Trivia Tangents

Trivia Tangents

Trivia Tangents is your go-to edutainment podcast! Host Lina Osofsky quizzes friends on their unique interests, careers, and hobbies—turning everyday passions into fascinating trivia deep dives. From history and psychology to pop culture, no topic is off-limits. With a rotating crew of guests bringing wildly different interests, each episode is enlightening and entertaining. Tune in weekly to laugh, learn, and gather fun facts for your next trivia night!

Episodes

August 21, 2025 51 mins

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 mom, Oolong the mischievous troublemak...

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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 California’s. Whether you’re a wine lover, a tri...

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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. 

Special guest Lauren joins to spill opin...

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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, geek out over flavor profiles, and ge...

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July 10, 2025 16 mins

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 31)

  • Ultimate Freaky Friday trivia (...

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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 wild mental and physical ride. Hannah ...

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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 actually feels like to hit a bullseye w...

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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 ceremonial grade actually ceremonial....

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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 and joys of finding the perfect pickl...

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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 is off-limits. So tune in and get r...

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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.

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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 bizarre rich people antics to social med...

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Palm trees are as iconic to Los Angeles as the Hollywood sign—but what if we told you most of them don’t even belong here? In this episode of Learned in Trivia, Lina and special guest Misia dive into the fascinating world of palm trees in LA. Misia shares her experiences living in the city while getting quizzed on trivia about native palm species and LA’s leafy impostors.

The girls who google dig into the historical roots of palm pl...

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Ready to unlock the royal secrets behind Disney's most beloved heroines? In this episode, Lina and Alissa dive into the enchanted world of Disney Princesses.


We'll explore the fascinating history of all 13 official Disney Princesses, from Snow White's debut in 1937 to the modern-day royalty. Discover which beloved characters surprisingly didn't make the official princess lineup and why. Get insider knowledge abou...

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Ever wonder where the term 420 came from? The real story might surprise you…

This special Look Back episode revisits Learned in Trivia’s debut from May 2024, diving into the origins of "420"—who started it, why it stuck, and how it grew into a globally recognized cannabis holiday. Bay Area natives Lina and Alissa share their hot takes on stoner culture, plus a surprising connection between Taylor Swift’s latest album, TTPD...

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Ever wondered what really goes on behind the sleek storefronts of lululemon? In this episode, former lululemon educators Lina and Alissa spill all the insider tea—from the slightly concerning history of the brand’s name to the secret perks employees got (hello, free leggings!). They break down the bizarre store policies, including the magic words to get a product replaced, and share their craziest customer stories (yes, someone rea...

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Have you ever wondered what makes a pop princess? This episode Lina and Alissa dive into the world of hit-makers like Britney Spears' iconic "Oops!," Taylor Swift's chart-dominating anthems, Christina Aguilera's powerhouse vocals, Sabrina Carpenter's catchy tunes, and Tate McRae's dance-floor bangers.

Get ready for a musical journey that proves these queens don't just make music - they make history!...

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The Eras Tour may have come to a close, but the trivia fun is just beginning! Swiftie Lina (who ranked in the top 0.5% of Taylor Swift listeners on Spotify) puts Alissa to the test with the ultimate Eras Tour quiz. From surprise songs and costume variations to the literal seismic activity of theSwift Quake, they break down the tour’s massive cultural impact.

Get ready to learn how Roman mythology influenced the choreography and visu...

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February 4, 2025 51 mins

From marching bands to music superstars, join Alissa and Lina as they explore how Super Bowl halftime shows became America's biggest musical event. The hosts break down their favorite performances, share surprising behind-the-scenes stories, and reveal how these massive productions come together. Learn what makes these 15-minute shows so special and why millions tune in each year, even if they don't care about football.

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In this episode, Alissa and Lina celebrate their first year of podcasting by reflecting on their favorite trivia moments from 2024. They revisit topics like the truth behind 420, OJ Simpson’s connection to reality TV, In-N-Out Burger facts, and the evolution of parkour—all while exploring how trivia can spark deeper conversations and make learning fun. From cultural phenomena to quirky insights, the duo reflects on the growth of th...

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