few such incredible luminaries who stood above their fellow brethren and stood well!!. In Main Course, listen to Joy dr...
Trailer - Episode 12
September 23, 2021 13:10 - 1 minute - 3.35 MBIn this episode, the spotlight is on leaders from different walks of life as FACT OF THE MATTER, focuses on tales from Indian mythology and the American Civil War to find out all about different leaders and what made people believe in them so blindly. Listen to Joy and Rathin as they move seamlessly from cricket's infamous Bodyline series to Carthaginian general, Hannibal Barca's life long fight against the Romans and then reveal some strange quirks about key world political heavyweights. ...
Episode 11 - All about Underdogs and Surprise Winners - through tennis, cricket, battles, Roman emperors, boxing, baseball and Hollywood we relate tales of fortitude, luck and loads of chutzpah!!
September 18, 2021 15:09 - 38 minutes - 88 MB" Beware of barking at underdogs; don't fight with people who have nothing to lose." - Dory Previn - Lyricist, song writer and poet. In this episode, it’s all about surprise winners and underdogs as FACT OF THE MATTER, focuses on tales of amazing victories, crushing upsets and stunning comebacks in the face of insurmountable odds. In Main Course, feast on stories from the world of tennis and cricket as Joy sings paeans about a few unlikely super stars who shot their way to stardom!! Rathin...
Trailer - Episode 11
September 18, 2021 10:02 - 1 minute - 3.64 MB"When you're an underdog, you're forced to try things you would never otherwise have attempted." - Malcolm Gladwell - journalist, author and public speaker. In this episode, it’s all about surprise winners and underdogs as FACT OF THE MATTER, focuses on tales of amazing victories, crushing upsets and stunning comebacks in the face of insurmountable odds. From tennis and cricket, hear about amazing tales of sporting super stars who came out of nowhere!! Rathin talks about medieval battles w...
Trailer - Episode 10
September 12, 2021 07:31 - 1 minute - 1.35 MB"Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST." - Frank Zappa In this SPECIAL episode, it’s all about the wide and wonderful world of Music as FACT OF THE MATTER, like ABBA, tries to embark on a comeback journey of sorts. Find out how dying is a great career option for certain musical gods and how a Bollywood music composer pretended to be a tailor to ensure his wedding! Learn about ...
Episode 10 - THE MUSIC SPECIAL - where we talk about Elton John and the Beatles and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan hangs out with Anu Malik, Hassan Jahangir and a young singing sensation from Chhattisgarh!
September 09, 2021 16:21 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MB"Information is not knowledge. Knowledge is not wisdom. Wisdom is not truth. Truth is not beauty. Beauty is not love. Love is not music. Music is THE BEST." - Frank Zappa In this SPECIAL episode, it’s all about the wide and wonderful world of Music as FACT OF THE MATTER, like ABBA, tries to embark on a comeback journey of sorts. In Main Course, find out how dying is a great career option for certain musical gods and how a Bollywood music composer pretended to be a tailor to ensure his weddi...
Episode 9 - Turning points in world history - Landmark achievements in the transport sector in 1869, accidental discoveries of life saving drugs and a rejected painter who decided to own the world!!
September 01, 2021 13:00 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MB"...unless you made your life a turning point, there was no reason for existing." Saul Bellow In this episode, it’s all about turning points - seemingly trivial events that changed the course of world history!! In Main Course, we discuss two massive breakthroughs in 1869 which forever changed the way of travel in two different continents. We learn about a Scottish scientist who discovered a game changer in medicine purely by accident. Joy starts off with a stray arrow that changed Mughal hi...
Episode 8 - Afghanistan and the magic around this land locked country - which comes alive through stories around wars, spies, literature, movies and even cricket!!
August 25, 2021 17:15 - 37 minutes - 35 MB“Afghanistan—where empires go to die. ” ― Mike Malloy In this episode, we turn our attention to the ruggedly beautiful land-locked nation of Afghanistan and its glorious history!! In Main Course, we talk about Kipling's Kim and the Great Game, chat about spies and the Koh-I-Noor Diamond and even draw out a cricket connection with the Anglo-Afghan Wars!! Joy tracks down some interesting nuggets from the world of Arthur Conan Doyle and discovers a Afghan lady who helped win a battle and beca...
Trailer - Episode 8
August 25, 2021 14:43 - 1 minute - 1.26 MB"When you're wounded and left on Afghanistan's plains, and the women come out to cut up what remains, jest roll to your rifle and blow out your brains and go to your gawd like a soldier." - Rudyard Kipling. In episode 8, FACT OF THE MATTER focuses on Afghanistan, a land locked country often referred to as a "roundabout" in the geopolitical maelstrom of Central Asia through the ages. Catch the trailer as it drops now!! Get a sneak preview of the rich fare we have in store for you in the main...
Trailer - Episode 7
August 20, 2021 04:07 - 1 minute - 1.04 MBA sneak preview to episode 7 as Joy and Rathin take a hard look at food - be it gourmet or grotesque!! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/factofthematter/message
Episode 7 - All about food - In which sweet Songbirds and innocent Omelettes make their humble presence felt along with Chocolate Biryani and Fugu Sashimi!!
August 19, 2021 16:37 - 35 minutes - 32.5 MBIn this episode, we celebrate all things Food!! In Main Course (for once totally apt!!), we talk about the sinful and fully illegal way of eating a sweet song bird, discover how the humble omelette became a legend in a small restaurant in France and closer home find out how the Rajasthani specialty Dal Bati Choorma was actually battle food!!. Joy tracks down some intriguing recipes involving birds' nests and shares how a Japanese delicacy can literally be your Last Supper!!! In Believe It Or...
Episode 6 - India's most famous lady dacoit, Phoolan Devi and a female outlaw from the American Wild West, Sumo wrestling and spooked horses at the Tokyo 2020, birdies and eagles and much more!!
August 13, 2021 05:34 - 40 minutes - 37.3 MBIn this episode, we celebrate India's iconic lady dacoit, Phoolan Devi's birthday by discussing her life and times along with that of Pearl Hart, a Wild West outlaw who got lost in the desert after successfully robbing a stagecoach!! All this in the Main Course! In Believe it or Not, Joy and Rathin talk about a sumo wrestler cut-out which spooked participating horses in the show jumping event at Tokyo 2020!! In Cute Words and Phrases, the focus is on sports as Rathin shares the meaning of t...
Episode 5 - THE OLYMPICS SPECIAL - Lovelina Borgohain's journey to an Olympic medal, Arthur Conan Doyle on Dorando Pietri, Michael Jordan's greatest basketball game and much more!!
August 04, 2021 09:45 - 50 minutes - 46.7 MBIn this first SPECIAL, its all about the Olympic Games and the vast fount of indelible stories and anecdotes! Listen to the marathoner Dorando Pietri's herculean effort through words crafted by the legendary Arthur Conan Doyle, check out how a Olympic shooter managed to dodge an attempted murder rap and get to know Michael Jordan's greatest basketball game ever!! Joy and Rathin also share some of the great moments in Indian Olympic history as well as some of their most memorable and iconic O...
FACT OF THE MATTER EPISODE 4 with Rathin and Joy, a freewheeling chat on fun facts, weird news and endless banter!
July 27, 2021 17:06 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBIn this episode, Rathin and Joy talk about spies in the White House, crazy World War plans, why Spanish flu might not be an appropriate name, Sunny Leone's association with a Kolkata University and a place Harsha Bhogle remembers in Hyderabad which gets its name from the word Quarantine. All this and the usual goofiness and banter mixed up desi style!! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rathindra-basu/message
Episode 4 - About Spies in the White House, Spanish Flu and how it wasn't really Spanish, actor Sunny Leone's educational achievements and a Harsha Bhogle anecdote!
July 27, 2021 17:06 - 33 minutes - 30.8 MBIn this episode, Rathin and Joy talk about spies in the White House, crazy World War espionage stories and Ian Fleming's literary inspirations, why Spanish flu might not be an appropriate name, Sunny Leone's association with a Kolkata University, how comedian Amit Tandon shared some funny recruitment stories and a place Harsha Bhogle remembers in Hyderabad which gets its name from the word Quarantine. All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Weird News, Cute Word Origins and Ba...
Episode 3 - About cosmonauts and vials of pee, upside down flags, a guy who went to hell and came back safely and a hoodlum named Muldoon and his possible contribution to the English language!
July 20, 2021 13:04 - 32 minutes - 30.5 MBIn Episode 3, we find out why some cosmonauts carry vials of pee, meet a guy who visited hell and came back safely, find out how a hood from San Francisco contributed to the English language and why some national flags are sometimes flown upside down!! All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Weird News, Cute Word Origins and Bare Naked Lies - the last one where they try and bluff each other!! And a special quiz question for listeners at the very end!! --- Send in a voice me...
FACT OF THE MATTER EPISODE 3 with Rathin and Joy, a freewheeling chat on fun facts, weird news and endless banter!
July 20, 2021 13:04 - 32 minutes - 30.5 MBIn Episode 3, we find out why some cosmonauts carry vials of pee, meet a guy who visited hell and came back safely, find out how a hood from San Francisco contributed to the English language and why some national flags are sometimes flown upside down!! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/rathindra-basu/message
FACT OF THE MATTER EPISODE 2 with Rathin and Joy, a freewheeling chat on fun facts, weird news and endless banter!
July 13, 2021 06:46 - 30 minutes - 21.6 MBIn episode 2, we unearth a small market in Peshawar that was home to three Bollywood film stars, explore Jinnah's family tree, chase alcoholic rat armies around India and figure out how Clark Gable is connected to a 15th century Indian sultan. All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Weird News, Cute Word Origins and Bare Naked Lies - the last one where they try and bluff each other!! And a special quiz question for listeners at the very end!! --- Send in a voice message: ht...
Episode 2 - About Bollywood stars and their Peshawar connection, Jinnah's family tree and the Mahindra story, alcoholic rat armies and Clark Gable's Indian connection!!
July 13, 2021 06:46 - 30 minutes - 21.6 MBIn episode 2, Joy and Rathin unearth a small market in Peshawar that was home to three Bollywood film stars, explore Jinnah's family tree, find out the interesting history of Mahindra & Mahindra - the Indian corporate giant, chase alcoholic rat armies and figure out how Clark Gable is connected to a 15th century Indian sultan. All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Believe it or Not, Cute Words and Phrases and Bare Naked Lies - the last one where they try and bluff each other...
Episode 1 - About cake eating leopards, special Euro football matches, mad British soldiers in India and ghosts in medical colleges!!
July 13, 2021 06:27 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBIn Episode 1, Rathin and Joy talk about a rare Euro football match result which was decided by a coin toss, chase cake eating leopards around the countryside, find out about mad British soldiers in India and meet some ghosts in a medical college! All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Believe it or Not, Cute Words and Phrases and Bared Naked Lies - the last one where they try and bluff each other for kicks!! We love to hear from you!! So write to us at factofthematterindia@g...
FACT OF THE MATTER EPISODE 1 with Rathin and Joy, a freewheeling chat on fun facts, weird news and endless banter!
July 13, 2021 06:27 - 30 minutes - 21.1 MBIn Episode 1, Rathin and Joy, two senior sports media professionals and avid quizzers from India have fun with facts on music, movies, arts, science, books, language - in short - anything under the sun! They talk about football matches decided by a coin toss, chase cake eating leopards around the countryside, find out about mad British soldiers in India and meet some ghosts in a medical college! All this spiced up desi tadka style with sections like Weird News, Cute Word Origins and Bared Na...