Miss Information: A Trivia Podcast

Hi all! No, we don't have a new Miss Info for you all (so sorry), but we do have a new project from Lauren and our podcast brother Neal from Triviality. It's called Curated by Chance and each episode, Lauren and Neal harness the power of a randomizing algorithm named Chance to generate unique prompts that drive their discussions.  From exploring the unexpected intersections between film and visual art to dissecting the curious ways randomness shapes artistic expression, this dynamic duo invites listeners to ponder the influence of chance in the creative process. We hope that you enjoy this fun new podcast!

Hello! Bonjour! Hej! (You didn't think we'd just let a Eurovision pass without recording our thoughts about it, right?) Join Julia and Lauren for a recap of this year's Eurovision Song Contest 2024 hosted in Malmö, Sweden. (Big shout out to Baby Lasagna and Croatia's best-ever result at Eurovision--Čestitamo!) Later, take a quiz called "Breaking the Code." P.S. Keep your eyes and ears peeled for some fun news on the horizon! . . . [Music: 1) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license. 2) Xylo-Ziko, "Code," 2022. Courtesy of Xylo-Ziko, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license.]

It's the most wonderful tiiiiime of the yeeeeear! We take a break from our hiatus to bring you our annual recap of the Eurovision Song Contest. Julia and Lauren have Some Thoughts about this year's entrants, and we hope you do too. Later, enjoy some questions from "I Wrote a Quiz (Postcards from the Edge)." . . . [Music: 1) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

For our season 2 finale, please join us on a sequel to everyone's favorite multisensory podcast experience: CHEESEALONG, Part Deux! To eat along with us as you learn, you will want to procure: Gjetost, Roquefort, smoked (or unsmoked) pepper jack, and Parmigiano Reggiano. [We also recommend some fresh or dried fruit, jam, crackers, and nuts to round out your cheese plate.] We're going on a sweet, salty, spicy, umami journey today. Later, your hosts squeeze in some other trivia topics they intended to cover this season [... but didn't]. Thank you so much to our lovely listeners and supporters for the last five (!) years, and all the best for a wonderful 2023 from Lauren and Julia! . . . [Music: 1) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

Today, learn all about an accomplished female Mexican surrealist (--no, not that one). In this episode, Lauren paints a portrait of Remedios Varo, and later, gives us a quiz about artist’s biopics! . . . [Music: 1) Meydän, "Surreal Forest," 2018. Courtesy of Meydän, CC BY 4.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

What was your first job at age 16? Was it... A) bagging groceries, B) making pizzas, C) babysitting, or D) driving an automobile (that you would repair yourself when it broke down) across five continents while filming your journey for travelogue movies? This episode, Julia shines a headlight on the incredible Aloha Wanderwell, "the world's most traveled girl." Later, take a quiz called "Baby, You Can Drive My Car!" . . . [Music: 1) Springtide, "Driving A Blue Car," 2021. Courtesy of Springtide, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license. 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.] . Check out the dedicated website, run by her grandson, here: https://www.alohawanderwell.com/

Haven’t you ever just wanted to shut yourself away with all of your books and collectibles and piles of newspapers and old food...? Well, today’s episode is for you! Lauren walks us through the weird and wild world of a few infamous "urban hermits." Later, take a quiz on some other famous eccentrics! . . . [Music: 1) HoliznaCC0, "Recluse," 2022. Courtesy of HoliznaCC0; 02) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

Are you smarter than the av-ah-ridge bear? Don't touch that dial-- Julia tells the animated tale of Hanna-Barbera Cartoons, Inc. and sketches out some original Hanna-Barbera Characters You Should Know. Later, take a quiz called "Spin to Win!" . . . [Music: 1) Chase Alan Willis, "Cartoon Faced," 2016. Courtesy of Chase Alan Willis, CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

You may have read some (or all!) of her books, but what's the deal with the famous teenage sleuth, Nancy Drew? Learn all about her on today's episode -- and later, take a quiz about famous fictional teens! . . . [Music: 1) The Crypts!, "Teenager," 2016. Courtesy of The Crypts!, CC BY 4.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

The WNBA season may have just concluded, but all the more reason for us to cover one of the top professional women's sports leagues in the world. Julia takes you courtside for a look at the league's history, teams, and players you should know. Later, take a quiz called "She Got Game!" . . . [Music: 1) Alex Gross, "Tailgate," 2013. Courtesy of Alex Gross, CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

[We’re] comin' out … with a brand new episode about the legendary Ms. Diana Ross and her long and storied career. Later, take a quiz about animal babies! . . . [Music: 1) William Ross Chernoff's Nomads, "Four-Way," 2017. Courtesy of William Ross Chernoff's Nomads, CC-BY 4.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

Let's journey across the pond to learn all about the Bloomsbury Group-- a sordid literary and artistic crew who "lived in squares, painted in circles, and loved in triangles." [They make the Algonquin Round Table seem like a bunch of amateurs.] But our REAL focus is on feminist author Virginia Woolf. Later, enjoy a quiz called "In Bloom"! . . . [Music: 1) Jahzzar, "Bloom," 2018. Courtesy of Jahzzar, CC BY-SA license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

Nowadays, the Fox Sisters get a bad rap-- but that wasn't always the case! Lauren tells the tale of Maggie and Kate Fox, two Western New Yorkers who sparked the Spiritualism movement in America by "communicating" with the dead. Later, take a quiz on ghosts! . . . [Music: 1) 8bit Betty, "Spooky Loop," 2010. Courtesy of 8bit Betty, CC BY-NC 3.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

Um, what exactly ARE those super expensive lumps hailed as "the diamond of the kitchen"? Julia hunts down all the information on truffles that you'll ever need [and maybe make you a little bit hungry in the process]. Later, take a quiz called "Truffle Shuffle"! . . . [Music: 1) Rod Hamilton, "Mushroom," 2013. Courtesy of Rod Hamilton, CC BY-NC 3.0 license; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

This one's for all the art photographers out there. Today, Lauren dips into 20th century art history with a glimpse into the life and work of the great photographer Diane Arbus ( ... no fur involved). Later, however, take a quiz on furry things! . . . [Music: 1) Georgii Cherkin, "Für Elise," 2008, orig. composed by Ludwig van Beethoven; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

Barbra Streisand is so much more than a singer-- in fact, she's the youngest person ever to have EGOTed, and she completed the feat in the shortest amount of time. [... But we're getting ahead of ourselves!] Join us as Julia recaps Babs' life, loves, career, and undeniable talent. Later, enjoy a quiz called "Don't Rain on My Parade!" . . . [Music: 1) Duck Sauce, "Barbra Streisand," 2010; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

She was a powerhouse voice and a temperamental diva, but do you know the truth behind one of the greatest opera singers who ever lived? Today, Lauren takes you on a musical journey featuring La Divina herself: Maria Callas. Later, take a quiz on famous Greeks! . . . [Music: 1) Maria Callas, "Casta Diva," from Bellini's Norma, 1958; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

History class is back in session! This week, Julia recaps five notable rebellious events from the 18th and 19th century America. [Look, the colonists didn't fight for independence from the British just to have all their alcohol taxed, okay?] Later, take a quiz called "... WITH a Cause." . . . [Music: 1) David Bowie, "Rebel Rebel," 1974; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]

Dearest listeners, you didn't think we would let the EUROVISION SONG CONTEST 2022 happen without an entire episode of Miss Information devoted to the competition, did you? Julia and Lauren do their best Johnny Weir [and Graham Norton] impressions on this year's entries, give you the highlights, and once again remind you why it's worth your attention every year. Let us know which country would have gotten your twelve points in 2022!

We've all been there-- one minute, you're searching for a video on how to change a light fixture, and the next thing you know, you've been watching makeup tutorials and music videos for five hours straight. Though YouTube may have started with a mere trip to the zoo, it has been entertaining people (and launching talent) since 2005. Let Ben Kirk take you on a journey through the most popular YouTube videos of all time-- and take a trip down memory lane! Later on, take a delightful quiz called "YouTubers That You Goobers Should Know." . . . [Music: 1) Gabe Bondoc, "(I've Got a Crush on a) YouTube Star," 2008; 2) Frau Holle, “Ascending Souls,” 2017. Courtesy of Frau Holle, CC BY-NC 3.0 license.]