
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.
| Publishes | Weekly | Episodes | 85 | Founded | 2 years ago |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of Listeners | Categories | EducationHistory | |||

In 1968, a woman wrote a romantic story about Kirk and Spock, passed it quietly among friends, and hoped it would never see the light of day. Before vanishing entirely, The Ring of Soshern had become the stuff of legend. The quest to recover it would... more
In the winter of 1939, Finland faced overwhelming odds. The Soviet Union was invading with hundreds of thousands of troops. Standing in their way was an unlikely defender: a shy farmer and expert marksman who would later become known as “The White De... more
Emma has never felt the sun on her skin. Born with a rare condition that makes UV light dangerous, she lives by sunscreen, meters, and moonlight. But she’s also part of a community finding extraordinary ways to make ordinary childhood possible. And t... more
When Ian Fleming needed a name for the secret agent at the center of his new novel, he stole one from the cover of a birdwatching book. The real James Bond wasn’t a martini-drinking spy, but a shy American ornithologist who spent decades exploring th... more
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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.
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
Good stories
Slightly too much modernisms and references that are probably only good in two sheets of LA.
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.
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.
Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.
How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.
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Apple Podcasts | #225 | |
Apple Podcasts | #239 | |
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Apple Podcasts | #240 |
Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.
Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.
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The show curates long-form, immersive storytelling around unusual but true histories and cultural curiosities, blending archival material, expert context, and personal memory. Episodes often thread local legends, sports lore, political intrigue, and overlooked moments in broad cultural narratives, with strong narration and a conversational panel. Noteworthy is the mix of researchers, historians, authors, and journalists who anchor broader themes in human moments, making complex history accessible and highly engaging for curious listeners who enjoy well-produced, narrative nonfiction with a historical bent.
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Very Special Episodes launched 2 years ago and published 85 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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Recent guests on Very Special Episodes include:
1. Emma Sweet
2. Amy Townley
3. Craig Leopard
4. Dr. Robert Sarkany
5. Jim Wright
6. Jessica Korgie
7. Todd Snider
8. Greg Young
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