MeatEater Podcast Ep. 800: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CXCIII

Date: December 3, 2025
Host: Spencer Newharth
Guests/Contestants: Brody, Corey, Alyssa, Logan, Nate, Sarah

Episode Overview

This milestone 800th episode of The MeatEater Podcast showcases one of the podcast’s most beloved segments: MeatEater Trivia. Hosted by Spencer Newharth, the episode brings together six familiar guests for a ten-round quiz, covering hunting, fishing, conservation, cooking, woodsmanship, and more. The stakes: a $500 donation to the conservation organization of the winner’s choice. Throughout the episode, the cast mixes irreverent banter and personal stories with interesting facts and surprisingly tough trivia, showcasing their knowledge (or lack thereof) about the natural world and outdoor life.

Key Discussion Points & Trivia Questions

1. Opening & Stat-of-the-Week (02:10)

• Spencer reviews a listener-created Reddit chart tracking trivia donations—over $100,000 in total.
  • Brody is recognized for donating $30,000 to conservation efforts, especially the Mule Deer Foundation.
    • “You are single handedly…you’ve given 90% of meat eater’s trivia donation money to the mule deer foundation.” (03:25, Spencer)
  • Group banter about which groups have received the most, and jokes about kickbacks and lifetime memberships.

2. Listener & Canadian Participation (06:15)

• Spencer confirms Canadians—and even non-North Americans—can win the Listener Question of the Week.
  “If we can’t get you the board game, we will get you a gift card instead…that way you don’t have to think about shipping so much.” (06:50, Spencer)

The Game: Questions, Discussions & Insights

3. Trivia Kickoff — [Round 1: Fishing] (08:10)

• Question: Most common fly rod length? (Choices: 7', 8', 9', 10')
  • Answer: 9 foot.
  • Discussion: 9' seen as the standard; both Brody and Corey own several.
    “It’s what you’re going to put in your client’s hands every time. Unless you’re fishing some teeny little stream…” (09:30, Brody)

4. Round 2: Outdoors — Candy Wrapper History (11:00)

• Question: Which candy, invented in 1931, has outdoor scenes (fishing, archery, hiking) on its wrapper?
  • Answer: Tootsie Pop.
  • Story: The “star shooter” legend on wrappers and urban myth about free suckers.
    • “It’s just an urban legend that Tootsie Pop would give you a free sucker in exchange for the special wrappers.” (12:45, Spencer)

5. Round 3: Wildlife — Burmese Python Origins (14:15)

• Question: What continent are Burmese pythons native to?
  • Answer: Asia.
  • Insights: Name “Burmese” comes from Burma (Myanmar), but in their native range, they’re actually vulnerable.
    • “Their populations in Southeast Asia are down 30%...due to habitat loss and over-harvesting.” (15:45, Spencer)

6. Round 4: Cooking — Defining Reverse Sear (17:05)

• Question: Name the cooking technique: Slow-cook a steak or roast, then finish on hot surface.
  • Answer: Reverse Sear.
  • Practical chat: Kitchen messes, outdoor cooking suggestions, and pan splatter.
    • “I end up splattering oil all over my kitchen when I do this. Yeah. What am I doing wrong?” (18:20, Spencer)
    • Suggested: Cover pan, cook outside, accept some mess.

7. Round 5: Woodsmanship — Killing a Tree (19:30)

• Question: Forestry term for killing a tree by removing bark strip around the trunk?
  • Answer: Girdle (or Ringbark).
  • Ecology: Dead standing trees are valuable for wildlife and mushrooms.
    • “The slow death of girdle cut trees make them prime hosts for oyster mushrooms and chicken of the woods.” (21:10, Spencer)
  • Personal story: Brody tried (unsuccessfully) as a kid.

Halftime Update (22:30)

• Scoreboard:
  • Alyssa 1, Logan 2, Sarah & Corey 3, Brody 4, Nate 5
  • Banter about headphones, static, and Brody’s possible handicap.

8. Round 6: Natural History — “De-extincting” Dire Wolves (25:50)

• Question: Which biosciences company claimed in 2024 to de-extinct dire wolves?
  • Answer: Colossal Biosciences.
  • Discussion: Ethics of resurrecting extinct species and possible candidates (Ivory-billed Woodpecker).
  • Spencer references previous podcast episodes for more detail.
    • “Colossal Biosciences has created two litters of supposed dire wolves…” (27:00, Spencer)

9. Round 7: Gear — NYT Product Reviews (28:40)

• Question: What is the New York Times' product recommendation service (headlamps, knives, etc.)?
  • Answer: Wirecutter.
  • Group notes its influence and affiliate model.
    • “It’s all still affiliate based…the only things they’re including they make anything that you look at…” (29:35, Corey)

10. Round 8: Hunting — Daniel Day Lewis Movie Reference (32:00)

• Question: In which 2007 movie does Daniel Day Lewis attempt to buy a ranch for “quail hunting” (really for oil)?
  • Answer: There Will Be Blood.
  • Banter: Top 10 movies, comparison with No Country for Old Men.
    • “Daniel Day Lewis and his son hike to the Southern California ranch in 1911 and ask the landowner for hunting permission…” (33:00, Spencer)

Final Scoreboard Update & Paper Towels Story (35:00)

11. Round 9: Fishing — Lobster Harvest Leaders (36:00)

• Question: Which two states account for 94% of American lobster harvest?
  • Answer: Maine & Massachusetts.
  • Insight: Maine provides 82%, Massachusetts 12%.
    “If it was recreational, man, I bet you Florida would be number one. But that’s not an American lobster.” (37:40, Corey)

12. Round 10: Conservation — When is Earth Day? (39:00)

• Question: On what exact date is Earth Day celebrated?
  • Answer: April 22.
  • Details: Founded in 1970 after first celebrated by 20 million Americans; led to creation of EPA.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On donations:
  “Brody, you are single handedly...you’ve given 90% of MeatEater’s trivia donation money to the Mule Deer Foundation.” (03:25, Spencer)

• On Wirecutter's affiliate model:
  “It’s all still affiliate based…the only things they’re including they make anything that you look at...” (29:35, Corey)

• On trivia strategy:
  “Always choose C.” (09:20, Nate, joking after a correct answer of 9 foot)

• On gear fails:
  “I probably have another half a dozen that are just broken collecting dust in my garage. Me too, because I don’t want to pay the stocking fee to have them warrantied.” (10:20, Corey)

• On conservation stakes:
  “Every episode, we send $500 to the conservation organization of the winner’s choosing.” (02:45, Spencer)

• On de-extinction ethics:
  “I’d love if they did the ivory billed woodpecker. Maybe they gotta see how they do with the direwolves.” (26:10, Spencer)

Winner, Charity & Closing Banter

• Nate Mason wins with 8 correct answers.

  • $500 is donated to Hunters of Maryland.
    • “This might be a misfire. Their website looks a little out of date, but we're gonna go with Hunters of Maryland. Maryland’s always pushing kind of some BS…these guys look like they’re doing the Lord’s work.” (41:10, Nate)

• Final wrap-up and group congratulations to Nate.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Stat of the Week & Opening Banter: 02:10–06:15
• Trivia Begins (Fishing, Fly Rods): 08:10
• Candy Wrapper Question: 11:00
• Burmese Python Origin: 14:15
• Reverse Sear: 17:05
• Girdle/Ringbark: 19:30
• Halftime & Scores: 22:30
• Dire Wolves De-Extinction: 25:50
• Wirecutter Gear Reviews: 28:40
• Film Question (There Will Be Blood): 32:00
• Lobster Harvest States: 36:00
• Earth Day Date: 39:00
• Winner Announced & Donation: 41:10

Episode Tone & Style

The tone remains witty, informal, and engaging, with plenty of in-group jokes, ribbing between contestants, and side discussions about gear, food, and odd trivia. There's an emphasis on knowledge-sharing without taking themselves too seriously—a hallmark of MeatEater.

Perfect for fans of the outdoors, hunting, and conservation, as well as those who enjoy friendly competition and hop-in, hop-out factual content. Even non-listeners can keep up thanks to this clear progression and the highlighted moments above.