Trivia Tangents

In this week’s Trivia Tangents , I’m recapping a humbling (and borderline traumatic) trivia night in San Francisco that perfectly demonstrates the groupthink effect. We’re talking Sutro Forest tree history, a Gossip Girl lunch location I absolutely overcomplicated, a heated Louisiana vs. Alaska river debate, and a full-on SF geography meltdown involving Moscone Center and Yerba Buena Gardens. In m...

In this first-ever Mini Tangents episode of Trivia Tangents , I’m telling the absolutely unhinged (and very real) story of the time my Toyota Corolla became a home for rats— twice . What started as an innocent Easter-egg chocolate mistake turned into newborn baby rats in my trunk during an 8-hour move from Santa Barbara to Davis, a crowd of strangers offering solutions, a pet snake plot-twist I st...

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Isabella, co-founder of Kiki & Isa , a children’s clothing brand built from friendship and a shared love of fashion. We talk about how the brand started, what the “Made in Italy” label really means today, and the challenges small brands face in a world of fast fashion ( pronto moda) . Isa shares what goes into her design process, why comfort and perso...

In this episode, I’m weaving into the world of hair with my hairstylist and friend, Kelly! We cover everything from outrageous historical hair trends to celebrity inspo, modern styling advice, and the myths we all heard growing up. I even put Kelly’s knowledge to the test with some hair history trivia: La Belle-Poule, the invention of hot tools, the iconic shag… nothing is off limits. Kelly shares...

In this episode of Trivia Tangents, I sit down with Konstantin Guericke, Co-Founder of LinkedIn, a Stanford mentor and community organizer, and someone who has spent decades thinking about how trust, technology, and human connection shape our careers. Konstantin shares his path from growing up in Germany to landing in Silicon Valley, and we talk about what professional networking looked like befor...

In this episode of  Trivia Tangents , I chat with Aimee Lucido — a former software engineer who turned her love of puzzles and trivia into a dream career writing games for  Bloomberg  and crosswords for The New Yorker , and  The New York Times . Aimee shares how she made the leap from tech to creative writing, how a pandemic hobby with trivia flash cards snowballed into her role as Bloomberg’s  Qu...

Ever wondered what actually goes on in the world of personal training beyond the gym selfies and fitness fads? In this episode of Trivia Tangents , I’m joined by Sulyn Harvey , a personal trainer living in Europe, to talk about all things health, wellness, and the science behind staying strong. We kick things off with some fitness trivia (because of course we do 😏): Who was the real “Godfather of...

In this episode of Trivia Tangents , I quiz my little brother on his absolute favorite show: BIG BROTHER. He’s basically a walking encyclopedia of the series: he knows every winner, watches the live feeds, and can break down the most complex strategies like a true superfan. Even though I’m the one asking the questions, he ends up teaching me so much about the show — from what a “backdoor” is to wh...

This week on Trivia Tangents , I sit down with my Auntie Sarah, who has lived in Waikīkī, O’ahu for the past six years, to explore some fun and fascinating pieces of Hawaii’s story. From blockbuster movies filmed on the islands, to the fiery legends surrounding volcanoes, to the controversial history behind Hawaii’s most famous fruits — it’s a mix of trivia and deeper conversations. But this isn’t...

In this episode of Trivia Tangents , I sit down with Aumi (my favorite Lagree Pilates instructor at Core40) and ride into the world of Lagree. If you’ve ever wondered how Lagree is different from traditional pilates, why the Megaformer machine costs over $18,000, or which celebrities swear by it, this episode is for you. We talk about Aumi’s journey into Lagree, starting with her search for a low-...

What does it really feel like to swim under the Golden Gate Bridge, cross an ocean channel at night, or share the water with whales? This week, I’m joined by marathon swimmer Lauren Lesyna , who takes us inside the fascinating world of open water swimming. I quiz Lauren on the female history of San Francisco’s Dolphin Club, the world’s longest unassisted swims, and myths about jellyfish stings — w...

This week’s episode of Trivia Tangents is a bit different. Since it falls on September 11th, I wanted to pause our usual trivia format to honor and remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost in the attacks of 2001. In this brief tribute, I reflect on the four hijacked flights, the courage shown by passengers and first responders, and the lasting impact of that day. We will never forget. Website: https:/...

Ever wondered why salsa dance is called SALSA? I chat with my bestie Hayley (an amazing salsa dancer) about the history, styles, and cultural roots that make salsa so irresistible.  We cover how salsa originated in the U.S. with deep Caribbean influences, why the word “salsa” literally means “sauce,” and how legends like Eddie Torres, the “Mambo King,” shaped the dance. Hayley also shares her pers...

In this purr-fect episode of Trivia Tangents , I dive into the mysterious world of cats with my friend Steph. We explore how cats domesticated themselves thousands of years ago, why the ancient Egyptians worshiped them as divine, and how they became some of the most popular pets in the world today. Along the way, I quiz Steph with cat trivia and we swap stories about our cats, Cucumber the teen mo...

In this episode of Trivia Tangents , Lina is joined by Emily and Elyssa from the podcast Girls That Excel for a lively, wine-fueled deep dive into the world of Oregon wines, all kicked off by trivia questions you’ll want in your back pocket at your next tasting. They explore the evolution of wine packaging, younger generations’ changing tastes, and how Oregon's wine culture compares to Califor...

How well do you really know Freaky Friday? With Freakier Friday the sequel releasing this month we’re rewinding to the 2003 Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis classic that defined a generation. In this trivia-packed episode, we unpack surprising casting what-ifs (Hilary Duff, anyone?), musical moments with artists like Gwen Stefani and Steve Lukather, and the alternate ending you didn’t see.  Spec...

What do ancient civilizations, antioxidants, and my dad’s kitchen have in common? CHOCOLATE. In this rich and delicious episode of Trivia Tangents , I quiz my dad, Michael, a world-traveling, bean-roasting, blender-wielding chocolate nerd, on everything from cacao’s mysterious origins to the science behind why dark chocolate is actually good for you. We dive into bitter compounds like theobromine,...

Hi everyone! Lina here, wanted to let you all know that I will be on summer break from July 10-31. In the meantime, feel free to listen to my previous episodes: Pickleball, Matcha, Foot Archery, and Rock Climbing.  In this short episode I share my travel itinerary for July, reflect on my growth as a podcast host and also preview upcoming episodes! Upcoming episodes include: Chocolate trivia (July...

In this episode of Trivia Tangents , we’re chalking up and roping in my friend Hannah, boulderer and belay queen, for a climb up the trivia wall. We debate bouldering vs. top-roping, GRIGRI vs. ATC, and dive into the retro rubber origins of climbing shoes. From the lingo of dynos, slabs, and spicy cruxes to what compels someone to attempt a Free Solo, we dig into what makes rock climbing such a wi...

What happens when you mix circus skills, extreme flexibility, and a bow and arrow? In this episode of Trivia Tangents , we dive feet first into the fascinating world of foot archery; yes, that is archery performed upside down using your feet. I’m joined by my friend and real-life foot archer, Elizabeth, who shares how she discovered this wild niche hobby, what it takes to master it, and what it ac...

In this episode of Trivia Tangents , we're whisking up some serious matcha energy with special guest Kyla, a self-proclaimed matcha enthusiast and at-home latte queen. From ancient tea rituals to the misty hills of Uji, Japan, to the neon-green lattes flooding your Instagram feed, we dig into matcha’s global takeover. Along the way, I quiz Kyla on matcha trivia, and we learn about what makes c...

Ready to test your pickleball knowledge and learn the fascinating backstory of America’s fastest-growing sport? In this episode of Trivia Tangents , we’re serving up pickleball questions, surprising deep dives, and all the dinking details behind the phenomenon that’s taking over parks and rec centers nationwide. From how a backyard game born in the ‘60s became a cultural sensation, to the quirks a...

Join Lina as she introduces you to Trivia Tangents , the podcast that blends education and entertainment in every episode. Learn about Lina’s journey from bar trivia champ to podcast host and how she transforms her guests’ unique passions, careers, and hobbies into trivia-packed deep dives, making learning as fun as it is surprising. From unexpected psychology tidbits to pop-culture gems, no topic...

In this episode, Lina announces the rebranding of her podcast from ' Learned and Trivia ' to ' Trivia Tangents .' She discusses the changes in hosting, the new podcast format, and the exciting features of the rebrand, including a dedicated website and digital trivia starter packs. Lina expresses her enthusiasm for the new direction and shares a preview of upcoming episodes. *** If...

Join us as we break down Blue Origin's latest spaceflight that was supposed to be historic for women in space—but became the internet's favorite disaster instead. We're diving into Katy Perry's absolutely cringe-worthy involvement, the tone-deaf celebrity moments, and how Blue Origin tried to package this as women's empowerment while getting completely roasted online. From biza...