Fun Facts of The Day

Summary

The Rod Ryan Show – Fun Facts of The Day (May 18, 2026)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Rod Ryan Show on 94.5 The Buzz dives into quirky and surprising trivia, centering on fun facts about Dr. Pepper and its related products. The segment is sparked by Lauren Dixon recounting her recent visit to the Dr. Pepper Museum in Waco, Texas. The team shares interesting tidbits with plenty of playful banter, making for an upbeat and engaging listen.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins of the Dr. Pepper Logo

• Lauren Dixon shares:

  “Dr. Pepper got rid of the period after the doctor in the 1950s. They said that rumor is that the period next to the R made it look like the word die. And they didn’t want to advertise that.” (02:04)

• Any logo with "Dr. Pepper" and a period is considered “a fake, a bootleg.”
  • Fun Fact Host reinforces:

    “Dr. Pepper. No. Period.” (02:42)

2. The Secretiveness of the Dr. Pepper Recipe

• Only three to five people know the full Dr. Pepper formula at any given time.
• The recipe is divided into three parts, with different groups each responsible for only a portion. All groups must sign stringent secrecy agreements.
  • Lauren Dixon explains:

    “It is so secretive that they have three different groups… One group puts in a few ingredients, the other group puts in their ingredients and the last group puts in the last part.” (02:54)

3. Flavor Mystery: Is Plum the Secret Ingredient?

• There’s speculation that plum juice is responsible for Dr. Pepper’s distinctive taste.
  • Lauren Dixon admits:

    “I think the plum. Plum juice, I think. I don’t know. ... I just heard that somewhere.” (03:34)

• The team playfully jokes about the secrecy and the rumors, with cameos of humor from side contributors.

4. Dr. Pepper's Other Products: Big Red and Big Blue

• Dr. Pepper also produces Big Red, which is flavored with lemon, orange, and vanilla.
• Interestingly, Big Blue is flavored with those same ingredients—only the color differs.
  • Lauren Dixon clarifies:

    “Big Red is made of lemon, orange, and vanilla. Big Blue is also made of orange, lemon, and vanilla. Same flavors, just different color. It is a citrus cream soda that messes with your brain.” (03:59–04:15)

5. Audience Engagement

• Lauren’s fun facts are appreciated by the team, with Fun Fact Host noting:

  “Lauren, awesome job today.” (04:16)

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Memorable Quotes & Playful Moments

• Fun Fact Host (on Dr. Pepper’s secret recipe):

  “That is fun.” (03:18)

• Zegrid Commercial Announcer (after secret recipe fact):

  “I like it.” (03:24)

• Lauren Dixon (when discussing rumors about the formula):

  “Who are those people in the HAL. Why are they coming after me now? Dr. Pepper and people everywhere. I’m sorry?” (03:34)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:22 – “It’s the fun fact of the day” jingle and start of factual segment
• 02:04 – Dr. Pepper’s logo period dropped due to branding concerns
• 02:54 – Recipe secrecy: only a handful know full ingredients at once
• 03:27–03:34 – Discussion on plum juice as a possible flavor ingredient
• 03:52 – Dr. Pepper also makes Big Red; breakdown of Big Red and Big Blue flavors
• 04:16 – Host commends Lauren for her fun facts

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Tone and Style

The segment is informal, light-hearted, and full of easy camaraderie and gentle teasing. The hosts encourage curiosity and laughter, making the trivia lively and memorable for listeners.

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Recap

For anyone curious about soda trivia, this episode delivers a fresh batch of lesser-known facts about Dr. Pepper, straight from a real museum visit and translated into radio fun. The playful banter among hosts and Lauren Dixon keeps the segment lively, with enough surprising details to impress at your next gathering.

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End of Fun Facts segment at [04:19].

Transcript

[Zegrid Commercial Singer]

Baby, my heart is burning but it don't burn with love. Now everything is turning. I think I've had enough. But I got ziggerid. I'm gonna stop that heartburn before it starts. I'm gonna run back to that burning heart.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

Zegrid releases immediately and blocks acid. That causes heartburn for 24 hours. Zegrid, feel the difference. 24 hour relief is possible. One pill daily for 14 days. May take one to four days for full effect. Not for immediate relief. Use as directed.

[Safe Yakima Valley PSA Announcer]

Did you know 94% of Yakima county young adults don't drive impaired. They make smart choices every day. Driving sober, planning ahead, grabbing a ride share or calling a friend. Catch a ride. Not a dui. Most drive sober. A message from safe Yakima Valley.

[Jan from Toyota]

Hey, campers, it's Jan from Toyota. This summer we're headed to Camp Toyota and the fun starts now. We're kicking things off by kicking up jump in, campers. We're going off roading in a 4Runner. Next, we're heading to the hot springs in Arav 4. And finally, park your Tundras and Tacomas around the campfire because we're roasting marshmallows. Your summer start here.

[Toyota Dealer Announcer]

Dealer inventory may vary, so your participating Toyota dealer for details. Event ends June 1st. Toyota. Let's go places.

[Fun Fact Host]

It's the fun fact of the day. We make you look smart in front of your buddies. It's the fun fact of the day.

[Lauren Dixon]

Lauren was on a tour and she went to the Dr. Pepper Museum.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

Oh, yeah.

[Lauren Dixon]

Alex, did you go there? Me and Dinah did. When you visited Waco. Chip and Joanne Gaines's stuff. And then we saw the Dr. Pepper Museum. I thought you and Dinah did a road trip back in the day. So she and the Branch Davidian. There you go. So she went to the museum with her son on his field trip and she said, you know what? I thought of you guys? And I jotted down some fun facts.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

So, so kind.

[Lauren Dixon]

I thought I was gonna like one of them. I'm like, these are nails, man. I'm going with every one of them. Here we go. Thank you. Lauren Dixon and your son. Dr. Pepper got rid of the period after the doctor in the 1950s, they said that rumor is that the period next to the R made it look like the word die. And they didn't want to advertise that. So starting in the 50s, any logo that you see with Dr. Pepper with a doctor period, it's a fake. It's a bootleg. They don't do that.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

Dr. Pepper. No. Period.

[Lauren Dixon]

What do you think of that one, Hal? Nails you over there. Never.

[Toyota Dealer Announcer]

Never been there.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

Waiting to be impressed.

[Lauren Dixon]

Wake him up.

[Zegrid Commercial Singer]

Hello.

[Lauren Dixon]

Only three to five people know the exact ingredients of what goes into Dr. Pepper at any one given time. It is so secretive that they have three different groups of people who have to sign their lives away before concoct Dr. Pepper. One group puts in a few ingredients, the other group puts in their ingredients and the last group puts in the last part.

[Fun Fact Host]

That is fun.

[Lauren Dixon]

Very secretive. Very secretive.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

I like it.

[Lauren Dixon]

Do we think that it's plum that gives us its odd taste? Distinctive taste. I wouldn't say odd. Plum.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

Plum, I think. I've never heard that before.

[Lauren Dixon]

Yeah, I think the plum. Plum juice, I think. I don't know. Who are those people in the HAL. Why are they coming after me now? Dr. Pepper and people everywhere. I'm sorry? Dr. Pepper. I just heard that somewhere.

[Jan from Toyota]

Rumor.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

It's going around.

[Lauren Dixon]

I don't know.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

He doesn't know.

[Lauren Dixon]

Speaking in tongues. Today, Dr. Pepper also makes Big Red. Yeah.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

Really?

[Lauren Dixon]

Big Red is made of lemon, orange and vanilla. Big Blue is also made of orange, lemon and vanilla. Same flavors, just different color. It is a citrus cream soda that

[Fun Fact Host]

messes with your brain.

[Lauren Dixon]

Lauren, awesome job today.

[Fun Fact Host]

It's the fun fact of the day. We make you look smart in front of your buddies. It's the fun fact of the day.

[Zegrid Commercial Singer]

Baby, my heart is burning but it don't burn with love. Now everything is turning. I think I've had enough but I got Zigger in. I'm gonna stop that heartburn before it starts. I'm gonna roll back to that.

[Zegrid Commercial Announcer]

Zegrid releases immediately and blocks acid. That causes heartburn for 24 hours. Zegrid, feel the difference. 24 hour relief is possible. One pill daily for 14 days. May take one to four days for full effect. Not for immediate relief. Use as directed.

[Safe Yakima Valley PSA Speaker]

Honestly, most young adults in Yakima county don't approve of driving impaired. It's just not the norm. Most of us plan ahead. Grab a ride, share or call a sober friend. And your friends and family. They don't want you driving impaired either. Do what most people already do. Keep yourself, your friends and everyone on the road safe. Catch a ride. Not a dui. Most drive sober. A message from safe Yakima Valley.

[Jan from Toyota]

Hey, campers, it's Jan from Toyota. This summer we're headed to Camp Toyota and the fun starts now. We're kicking things off by kicking up mud. Jump in, campers. We're going off roading in a 4Runner. Next, we're heading to the hot springs in a RAV4. And finally, park your Tundras and Tacomas around the campfire because we're roasting marshmallows. Your summer start here.

[Toyota Dealer Announcer]

Dealer inventory may vary, so your participating Toyota dealer for details. Event ends June 1st. Toyota. Let's go. Places.