Podcast
Go Fact Yourself
Hosted by MaximumFun.org · EN
Twice a month, host J. Keith van Straaten and co-host Helen Hong quiz the smartest celebrities they know to find out why they love what they love! Recorded before a live audience in downtown Los Angeles, this game show features comedians, actors, and musicians answering arcane questions on topics they claim to be experts in. But don't worry; if they slip up, there are real experts on hand to give us the facts!
40episodes
Episodes
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Ep. 191.25: The 2026 MaxFunDrive Preview!
Apr 1800:13:40Tap to summarizeWe’re so incredibly close to the 2026 MaxFunDrive on Go Fact Yourself! J. Keith gives you a quick rundown of what you can expect for the next two weeks. The most important thing is that YOU get involved! Bookmark Maximumfun.org/joingofact so you’ll be ready to become a MaxFun Member on April 20th for as little as $5 a month. If you’re already a member, you can boost or upgrade your membership for as little as $1 more a month. In this mini-episode, you’ll get a sneak preview of what you get at any level of membership: our unique Bonus Content. This year, it’s a “DVD commentary” of episode 178 (Matt Rogers vs Mimi Rogers) with J. Keith, Helen, producer/director Jim Newman, co-producer/editor Julian Burrell, and special surprise guests! We’ll have insights and behind-the-scenes stories about that episode and the show, available only to our beloved members. Plus, to celebrate you listeners who make this show possible, we’re getting a number of special episodes and mini-episodes ready for your feed – including the Championship of the 2025(ish) Listener Tournament, dropping on April 24th. It all gets started when the Drive kicks off Monday, April 20th. Be a part of it! Go to maximumfun.org/joingofact and help us reach our goals. Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten Credits: Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell. Additional editing by Valerie Moffat. Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
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Ep. 191: Eric Winter & Dree Hemingway
Apr 301:07:54Tap to summarizeIt’s a show worth drinking to on Go Fact Yourself! Eric Winter plays Sergeant Tim Bradford on the ABC series “The Rookie.” The show has earned a very dedicated audience, especially with kids. How does he know for sure? He’s seen them dress up as his character for Halloween. Dree Hemingway is an actor who portrays Daryl Hannah in the FX show “Love Story.” She’ll tell us about how she reached out to the real life Daryl Hannah after she got the part. Plus we’ll learn more about her other job… as a fashion model. Areas of Expertise: Eric: The movie The Breakfast Club, tennis, and rum. Dree: The movie The Fifth Element, the movie Romeo + Juliet, and musician Kate Bush. What’s the Difference: Maine Squeeze What’s the difference between a harbor and a marina? What’s the difference between squeeze and squish? With Guest Experts: Ben Schaffer: Publisher of online magazine “The Rum Reader” and author of several books about cocktails. Robert Mark Kamen: Screenwriter (and winemaker!) whose many works include the screenplay for The Fifth Element. Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong Credits: Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell. Additional editing by Valerie Moffat. Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
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Ep. 190: Seth Rudetsky & Julie Klausner
Mar 2001:00:53Tap to summarizeFrom New York City, it’s Go Fact Yourself! Seth Rudetsky is a musician, author, and Broadway savant who hosts afternoon radio on Sirius XM’s On Broadway channel. He’ll tell us about his Broadway cruise and why he believes in spreading “Jewish joy” through his weekly Broadway Shabbat. Julie Klausner is an actor and writer who hosts the podcasts “How was Your Week?” and “Double Threat” with Tom Sharpling. Julie will tell us just how dedicated fans of those shows can be – plus about her professional (and personal) collaborations with Billy Eichner. Areas of Expertise: Seth: Carly Simon songs, the TV show “The Brady Bunch Hour,” and natural disasters. Julie: John Waters movies, Jewish celebrities, and cats. What’s the Difference: A Mind is a Terrible Thing to Waste What’s the difference between a mindset and a mentality? What’s the difference between a person’s waist and their waistline? With Guest Experts: Sally Taylor: Singer-songwriter with a decades-long career– that includes working with her mother Carly Simon! Ricki Lake: Emmy-winning TV host and actor who starred as Tracy Turnblad in the 1988 film Hairspray. Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong Credits: Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell. Additional editing by Valerie Moffat. Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
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Ep. 189: Dorinda Medley & Jackie Cox
Mar 701:02:58Tap to summarizeThis week, a massive reality TV crossover on Go Fact Yourself! Jackie Cox turned heads as the first drag queen of Iranian descent to compete on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.” She’ll tell us why the show is nothing like an actual drag pageant and why drag is always political. Plus – what it’s like to act in a movie alongside an Oscar-nominated performance! Dorinda Medley was a cast member of “The Real Housewives of New York” for a little over a decade. Then, in 2023, she swapped her house for a castle to join “The Traitors”. Sadly, she was murdered first (#JusticeForDorinda!). Medley got another shot at redemption when she returned next season. She’ll tell us how these experiences led to her memoir, I Know a Thing or Two About a Thing or Two. Areas of Expertise: Jackie: The Star Trek universe, the movie Mary Poppins and The Gap. Dorinda: The TV show “Law & Order: SVU,” 1980s music, and Friedrich Nietzsche. What’s the Difference: Pot o’ Gold. What’s the difference between cannabis and marijuana? What’s the difference between a carat and a karat? With Guest Experts: Robert Picardo: Actor whose decades-long career includes several appearances in the Star Trek franchise as The Doctor. Raúl Esparza: Broadway star and actor who starred in over 100 episodes of “Law & Order: SVU.” Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong Credits: Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell. Additional editing by Valerie Moffat. Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Help support this show and unlock bonus content! Become a member at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
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Ep. 188: Matt Walsh & Kali Reis
Feb 2101:04:02Tap to summarizeIt’s a knockout combination of trivia and HBO actors on Go Fact Yourself! Matt Walsh is best known for his role as Mike McClintock on “Veep,” for which he was nominated for an Emmy – twice! He’ll tell us how he developed that character and give us advice on how to improve our improv skills. Kali Reis is a former boxer who earned an Emmy nom starring alongside Jodie Foster in “True Detective: Night Country.” She’ll tell us how she celebrated her indigenous heritage in boxing and what it’s been like to step out of the ring and onto TV. Areas of Expertise: Kali: The movie Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, the movie The Mask, and Mike Tyson. Matt:The Chicago Bears football team, English literature, and Austria. What’s the Difference: Prune Juice What’s the difference between pruning a plant and trimming a plant? What’s the difference between AC and DC? With Guest Experts: Mark Verheiden and Mike Werb: Authors and screenwriters, whose careers include working on the film The Mask. Charles “Peanut” Tillman: Former record-setting NFL cornerback for the Chicago Bears. Hosts: J. Keith van Straaten Helen Hong Credits: Theme Song by Jonathan Green. Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher. Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell. Additional editing by Valerie Moffat. Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
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Ep. 187: Jay Mohr & Chase Masterson
Feb 601:08:30Summary readyTriv, triv, triv, triv…! This episode of Go Fact Yourself will be stuck in your head for days!Chase Masterson’s fans know her as Leeta from “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.” She’s deeply inspired by the imagined universe of the series – and the fans who embody its values. To that end, Chase works tirelessly at her non-profit aimed at ending bullying: The Heroic Journey.Jay Mohr had been working in comedy for years when he landed his first movie: Jerry Maguire. But he’s still known for his great work in comedy (“SNL,” “Action”) … and as an impressionist. He’ll tell us about the secret to a great impression and what it was like to work with the celebrity he became famous for impersonating.Areas of Expertise:Chase: The best commercial jingles of the 1970s and 1980s, 1980s slang, and Word of the Year winners.Jay: The Rolling Stones’ Sticky Fingers album, the TV show “Deadwood,” and 1990s Yankees World Series teams. What’s the Difference: Chase and JayWhat’s the difference between to chase and to pursue?What’s the difference between a bluejay and jaybird?With Guest Experts:Linda November: Cleo award-winning singer whose career includes many pop hits and even more popular jingles. Jim Beaver: Actor, writer, and film historian whose career includes playing Whitney Ellsworth on “Deadwood.”Hosts: J. Keith van StraatenHelen HongCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Additional editing by Valerie Moffat.Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Thanks to everyone who participated in this year's MaxFunDrive! Still want to get in on the action? Follow this link to support this show (and get in on our limited-time keychain sale to benefit the Center for Constitutional Rights): https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
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Ep. 186: Al Madrigal & Mary Lynn Rajskub
Jan 1700:55:10Summary ready** Come see us record in New York! January 24 & 26! Tell everyone you know! **Politics, high fashion, and trivia– it must be Go Fact Yourself!Ashly Burch is a YouTuber and voice actor, who was a recent guest on episode 177 of Go Fact Yourself. She joins us as guest co-host.Al Madrigal is an actor and comedian. He’s known for sitcoms like “Lopez vs. Lopez” and his many appearances as Senior Latino Correspondent on “The Daily Show.” He’ll tell us about some of the scrutiny that title came with. Everything he does now is a big step up from one of his first jobs, where he was forced to fire people on a regular basis.Mary Lynn Rajskub is a comedian and actor, previously seen in “24.” She’ll tell us about the triumphs – and difficulties – of the show. These days, she’s seen on the Netflix series “North of North” – an incredibly important showcase of Inuit culture; and her son says she’s perfect on the show as “the white lady.”Areas of Expertise:Al: U.S. Latino politicians, San Francisco’s Mexican restaurants, and Jack Reacher.Mary Lynn: The city of Iqaluit, Canada, the movie The Florida Project, and Cybill Shepherd's wardrobe in “Moonlighting.”What’s the Difference: Flying SaucerWhat’s the difference between an Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) and an Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (UAP)?What’s the difference between gravy and sauce?With Guest Experts:Blanca Pacheco: Former mayor, city councilwoman, and current member of the California State Assembly.Glenn Gordon Caron: Award-winning writer, producer, and director who created the show “Moonlighting.”Hosts: J. Keith van StraatenAshly BurchCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Additional editing by Valerie Moffat.Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
SummaryEp. 185.5: GFY in New York! And a special preview of our next episode…
Jan 1200:02:44Summary readyGo Fact Yourself is coming to New York!On January 24, we’re joined by Jackie Cox and Dorinda Medley at the Leonard Nimoy Thalia theater at Symphony Space.On January 26th we’re joined by Julie Klausner and Seth Rudetsky at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan. Plus, this weekend is our episode with Al Madrigal and Mary Lynn Rajskub – with guest co-host Ashly Burch! We’ll give you a special preview of what’s to come.Hosts: J. Keith van StraatenHelen HongCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Additional editing by Valerie Moffat.Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
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Ep. 185: Paul Feig & Anjali Bhimani
Jan 201:08:32Summary readyRing in the New Year with trivia on Go Fact Yourself!Paul Feig is a director of comedies like Bridesmaides and thrillers like the newly released thriller The Housemaid. He’ll tell us why he gets a similar thrill from working in both genres. And we’ll learn more about where his acute sense of fashion comes from. Anjali Bhimani is an actor, especially known for her voice work in videogames. She’ll tell us why portraying the character Symmetra for the Overwatch games has been especially meaningful for both her and gamers. Plus: why puppies are the perfect addition to a Dungeons & Dragons campaign. Areas of Expertise:Paul: The 2025 Dodgers starting lineup, the TV show “The Brady Bunch,” and martinis.Anjali: Late 70s to early 90s musicals (especially Sondheim), the greater human skeletomuscular system, and lines from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.What’s the Difference: Whip itWhat’s the difference between beating and whipping (when it comes to cooking)?What’s the difference between a whip and a lash?With Guest Experts:Jon Weidman: Emmy-winning and Tony-nominated writer, whose decades of work include three collaborations with Stephen Sondheim.Maureen McCormick: Actor, singer and best-selling author who played Marcia Brady on “The Brady Bunch.”Hosts: J. Keith van StraatenHelen HongCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Additional editing by Valerie Moffat.Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
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Ep. 184: Loni Love & Nick Cho
Dec 1901:09:04Summary readyThis episode of Go Fact Yourself is a real thriller!Loni Love is an Emmy-winning TV host, known for her over 1000 episodes of the talk show “The Real.” You can see her host The Rose Parade this New Year’s Day. She’s had an interesting career that included a poor-performing stint as an engineer.Nick Cho has made a name for himself on social media as “Your Korean Dad,” where he gives parental advice and insight to viewers. He’ll tell us about how his kids encouraged him to get into content creation and why he’s something of a coffee bean snob.Areas of Expertise:Loni: Michael Jackson, Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, and how to pack for a cruise.Nick: 1980s arcade games, Asian-Americans in the media from the 1980s to 2000s, and Gen Alpha slang.What’s the Difference: Advice ColumnWhat’s the difference between getting advice and getting counsel?What’s the difference between a column and a pillar?With Guest Experts:Siedah Garrett: Grammy-winning and two time Oscar-nominated singer and actor, whose career includes hit songs with Michael Jackson.Gedde Watanabe: Actor, whose career includes roles on Sixteen Candles, Mulan, “ER,” and more.Hosts: J. Keith van StraatenHelen HongCredits:Theme Song by Jonathan Green.Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.Additional editing by Valerie Moffat.Seeing our next live-audience shows by YOU! Happy MaxFunDrive! Right now is the best time to start a membership to support your favorite shows. Learn more and join at https://maximumfun.org/joingofact
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