The MeatEater Podcast — Ep. 869: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CCXIV (April 29, 2026)

Overview

This episode of The MeatEater Podcast centers around the beloved “MeatEater Trivia” game show, hosted by Spencer Newharth, where a rotating crew of MeatEater regulars and guests compete in a 10-round quiz focusing on hunting, fishing, conservation, cooking, and general outdoorsmanship. The prize for the winner is a $500 donation to the conservation organization of their choice, and a listener-submitted trivia question earns a generous First Lite gift card for the week’s top enthusiast. The episode is infused with humor, friendly competition, tangential banter about true crime podcasts and chicken husbandry, and a few memorable stories from the outdoors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meet the Game Players & Special Guest (03:04–05:45)

• Host & Contestants Introduced: Spencer leads with Giannis, Brody, Randall, Jordan Sillers, Marge, and Roman.
• Guest Plug: Canadian Texan Jordan Sillers is on to promote Season 2 of his true crime podcast “Blood Trails,” which focuses on crime cases involving hunters and anglers.
  • Notable moment: Jordan describes visiting Moose Creek to get a feel for a case location, revealing fresh perspective on an unsolved murder there.
  • Quote: “My perception of the campsite was that it was kind of... a bunch of other campsites around… But the campsite itself is actually like four miles in. So this guy went intentionally to this campsite, which is where he ended up murdering another guy.” (04:26 – Jordan Sillers)
• Podcast Crossover Appeal: Both “MeatEater Trivia” and “Blood Trails” are praised for appealing beyond their core audience, with spouses and non-true-crime fans tuning in.

2. Pre-Game Banter: Haircuts, True Crime, and Farewells (05:46–12:40)

• Light-hearted banter about haircuts, aging, and ponytails — including references to Jerry Seinfeld and Sean Penn’s military styles.
• Discussion of “true crime podcast” gender stereotypes and playful teasing among the regulars.
• Roman’s Farewell: The crew bids a fond “farewell” to contestant Roman, who is stepping away from regular appearances.
• Listener feedback celebrated — someone finally got a perfect game thanks to a tricky question about boating accidents.

3. Prize Update & Housekeeping (11:06–12:27)

• The long-standing prize (a signed board game) for the weekly listener question winner is replaced by a $150 First Lite gift card, streamlining distribution.
• Quote: “Now you’re going to get a $150 First Lite gift card. Everyone’s going to be happier because of it.” (11:51 – Spencer)

4. The Trivia Game Begins! (12:55–54:08)

Format: Ten questions spanning cooking, hunting, fishing, conservation, and more. Panelists write down and reveal their answers in real-time.

Highlights & Memorable Moments

• Cooking: The Runza Origins (Nebraska) [13:05–15:29]

  • Amused reactions to Nebraska’s signature meat-filled pastry.
  • Quote: “The Runza is Nebraska’s version of a pierogi. It’s a baked sleeve of dough that’s often stuffed with meat and cabbage.” (15:19 – Spencer)

• Hunting: ‘Big Green’ Gun Brand [16:14–16:59]

  • Remington’s famous green branding is universally known among hunters.

• Fishing: Fiberglass Rods [18:43–20:16]

  • Material science quiz — rods made of fiberglass are heavier and less sensitive than graphite, but affordable and flexible.

• Woodsmanship: Debris After Logging [21:57–24:00]

  • The word “Slash,” doubling as a logging term and the famed Guns N’ Roses guitarist at #105 on the Rolling Stone list.
  • Quote: “Slash has a mulch-like quality...providing nutrients and protein for plants and animals on the forest floor.” (24:08 – Spencer)

• Wildlife: Daddy Long Legs Myths Busted [25:42–29:16]

  • Listener-submitted question settled the debate: harvestmen are ‘Daddy Long Legs,’ but myths about their venom are dispelled.
  • Humorous detour: crew finds a sex toy during a range clean-up, lightening the mood.

• Hunting: Divers and Dabblers [34:43–38:49]

  • Ducks are divided into “divers” and “dabblers”—panel discussion includes birds’ feeding strategies and accidental eagle encounters at Yanni’s homestead.
  • Quote: “Dabblers feed by tipping their body... Their diet is less animal focused, consisting more of vegetation, tubers, and seeds.” (38:25 – Spencer)

• Outdoors: ‘Call of the Wild’ Authorship [39:04–41:56]

  • Classic novel confirmed: Jack London is the author.

• Conservation: Blue Flesh in California Hogs [41:59–43:50]

  • Blue or purple pig meat indicates ingestion of rodenticide—public safety warning for hunters.
  • Quote: “The pig trapper who discovered it said the meat reminded him of a blue slushy.” (43:12 – Spencer)

• Wildlife Documentaries: Meerkat Manor [44:49–49:15]

  • Animal Planet’s “Meerkat Manor” eludes most panelists except Brody, who aces it thanks to childhood TV memories.

• Geography: St. Mary’s River [50:22–53:36]

  • The river flows from Lake Superior to Lake Huron—a tricky finale settles the perfect game contenders.

Running Score Highlights

• At the halfway point: Roman, Jordan, and Marge have 1 point; Randall, Brody, and Giannis (Yanni) are tied in the lead with perfect scores (30:24).
• The game remains competitive until Brody secures a perfect 10/10, narrowly beating Giannis.

5. Winner, Donation, and Wrap-Up (53:36–end)

• Brody wins the game with a perfect score.
• The $1,000 donation is directed to Sportsmen for the Boundary Waters: “the fight ain’t over yet.” (54:08 – Brody)
• The episode ends on a light note, promising the return of “The Wives of MeatEater Trivia” next week.

Notable Quotes

• On mass appeal of MeatEater content:
  “This is the only show that my spouse will listen to with me… I see that all the time with Blood Trails as well. It has some real mass appeal that goes beyond your traditional MeatEater audience.” (05:13 – Spencer)

• On outdoors clean-ups:
  “It’s a good reminder that folks of all types have access to our public lands. And folks of all types just leave them completely trashed.” (27:54 – Yanni)

• On raising birds:
  “I don’t hate them… I have 12 birds outside my house and six birds inside my house.” (35:38 – Yanni)

• On memorable wrong answers:
  “Now you’re going to get a $150 First Lite gift card. Everyone’s going to be happier because of it.” (11:51 – Spencer)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:04 – Start of trivia, intros, and special guest segment
• 05:33 – True crime, gender, and podcast appeal
• 11:06 – Listener prize update
• 12:41 – Trivia game officially begins
• 15:29 – Runza/food culture explanation
• 18:43 – Fiberglass rod discussion
• 24:00 – “Slash” woodsmanship/rockstar tangent
• 29:02 – Halfway point scoreboard
• 34:43 – Ducks: divers vs. dabblers
• 38:38 – Bird rescue and eagle attack stories
• 41:20 – “Call of the Wild” authorship
• 43:50 – Blue meat in CA feral pig warning
• 44:49 – Meerkat Manor documentary
• 50:02 – Final question, Brody’s perfect game
• 54:08 – Winner declares conservation donation
• 54:27 – Episode ends

Episode Takeaways

• MeatEater Trivia shines for its mix of competitive banter, deeply informative questions, and approachable humor.
• Outdoor knowledge spans everything from culinary traditions and wildlife conservation to pop culture and geography.
• The team’s camaraderie and storytelling create an inclusive vibe—both for seasoned outdoors people and casual listeners.
• The show doubles as a platform for raising conservation funds and promoting the intersection of outdoor life and stewardship.

Next week: The much-awaited “Wives of MeatEater Trivia” episode returns!