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Artwork for Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
Hermetica
Anarchism
Neoliberalism
Ricardo Flores Magón
Mexican Revolution
Mutual Aid
Zapatistas
Climate Change
Bogbottom
Pathfinder
Folklore
ICE
Vaccination
Druids
Jonas Salk
Spartacus
Harm Reduction
Protests
Alan Lea
Activism

As long as there’s been oppression, there’ve been people fighting it. This weekly podcast dives into history to drag up the wildest rebels, the most beautiful revolts, and all the people who long to be—and fight to be—free. It explores complex stories of resistance that offer lessons and inspiration for us today, focusing on the ensemble casts that make up each act of history. That is to say, this... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes575Founded4 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
HistorySociety & Culture

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

Latest Episodes

Margaret tells you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them

Sources:

www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/

azmirror... more

Natural Causes is a podcast about the politics and practicalities of going outside in a world on fire, hosted by Dr. James Stout. It approaches the outdoors, conservation, agriculture, food sovereignty, and Indigenous land rights as interconnected is... more

This week, Margaret finished the story of the tragic and powerful strike that shook Michigan and copper production, through the lens of the Joan of Arc of Calumet

Sources:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Finland

www.loc.go... more

This week, Margaret continues the story of the tragic and powerful strike that shook Michigan and copper production, through the lens of the Joan of Arc of Calumet

Sources:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Finland

www.loc.g... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Cory Doctorow
Writer and activist; author of Walk Away and The Lost Cause; public advocate on digital rights and technology policy
Electronic Frontier Foundation (former); Writer and activist
Episode: Part One: Cory Doctorow on Speculative Fiction for Social Change
Prince Shakur
Reader and co-host for this episode
The Dugout of Black Anarchists podcast
Episode: CZM Book Club: What We Want, What We Believe by Alex Smith, Part One
Cristen Conger
Guest who discusses Charlotta Bass and her legacy
Unladylike, Conspiracy, Stuff Mom Never Told You (as referenced)
Episode: Part One: Charlotta Bass: The Black Journalist Who Refused the Red Scare
Adam Gnade
Author of Locust House
Bread and Roses Press / 3-1-G / Bread and Roses Press
Episode: CZM Book Club: Locust House, by Adam Gnade (Part Four of Four)
Joe Kassabian
Guest expert providing historical context and commentary on Robin Hood
Episode: Part Two: Robin Hood and the Legacy of Outlaws in Medieval England
Jason Petty
Prop / Propaganda, returning guest
Episode: Part One: Lead Belly: How a Man Named Huddie Ledbetter Beat Everyone Who Tried to Keep Him Down
Kaveh Hoda
Historian guest providing context on Ottoman sexuality and religion
Independent scholar / Guest on the show
Episode: Part One: The Gay Ottomans: Homosexuality in the Medieval Ottoman Empire
Randy Carter
Inside editor for In The Belly Magazine
In The Belly Magazine
Episode: CZM Book Club: Poems by Incarcerated Authors -- with In The Belly Magazine
Safear Ness
Editor and organizer at In The Belly
In The Belly
Episode: CZM Book Club: Phone Resistance, by Safear Ness -- with In The Belly Magazine

Host

Margaret Killjoy
Host of the show; principal creator and curator of episodes, often guiding discussions and storytelling.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 3.1k ratings
  • I want to rate this higher but I just can’t.

    Love Killjoy been following her work for years. Been listening to the show since it started.

    Killjoy is amazing but she has the charisma of later day Biden podcasting. Her solo episodes are completely skippable. Even if I’m curious about the subject. 3+ hours of listening to Killjoy’s mono tone is pretty awful. She NEEDS a guest. Even if it’s another cool one host.

    Lastly, not every episode has been a “cool” person either.

    4 episodes about how historic woman sold out her fellow revolutionari... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Agrovater
    United Statesa month ago
  • Love the podcast and will change this to 5 stars but don't know a better way to ask where part one of the frog book club 6 parter is...

    Podcast Addict
    1
    BeeFree
    a month ago
  • Refreshing

    Love the episodes with Kaveh. He and Margaret seem to really get along well and it shows in the episodes.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    mmmmtryptophan
    United States2 months ago
  • Fun and entertaining

    The interactions between Margaret and her guests is always so fun and pleasant, but I’m actually leaving this record because of the Riot Dogs episode: PETA is so much worse than you could imagine. Their “shelters” have an obscene, I believe over 90%, kill rate. This isn’t a bug, it’s a feature. They don’t believe animals should be owned, and would rather kill them than let them “suffer”. They are ABSOLUTELY DESPICABLE.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    CaudaPavonis
    United States3 months ago
  • Thank you

    For the amazingly interesting inspirational stories and funny relatable side convos. Kudos.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    M© Boogie
    United States3 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Episodes with guests are consistently highlighted for engaging insights and entertaining banter.
The host's storytelling and warmth are praised, with some criticism of long solo segments.
A number of reviews praise the show's inspirational storytelling and rigor, with a few critiques about focus or length.
Listeners appreciate strong guest chemistry and the depth of historical context.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#73
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#92
Canada/History
Apple Podcasts
#218
United Kingdom/History
Apple Podcasts
#122
Australia/History
Apple Podcasts
#203
Italy/History
Apple Podcasts
#41
Indonesia/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Part Two: Cory Doctorow on Speculative Fiction for Social Change
Q: What's the point of books? Sell me on writing books.
Books work as slow, durable catalysts; they can plant ideas at the right moment, inspire people to act, and connect movements across time, even if the author isn't directly leading a campaign.
Part One: Charlotta Bass: The Black Journalist Who Refused the Red Scare
Q: What actions did Bass take against the KKK, and what were the consequences?
She published a memo revealing a KKK plan and faced a libel charge; despite the risk, she persisted, highlighting the peril and power of investigative Black journalism in that era.
Part One: Charlotta Bass: The Black Journalist Who Refused the Red Scare
Q: How did Charlotta Bass come to own the California Eagle, and what did that mean for Black press at the time?
She bought the paper after Nemor's death, turning it into a platform for civil rights and a counterforce against white supremacy, underscoring the importance of Black-owned media in shaping public discourse.
Part One: Robin Hood and the Legacy of Outlaws in Medieval England
Q: What is the core significance of Robin Hood in this historical context?
Robin Hood is treated as a populist counterpower, a myth that arose from working-class experiences and evolving through oral tradition into a symbol of resistance against state and church authority, rather than a single historical figure.
Part Two: The Gay Ottomans: Homosexuality in the Medieval Ottoman Empire
Q: You mentioned consent in the Ottoman period; can you summarize what you found about consent in medical contexts there?
The discussion notes that the Ottoman era already had concepts of consent in medical procedures dating back to the 16th century, challenging the assumption that informed consent is a modern invention and highlighting a long-standing tradition of formalized agreement in medical contexts.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

What is Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Historical storytelling with a counterpoint to mainstream narratives, highlighting rebels, labor struggles, and insurgent lives through long-form conversations and book-club style discussions. Episodes frequently center activists, writers, historians, and artists who illuminate underrepresented resistance movements, often tying past struggles to contemporary social change. Notable strengths include rigorous context, accessible narration, and a mix of archival sourcing with personal storytelling, making complex history engaging for listeners who enjoy deep dives and thoughtful analysis. Potential listeners should expect rich, character-driven histories, with occasional tangents and a thriving, community-oriented vibe around revolutionary ide... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff:

1. It Could Happen Here
2. Weird Little Guys
3. Live Like the World is Dying
4. Behind the Bastards
5. Hood Politics with Prop

How many episodes of Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff are there?

Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff launched 4 years ago and published 575 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff?

Recent guests on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff include:

1. Cory Doctorow
2. Prince Shakur
3. Cristen Conger
4. Adam Gnade
5. Joe Kassabian
6. Jason Petty
7. Kaveh Hoda
8. Randy Carter

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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