The MeatEater Podcast — Ep. 781: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CLXXXVII

Date: October 22, 2025
Host: Spencer Newharth
Guests/Players: Randall Brody, Alex, Alyssa, Anthony, Sarah, Corey, Nate, Brody Henderson
Episode Type: Trivia Game Show

Overview

In this episode, Spencer Newharth hosts the 187th edition of "MeatEater Trivia" — an irreverent, competitive quiz show focusing on hunting, fishing, conservation, cooking, and general outdoor knowledge. Eight contestants (all familiar voices in the MeatEater community) battle through ten rounds of questions for a $500 donation to a conservation organization of the winner's choice. A blend of good-natured ribbing, memorable trivia, outdoors expertise, and playful banter, this episode is as much about camaraderie as competition.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Contestants Overview and Stat-of-the-Week

• Nate Mason is highlighted as the week's “favorite jabroni,” with a breakdown of his historical trivia performance:
  • Hunting: 53% correct (his best)
  • Fishing: 45% correct (his worst)
  • Conservation: 51%
  • Cooking: 53%
• Comparison to other MeatEater personalities:

  “Nate gets 53% of questions correct, which is 10% worse than Steve, but 10% better than Clay.” — Spencer (01:51)

2. Corrections and IFAQ (Infrequently Asked Questions)

• Corrections:

  • Tequila song singer was incorrectly attributed to Luke Bryan; it was Joe Nichols.
  • Misattributed Batman: Randall corrects himself, acknowledging Val Kilmer played Batman in Batman Forever, not George Clooney. (04:03)

    “Val Kilmer played Batman in Batman Forever. George Clooney played Batman in Batman and Robin.” — Randall (04:20)

• IFAQ Highlight:

  • Studio “bear” with long hair is actually a muskox, not a bear.

  "It's a muskox. That is a muskox indeed. It has much longer hair." — Randall/Spencer (02:45)

3. Trivia Gameplay Highlights

(Each question’s focus/answer and memorable moments are included below)

Question 1: State Tree of Kansas, Nebraska, and Wyoming

• Answer: Cottonwood
• The group jokes about the bear in the studio and the length of muskox hair — “a healthy 8 inches.” (03:07)
• Notable banter about being “rocked” by stats.
• Timestamp: 05:00–06:11

Question 2: “Worthless Fish” in California Water Management (2025 Trump Post)

• Answer: Smelt (Delta smelt)
• Only Nate gets it right, referencing the Delta Smelt’s controversial conservation status.
• Discussion: Farmers versus fish; environmental policy tensions in California.
• Quote:

  “The correct answer is smelt. Nate got that one right. It’s the delta smelt. The delta smelt is an endangered fish whose population has declined in California by 90% since the 1970s.” — Spencer (09:10)

• Timestamp: 07:10–10:30

Question 3: A “Full Boil” is Also Known as a?

• Answer: Rolling boil
• Quick group consensus; Anthony jokes about not cooking at home.
• Cooking temperatures and practices discussed.
• Timestamp: 11:04–11:59

Question 4: Texas Parks and Wildlife Sink Thousands of These Each January to Create Reef Habitat

• Answer: Christmas trees
• Nate nearly answers “battleships,” but is talked into the correct answer; humorous banter about collectability.
• Quote:

  “If you guys hadn’t said anything, I would have stuck with battleships.” — Nate (14:37)

• Timestamp: 12:56–15:18

Question 5: Second-Largest Upland Bird After Turkey in North America (“___ ___ Grouse”)

• Answer: Greater sage grouse
• “Blank blank” throws people off; lively retelling of the host and Sarah’s recent upland hunting trip.
• Quote:

  “Anthony and Brody got that one right. The Cornell Lab describes the greater sage grouse as having a chubby round body, small head, and long tail. Males grow up to 7 pounds with a 38-inch wingspan.” — Spencer (17:13)

• Timestamp: 15:56–18:09

Halftime Scoreboard Update

• Brody & Nate tied at 4
• Randall & Anthony at 3
• Corey & Sarah at 2
• Alex & Alyssa at 0
• Quote:

  “Nate and Brody are tied with four points... what seems to be a new sort of, I don't know, bromance.” — Phil (18:28)

• Timestamp: 18:09

Question 6: Bull Shoals Lake Borders Which States?

• Answer: Arkansas and Missouri (one required)
• Most miss this; Brody and Corey get it right.
• Quote:

  “The correct answers are Arkansas and Missouri... third biggest lake in Missouri and biggest lake in Arkansas.” — Spencer (23:04)

• Timestamp: 20:56–23:32

Question 7: Six-Letter Word for Birds of Prey (“falcons, eagles…”)

• Answer: Raptor
• Nerd chat about “Raptor Fest” and bird diversity.
• Quote:

  “The correct answer is raptor. Examples: hawks, eagles, kites, falcons, vultures, kestrels, owls, osprey, and buzzards.” — Spencer (26:03)

• Timestamp: 23:32–26:51

Question 8: Adams, Brown & Pike Counties, Illinois—Famous Whitetail Region

• Answer: Golden Triangle
• Nate, Randall, and Brody nail it.
• Spencer reveals plans to hunt there this year.
• Quote:

  “The Golden Triangle… between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers… a deer hunter’s dream.” — Spencer (29:36)

• Timestamp: 26:51–30:56

Question 9: Precipitation Formed When Sulfur Dioxide & Nitrogen Oxide React with Water

• Answer: Acid rain
• Momentary digression into hunting permission strategies; Nate shares success using “direct honesty and playing the veteran card.”
• Discussion about acid rain in Pennsylvania and broader environmental progress.
• Quote:

  “The correct answer is acid rain. Acid rain in America has significantly decreased... thanks to the US Clean Air Act of 1970 and US–Canada Air Quality Agreement of 1991.” — Spencer (34:56)

• Timestamp: 30:56–35:29

Question 10: What Does QAD Stand for (Gear Brand)?

• Answer: Quality Archery Designs
• Nate clinches the win with this correct answer; Brody jokes that if Nate wins, “there’s a giant asterisk” since he got a hint earlier.
• Quote:

  “The correct answer is Quality Archery Designs giving Nate the correct answer, eight points, and the victory.” — Spencer (39:21)

• Timestamp: 36:35–39:55

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On making mistakes:

  “My bad. It’s especially embarrassing because Broken Heartsville is one of my favorite songs ever. So to confuse Joe Nichols and Luke Bryan, very sorry.” — Spencer (03:26)

• On hunting performance stats:

  “I really was hoping you’d say better than Steve, but at this time... I know, dude. You kind of rocked me now.” — Nate (02:06)

• On teamwork and rivalry:

  “If Nate wins, there’s a giant asterisk next to his win because Brody gave him an answer on question four.” — Randall (37:04)

• On just missing an answer:

  “If you guys hadn’t said anything, I would have stuck with battleships.” — Nate (14:37)

• On playing the ‘veteran card’ for hunting permissions:

  “I don’t get 15 cents off at McDonald’s, but I will use [being a veteran] to milk a landowner.” — Nate (32:35)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Banter/Stat of the Week: 00:46–03:00
• IFAQ & Corrections: 02:22–04:35
• Trivia Game (Questions 1–5): 04:58–18:09
• Halftime Scoreboard: 18:09–18:42
• Trivia Game (Questions 6–10): 20:56–39:55
• Discussion of Hunting Permissions—Nate’s Strategy: 31:48–33:11
• Winner Declared & Donation Decision: 39:19–40:13

Final Standings & Winner

• Winner: Nate Mason (8 correct answers)
  • Declares donation to Pheasants Forever "in honor of some pheasants we whacked this weekend." (39:55)
  • Receives congratulations from the team and special mention for rising out of “jabroni” status.

Tone & Atmosphere

The episode is marked by:

• Lively camaraderie and gentle roasting (especially of Nate’s “underdog” status)
• In-depth trivia and fun facts about outdoor wildlife, conservation, and gear
• Occasional tangents into pop culture and practical hunting strategies
• A spirit of inclusive competition, outdoors storytelling, and conservation advocacy

For Listeners:

This episode is perfect for outdoors enthusiasts who want an entertaining mix of serious trivia, irreverent humor, and practical tips. Even if you’re new to hunting or conservation issues, the pace and tone make it accessible — and you’ll probably pick up some surprising facts (or find yourself wanting to shout the right answers).

Next Week:
More trivia (and more chances for conservation to win)!