Cool Weird Awesome with Brady Carlson

Today in 1882 author A.A. Milne was born. His most famous character, Winnie the Pooh, was named partly for a real bear who lived at the London Zoo. And yes, the real Winnie had a sweet tooth as well. Plus: the new book "Do Not Erase" features the artistic side of math professor's chalkboards.  The True Story of the Real-Life Winnie-the-Pooh (History.com) 90 weird and wonderful facts about Win...

On this Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, we look at how music legend Stevie Wonder and his song "Happy Birthday" helped raise awareness in the effort to create a national holiday in Dr. King's honor.  Signed, Sealed, Delivered: How Stevie Wonder Fought—and Won—for MLK Day (VH1) Flashback: Stevie Wonder Sings ‘Happy Birthday’ at 1986 Martin Luther King Jr. Tribute (Rolling Stone)

Traffic jams are becoming more and more common on the roads heading to ski country. A new app called Treadshare could help people carpool to and from the mountains. Plus: this weekend in Ely, Nevada, the Fire & Ice Winter Festival brings fireworks to the coldest part of the year.  Can carpooling help congestion on I-70? (Vail Daily) Fire & Ice Winter Festival (Travel Nevada)  We'...

Today in 1968 Johnny Cash recorded “At Folsom Prison." Today it's arguably his most acclaimed album ever, but it only came about as a last resort. Plus: musician Andy Thorn recently gave a concert to a very different kind of audience. Johnny Cash’s ‘At Folsom Prison’ at 50: An Oral History (Rolling Stone) The Fox and the Banjo (The Awesomer) Our Patreon backers are the ones who make all of our per...

Today in 1961, the Chicago Cubs announced they wouldn't hire a manager for the new season, and would instead use a rotating "College" of coaches. You can probably guess how well that worked out. Plus: the Author Clock shows you the time not simply as a set of numbers, but as part of a quote from a well-known book. P.K. Wrigley and the College of Coaches (The Hardball Times) The literature clock te...

Today in 1880 was the birthday of Washington Phillips, a musician who made some astonishing music in the 1920s, but we know very little about his life and his music - we aren't even completely sure what instrument he played. Plus: if you're looking for a new career path, why not become a pizza butler?  Exhuming the Legend of Washington Phillips (MinerMusic.com)  Some Of Us Are Haunted By...

Today in 1992, the Pacific Ocean filled up with rubber duckies, thanks to a storm that knocked some shipping containers off a cargo boat. We'll explain how the Friendly Floatees went from accidental oceangoers to the stuff of movies and picture books. Plus: today in 1976, C.W. McCall's "Convoy" hit #1 on the Billboard chart, telling the story of a trucker with the CB handle Rubber Duck.  The...

In early 1970 President Richard Nixon introduced new uniforms for the guards at the White House - European-style suits that Americans mocked as looking like they were better off for movie ushers or marching bands. Plus: today in 1978, the birthday of Emilio Marcos Palma, the first person born in Antarctica. Pomp and Circumstance (Nixon Library) A Brief History of Antarctica (TIME) Our Patreon back...

Today in 1706 was, at least by the old calendar, Benjamin Franklin's birthday. Here's the story of how he once invented his own musical instrument, one for which great composers wrote music. Plus: Ben Franklin invented lots of things but patented none of them.  Benjamin Franklin's Glass Armonica (Franklin Institute) Ben Franklin’s Killer Instrument: The Glass Armonica (Ripley's) 11 Surprising...

The start of a new year can be time for us to get going on our goals, start moving forward. Then again, maybe it’s better to wait a little. That was the attitude of the Procrastinators’ Club of America, a real organization that for decades promoted the benefits of putting things off. Plus: today in 1895, Jeannette Piccard was born, the first woman to fly to the stratosphere.  The art of keepi...

This daily podcast is like a study group for trivia players. So today we're going to give you some trivia about the word trivia! Plus: today in 2010, the opening of the Burj Khalifa, a building so tall that at the top you can see the sun even when it’s dark at the bottom. trivia (n.) (Online Etymology Dictionary) Where Does the Word 'Trivia' Come From? (Merriam-Webster) Dubai Burj Khalifa: Ramadan...

Around this time in 2003, the Science Museum of Virginia in Richmond introduced a new attraction: a 29 ton globe that people can push around. Here's a look at the mechanics behind Kugel Balls. Plus: an automaker adds a QR with a classic meme to one of its new vehicles.  Very Richmond #9: Grand Kugel at Science Museum of Virginia (Richmond on the James)  Toyota Literally Rickrolled the Wo...

This was a bonus episode of Cool Weird Awesome for the people who make the show possible! It was exclusive to them until January 1,  2023.   One of the classic changes people try to make at this time of year,  for better or for worse, is trying to cut calories. But what are calories,  exactly, and where did the measurement come from? Plus: a new year’s  tradition that’s pe...

Our last show of the year is about the Plock, a very unique clock that doesn’t so much tell the time as it writes the time out. Plus: outside of the Idaho statehouse in Boise, the annual Potato Drop is taking place to mark the end of the year.  This clock writes the time (Insider via YouTube) Potato Drop 'excited' to be back in person to ring in 2022 (KTVB) Our Patreon backers get an exclusiv...

Polish designer Iga Węglińska has a new way to help us stay in touch with our emotions: she's created clothes that will respond when we get stressed out. Plus: in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, the annual PeepsFest is underway. Emotional Clothing responds to the wearer's changes in stress levels (Dezeen) PeepsFest returning to SteelStacks (WFMZ) Our Patreon backers always fill us with good feelings, joi...

Today in 1912 was the birthday of John Milkovisch, who took tens of thousands of old beer cans and turned them into aluminum siding and decorations for his house in Houston, Texas. The Beer Can House is now a local landmark. Plus: an 8 year old in Glasgow wins an award for having the messiest room in the UK.  A Man’s 6-Pack Can Serve as His Castle (The New York Times) Beer Can House History (...

Iowa became a state today in 1846. And in the 23rd Century, the community of Riverside, Iowa is supposed to see the birth of Captain James T. Kirk from "Star Trek." Here's how the town made itself part of future history. Plus: artist Faig Ahmed's colorful rugs have familiar forms, at least until you see the ends.  Star Trek historians headline the 34th Trekfest in Riverside (Little Village Ma...

"Rust: The Art Gallery" is in Manchester, England, and it showcases the artistic effects of rust and deterioration, as curated by artist and longtime rust connoisseur Stephen Raw. Plus: two French artists create a set of geometric shapes on special paper that can ignite into what look like mini fireworks shows.  This Gallery Is Dedicated to the Aesthetic Joys of Rust (Hyperallergic) Incendiar...

Every Christmas Eve, at 6pm, the people of Abbadia San Salvatore in Italy light pyramids of wood called fiaccole they they've carefully collected and stacked for weeks. On what's one of the coldest and darkest nights of the year, the work together to celebrate with heat and light for everyone. Plus: the story of an annual gift comedian Steve Harvey gave to a teacher who had something to say about...

The history of Christmas cards has taken some strange turns over the years, but maybe none stranger than when Surrealist icon Salvador Dalí made Christmas cards for Hallmark. Plus: Australia tries to prevent highway hypnosis by offering drivers signs with trivia questions (and answers).  These Salvador Dali Christmas cards outraged Hallmark shoppers in 1960 (Washington Post) Australian road s...

Today in 1966, the Beatles were trying to make one great take of their new song “Strawberry Fields Forever,” and with help from producer George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick, they ended up making that one great take out of two half takes. Plus: the YouTube channel The Brick Wall created a LEGO system to give you just the right amount of wrapping paper for each gift.  Mixing, editing: Stra...

In the late 1980s Romania was still behind the Iron Curtain, but its people wanted to see and hear film, TV shows and music from the US and other countries. Irina Nistor used her voice to bring some of that outside media to the people. Plus: it's said the story of the "Loyal Women of Weinsberg" began today in 1181.  The voice that brought Hollywood films to communist Romania’s TV screens (The...

Harvard, Nebraska is home to about a thousand people and six historic markers, one of which tells the strange but true story of a teenager who ended up owning the city jail. Plus: if you’re still looking for a present for somebody this week, how about an official Tetris waffle maker?  The Jailhouse That Got Accidentally Sold (Amusing Planet) History of Harvard (Harvard, Nebraska) Tetris Waffl...

Today in 1977, the Not Ready For Prime Time Players were joined by perhaps the most unusual guest host ever: Miskel Spillman, an 80 year old grandma from New Orleans and the winner of the "Anyone Can Host SNL Contest." Plus: an iconic world record has fallen! Meet the new loudest burper in history.  Saturday Night Live's Anyone Can Host Contest (Mental Floss) The World's Loudest Burp Record H...

3D printing is getting bigger and bigger. There are so many amazing ways we can use the technology. And the range of substances you can use in 3D printing projects is growing, too - including a new project that uses bacteria to make a 3D ink. Plus: people who really want to get into the holiday spirit are heading to a rental unit in Utah - that has been designed to look like the home of the Grinch...