Miss Information: A Trivia Podcast

Back by popular demand... we have another math episode! This time, guest host Bailie has us covered on prime numbers, factorials, and whole bunch of important mathematicians [...some with more functioning eyeballs than others]. Later, enjoy a quiz about other interesting math tidbits! . . . [Music: 1) Mos Def, "Mathematics," 1999; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC...

We've heard your requests, and today's the day. Time for a episode on-- say it with us --TSGYOUBNEPHR-CULILLOSSEAS! [Whoops: Tuberculosis. It's tuberculosis.] This week, Lauren takes us through the symptoms and history of [maybe!] humanity's first known disease, which also happens to make you soooo good lookin'. Later, enjoy a quiz on poets and poetry. [And cover your mouth when you cough! ] . . ....

Take everything you thought you knew about the Defenestrations of Prague--and, well, throw it out the window. Julia dives head first into the religious feuds of Renaissance-era Bohemia and clues us into the multiple times that Bohemians attempted to solve all their problems by defenestrating their enemies. Later, enjoy a quiz called "Windows to the Soul"! . . . [Music: 1) R. A. Dvorsky Orchestra,...

Are we  lunatics?  [If by "lunatic" you mean "crazy about the Moon," then heck yeah!] Learn all about Earth's natural satellite [and BFF] in the realms of science, culture, and history... And once and for all, we'll learn the difference between a Blue Moon, a Strawberry Moon, a Harvest Moon, and a SUPERMOON. Later, test your knowledge of holidays with a quiz entitled "Movable Feast"! . . . [Music:...

We hope you're sitting down for this one, because the story of Alma Mahler, "The Most Beautiful Woman in Vienna," is a REAL doozy. This episode has everything: art, music, sex, death, Nazis, literature, insanity, more Nazis... Julia paints a portrait of this Austrian lady who bewitched the most famous men of her day. And later, enjoy a quiz called "Gustav and Walter and Franz"! . . . [Music: 1) To...

It’s been a long time coming, folks. Hopefully this biographical episode will appease its subject: shock-rocker, golf enthusiast, and our personal demon, Alice Cooper. Learn all about the origins of the Alice Cooper Group, its indefatigable lead singer of the same name, and some surprising friends and events in his life. The man has truly done and seen everything [--please don’t hurt us]. Later, e...

GUESTEMBER concludes with a pair of brilliant guests. Joining us are Kat Thompson and Jill Martiniuk, who reveal a trio of stories about Bad-Ass Women throughout Russian history. Sit back and relax [maybe with some vodka?] as we talk about Olga of Kiev [#DownWithTheDrevlians!], Catherine the Great, and the 588th Night Bomber Regiment from WWII. Later, enjoy a quiz on even more bad-ass Russian wome...

GUESTEMBER [bwa-da-DAH-daaaaah] continues as we're joined in-studio by All-Star Canadian listener, Corinne Atkinson, who works as a "vampire" [or if we're being less hyperbolic: a medical laboratory technician]. Learn about that Super Important Goo Inside You, common blood and other fluid tests, and why you should really listen to your doctor when they tell you to fast. [**Squeamish folks, don't w...

It's our second installment of GUESTEMBER! We're joined by Eric Siy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, who helps to dissolve our math anxiety. Play along at home, and commit to memory some Mathematicians You Should Know. Later, enjoy a quiz called "I Was Told There Would Be No Twinks"! . . . [Music: 1) Tom Lehrer, "That's Mathematics," 2010; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy...

It's GUESTEMBER, y'all! We're joined by Holly Ahronheim, who uses her Jeopardy ! experience to expose us to World's Fairs-- in particular, the 1967 International and Universal Exposition. Later, enjoy a quiz on things that debuted at a World's Fair! . . . [Music: 1) Young Canada Singers, "Expo 67 - Canada (The Centennial Song)," written by Bobby Gimby, 1967; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017....

Everything in moderation! Julia serves up another helping of treats. [This week, we're featuring cookies and biscuits, meringues, frozen desserts, and Truly American Desserts.] Later, enjoy a quiz called "Bake-Off"! . . . [Music: 1) The London Film Score Orchestra, Tom Howe, Music Featured in the TV Program The Great British Bake-Off , "Signature Cakes / Sparkle / Happy Pizza / Organic Mix," 2014;...

By popular demand-- Julia dishes out heaping portions of knowledge about some of the world's best baked goods. This week, it's cakes, custards, and pastries. [No soggy bottoms here!] Later, enjoy a quiz called "Great, British"! . . . [Music: 1) The London Film Score Orchestra, Tom Howe, Music Featured in the TV Program The Great British Bake-Off , "Signature Cakes / Sparkle / Happy Pizza / Organic...

Lauren admits that she loves listening to the music of the night in this episode: a journey through the career of Andrew Lloyd Webber. Commit these famous musicals to memory as we shine a spotlight on both the highs [ Jesus Christ Superstar, The Phantom of the Opera , Cats ] and the lows [ Aspects of Love , Love Never Dies , Cats ] of The Right Honourable Lord Lloyd-Webber. Later, enjoy a quiz cal...

We are joined by Garrett Cosenza, winemaker at Pope Valley Winery in Napa Valley, California, for this magnum-sized episode. Let the history of winemaking wash over your tastebuds [or earbuds?] as you learn how wineries take a boring ol' grape and turn it into bottled poetry. Impress your friends with all your newfound wine know-how! Later, enjoy a quiz on Fun Facts about Wine! . . . [Music: 1) De...

Julia dances circles around the competition as she discusses the most elegant and graceful of all topics. Learn about types and methods of ballet, famous dancers and choreographers, Ballets You Should Know, vocabulary terms, and everything in between. [Don't get tutu stressed out, okay?] Later, enjoy a quiz called "Dance Like Nobody's Watching!" . . . [Music: 1) Philadelphia Orchestra performing "...

Lauren lets loose a lecture on the 1976 Legionella pneumophila outbreak in the City of Brotherly Love. [Just when you thought it was safe to stay indoors...!] Later, enjoy (?!) a quiz on Philadelphia and Infectious Diseases! . . . [Music: 1) The Decemberists, "The Legionnaire's Lament," 2002; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

Julia dusts off her binoculars and sun hat this week to survey the world's deserts: how they're formed, where they're located, which places you should avoid, and much more. [If you thought that deserts were just a bunch of sand, then you're in for quite a treat.] Later, enjoy a quiz called "Desert Rose"! . . . [Music: 1) Little Glass Men, "Desert Castles," 2015. Courtesy of Ryan Claus/Little Glass...

Lauren returns to her favorite category to spin a yarn all about French-American artist Louise Bourgeois. [You might know her Spider sculptures, but hoo-ee, there is much more of her Surrealist and Feminist art to cover.] Later, enjoy a quiz about the bourgeoisie and arachnids! . . . [Music: 1) U2, "Sunday Bloody Sunday," 1983; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-...

We're joined by Katie Sekelsky of The Inkling, who brings us the tragic tale of the Johnstown Flood in 1889. [Thanks a lot, Robber Barons! </end sarcasm>] Learn about a few more historic floods--and why it's important to have, say, actual trained professionals build your reservoirs. Later, enjoy a quiz called "That Damn Dam!" . . . [Music: 1) Bertha Chapin, "Johnstown Flood," 1955; 2) Frau H...

In this mini-sode [mostly] recorded last August, Julia and Lauren recount their experience with the much-beloved [though now currently cancelled] Who Wants to Be A Millionaire . [Julia's episodes of WWTBAM aired in December 2018, and Lauren's game show contestant debut aired in April 2019.] Later, enjoy a quiz on Las Vegas! . . . [Music: 1) Andrew WK, "Las Vegas, Nevada," 2006; 2) Frau Holle, “Asc...

Miss Information presents... Wattle & Daub: On the Case ! To celebrate our podcast's 100th episode, head back to 1867 to follow intrepid English detectives Charles Wattle and Silas Daub as they investigate a Very English Mystery brought to them by The Queen. Will Wattle and Daub catch their man? Find out...now!* . . . Wattle & Daub: On the Case ! is produced by Tall Boy Productions, writte...

For our 99th episode, you can count on Julia to describe the origins of every single element name on the periodic table. We've got you covered from Actinium to Zirconium! Later, enjoy a quiz called "Title Elements"! . . . [Music: 1) Tom Lehrer, "The Elements," Music by Sir Arthur Sullivan, 1959; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

In our 98th episode, Lauren pulls together details about the life and works of famous Russian playwright, poet, and novelist Alexander Pushkin. [Feel free to refer to this episode by its alternate title, if needed.] Later, enjoy a quiz on romance novels! . . . [Music: 1) The Decemberists, "The Crane Wife 1 & 2," 2006; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0...

For our 97th episode, we are joined by Sarah FitzGerald, a PhD student at Sussex University in Brighton, England, who studies Cameroon Pidgin English. Sarah explains to us the differences between creole--we're not talking about Louisiana here--and pidgin languages and how they develop. Later, enjoy a quiz called "Language Stuff That I Think is Interesting"! . . . [Music: 1) Jovi, "Check Sense ft....

In our 96th episode, Julia covers what you've all been waiting for during *MYTHOLOGY MAY* -- the Greeks and the Romans. We have everything: Titans, Olympians, Furies, Fates, Muses, monsters, heroes, comedy, tragedy, and everything in between. Later, enjoy a quiz called "A Night With Venus..."! . . . [Music: 1) "Toccata" from Claudio Monteverdi's L'Orfeo , Emmanuelle Haïm, Warner Classics, 2004; 2)...