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Stephen Rinella
Hey, American history buffs. Hunting history buffs, listen up. We're back at it with another volume of our Meat Eaters American History series. In this edition, titled the Mountain Men 1806-1840, we tackle the Rocky Mountain beaver trade and dive into the lives and legends of fellows like Jim Bridger, Jed Smith and John Colter. This small but legendary fraternity of backwoodsmen helped define an era when the west represented not just unmapped territory, but untapped opportunity for those willing to endure some heinous and at times, violent conditions. We explain what started the mountain man era and what ended it. We tell you everything you'd ever want to know about what the mountain men ate, how they hunted and trapped, what gear they carried, what clothes they wore, how they interacted with Native Americans, how 10% of them died violent deaths, and even detailed descriptions of of how they performed amputations on the fly. It's as dark and bloody and good as our previous volume about the white tailed deer skin trade, which is titled the Long Hunters 1761-1775. So again, this new Mountain man edition about the beaver skin trade is available for pre order now wherever audiobooks are sold. It's called Meat Eaters American History the Mountain Men 1806-1840 by me, Stephen Rinella.
Spencer Newharth
Welcome to Meat Eater Trivia, the only game show where conservation always wins. I'm your host, Spencer Newharth and today we're joined by Giannis Randall, Brody, Seth, Tressa, Corey and Hansi. This is a 10 round quiz show with questions from meat eaters 4 verticals which are hunting, fishing, conservation and cooking. And there is a prize. Meat eater will donate 500 to the Conservation organization of the winner's choosing. And for the stat of the week, this week we're looking at the prevalence of perfect games. In 2024, we saw a big uptick in winners getting 10 questions correct. Prior to last year, we had five perfect games ever, but. But in 2024 we had seven. Four of those were from Randall and three were from Brody. On this new pace, we have perfect games about 12% of the time. Really?
Stephen Rinella
4.
Giannis Randall
Do we have stats on who besides Randall and Brody have gotten perfect games?
Spencer Newharth
I think it's only them and Steve. I think it's that perfect games are exclusive to those three.
Corey
Huh?
Tressa
Wow.
Corey
I would have not have guessed that. I had four.
Spencer Newharth
You had four, Brody had three. There was one game where you guys so humble, you guys tied for a perfect game.
Corey
Oh, that's right. That was fun.
Spencer Newharth
So the new pace is about one out of every ten episodes. We haven't had one yet in 2025 though. Now here's our infrequently asked question segment. If you have a trivia related question for our crew, send it to trivia@themeater.com with the subject line IFAQ. Nick Landry says, with all the cryptid talk lately, it got me wondering if anyone from the crew believes in Bigfoot or other cryptids. What do you guys say?
Giannis Randall
No.
Brody
No.
Spencer Newharth
No, no, no.
Hansi
That's a hard no.
Spencer Newharth
Okay. A big no from the room. We also had Hansi ask last week for the definition of cryptid. I looked it up. This is from Miriam Webster. It says an animal such as Sasquatch or Loch Ness that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist. So that doesn't change anyone's mind.
Giannis Randall
What about, like, aliens?
Spencer Newharth
You know, I don't know if that's a cryptid, I suppose. Well, I think it bends the rules a little bit. There's like. Like skinwalkers, like, you know, kind of move through portals, they say. So is that an alien then? I don't know. You think aliens are real?
Brody
I don't know.
Giannis Randall
Maybe.
Spencer Newharth
What cryptid could most likely be real?
Tressa
200 inch mule deer.
Corey
Something at the bottom of the ocean.
Spencer Newharth
There you go.
Giannis Randall
Yes. Mountain lions in Pennsylvania.
Hansi
Chupacabras.
Spencer Newharth
Okay, Phil, do you believe in any cryptids?
Giannis Randall
Absolutely not. No. And I'm very judgmental towards people who do, so. Come on.
Spencer Newharth
Do you personally know some folks, like, outside of meat eater? No, not.
Giannis Randall
Not personally. I think. I think if we. If we lean into the ghosts department, I mean, I. I'm sure we all know people who believe in people in this room. I believe in ghosts, but I think it's all rather silly.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Corey
I do.
Giannis Randall
Sorry.
Corey
I do find some validity in the observation that if aliens and these mythical creatures are real, they're sure picking some interesting characters to come visit, you know?
Spencer Newharth
Yeah, I'm with Randall. If there's a cryptid out there, it's at the bottom of the sea.
Corey
Yeah.
Spencer Newharth
Somewhere.
Giannis Randall
Yeah. Too many trail cameras.
Spencer Newharth
That's right. Too many cell phones handy as well.
Tressa
They don't show up on trail cameras.
Hansi
Oh, I forgot.
Spencer Newharth
That's right. I'd also use the example of a coelacanth. Last week, I should point out coelacanths were not cryptids. But cryptozoologists will use that to explain how cryptids could be real. Hey, we thought this thing was gone and then it shows up 65 million years after we thought that they were swimming around the ocean, so. Cryptozoologists really love Azila Coelacanth. All right, no housekeeping this week so we can get right to trivia. The Shelby index for today is a 4.5, so our winner should get nine correct answers. And. And with that, we're on to the game of trivia. Play the drop, Phil. Look, I need to know what I stand to win. Everything. How's that? Just tend to win everything. Game on, suckers. Question 1. The topic is conservation. And as always, this will be multiple choice. Which of these is not a fee free day in national parks for 2025? Is it Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Veterans Day, or Christmas? Which of these is not a fee free day in national parks for 2025? Your four choices. MLK Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Veterans Day, Christmas.
Corey
Tough one.
Spencer Newharth
This is a tough one to start out. I saw you give a little thumbs up to Phil Randall while the drop was playing. What was that?
Giannis Randall
I. I fed him all the answers.
Corey
Oh, no, it was just that the drop sounded good today.
Spencer Newharth
Okay. Sounded? Yeah, it hit with some extra clarity.
Giannis Randall
Sure. Yeah. Put a little bump in the lower range and the high range. Give it that.
Corey
You know, my headphones weren't working for the few moments of this game until Corey solved the mystery of the unplugged headphones, so.
Spencer Newharth
Oh, wow.
Giannis Randall
Oh, thanks.
Corey
I was thrown off my game, but then when I heard the drop, I felt okay. Empowered again.
Spencer Newharth
Again. Three. Looking for one one of them. Three of them are fee free days. One of them is not. Is it Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Veterans Day, or Christmas? Is everybody ready?
Brody
No.
Spencer Newharth
How many you got it narrowed down to, Yanni? Four.
Brody
Yeah, four.
Corey
This is one of those questions where you can't really narrow it down any tighter.
Giannis Randall
No.
Brody
Yeah. They're all federal holidays in my mind.
Corey
They're all fee free days. If you've got your annual pass.
Spencer Newharth
That's right. If you pay your $80 at the beginning of the year. Yanni, I think we're waiting on you. You ready? Yeah. Go ahead and reveal your answers. We have Seth saying Juneteenth, Giannis, Juneteenth, Corey, Christmas, Randall Christmas, Hansi, MLK Day, Tressa Christmas, Brody, Christmas. The correct answer is Christmas. I think about more than half of our players got that right. There are seven fee free days for national park this year. They are the national day of mourning for President Jimmy Carter. MLK Day, the first day of National Park Week. Juneteenth, the anniversary of the Great American Outdoors Act, National Public Lands Day and Veterans Day.
Corey
An interesting assortment.
Spencer Newharth
Yeah, I I don't know how they select their seven fee free days. I notice a lot of them seem like they avoid the summer when the traffic is highest. Besides maybe Juneteenth.
Giannis Randall
Does that change every year?
Spencer Newharth
I tried to look back for 2024 it was almost the same besides the Jimmy Carter morning day. So it's been that way for a little while. Question to the topic is trapping. This is our listener question of the week which was won by Michael Galing for sending this great question. Michael is going to get a board game signed by the crew. If you want a chance to win the listener question of the week then send your question to trivia the Meer.com this five letter word is another name for a short tailed weasel or ermine. This five letter word is another name for a short tailed weasel or irmine. Brody, do you have this one right?
Tressa
If I'm remembering correctly, I do.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Hansi
I just saw one of these the other day. Always a pleasure.
Spencer Newharth
What was it doing?
Hansi
Digging in the snow. It was probably two feet of snow. He was jumping around on top and then all of a sudden he disappeared. Pop up 3, 4ft somewhere else.
Tressa
Where are they? There's some hanging here somewhere in there.
Spencer Newharth
Right behind Seth. Seth has some some there. He's now showing them to the camera. Maybe that'll inspire the answer for the five letter word. That's another name for a short tail though.
Tressa
Oh, except for that one. It's got a real short.
Spencer Newharth
Them tails are long. They look extra magical in the snow.
Hansi
Yeah, they do.
Spencer Newharth
Those things look like cryptids, the way they move a little bit.
Hansi
What a vicious critter too. I'd hate to be a mouse near one of those.
Spencer Newharth
Five letter word. That's another name for short tailed weasel or ermine. You got this one right?
Brody
I think so.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Brody
One of the greatest wildlife encounters we've ever had at our old place was we had everybody there for the holidays and one of those buggers was running around chasing a rabbit. It lasted for an hour or more and the rabbit would keep getting away. They'd get caught up and there'd be a big skirmish.
Spencer Newharth
Cottontail.
Brody
Yeah.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Brody
Fur flying everywhere. And then they get away again and. But boy, that ermine stayed on him and eventually killed it.
Tressa
Taking down something that weighs 10 times more than that.
Brody
Maybe more than Pretty impressive.
Spencer Newharth
What do they do with one of those things when they get them? I assume they like fill up then. But do they cash them anywhere?
Brody
He d He did drag him off her. Maybe.
Spencer Newharth
So we have Yanni and Brody are the only two players who are confident. Do you like your answer, Corey?
Hansi
No, I don't like it.
Giannis Randall
I can't even think anything.
Spencer Newharth
How about you, Randall?
Corey
I'm. I'm having trouble with the five letter part of which I assume is key.
Tressa
I'm sure I got.
Spencer Newharth
Yeah, okay. Do our other players give up?
Brody
Oh, Seth, you're gonna know it when he says it. I know, I know.
Spencer Newharth
Randall.
Corey
Oh, yeah. Go ahead.
Spencer Newharth
Go ahead and reveal your answers. We have Seth without an answer. Giannis says, oh, stoat. Corey says ferret. Randall without an answer. Hansi says, no, that's.
Tressa
That's a mark.
Spencer Newharth
That's fine.
Seth
Every last thing. I could think of. Five letters.
Giannis Randall
You did better than me, Hun.
Spencer Newharth
The correct answer is stow. Tianni and Brody got that one.
Giannis Randall
I honestly never even heard no.
Spencer Newharth
S, T, O, A T. I heard.
Tressa
Er and I was like, that's what they call.
Corey
I know.
Tressa
Is that more of a. Like a British name?
Spencer Newharth
I think Europeans are more likely to use it. Sto comes from the Dutch word stout, which means bold. They are the second smallest weasel in the world, just outweighing the least weasel. In general. Bigger animals have longer gestation periods, but stoats buck that trend. They have a gestation period of 280 days, which is similar to bison, moose, and humans.
Brody
That's interesting. Questions. Heard that they call that. You call it a short tail weasel in the summer, and then when it changes its coat, you call it an ermine in the winter or stoat.
Spencer Newharth
Question 3. The topic is hunting. This brand started making jewelry in 1895 and binoculars in 1935. Half of the room has already wrote down their answer. Randall, Corey, Yanni and Seth are confident this brand started making jewelry in 1895 and binoculars in 1935. Anzi, you got this one, right?
Seth
I think so.
Spencer Newharth
Do you own any of this jewelry or binoculars?
Seth
I wouldn't mind. Yeah, I wouldn't mind owning some of it, but I don't.
Giannis Randall
Can't afford it.
Seth
Yep.
Spencer Newharth
Here's a hint from Seth.
Brody
It's always funny, though, when you see this brand at, say, I don't know, do they sell. Have mall stores?
Hansi
Yeah.
Brody
Oh, right.
Tressa
Yeah.
Brody
Yeah. You're like, what?
Corey
Let's keep going with those for me.
Spencer Newharth
Honest, a lot of chatter. Tressa could use another hint if you got one.
Corey
I know the word.
Spencer Newharth
Okay. I couldn't think of it.
Corey
Well, I might be wrong. Yeah.
Tressa
You're going to write direct question. It doesn't Matter if you spell it right or not.
Corey
You get that one for free, but the next one's gonna cost you.
Spencer Newharth
We may have a 100 percenter here. This I like.
Brody
When everybody wins.
Spencer Newharth
Making jewelry in 1895 and binoculars in 1935. Go ahead and reveal your answers.
Brody
Every kiss begins with K. Oh, no.
Spencer Newharth
The whole room says Swarovski. They got it. The correct answer is Swarovski. Swarovski was started in Austria as a high quality crystal and gemstone company. The founder, sun, made their first pair of binos using the same technology and machines that were used for fabricating jewelry. The brand followed up the success of their first binos by making rifle scopes in 1959 and telescopes in 1991. Question 4. The topic is public lands. This next great question is via Moses Taffle. The Ruby Ridge standoff, which Randy Weaver claims was incorrectly named, happened in this state. The Ruby Ridge standoff, which Randy Weaver claims was incorrectly named, happened in this state.
Brody
Who's Randy Weaver?
Spencer Newharth
Tell you about it. The flavor text.
Corey
You know, the first few times I met Steve, he asked me if anybody ever called me Randy Weaver.
Spencer Newharth
Do you look like him? I don't know what he looks like.
Corey
No, it's just the name is similar.
Spencer Newharth
Randall.
Corey
He goes. Randall. Do you go by Randy? Does anyone ever call you Randy Weaver? He did that on at least three separate occasions.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Corey
And the first time I. I said no. And I thought to myself, am I thinking of the same Randy Weaver? And then, yeah. Subsequently, it was clear that he was thinking of this Randy weaver as well.
Spencer Newharth
Dr. Randy Weaver. That's what we will refer to you as.
Giannis Randall
Randall's.
Brody
The first time that we met was when you came to do the podcast to talk about your dissertation at a.
Corey
At an Airbnb in Seattle.
Brody
That's right.
Spencer Newharth
What was the dissertation?
Corey
My. My PhD dissertation on. On hunting and politics in the modern United States.
Spencer Newharth
Here you are now again. The Ruby Ridge standoff, which Randall Williams claims was incorrectly named, happened in the city.
Corey
No such thing.
Spencer Newharth
Everybody ready?
Corey
I've got a factoid for this one.
Spencer Newharth
Perfect. Go ahead and reveal your answers. We have Seth. Yes. And Yanni saying Idaho. Corey says Oregon. Randall says Idaho. Hansi says Kansas. Tressa and Brody say Idaho. The correct answer is Idaho.
Seth
People seem to write it down fast. So I was like, what's a state?
Spencer Newharth
Few letters in Oklahoma, Huh? I don't know.
Brody
There's no ridges in Kansas.
Seth
I was like, oklahoma, Kansas.
Spencer Newharth
They're both flat.
Giannis Randall
Right?
Seth
But there's. I don't know.
Spencer Newharth
Randy Weaver was a White supremacist who. Who was wanted for illegally selling firearms. An 11 day standoff happened when U.S. marshals shot and killed Dog and Son while surveilling. While surveilling Weaver's property. Weaver's wife and a U.S. marshal were also killed in the siege. Weaver later said the media incorrectly identified the ridge he lived on as Ruby Ridge, when it was actually Caribou Ridge. Deputy Marshal Dave Hunt agreed with Weaver later, saying in an interview that the wrong name always bothered him. So it should have been the Caribou Ridge standoff, not the Ruby Ridge standoff.
Corey
So I have a friend who grew up in Sandpoint and her dad was fishing Ruby Creek on the day that this all started. Oh, and he had to take like a four hour detour home.
Spencer Newharth
Okay, that's all I got. Yeah. The day before, the Weaver family also went fishing on Ruby Creek. I don't remember what they were celebrating, but they caught some trout, cooked them right on the water there. And I'd also read that the U.S. marshals, they thought this was going to be a quick arrest. They all had a fishing trip planned the next day, too.
Corey
Oh, really?
Spencer Newharth
The day that everything went down. Question 5. The topic is wildlife. Western timber, pygmy, Mojave tiger, blacktail and Great Basin are all types of this animal. For specificity, if you think it's a lab, say lab rather than dog or black lab. That's how specific you need to be. Western timber, pygmy, Mojave tiger, blacktail and Great Basin are all types of this animal.
Giannis Randall
Are you leaving any out or is this all of them?
Spencer Newharth
Not going to tell you anything. Again, this is question five. We'll get a scoreboard update from Phil the engineer after this. Western timber, pygmy, Mojave tiger, blacktail and Great Basin are all types of this animal. See some writing and erasing happening. Brody, you like your answer?
Tressa
Yeah, kind of.
Spencer Newharth
Okay, kind of likes his answer. I think this could keep the perfect game going for him. Western timber, pygmy, Mojave tiger, blacktail and Great Basin are all types of this animal. Does anyone else like their answer?
Brody
I like mine.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Brody
I believe I've seen a couple, maybe three of these.
Spencer Newharth
All right, where at?
Brody
Great Basin. Yeah, in the Great Basin. One was in Arizona.
Spencer Newharth
Oh, wow. He's giving an actual hint here. Randall, you like your answer?
Corey
Not in the least.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Brody
Oh, Randall. Yeah, no, you know it.
Spencer Newharth
Is everybody ready? Yep. Go ahead and reveal your answers. We have Seth saying salamander, Giannis says rattlesnake Corey, Rattlesnake. Randall. Tortoise. Hansi Rattlesnake. Tressa. Snake. Brody. Rattlesnake. The correct answer is rattlesnake.
Giannis Randall
Really?
Spencer Newharth
Room did pretty well. That's right, by some counts. There are more than 30 types of rattlesnakes in North America. The eastern diamondback is the biggest venomous snake on the continent, growing up to 8ft long and 35 pounds. Some sources claim the mortality rate for humans struck by eastern diamondbacks is 40%.
Tressa
I know. Tress is like dying to know if you're giving her.
Spencer Newharth
Yeah, I gave myself a half point. Sure, she can. She can have that one. I did say you need to be as specific as lab, so don't write down dog or black lab. Tressa can have the point. I'm not gonna win, so I give us a scoreboard.
Corey
Here's the thing, Tressa, is that you're right in there.
Giannis Randall
Seth and Hansi have two points. Randall and Corey have have three. Giannis and Tressa have four.
Spencer Newharth
Hell yeah.
Giannis Randall
And with a perfect game is Brody Henderson.
Spencer Newharth
All right.
Stephen Rinella
Hey, American history buffs. Hunting history buffs, listen up. We're back at it with another volume of our Meat Eaters American history series. In this edition, titled the Mountain Men 1806-1840, we tackle the Rocky Mountain beaver trade and dive into the lives and legends of fellows like Jim Bridger, Jed Smith, and John Colter. This small but legendary fraternity of backwoodsmen helped define an era when the west represented not just unmapped territory, but untapped opportunity for those willing to endure some heinous and at times, violent conditions. We explain what started the mountain man era and what ended it. We tell you everything you'd ever want to know about what the mountain men ate, how they hunted and trapped, what gear they carried, what clothes they wore, how they interacted with Native Americans, how 10% of them died violent deaths, and even detailed descriptions of how they performed amputations on the fly. It's as dark and bloody and good as our previous volume about the white tailed deer skin trade, which is titled the Long Hunters, 1761-1775. So again, this new mountain man edition about the beaver skin trade is available for pre order now wherever audiobooks are sold. It's called Meat Eaters American History the Mountain Men, 1806-1840 by me, Stephen Rinella.
Spencer Newharth
Question 6. The topic is mountain men. This next great question is via Michael Quarter. This person whose biography declared him California's greatest mountain man was related to Samuel Adams and John Quincy Adams.
Brody
Oh, There just happens to be a guy in the room that's been working on a mountain man project.
Corey
I'll have you know this has nothing to do with anything that I've shared.
Brody
A little bit of a little bone ski there.
Spencer Newharth
Yeah.
Brody
Not even that.
Tressa
It's not even that. It's like, slam dunk.
Spencer Newharth
This person whose biography declared him California's greatest mountain man was related to Samuel Adams and John Quincy Adams.
Tressa
It's like saying, what kind of dog does Giannis Patellis own?
Spencer Newharth
Just like that. Randall, do you have this one right?
Corey
I think so.
Spencer Newharth
Okay. Brody, do you have this one right?
Tressa
Maybe I remember the story.
Brody
So, like, I feel like someone recently was talking about this because I feel like the whole related. The Adams Adams thing again.
Spencer Newharth
Their biography declared them California's greatest mountain man, and they're related to Samuel Adams and John Quincy Adams. Brody and Randall.
Tressa
Oh, I don't count me among the ones that.
Spencer Newharth
I'm saying you're the only players who have an answer. We'll say Randall's the only confident player then.
Tressa
Hey, Randall, you know, you should write some books on mountain man.
Spencer Newharth
Yeah. Well, Randall did give a hint. He said what he.
Corey
No, let's not give out.
Spencer Newharth
Nothing to do with this question. So.
Tressa
So it's a trick question.
Spencer Newharth
I don't know. I'm just telling you what Randall said.
Corey
Well, last name. I just meant that he wasn't. He. He didn't make the cut.
Spencer Newharth
Oh, okay. Another hint. Randall.
Tressa
He didn't make the cut for the book that Randall wrote on mountain man.
Spencer Newharth
Yep.
Brody
How many times Randall read the spell his name as he was researching for this book?
Spencer Newharth
This person whose biography declared him California's greatest mountain man.
Tressa
Last night, when you guys were talking about the questions that pencil was gonna.
Spencer Newharth
Write, Randall, did you give him this one or Michael?
Corey
No, I was busy last night.
Giannis Randall
Did you give him some good flavor text?
Spencer Newharth
Is everybody ready?
Brody
Yeah, sure.
Spencer Newharth
Go ahead and reveal your answers. We have Seth saying Mr. Adams. Yanni says Hugh Glass. Corey says Bishop Adams.
Tressa
Makes sense.
Spencer Newharth
Randall says Grizzly Adams. Hansi says Grizzly Adams.
Brody
Forgot about that.
Spencer Newharth
Tessa says John Cracker. Brody says Jedediah Smith. The correct answer was Grizzly Adams. Hansi and Randall got that one right.
Corey
It would have been a weird question if there wasn't so much context there for the rest of the room.
Spencer Newharth
The relationship. Yeah. Was. Was. I kind of got it right there. Grizzly Adams was born in Massachusetts in 1812. In his early years, he worked as a shoemaker and caretaker of exotic animals. Then he moved to California during the Gold Rush, which is when he started his mountain man era of hunting and trapping. This is also when he got famous for capturing wild animals like grizzlies that he'd raise as pets. Question 7. You have any flavor text to add to that, Randall?
Corey
No. He headed west in 1846. And.
Giannis Randall
No, but.
Spencer Newharth
Yes.
Corey
Well. Well, our. Our book focuses on the Rendezvous era. The classic Rendezvous.
Brody
Yeah.
Tressa
Wasn't the mountain man era, like, done by.
Corey
I mean, there's still mountain men, you know, but like the. The classic Rocky Mountain rendezvous era. The last rendezvous in 1840.
Spencer Newharth
So Grizzly Adams shows up, like, six years late.
Corey
Yeah, like the cut. Like Jeremiah Johnson, as Steve likes to point out.
Spencer Newharth
Question 7. The topic is woodsmanship. The National Weather Service describes this type of snowstorm as, quote, when cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes. This is question seven. The National Weather Service describes this type of snowstorm as when cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes.
Giannis Randall
So when you were talking with Brody last night about the questions.
Spencer Newharth
Yes. Yep.
Tressa
Oh, yeah.
Spencer Newharth
I reached out.
Tressa
Lived through many of these in my life.
Spencer Newharth
Brody grew up his entire life dealing with this.
Brody
Yeah, I got a few snow days out of this.
Spencer Newharth
Okay, so our players from Pennsylvania and Michigan are confident.
Corey
I mean, we all saw the AFC playoffs this weekend.
Spencer Newharth
There's a little hint from.
Corey
I figured as long as we're doing this.
Spencer Newharth
Do you have this one right, Randall?
Corey
I do.
Spencer Newharth
Okay. How about you, Corey? No.
Brody
I'll tell you what I call the Montana boy.
Corey
Yeah.
Spencer Newharth
Yeah.
Hansi
We had some pretty nasty water in the, you know, Flathead Lake effect. Snow that we'd get.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Hansi
But they're not that great.
Spencer Newharth
Tressa, you're still keeping pace with our winners. Do you have a chance? Okay, again, question seven. The National Weather Service describes this type of snowstorm as. When cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes.
Tressa
Boy, Spencer, back in my day, we used to get some big ones.
Spencer Newharth
Okay, is everybody ready?
Corey
That was shortly after Grizzly Adams headed west from New York.
Spencer Newharth
Yeah, Brody, they knew each other back.
Tressa
Before global warming started.
Spencer Newharth
Is everybody ready? Go ahead and reveal your answers. We have Seth Andianis saying lake effect. Corey, you said lake effect, but then he wrote down blizzard. Randall says lake effect. Hansi, lake effect. Tressa says snow flurry. And Brody says lake effect. The correct answer is lake effect. If you rewind, you'd hear Corey say, we got some pretty big, big Flathead lake effect snowstorms.
Corey
Yes. In the post, we could do that scrubbing there.
Giannis Randall
Sure. You're giving me more work, Randall, but it'll be fun.
Spencer Newharth
This episode only comes out in, like, yeah, 16 hours.
Hansi
We had some pretty nasty water in the, you know, Flathead Lake effect snow that we'd get. Okay, but they're not that great.
Spencer Newharth
The states most impacted by lake effect snow are referred to as the snow belt, which includes portions of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont. This region is also home to America's four snowiest cities, which are Syracuse, Erie, Rochester, and buffalo. Question 8. The topic is cooking. McCormick says this ingredient has a subtle licorice flavor and is what brings Italian sausage and marinara sauce to life. We have some confident players in the room. This is question eight. The topic is cooking. McCormick says this ingredient has a, quote, subtle licorice flavor and is what brings Italian sausage and marinara sauce to life.
Hansi
I just assumed the weather service would have had a better name for it.
Spencer Newharth
Lake effect snow.
Tressa
No. No lake effect warnings.
Hansi
That's what it is. A lake effect warning. It's a type of blizzard.
Tressa
You want me to explain it to you?
Spencer Newharth
Yes.
Hansi
That happens in the upper Midwest.
Corey
It's a type of weather.
Tressa
The weather comes. The cold air comes over the warm.
Spencer Newharth
Weather, the Great Lakes, and it makes that noise. You wake up to the snow day.
Corey
And then Josh Allen goes out and plays in it.
Spencer Newharth
Lake effect.
Hansi
Mount Bohemia.
Tressa
Oh, yeah, those things are great. We'd occasionally get a day off from school for those things.
Brody
Did you guys know that today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day?
Spencer Newharth
Of course I didn't. How are you going to celebrate?
Brody
Well, I just found out myself. Just, you know, minutes before that, we started playing trivia. I don't know yet.
Spencer Newharth
Did someone tell you Happy National Squirrel?
Brody
Yeah, my wife sent me a little text about it.
Spencer Newharth
Okay, is everybody ready?
Tressa
Squirrel rut's gonna start soon.
Giannis Randall
A squirrel conservation group?
Tressa
I don't know, but there should be.
Spencer Newharth
The one we're waiting for Yanni to start.
Brody
Rocky Mountain Squirrels Unlimited.
Spencer Newharth
Is Everybody ready again? McCormick says this ingredient has a subtle licorice flavor and is what brings Italian sausage and marinara sauce to life. Go ahead and reveal your answers. We have Seth and Yanni and Corey and Randall saying fennel. Hansi says fennel seed.
Tressa
Are those two things the same thing?
Giannis Randall
They are.
Spencer Newharth
AKA Tressa says tobacco. Brody says fennel. The correct answer is fennel. The room did very well.
Brody
I don't think it's perfect.
Tressa
They're the same thing.
Brody
It's all good.
Giannis Randall
Well, the fennel that grows, like, you wouldn't call that Fennel seed. But I think the fennel that's used in cooking is fennel seed.
Corey
But is it anise?
Tressa
No, no, no, no. We're talking about.
Spencer Newharth
Yeah, he said, how do you pronounce.
Giannis Randall
I think it's anise.
Spencer Newharth
Oh, we all said it differently. I don't.
Seth
Not star anise, anis, Ponzi.
Spencer Newharth
I don't care enough to argue with you. So you can, you can have it. Fennel seed flavor is described as bold and sweet with warm notes of licorice. It's commonly used in Spanish, Italian and Middle Eastern cuisines. Some recipes on our website that feature it include venison lasagna, goose skewers, roasted hog loin and venison salami. You could have given me 10 chances to describe fennel seed flavor and I would have never come up with licorice. Is that what you guys would have said?
Brody
Oh, yeah.
Spencer Newharth
I think once I read it, it made sense. I was like, it does taste like licorice.
Corey
Well, I thought licorice. I wrote down anise.
Seth
The flavor is called anisette is the name of that licorice flavor.
Corey
Then I just thought more about Italian sausage and I thought, I don't know about anise and Italian sausage, but I know fennel.
Giannis Randall
I used to use anise oil for catching coons when I was trapping.
Spencer Newharth
Oh, they like that.
Tressa
We used to darn some fish scents.
Corey
Yeah.
Spencer Newharth
What coons don't like? What don't coons like?
Giannis Randall
Traps.
Spencer Newharth
Bill, we have two questions. Give us a scoreboard update.
Giannis Randall
Let's see here. Seth and Tressa, you hung on tight, but Corey too long enough. Oh, that's right. Sorry, Corey. And then we've got Hansi with five points. Randall and Giannis have six points apiece. And in first place, still with seven points, is Brody Henderson.
Spencer Newharth
Question nine. The topic is conservation. And this next great question is via Leland Hart. Name two of the five states with the most acres of military owned land. This is question nine. The topic is conservation. Name two of the five states with the most acres of military owned land. Brody has a one point lead right now. Randall has already come up with his answers. Randall, do you like your answers?
Corey
Feel pretty good.
Spencer Newharth
Two of the five states.
Corey
I feel pretty good.
Spencer Newharth
Brody, how many answers do you have written down?
Tressa
One.
Spencer Newharth
Okay. Two of the five states with the most acres of military owned land. Randall is wearing his Ohio State University shirt today. He declared it's the same shirt he was wearing last night which he decorated with a little chili.
Corey
Yes, just minor droplets down by the waist on the front. Side. Things didn't get that crazy.
Brody
Oh, it's terrible.
Tressa
Yeah.
Corey
Me and. Me and LeBron were celebrating pretty hard last night. He was on the tv. I was just watching it, but.
Spencer Newharth
Huh. Ohio World.
Corey
Yep.
Spencer Newharth
Name two of the.
Brody
He was wearing an interesting. It's like an anorak almost. Did you notice that?
Spencer Newharth
What is that?
Brody
That piece. What's that?
Spencer Newharth
What's that mean?
Brody
What is. What is an anorak?
Spencer Newharth
Yeah.
Corey
An anorak is a long parka with. It typically doesn't zip all the way down. It's like a quarter zip.
Brody
Yeah.
Spencer Newharth
Was he in a box and he was wearing that?
Brody
Well, but it wasn't a. It wasn't an insulated anorak. It was more of just a shirt.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Brody
Weight anorak. But yeah, I noticed it.
Spencer Newharth
Yanni with a lot of thoughts on fashion. I notice.
Corey
I bet Savannah picked it out for him.
Brody
Who's that?
Spencer Newharth
His wife.
Corey
She's got a real fashion sense. Or Zuri, his daughter.
Spencer Newharth
Jesus.
Giannis Randall
Who else is in the family?
Spencer Newharth
Bryce, Maximus and LeBron James Jr. How we doing over here? Brody?
Tressa
Keep talking.
Spencer Newharth
Okay. He wants you to name Arizona.
Corey
Fans are going crazy right now because they just secured Bryce. Locked him up. It's exciting.
Brody
Arizona. What?
Spencer Newharth
Arizona Wild.
Corey
The Wildcats.
Spencer Newharth
Their basketball team again. Name two of the five states with the most acres of military owned land. Is everybody ready? Go ahead and reveal. Oh, wow. Brody is changing last minute. We have Seth saying Nevada, New Mexico. Giannis says Wisconsin, North Carolina. Corey says Texas. Nevada. Randall says Nevada, California. Hansi says Nevada, New Mexico. Tressa says Florida, California. Brody crossed out Wyoming and he went with New Mexico and Alaska. The five states are New Mexico, California, Nevada, Arizona and Alaska. There was a groan when it was revealed that Brody got that one right. He correctly chose Alaska instead of Wyoming. New Mexico has nearly 4 million acres of military owned land, which is the most in the United States. The other states in the top 10 are Utah, Texas, Washington, Florida and Georgia. Through the Sykes act, the Departments of Interior and Defense are obligated to work together to manage natural resources on military land. And thanks to the Angle act, hunting and fishing became legal on some of the bases. Phil, give us another scoreboard update before we do the final question.
Giannis Randall
Yes, it's down to Brody and Randall. Brody has eight, Randall has seven. But Giannis and Hansi have six points apiece. It's nothing to stick your nose up at.
Brody
Nice showing, Hansi.
Corey
That last minute adjustment.
Seth
We missed our question about Cypress Cove. We do a little fishing because that.
Corey
Would have been a little review on that.
Spencer Newharth
Now Here is a correct answer review so far. One was Christmas. Two was stoat. Three. Swarovski. Four, Idaho. Five, Rattlesnake. Six, Grizzly Adams. Seven, Lake effect. Eight, Fennel. Nine, was New Mexico, California, Nevada, Arizona and Alaska. Here is question 10. The topic is fishing. The u. S. Forest service defines this six letter word as, quote, the shallower, faster moving sections of a stream where rocks break the water surface. Brody confidently wrote down his answer. Seems as though he has won the game.
Giannis Randall
How often did you use this word when you were a fishing guide, Brody?
Tressa
Quite often.
Spencer Newharth
You'd think so. The u. S. Forest service defines this six letter word as the shallower, faster moving sections of a stream where rocks break the water surface.
Corey
If I may.
Spencer Newharth
Okay.
Corey
It's. It asks. It says section is plural.
Spencer Newharth
It's not a. The answer is not plural.
Corey
Okay. Just. Just checking.
Spencer Newharth
The U.S. forest Service defines this six letter word as the shallower, faster moving sections of a stream where rocks break the water surface.
Corey
What percentage of your question tens are in the category of fishing?
Spencer Newharth
I don't know. Does it seem.
Corey
Seems like a lot?
Spencer Newharth
It does seem like a lot.
Tressa
Spencer and I talk about that the night before the game.
Corey
It's always anticlimactic.
Giannis Randall
Yeah.
Hansi
I brought this up a couple weeks ago.
Corey
It's like, it's like we get to question nine. I need to get one on Brody. And then it's. The category is fishing.
Brody
Wow.
Spencer Newharth
I'm gonna have to look into this.
Giannis Randall
It's noticeable. It happens a lot. Yeah.
Corey
Thanks, Phil.
Spencer Newharth
I'm gonna review some scripts now and try to get to you on that one.
Tressa
To be fair, would it really matter? The first or the last question, Create.
Corey
Some tension would be more interesting to me. It would be more interesting to me.
Tressa
If it was like, sounds like you're saying it's like rigged.
Spencer Newharth
Is everybody ready?
Brody
I. I agree. The last question should be broad.
Corey
It should be.
Brody
But difficult.
Spencer Newharth
Off the wall seems broad. I also, I also don't want to make it where every question 10 is where you're like, okay, I know this is a tough one.
Corey
Yeah.
Spencer Newharth
So the answer wouldn't be like, too obvious?
Corey
No, I understand.
Spencer Newharth
People have made that request before, but I don't want to stack the game in a way that you can like, sort of predict the difficulties.
Tressa
I think you're doing a great job.
Spencer Newharth
Thank you, bro. I go ahead and reveal your answers. We have Seth saying rapt.
Giannis Randall
Rapid.
Spencer Newharth
Rapid. Giannis says riffle. Corey riffle, Randall riffle, Hansi riffle. Tressa says nervous. Brody says riffle. The correct answer is riffle. Most streams have a basic pattern that's explained by the riffle pool run sequence. Riffles are the shallowest, fastest moving parts of a waterway. They create pools by carving out the bottom and sides of the stream. Then after that comes a run where the water is deep like a pool and fast like a riffle. That makes Brody our winner with nine correct answers. Congratulations, Brody. What do you want to do with your $500 donation today?
Tressa
I get since we got a new administration coming in that always throws like conservation and public access stuff, like things change. So we need a group that can work with the new administration. So we'll go with the TRCP.
Spencer Newharth
Brody sending $500 to TRCP today. Join us next week for more Meat Eater trivia, the only game show where conservation always wins.
Corey
Thanks, Spencer.
Brody
Thank you.
Spencer Newharth
Yeah, Spencer from South Dakota, he's the host. Using those smooth, mellow tones, he lays them questions down. And he likes taking those two and three year old bucks. And he's an avid amateur rock hound.
Stephen Rinella
Hey, American history buffs. Hunting history buffs, listen up. We're back at it with another volume of our Meat Eaters American History series. In this edition, titled the Mountain Men 1806-1840, we tackle the Rocky Mountain beaver trade and dive into the lives and legends of fellows like Jim Bridger, Jed Smith and John Coulter. This small but legendary fraternity of backwoodsmen helped define an era when the west represented not just unmapped territory, but untapped opportunity for those willing to endure some heinous and at times, violent conditions. We explain what started the Mountain man era and what ended it. We tell you everything you'd ever want to know about what the mountain men ate, how they hunted and trapped, what gear they carried, what clothes they wore, how they interacted with Native Americans, how 10% of them died violent deaths, and even detailed descriptions of how they performed amputations on the fly. It's as dark and bloody and good as our previous volume about the white tailed deer skin trade, which is titled the Long Hunters 1761-1775. So again, this new Mountain man edition about the beaver skin trademark is available for pre order now wherever audiobooks are sold. It's called Meat Eaters American History the Mountain Men 1806-1840 by me, Stephen Rinella.
The MeatEater Podcast: Episode 653 – "Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CXLVIII"
Release Date: January 22, 2025
In Episode 653 of The MeatEater Podcast, host Spencer Newharth takes center stage as the charismatic host of MeatEater Trivia, the podcast's unique game show where conservation always triumphs. Joining Spencer are enthusiastic participants Giannis Randall, Brody, Seth, Tressa, Corey, and Hansi. Over the course of ten riveting trivia rounds, the contestants navigate questions spanning four verticals: hunting, fishing, conservation, and cooking. The stakes are high, with MeatEater pledging a $500 donation to the winner's chosen conservation organization.
Throughout the episode, listeners are treated to lively banter, strategic thinking, and insightful discussions that not only entertain but also educate on various outdoor and conservation topics. Notable moments include humorous exchanges, strategic gameplay, and enriching explanations of correct answers, making the trivia both fun and informative.
[01:41] Spencer Newharth introduces the trivia segment:
"Welcome to MeatEater Trivia, the only game show where conservation always wins. I'm your host, Spencer Newharth..."
He outlines the structure:
Notable Insight: Spencer shares intriguing statistics about perfect games:
"In 2024, we saw a big uptick in winners getting 10 questions correct. Prior to last year, we had five perfect games ever, but in 2024 we had seven."
[06:31] Spencer Newharth poses the first question:
"Which of these is not a fee-free day in national parks for 2025? Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Juneteenth, Veterans Day, or Christmas?"
Participants' Responses:
Correct Answer:
Spencer's Explanation:
"There are seven fee-free days for national parks this year, including MLK Day, Juneteenth, Veterans Day, and others, but not Christmas."
[09:32] Spencer Newharth presents a listener's question:
"This five-letter word is another name for a short-tailed weasel or ermine."
Participants' Guesses:
Correct Answer:
Spencer's Insight:
"Stoat buck that trend... they have a gestation period of 280 days, which is similar to bison, moose, and humans."
[13:17] Spencer Newharth asks:
"This brand started making jewelry in 1895 and binoculars in 1935."
Participants' Guesses:
Correct Answer:
Spencer's Commentary:
"Swarovski followed up their success by making rifle scopes in 1959 and telescopes in 1991."
[15:06] Spencer Newharth inquires:
"The Ruby Ridge standoff, which Randy Weaver claims was incorrectly named, happened in this state."
Participants' Guesses:
Correct Answer:
Clarification:
"It should have been called the Caribou Ridge standoff, not Ruby Ridge."
[18:26] Spencer Newharth poses:
"Western timber, pygmy, Mojave tiger, blacktail, and Great Basin are all types of this animal."
Participants' Guesses:
Correct Answer:
Educational Tidbit:
"There are more than 30 types of rattlesnakes in North America, with the eastern diamondback being the continent's largest venomous snake."
[22:40] Spencer Newharth asks:
"This person, whose biography declared him California's greatest mountain man, was related to Samuel Adams and John Quincy Adams."
Participants' Guesses:
Correct Answer:
Spencer's Insight:
"Grizzly Adams was born in Massachusetts in 1812 and became famous for raising wild animals as pets after moving to California."
[26:38] Spencer Newharth queries:
"The National Weather Service describes this type of snowstorm as when cold air, often originating from Canada, moves across the open waters of the Great Lakes."
Participants' Guesses:
Correct Answer:
Spencer's Explanation:
"States most impacted include parts of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Vermont, home to America's four snowiest cities."
[29:22] Spencer Newharth presents:
"McCormick says this ingredient has a subtle licorice flavor and is what brings Italian sausage and marinara sauce to life."
Participants' Guesses:
Correct Answer:
Culinary Insight:
"Fennel seed flavor is described as bold and sweet with warm notes of licorice, commonly used in Spanish, Italian, and Middle Eastern cuisines."
[33:35] Spencer Newharth inquires:
"Name two of the five states with the most acres of military-owned land."
Participants' Guesses:
Correct Answer:
Spencer's Commentary:
"New Mexico has nearly 4 million acres of military land, the most in the U.S."
[39:02] Spencer Newharth asks:
"The U.S. Forest Service defines this six-letter word as the shallower, faster-moving sections of a stream where rocks break the water surface."
Participants' Guesses:
Correct Answer:
Spencer's Explanation:
"Riffles create pools by carving out the stream's bottom and sides, forming the foundation for aquatic ecosystems."
After a series of competitive rounds, Brody Henderson emerges victorious with nine correct answers, securing the $500 donation to the TRCP (The Roberts Trust Conservation Program). His strategic knowledge and keen responses highlight the depth of expertise among MeatEater's community.
Brody's Winning Moment:
"Congratulations, Brody."
"Brody sending $500 to TRCP today."
Episode 653 of The MeatEater Podcast masterfully blends entertainment with education through its engaging trivia format. Host Spencer Newharth fosters a spirited environment where participants not only compete but also share valuable insights and anecdotes related to the outdoors and conservation. From discussions on rattlesnakes to the intricacies of military land conservation, the episode serves as a testament to the rich knowledge and passion within the MeatEater community.
Listeners are encouraged to participate in future trivia games by submitting their questions, ensuring that conservation remains at the heart of every challenge. As always, the episode underscores MeatEater's commitment to deepening the understanding of the natural world and promoting its preservation.
Notable Quotes:
Spencer Newharth [01:41]:
"This is a 10 round quiz show with questions from MeatEater’s four verticals which are hunting, fishing, conservation, and cooking."
Spencer Newharth [26:16]:
"Grizzly Adams was born in Massachusetts in 1812... famous for capturing wild animals like grizzlies that he'd raise as pets."
Spencer Newharth [20:36]:
"There are more than 30 types of rattlesnakes in North America."
Brody Henderson [10:28]:
"One of the greatest wildlife encounters we've ever had... That ermine stayed on him and eventually killed it."
Spencer Newharth [39:52]:
"Most streams have a basic pattern that's explained by the riffle pool run sequence."
This episode not only provides a platform for community engagement but also reinforces MeatEater's dedication to conservation through informed discussions and strategic philanthropy.