Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson

We're replaying shows about some of the books we loved as kids. In this episode from January 2022, the story of Winnie the Pooh, who got his name from a real Winnie the Bear and a real Pooh, which was not a bear. Plus: a book by photographer Jessica Wynne features images of more than 100 chalkboards by math professors. The True Story of the Real-Life Winnie-the-Pooh  (History.com) 90 weird and...

Around this time in 2020, students on New Hampshire’s Seacoast did a project that they sent out into the wider world. But they maybe didn't realize quite how far it was going to go. Plus: a guy at a superhero costume party ends up living the gimmick for a night. 'Magical': Norway 6th-grader finds Rye students' mini boat launched in 2020 (Portsmouth Herald) Man dressed as Batman pur...

Today in 1959, Ohio officially adopted its first state motto in close to a century. And it only shed its motto-less form because of a very determined ten year old. Today in 2008, Maryland declared walking to be its official state exercise. New Ohio Motto From The New Testament (The Tablet via Newspapers.com)  Maryland State Exercise - Walking Ask listeners for support on Patreon and they’ll provid...

Today in 1905, the birthday of Bobby Pearce, an Olympic rowing champion who won fame and acclaim not just for winning but for the way he won… which was just ducky. Plus: for Extra Virgin Olive Oil Day, a visit to Monte Testacchio, a hill in Rome with an unusual olive oil connection.  Bobby Pearce : The Gentleman's Gold (BBC) Mount OF AMPHORAE    Duck on over to our Patreon page so you can supp...

For National Goose Day, the story of the goose barnacle myth, in which people who hadn't seen goose nests or goose eggs concluded that goose must be growing on trees or emerging out of barnacles on driftwood. Plus: today in 2020, a news report in the UK about a group of parrots who found an odd way to pass their time in quarantine. Science, Superstition and the Goose Barnacle (Shorelines) Parr...

Today in 2024, Dr. Shane Naidoo finished a half marathon quite a bit after every other runner on the course. But, then, he had a really good reason for coming in after everybody else. Plus: today in 1935, another amazing rescue in New Jersey, involving a ten year old boy and a show dog. A doctor saved a runner’s life during a Jersey City half marathon. Then he finished the race. (NJ.com) Champion...

Today in 1768, the birthday of Gottfried Mind, a Swiss artist who won acclaim for his drawings of cats. He probably would have done well here in the Internet age. Plus: tomorrow in Williamsburg, Virginia, it’s the World Pancake Eating Championship. Gottfried Mind, The Raphael of Cats (Public Domain Review) World Pancake Eating Championship   Do what Business Cat probably would have done, and back...

Around this time in 2013, Reader’s Digest magazine published findings on a big question: if you accidentally dropped your wallet somewhere, would a typical person take what was inside, or would they try to get it back to you? Plus: today in 2019, an author and farmer tells the story of a lost item with the best and happiest ending. Most Honest Cities: The Reader’s Digest “Lost Wallet” Test (Reader...

Today in 1846, a German astronomer spotted a body orbiting the Sun that we now know as Neptune… and the reason he was looking for an eighth planet had a lot to do with the seventh planet. Plus: this Saturday in New York, it’s the Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest.  Planet Neptune is discovered (History.com) Saratoga Giant PumpkinFest   Don’t space out, back our podcast today on Patreon

Today in 1964, the birthday of the first person to ever win both an Olympic medal and Paralympic medals: fencing champion Pál Szekeres. Plus: ahead of World Rivers Day, we visit a river in northern China that's about as narrow as a river can get. “Maybe fencing and my accident made me a better person” – Szekeres (World Parafencing) The World’s Narrowest River Is Only a Few Centimeters Wide (Od...

Today in 1897, the New York Sun newspaper published the "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" editorial. We'll explain who Virginia was. Plus: on the birthday of comedian and actor Dave Coulier, we celebrate the amazing Tumblr account “The Same Picture of Dave Coulier Every Day.”  The Santa Letter That Made an Eight-Year-Old a Celebrity (New Yorker) The mad genius behind Tumblr’s ‘...

Today in 1947, the birthday of the United States Air Force. It’s had some pretty amazing pilots over the years, and some pretty amazing planes. Plus, one really, really loud one, known as the Republic XF-84H or "Thunderscreech." Plus: starting today in De Pere, Wisconsin, it’s the Wisconsin Arborist Association Tree Climbing Championship.  Republic XF-84H (National Museum of the United S...

Today in 1800, the birthday of John Bentinck, 5th Duke of Portland and one of the 19th Century’s true eccentrics, given his years of digging massive tunnels to his apparent need to avoid just about everyone he could. Plus: for National Pet Bird Day, the story of Puck, who set the world record for the largest vocabulary in bird history. Biography of William John Cavendish-Bentinck-Scott, 5th Duke o...

Today in 1977, Billy Carter, the brother of then-president Jimmy Carter, told the world he was going to be the namesake of a new line of beer. We'll explain why this became a big deal for a little while. Plus: congrats to the two winners of a prestigious digging contest recently organized by the Hungarian Association of Cemetery Maintainers and Operators. Presidential sibling Billy Carter gets...

Today in 2017, Port Allegany, Pennsylvania dedicated Serenity Glass Park, which pays tribute to the town's long history in making glass blocks. Plus: today in 2024, police in Bedford, Ohio responded to a call involving an eight year old and a car that she apparently took to the store (?) Serenity Glass Park sparkles with the ‘true character’ of its community (Community Media Group)  8-year-old...

Today in 1787, in the closing days of the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, George Washington attended a dinner party with 55 old war buddies and dozens and dozens of bottles of booze. Plus: today in 1716, the first lighting of the first lighthouse in what is now the United States. The epic bender to celebrate George Washington and the newly finished U.S. Constitution (Washington Post) Li...

Today many of us are paying tribute to those taken from us by that horrible tragedy 25 years ago. And we’re saying thanks to those who worked so hard to help others at the time, including a group of city workers who managed to find and save a tree from the World Trade Center site that’s now known as the “Survivor Tree.”  Survivor Tree Seedling Program (9/11 Memorial) 

Today in 1976, a memo at the White House that shows just how specific a request can get when it involves the President of the United States and/or jeans. Plus: starting today in Nevada, it’s the Great Basin Astronomy Festival. Memo re Levi Jeans (Ford Library)  Great Basin Astronomy Festival   Our memo is a reminder that you can support this show for just $1 a month on Patreon

On this day in 1828, at least in the modern calendar, the birthday of Leo Tolstoy. He’s become one of the biggest names in literature, but but his contribution to the food world deserves a little attention too, especially the Tolstoy family recipe for macaroni and cheese. Plus: starting Friday in Illinois, it’s the Arcola Broomcorn Festival. Leo Tolstoy’s Macaroni and Cheese Recipe (1874) (Flashba...

Today is National Ants On A Log Day. Ants are famous for their dedication and perseverance, but research shows that some worker ants don’t really do all that much work. Plus: this weekend in North Conway, New Hampshire, it’s the Mud Bowl. 40% of Worker Ants Are Actually Lazy Slackers, But They Have Their Reasons (Science Alert) Mud Bowl Backing our show on Patreon makes a big difference but doesn’...

If you’re taking a break from your usual hard work today, well that’s kind of the point. Though you could also mark Labor Day the way thousands of people in Michigan do, with a very long walk across a very large bridge. Plus: each Labor Day weekend, Crisfield, Maryland hosts the National Hard Crab Derby. The First Walk Across the Mackinac Bridge (Northern Michigan History) 79th National Hard Crab...

We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from September 2021, a parent in Sweden rises to an unbelievable occasion when she runs into a burning house to save all six of her children. Plus: Princeton research shows hummingbirds can see a huge range of colors, including ultraviolet colors that human eyes can’t spot. Emma, ​​30: I saved my six children...

We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from August 2023, when the luxury cruise ship Oceanos sank, the people who made sure everyone made it to safety were the ship’s musicians. Plus: a guy with a record-long last name has a spelling complaint. The guitarist who saved hundreds of people on a sinking cruise liner  (BBC) What’s In A Name? 666 Letter...

We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from January 2021, Muhammad Ali, who had been a hero to millions inside the ring, became a hero outside it, by convincing a man on the side of building not to jump. If you or someone you know may be considering suicide, there is help : contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or  https:...

We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from December 2022, a British sailor competing in a race around the world decided that winning the race wasn’t as important as helping a fellow sailor who was in trouble. Plus: a food writer announces that she has gustatory synesthesia, and essentially can taste what she sees. HOW WE MET: PETE GOSS AND RAPHAE...