Go Fact Yourself LIVE with Amanda Gorman vs. TBD
- The Crawford, 474 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena
Go Fact Yourself is a pop culture trivia show hosted by J. Keith van Straaten (he/him) (Ask Me Another, Senior Writer) and Helen Hong (she/her) (Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, recurring panelist).
On January 4, acclaimed poet Amanda Gorman (she/her), plus other surprise guests and experts will join J. Keith and Helen for a trivia show like no other!
Register for free for general admission or reserve a guaranteed seat for $20. Concessions available starting at 6 p.m.
Lineup subject to change. This program may contain some mature language or themes.
Go Fact Yourself can be heard on LAist 89.3 on Saturdays at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Sundays at 8 p.m.
ABOUT AMANDA GORMAN
Amanda Gorman is the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history. She is a committed advocate for the environment, racial equality and gender justice. Gorman’s activism and poetry have been featured on the Today Show, PBS Kids and CBS This Morning, and in The New York Times, Vogue and Essence. After graduating cum laude from Harvard University, she now lives in her hometown of Los Angeles. In 2017, Amanda Gorman was appointed the first-ever National Youth Poet Laureate by Urban Word – a program that supports Youth Poets Laureate in more than 60 cities, regions and states nationally. Gorman’s groundbreaking performance of her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 presidential inauguration received international critical acclaim, inspiring millions of viewers with her message of hope, resilience and healing.
Gorman appeared on the cover of Time magazine in February 2021 and was the first poet to grace the cover of Vogue in its May 2021 issue. She was Porter Magazine’s July 2021 cover star and received the Artist Impact Award at the 2021 Backstage at the Geffen Awards. That same year Gorman was one of five Variety Power of Women honorees and cover star, as well one of three cover stars for Glamour’s Women of the Year. Amanda signed a three-year long partnership with Estee Lauder, becoming their very first Global Changemaker. The partnership inspired Writing Change, an initiative to support grassroots organizations dedicated to advancing literacy as a pathway to equality, access, and social change, through the power of young voices. She also was featured in Prada’s fine jewelry ‘Eternal Gold’ campaign featuring accessories made out of 100% certified recycled gold as an extension of the house’s commitment to sustainability. The special edition of her inaugural poem, “The Hill We Climb,” her debut picture book, Change Sings, and her poetry collection Call Us What We Carry, were all published in 2021 and debuted at #1 on New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Her children’s book, Something, Someday, was released in September 2023 and was a #1 New York Times bestseller. Her latest picture book, GIRLS ON THE RISE, was published in January 2025 and was an instant New York Times bestseller.
https://www.theamandagorman.com/
ABOUT J. KEITH VAN STRAATEN
J. Keith van Straaten is a content producer/writer for TV game shows, including The Hustler, Master Minds, Funny You Should Ask, and In the USA Today, and wrote trivia questions for Bally Sports. He was also a longtime senior writer on NPR’s Ask Me Another.
Previously, he wrote many of the games on GSN’s Chain Reaction and the iPhone trivia app Arena. He created and hosted the live matchmaking show The Fix-Up Show, as well as hosting What’s My Line? – Live On Stage and Comedy Central’s Beat The Geeks.
J. Keith has appeared on Best Week Ever, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Beverly Hills, 90210, and a deleted scene in Gilmore Girls.
As a journalist, J. Keith has written about COVID and comedy for the Los Angeles Times, points and miles for ThePointsGuy.com, and theatre for tdf Stages magazine.
J. Keith has two cats and is an avid Angels fan.
ABOUT HELEN HONG
A fan favorite on the hit NPR podcast Wait Wait Don't Tell Me, Helen Hong also co-hosts the celebrity trivia game show podcast Go Fact Yourself. Helen's acting credits include roles on Never Have I Ever, Silicon Valley, the Jennifer Garner Christmas movie Family Switch, and 5 seasons of The Thundermans on Nickelodeon.
A long-time touring standup comedian, Helen's comedy special Well Hong was co-produced by Comedy Dynamics and Tribeca Film Festival, and is streaming now on Amazon Prime & Apple TV+. Audiences love Helen's lightning quick crowdwork which can be seen on her Instagram and TikTok @funnyhelenhong.
A breast cancer survivor, Helen makes light of her cancer experience (and her "fresh new boobies") onstage. She also brings light to Asian-American issues with her family's YouTube channel "Old Korean Dad Stories."
If you bring Helen a Topo Chico and a mini Snickers bar, she will love you FOREVER.
ACCOMMODATIONS
LAist is committed to providing access and accommodation for individuals with disabilities at our events. To request accommodations, please email events@laist.com or call us at (626)583-5222 at least 7 days in advance of the event.