Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

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 his own beer (History.com via Archive.org) Competitors dig deep in Hungarian grave-digging contest (ABC News)For less than the cost of a single beer a month, you can back our refreshing show on Patreon

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 takes vehicle, drives herself 25 minutes to Target Sunday morning, police say (News 5 Cleveland)Shine on when you back our show today on Patreon

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)Light Station Boston (US Coast Guard) Just a pound or two a month is all it takes to back our show on Patreon

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) (Flashbak)Arcola Broomcorn Festival For the cost of one box of mac and cheese a month you can support this show on Patreon!

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 BowlBacking our show on Patreon makes a big difference but doesn’t take too much work

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 Derby Back our show by walking over to our page on Patreon

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 from the flames (Expressen.se)Hummingbirds Can See Colors We Can’t Even Imagine (Wired)Thanks to our Patreon backers who make all of our episodes possible!

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 Letters, Plus 26 Given Names (The Free Lance-Star via Google News Archive)For just $1 a month on Patreon you can help keep this show afloat

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://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/, or the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.When Muhammad Ali Met a Man on a Ledge (New York Times)The Time Muhammad Ali Stopped a Man From Leaping to His Death (Slate)

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 RAPHAEL DINELLI (Independent.co.uk)Rival sails to rescue sinking sailor (Irish Times)What it’s like to be a food writer when you can taste everything you see (Atlanta Magazine)We’re always grateful for the help we get from our Patreon backers

We're replaying some of our favorite shows about astonishing rescues. In this episode from April 2023, skydiver Gregory Robertson saves a fellow skydiver’s life with a high-speed free fall. Plus: Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride in Massachusetts, and then sent an expense report to local authorities.Man rescues fellow skydiver seconds before impact (UPI)Revere’s expense account revealed (Bangor Daily News via Google News Archive)Keep our show flying high as a backer on Patreon

Today in 1988, one of the strangest fights in the history of pro baseball: on one side, one of the top managers in the game. On the other, one of the top mascots. Plus: starting today in New Hampshire, it’s the North Country Moose Festival.  36 years ago, the Phillie Phanatic was beaten up by the Dodgers’ Tommy Lasorda (WHYY)North Country Moose Festival If you’re a fanatic about our show, why not back us on Patreon?

Today in 1865, the birthday of Charles G. Dawes, who made a difference on the world stage while serving as US Vice President… and who made a difference on the American pop charts. too. Plus: now underway in Taiwan, the Keelung Ghost Festival. The Vice President Who Wrote a Hit Song (Mental Floss)Keelung Ghost Festival Make our podcast a hit as a backer on Patreon

This week in 2015, a giant fast food chain decided to reach out to its biggest rival with an offer to join forces, and make one giant burger to rule them all. Plus: starting Saturday, it’ll be the Dog Days of Kentucky. McDonald's Declines Burger King's 'McWhopper' Offer (NBC News)Dog Days of Kentucky You can back this show on Patreon for less than the cost of an extra value meal a month!

Today in 1845 may have been the birthday of Nellie Cashman, a woman whose life was one big and colorful story that played out all over the American West. Plus: today in 2018, the community of Mayo, Florida, decided to rebrand itself as the town of Miracle Whip. Nellie Cashman (Arizona Women’s Hall of Fame) Mayo, Florida jokingly changes name to "Miracle Whip" (WCTV)From east to west, let’s all back this podcast together on Patreon

Today in 1975, Queen began recording its classic track “Bohemian Rhapsody.” And depending on who you believe, the recording of this song has a connection with another long hit song from another massively popular group. Plus: a guy in Wisconsin decides an hour-long drive to Cabela's is "too long," but he has quite a Plan B. “I have never heard a better ‘rock’ piano”: The famous Trident Studios piano used by The Beatles, Bowie, Queen and more (Yahoo! Entertainment)Wisconsin man flies helicopter to Cabela's because the drive was ‘too long'  (NBC Chicago)Backing our show on Patreon really matters, anyone can see

Today in 1938, the birthday of Kenny Rogers. Few singers of his generation had as many hits as Rogers did, but apparently one guy was so into just one of those hit songs that he hired the singer to just do that one over and over. Plus: starting today, it’s the Connecticut Pickle Festival. Galleon Hedge Fund Scandal: The Cursing, The Paranoia And $4 Million For Kenny Rogers On Auto-Repeat (HuffPost)Connecticut Pickle Festival Back our show on Patreon today, for just a dollar a month (or $4 million if you prefer)

Around this time in 1985, news reports were spreading about an unusual situation: two youngsters from Ireland, unbeknownst to pretty much all the adults, had hopped on a plane to the United States. Plus: starting tomorrow in Pennsylvania, it’s the Pittston Tomato Festival. The story of the Dublin boys who ran away to New York (Irish Post)Pittston Tomato Festival Fly on over to our Patreon page and support this show