Episode Summary: "Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CXLI" (Ep. 633)

Release Date: December 4, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 633 of The MeatEater Podcast, titled "Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CXLI," host Spencer Newarth brings an exciting and competitive twist to the show with a special trivia game segment. This episode seamlessly blends the promotion of upcoming content with engaging discussions among a diverse group of guests. Filled with humor, spirited debates, and insightful conversations, this episode exemplifies the podcast's commitment to exploring the vast world of the outdoors.

1. Promotion of Danielle Pruitt's New Book

Timestamp: [00:00] – [01:39]

The episode begins with Danielle Pruitt introducing her colleague's new book, expanding the MeatEater universe.

• Book Title: Meat Eaters Wild and Whole Seasonal Recipes for the Conscious Cook
• Author: Danielle Pruitt, Founder of Wild and Whole
• Overview: This cookbook emphasizes cooking seasonally using wild and foraged ingredients, featuring over 80 recipes that align with hunting, fishing, foraging, and gardening seasons. Examples include pairing turkey cutlets with springmorels and Gulf Coast redfish with summer sweet corn.
• Highlights: The book is praised for its accessibility to amateur cooks while maintaining five-star kitchen standards, complemented by stunning full-color photographs.
• Availability: Available at themeat.com and other major book retailers.

Notable Quote:

Danielle Pruitt: "Danielle has a knack for creating recipes worthy of a five-star kitchen, but accessible to two-star cooks. You'll come away armed with techniques that will make you a better cook all around." [00:00]

2. Introduction to MeatEater Trivia

Timestamp: [01:39] – [03:35]

Spencer Newarth introduces MeatEater Trivia CXLI, a ten-round quiz show focused on the podcast's four verticals: hunting, fishing, conservation, and cooking. The unique twist of this trivia game is its philanthropic angle—MeatEater pledges to donate $500 to a conservation organization chosen by the winner, with Heart and Soil matching the donation, potentially increasing it to $1,000.

Key Points:

• Participants: Yanni, Randall, Brody, Hansi, Alyssa, Corinne, and Nate.
• Prize: $500 donation matched by Heart and Soil, totaling $1,000.
• Trivia Products: Limited stock of the OG MeatEater Trivia board game and expansion packs available until December 13th for guaranteed Christmas delivery.

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newarth: "Welcome to MeatEater Trivia, the only game show where conservation always wins." [01:39]

3. Trivia Rounds Overview

The trivia segment is dynamic, featuring various questions, lively discussions, and friendly competition among the participants. Below is a detailed breakdown of each round:

Round 1: Conservation

Question: What state has the most national forests in America?
Options: Colorado, California, Washington, Utah
Answer: California
Notable Discussion:

• Randall earns his first point by correctly identifying California as having 20 national forests, the highest in the nation.

Notable Quote:

Hansi: "Are the expansion packs flying off the shelves, Spencer?" [02:54]

Round 2: Hunting

Question: Who is the host of the hunting shows "Fresh Tracks" and "On Your Own Adventures"?
Answer: Randy Newberg
Notable Discussion:

• A humorous debate ensues regarding the wording of the question, with mention of celebrity hunter Guy Fieri mistakenly being considered as a contender ("mayor of Flavor Town").

Notable Quote:

Corinne: "Yeah, I need to hear him." [07:27]

Round 3: Gear

Question: What are the three main ingredients of gunpowder?
Answer: Gunpowder (Potassium Nitrate, Charcoal, Sulfur)
Notable Discussion:

• Randall correctly identifies gunpowder, noting its historical significance and consistent formula over centuries.

Notable Quote:

Randall: "I feel pretty good about it." [22:35]

Round 4: Cooking

Question: Argali defines this term as when meat rots from the bone outward.
Answer: Bone Sour
Notable Discussion:

• An in-depth discussion about meat preservation techniques and the technical aspects of bone souring versus gangrene.

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newarth: "Bone sour occurs when meat isn't properly cooled and bacteria spreads from the bone outward." [24:44]

Round 5: Fishing

Question: What kind of soft plastic lures mimic aquatic life such as crayfish, tadpoles, lizards, and bugs?
Answer: Creature Baits
Notable Discussion:

• Brody secures his first point by correctly identifying creature baits, with Randall close behind.

Notable Quote:

Randall: "It resembles, in some respects, the answer that I put down." [29:32]

Round 6: Biology

Question: Merriam Webster defines this five-letter word as a major ecological community type such as tropical rainforest, grassland, or desert.
Answer: Biome
Notable Discussion:

• All participants except Yanni correctly identify "biome," emphasizing its fundamental role in ecological studies.

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newarth: "According to NatGeo, the five major types of biomes are aquatic, grassland, forest, desert, and tundra." [35:24]

Round 7: Hunting

Question: The National Wild Turkey Federation defines this call as an alarm that usually means the bird has seen or heard something.
Answer: Putt
Notable Discussion:

• Hansi confidently answers "signal," while others debate before Brody and Randall secure their points with "putt."

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newarth: "So the whole animal kingdom will listen up." [38:31]

Round 8: Conservation

Question: A 2012 Bloomberg Businessweek article describes this waterway as ground zero for Asian carp in America.
Answer: Illinois River
Notable Discussion:

• Randall correctly identifies the Illinois River as the epicenter for Asian carp invasion, highlighting environmental concerns.

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newarth: "Randall got that one right." [43:17]

Round 9: Cooking

Question: This type of bean shares its name with a horse breed and car model.
Answer: Pinto
Notable Discussion:

• A lively exchange leads to Brody correctly answering "pinto," linking it to both the Pinto bean and Ford Pinto car model.

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newarth: "The pinto bean is named for its mottled skin." [48:25]

Round 10: Ecology

Question: Name the three Canadian provinces that are part of the Great Plains according to Encyclopedia Britannica.
Answer: Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta
Notable Discussion:

• Both Randall and Brody correctly name the Prairie Provinces, leading to a tie and the need for a tiebreaker.

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newarth: "Name the three Canadian provinces that are part of the Great Plains." [50:12]

4. Tiebreaker and Conclusion

Tiebreaker Question:
Topic: Cooking
Question: How many teaspoons are in 1.25 cups?
Answer: 60 teaspoons
Result: Brody correctly answers 60 teaspoons, breaking the tie between himself and Randall.

Donation Allocation:

• $500 to the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF)
• $600 to the Meat Eater Land Access Initiative
• Additional $100 donated by MeatEater for correctly answering the tiebreaker, totaling an $1,100 donation.

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newarth: "We have a $1,100 donation today. Thanks to Heart and Soil for making it a $1,100 donation today." [58:29]

Closing Remarks:

• Spencer thanks Heart and Soil for their generous support.
• Danielle Pruitt briefly reiterates information about her new book.
• The episode concludes with humorous banter and plans for future trivia episodes.

Notable Quote:

Danielle Pruitt: "This book is also beautiful to look at, with gorgeous full-color photographs that inspire you to take a real hard look at your kitchen's output." [60:26]

Final Scoreboard:

• Brody: 7 Points (Winner)
• Randall: 7 Points
• Nate: 4 Points
• Alyssa: 3 Points
• Yanni: 3 Points
• Hansi: 2 Points
• Corinne: 0 Points

Donation Summary:

• Total Donation: $1,100
  • $500: National Wild Turkey Federation
  • $600: Meat Eater Land Access Initiative

Key Takeaways:

• The episode emphasizes community engagement through interactive trivia and charitable contributions.
• Participants showcased extensive knowledge across various outdoor-related topics, fostering a spirit of friendly competition.
• The promotion of Danielle Pruitt's cookbook aligns with the podcast's focus on practical and sustainable cooking practices using wild and seasonal ingredients.

Notable Quote:

Spencer Newarth: "Join us next week for more MeatEater trivia, the only game show where conservation always wins." [59:30]

Stay Connected: For more information on the new cookbook and MeatEater Trivia, visit themeat.com.