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Go Fact Yourself

Go Fact Yourself is a pop culture trivia show hosted by J. Keith van Straaten (Ask Me Another, Senior Writer) and Helen Hong (Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me, recurring panelist). Each week, van Straaten and Hong test celebrity guests on their self-proclaimed areas of pop culture expertise. Go Fact Yourself comes from LAist and the Maximum Fun Podcast Network (producers of NPR's Bullseye) and is recorded in front of a live audience at The Crawford, located at LAist in Pasadena, CA.

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Upcoming tapings at The Crawford

All Tapings

For a complete schedule of Go Fact Yourself live tapings in all venues, please visit GoFactYourPod.com
Previous episodes
  • Listen
    November 2, 2024: Josh McDermitt and Sierra Katow
  • Listen
    October 25, 2024: Taran Killam and Jen Kober
  • Listen
    Go Fact Yourself Clip Show

    Helen and J. Keith play a series of some of the greatest moments in Go Fact Yourself
    history in celebration of the show’s debut on LAist.
  • Listen
    Lisa Ann Walter & Tre’vell Anderson

    It’s a brand new joyful joyful episode of Go Fact Yourself!

    In this episode…

    Guests:

    Lisa Ann Walter endeared herself to an entire generation for her role in The Parent Trap. She was so grateful to embody such an iconic character and never expected to impact audiences like that again… but then she got her role on “Abbott Elementary.” She’ll tell us more about her varied career and how her mom helped her win “Celebrity Jeopardy!” 

    Tre’vell Anderson is a writer and journalist who’s been busy: they published not one, but TWO books in the same year. One, We See Each Other, explores the seminal moments of black and trans people in film and television; the other, Historically Black Phrases, covers some famous lines from the culture like “Do you got McDonald's money?” You can also hear Tre’vell on the podcast “What a Day.”

    Areas of Expertise

    Tre’vell: The film Sister Act 2, the trans pioneer Lucy Hicks Anderson, and Madea – the character played by Tyler Perry, particularly in the plays. 

    Lisa: Oscar-nominated films before 1975, Fleetwood Mac lyrics, and ballroom dancing.

    What’s the difference: flexible flier

    What’s the difference between flexible and pliable?

    What’s the difference between a zeppelin and a blimp?

    With guest experts:

    Bill Duke: Actor and filmmaker, known for appearing in films like Commando and Predator and for directing films like Deep Cover and Sister Act 2.

    Anna Trebunskaya: Dance champion and 11-time pro on “Dancing With The Stars.”

    Hosts: 

    J. Keith van Straaten

    Helen Hong

    Credits:

    Theme Song by Jonathan Green.

    Maximum Fun's Senior Producer is Laura Swisher.

    Co-Producer and Editor is Julian Burrell.

    Seeing our next live-audience shows in LA by YOU!
Previous quizzes
  • Alec Mapa, a dark-skinned man with black hair wearing a blazer and black glasses and Amy Hill, a white woman with short blond hair crossing her arms, smile at the camera
    May 3, 2025: Alec Mapa and Amy Hill
    Our celebrity panelists Alec Mapa and Amy Hill go head to head this week on their knowledge of the musical 'Gypsy' and the TV show 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.' Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Josefina López, a Latina woman wearing a read dress and turquoise necklace and Bruce Vilanch, a white man with long blond hair wearing bright red glasses, smile at camera
    April 26, 2025: Josefina López and Bruce Vilanch
    Our celebrity panelists Josefina López and Bruce Vilanch go head to head this week on their knowledge of the musical 'Miss Saigon' and the SS Andrea Doria. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:28
  • Tim Russ, a Black man with gray hair and beard and Amber Nelson, a white woman with long brown hair wearing a fuzzy purple sweater, smile at camera
    April 19, 2025: Tim Russ and Amber Nelson
    Our celebrity panelists Tim Russ and Amber Nelson go head to head this week on their knowledge of World War II and the TV show 'The Twilight Zone.' Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Cirroc Lofton, a Black man with bald head and beard and Betsy Brandt, a white woman with long brown hair, grasp hands and smile at camera
    April 12, 2025: Cirroc Lofton and Betsy Brandt
    Our celebrity panelists Cirroc Lofton and Betsy Brandt go head to head this week on their knowledge of Kobe Bryant-era Lakers championships and the plays of Anton Chekhov. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Jerry O'Connell, a white man and Mallory O'Meara, a woman with purple long hair, sitting at the judges table
    March 22, 2025: Jerry O'Connell and Mallory O'Meara
    Our celebrity panelists Jerry O'Connell and Mallory O'Meara go head to head this week on their knowledge of 80s music and werewolf movies. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:30
  • Sarah Jones, a dark-skinned woman, and Phil Rosenthal a light-skinned man with a beard hugging and smiling at the camera
    March 8, 2025: Sarah Jones and Phil Rosenthal
    Our celebrity panelists Sarah Jones and Phil Rosenthal go head to head this week on their knowledge of 1990s East Coast hip-hop and the TV show 'The Odd Couple.' Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Billy Gardell, a light-skinned man with glasses and wearing a brown hat and Gina Yashere, a dark-skinned woman wearing glasses and a purple and black sweater with her hand on her forehead at the judges table laughing
    March 1, 2025: Billy Gardell and Gina Yashere
    Our celebrity panelists Billy Gardell and Gina Yashere go head to head this week on their knowledge of the Pittsburgh Steelers and 1990s hip hop. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Jennifer Tilly, a white woman and Adam Savage, a white man with short gray hair and glasses, sitting at the judges table and laughing
    February 22, 2025: Jennifer Tilly and Adam Savage
    Our celebrity panelists Jennifer Tilly and Adam Savage go head to head this week on their knowledge of The Beatles and Raymond Chandler. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • A faint circle and line pattern black background with a circle icons that show a question mark, a brain icon, a microphone, and a lightbulb. The overlaying text reads, "Go Fact Yourself LIVE".
    February 8, 2025: Best of Football
    This week on Go Fact Yourself, it's our "Best of Football" special. Think you know your Super Bowl facts? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Drew Carey, a white man with a beard and glasses wearing a blue blazer and floral shirt and Yesika Salgado, a dark skinned woman with short dark hair and glasses wearing a bright pink sleeveless top and big jewel rings, looking at the camera and smiling
    February 1, 2025: Drew Carey and Yesika Salgado
    Our celebrity panelists Drew Carey and Yesika Salgado go head to head this week on their knowledge of garage rock and the film 'Dirty Dancing.' Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Denise Crosby, a white woman and Larry Wilmore, a Black man, smiling at the camera
    January 11, 2025: Denise Crosby and Larry Wilmore
    Our celebrity panelists Larry Wilmore and Denise Crosby go head to head this week on their knowledge of music from across the pond and swimming down the pool. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Ann-Margret, a white woman wearing glasses and a black top and Antonio Villaraigosa, a Hispanic man with gray hair wearing a navy suit jacket and white shirt, smiling at the camera
    January 4, 2025: Ann-Margret and Antonio Villaraigosa
    Our celebrity panelists Ann-Margret and Antonio Villaraigosa go head to head this week on their knowledge of the Raiders football team from the 1980s to the present and L.A. area restaurants. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:28
  • Cameron Esposito, a white woman wearing a t-shirt and Chris Grace, a dark-skinned man with a mustache wearing a green hoodie, smiling at the camera
    December 21, 2024: Cameron Esposito and Chris Grace
    Our celebrity panelists Cameron Esposito and Chris Grace go head to head this week on their knowledge of the TV series 'The L Word' and the podcast 'Never Not Funny.' Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:30
  • Cory Doctorow, a white man with glasses and Aida Rodriguez, a Hispanic woman with glasses, smiling at the camera at the panelist table
    December 14, 2024: Cory Doctorow and Aida Rodriguez
    Our celebrity panelists Cory Doctorow and Aida Rodriguez go head to head this week on their knowledge of Disney's Haunted Mansion ride and Prince's album, 'Purple Rain.' Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:28
  • Marc Summers, a white man and Michaela Watkins, a white woman with glasses, smiling behind microphones at the panelist table looking to the right with the LAist logo on the wall behind
    December 7, 2024: Marc Summers and Michaela Watkins
    Our celebrity panelists Marc Summers and Michaela Watkins go head to head this week on their knowledge of the talent competition TV show Star Search and pottery. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:28
  • Sherry Cola, an Asian woman, is giving a friendly headlock and noogie to Greg Proops, a white man with glasses, on the LAist stage with a blue textured background
    November 23, 2024: Greg Proops and Sherry Cola
    Our celebrity panelists Greg Proops and Sherry Cola go head to head this week on their knowledge of the 1980s San Francisco Giants and the film The Sweetest Thing. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:28
  • Barry Sonnenfeld, a white man with glasses and Jackie Tohn, a white woman, smiling at the camera on the panelist table
    November 16, 2024: Barry Sonnenfeld and Jackie Tohn
    Our celebrity panelists Barry Sonnefeld and Jackie Tohn go head to head this week on their knowledge of the Golden Oldies (or Olden Goldies) and Jewish food. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Josh McDermitt, a white man, looking off to the side and Sierra Katow, an Asian woman, smiling at the camera on the panelist table
    November 2, 2024: Josh McDermitt and Sierra Katow
    Our celebrity panelists Josh McDermitt and Sierra Katow go head to head this week on their knowledge of Kirk Gibson’s game-winning home run from Game one of the 1988 World Series and Season 3 of the animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Jen Kober and Taran Killam making sneering faces on the panelist table
    October 26, 2024: Jen Kober and Taran Killam
    Celebrities Taran Killam & Jen Kober go head to head this week on their knowledge of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and TV series Roseanne. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 50:29
  • Headshot of Lisa Ann Walter and Tre'vell Anderson
    October 12, 2024: Lisa Ann Walter and Tre'vell Anderson
    Celebrity panelists Lisa Ann Walter and Tre'vell Anderson go head to head this week on their knowledge of Sister Act 2 and ballroom dancing. Think you might know more than they do? Go Fact Yourself!
    Listen 54:01