The MeatEater Podcast – Episode 784: "Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CLXXXVIII"

Air Date: October 29, 2025
Host: Brody Henderson
Panelists: Steve Rinella, Spencer Newhart, Randall Williams, Seth Morris, Roman (last name unconfirmed), Tressa Croker
Theme: Outdoor and wildlife trivia competition, featuring 10 listener-submitted questions across hunting, fishing, conservation, and wild foods.

Overview

This lively episode of The MeatEater Podcast features the 188th installment of MeatEater Trivia. Host Brody Henderson puts an all-star panel through their paces with ten tough listener-submitted questions, each rooted in topics like conservation, outdoor gear, wildlife history, and hunting lore. The trivia winner claims a $500 donation to the conservation organization of their choice, all while panelists banter, debate, and drop knowledge (and gripes) between rounds.

Brody’s goal for this episode is clear: prove trivia questions from listeners can be every bit as sharp, surprising, and challenging as those penned by the podcast crew. The questions spur entertaining detours, friendly trash talk, and surprising facts—plus a few heated debates about the correct answers.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Setting the Stage: The Trivia Format

• The trivia round is 10 questions, each aligned to one of MeatEater's four verticals (hunting, fishing, conservation, cooking)—but all questions for this episode are contributed by listeners ([02:22]).
• The winner chooses a conservation organization to receive a $500 donation.
• The Stat of the Week is “10”—all questions are listener contributions ([02:51]).

Quote:
"All 10 questions [are] listener-submitted. If you don't like them, don't blame me. Blame your fellow listeners."
—Brody Henderson [03:47]

Notable Questions and Answers

1. Fishing: "Most Popular State Fish" ([05:25])

Question: Ten states list this game fish as their state fish. Is it channel catfish, muskalonge, brook trout, or tarpon?

• Group deliberates state fish history and regional bias—New England’s love for the brook trout comes up.
• Answer: Brook trout
  • States include: GA, MI, NH, NJ, NY, NC, PA, VT, VA, WV ([07:18])

Memorable Moment:
Brody and Steve speculate on how state fish selections would change if states could choose anew:
"Half the states don’t really have [brook trout]. Wouldn’t be brookies anymore. You’d just have some channel cat states."
—Brody & Steve [08:06]

2. History: Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby ([08:41])

Question: Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby became this New England state’s first registered hunting and fishing guide.

• Discussion touches on outdoor history, Maine's hunting lore, and notable female guides.
• Answer: Maine
• Fun Fact: Crosby shot Maine’s last legal caribou in 1899 and was a pioneering outdoor marketer ([11:02], [11:46]).

Quote:
"Cornelia Flyrod Crosby was Maine’s first registered hunting and fishing guide. ...a marketing genius." —Brody Henderson [11:02]

3. Wildlife: America’s Only Native Aquatic Songbird ([12:52])

Question: This bird is the only native aquatic songbird in North America, commonly seen along fast, rocky rivers.

• Audio clue provided (birdsong).
• Answer: American Dipper (aka Water Ouzel)
• Interesting facts about behavior and etymology of “ouzel” ([15:16]).

Notable Quote:
"You go to a stream after a big snowfall...and you see his little ass down in there swimming around. It’s an impressive bird."
—Steve Rinella [16:39]

4. Hunting: A 'Flowery' Term for Flushing Pheasants ([17:34])

Question: What “flowery” term describes a group of flushed pheasants in flight?

• Some panelists grasp at synonyms until “bouquet” emerges.
• Answer: Bouquet
• Brody shares that such terms (“terms of venery”) once signaled upper-class hunting status ([20:24], [20:52]).

5. Gear: The “Pee Hole” on an Outboard Motor ([21:54])

Question: The pisser (pee hole) on an outboard motor is also known by what 8-letter term meaning "to reveal information"?

• Tough question, stumps the group.
• Answer: Telltale
• Panel disputes the term’s accuracy, sparking debate about its actual use in the field ([25:41]).

Quote:
"Look it up. I made sure it’s not just some random information."
—Brody Henderson [25:41]

6. Science: EJECTION! The First Big Game at Supersonic Speed ([32:00])

Question: What North American big game animal was the first living creature to be ejected from an aircraft at supersonic speeds?

• Majority lands on “black bear.”
• Answer: American Black Bear
• Details of “Yogi” the bear’s ejection from a B-58 Hustler at Mach 1.3 in 1962 ([34:51]).

Moment:
Steve muses on alternative test subjects:
"I would use the murder convict."
—Steve Rinella [34:51]

7. Forestry: Northeastern Invasive Beetle Mayhem ([36:01])

Question: This invasive beetle has destroyed hundreds of millions of trees in the northeastern US.

• Split between “emerald ash borer” and “Asian longhorn beetle.”
• Answer: Emerald Ash Borer
• Seth gets partial credit for “Asian longhorn beetle”; lively debate follows ([39:21]).

8. Gear: Shoe Company with a Yellow Logo and “Five Fingers” ([40:18])

Question: What outdoor brand, known for an iconic yellow logo, released the Five Finger minimalist shoe in 2006?

• Answer: Vibram
• Panel shares thoughts on the “weirdness” (and popularity) of toe shoes ([42:12]).

9. Public Lands: 2015 Game Bird Quarter ([44:02])

Question: The US Mint released a quarter in 2015 featuring what game bird?

• Answer: Wild Turkey (for Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana) ([45:42]).

10. Cooking: Deer Hindquarter Muscle According to Danielle Pruitt ([48:24])

Question: What’s the largest and heaviest cut of meat on a deer’s hindquarter?

• Brody specifies “according to MeatEater’s Danielle Pruitt.”
• Panel argues between top round and bottom round.
• Answer: Bottom round ([50:35]).

Scores & Winner

Final standings (pre-tiebreaker):

• Tressa: 2

• Roman: 3

• Randall: 4

• Seth: 6

• Steve: 7

• Spencer: 8 (winner)

• Winner: Spencer Newhart

• Prize donation: $500 to Pheasants Forever, honoring the importance of CRP and pheasant conservation in South Dakota ([51:23])

Quote (on his win):
"As a deer hunter, I benefited from all kinds of CRP back in my day. So let’s keep that going."
—Spencer Newhart [51:47]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Brody, on adapting listener questions:
  “I did have to tweak and reword most of them, but I still think they’re great.” [03:32]
• Spencer, on the “telltale” question:
  “I only ever hear that said with ‘sign’.” [27:25]
• Randall, on birds:
  “Famously anti-turkey.” [13:57]
• Steve, on gear:
  “The feeling of having something between your toes all day long. Dude..." [42:54]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:18] — Trivia game setup and prize announcement
• [05:25] — Question 1: State fish
• [08:41] — Question 2: Cornelia “Fly Rod” Crosby
• [12:52] — Question 3: Aquatic songbird
• [17:34] — Question 4: Pheasant bouquet
• [21:54] — Question 5: Outboard "telltale"
• [32:00] — Question 6: Supersonic ejected bear
• [36:01] — Question 7: Invasive beetle
• [40:18] — Question 8: Vibram FiveFinger shoes
• [44:02] — Question 9: Game bird quarter
• [48:24] — Question 10: Deer hindquarter cut
• [51:23] — Winner declared and donation announced

Conclusion

This trivia episode delivered a head-to-head contest brimming with obscure facts, classic MeatEater banter, and some humbling “zero percenters” that left even seasoned panelists stumped. Brody’s experiment in turning the reins over to the listeners paid off, producing one of the podcast’s most unpredictable and engaging quizzes yet.

For fans (and newcomers), it’s a must-listen for sharp outdoor knowledge, genuine camaraderie, and a showcase of hunting culture’s lighter side.