The title refers to the Hubbert Peak theory, which states that oil production in any given area or field will follow a bell shaped curve: starting slowly and increasing as more reserves are discovered and tapped, eventually reaching a peak and then declining, as the last of the finite amount of oil present will be increasingly difficult to extract.
Apopos is an organization that trains giant pouched rats to detect landmines and tuberculosis. These rats are endemic to the sub-Sahara region of Africa. No harm comes to these animals in their work.
Josh (Bradley Whitford) makes a reference to 'rats of an unusual size.' In the movie The Princess Bride (1987), Rodents of Unusual Size attack Wesley and Buttercup in the Fire Swamp.
The way Annabeth helps Toby improve on his press briefings is remarkably similar to the way Glenda helps Elphaba during the musical number "Popular" in the Broadway musical "Wicked." Both Annabeth and Glenda were played by Kristin Chenoweth.