Episode Summary: The MeatEater Podcast - Ep. 734: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CLXXIV

Release Date: July 23, 2025
Host: Steven Rinella (Spencer Newarth)
Guests: Giannis Brody, Randall, Cal, Alyssa Logan, Tate Morgan
Featured Organization: Sons of Smoky Outdoor Stewardship

1. Introduction to Sons of Smoky Outdoor Stewardship

[00:44] Spencer Newarth:
"Welcome to Meat Eater Trivia, the only game show where conservation always wins."

Steven Rinella, under his alias Spencer Newarth, introduces the episode as a special trivia game featuring members of the Sons of Smoky Outdoor Stewardship. The group comprises Giannis Brody, Randall, Cal, Alyssa Logan, and Tate Morgan.

Tate Morgan:
"Sons of Smokey is an organization we formed about five years ago. It's dedicated to removing trash from public land. So we organize events in association with our other event, the Gambler 500. And then we've developed an app where anyone—hikers, bird watchers, hunters, off-roaders—can find trash in the wild. Mark it on the app. And then we also use that tool to go out and pick all that trash up."
[01:04]

2. Gambler 500 Event Overview

Spencer delves into discussing the Gambler 500, a cornerstone event for the Sons of Smoky.

Tate Morgan:
"Ah, it's an off-road navigation rally utilizing cheap or impractical fun cars. And we wander the forest looking for trash. And it's a big party, too."
[01:30]

Cal:
"My objective was to just show all these other user groups that this very eclectic, loose, fun group of people also exist and they're excellent stewards of public land... we had about 4,000 people in Madras this year."
[01:42]

Spencer Newarth:
"Cal had described it to me as possibly the largest public land trash pickup in the world. You said 4,000 people there. What's the rest of the scale of this trash pickup event?"
[02:03]

Tate Morgan:
"We've done $450,000 of trash, including abandoned cars, RVs, boats—big stuff. We call it trophy trash. So you roll into camp with a water heater instead of like a big bow. Well, you got a water heater up there, and everyone claps. You can throw it in the bin and you go back out and do it again."
[02:35]

Discussion Highlights:

• Scale and Impact: The event tackles substantial amounts of "trophy trash," such as RVs, abandoned cars, and boats. Tate emphasizes their focus on large items that significantly impact public lands.
• Community Participation: Attracting up to 4,000 participants, the Gambler 500 fosters a sense of community and shared responsibility toward environmental stewardship.

Cal:
"It was a storybook finish."
[09:43]

3. Trivia Game Mechanics and Theme

Spencer explains the structure of the trivia game, outlining its four verticals: hunting, fishing, conservation, and cooking. He announces that the prize is a $500 donation to a conservation organization of the winner's choice.

Spencer Newarth:
"This is a 10 round quiz show with questions from meat eaters. Four verticals which are hunting, fishing, conservation and cooking. And there is a prize—Mediator will donate 500 to the conservation organization of the winner's choosing."
[05:45]

4. Trivia Gameplay and Highlights

The trivia segment is a blend of knowledge testing and camaraderie, with participants showcasing their expertise and sharing personal anecdotes.

Round 1: Natural History

Question:
"In what city is the Field Museum of Natural History? Chicago, San Francisco, El Paso, or Boston?"
[12:08]

Responses:

• Tate Morgan: "San Francisco"
• Giannis Brody, Randall, Logan, Alyssa Logan, and Cal: "Chicago"
• Correct Answer: Chicago

Spencer Newarth:
"The Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. It sits on the shore of Lake Michigan and gets over 2 million visitors each year."
[13:25]

Round 2: Hunting

Question:
"Canine Infectious Respiratory Disease Complex, which is a highly contagious illness for dogs, is more commonly known by this name."
[15:07]

Responses:

• Correct Answer: Kennel Cough
• Participants: Randall missed it; others correctly identified Kennel Cough.

Randall:
"The worst part about it was when Rosie got kennel cough. We were living in a camper, so you couldn't get away from the noise."
[17:40]

Round 3: Conservation

Question:
"This type of AI has been used to save imperiled species such as white rhinos and wood bison."
[18:33]

Responses:

• Correct Answer: Artificial Insemination AI
• Giannis Brody and Randall: Correctly answered.

Giannis Brody:
"That's a dirty artificial insemination has been used on everything from pandas to killer whales."
[21:01]

Round 4: Wild (Bird Identification)

Question:
"Audubon calls this songbird the 'master mimic,' thanks to its ability to imitate hundreds of bird songs and calls."
[22:38]

Responses:

• Correct Answer: Mockingbird
• Participants: All except Cal answered correctly.

Spencer Newarth:
"The northern mockingbird is the state bird of Arkansas, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Texas, and formerly South Carolina. It's thought they mimic other birds to claim territory and attract mates."
[25:09]

Round 5: Fishing

Question:
"This brand says they sparked the modern ice fishing revolution with the introduction of the FL8 flasher in 1989."
[26:07]

Responses:

• Correct Answer: Vexilar
• Participants: Tate Morgan, Giannis Brody, Randall, Logan, and Brody correctly identified.

Randall:
"The three color FL8 took the market by storm with its rechargeable battery and unique carrying case."
[28:20]

Round 6: Woodsmanship

Question:
"The Blank field guides which help laymen identify birds, insects, plants, and mushrooms, published their first book in 1934."
[30:34]

Responses:

• Correct Answer: Peterson Field Guides
• Michelle (Alyssa)가 올바르게 답변함.

Spencer Newarth:
"The first book was the Field Guide to Birds, which has been followed up by 50 more books since then."
[33:09]

Round 7: Cooking

Question:
"This is the world's largest burrowing clam, which has a foul name. (F O W L)"
[34:31]

Responses:

• Correct Answer: Geoduck
• Participants: Tate Morgan, Randall, Cal, and Brody correctly identified as "Geoduck."

Spencer Newarth:
"Geoducks, also known as elephant clams and king clams, can weigh several pounds and live for 150 years. They are often eaten raw as sashimi or ceviche, or cooked in a stir-fry or hot pot."
[37:00]

Round 8: Conservation (Geneva Conventions)

Question:
"These treaties which were signed in Switzerland in 1949, make it a war crime to destroy another country's dam."
[38:25]

Responses:

• Correct Answer: Geneva Conventions
• Logan and others correctly identified.

Spencer Newarth:
"The Geneva Conventions are international laws that establish legal standards for humanitarian treatment in war."
[39:18]

Round 9: Fishing (Materials in Rod Making)

Question:
"Hardy and Fenwick were the first brands to use this eight-letter material for fishing rods."
[41:50]

Responses:

• Correct Answer: Graphite
• Randall and others correctly answered.

Spencer Newarth:
"Graphite rods excel when it comes to being lightweight and sensitive, but are also some of the easiest to break."
[43:54]

Round 10: Hunting (Precision Rifle Cartridge)

Question:
"What does PRC stand for when referring to the 6.5PRC, 7PRC, and 300PRC?"
[45:00]

Responses:

• Correct Answer: Precision Rifle Cartridge
• Tate Morgan, Giannis Brody, Logan, Alyssa, Cal, and Brody: Tate and others correctly answered.

Randall:
"They're optimized to shoot the heavy for caliber projectiles that are so popular today among precision rifle shooters."
[47:35]

5. Game Outcome and Conclusion

Giannis Brody emerges victorious with seven correct answers, securing the $500 prize allocated to conservation efforts.

Giannis Brody:
"I'm assuming you guys could use a few bucks."
[48:15]

Tate Morgan:
"We'd love it. We'd use it to get some tires and trash in the dumpsters."
[48:19]

Spencer Newarth:
"500 going to the Sons of Smokey Outdoor Stewardship. Thanks for joining us. Thanks for playing."
[49:51]

6. Closing Remarks

Steven Rinella wraps up the episode, highlighting the collaborative spirit and dedication of the Sons of Smoky Outdoor Stewardship in conserving public lands.

Notable Quotes:

• Tate Morgan on Sons of Smoky:
  "We organize events in association with our other event, the Gambler 500. And then we've developed an app where anyone—hikers, bird watchers, hunters, off-roaders—can find trash in the wild. Mark it on the app. And then we also use that tool to go out and pick all that trash up."
  [01:04]

• Cal on Gambler 500’s Impact:
  "I just felt like it was a very important thing to showcase during, like the big public lands fight."
  [02:24]

• Randall’s Trivia Victory:
  "The first animal was a wolf in 1973. Besides increasing populations, it's a tool to help create more genetic diversity."
  [21:20]

• Spencer on Mockingbirds:
  "They mimic other birds to claim territory and attract mates. Studies have found that they most often imitate cardinals, bluebirds, and wrens, and never imitate doves or Sparrows."
  [25:09]

• Giannis Brody on Geoducks:
  "Done that to a dairy cow before."
  [21:23]

Key Takeaways:

• Environmental Stewardship:
  The Sons of Smoky Outdoor Stewardship plays a pivotal role in maintaining the cleanliness and integrity of public lands through large-scale events like the Gambler 500 and innovative tools like their trash-marking app.

• Community Engagement:
  With events drawing thousands of participants, the organization fosters a strong community spirit centered around conservation and outdoor enjoyment.

• Trivia as Educational Tool:
  The trivia game serves not only as entertainment but also as an educational platform, highlighting various aspects of natural history, hunting, fishing, conservation, and cooking.

• Collaboration and Support:
  Partnerships with organizations like the Bronco Wild Fund and support from companies such as Ford Motor Company are crucial in enabling the Sons of Smoky to effectively manage and dispose of collected trash.

Final Thoughts:

Episode 734 of The MeatEater Podcast masterfully blends engaging conversations about outdoor stewardship with an interactive trivia segment, underscoring the importance of conservation efforts and community involvement. Through humor, personal stories, and insightful discussions, Spencer Rinella and his guests shed light on the impactful work being done to preserve and protect our natural landscapes.