The MeatEater Podcast

Episode 758: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CLXXX
Date: September 3, 2025
Host: Spencer Newarth
Summary by [YourName]

Overview

This episode is a new installment of the popular MeatEater Trivia series: a 10-round, quiz-show style game where knowledge of hunting, fishing, conservation, and outdoor cooking is tested— all in the service of a $1,000 donation to the winner’s conservation group of choice. The show features friendly competition, irreverent banter, and deep-dive outdoor knowledge from the rotating cast, including Brody, Giannis, Randall, Seth, Marge, Logan, and Nate.

Trivia questions lead to digressions about outdoor gear, conservation history, hunting ethics, and personal stories—making for an episode that’s as much about camaraderie and outdoor culture as it is about right answers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Housekeeping & Stat of the Week (00:46 – 04:54)

• Win Rates & GOAT Status:
  Brody is lauded as the “GOAT” (Greatest of All Time) of MeatEater Trivia, with a 39% win rate. Others follow closely, setting up ongoing tournament rivalries.

  “Brody’s played the most games, he’s won the most games. Plays don’t count and has the highest win percentage. There’s no debate.” – Spencer (00:46)

• Spotify Spoiler Problem:
  The team jokes about AI-generated Spotify chapters that spoil answers:

  “AI Ruining lives.” – Brody (04:47)

2. Pre-Game Banter: Water Bottles & Gear (01:39 – 04:54)

• Hydration Vessel Chat:
  The team has fun with Spencer’s rotating water bottles, discussing brands like Owala and Stanley in a way only gearheads can appreciate.

3. Trivia Gameplay Highlights (05:19 – 38:46)

Round 1: Conservation

• Question: Which of these national parks is furthest east? (Biscayne, Petrified Forest, Big Bend, Badlands)
• Answer: Biscayne (Florida)
• Quotes:

  “The correct answer is Biscayne... The park is within sight of Miami and protects everything from shipwrecks to manatees.” – Spencer (06:45)

Round 2: Gear

• Question: Yeti acquired which backpack brand in 2024?
• Answer: Mystery Ranch
• Quotes:

  “People in this room did very well because that is a local brand.” – Spencer (09:53) “We could file that under Bozeman Gossip.” – Randall (09:53) “They did a whole, like, fanny pack thing on the runway in New York Fashion Week.” – Marge (10:02)

Round 3: Hunting

• Question: What’s the world’s largest online marketplace for firearms, ammo, and accessories?
• Answer: gunbroker.com
• Stories:
  • Randall shares personal experiences with Gunbroker, preferring local face-to-face deals but having scored some good finds, like an HK USC. (13:01–13:48)
  • Giannis details a specific Winchester Model 70 purchase, nerding out over controlled extraction.

Round 4: Fishing

• Question: What state is Lake Pontchartrain in?
• Answer: Louisiana

  “At 631 square miles, Lake Pontchartrain is the eleventh biggest lake in the United States. But despite its name, technically an estuary.” – Spencer (15:55)

• Bridge Trivia: Home to the world’s longest continuous bridge over water.

Round 5: Camping

• Question: In campers/RVs, what color tank collects sink/shower water?
• Answer: Gray

  “It’s recommended when draining these that you drain the black first and gray second, which ensures all human waste gets washed out of your hose.” – Spencer (17:22)

Halftime Scoreboard (18:00)

• Three perfect games so far. Brody, Giannis, and Randall all have five points.

Round 6: Fishing

• Question: Game & Fish magazine crowned who as “Bass Fishing’s GOAT” in 2023 on retirement?
• Answer: Kevin VanDam (“KVD”)
• Quotes:

  “KVD retired after earning $7 million through 36 years of competitive fishing... 25 tournaments, four Bassmaster Classics, seven Angler of the Year.” – Spencer (20:54) “Stats certainly don’t lie.” – Giannis (21:48)

Round 7: Biology

• Question: Eight-letter word: examination of an animal’s dead body.
• Answer: Necropsy

  “An autopsy is to humans as a necropsy is to animals... these are commonly done by vets, biologists, and game wardens.” – Spencer (23:28)

  • The crew discusses teaching kids hunting ethics and terminal ballistics via post-mortem exam of game.

Round 8: Cooking

• Question: 2025 USFWS campaign: “Save a swamp. Sauté a ____” targets what invasive mammal?
• Answer: Nutria

  “Nutria destroy North American wetlands... USFWS encourages their harvest; their flesh tastes like rabbit or dark meat of a turkey.” – Spencer (26:30)

  • Louisiana offers nutria recipes for gumbo and jambalaya.

Round 9: History

• Question: In what modern city did Davy Crockett die in 1836?
• Answer: San Antonio

  “Thousands of Mexican soldiers stormed the lightly defended Alamo... For more, go read Pat Durkin’s article: ‘DID Davy Crockett Go Down Swinging?’” – Spencer (28:09–29:19)

  • Short discussion of The Alamo as a site and American myth.

Round 10: Hunting

• Question: According to Pheasants Forever, peak egg-laying month for pheasants?
• Answer: May
  • Fun fact: A hen may lose up to 75% of her body fat during this period.

4. Overtime Tie-Breaker & Outcome (32:40 – 38:46)

• Tie: Brody and Giannis both finish with perfect games.
• Tie-Breaker: What percentage of Americans think they could beat a bald eagle in an unarmed fight? (2021 YouGov poll)
• Guesses: Brody (62%), Giannis (78%)
• Answer: 30%

  “30% of Americans think they could beat one in a fight... Men more confident than women: 39% of men, 22% of women.” – Spencer (37:24)

• WINNER: Brody Henderson—$1,000 donation to Mule Deer Foundation

  “I like big mule deer bucks.” – Brody (38:36)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Brody’s Trivia Dominance:
  “There’s no debate. Brody’s the MeatEater Trivia goat.” – Spencer (00:46)

• Personal Touches:
  “I like his tables.” – Spencer, talking about Chuck Hawks’ gun data (12:37)

• On Necropsy as Hunter Education:
  “You should be doing that stuff with your kids after they kill one.” – Brody (23:28)

• Humor, as Always:
  “Save a swamp, sauté a cowboy.” – Randall, joking about the campaign slogan (24:40)
  “When I fight a bald eagle, I break it.” – Brody (36:24)

• Brody’s Charity Choice:
  “I’m gonna go Mule Deer Foundation.” – Brody (38:28)
  “Send me a hat with that silhouetted sunrise.” – Brody, after picking his favorite conservation charity (38:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Pre-Game Stats & Banter: 00:46–04:54
• Trivia Begins: 05:19
• Gunbroker.com Deep Dive: 10:40–13:48
• Halftime Score Update: 18:00
• Discussion: Necropsy & Hunter Ethics: 23:28–23:44
• Nutria Cooking Drive: 24:09–26:30
• Alamo & Crockett: 27:19–29:19
• Overtime Starts: 32:40
• Final: Eagle Fight Tie-Breaker: 34:09–37:06
• Winner/Charity Selection: 38:13–38:46

Takeaways

• Competitive but Friendly: The show’s mix of outdoor trivia, personal stories, and ribbing between participants makes for engaging listening, whether you’re after education or entertainment.
• Conservation Always Wins: $1,000 goes to the Mule Deer Foundation, spotlighting the MeatEater Podcast’s consistent focus on giving back to wild places and wildlife.
• Fun, Informative, Irreverent: Even the tie-breaker—about fighting a bald eagle—ends up being a vehicle for insights about American attitudes toward wildlife, masculinity, and themselves.

For those who missed the episode: The gang’s competitive, funny chemistry is on full display, with trivia as the entry point to much broader conversations about outdoor culture, conservation, and the strange things Americans believe. Brody, the “GOAT,” does it again—but not without memorable moments and lots of laughs along the way.