The MeatEater Podcast | Ep. 811: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CXCVI
Release Date: December 24, 2025
Host: Spencer Newarth
Guests: Giannis, Brody, Randall, Tressa, Seth, Nate, Phil (producer)

Overview

This episode is a classic round of MeatEater Trivia—a spirited, competitive, and irreverent quiz show focusing on hunting, fishing, conservation, and wild foods. Hosted by Spencer Newarth, six panelists (Giannis, Brody, Randall, Tressa, Seth, Nate) compete through ten quiz questions to win a $500 donation to the conservation organization of their choice. What starts as Randall’s near-perfect run swiftly unravels in a suspenseful finish as Giannis sneaks into victory via a tied game and a nail-biting overtime.

Key Segments and Discussion Points

1. Rules, Housekeeping, and Opening Banter (01:52–09:52)

• Trivia Format: 10-round quiz, questions pulled from MeatEater’s four verticals: hunting, fishing, conservation, cooking.
• Prize: $500 conservation donation in winner’s name.
• "IFAQ" Segment (02:00–06:00): Listener asks if dogs are allowed in the studio.
  • “The official rule is no, but Corinne doesn’t care.” – Phil (02:34)
  • Roundtable debate about dogs in the workplace: amusing stories, pros/cons, Randall’s “if you can't trust your dog to be at home all day, you shouldn't have a dog” philosophy, and Giannis’s comments about kenneling his hound, Mingus.
  • Flighty hounds, dog behavioral quirks, and whether some would sleep through a podcast session.
• Trivia Housekeeping (06:30–08:52): Correction about a previous trivia question regarding the "Little House" book series.
• Notable moment: “While the individual book is Little House in the Big Woods, the series is called Little House on the Prairie.” – Spencer Newarth (06:30)
• Light Banter (08:00–09:52):
  • Comments on Nate’s sweater, the Nutcracker ballet and bathroom lines at plays, plus brief admiration for athletic ballet dancers.

2. Trivia Rounds 1–10 (09:52–53:08)

Each question is read aloud, with the hosts pausing for banter, confessions, and playful ribbing as answers are revealed. Scores are updated halfway and before the final question.

Notable Trivia Questions & Outcomes

[Q1 – Wildlife | 09:52]

• Tradition at Detroit Red Wings games: fans toss an octopus onto the ice.
  • “The tradition dates back to 1952, when the owners of Detroit’s Eastern Market hurled an octopus into the rink...” (11:16)
• Correct answers: Giannis, Randall.

[Q2 – Cooking | 12:34]

• Star sausage in Cajun dishes: andouille (9 letters).
  • “Although andouille is from France, the sausage has been adopted by Cajun cuisine...” (14:44)

[Q3 – Biology | 15:15]

• Most elk lose antlers in March.
  • “Elk start dropping their antlers in January, with most having done so by April...” (17:11)

[Q4 – Fishing | 21:53]

• Fly rod company named after an herb: Sage.
  • “Sage sells the second most expensive rod at Bass Pro... their highest dollar rod is the Spay R8, which costs $1300.” (23:05)

[Q5 – Conservation | 24:50]

• Superhero fighting pollution/deforestation created by Ted Turner & Barb Pyle: Captain Planet.
  • Deep nostalgia and “Planeteers” lore from Randall: “He has the ability to manipulate wind, create ice, generate rainbows, absorb solar power, and control plants. But his weaknesses include radiation, smog, pollution, and a vulnerability to evil thoughts.” (28:22)

[Q6 – Hunting | 31:01]

• Duck that’s one letter away from "rock dove": widgeon.
  • “A rock dove is a pigeon. It’s one letter away from being a widgeon.” (33:45)
  • Cooldown: Quick sidebar about pigeons on Soldier Field in Chicago.

[Q7 – Conservation | 35:13]

• First case of CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease) in captive mule deer: Colorado.
  • “The first case... was discovered in 1967 at a government research facility in northern Colorado.” (36:27)

[Q8 – Hunting | 37:26]

• NAVHDA acronym: North American Versatile Hunting Dog Association.
  • Nate's confession: entered his dog "Chip" with no training; “Chip, handled by Nate. Wow. 112 prize, one perfect score.” (41:05)

[Q9 – Fishing | 45:28]

• Four-letter company, #1 in soft plastics, 400+ color patterns: Zoom.
  • “Zoom was founded by Ed Chambers in 1977 in Georgia... Their most iconic lures are the Super Fluke, Trickworm and Brush Hog.” (48:30)

[Q10 – Gear | 49:54]

• Three-digit number identifying most common paracord: 550.
  • “550 paracord... can support 550 pounds of weight. Type 1 is 95 pounds, 2 is 400 pounds, 3 is 550, and 4 is 750.” (53:49)

Halftime Scoreboard (31:01)

• Randall: 5 (Perfect game at halfway)
• Giannis, Brody: 3
• Seth, Tressa, Nate: 2

Pre-final Round (49:15)

• Randall: 7
• Giannis, Brody: 6

3. Overtime Showdown: The Final Nail-Biter (54:47–58:06)

• Tie between Randall and Giannis at 7 points each.
• Overtime Question: "What does a non-resident elk tag cost in Nevada?" Both write answers from gut feeling.
  • Randall guesses: $932
  • Giannis nails it at: $1200
  • Actual answer: $1200
• Giannis wins. Donation increases to $600 (bonus for hitting answer exactly).

Memorable Moment:

“1200, Yanni right on the nose. Nevada is one of the most expensive elk tags in the country, costing more than a non-resident tag in New Mexico and Idaho combined.” — Spencer Newarth (57:32)

Winner’s Charity

• $600 is donated to Alaska Backcountry Hunters & Anglers (BHA), with Giannis urging continued pressure against the Ambler Road project:
  • “We need to be loud and write your legislators, tell them you’re not down with Ambler road project.” — Giannis (58:34)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “If you can't trust your dog to be at home all day, you shouldn't have a dog.” — Brody (03:43)
• "He has the ability to manipulate wind, create ice, generate rainbows, absorb solar power, and control plants. But his weaknesses include radiation, smog, pollution, and a vulnerability to evil thoughts." — Spencer about Captain Planet (28:22)
• “Chip handled by Nate. Wow. 112 prize one perfect score. It was hilarious, dude.” — Nate (41:05)
• “Randall, you were so close… one number away…” — Spencer (58:59)
• “That got snatched away from you right at the end.” – Brody (59:06)

Recap & Feel

This episode exemplifies what fans love about MeatEater Trivia: camaraderie, deep knowledge, unexpected sweeps, laugh-out-loud banter, and moments of humility—even for the most seasoned outdoorsmen. While outdoors trivia leads the way, it’s the interplay and asides (from NAVHDA and ‘Chip’ the untrained perfect dog, to 1990s cartoons and paracord facts) that make the episode memorable, accessible even for those who aren’t hardcore hunters or anglers.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Banter/Dogs in Studio/IFAQ: 01:52–06:30
• Book Correction: 06:30–08:52
• Pre-Trivia Banter: 08:52–09:52
• Question 1 (Octopus): 09:52–12:34
• Question 2 (Andouille): 12:34–15:15
• Question 3 (March/Elk Antlers): 15:15–17:52
• Question 4 (Sage): 21:53–24:50
• Question 5 (Captain Planet): 24:50–31:01
• Halftime Score: 31:01
• Question 6 (Widgeon): 31:01–35:13
• Question 7 (CWD/Colorado): 35:13–37:26
• Question 8 (NAVHDA): 37:26–45:28
• Question 9 (Zoom): 45:28–49:54
• Pre-Final Score: 49:15
• Question 10 (550 Paracord): 49:54–54:07
• Overtime (NV Elk Tag): 54:47–58:06
• Donation/Wrap-Up: 58:06–59:49

Conclusion

A tense and entertaining round of trivia with a classic MeatEater mix of competition, good-natured jokes, and informative tidbits about the wild world. Giannis comes from behind to clinch victory with bold, perfect guesswork, while conservation wins the day. Listening to this episode is like sitting around a campfire with the most outdoorsy, funny friends you can imagine—whether you’re hunting antlers, arguing ducks, or remembering your favorite 1990s planeteer.