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Very Special Episodes

iHeartPodcasts
World War II
Atari
Hoaxes
Lawrence Lemieux
Mark Twain
Olympics
Palisade
Superman
Tornado
Eugene Bullard
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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes85Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EducationHistory

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Artwork for Very Special Episodes

Latest Episodes

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

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

Emma Sweet
Child with Xeroderma Pigmentosum (XP)
Family featured in episode
Episode: Children of the Moon
Amy Townley
XP patient and mother advocating for awareness
XP community member / Sun Escape program
Episode: Children of the Moon
Craig Leopard
Person with EPP (erythropoetic protoporphyria), XP-like sensitivity
XP community member
Episode: Children of the Moon
Dr. Robert Sarkany
Dermatologist and physician leading XP research
Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital, London
Episode: Children of the Moon
Jim Wright
Author of The Real James Bond, a biographer discussing the James Bond name origin
Temple University? (as per references)
Episode: The Other James Bond
Jessica Korgie
Granddaughter of Gene Fleming who grew up with Andy and later helped preserve his story
Family of Gene Fleming
Episode: The Mysterious Death of Andy the Sneaker-Wearing Goose [Re-Release]
Todd Snider
Folk musician and interviewee who wrote a song inspired by Dock Ellis's no-hitter on acid
Musician
Episode: Dock Ellis: High and Outside
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)

Hosts

Dana Schwartz
Host of Very Special Episodes; notable for storytelling through archival and narrative nonfiction
Jason English
Co-host focused on guiding discussions and providing narrative structure
Zaron Burnett
Host bringing historical perspective and reporting experience

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 406 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 States2 months 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
    Australia2 months ago
  • Good stories

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

    Podcast Addict
    4
    Oleg
    3 months 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 States4 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
    6 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Guests bring credible voices, but some episodes attract polarized feedback on topic sensitivity.
Listeners often praise the host chemistry and well-researched topics, though some critique pacing and music choices.
The production quality and narrator delivery are top-notch, with strong storytelling momentum.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#145
United States/History
Apple Podcasts
#225
South Africa/History
Apple Podcasts
#239
Finland/History
Apple Podcasts
#239
New Zealand/History
Apple Podcasts
#240
Ireland/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?

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.

Where can I find podcast stats for Very Special Episodes?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Very Special Episodes. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Very Special Episodes and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Very Special Episodes get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Very Special Episodes, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Very Special Episodes?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Very Special Episodes, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

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. Ridiculous History
5. Decoder Ring

How many episodes of Very Special Episodes are there?

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.

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.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Very Special Episodes?

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What guests have appeared on Very Special Episodes?

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

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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