Fun Facts of The Day

Summary

The Rod Ryan Show

Episode: Fun Facts of The Day
Date: April 6, 2026
Host: Rod Ryan & Team, 94.5 The Buzz (KTBZ-FM)
Segment: Fun Facts of the Day

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Episode Overview

This lively episode of "Fun Facts of The Day" on The Rod Ryan Show brings in the studio regulars for a round of quirky and impressive trivia—designed to make listeners “look smart in front of your buddies.” With Rod at the helm and a guest appearance from Captain Cash, the hosts share amusing tidbits about pop culture, baseball history, and science, peppering their banter with humor and camaraderie.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Banks and Markets on Easter Monday

• Bank & Market Schedule: The team briefly jokes about whether Easter Monday is a holiday for banks and markets.
  • “Holy Monday. Yeah, Easter Monday. That's not a markets closed day.” – B (00:20)
  • “That's on the wish list.” – C (00:26)
  • “But they're open today? Yes. Banks are open. Everybody's work.” – B & C (00:27-00:31)
• Tone: Lighthearted office banter, reflecting on the wish for more holidays.

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2. John Ratzenberger: Pixar’s Lucky Charm

• Birthday Shout-out: John Ratzenberger (Cliff Clavin from Cheers) turns 79.
• Pixar Legacy:
  • Ratzenberger has voiced a character in every single Pixar movie.
  • Notable roles: Ham the Pig (Toy Story), Abominable Snowman (Monsters, Inc.), Fish School (Finding Nemo), The Underminer (The Incredibles), Mac (Cars), Head Waiter Mustafa (Ratatouille).
• Interesting Fact:
  • “He is Pixar's lucky charm. He has done a voice in every single Pixar movie...They won't do a movie without him.” – B (00:32-01:14)
• Team Response:
  • D: “Yep.” (01:00)
  • General excitement about his continued streak.

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3. Left-Handed Catchers in Major League Baseball

• Surprising Statistic:
  • The last time a left-handed catcher played in MLB was in 1989 (Denny D. Stefano).
• Reason:
  • Left-handed throwers face challenges throwing to third base and covering certain positions.
  • “Lefty struggle to play catcher...Left handed catchers—turn around. Yeah. It’s not a thing. It is not a thing at all.” – B (01:38-01:48)
• Team Reactions:
  • A: “That is fun.” (01:36)
  • B jokes they all play hockey instead.

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4. The Joke Behind Plutonium’s Symbol (“Pu”)

• Origin Story:
  • Nuclear physicist Nicholas Kemmer suggested the atomic symbol “Pu” for plutonium as a joke, because it sounds like “P.U.” (a foul smell).
  • No one objected, so it became official on the periodic table.
• Quote:
  • “Nuclear physicists have a sense of humor. He deliberately submitted that as a joke because it resembles Pu, as in a foul smell. No one objected and it made its way to the periodic table.” – B (02:21-02:33)
• Team Reaction:
  • D: “That's neat.” (02:20)
  • A: “Funny guy.” (02:36)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On John Ratzenberger’s Pixar Record:

  • “He is absolutely their lucky charm. They won't do a movie without him. He's had a role in every one.” – B (01:04-01:14)

• On Baseball’s Lefty Catchers:

  • “It's not a thing. It is not a thing at all.” – B (01:46)

• On The Plutonium Symbol Joke:

  • “Nuclear physicists have a sense of humor. He deliberately submitted that as a joke because it resembles Pu, as in a foul smell. No one objected and it made its way to the periodic table.” – B (02:21-02:33)

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Useful Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:20 – 00:31: Easter Monday holiday status chat
• 00:32 – 01:14: John Ratzenberger and Pixar discussion
• 01:36 – 01:59: Left-handed catchers in MLB history
• 02:20 – 02:33: The funny origin of “Pu” for plutonium

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Summary Tone & Style

The segment is upbeat, playful, and sprinkled with camaraderie. Listeners are given trivia ammunition for their next group hangout, with the hosts engaging in friendly banter and delivering genuinely fun knowledge.

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Transcript

[A]

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

[B]

All right, here we go. I've brought us some new fun facts. And looky here. Captain Cash back in studio with us.

[C]

Rodney, good morning.

[B]

Good to see you, bro.

[C]

Great to see you guys.

[B]

We had a question earlier. Holy Monday. Yeah, Easter Monday. That's not a markets closed day.

[C]

Yeah, that's. That's on the wish list.

[B]

Okay, but they're open today? Yes. Banks are open. Everybody's work.

[C]

Okay, get your Easter basket.

[B]

All right, listen, I brought in some fun facts. I was hoping you were going to be here. I made him special today. John Ratzenberger? Anybody? Cliff Clavin ON Cheers. He's 79 today. Also, your kids know him, they just don't know him by name. He is Pixar's lucky charm. He has done a voice in every single Pixar movie.

[D]

Yep.

[B]

He was Ham the Pig in Toy Story. The Abominable Snowman in Monsters Inc. The Fish School in Finding Nemo. The Underminer in the Incredibles. Mac in the Cars movies. The head waiter Mustafa in Ratatouille. He's been in every. He's done a voice in every Pixar movie. So cool. He is absolutely their lucky charm. They won't do a movie without him. He's. He's had a role. He's had a role in everyone. What up? What else? Oh, Alex, the last. The last time a left handed catcher played in the major leagues was 1989.

[A]

That is fun.

[B]

Yeah, Hal's trying to figure that out too. Due to the nature of the throws, lefty struggle to play catcher because left handed thrower getting the third base and shortstop second. Like left handed catchers turn around. Yeah. It's not a thing. It is not a thing at all. They all play hockey, I think. Denny D. Stefano, 1989. The last lefty playing catcher. Finally, nuclear physics physicist. Good job. Nuclear nail. That Nicholas Kemmer. He suggested the atomic symbol Pu for plutonium.

[D]

That's neat.

[B]

Nuclear physicists have a sense of humor. He deliberately submitted that as a joke because it resembles Pu, as in a foul smell. No one objected and it made its way to the periodic table.

[A]

It's the fun fact of the day.

[B]

Funny guy.

[A]

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

[D]

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[B]

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[D]

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