Go Fact Yourself – Episode 182: Lilan Bowden & A. Martinez

Date: November 21, 2025
Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten, Ashley Burch (guest co-host)
Guests: Lilan Bowden, A. Martinez
Special Expert Guests: Matt Walsh, Laura Silverman, Damien Young
Location: Recorded live at The Crawford at LAist in Pasadena

Episode Overview

In this lively episode of Go Fact Yourself, actors Lilan Bowden and journalist A. Martinez face off in a whirlwind of trivia on topics ranging from cult comedies and children’s YouTube to political satire and the Lakers. Along the way, the show features heartfelt reflection, comedic banter, and a trio of surprise expert appearances, all in front of an enthusiastic live audience.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Host & Guest Introductions

• Ashley Burch fills in as co-host for Helen Hong, immediately establishing fun rapport with moderator J. Keith van Straaten.
  • Ashley jokes about feeling like a substitute teacher:
    • “I feel like I should put on Dante’s Peak and let you guys watch it while I do wordle in the back or something.” (03:37)

2. Guest Spotlights

Lilan Bowden

• Known for Disney Channel's Andi Mack, Apple TV+'s Shrinking, and NCIS.
• Discusses the contrast between young and adult show fandoms.
  • “Kids fans, they haven’t developed filters yet. So, I literally got chased around a roller rink... they were trying to take me down.” (11:43)
• Co-produces the Asian AF comedy variety show.
  • “It’s a variety show that features lots of different Asian performers doing standup, sketch comedy, improv, characters, musical stuff... a really, really great time.” (13:49)

A. Martinez

• NPR journalist; host of Morning Edition and Up First.
• Originally started in local sports radio, later moved to news for "a dollar more" (humorously):
  • "Public radio offered me $1 more... If they'd just offered a dollar more, I probably would have done it." (14:42)
• Got his initial on-air name because no one remembered it:
  • "They said, hey, Martinez, come here or hey, Martinez, coffee. And that became the gag.” (16:38)
• Advocates for supporting public radio, especially for smaller local stations.

3. “What’s the Difference?” Round

Theme: Taylor Swift (“because you hope both are swift with making your clothes fit well”)

• Question 1: Difference between Tailor and Seamstress
  • Lilan: “A tailor works on suits and a seamstress does not work on suits.” (07:30)
  • A: “A tailor designs suits, and a seamstress just sews things.” (07:51)
  • Ashley’s ruling: Tailor customizes fit; seamstress creates garments from start to finish. A gets 1 point.
• Question 2: Difference between Fast and Quick
  • A: “Quick is being fast in short spaces. Fast is being fast in longer spaces.” (09:32)
  • Lilan: “Fast refers to physical speed, and quick refers to time in your mind.” (09:49)
  • Correct Answer: Fast is great speed; quick can also refer to brief duration in time. “You can take a quick nap... but you’re not necessarily moving at great speed while doing so.” (10:37)
  • Lilan awarded 2 points for clarity.

4. Get to Know the Contestants

Fandom Interactions

• Lilan describes being openly (and physically) mobbed by fans of Andi Mack vs. quiet recognition in coffee shops from Shrinking/NCIS fans.
• Reports on chaotic misperceptions (“the roller rink believed that Disney Channel had coordinated one of their stars to be at this place... actually overheard someone saying, ‘well, I just think it’s rude they didn’t bring the whole cast.’”) (12:42)

Asian AF

• Cornerstone of Asian-American live comedy.
• Co-produced with friends Will Choi and Keiko Agena, approaching its 10-year anniversary in 2026.

A. on Public Radio Funding

• Stresses importance for rural news coverage:
  • “Imagine if... Marfa Public Radio doesn’t have the money to be able to send someone out. All of a sudden you’ve got a gap in coverage.” (15:43)
• On his public radio name:
  • “I reclaimed the slur into something that I wanted.” (16:53)
• Reason for “A. Martinez”: Name forgotten by colleagues, stuck ever since.

5. Self-Chosen Trivia Topics

Lilan Bowden

• Topics:
  • TV show The Comeback (Lisa Kudrow vehicle)
  • YouTube show Ms. Rachel (“the Mr. Rogers of our time”)
  • The Jim Jones cult/People’s Temple (childhood fascination sparked by finding grandma’s book at age 12: “That was my cult gateway...” 19:59)
• Selected for quiz: The Comeback

A. Martinez

• Topics:
  • TV show Veep
  • Movie New Jack City
  • The 1980s Lakers
• Selected for quiz: Veep

Guest Trivia Rounds

Lilan Bowden: The Comeback

• Connection: Discovered the show during a major life transition; found comfort and kinship with Valerie Cherish’s story (18:26).
• Sample Question:
  1. What improv theater does Valerie attend for classes?
     • “That would be The Groundlings, Ashley.” (22:41)
  2. Valerie’s sitcom catchphrase:
     • “I don’t need to see that, Ashley.” (in full Valerie Cherish mode) (23:27)
  3. Which embarrassment DOES NOT happen to Valerie?
     • Chose “recording a bunch of sex sounds as a teenager for a video game” correctly. (24:28)
     • Ashley Burch, voice actor, quips: “Ashley, would you like to give us a sample?”
     • Ashley: "No." (24:47)
  4. Name two real reality TV stars who cameoed (stumbles except for RuPaul, who is correct)
     • “RuPaul. Okay... and Christian Seriano?” – Only RuPaul correct; receives half a point. (26:04)
     • Correct alternate: Lisa Vanderpump, Charla (Amazing Race), Jay McCarroll, Carla Hall.
  5. Ringtone composer for Valerie’s phone:
     • “Tchaikovsky.” (with helpful ballet hint) (27:23)

Cluster Fact (Expert Round): The "Palm Springs" Episode

• Three-part answer:

  • 1. Destination: “Palm Springs” (28:54)
  • 2. Mary J. Blige mispronunciation: “Mary J. Bilge” (28:58)
  • 3. SUV Model: “Navigator” (29:00)

• Expert Guests: Damien Young (Valerie's husband Mark), Laura Silverman (producer Jane) confirm all correct.

  • Laura on audition experience:
    • “At the end [Lisa Kudrow] went, ‘Oh, finally.’” (31:36)
  • Damien on show’s style:
    • “To shoot it is great because it’s raw footage... very much like doing a play.” (34:36)
  • Lilan, awestruck:
    • “This is the coolest day of my life. Oh wait, my son was born. This is the second coolest...” (36:44)

A. Martinez: Veep

• Why Veep?
  • “Julia Louis Dreyfus. That is the main reason...” (38:38)
  • On interviewing Julia for NPR:
    • “All authoritative, right? And all of a sudden she goes, ‘Oh no, thank you, A. Your voice is legendary in my car.’ ... I fell apart right there.” (39:12)
• Sample Questions:
  1. Emmy category Julia Louis-Dreyfus won for Veep:
     • “Best actress in a television comedy.” (42:16)
  2. Selina’s recurring secretary question:
     • “Did the president call?” (42:58)
  3. How does Laura Montez become President?
     • “There was a tie in the electoral college.” (43:29)
  4. Which of these won an Emmy but did NOT appear on Veep?
     • “Sean Hayes.” (44:19)
  5. How many cups does Ben’s thermos hold?
     • Fails: “Four cups.”
     • Lilan steals: “Nine cups.” (45:40)

Cluster Fact (Expert Round): Mike McClintock’s Journalism Career

• Three-part answer:
  1. Online outlet: “BuzzFeed”
  2. TV network: “CBS”
  3. Whose death does Mike announce, interrupting Selina’s funeral? “Tom Hanks” (46:45–46:54)
• Expert Guest: Matt Walsh (Mike McClintock on Veep, UCB founder)
  • On Veep’s prep:
    • “We did a lot of rehearsals... We put a lot of work into finding that chemistry.” (51:10)
  • On insults in Veep:
    • “If it was like, someone who came in for a day and they were say—like, say they were a heavyset person and you had to insult their weight... you’d always go, ‘Hey, I’m a nice person. This is in the script.’” (53:13)
  • On viewers using Veep as comfort/fall-asleep show:
    • “I just find it strange that all that vulgarity puts people to sleep.” (56:44)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Ashley Burch (as sub host):
  • “I had fun. It was not a traumatic experience.” (01:35)
• J. Keith van Straaten (on fandom generations):
  • “I can tell we are from very different generations.” (02:50)
• Lilan Bowden (on being a dead wife on Shrinking):
  • “If you get a chance to be a dead wife, take it.” (04:16)
• A. Martinez (on sports interviews after a loss):
  • “[Athletes] are the ones that lost. Don’t lose and I won’t ask you losing questions.” (15:15)
• A. Martinez (to Jerry Seinfeld):
  • “‘That’s not how comedy works.’ ‘Jerry, I gotta disagree with you on that.’ ... I’m disagreeing with Jerry Seinfeld about how comedy works.” (56:24)
• Lilan Bowden (after her expert heroes appear):
  • “This is the best I’ve ever done at trivia, and I get to do it with Damien Young and Laura Silverman!” (36:30)

Important Timestamps

• 00:46 – Show intro & host swap (Ashley Burch on for Helen Hong)
• 03:43 – Guest intros (Lilan Bowden, A. Martinez)
• 06:21 – Guests’ self-chosen topics revealed
• 07:06 – “What’s the Difference?” round begins
• 11:22 – “Get to Know the Guests”: Fandom interactions, Asian AF, public radio anecdotes
• 18:07 – Lilan’s topic interview
• 22:14 – Lilan’s The Comeback trivia begins
• 28:02 – Lilan’s Expert Round with Damien Young and Laura Silverman
• 38:23 – A. Martinez topic interview
• 41:59 – A’s Veep trivia begins
• 47:00 – A’s Expert Round with Matt Walsh
• 57:22 – True/False Lightning Round (“Fast Facts”)
• 58:57 – Final score announcement

Fast Facts Showdown

Topic: President Andrew Johnson

• Both contestants achieve a perfect score, including gems like:
  • “He was the first US President to befriend and care for a family of White House mice.” – TRUE (58:13)
  • “He was nicknamed the Minnesota Mouse.” – FALSE (58:18)

Final Scores

• Lilan Bowden: 15.5 points (Winner)
• A. Martinez: 13 points

Closing & Plugs

• Lilan Bowden:
  • Instagram: @yourfriendleon
  • Covert Substack (“so don’t find me there”)
  • Shrinking Season 3 coming soon
• A. Martinez:
  • NPR’s Morning Edition
  • @AMartinezLA on social media
  • “Support public media—keep supporting it everyone.”
• Ashley Burch:
  • YouTube: “I’m Happy You’re Here”
• J. Keith van Straaten:
  • Socials: @jkeith.net
  • Trivia hosting: bigquizthing.com

Episode Tone

• Lighthearted, witty, and nerdily enthusiastic, with playful ribbing, abundant gratitude for experts, and genuine affection for the pop culture topics unearthed. Ashley’s playful deadpan complements J. Keith’s veteran emcee energy.
• The guests’ fan moments with their favorite stars (and each other) provide sweet, memorable highlights.
• The inclusion of three beloved experts—Matt Walsh, Laura Silverman, and Damien Young—elevates the episode with warmth, behind-the-scenes insight, and mutual fandom.

Listen For

• Comedic meta-moments about generational gaps in school “sub” movies
• Lilan Bowden rocking her inner Valerie Cherish (“I don’t need to see that, Ashley.”)
• A. Martinez’s story about surprising Julia Louis-Dreyfus fangirl energy
• Matt Walsh validating NPR host A. Martinez's soothing news voice: “Like Julia, I am a fan.”
• Expert guests gamely confirming both cluster questions with “That is correct!” – and the audience’s enthusiastic gasps and applause.

Recommended For:
Listeners who love pop culture, behind-the-scenes TV trivia, celebrities geeking out about their own geekiness, and the affirming power of fandom and public radio.