Cool Weird Awesome With Brady Carlson

If you're traveling abroad this summer you'll need a passport - unless you're one of a very small number of very prominent people who don't need to use passports. Plus: this week Louisville, Kentucky is home to Ali Fest. Does the President Have a Passport? (Slate)  Ali Fest in Louisville, KY  Travel over to our Patreon page to get bonus episodes and lots of other extras - no passport required --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

It's National Cheese Day! Today we're telling the story of American cheese, which got its start from a guy who emigrated to Chicago from Ontario. Plus: a region of northern Sweden known as "the Kingdom of Cheese" drives the point home with two 23 foot tall cheese slicers. What Is American Cheese, Anyway? (Serious Eats) A Brief History of "American Cheese," from Colonial Cheddar to Kraft Singles (Mental Floss) World's Largest Cheese Slicer (Atlas Obscura) It would be Gouda if you could back our show on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Alexander Graham Bell is best known for the telephone, but he thought his light-based calling system, the photophone was way more important... so much so that he even tried to name his daughter Photophone Bell. Plus: for World Bicycle Day, the story of a Japanese company that let customers order a special set of socks that would be knitted by a bicycle-powered knitting machine. Photophone: How Alexander Graham Bell Transmitted Sound by Sunlight (Amusing Planet) Japanese Factory Lets You Knit Your Own Socks by Riding a Bicycle (Oddity Central) We’re calling on you to back our show today on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

There’s some linguistic research that suggests that American hockey players sometimes start to sound more like Canadians as their hockey careers continue. Plus: The uses seven bridges to connect a bunch of islands in Norway together. You essentially get to drive right along the ocean.  How do you pronounce “hockey”? US players say it with “fake Canadian” accent. (Ars Technica) The Atlantic Road (Explore Scandanavia) For just one Canadian loonie a month you could back our show on Patreon! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1953, some 10,000 people took part in Woodruff, Wisconsin's Memorial Day "Penny Parade." They were raising to build a hospital, urged on by the leader of the effort, Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb. Plus: a teen who went fishing catches a guy's wallet that had fallen into the water three decades earlier. Penny Facts (Dr. Kate Museum) Dr. Kate Museum in Woodruff, Wisconsin continues to honor the legacy of Dr. Kate Pelham Newcomb (WUWM) ‘A blast from the past’: Lost wallet returns to Comox man after 33 years (Comox Valley Record) Please put a few pennies into our show as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1943, Norman Rockwell's painting "Rosie the Riveter" was on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post. But that's not the image that we think of today as Rosie, and just as there were multiple depictions of the character, there were multiple real-life inspirations for those depictions. Plus: congrats to Max the cat, who just got an honorary degree from a college in Vermont. Everyone Was Wrong About the Real 'Rosie the Riveter’ for Decades. Here’s How the Mystery Was Solved (TIME) Vermont university gives cat an honorary 'doctor of litter-ature' degree (WBNS via YouTube)  Want more Cool Weird Awesome? Back us on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1901, a court decision protected the right to say pretty much whatever we like while reviewing a podcast, or a song, or a performance. And it all started with some of the strangest performances of all time, put on by the Cherry Sisters. Plus: the start of summer travel season brings to mind a guy in Italy named Eduardo, who collects Do Not Disturb signs from different hotels. Fair Comment (American Heritage) Cherry Bomb: The Story of the Awful Cherry Sisters (WFMU)  This guy collects Do Not Disturb signs from Hotels around the World (Messy Nessy Chic) Like us, love us or loathe us, we hope you’ll support us on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

For today’s holiday we wanted to replay an episode from 2019 about the history behind Memorial Day. Officially, the community that started Memorial Day is Waterloo, New York - but Waterloo is definitely not the only place with a Memorial Day origin story. How Waterloo, NY, became the birthplace of Memorial Day (New York Upstate) Birthplace of Memorial Day? That Depends Where You’re From (New York Times) Memorial Day History (VA.gov) --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes about our neighbors in the solar system. In this episode from March 2023, long before the internet’s favorite planet got its very pun-filled name, an astronomer wanted to give it a much more chill one. Plus: modern day scientists have plenty of theories on how Uranus ended up on its side.  ⁠Uranus: the first planet discovered with a telescope⁠ (Science Museum London) ⁠There's a New Hypothesis For How Uranus Ended Up Tipped on Its Side⁠ (Science Alert) ⁠Discover how you can make new episodes of this show happen on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes about our neighbors in the solar system. In this episode from May 2019, a look at Venera 5, an overlooked but important visit to a fairly nasty place, the planet Venus. Plus: McMinnville, Oregon kicks off its annual UFO Festival, complete with fun run called the Alien Abduction Dash.  ⁠Venera 5⁠ (NASA)  ⁠Yes, We've Seen the Surface of Venus⁠ (Popular Science)  ⁠McMinnville OR UFO Festival⁠  ⁠This show is listener powered! Back Cool Weird Awesome on Patreon for just $1 a month! --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes about our neighbors in the solar system. In this episode from June 2019, a look at how the Curiosity Rover takes selfies on Mars without having its robot arm in the foreground of every shot. Plus: the University of St. Andrews teaches grey seals to sing the "Star Wars" theme. For research. ⁠Why Don’t We See the Curiosity Rover’s Arm When it Takes a Selfie?⁠ (Universe Today) ⁠Curiosity Rover Report (June 13, 2013): Curiosity's Cameras⁠ (NASA on YouTube)  ⁠Grey seals copy human speech and music⁠ (University of St. Andrews) ⁠Back Cool Weird Awesome on Patreon today. It is your destiny!⁠  --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes about our neighbors in the solar system. In this episode from July 2022, the story of Venetia Burney, who at age eleven did something few people have done: she named a planet! Plus: the people of Ripon, Wisconsin team up to make the world’s largest chocolate chip cookie. ⁠Venetia Burney Phair (1918-2009)⁠ (NASA) ⁠Ripon's signature Cookie Daze has been discontinued, chamber cites closure of cookie factory⁠ (Ripon Press) ⁠Our Patreon backers are so great, we should name planets after them --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This week we’re replaying some of our favorite episodes about our neighbors in the solar system. In this episode from October 2021, we find out whether scientists who study Uranus think the many jokes humans make about the seventh planet are funny. Plus: a visit to a magic shop in Burnsville, Minnesota that's the oldest in the US.  ⁠Here’s What Uranus Scientists Think About Your Disgusting Jokes⁠ (Futurism) ⁠The Oldest Magic Shop In The U.S. Is Right Here In Minnesota, And It’s Full Of Enchanting Fun⁠ (Only in Minnesota) ⁠No joke, our Patreon backers are out of this world --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Ahead of World Baking Day, we look at the history of a baking and TV legend, the Pillsbury Doughboy. But did you know about his full name and his doughy relatives? Plus: today in Iowa, it’s day two of the three day Orange City Tulip Festival.  Meet the Pillsbury Doughboy’s Family! (Huffington Post) The Doughboy is 50! (General Mills) Orange City Tulip Festival  Help us open up a can of new podcast episodes by backing our show on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1882 inventor Maria Beasley received the patent for what's probably her most well-known invention, a collapsible life raft. But Beasley was one of those inventors who came up with idea after idea in a bunch of fields, so there's lots more to her story. Plus: starting tomorrow in Nixa, Missouri, it’s Nixa Sucker Days. Maria Beasley: Engineering dynamo (Go! Magazine via Iowa State University Institute for Transportation)  NIXA SUCKER DAYS  Let’s invent more episodes of the show with help from our backers on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

There's a little Spanish enclave in southwestern France, and in the 1980s a dispute over a road between that community and the rest of Spain became known as a "war of the stop signs." Plus: when Harriet Richardson emailed a local church with some punny ideas for their sign, the church gave her a sign of her own. The Spanish town that ended up in France (El Pais) PLEASE STOP EMAILING US HARRIET. The internet is still good, people are still good. (Kottke.org) Keep sending our show out all over the world as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 2005, test pilot Didier Delsalle took a helicopter where a helicopter had never gone before: the summit of Mount Everest. Plus: could cargo drones lug gear up and down the world's tallest mountain so that Sherpas and others climbers don't have to put themselves at risk to do it? Landing on Everest: Didier Delsalle Recalls his Record Flight (Vertical Magazine) Could Flying Drones Save Lives on Mount Everest? (Outside) Help this show fly high as a backer on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

This month in 2014, the debut of Mr. Trash Wheel! He’s become a social media sensation for his giant googly eyes and his dedication to cleaning up Baltimore’s waterfront. Plus: this month in 1984, the first online grocery order, by a retiree using her TV remote control (!) Baltimore’s Trash Wheel family celebrating 10 years of cleaner water (WBAL) Mr. Trash Wheel cleans up Baltimore Harbor with a dash of humor (PBS Newshour) Online shopping: The pensioner who pioneered a home shopping revolution (BBC) Help us keep it clean every day when you back us on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 1907, the birthday of Finnish Olympic gold medalist Kalle Jalkanen. His relay team had a big come from behind victory in the 1936 Winter Games, but what legend says happened along the way is an even more unusual part of the story. Plus: If you’re celebrating Mother’s Day this Sunday, you could head to St. Petersburg, Florida, which is home to the Museum of Motherhood. The death of Finland's ski king was arcstained - Major executed four prisoners of war (Iltalehti)  Museum of Motherhood  You’ll feel like a champion when you back our show on Patreon --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support

Today in 2007, the New York Times published a feature story on Kool Aid pickles, a sweet and sour treat that found some diehard fans in the southern US. Plus: officials in North Yorkshire, England say that to avoid issues with their geographic computer systems, their street signs will henceforth have no apostrophes.  A Sweet So Sour: Kool-Aid Dills (New York Times) North Yorkshire Council to phase out apostrophe use on street signs (BBC) It would be so sweet if you backed our show on Patreon today --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/coolweirdawesome/support