The MeatEater Podcast Ep. 850: Game On, Suckers! MeatEater Trivia CCVIII

Date: March 18, 2026
Host: Spencer Newharth
Guests: Giannis, Randall, Brody Henderson, Laura, Nate, Marge, Phil (scorekeeper)
Theme: Weekly outdoor trivia showdown, with humorous banter and a focus on hunting, fishing, conservation, and wild foods.

Episode Overview

This episode is another raucous round of MeatEater Trivia, hosted by Spencer Newharth. The stakes are high: the winner gets a $500 donation made in their name to a conservation organization of their choice. Contestants from the expanding MeatEater crew, including Giannis, Randall, Brody, Laura, Nate, and Marge, take on ten challenging trivia rounds rifling through the podcast’s four main verticals: hunting, fishing, conservation, and cooking. The episode blends competitive energy, nerdy knowledge, and trademark MeatEater humor—peppered with playful bickering, inside jokes, and a celebration of the outdoors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trivia Performance & Stats (02:44 – 05:13)

• Spencer opens by recapping last week's focus on hunting stats and announces this week's focus on fishing questions performance.
• Brody leads with 72% correct in both hunting and fishing; other notable contestants include Randall (68%) and Giannis (65%).
• Giannis and Randall discuss which trivia categories are most challenging, with consensus that conservation and cooking pose unique hurdles.

“Conservation is the hardest category, but I bet you, I bet you for me it's cooking.”
— Brody Henderson (04:26)

2. Listener Participation & Housekeeping (05:57 – 09:02)

• Spencer addresses a listener’s question about the source of trivia questions: a mix of repeat contributors and enthusiastic "one-hit wonders."
• Review of last episode’s debate about the best pantry staple to keep fly rod guides from icing up—cooking sprays like Pam (or Crisco, olive oil), leading to a humorous roundtable on product brands and fly shop etiquette.

“Have you worked in a fly shop?... You know what you can use for that? Just go to the grocery store and get some Pam.”
— Brody Henderson (07:58)

“When you say Crisco, someone says, ‘Give me some Crisco,' you picture the tub of Crisco. ... Coca Cola makes a lot of things...”
— Randall (08:15)

3. Trivia Rounds: Questions, Answers & Contest Banter (09:56 – 48:18)

Notable Trivia Questions and Outcomes:

Q1: When is the Bassmaster Classic Held? (09:57)

• Most answer incorrectly. Correct answer is March.
• Discussion about seasonal timing for bass tournaments and impacts on fishing styles.
• [11:45] Notable moment: Spencer explains the Bassmaster Classic's shift to March post-2006.

Q2: Predator Call Company Origin (13:32)

• Correct answer: FoxPro.
• Colorful aside about predator hunters using boomboxes, and how infant cries might attract predators.
• [15:01] Banter about hunting babies Simba-style.

Q3: Seven-Letter Shark (16:25)

• Correct answer: Basking Shark.
• Some contestants struggle over the spelling and length. Brody and Marge get it right quickly.
• [18:25] Marge shares fun fact: basking sharks congregate off Great Britain.

Q4: 1849 Event in the Sierra Nevadas (19:34)

• Correct answer: California Gold Rush.
• Randall nitpicks the semantics of what qualifies as “the event,” creating playful controversy.
• [20:59]

  “The causal event is not in 1849.”
  — Randall

Q5: Gear Companies’ Headquarters (22:19)

• List includes Matthews, Vortex, Duluth Trading Co., etc.
• Correct answer: Wisconsin. Some tripped up by Duluth Trading and guess Minnesota.
• [23:52] Spencer notes Wisconsin has 1300+ outdoor brands.

Mid-Game Score Update (24:31):

• Laura at zero; Randall and Maggie at two; Giannis, Nate, and Brody tied with three.

Q6: Type of Salt Used for Finishing (28:36)

• Correct answer: Finishing salt (also accepts “flake salt” or “Maldon”).
• Debate about brands vs. generic names, cheeky accusations of hinting.

“That is not a big kid—no, that’s a total hint!”
— Brody Henderson to Phil, the scorekeeper (30:36)

• [32:17] Talk about using finishing salt on cookies and caramels.

Q7: Eddie Murphy Conservation Movie (32:40)

• Correct answer: Dr. Dolittle. Some confusion about movie trivia among contestants.
• [34:51] Spencer shares Rotten Tomatoes review:

  “Preoccupation with toilet humor and Murphy’s restrained performance makes this a missed opportunity.”
  — Spencer (reading a review)

Q8: Science of Classifying Organisms (36:39)

• Correct answer: Taxonomy.
• Brody’s initial oversight about the letter count.

Q9: Rounds in a Revolver (per Academy Sports) (41:03)

• Correct answer: Six.
• Randall thinks it’s an easy (“pedestrian”) question, while Marge admits not knowing.

Q10: Sting Pain Index Creator (44:02)

• Correct answer: Schmidt (Justin Schmidt).
• Nobody gets it; Randall jokes about “Takeo” (NFL linebacker).

“He got stung or bit by about 80 different insects... At level four... bullet ant, tarantula hawk wasp, and warrior wasp.”
— Spencer (47:51)

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Brand Language Debate:

  “Coca Cola makes a lot of things. When you say Coke, you’re picturing a red can.”
  — Randall (08:15)

• Inside Jokes & Teasing:

  “He likes taking those two and three year old bucks. And he’s an avid amateur rock hound.”
  — Brody improvises a song about Spencer (49:13)

• Random Movie Knowledge:

  “That movie where he played all of the characters at the dinner table...”
  — Giannis on Eddie Murphy as Sherman Clump (Nutty Professor) (33:36)

• On Babies and Wildlife:

  “What would you wonder if a screaming youngin would bring in predators? Because when you hear him go, it sounds just like a predator call.”
  — Giannis (14:31)

Scoreboard Summary & Winner’s Choice (43:51 – 48:18)

• Final Standings:

  • Brody: 7 (Winner)
  • Giannis & Nate: 6
  • Randall & Maggie: 4
  • Laura: 1

• Winning Conservation Donation:

  “Let’s send it to... Save Tucker Town.”
  — Brody (48:18)

  Save Tucker Town (supported by Three Rivers Land Trust) receives the $500 conservation prize.

Important Timestamps

• Trivia introduction, stat segment: 02:44 – 05:13
• Fly fishing pantry staple/debate: 07:06 – 09:30
• Bassmaster Classic trivia question: 09:57 – 12:19
• Gear company headquarters puzzle: 22:16 – 23:52
• Salt type debate: 28:36 – 31:38
• Scoreboard updates: 24:36; 40:31; 43:51
• Sting Pain Index explanation: 44:45 – 47:51
• Winner’s donation and closing banter: 48:18 – 49:13

Tone & Style

Lively, irreverent, and outdoors-nerd friendly, the episode is defined by rapid-fire trivia, good-natured trash talk, and deep-cut knowledge of conservation and wild foods—with enough inside jokes, competitive sparks, and relatable “I have no idea” moments to keep any listener engaged, whether diehard hunter or casual bushwhacker.

Useful For:

• Fans catching up: Quick recap of all important trivia, drama, and quotes.
• Newcomers: Strong sense of the podcast’s dynamic, recurring humor, and conservation mission.
• Trivia buffs & outdoors people: Plenty to chew on for your next fishing trip or pub night.

Summary prepared by MeatEater Podcast Summarizer