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Very Special Episodes

iHeartPodcasts
World War II
Atari
Hoaxes
Lawrence Lemieux
Mark Twain
Olympics
Palisade
Superman
Eugene Bullard
Tornado
Wild West
Nancy Drew
John F. Kennedy
Cabbage Patch Kids
March Madness
Pledge Of Allegiance
Consumer Behavior
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Paletas
American History

On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Stranger-than-fiction tales about normal people in extraordinary situations. Stories that make you say, “this should be a movie.” Follow Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes78Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationHistory

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Artwork for Very Special Episodes

Latest Episodes

Time for another mailbag episode! This week Dana, Zaron, and Jason answer pressing listener questions on yearbook quotes, hidden talents, and ads they'd read for free. Plus they plan a Very Special Festival (and/or Cruise).

We'll be back with a ne... more

Today's episode is a tour of New York’s secret history with a very special guest!

Greg Young of the beloved Bowery Boys podcast joins us to prove the world is a very interesting place, if you just know where to look. There's hidden history in subwa... more

Today we're sharing an excerpt from a new soccer podcast, The Away End with John Green and Daniel Alarcón. In a recent episode they covered the 1994 Caribbean Cup, which felt very Very Special Episodes-y. If you like soccer or enjoy listening to smar... more

Long before the NCAA Basketball Tournament became a billion-dollar business, there was a massive betting pool run out of a neighborhood bar on Staten Island. The Irish pub’s $10 game handed out million-dollar prizes and drew players from around the w... 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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Recent Guests

Greg Young
Historian and half of the Bowery Boys podcast duo
Bowery Boys Podcast
Episode: Marilyn, Hamilton + John Wilkes Booth's Statue: NYC History Hiding in Plain Sight
John Green
Author and writer, guest on The Away End conversation
The Away End
Episode: The Unintended Insanity of the 1994 Caribbean Cup (w/John Green and Daniel Alarcón of The Away End)
Daniel Alarcón
Author and writer, guest on The Away End conversation
The Away End
Episode: The Unintended Insanity of the 1994 Caribbean Cup (w/John Green and Daniel Alarcón of The Away End)
Terrence Hagerty
Terrence Hagerty, son of Jody Hagerty, interviewee
Hagerty family (Jody's Club Forest)
Episode: Bar Trivia: How a Staten Island Pub Made College Hoops History
Zeke Burnett
Pops, guest discussing Nixon, crime, and jazz legends
Guest (family of host)
Episode: Richard Nixon and the Magic Suitcase
Alex Wellerstein
Harvard-educated historian of science; nuclear historian
Stevens Institute of Technology
Episode: 10 Minutes to Live: Hawaii's Text Message Fiasco of 2018
Cynthia Lazeroff
Documentary filmmaker with focus on US-Russia relations and nuclear weapons
Independent/Documentary filmmaker
Episode: 10 Minutes to Live: Hawaii's Text Message Fiasco of 2018
Bruce Lazaroff
Nuclear expert and husband of Cynthia, involved in safety discussions
Nuclear expert
Episode: 10 Minutes to Live: Hawaii's Text Message Fiasco of 2018
Holly Dubé
Part-time Kauai resident; songwriter
Independent
Episode: 10 Minutes to Live: Hawaii's Text Message Fiasco of 2018

Hosts

Dana Schwartz
Host of very special episodes with history and storytelling focus
Zaron Burnett
Co-host with deep dives into historical narratives and storytelling
Jason English
Co-host contributing analysis and context on various episodes

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 402 ratings
  • Hit or miss

    Some weeks you’ll get something fascinating. Others are meh. A few have me taking off my headphones at the end and wondering what was the point of all that. I have to agree with another reviewer that the Andy the Goose story was useless. Just a way for a woman to capitalize on her poor grandfather’s dead pet. No justice or anything, just 💰. This is the most uneven podcast I listen to, and if it goes off the air, I won’t miss it all that much. Listen to the hosts’ other works instead.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Redjill
    United Statesa month ago
  • Amazing stories,distracting music

    The research and narratives are unreal and I love all the presenters and follow their other podcasts but the non stop background music on these ones drives me insane. Would be so good with just a little negative space.. please. I beg you. Every sentence doesn’t need a backup singer

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    jkcarr2
    Australiaa month ago
  • Good stories

    Slightly too much modernisms and references that are probably only good in two sheets of LA.

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Oleg
    a month ago
  • Ok

    Show topics are interesting but host, Dana Schwartz’s reading style is terrible. Zaron Burnett is always a pleasure to listen to and Jason English is fine.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Dai Dege
    United States3 months ago
  • This one is really fun. It's crazy that something as mundane as KFC (in the US) would be such a big deal in other countries.

    I read an article many years ago about KFC's popularity in Gaza. (Way before the mess that's there now.) Taxi drivers would take dozens of orders from Gazans and drive an obstacle course of checkpoints into Egypt. They'd collect the food, and drive it back to Gaza.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    Litlover
    4 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Some episodes receive mixed reviews on pacing or presentation style, suggesting room for a tighter narrative rhythm.
Guests and topics are varied, offering fresh angles on history and culture.
Overall, high production quality and engaging storytelling drive strong listener engagement.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#247
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#86
India/History
Apple Podcasts
#208
South Africa/History

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Marilyn, Hamilton + John Wilkes Booth's Statue: NYC History Hiding in Plain Sight
Q: Dana, tell us about your trip to New York City.
Dana describes her aim to discover ordinary locations that hide extraordinary histories, emphasizing how stepping off the beaten path reveals a web of stories tied to the city's past and present.
A Very Special Mini-Mailbag
Q: Are there any products you love enough to endorse for free?
All three share personal favorite brands they rely on, noting that their endorsements are influenced by personal use and practicality, not contractual obligations, and they are open to discussions with brands that align with their tastes.
A Very Special Mini-Mailbag
Q: Do you three have any control over which ads run in the show?
They explain they have limited control, blocking certain categories and often reading ads based on who they are, where listeners live, and past listening history, rather than vetoing each individual ad.
Being Joe Isuzu
Q: Why do you think America loved Joe Isuzu so much?
The appeal seemed simple; he was goofy looking and funny, and people found his outrageous lies charming.
Being Joe Isuzu
Q: What does Joe Isuzu think about the state of our modern world?
Joe Isuzu's character was a charming liar, contrasting the more serious implications of lying in the modern context, where truth feels distorted and heavily influenced by personal opinions rather than objective reality.

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 Very Special Episodes

What is Very Special Episodes about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show curates one extraordinary true story each week, blending historical research, archival context, and narrative storytelling. Episodes span topics from historical mysteries and political history to unusual sport sagas and cultural phenomena, often featuring expert guests who illuminate the period or theme. The format pairs engaging narration with insightful discussion, producing a bingeable mix of discovery and analysis that appeals to curious, story-driven listeners who enjoy learning through well-researched storytelling.

Unique strengths include a diverse slate of guests from historians and museum professionals to authors and journalists, plus historically themed episodes that tie micro-histories to larger cultural narratives. Th... more

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How many listeners does Very Special Episodes get?

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How many subscribers and views does Very Special Episodes have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Very Special Episodes has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Very Special Episodes?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Very Special Episodes:

1. Noble Blood
2. Hoax!
3. Ridiculous Crime
4. Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities
5. Decoder Ring

How many episodes of Very Special Episodes are there?

Very Special Episodes launched 2 years ago and published 78 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Very Special Episodes?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Very Special Episodes?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Very Special Episodes from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

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What guests have appeared on Very Special Episodes?

Recent guests on Very Special Episodes include:

1. Greg Young
2. John Green
3. Daniel Alarcón
4. Terrence Hagerty
5. Zeke Burnett
6. Alex Wellerstein
7. Cynthia Lazeroff
8. Bruce Lazaroff

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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