MeatEater Podcast: Ep. 830 — Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CCII

Date: February 4, 2026
Host: Spencer Newharth
Guests/Players: Giannis, Randall, Seth, Hansi, Doug Durin, Reva

Episode Overview

This episode of The MeatEater Podcast features a lively round of “MeatEater Trivia,” the outdoor-themed quiz show where, as always, conservation wins. Host Spencer Newharth brings together a recurring cast of outdoor experts and MeatEater personalities—Giannis, Randall, Seth, Hansi, Doug Durin, and Reva—for 10 rounds of questions spanning hunting, fishing, conservation, and wild foods. The prize: a $500 (which eventually doubled to $1,000) donation to the conservation organization of the winner’s choice.

The episode blends humor, friendly rivalry, deep expertise, and moments of outdoor storytelling, all while testing the group's knowledge about the natural world.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Doug Durin & "Sharing the Land" Non-Profit

• [02:02] Doug shares an update on "Sharing the Land," a private land access initiative inspired by Aldo Leopold’s Riley Game Cooperative. Now a non-profit (53 properties in 15 states), the project matches conservation-minded access seekers with landowners.
  • “We’re trying to recruit more landowners... always looking for landowners and that’s the mission now.” — Doug [02:30]
  • Doug expresses the importance of increasing access for hunters and anglers, a limiting factor in outdoor recreation.

2. Projects on the Duren Farm

• [04:41] Doug describes ongoing savanna restoration projects catering to grassland birds and diversity, demonstrating practical habitat work (and noting he no longer has cattle).
  • “The white-tailed deer don’t really seem to need any help from us at all. I’m interested in the grasslands… I like diversity.” — Doug [04:56]

3. MeatEater Trivia Tournament Announcement

• [06:41] Spencer teases the upcoming Fourth Annual Trivia Tournament, setting the stakes for the crew: "Who will win it all?" Friendly betting ensues.

4. Trivia Game Highlights

The trivia covers a wide span of topics, with an atmosphere of camaraderie and good-natured ribbing.

Notable Questions & Answers:

• Question 1 (Public Lands) [08:01]:
  Q: Angels Landing is the most famous hike in which national park?
  A: Zion National Park

  • "You want to know a secret to my success? If you don't know the answer, letter C or the third choice." — Doug [10:23]
  • Commentary about increasing visitation and congestion in flagship parks due to social media.

• Question 2 (Fishing) [11:52]:
  Q: What’s the Bass Pro contraption that looks like a 'huge ice cream cone with the small end cut out,' used to position your boat on windy days?
  A: Drift sock or drift anchor

  • Discussion of changing tech—Spot Lock’s influence on old-school fishing gear.

• Question 3 (Wildlife) [19:07]:
  Q: This falcon is the world’s fastest animal?
  A: Peregrine Falcon

  • “These birds can reach 60 mph in normal flight and 240 mph during a hunting dive.” — Spencer [22:05]

• Question 4 (Outdoor Life) [24:20]:
  Q: This home improvement store where customers 'save big money' sells hunting blind kits.
  A: Menards

  • Participants reminisce about growing up in ‘Menards country’ and the power of a catchy jingle.
  • Jingle played [26:18].

• Question 5 (Conservation) [28:38]:
  Q: The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife defines ________ habitat as the transitional zone between grassland and forest.
  A: Edge/Edge Habitat or Ecotone

  • "We do what's called feather edge work... create more of a slope, not just an L." — Doug [31:27]
  • Giannis expands on the value and mechanics of edge habitat: “A mosaic is a good description.” [34:02]

• Question 6 (Wildlife) [35:34]:
  Q: 16-letter word defined as attributing human characteristics to a god, animal, or object?
  A: Anthropomorphism

  • Discussion on anthropomorphizing wild animals, and playful debate on spelling.
  • “If you said anthropomorphize, we’ll give that to you.” — Spencer [39:06]

• Question 7 (Woodsmanship) [41:32]:
  Q: Iowa State says this walnut tree is the most valuable in Iowa?
  A: Black Walnut

  • Doug describes managing walnuts and tree poaching prevention.
  • “Our net was about $1,500 a tree, kind of a low end on some of that.” — Doug [42:57]

• Question 8 (Fishing/Sports) [44:28]:
  Q: NBA players fished daily during 2020 quarantine at which location?
  A: Disney World

  • Randall aces the sports trivia, recounting NBA bubble lore.
  • “Players were quarantined at Disney World for up to 93 days.” — Spencer [48:01]

• Question 9 (Hunting) [50:39]:
  Q: This disease with a colorful name is similar to EHD, killing bison, deer, and antelope?
  A: Blue Tongue

  • Jokes around “what color is tuberculosis?” and infectious wildlife diseases.

• Question 10 (Cooking) [53:21]: Q: Merriam-Webster defines this six-letter Italian word as 'large shrimp prepared with a garlic flavored sauce.'
  A: Scampi

  • “Scampi is usually prepared with garlic, lemon butter and white wine, then served over pasta.” — Spencer [54:26]

5. Memorable Quotes & Banter

• “All hat, no cattle.” — Doug, on quitting his cattle ranching days due to harsh winters [05:52]
• “If you don’t know the answer, letter C or the third choice.” — Doug’s trivia strategy [10:23]
• "We have a turkey that’s—we call him Limpy... He walks like a pirate." — Doug, on anthropomorphizing farm wildlife [40:23]
• "Anything we can do for access—money well spent." — Randall, on donating to Sharing the Land [54:56]
• “It’s a really beautiful blind… it is a ridiculous place to go hunting, but it’s a good spot.” — Doug, on luxury hunting blinds [28:06]
• “Give me some examples of edge habitat.” — Spencer.
  “We do feather edge work… you cut down elm or ironwood along the edge, let the brush come up. We have a lot of that.” — Doug [31:27]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | Highlights | |----------|----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------| | 00:12 | Episode intro, participants, prize | Welcome, trivia rules, conservation donation | | 02:02 | Sharing the Land non-profit | Doug’s update and appeal for support | | 04:41 | Farm habitat projects | Savanna restoration, grassland biodiversity | | 07:07 | Trivia Tournament preview | Tournament bracket and predictions | | 08:01 | Trivia begins (Q1 - Angels Landing) | Zion National Park, national park tourism talk | | 11:52 | Q2 (Bass Pro boat contraption) | Drift sock/anchor, fishing tech evolution | | 19:07 | Q3 (World’s fastest animal) | Peregrine falcon | | 24:20 | Q4 (Home improvement store) | Menards, jingle nostalgia | | 28:38 | Q5 (Edge habitat) | Edge/Feather habitat, land management details | | 35:34 | Q6 (Anthropomorphism) | Spelling debate, animal personification | | 41:32 | Q7 (Value tree in Iowa) | Black walnut, timber economics | | 44:28 | Q8 (NBA bubble fishing) | Disney World, sports trivia | | 50:39 | Q9 (Colorful disease) | Blue tongue, wildlife pathology jokes | | 53:21 | Q10 (Italian shrimp dish) | Scampi, culinary trivia and food facts | | 54:30 | Winner & donation | Randall’s perfect game, $1,000 to Sharing the Land |

Final Scores & Outcome

• Randall wins with a perfect score, securing a doubled donation ($1,000) for Doug Durin's Sharing the Land.
• Doug, Giannis, and Hansi follow close behind. Friendly ribbing, respect for Randall's trivia prowess.
• Spencer closes out with gratitude and a tease for next week's episode: “The only game show where conservation always wins.”

Summary Takeaways

• Camaraderie: The blend of expertise, humor, and regional culture shines through, with every participant bringing unique flavor to trivia and conservation talk.
• Conservation & Community: Highlighted by Doug Durin’s “Sharing the Land,” reinforcing the podcast’s underlying mission to make the outdoors accessible.
• Memorably Human: From banter about jingles and spelling mishaps to stories of “Limpy” the turkey, the podcast is as much about shared experience as outdoor facts.

Best Quote of the Episode:

“Anything we can do for access—money well spent.” — Randall [54:56], on the importance of supporting “Sharing the Land” with the trivia prize.

Recommended Next Step:
Catch the highly anticipated MeatEater Trivia Tournament (next week) and, if inspired, look into supporting or learning more about “Sharing the Land.”

[End of Summary]