The MeatEater Podcast - Episode 681: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CLVII

Release Date: March 26, 2025

Introduction and Welcome

In Episode 681 of The MeatEater Podcast, titled "Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CLVII," host Spencer Newarth welcomes listeners to a lively edition of MeatEater Trivia, a unique game show where conservation always triumphs. Joined by a diverse group of participants—Randall, Cal, Nate, Sarah, Marge, Chili, Logan, and Matt—the episode promises ten rounds of challenging questions spanning the four verticals of hunting, fishing, conservation, and cooking. The stakes are high, with MeatEater pledging a $500 donation to a conservation organization chosen by the winners.

Recap and Banter of Previous Trivia Game

Spencer kicks off the episode by highlighting the "Stat of the Week": Cal and his team defeated Randall and Phil in last Friday's bar trivia with a score of 54 to 44, sparking discussions about whether it was the "greatest upset in bar trivia."

[02:02] Cal chimes in humorously, reminding everyone, "You're leaving out the first game in which we defeated you," adding depth to the ongoing rivalry. [02:06] Nate further engages, stating, "You're also leaving out the fact that the questions were awarding points in three and five-point increments," indicating strategic elements that influenced the game's outcome.

The conversation then meanders into the peculiarities of their last trivia experience, with [02:15] Cal admitting, "I don't remember," and [02:16] Nate responding, "No, no, I think we were competitive in that one at least." This sets a casual, friendly tone as the group relives their past performance.

Food and Venue Discussion

Amidst the trivia chatter, the participants delve into a discussion about the venue and its offerings:

• [03:31] Cal praises The Molly Brown as the prime spot for trivia, stating, "The Molly Brown, I will say again, is the only good place to play trivia."

• [03:36] Marge echoes this sentiment, "I liked the fourteen-dollar burger and a beer combo," contrasting it with other establishments like Boseman's, which offers a smash burger for $22.

This light-hearted banter about food prices and quality not only showcases the group's camaraderie but also paints a vivid picture of their favorite hangouts.

Trivia Gameplay

The heart of the episode lies in the ten-question trivia game, each covering one of the four verticals. Here's a detailed breakdown of each round, complete with notable quotes and participant interactions:

Round 1: Gear (Timestamp: [08:05])

Question: Which of these pellet sizes is biggest? Triple B, F, double aught (00), or T?

• Participants' Responses: Marge guessed Triple B, while Logan, Matt, Randall, Chili, Sarah, Nate, and Cal opted for double aught.

• Correct Answer: Double OTT (00), much to the delight of several participants. Nate confirms, "double aught is buckshot."

Notable Quote:

• [08:31] Cal humorously teases, "Cal, you're probably one of those monsters who skips the credits when you watch TV shows, aren't you? It's part of the tone setting."

Round 2: Conservation (Timestamp: [10:02])

Question: What does CREP stand for?

• Participants' Struggle: Despite multiple attempts, including guesses like "Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program," none of the participants nailed it.

• Correct Answer: Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program.

Notable Quote:

• [11:24] Marge laments, "I don't know. I can tell you how many I have wrong, though."

Round 3: Fishing (Timestamp: [14:42])

Question: In what state is the Salton Sea?

• Participants' Responses: Most guessed California, with some outliers like Florida and Arizona.

• Correct Answer: California, specifically Matt's home state.

Notable Quote:

• [15:13] Nate jokes, "She still works at Meat Eater. So you're not going to hear Chester on trivia very much coming up."

Round 4: Hunting (Timestamp: [17:27])

Question: NFL hall of famer Jared Allen grabbed headlines in 2009 when he used this weapon to kill an elk.

• Participants' Responses: Varied guesses included crossbows, spears, handguns, and shotguns.

• Correct Answer: Spear.

Notable Quote:

• [20:05] Marge quips, "I'd have to know how many sacks he got in one season. And then we could be like, okay, this is his aggressiveness per sack."

Round 5: Cooking (Timestamp: [20:21])

Question: This five-letter word is defined as, "a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone."

• Participants' Responses: Sinew was the correct guess by Marge and Matt, while others faltered with answers like "vaska" and "fascia."

• Correct Answer: Sinew.

Notable Quote:

• [22:11] Marge opts for creativity, "The last time we had a spell this word with this amount of letters. I just wrote the word that I wanted it to be with that amount of. It's a spelling error and I feel like I'm on the track of spelling."

Round 6: Conservation (Timestamp: [26:34])

Question: This land management technique involves partially cutting through a tree and laying it on the ground to create horizontal structure.

• Participants' Responses: Hinge Cutting was the correct answer by Nate and Cal, while others guessed "felling" and "habitat engineering."

• Correct Answer: Hinge Cutting.

Notable Quote:

• [27:00] Marge expresses frustration, "Point of order. Point of order."

Round 7: Wildlife (Timestamp: [30:31])

Question: This double-crested water bird is known for, "wing spreading, a standing technique it uses to dry its feathers."

• Participants' Responses: Cormorant emerged as the correct answer chosen by Nate and Cal, while others guessed "Sandhill Crane" and "Pelican."

• Correct Answer: Cormorant.

Notable Quote:

• [31:12] Spencer humorously reflects, "Nate, how did you almost kill yourself a cormorant? I bet they taste real bad."

Round 8: Hunting (Timestamp: [33:06])

Question: This seven-letter word refers to the series of short, loud grunts that a bull elk often produces at the end of a bugle.

• Participants' Responses: Chuckle was the correct answer, selected by Sarah, Nate, and Cal.

• Correct Answer: Chuckle.

Notable Quote:

• [33:18] Marge adds levity, "I'm a shout one."

Round 9: Natural History (Timestamp: [36:33])

Question: This 1998 comedy follows Chris Farley and Matthew Perry as they race Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean.

• Participants' Responses: "Almost Heroes" was the correct answer selected by Matt and Randall, while others stumped with options like "Without a Paddle" and "Tommy Boy."

• Correct Answer: Almost Heroes.

Notable Quote:

• [40:27] Nate candidly shares, "There's got to be a term for a movie that once all the leads are dead, you know."

Round 10: Fishing (Timestamp: [42:18])

Question: This fish goes by nicknames such as mud pike, Cypress trout, and swamp bass.

• Participants' Responses: The correct answer, Bowfin, was not guessed by any participant, leading to a rare instance where no one answered correctly.

• Correct Answer: Bowfin.

Notable Quote:

• [44:47] Marge confidently states, "I knew. I was like, it's probably not snakehead. It's the native one that looks like. Yeah."

Overtime and Tiebreaker

With the main game concluding in a tie, the episode transitions into an overtime tiebreaker:

Question: How many national parks does the National Park Service manage?

Participants—Nate, Cal, and Matt—are each asked to provide a numerical answer:

• Nate's Answer: 68
• Cal's Answer: 48
• Matt's Answer: 11

However, the correct answer is 63, with Nate’s 68 being the closest by 5 points, securing him the $500 donation for Wyoming BHA.

Notable Quote:

• [46:22] Chili casually mentions, "My wife got this water bottle with all these little stick," referencing memorization aids.
• [47:15] Spencer humorously summarizes, "There are 61 parks in the states, one in American Samoa, and one in the Virgin Islands."

Conclusion and Prize Announcement

Victory is declared as Nate triumphs in the tiebreaker, earning the $500 donation for his chosen conservation organization, Wyoming BHA. The group celebrates with light-hearted remarks about Nate's lucky sweater and anticipates future trivia challenges.

[51:40] Spencer wraps up with promising future content: "Next week I have an exciting announcement on that episode. Happy to tell you about a new project."

Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with a blend of promotional content and spirited team interactions. Spencer reinforces the episode's themes of camaraderie and conservation, setting the stage for upcoming episodes and encouraging listener participation.

Notable Promotional Segments:

• Ram Heavy Duty Truck Ad: Emphasizing power and durability for outdoor adventures.

• Dave Smith Decoys Ad: Highlighting the realism and resilience of their turkey decoys.

Overall, Episode 681 of The MeatEater Podcast delivers an engaging blend of trivia competition, participant banter, and conservation-focused content, all wrapped in Spencer Newarth's signature humor and expertise.