Miss Information: A Trivia Podcast

In our 47th episode, Lauren drags you to hell and back via Dante Alighieri's epic poem  The Divine Comedy . Learn all about the nine circles in the  Inferno and those condemned to punishments til the end of time. Later, enjoy [?] a quiz called "Disco Inferno"! . . . [Music: 1) Donna Summer, "Hot Stuff," 1979; 2)  Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

In our 46th episode, Julia stocks up on the history of grocery stores and supermarkets. Get a price check on the backgrounds of various national and regional supermarket chains [including, yes, Rochester's own revered Wegmans], as well as a long receipt-sized list of all the ways that grocery stores use psychology to manipulate your shopping habits. Later, enjoy a quiz called "Clean-Up on (A)isle...

In our 45th episode, Lauren profiles the GREATEST ATHLETE WHO EVER LIVED -- an amazingly talented woman named Babe Didrikson Zaharias. [Remember her name!] Learn all about Babe's feats and records in basketball, track and field, baseball, and golf. Later, enjoy a quiz called "Babe and Babes"! . . . [Music: 1) Babe soundtrack, "If I Had Words," 1995; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy...

In our 44th episode, Julia summons up the historical information you should know about the Mayans, the Incas, and the Aztecs. [...Turns out some of the Mesoamerican cultures are not as ancient as you might think!] Acquaint yourself with their innovations, important sites,  and more about human sacrifices than you probably learned in your seventh grade world history class. Later, enjoy a quiz calle...

In this episode, Lauren peels back the layers of your body's largest organ. Get ready to talk connective tissues, injuries, bacteria, anthropodermic bibliopegy, and more! [Some parts not for the super-squeamish--but Julia sat through the whole recording session, so you are probably okay.] Later, enjoy* a quiz called "By the Skin of Your Teeth (Bible Trivia)"! . [* alternately, by "enjoy," we mean...

In our 42nd episode, Julia puts SCIENCE under a microscope to tell the story of chemist and x-ray crystallographer Rosalind Franklin, whose research was essential to the understanding of the structure of DNA. [Also, DNA-- what is it???] Later, enjoy a quiz called "The Gee, Gnome Project"! . . . [Music: 1) Backing track: Lin-Manuel Miranda, The Decemberists, "Ben Franklin's Song," 2017 - Lyrics add...

In our 41st episode, Lauren introduces the timid, little-known, mild-mannered American author [and inventor!] Samuel Langhorne Clemens [...although you may already be familiar with his nom de plume ]. Later, enjoy a quiz called “A Barkeeper Entering the Kingdom of Heaven”! . . . [Music:  1) Tina Turner, “Proud Mary,” 1988; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3....

In our 40th episode, Julia bends our ears and conveys the Global Rivers You Should Know [along with related sidebars] in this super-sized water-themed ep. [And Canadian Tourism Board, if you’re listening, we’re available.] Later, enjoy a quiz called “Rolling on a River”! . . . [Music:  1) Johann Strauss II, “The Blue Danube Waltz,” 1867; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Hol...

In our 39th episode, Lauren blows us all away with details about the Dust Bowl [the droughts, erosion, and swirling soil storms of the prairie states in the 1930s] and how one of Cardi B's favorite people helped to stabilize the region. Later, enjoy a quiz called "Dust to Dust"! . . . [Music: 1) Nanci Griffith, “This Old Town,” 1993; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle,...

In our 38th episode, Julia conquers the topic of Genghis Khan and the Mongolian Empire in the 12th and 13th centuries. [Hold onto your yaks!] We debut a new segment dedicated to Real Funny Ladies-- first up: the late, great Madeline Kahn. Later, enjoy a quiz called “Cons or KHAAAAAAAAAANs”! . . . [Music:  1) TALES, “The Doors of Khanbaliq,” 1999. Courtesy of TALES, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license; 2) Frau...

In our 37th episode, Lauren digs up some dirt on a variety of plants that will do some serious damage to the human body. [BTW, don’t eat a whole bag full of dried apricot kernels... and DEFINITELY don't pick your own wild mushrooms.] Later, enjoy a quiz called “Poison Pen”! . . . [Music:  1) Bell Biv Devoe, “Poison,” 1990; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3....

In our 36th episode, Julia gives the marching orders and commands our attention as we learn about some Very Important Generals of the U.S. Army and the major battles, campaigns, and operations they led. Later, enjoy a quiz called “‘General’ Knowledge”! . . . [Music: 1) The United States Army Band - Pershing’s Own, “The Army Song (Band Only).” Courtesy of the United States Army Band; 2) Frau Holle,...

Hello, and welcome to Mister Information-- an offshoot trivia podcast for gents [and ladies] who kind of enjoy trivia but also sticking it to annoying teams at pub quiz.  In this very special episode, Steve and Josh fill in for your regular hostesses and discuss food science and trivia learned from Canada's favorite actor-turned-rapper. Later, enjoy a quiz on Easter, Eggs, and Easter Eggs! ....

In our 35th episode, Lauren takes us into the great beyond with the Voyager Program and highlights the women who helped to interpret the incredible photos and data received from these two probes. [...Go ahead and get your giggles out now in anticipation of all the times we say “Uranus.”] Later, enjoy a quiz called “Gold Records”! . . . [Music:  1) Daft Punk, “Voyager,” 2001; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascend...

In our 34th episode, Julia narrates the career and creations of the incredible Jim Henson. Reminisce about Sesame Street, The Muppet Show, Fraggle Rock, and those [scary] mid-80s movies. Later, enjoy a quiz called “Frog and Pig are Friends”! . . . [Music:  1) The Muppets, “Mahna Mahna,” The Muppet Show, 1977; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

In our 33rd episode, Lauren regales us with the histories of the British queens regnant [a.k.a. “real-ass” queens], including deets about Victoria's suuuuper hard crush on Albert. Later, enjoy a quiz called “YAS, Queens!!!” . . . [Music: 1) RuPaul, "Sexy Drag Queen," 2017. Courtesy of RuPaul, Standard YouTube license.  2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 li...

In our 32nd episode, Julia lets some skeletons out of the closet and lectures us about the basics of the human body! Flash back to eighth grade health class [but without that awkward week where they separated the boys from the girls]. Later, enjoy a quiz called “Don’t Know Nothing About No Skellingtons”! . . .   [Music:  1) Gene Rayburn, Dee Finch, and the Ray Charles Singers, “Dry Bones,” 19...

In our 31st episode, Lauren brings to light some fascinating facts about precious and semi-precious gemstones [including, of course, DYE-AH-MUNDs]. Later, enjoy a quiz called “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend!” . . . [Music:  1) Shirley Bassey, “Diamonds are Forever,” 1971; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

In our 30th episode, Julia confabulates about the life and works of celebrated Regency author Jane Austen. [Even if you secretly haven't read the books either, you certainly are familiar with some modern adaptations.] Later, enjoy a quiz called "Scents and Spend-Abilities"! . . . [Music:  1) Wanda Landowska, “Handel: The Harmonious Blacksmith,” 1948. Courtesy of Wanda Landowska, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 li...

Our 29th episode brings a special guest to the MissInfoPod recording studio! Andrew Gibson, Quantitative Analyst for MLB's Pittsburgh Pirates, broadcasts important info on statistics in baseball and how teams today use data to build the best possible roster. Later, enjoy a quiz on "Sabre-metrics"! . . . [Music: 1) The Intruders, “(Love is Like a) Baseball Game,” 1968; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Sou...

In our 28th episode, Lauren exposes us to the bubonic plague which ravaged London in 1665-1666. Later, enjoy [...okay,  that’s a strong assumption here...] a quiz on communicable diseases! . . . [Music:  1) Valéry Sauvage, “Packington’s Pound,” 2008. Courtesy of Valéry Sauvage; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]    

In our 27th episode, Julia rushes us off to Petrograd and recounts the end of the Romanov dynasty during the Russian Revolution. Later, enjoy a quiz called “From Russia, with Love”! . . . [Music: 1) Tchaikovsky, “Trépak,” Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a, 1934. Courtesy of Leonard Stokowski, Conductor, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 l...

In our 26th episode, Lauren paints a vivid picture of Artemisia Gentileschi, the groundbreaking 17th century Italian painter whose past traumas impacted her striking works. [Check out our Twitter @missinfopod for accompanying images.] Later, enjoy “Great Women Artists: A Quiz”! . . . [Music:  1) Bacalao, “Music Offrande,” 2010. Courtesy of Bacalao, CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascendin...

In our 25th episode, Julia circumnavigates the globe and fills you in on facts you should know about the ocean and the seas. [Btw, there are WAY more than just seven.] Later, enjoy a quiz called “The Wet Bandits!” . . . [Music:  1) The Irish Rovers, “What Do You Do With a Drunken Sailor,” 1996. ; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

In our 24th episode, Lauren broadcasts the origins of America's pastime and its basic rules, along with some memorable and important folks who influenced the way the game is played today. Later, enjoy a quiz called "Baby Ruth!" . . . [Music:  1) Edward Meeker, “Take Me Out to the Ballgame,” 1908; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]