Good Job, Brain!
282 episodes - English - Latest episode: 6 days ago - ★★★★★ - 1.7K ratingsPart quiz show, part offbeat trivia, and all awesome. We here are nuts about trivia and pub quiz! And we are darn sure there are people out there who share our unusual obsession. Play along and laugh along as Karen, Colin, Dana, and Chris school each other on some of the weirdest and most interesting facts about our funny little world.
Do you relish beating your friends at Trivial Pursuit? Do you blab out the answers at the gym when Jeopardy! is on? And don't you just loathe badly worded questions? Gggrraahhh!
Then this podcast, fellow trivia nut, is the ultimate mental nutrition for your very big brain. So eat up!
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Episodes
32: Ugh, It's Just a Fad
October 08, 2012 19:23 - 49 minutesStill remember how to do the Macarena? We reminisce and discuss the origins of Pogs, singing raisins, ridiculous trend diets, Sanrio, and Hello Kitty. If you think modern fads are nuts, we also talk about the ridiculous crazes from the old-timey days like collecting limes, portable marionettes, and the first 3D movie mania. ALSO: bizarre headlines, and we finally caught Carmin San Mateo and got our music quiz back! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
31: Color Me Bad!
October 01, 2012 19:41 - 50 minutesRoses are red / violets are blue / we can't talk about color / without mentioning poo. We dive into the world of color: weird color names, chameleons, the legitimacy of purple, cheddar cheese vs. flamingos, color character name quiz, Crayola crayon controversy, heterochromia, and why we'd want to take Monet to a rave party. ALSO: animal collective nouns, wine quiz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
30: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #6
September 24, 2012 14:40 - 49 minutesSWEAT. Flex those Adonis mental muscles because it's another All Quiz Bonanza! Video game trivia, "Belgium or Not Belgium?," Tarantino flicks, famous scientist anagrams, name that X-Men power, rockstar alter egos, and movie trivia GALORE. This episode is dedicated to our superfriend and superlistener Fred G who's our top Kickstarter backer! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
29: Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto
September 17, 2012 20:53 - 49 minutesPrepare for the inevitable robot uprising by learning about...well, robots! Eymology, first appearances in culture, hanging out in the uncanny valley, historical Japanese tea-serving automatons and French duck robots. Inspiration behind C3PO & R2D2, TV + Movie Robot quiz, and of course, our own robot E.L.V.I.S. is back! ALSO: Brainiacs Book Club, and a *VERY AWESOME* music round. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
28: We're All a Little Looney
September 10, 2012 21:34 - 47 minutesWatch out for those ACME anvils because we're transporting everyone into the world of TV cartoons this week! Brief history of animation, why you have to thank the government for the 80's cartoon explosion, mind-blowing origins behind our favorites, Villains quiz, cartoon bands, how Simpsons was created in a moment of panic, and more! ALSO: "What's in a Name?" quiz Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
27: Ticket to Ride
September 03, 2012 16:17 - 46 minutesAll aboard! Mind-blowing facts about transportation. We find out what's up with those old-timey bikes with the humongous front wheel, airplane secrets, the Hindenburg, JK Rowling's minor error, and train facts that will make your brain go OOoOooOooOoO! ALSO: "Whose Ride is it Anyways" quiz, and "One Letter Off" word puzzle and new listener challenge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
26: Where in the World is...
August 27, 2012 14:33 - 42 minutesDO IT, ROCKAPELLA. We celebrate our half-birthday milestone by talking about our favorite world landmarks: Eiffel Tower, Great Wall of China, Giza Pyramids, and Chris reveals his Statue of Liberty obsession. And of course, the gang relives the golden sleuthing days of Carmen Sandiego. ALSO: Our new favorite words, special edition listener challenge, easy trick for memorizing the colors of the eBay and Google logos in order Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
25: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #5
August 20, 2012 11:28 - 44 minutesOur most sensational, inspirational, celebrational, Muppetational all-quiz show! Dana's got a round of Muppets trivia, Colin's got a geography and mononym celebrity names, Karen mixes things up with a mash-up round, and Chris quizzes us on very MAN-ly superhero names. ALSO: mind-blowing history behind the fortune cookie, the best/worst/sleaziest International Date Line pick-up line ever, and of course, a mini-segment of our favorite animal sex facts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit me...
24: OMGlympics!
August 13, 2012 18:08 - 49 minutesGo for the gold with these lesser known Olympics trivia and history tidbits: hot air ballooning, mascot quiz, the weird link between pole vaulting and Donkey Kong, Olympic ring color mnemonic, Fatso the Wombat, and the strange science behind official equipment. ALSO: the cure for jet-lagged hamsters, Oklahoma's state vegetable, "Hey! That Sounds Familiar!" Music Round, and GO BANANAS with our very special announcement! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
23: I'll Drink to That
August 06, 2012 21:41 - 43 minutesWe invite you to lean back, relax, and indulge in a nice refreshing beverage with us! Quench your thirst with amazing facts about beloved beverages: milkshakes, boba tea, sodas, and hot chocolate. Dana tries to stump us with Snapple lid factoids, and Chris hosts the game "Coke or Pepsi?" ALSO: 80's quiz battle, and a very special round of New York City trivia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
22: DO NOT PASS GO
July 30, 2012 19:12 - 51 minutesBreaking bulletin, boardgame buffs! Facts and origin stories of our favorite classic boardgames: Monopoly, Scrabble, and Trivial Pursuit. Boardgames modification quiz, the importance of Monopoly "house rules", and we venture back into a bit of Star Wars trivia. Also: a VERY special 80's version Pop Quiz, Hot Shot!, how to memorize the Bill of Rights, and we announce the winner of our Singing Robot naming contest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
21: Plants Are Messed Up
July 23, 2012 19:42 - 55 minutesIronic to describe our plants show as "meaty" but boy oh boy, we cover LOTS of fantastic topics in this episode: poisonous plants, stinky plants, drug plants, and yes, we even named a plant our A-Hole of the Week! Also: plant character quiz, "Whose Ride is it Anyways?," LSD baseball, and a special Encyclopedia Brown tribute. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
20: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #4
July 16, 2012 18:51 - 46 minutesSo many segments in our 4th All Quiz Bonanza show: Chris schools us on "bookkeeping" and crazy English words derived from Japanese, Karen has a mystery round ("Mysteround?"), Dana challenges us to a dance-off, and Colin made us a round of "Sports Trivia for Non-Sports Fans." And guess who's back? THE CRAZY SINGING ROBOT. Also: "backronyms," why Karen is mad at Siri, and one bizarre headline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
19: The Most Important Meal of the Day
July 09, 2012 14:54 - 47 minutesWe salivate over bountiful breakfast trivia: cereal mascots, waffles, Pop-Tarts, and Cap'n Crunch. Dig into the historical facts behind bagels, Aunt Jemima, and the intense beef between Kellogg's & Post! Also: weird words, Chris' first Music Round attempt, and ...yogurt in uncomfortable places. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
18: Splish Splash I Was Taking A Bath
July 02, 2012 14:18 - 48 minutesSqueaky clean fun facts behind the things you use in the bathroom: why does orange juice taste weird after brushing your teeth? Mind-blowing truth behind shampoo, what Listerine was really made for, toilet tidbits, and both low and high tech regarding the Japanese public bathrooms. ALSO: Band name origin quiz, and the trick to identifying the countries in Central America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
17: Off With Their Heads
June 25, 2012 12:28 - 54 minutesALRIGHT ALRIGHT I'LL TALK! We explore the history and validity behind classic and historical execution and torture methods: guillotine, iron maiden, Catherine wheel, walk the plank, and Chinese water torture. More importantly, find out how Van Halen and Barney the dinosaur saved the day! ALSO: Music Round takes a trip to the movies, "Um...Actually" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
16: Don't You...Forget About Me
June 18, 2012 17:14 - 47 minutesHEY HEY HEY HEY. It's our Sweet Sixteen show, and we're all about teen movies- trivia about Ferris Bueller's Day Off, American Pie, and more! Did you know many teen movies out there are actually based on classic literature? Also: "Common Thread" quiz, how to correctly identify the four Teletubbies, and awesome celebrity anagrams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
15: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #3
June 11, 2012 13:07 - 41 minutesZip up that fly, Smarty Pants, because we're trying out some new stuff for this episode! Fascinating factoids and quizzes about ice cream, humble beginnings, Disney, and...robot voices? Suprises GALORE so we don't want to spoil too much. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
14: You Betcha, Dollface
June 03, 2012 22:47 - 50 minutes...BY THE POWER OF GRAYSKULL! Join us as we skip down memory lane and talk about the delightful origins and facts behind our favorite dolls and action figures. Learn how Star Wars and Barbie revolutionized the toy industry, how Cabbage Patch dolls get fertilized, and WHAT EXACTLY IS STRETCH ARMSTRONG MADE OUT OF?! Also: toy name quiz, and see if you can find the two Mel Brooks references Karen made in the episode! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
13: It's a Monster Mash!
May 28, 2012 23:48 - 52 minutesGrrarr! We find scientific theories about the existence of popular monsters such as cyclops, unicorns, and the Loch Ness monster. We do some unnecessarily extensive research on how exactly would mermaids make merbabies, and sexy vampire lore. Also: monster body part quiz, what "Godzilla" actually means, a mnemonic that will help you memorize all of the 12 labors of Hercules in order, and the "Black & Blue" quiz. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
12: ALL QUIZ BONANZA! #2
May 21, 2012 09:23 - 49 minutesHey Smart Cookies - LET'S GET READY TO CCRRUUMMMBLLLEEEE. An all-quiz episode to keep your noggin nimble. Movies! Literature! Animal superlatives! Dogs! Famous Final Lines! ...and of course...the Music Round is back. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
11: Hey, Your Fly is Open
May 14, 2012 10:28 - 49 minutesRemember when Hypercolor and acid-wash jeans were cool? Lots of laughs in this episode about ridiculous fashion trends and their origins. Learn about intriguing facts behind a simple pair of blue jeans, the bikini, powdered wigs, and more. ALSO: pop culture style quiz, new listener challenge, and impressive tricky geography trivia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
10: Animals Are Weird
May 07, 2012 15:45 - 50 minutesChris said it best: nothing that man can think up in science-fiction stories is crazier, creepier, and more disgusting than nature. Mother Nature is a very odd gal. We share our research on weird animals and behavior, and shocking animal ingredients in our everyday lives. ALSO: pop quiz!, famous paradoxes, and how to memorize very specific parts of the male anatomy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
9: Finger Lickin' Good
April 30, 2012 09:11 - 51 minutesDOH! You might end up getting a food coma just from listening to this episode. Greasy and sugary origin tales behind junkfood and outrageous snack finds: donuts, maltballs, Cheetos, and other delicious offenders. ALSO: Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade, double-letter quiz, and new listener challenge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
8: Very Superstitious...
April 23, 2012 11:51 - 50 minutesGold underwear, chopsticks, and rabbit's foot. Everyone has their own crazy superstitions and lucky charms. We confess to our own rituals, talk about really nutty ones in the world of sports and theatre, and find out about the origins of classic superstitions like black cats and triskaidekaphobia. Hope you enjoy the show, FINGERS CROSSED! (Har har.) ALSO: bizarre headlines, name the famous pooch, Chris' special challenge! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
7: Willy Wonka & the Wax Tadpole Factory
April 16, 2012 08:05 - 51 minutesWhat do wax tadpoles and Wonka have in common? Find out in this big advertising episode! Our favorite unsuccessful marketing campaigns, advertisement urban legends, ridiculous informercials, company mascot/spokesperson quiz, our own shameless plugs, the ultra-useful mnemonic for identifying the Rice Krispies Elves, and the mysterious anatomy of the Starbucks lady creature. BONUS: Our pub trivia tactics! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
6: Word Nerds Rejoice!
April 09, 2012 17:09 - 53 minutesCrossword champ Tyler Hinman joins us for a fantastic fest fawning over words. We talk about the history and process of constructing crosswords, why Noah Webster is our A-hole of the week, and we introduce you to your new ultimate favorite word of THE FOREVER! ALSO: pop quiz, odd spelling bee, Chris Hansen, movie titles lost in translation, and how to memorize the biological taxonomy order. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
5: ALL QUIZ BONANZA!
April 02, 2012 19:31 - 45 minutesAn all-quiz episode! Movie portrayals, psychic trivia, food+drink, rhymes, and Music Round is back. Ladies and Gentlemen, fire up those brains! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
4: Thomas Butt-Headison and Other Invention Tales
March 26, 2012 07:20 - 51 minutesThat Tommy Edison sure was a class-A jerkface! We also gab about the invention of cornflakes, air-conditioning, tampons, Ouija board, Viagra, and more. ALSO: pop quiz, etymology factoids, highest-rated movies, and top film quotes of all time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
3: You Want Truffle Fries With That?
March 19, 2012 10:42 - 55 minutesOh boy. How do we even begin to describe this episode? The original idea was to talk about expensive and luxurious gourmet food and the opulent stories behind them... but... well, let's just say we took a few intriguing turns and found ourselves in the absolutely eccentric (and dark) sector of the haute cuisine world. Castoreum, kopi luwak civet coffee, ortolans… we really can't give too much away. ALSO: pop quiz, foreign food translations, weird name origins of companies Learn more about you...
2: Once Upon a Gruesome Time
March 12, 2012 11:25 - 50 minutesWe dish about classic fairytales along with their more scandalous and gruesome folklore origins. Find out what "Rapunzel" actually means, and learn why Charles Dickens hates Hans Christian Andersen's face. ALSO: Pop Quiz, how to memorize pi, "First in Line" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
1: Candy is Dandy but Liquor is Quicker
March 05, 2012 06:21 - 46 minutesKanpai! Slainte! Cheers! Douse yourself in eccentric facts about liquor, spirits, and libations. Seagull wine, beer laws, cocktail origins, "alternative" imbibation methods, and more. Also: pop quiz, music round, and how to memorize the provinces of Canada. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices