Go Fact Yourself – Ep. 168.75: A #MaxFunDrive Bonus! The Making of GFY

Podcast: Go Fact Yourself
Release Date: March 27, 2025
Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten (A), Jim Newman (B)
Theme: Behind the scenes of Go Fact Yourself and how a show comes together, spotlighting the Ann Margret episode

Episode Overview

In this special MaxFunDrive mini episode, J. Keith van Straaten and co-creator Jim Newman invite listeners backstage to reveal the intricate, often stressful process of putting together Go Fact Yourself. Using their high-profile episode with Ann Margret as a case study, they share war stories of guest booking, expert wrangling, and unexpected hurdles. The hosts also underscore the vital role listener support plays in keeping the show alive, laying out MaxFunDrive perks and incentives for new, upgrading, or boosting members.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

MaxFunDrive and Listener Support (00:00–06:11)

• J. Keith highlights the importance of MaxFunDrive in funding the show, especially as limited NPR station pickup has not translated into income.
• Emphasizes that every bit of listener support matters more for smaller shows like theirs:

  "Just one or two more new members can really make a difference to us. We're one of the smaller shows on Maximum Fun." (A, 05:32)

• Lays out the latest perks: bonus content, exclusive live-streamed shows, membership tournaments, and custom memorabilia (autographed baseball cards).
• New incentives: Live-streaming select stage shows exclusively for MaxFunDrive supporters and gifting memberships for those unable to contribute financially.

Meet the Team and Podcast Production Realities (06:11–07:08)

• Jim Newman, co-creator, joins to pull the curtain back on production.
• Acknowledgment of co-producer/editor Julian Burrell and the MaxFun team:

  "To be honest, Jim and I really know about how to produce a show. We don't know anything about producing a podcast, but thankfully, the people at MaxFun do. And that's what your support goes to." (A, 06:32)

• Production is a collaborative, hands-on process; without technical and editorial help, there would be no podcast.

Anatomy of a Legendary Episode: Booking Ann Margret (07:08–16:27)

• The challenge began with a Frank Capra trivia segment for guest Taran Killam (ep. 157):

  • How did Ann Margret land on GFY?
    "Frank Capra's last movie, A Pocket Full of Miracles, happened to be Ann Margret's first movie... So I contacted Ann Margret's people." (B, 07:38)
  • Sourcing guests is a multi-pronged chase: IMDb Pro, friends, ex-guests—

    "There is no path we have not used." (B, 08:46)

  • After being unavailable for the original date, Ann Margret’s team expressed real interest for a later episode.

• Ann Margret’s topic: The NFL’s Raiders—a booking puzzle due to convention conflicts.

• The grind of finding an expert:

  "It's no exaggeration to say it often takes hundreds of emails and calls to put together one show. Is that fair?"
  "I think that's fair, yes. I... frequently feel like I'm just shouting into the wind." (A & B, 11:12)

Behind the Booking: Persistence and Serendipity

• After striking out with many potential Raider experts (many at an event in Las Vegas), Jim traced a lead via Greg Townsend Jr., a high school coach; the school secretary finally connected him with NFL veteran Greg Townsend, Sr.
  • "When you need a response, call a Christian school." (B, 14:56)
• Steve Wright, another retired Raider, was initially booked but had to cancel due to Malibu fires.
• Greg Townsend became a highlight:
  • Brought a helmet for Ann Margret to sign
  • Let her try on his Super Bowl ring
  • Performed a verse from the 1986 "Silver and Black Attack" Raiders rap (16:06)
  • Plugged his church as his proudest affiliation

The Realities of Live Show Logistics (16:27–18:53)

• Bookings can fall apart last minute—sometimes mere minutes before curtain.
• Only once did they have a total expert no-show, but they were saved by having a backup.
• Notable emergency: Mandy Gonzalez canceled 10 minutes before—her segment was later recorded over Zoom:

  "We scheduled the Zoom and she missed that too. So we had to reschedule the reschedule." (B, 17:47)

• The emotional toll of the work is palpable:

  "You're calling a school at the last minute and it works out and then someone drops out and you still have a great guest." (B, 16:16)

“Showbiz” and the Volunteer Spirit (18:53–20:08)

• All guests participate for the love of the craft, not pay.
• The hosts and team juggle research, writing, outreach, and edits as a labor of love.
• A wish for the future:

  "If we could get a guest booker, just imagine the years of life we would add." (A, 18:41)

Memorable Quotes and Moments

• On Gratitude and the Show’s Fragility:

  "No Max Fund supporters, no more Go Fact Yourself. Now, ideally, everyone who listens... should be supporting us, and that means you. But we know that can't be the case." (A, 05:12)

• On Unpredictable Guest Booking:

  "Booking experts? It's soul killing." (B, 11:29)
  "We do it because we love you, our listeners." (A, 11:32)

• On Last-Minute Miracles and Disasters:

  "Every ping we get is like, I hope that's something." (A, 13:19)

• On the Meaning of “Making It”:

  "You'd think you pick up the phone, call someone and they go, 'Oh, it's showbiz calling. How can I be on this show?' And that is not how it works." (B & A, 18:04–18:15)

• On Guest Motivation:

  "Does this pay or are we doing this because we love show business?"
  "We love show business." (Tony Baszel & A, 18:26–18:30)

• Highlighting Listener Impact:

  "Any two or three more people a month that we can add supporting our show... it really goes a long way." (A, 19:00)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• MaxFunDrive details and perks: 00:00–06:11
• Meet Jim, talk about production: 06:11–07:08
• Case Study: Ann Margret episode booking saga: 07:08–16:27
• Guest no-shows and crisis stories: 16:27–18:53
• Why the show matters, future hopes, and call to support: 18:53–20:08

Takeaways

Go Fact Yourself is a labor-intensive, hands-on passion project, made possible only through persistent work and steadfast listener support. The stories behind each guest, especially “big gets” like Ann Margret, are testaments to both the grind and the magic of show business. Behind every fun episode is an odyssey of emails, hopeful voicemails, and last-minute improvisation. Your support doesn’t just get you swag—it's what actually keeps the show alive and thriving.