Summary3 min read

The Rod Ryan Show — Fun Facts of The Day

Date: July 20, 2026
Station: 94.5 The Buzz (KTBZ-FM)
Theme: Fun facts and music trivia to start your morning, designed to surprise listeners and spark conversation.

Episode Overview

This episode of “Fun Facts of The Day” on The Rod Ryan Show brings listeners a lively panel discussion brimming with conversational trivia — from shifting American sports preferences to legendary music facts. The hosts bounce between sports rankings, iconic riff revelations, and a peek behind the scenes of a pop classic, all in their signature energetic, bantering style. Ideal for fans who want to “look smart in front of your buddies,” the segment is filled with tidbits that are as fun as they are shareable.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shifts in America's Favorite Sports

[01:20–02:12]

The panel discusses recent changes in the popularity of American sports:
- Soccer has now overtaken baseball as America’s third-favorite sport, behind American football (by a wide margin) and basketball.
- “Our national pastime” baseball drops further, as NHL ice hockey lands fifth.
- The crew jokes about the enduring status of baseball as “the national pastime,” questioning whether it will always retain that title.
Other sports in the ranking: Tennis, boxing, MMA, and golf.

Quote:

D (01:20): “Soccer has now overtaken baseball to become America’s favorite sport. Here’s the order. American football is number one by a massive margin, followed by basketball, soccer, then our national pastime of baseball.”

2. The Truth About ‘Seven Nation Army’

[02:23–02:47]

A surprising bit of music trivia: The iconic bassline in The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” isn’t played on a bass guitar.
- Instead, it’s played by Jack White on a regular guitar lowered by an octave.
- The riff came about during a sound check when Jack was experimenting with different guitars.

Quote:

D (02:25): “The legendary baseline from the White Stripes song ‘Seven Nation Army’ is not played on the bass at all. They used a guitar that was lowered an octave.”
E (02:40): “Jack was messing with one of his other guitars, was like, ‘What do you think of this riff?’ Yeah, like I said, it was okay.”

3. Backstreet Boys and TLC Turned Down '...Baby One More Time'

[02:47–03:12]

The hosts share the story behind Britney Spears’ breakout hit.
- Backstreet Boys and TLC both passed on recording “...Baby One More Time.”
- The song then went to an unknown at the time: Britney Spears.
- A bit of playful ribbing about whether anyone actually thought Britney wrote the song herself.

Quote:

D (02:47): “Let’s talk a little music this morning, the Backstreet Boys and TLC both passed on recording this song. So it went to a brand new artist of the time. The song they passed up was ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time,’ and the song went to Britney Spears, who was brand new at the time.”
D (03:14): “Did anybody think she wrote that song? Don’t be silly.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

D (upon kicking off the trivia):
“We make you look smart in front of your buddies. It’s the fun fact of the day.” [01:00]
E (on sports rankings):
“We’re coming up for a hockey country now…”
D (after the Britney trivia):
“Did anybody think she wrote that song? Don’t be silly.” [03:14]

Timestamps for Key Segments

01:00 — Opening jingle and fun fact theme introduction.
01:20–02:12 — America's favorite sports ranked.
02:23–02:47 — True origin of the “Seven Nation Army” riff.
02:47–03:14 — Origins of Britney Spears’ first big hit.

Tone & Style

The conversation is animated, informal, and sprinkled with friendly ribbing. The hosts playfully challenge each other’s knowledge while keeping the tone light:

“Are they going to retain ownership, Alex, of the national pastime…?”
“You must be the other guy.”

They invite listeners to carry these facts out into the world — “look smart in front of your buddies” — with a winking, inclusive energy that defines the show’s local charm.

In Summary

This episode of “Fun Facts of The Day” exemplifies what makes The Rod Ryan Show a staple for Houston’s rock and alternative fans: quick-hit trivia, plenty of personality, and a roundtable that feels like hanging out with a group of old friends — all before your morning coffee has cooled.

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Transcript29 lines

[00:00]
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[01:01]
A
The fun fact of the day. We make you look smart in front of your buddies. It's the fun fact of the day.
[01:12]
D
Good to see Captain Cash. Hi, Hal. Brother Rod.
[01:15]
B
Good morning.
[01:16]
D
Good to see you. You're gonna be in the studio with us for a couple of days this week.
[01:20]
A
Yes.
[01:20]
D
That's good. I brought in some new fun facts for you guys. Everybody's going crazy on soccer right now, right? Soccer has now overtaken baseball to become America' favorite sport. Here's the order. American football is number one by a massive margin, followed by basketball, soccer. Then our national pastime of baseball. Is baseball. Always going to be. Are they going to retain ownership, Alex. Of the national pastime the past time. Yeah. Yeah. I don't think they're ever going to lose that. NHL ice hockey is fifth.
[02:02]
E
We're coming up for a hockey country now, so tenet.
[02:04]
D
Tennis, boxing, mma, and golf. I like to do a little extra. I do the extra work. Al. Great. You must be the other guy.
[02:12]
E
Bass plus. About to be on a strike next year, too, so it'll go down.
[02:21]
A
What song, Mo?
[02:22]
E
I don't know.
[02:24]
C
I mean, I know what it is, but I don't know what it's called.
[02:26]
D
The legendary baseline from the white stripe song. Seven Nation army is not played on
[02:32]
E
the bass at all.
[02:33]
D
They used a guitar that was lowered in octave.
[02:40]
E
During sound check. And Jack was messing with one of his other guitars was like, what do you think of this riff? Yeah, like I said, it was okay.
[02:47]
D
Pretty good riff. Finally, let's Talk a little music this morning, the Backstreet Boys and TLC both passed on the recording of this song. So it went to a brand new artist of the time. The song they passed up was Hit Me Baby One More Time and the song song went to Britney Spears, who was brand new at the time.
[03:13]
A
That's neat.
[03:14]
D
Did anybody think she wrote that song? Don't be silly.
[03:18]
A
Back to the day we make you look smart in front of your buddies. It's the fun fact of the day.
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The Rod Ryan Show — Fun Facts of The Day

Date: July 20, 2026
Station: 94.5 The Buzz (KTBZ-FM)
Theme: Fun facts and music trivia to start your morning, designed to surprise listeners and spark conversation.

Episode Overview

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shifts in America's Favorite Sports

[01:20–02:12]

The panel discusses recent changes in the popularity of American sports:
- Soccer has now overtaken baseball as America’s third-favorite sport, behind American football (by a wide margin) and basketball.
- “Our national pastime” baseball drops further, as NHL ice hockey lands fifth.
- The crew jokes about the enduring status of baseball as “the national pastime,” questioning whether it will always retain that title.
Other sports in the ranking: Tennis, boxing, MMA, and golf.

Quote:

D (01:20): “Soccer has now overtaken baseball to become America’s favorite sport. Here’s the order. American football is number one by a massive margin, followed by basketball, soccer, then our national pastime of baseball.”

2. The Truth About ‘Seven Nation Army’

[02:23–02:47]

A surprising bit of music trivia: The iconic bassline in The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” isn’t played on a bass guitar.
- Instead, it’s played by Jack White on a regular guitar lowered by an octave.
- The riff came about during a sound check when Jack was experimenting with different guitars.

Quote:

D (02:25): “The legendary baseline from the White Stripes song ‘Seven Nation Army’ is not played on the bass at all. They used a guitar that was lowered an octave.”
E (02:40): “Jack was messing with one of his other guitars, was like, ‘What do you think of this riff?’ Yeah, like I said, it was okay.”

3. Backstreet Boys and TLC Turned Down '...Baby One More Time'

[02:47–03:12]

The hosts share the story behind Britney Spears’ breakout hit.
- Backstreet Boys and TLC both passed on recording “...Baby One More Time.”
- The song then went to an unknown at the time: Britney Spears.
- A bit of playful ribbing about whether anyone actually thought Britney wrote the song herself.

Quote:

D (02:47): “Let’s talk a little music this morning, the Backstreet Boys and TLC both passed on recording this song. So it went to a brand new artist of the time. The song they passed up was ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time,’ and the song went to Britney Spears, who was brand new at the time.”
D (03:14): “Did anybody think she wrote that song? Don’t be silly.”

Notable Quotes & Moments

D (upon kicking off the trivia):
“We make you look smart in front of your buddies. It’s the fun fact of the day.” [01:00]
E (on sports rankings):
“We’re coming up for a hockey country now…”
D (after the Britney trivia):
“Did anybody think she wrote that song? Don’t be silly.” [03:14]

Timestamps for Key Segments

01:00 — Opening jingle and fun fact theme introduction.
01:20–02:12 — America's favorite sports ranked.
02:23–02:47 — True origin of the “Seven Nation Army” riff.
02:47–03:14 — Origins of Britney Spears’ first big hit.

Tone & Style

The conversation is animated, informal, and sprinkled with friendly ribbing. The hosts playfully challenge each other’s knowledge while keeping the tone light:

“Are they going to retain ownership, Alex, of the national pastime…?”
“You must be the other guy.”

They invite listeners to carry these facts out into the world — “look smart in front of your buddies” — with a winking, inclusive energy that defines the show’s local charm.