Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

Today in 1983, the beginning of an unlikely peace mission: a visit to the Soviet Union by a 10 year old from Maine named Samantha Smith. Plus: a decade earlier, who should travel through the USSR on his way back from a gig but David Bowie?!? Samantha Smith, the fifth-grader from Maine who became "America's Littlest Diplomat" (CBS Sunday Morning) David Bowie Crossed the Soviet Union on the Trans-Siberian Express Train in 1973. Fascinating Photos Document a Historic Voyage (Artnet) Whatever country you're in, you can back this show today on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

The Soviet Union's paid time off system was different than the one we have today. The government sent many would-be tourists on group excursions with comrades from the local trade union - not friends or even family. Plus: a 17th century Massachusetts ship captain got in trouble with the Puritan authorities for kissing his wife. Workers of the World, Take PTO! (JSTOR) THOMAS KEMBLE, THE KISSING PURITAN (New England Historical Society) Backing us on Patreon is even easier than going on vacation --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1865 the US Secret Service formed to stamp out counterfeit money. As part of that effort, it has the International Ink Library, tens of thousands of vintage and modern inks to help investigators sort out what’s what. Plus: a vice president's kid chooses an unusual Secret Service code name. US Secret Service Laboratory Studies Ink to Solve Crimes (VOA News) Secret Service’s ink library helps agents foil kidnappings, counterfeiters (SFGATE) 11 Great Secret Service Code Names (TIME) It's no secret that our Patreon backers make this show possible, join them today --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today we celebrate our Independence Day! And on this show, we look at the efforts to protect the Declaration of Independence and our other founding documents even in the face of an alien invasion or a zombie apocalypse (or a less exciting but more realistic emergency). Plus, today in 1851, the start of an unusual 4th of July tradition: the Horribles Parade. How the Government Would Protect the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence During a Zombie Apocalypse (New York Magazine)  14 Fantastic Facts About the Fourth of July --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This month in 1973, a newspaper in California known as The Recycler started publishing. It was mostly a list of classified ads, but those ads have had a pretty big impact on music. Plus: the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma is hosting an exhibit called “Love Saves the Day: The Subterranean History of American Disco.” 10 Rock Classifieds That Changed Music History (LA Weekly)  Woody Guthrie Center opens new disco exhibit (FOX 23) Wanted: fans of this show to back us on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1952, the first TV episode of the soap opera Guiding Light. It was one of many hit shows led by a writer and producer sometimes called the “queen of soaps,” Irna Phillips. Plus: there was reportedly an attempt once to replace the ballgirls and ballboys of Wimbledon with dogs?!? Irna Phillips (Jewish Women's Archive) The Queen of Soaps Speaks…for Herself (Library of Congress) Bid to replace Wimbledon ball boys with dogs flopped as they didn't return them (Daily Star) Will this show succeed? Find out in our next exciting episode... or just back us on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1908, a team of students from Cleveland won a spelling title at the annual meeting of the National Education Association, thanks in part to a Black 14 year old named Marie C. Bolden. Plus: today in Lincoln, it might be the Nebraska Elvis Festival. Unless it isn't. Cleveland girl's spelling victory created racial controversy, national headlines in 1908 (Cleveland.com)  Nebraska Elvis Festival Spell success with us as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1877, President Rutherford B. Hayes got a phone installed at the White House. It's been used to make landmark deals, shape the course of world events, and even say hi to astronauts on the moon. And Lyndon Johnson infamously used that phone to talk to a tailor. Plus: today in 1491, the birthday of Henry VIII, who brought a personal locksmith with him when he was traveling. A clambake, slurs and phone sex: The long, strange history of presidential calls (Washington Post) THROWBACK THURSDAY: THE DINING HALL We're calling on you to back our show on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today is National Onion Day. For a very brief time in the 1970s, the preeminent fast food chain on Earth thought the onion might be its pathway to bigger sales. Here's the story of the McDonald's Onion Nugget. Plus: a museum exhibit in Chicago is paying tribute to a famous museum souvenir! When McDonald’s Tried to Make Onion Nuggets Happen (Mental Floss)  Mold-A-Rama - Molded for the Future (MSI Chicago) You can make more episodes of this show happen as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1995 was a strange day in Royal Oak, Michigan. It’s the day authorities had to stop a 17 year old who had been trying to construct a working nuclear reactor at home. Plus: today in 1909, the birthday of Elvis's controversial manager Colonel Tom Parker, The Radioactive Boy Scout (Harpers)  That Time a Teenager Built a Nuclear Reactor in His Backyard (Today I Found Out) The Colonel: The Extraordinary Story of Colonel Tom Parker and Elvis Presley by Alanna Nash  Help us build this show as a backer on Patreon - no nuclear material necessary! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1917, another milestone in the one-of-a-kind baseball career of Babe Ruth: he pitched part of a combined no-hitter, even if he didn’t exactly do the lion’s share of the work. Plus: in Lake City, Minnesota, it’s day two of Water Ski Days.  Babe Ruth made history with help from Ernie Shore (Baseball Hall of Fame) Water Ski Days  You'll always be a hit as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Summer heat can leave a lot of us heading inside and cranking up the air conditioner. And yet, if you look at the history of this invention, you’ll find quite a few times where people said, are we sure this is a good idea? Plus: today in 2019, the Tobe Zoo in Japan held a lion escape drill using a human in a lion costume as the escapee. The Unexpected History of the Air Conditioner (Smithsonian)  Japanese zoo staff chase furry fake lion in escape drill --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1788, New Hampshire became the ninth state to ratify the Constitution, which put the document into effect across the US. That’s one notable fact about the Granite State, and here’s another one: a dog once climbed all 48 of the state’s 4,000 foot high mountains. Plus: a new invention uses a special sensor embedded in the zipper of a pair of pants to let you know when your fly is down. Pug deemed ‘too hyper’ channels energy into mountain climbing — and breaks barriers (Fort Worth Star-Telegram) Man Invents App That Tells Him When His Fly Is Down (Neatorama) Keep on climbing with our show as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Ten years ago today, a resort in Mt. Nebo, West Virginia dedicated a lighthouse. Which was really something, because West Virginia is landlocked. Plus: this week, Hampton, South Carolina is hosting the Hampton County Watermelon Festival. The reason why landlocked WV has a lighthouse (WVTourism) Hampton County Watermelon Festival Help build this show as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

There are lots of traditions that come with Juneteenth, like the foods and drinks that end up on the table at Juneteenth parties. A lot of these refreshments include the color red, and that’s on purpose. Plus, confectionary marvel Amaury Guichon celebrates becoming a US citizen by making an enormous chocolate Statue of Liberty. My Juneteenth Table (The Spruce Eats) A Brief History of Red Drink (Smithsonian) Statue of Liberty modeled in chocolate (Langweile Dichnet) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today we have a pro tip for you if you’ve got any heavy lifting in your near future: research says it's good for your health if you keep it positive! Plus: this weekend in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, a festival that celebrates two of the area’s most beloved summer treats: the Bell Buckle RC Cola and Moon Pie Festival. Your thoughts can harm your neck and back during lifting tasks (Ohio State University)  RC Cola-MoonPie Festival Lift this show up as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1836, Arkansas became the 25th state in the Union. It’s one of just a handful of states whose names sound different than they’re spelled. And if you’re wondering why it’s pronounced Arkan-saw instead of Ar-kansas, well, that’s what we’re here to explain. Plus: today is the second day of the Le Mars, Iowa Ice Cream Days.  How Did Arkansas Get its Name (Arkansas Secretary of State)  Why Arkansas Is Never Pronounced 'Ar-Kansas' (HowStuffWorks) Le Mars, IA Ice Cream Days Our Patreon backers help bring our show to every state in the country and all around the world --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

It's Flag Day here in the US, and a good time to tell the story of the American flag that led to the writing of what is now our national anthem. Plus: in 2017, the community of Pocatello, Idaho raised a new flag to widespread relief, since its old flag had been called the ugliest in the country!  The Star-Spangled Banner (National Museum of American History)  East Idaho City Ditches 'Worst Flag In North America' (Boise State Public Radio) Fly the flag for this show as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1922, a guy named Charles Osborne had an accident with a very unusual side effect: it gave him the hiccups for nearly seven decades. Plus: around this time in 2021 some travelers planned a trip to a spot well off the beaten path.  A Cure for Hiccups? Retired Farmer Charles Osborne Isn't Holding His Breath—He's Had Them for 60 Years (People) Anthon's Charles Osborne had hiccups for 68 years straight (Sioux City Journal) People Are Spending About $2,000 to Visit an Uninhabitable Scottish Island for 20 Minutes (Travel + Leisure via Archive.org) There are no hiccups in making our show, thanks to our Patreon backers --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Happy belated National Knitting In Public Day. Hopefully it’s not too late to tell the story of how knitters have turned their abilities into secret codes to help their countries. Plus: today in 2020, explorer Vanessa O’Brien made a submersible dive to the spot in the Pacific Ocean known as Challenger Deep. Since she had already climbed to the top of Mount Everest, she became the first woman to reach the highest spot on Earth and the lowest spot on Earth.  On the Covert Role of Knitting During the French Revolution and World War II (Lit Hub) Mountaineer Vanessa O'Brien Has Reached The Highest And Lowest Points On Earth --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support