Hero or Dick

Fireworks are supposed to be pure fun. But the closer you look, the more complicated they become. We start with a Fourth of July recap—bonfires, s'mores, and fireworks across the lake—before digging into where fireworks came from, why we love them, and what they really cost. We talk injuries, pollution, pets, PTSD, billions of dollars spent every year, and whether our priorities make sense. T...

Kate returns from a trip to Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob, sending us down a Frank Lloyd Wright rabbit hole. We talk prairie style, open floor plans, organic architecture, and why Wright's ideas still shape the way we live today. We also dig into the man behind the buildings: scandal, affairs, Taliesin, murder, money troubles, and the question at the heart of the episode—can someone be a hero...

America turns 250 soon, and instead of uncomplicated pride, we found questions. We talk patriotism, propaganda, immigration, inequality, surveillance, AI, and the cost of “progress” in modern America. From 1776 to today, we look at the country’s biggest achievements, failures, contradictions, and myths—then ask the only question that matters: hero or dick? As always, thanks for listening! ~ Kate &...

Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick! This time around, we take a look at Mary Todd Lincoln. From early loss to life in the White House, we get into what people still argue about: the spending, the behavior, the grief, and the need for control. Laudanum, trauma, and a bad reputation—do these point to a misunderstood hero, or a selfish dick? Tune in to find out! Thanks for listening! ~ Kate &...

Las Vegas sells the same promise to everyone: step into the lights, forget your life, let chance take over. We trace how that illusion was built—from desert outpost to gambling hub to mob-financed Strip—backed by the numbers people argue about: visitors, rooms, revenue, constant reinvention. Then we get honest about what it is now: expensive, engineered, nothing truly free. Hero in moderation or a...

Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick ! In this one, we talk about Jane Goodall, the outsider who changed how we see animals and, whether we like it or not, ourselves. Chimps don’t just climb and stare. They make tools, hunt, form alliances, and sometimes go to war.  If you care about animals, climate, or how science actually works, this one’s for you. Thanks for listening! ~ Kate & KJ

Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick !  This time around, we jump from local happenings (shout out to Alpena, MI!) to a fast, funny, and frank tour of the Winter Olympics: how the Games are organized, who gets to compete, what the sports actually demand, and why hosting can be both a pride play and a headache. Between curling rocks and ski suit controversies, we land on a simple verdict: the...

It starts with a borrowed $100, a stubborn teenager, and a ferry that never slept. From there, the Vanderbilt story runs fast—from Cornelius Vanderbilt’s ruthless rise through ferries, steamships, and railroads to the cultural institutions and monuments the family later built to soften the edges. We end where the money thins and the question sharpens: can libraries, opera houses, and grand estates...

If you ever sang along to a lyric in your car because it said the thing you couldn’t, this one’s for you. We open Season Four with special guest Harley, talking emo—where it came from, what it did, and why it still matters. From Rites of Spring cracking the door, to bands like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy turning private pain into something you could sing out loud. Small rooms. Big feeling...

A thousand downloads. Cookies, steak, and one deeply suspect mushroom Swiss. That’s how we close 2025—by taking inventory and not pretending it was tidy. What surprised us wasn’t which episodes blew up, but why. The biggest listens didn’t come from grand arguments or hot takes. They came from small, stubborn things: cows. Pickles. Birds. Food. The way ordinary obsessions turn into memory and meani...

This week we peel George Washington down to the bone—no marble shine, just the man. The contradictions stack up fast: hundreds enslaved at Mount Vernon, Washington freeing only the people he personally owned after Martha died, Martha burning their letters, and his scorched-earth orders against Native communities. All of it sitting beside the government he helped sketch and the power he refused to...

Ever met a bird that sees nearly 270 degrees, purrs when it’s calm, hits fifty miles an hour, and still ends up glazed on a platter by sundown? In this episode of Hero or Dick , we move from the woods to the warehouse, dropping dinner-table facts, oddities, and a few honest guesstimations. Hit play. Give a listen. ~ Kate & KJ

Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick!   This time, we trace the wild history of American game shows — from 1930s radio quizzes like Brooklyn Eagle Quiz and Vox Pop to the TV titans that shaped family routines: Jeopardy! , The Price Is Right , and Wheel of Fortune. And of course, we stop to salute (or side-eye) the chaos agents like The Gong Show that bent every rule of taste and talent. Alon...

Thanks for tuning into another episode of  Hero or Dick ! A house can be your safest place and still give you the creeps. We dive into the rooms that shape who we are—from bathrooms that reset a chaotic day to kitchens that magnetize every guest, even when there’s no food on the counter. Along the way, we face the stranger corners of home life: basements that flood or whisper, attics that store hi...

The night’s messy and honest—perfect for comedy to tell the truth. From Carson’s cool to Letterman’s edge, Rivers’ rebellion to Conan’s redemption, late-night TV has always tested who gets to speak after midnight. We talk about ego, chaos, politics, and the power of a live moment—when the wrong word can end a career or make history. Another Hero or Dick? episode—where fame meets fallout and we dec...

Fascinated by cosmology? Curious about the complicated humans behind world-changing ideas? Then maybe this episode is for you! Tune into Kate and KJ as they take a look into the life and legacy of Stephen Hawking. 

Ever wondered what's really going on beneath the surface of that seemingly innocent duck paddling across your local pond? Prepare to have your perceptions forever altered as Kate and KJ dive headfirst into the fascinating and occasionally shocking world of ducks. Join us for another episode as we determine whether ducks ultimately deserve the title of Hero or Dick ! Thanks for listening! ~ Ka...

Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick !  Kate & KJ track Ozzy Osbourne’s run from slaughterhouse kid to rock icon worth an estimated $220M. Bats, the Alamo, 25 Vicodin a day—then…Dad? Did the Prince of Darkness become a beloved family man? Tune in. Thanks for listening! ~ Kate & KJ

Greetings, Dear Listeners! Ever wonder why we can't stop sharing stories about hook-handed killers, vanishing hitchhikers, or creatures lurking in the woods? Join us for this exploration of storytelling traditions that continue to thrive today. Thanks! ~ Kate & KJ

It's time for another episode of everybody's favorite unknown podcast-- Hero or Dick !  This time around, we explore the life and career of Dan Aykroyd, from his early days on SNL to his vodka selling and deep belief in paranormal phenomena. The Canadian-born comedian's journey reveals a multifaceted talent whose personal obsessions with ghosts, law enforcement, and aliens have shap...

Greetings and Salutations, Listener!  In this episode, we're just shootin' the bull, and our casual conversation covers whatever crosses our minds on a humid summer day. • Finding a bison farm in Metz, Michigan • Recommending Friendly Foodies in Alpena for incredible plant-based dishes including the Cluck Yeah! tacos • Noticing bugs getting bigger • Discussing climate change impacts, inc...

The gray suit. The red bow tie. The unmistakable laugh that echoed through living rooms every Saturday morning. Paul Rubens created more than just a character in Pee-wee Herman—he built an entire world that shaped a generation. Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick!  Whether you grew up singing along to the theme song (secretly performed by Cyndi Lauper!) or discovered Pee-wee through Tim Bur...

Thanks, Dear Listener, for tuning into another episode of  Hero or Dick ! They recognize faces, hold grudges, mourn their dead, and might be smarter than your neighbor. From royal ravens and ghostly folklore to punk-ass grackles and poetry's darkest mascots, blackbirds have haunted myth and mind for centuries. In this episode, Kate and KJ dive into bird brains, badass behavior, and why these...

Thanks for tuning into another episode of Hero or Dick !  Behind the giant peaches and chocolate rivers was a man as complex as his characters. This time around, Kate & KJ explore the wild life of Roald Dahl — fighter pilot, spy, inventor, and bestselling author. From personal tragedy to medical breakthroughs to controversial views, Dahl’s story is as bold as his books. Was he a Hero, a Dick,...

Welcome, Listeners! The great pickle debate has arrived, and it's clear that few foods inspire such passionate opinions. Dill or sweet? Hero or dick?  During our deep dive into the world of pickles, we discovered that Americans consume a staggering nine pounds of pickles per person annually, supporting a $2.5 billion industry. But what makes these briny treats so desirable?  Tune into this ta...