

Puzzling The Puzzle Master on The Puzzler
Aug 2, 2025
Mike Pesca, the witty host of The Gist and puzzle aficionado, joins A.J. Jacobs for a lively romp through playful puzzles and puns. They dive into cultural trivia, exploring humorous connections between literary classics and quirky fruits. The duo skillfully blends wordplay with societal musings, like the quirks of daylight savings time. From fish-themed names to clever product placements in songs, this conversation is packed with laughs and intellectual banter that will keep listeners guessing and giggling.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Pesca Means Peach, Not Fish
- Mike Pesca noted his last name "Pesca" means peach, not fish, in Italian, contrasting common assumptions.
- This inspired playful puns combining fruit and fish themes in puzzles.
Mike Pesca's Jeopardy Anecdote
- Mike Pesca shared his Jeopardy experience, including forgetting his glasses and a crucial mistake on Final Jeopardy.
- He crossed out the correct answer Streisand, costing him points but also joked he was ahead of his time with Will Smith.
Common 'J' Names Insight
- J is an uncommon consonant but the most common first letter of men's names due to names like Jack, John, and James.
- This explains the high prevalence of presidents named James.