Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

Today in 1910, the birthday of Károly Takács, a multi-time Olympic champion who won his medals without the use of his dominant hand. Plus: today in 1936, inventor Carl Brown obtained a patent for an unusual device meant to wake up drowsy drivers. Karoly Takacs, the Para athlete who achieved Olympic glory (World Shooting Para Sport)Staying awake at the wheel (Weird Universe)Help our show stay on target, donate today on Patreon

Today in 1970, a strange moment in boxing history: two of the greatest heavyweights of all time faced off in a computer-simulated fight for a movie. Plus: today in 1946, the birthday of David Lynch, filmmaker, musician and occasional weather forecaster. How Muhammad Ali regretted his strangest fight ever (The Sporting News via Archive.org)  Watch 950 Weather Reports Presented by David Lynch, Straight from His Los Angeles Home (Open Culture)Keep this show in fighting shape, back it on Patreon today

For the holiday today, we're replaying an episode from January 2020 about the civil rights leader and his connection to Star Trek. A big reason why Dr. King was such a fan was the character of Lieutenant Uhura, played by Nichelle Nichols.Star Trek’s Uhura Reflects On MLK Encounter (NPR’s Tell Me More)

Today in 1749 two British nobles decided to play a trick on London’s theatergoers. And their trick, known today as the Great Bottle Hoax, proved their point, while also managing to mostly backfire. Plus: police in Heber City, Utah are turning into frogs on the job! At least according to AI. The Great Bottle Conjurer Hoax (The Paris Review)Ribbit ribbit! Artificial Intelligence programs used by Heber City police claim officer turned into a frog (Fox 13 Now)Our Patreon backers make this show possible, and that’s no hoax

Today in 2009, the "Miracle on the Hudson," in which an airplane in distress made an emergency landing on a river and everyone on board survived. While winning national acclaim for his piloting, the captain had to do some explaining at his local library. Plus: a car guy from Long Island gets a special ride for his dad and finds a bit of hip hop history. Library lets late fees fly for Hudson pilot (NBC News)Long Island Man Buys Rolls-Royce Corniche for His Dad. It Turned Out To Be Tupac’s (The Drive)Fly along with us as a backer on Patreon

Today in 1976 Tizi Hodson wrote a letter applying for what she called her dream job… and I don’t imagine that her dream included waiting almost half a century to hear back from the employer. Plus: today’s the birthday of track great Shawn Crawford, who won multiple Olympic medals but was just as well known for bringing a lighter side to sports. Woman gets reply about job application - 48 years on (BBC)  Memorable Olympic Moments: Shawn Crawford's Olympic Success (SBNation Shakin The Southland)Support this show on Patreon and you’ll get some great benefits right away

Today in 1979, the YMCA filed a lawsuit against the Village People, for their song paying tribute to the YMCA! But don't worry, there's a happy ending for both sides here. Plus: Switzerland's Silvesterkläuse help ring in the new year and maybe maybe get a drink or two as they do.“Y.M.C.A.” (An Oral History) (SPIN) Silvesterkläuse both beautiful and ugly (Swiss National Museum)It’s fun to back us on Patreon

Today in 2018, the closest of close calls for Brock Meister of Plymouth, Indiana: he survived a rarely survivable medical injury known as “internal decapitation.” Plus: for National Soundcheck Day, meet the Soundcube, a 1969 installation with loudspeakers in every direction. Brock Meister's life was saved by his best friend — six months later, Brock was able to save his own brother's life (Business Insider)Bernhard Leitner’s Soundcube, 1969 – The Art of Seeing Sound And Hearing With Your Whole Body (Flashbak)We’re lucky to have our Patreon supporters

This week we're replaying some of our favorite hoops-related episodes. In this episode from February 2022, a basketball story that’s almost too perfect for words: a high school team put its manager into the game, and not only did he play, he stole the show. Plus: the Glacier Express is called the “world’s slowest express train,” and its eight hour trip takes you through all the stunning scenery in Switzerland. The game nobody could forget (ESPN)The World’s Slowest Express Train Has Panoramic Glass for Breathtaking Views (Thrillist)Our Patreon backers make this show a slam dunk every day 

This week we're replaying some of our favorite hoops-related episodes. In this episode from November 2021, a look at an NBA game in 1978 in which, thanks to some complications, four players are on the box score for both teams. Plus: two artists build an installation in Taiwan that resembles a stairway to heaven! Alert Led Zeppelin. In 1978-79 season, deal like no other happened at NBA trade deadline (NBA.com)Artists Build a ‘Stairway to Heaven’ Optical Illusion (Laughing Squid)We would never trade our Patreon backers

This week we're replaying some of our favorite hoops-related episodes. In this episode from July 2022, the story of Wataru “Wat” Misaka, who became the first non-white player to be drafted into what is now the NBA. And basketball wasn't the only sport in which he excelled. Plus: the Twin Cities hosts a "kick volleyball" competition at the Hmong International Freedom Festival. Japanese American Former Basketball Star Inspired On And Off The Court (NPR)Hmong International Freedom Festival (Visit Saint Paul)Our Patreon backers are championship material

This week we're replaying some of our favorite hoops-related episodes. In this episode from February 2022, Lisa Leslie, a high school basketball player who would later become one of the biggest names in the WNBA, had a record day, scoring 101 points in just 16 minutes. Plus: research finds a silver lining for Olympic runners up. That One Time: Lisa Leslie Scored 101 Points in a High School Game (24/7 Live Culture)Olympians That Win Silver Tend To Live Longer Than Those That Win Gold (UNILAD)Let’s set some records together, join our show as a backer on Patreon!

This week we're replaying some of our favorite hoops-related episodes. In this episode from March 2022, we look at one of the most stunning performances in the history of pro sports: Wilt Chamberlain scored 100 points in an NBA game. Plus: a short film called “Donkey Baseball” featured fans in a baseball game where, yes, most of the players had to ride donkeys. The Legacy Of Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-Point Game (WBUR)Five things you didn’t know about Wilt Chamberlain’s 100-point game (Sporting News)Donkey Baseball (YouTube)Our Patreon backers are all winners

Today in 1910, the birthday of Charlie Douglass, who popularized the use of prerecorded laughter to help TV comedies seem more funny. Amirite folks? Plus: an astronaut uses microgravity to demonstrate a shape that we can't reproduce on Earth. Charles Rolland 'Charlie' Douglass (Variety via Archive.org)  The Art of Science: Soft Cell in Space (University of Oxford) Laugh along with our show every day as a backer on Patreon

A brand new year can be confusing for lots of reasons, but for Romans, the year 46 BC was when they tried to fix all the issues with their calendar and it made time literally drag on. Plus: a new wooden compass could help people with dementia find their way through the world. Why Julius Caesar's Year of Confusion was the longest year in history (BBC)wooden compass with single red arrow leads people with dementia to their homes (designboom)Our Patreon backers are also getting an exclusive bonus episode today - join them now!

New Year’s Eve is full of traditions, including several in different parts of the world where people wear red underwear for luck as one year ends and the next begins. Plus: in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, the New Year's disco ball drop comes with a Pennsylvania Dutch twist. Grab Your Red Underwear and Get Ready for New Year’s Eve (Ripley’s) PEEPS, PICKLES, AND PUCKS: Unique New Year’s celebrations planned across Pennsylvania  (ABC 27)Thanks to our Patreon backers for supporting our show all year long! Why not join them in 2026?

ToFuel is a research project in Europe that aims to collect the stems, leaves and other uneaten tomato bits into an alternative and more eco-friendly fuel for jets. Plus: today in 1941, a photograph for the ages, thanks to a photographer with some gumption.  Scientists turn tomato waste into climate-friendly jet fuel to cut aviation emissions (Interesting Engineering)The Taming of Winston Churchill (On This Day)Fuel our podcast every day as a backer on Patreon

Today in 1962, the US designated Hawaii's Fort Elizabeth as a National Historic Landmark. The fort was the idea of Georg Schäffer, who thought it might be step one in making Hawaii a colony of Russia. Plus: a scientist in Hungary has been teaching rats how to play the 90s video game Doom II. Russian Fort/ Fort Elizabeth (National Park Service)Rats Successfully Trained to Shoot Demons in “Doom” (Futurism)Help build up our show as a backer on Patreon

If you’re in Greece, Serbia, Bulgaria or several other countries in southeastern Europe today, be careful and keep your wits about you. This is when Christmas goblins are on the loose again. Plus: if you've ever just wanted to sit for a bit with a nice hot cup of coffee, we have a moment in patent history for you. Kallikantzaroi: Tree-Chopping Christmas Goblins (The Atlas of Christmas by Alex Palmer, via Google Books) James H. Mason (Franklin Historical Museum)Legend has it that one way to stop the Christmas goblins is to back a really good podcast on Patreon

Merry Christmas! If you lived in Boston in the 1920s, you might have come across a hot dog vendor who decided to give hungry kids a special treat on December 25. He became known as the city's "Hot Dog Santa." Plus: one family Christmas tradition involves cataloguing everybody's weirdest mistakes and then giving out the family "Goober award." Hot Dog Santa Brings Christmas Cheer to Children (Newspapers.com) 30 People Are Sharing Weird And Wholesome Traditions That Make Their Christmas Special (Bored Panda)Thanks so much to our Patreon backers for all the gifts and support this year!