Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson

Today in 1924, another one of these early Olympic events that went way off the rails: a very difficult and very strange mens’ cross country race. Plus: today in 1968, the Navy pays tribute to Dexter, its very last working horse. The Book of Olympic Lists by David Wallechinsky and ‎Jaime Loucky Dexter, the US Navy's last working horse, is buried in Philly (Philadelphia Inquirer) Help our show s...

It's National Swimming Pool Day, so here’s a story of a guy who had to get into the pool: Dick Roth, who won an Olympic gold medal while trying to fend off appendicitis. Plus: today in 1959, the birthday of Suzanne Vega. Her fans once parsed through the lyrics of the song "Tom's Diner" to figure out when the singer-songwriter actually sat in the cafe drinking coffee and reading t...

Today in 1909, the brothers Abernathy, ages five and eight, started a 1,300 mile trip - on horseback, unsupervised - from Oklahoma to New Mexico and back. The next year they got back on their horses to ride to New York to see their dad's pal, Teddy Roosevelt. Plus: Envision Art Gallery in Wichita, Kansas may be the first art museum meant for blind artists and art lovers.  Ultimate free-range k...

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 o...

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...

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 librar...

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 Con...

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...

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 re...

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 El...

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,...

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 Futur...

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: Th...

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

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) ...

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...

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

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 (Sm...

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 Unive...

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 Ark...

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...

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 hiccup...

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 re...

World Doll Day is tomorrow. And while the world has lots of amazing and well-loved dolls, there aren’t many like the 18th Century automata known as The Writer. Plus: today in 1928, the birthday of author and artist Maurice Sendak, who once sent a very tasty message to a young fan. Remarkable 240-Year-Old Doll Automaton Can Write Actual Programmable Text (My Modern Met) Maurice Sendak and childhood...

Today we’re looking at a new kind of solar project from Swiss company Sun-Ways, which is putting energy-generating panels in a new spot: in between train tracks. Plus: starting today in Peru, Indiana, it’s the Cole Porter Festival. Switzerland is turning the gap between train tracks into a ‘solar carpet’  (Fast Company) Cole Porter Festival Shine a light on this show as a backer on Patreon