Fun Facts of The Day

Summary

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The Rod Ryan Show: Fun Facts of The Day

Episode Date: August 7, 2026
Podcast: The Rod Ryan Show on 94.5 The Buzz (KTBZ-FM)
Segment: Fun Facts of The Day

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Rod Ryan Show features the beloved "Fun Facts of The Day" segment, where the hosts share quirky, surprising, and educational tidbits to help listeners "look smart in front of their buddies." The crew discusses listener-submitted facts, science insights, and a fascinating neurological condition, mixing humor and banter throughout their exchanges.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Submission – Venomous Platypus Spurs

[01:23 – 01:46]

• Savannah Johnson, a long-time listener, shares a fact learned at Moody Gardens:
  • “The male platypus has venomous spurs on their back legs. The pain is so bad for humans that even morphine would not help with the pain.”
• The hosts praise Savannah for her cool submission and joke about her impressive list of credentials.

Notable Quote:

“Oh, my God, is she awesome... The pain is so bad for humans that even morphine would not help... I thought that was interesting.”
— Main Fun Fact Speaker ([01:23])

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2. Coca-Cola’s Secret Formula & Kosher Certification

[02:02 – 02:55]

• Host shares a researched fact:
  • Only one known non-employee has seen the Coca-Cola secret formula—a rabbi named Tobias Geffen in 1935, to certify Coke as kosher.
• The rabbi was permitted access because his Kosher certification required full knowledge of the formula.

Notable Quote:

“He’s like, we’re not giving you that certification unless I see what’s in it. So they had to show him. Pretty cool.”
— Main Fun Fact Speaker ([02:41])

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3. The Science of Memory: Closing Your Eyes

[02:55 – 03:39]

• Scientific evidence suggests closing your eyes enhances recall accuracy.
• The team and callers discuss test-taking habits, game show strategies, and personal experiences.

Notable Quotes:

“There’s scientific proof that closing your eyes makes it easier to remember accurate details...”
— Main Fun Fact Speaker ([02:56])
“I see people on game shows, and they’re like, closing their eyes and, like, trying to think of the answer. It works.”
— Main Fun Fact Speaker ([03:23])

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4. Aphantasia – A Visual Imagination Deficit

[03:41 – 04:39]

• Host introduces the phenomenon of Aphantasia: the inability to visualize images in one’s mind.
• The team discusses what it means, noting some people genuinely “see black” with their eyes closed and can’t conjure visual mental pictures.
• Some contributors express disbelief or marvel at the concept.

Notable Quotes:

“There are people that, when they close their eyes, they can’t visualize a horse or anything else. ... There’s people out there that when they close their eyes and you say, okay, visualize a horse right now, they just see black.”
— Main Fun Fact Speaker ([04:04], [04:33])
“Aphantasia. They can’t do it. I don’t believe that. I know. It’s the craziest thing ever.”
— Main Fun Fact Speaker ([04:39])

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Memorable Moments & Banter

• The hosts appreciate listeners helping research and bring new facts:
  • “When you guys do my homework for me, I love them even more!”
• Light jokes about pronunciations and impressive educational credentials.
• Playful references to show regulars’ quiz tactics:
  • “Mo does. She closes her eyes every day.” ([03:33])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:12] – Start of Fun Facts segment
• [01:23] – Platypus venomous spurs
• [02:02] – Coca-Cola’s secret formula & Rabbi Geffen
• [02:56] – Closing eyes improves memory recall
• [03:41] – Introduction of Aphantasia
• [04:39] – Hosts' awe/disbelief about Aphantasia

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Conclusion

This episode’s "Fun Facts of the Day" delivers its trademark mix of surprising knowledge, humor, and camaraderie. Listeners get educated on venomous platypuses, a legendary rabbi’s behind-the-scenes role at Coca-Cola, brain science behind memory, and the extraordinary condition of Aphantasia—all while enjoying the hosts’ playful, down-to-earth banter.

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Transcript

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[Fun Fact Host]

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

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

Okay, brought in some new fun facts for you. And when you guys do my homework for me, I love them even more. Hell, I got people doing my homework for me.

[Fun Fact Co-Host]

Lucky you.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

Savannah Johnson.

[Fun Fact Co-Host]

She's awesome.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

Oh, my God, is she awesome. She says, rod. My family and I went to Moody Gardens on Monday and we learned that the male platypus has venomous spurs on their back legs. The pain is so bad for humans that even morphine would not help with the pain. I thought that was interesting. We're a long time listeners over here.

[iHeartMedia Representative]

Thank you.

[Fun Fact Co-Host]

I wonder if they went and saw the butterflies.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

Shortly, we're focused on platypus, Savannah Sutherland. And then she follows up her name with every letter in the Alphabet. I'm assuming it's what she does for a living, but I don't know what it means.

[Fun Fact Contributor 1]

Probably went to school for a very long time.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

Msn, aprn, and np, slash bc. She sounds important. Yeah, she sounds Savannah. Thank you. Okay, how about another fun fact here? This is the one. Now I'll do some of the research that I put into the show here. A rabbi named Tobias Geffen is the only known non Coca Cola employee to get to view the secret formula. It's written down, locked in a vault, and there's like a handful of people that have seen It. Would this guy be allowed to see it? Got to bless it, Tobias.

[Fun Fact Co-Host]

Very trustworthy.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

That's what I thought. Obviously, he's very trustworthy. Coke allowed it way back in 1935 so they could get Coke certified as kosher. So they're like. He's like, we're not giving you that certification unless I see what's in it. So they had to show him. Pretty cool.

[Fun Fact Co-Host]

Don't trust Coke.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

I guess the only non Coca Cola employee. There's scientific proof that closing your eyes makes it easier to remember accurate details of things that you have seen in the past. That's neat. I brought that one in.

[Fun Fact Contributor 2]

We weren't crazy when I was doing that for all the tests that I didn't study for, I was like, all right. I remember that class where she might have taught that. And I was paying attention.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

I see people on game shows, and they're, like, closing their eyes and, like, trying to think of the answer. It works.

[Fun Fact Contributor 1]

I do it when people are playing Fresh out of bed.

[Fun Fact Contributor 2]

Because you told me someone who says the name first.

[Fun Fact Contributor 1]

Yeah.

[Fun Fact Host]

Yeah. Mo does. She closes her eyes every day.

[Fun Fact Contributor 2]

I do that doing the scissors. Sometimes

[Fun Fact Contributor 1]

I'm sleeping. I'm just.

[Fun Fact Host]

Okay.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

I don't have time to get into it, but we want to get into it. But we had. We've talked about Aphantasia. Do you remember what that is? Alex? There are people out there. No, I'm just gonna. I'm gonna throw it out there. I'm gonna. Here's what's gonna happen. I'm gonna throw some. I'm gonna throw something out there, and then I'm gonna get emails all day.

[Fun Fact Contributor 2]

You can't imagine.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

Yes.

[Fun Fact Contributor 2]

Stuff. You can't visualize an apple in your.

[Fun Fact Contributor 1]

We've talked about this before.

[Ryan Seacrest]

I am.

[Fun Fact Contributor 1]

That there are.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

There are people that, when they close their eyes, they can't visualize a horse or anything else. Like, you've seen a horse. I know you don't like horses. Yeah, but there's a mane, there's a tail, there's four legs.

[Fun Fact Contributor 1]

We've talked about this before. When I close my eyes, I'm not. I don't.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

There's people.

[Fun Fact Host]

But you know what a horse looks like.

[Fun Fact Contributor 2]

So you're always visualizing if you know

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

what a horse looks like, when there's people, that there's nothing wrong with them. Well, no, but something wrong. There's people out there that when they close their eyes and you say, okay, visualize a horse right now.

[Fun Fact Host]

They.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

They just see black. They cannot. We all see black.

[Fun Fact Contributor 2]

But you visualize you know what a horse looks like, and that's the picture you're looking at.

[Main Fun Fact Speaker]

Aphantasia. They can't do it. I don't believe that. I know. It's the craziest thing ever.

[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.

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[Fun Fact Contributor 2]

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