Let's Start a Coup!

Gene Fleming and his pet goose Andy made headlines around the world. They brought out the best in the people of Hastings, Nebraska. But amid all this attention, Andy also brought out the worst. And three decades later, Andy's legacy is still reverberating around their hometown. * On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Subscribe to VSE wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 26, 1965, LBJ issued a surprise executive order eliminating marriage as grounds for deferment from the Vietnam draft. The unexpected announcement set off a panic across the country. But if you could somehow get married before midnight, you might be in the clear. The problem was, nearly every state required blood tests or a waiting period — every state, that is, except Nevada. * On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Subscribe to VSE wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stuffed crust pizza. Grilled cheese burritos. How did so much cheese get into so many things? On today's episode, we peel back the curtain on the Dairy Industrial Complex — AKA Big Parma. * VERY SPECIAL CREDITS On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Today’s Episode Was Written and Hosted by Very Special Guest Stars Ben Bowlin and Alex French Producer is Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs Additional Editing by Mary Dooe Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, please leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach the show at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deep in the American desert is a tiny, tiny, tiny nation: The Republic of Zaqistan. Guarded by robots, Zaqistan nonetheless welcomed new citizens for more than 15 years - until it fell into ruins. Now the eponymous founder wants to rebuild. Join hosts Ryan Murdock, Gabbie Watts and Zaron Burnett on a journey to uncharted territory … to the nation of Zaqistan…and the upside-down world of micronations. Along the way, they meet some crazy characters - the President of Molossia, the Sultan of Slowjamastan, the Princess of Sancrotosia to name a few. Follow Murdock as he risks  life and limb in the name of nation-building, and find out the answer to the question: what exactly is a nation, anyway? Listen here and subscribe to Escape From Zaqistan on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi, Let's Start a Coup listeners! iHeartPodcasts has geared up for a riveting new podcast called Rip Current hosted by Toby Ball! California, September 1975. Within a span of 17 days and less than 90 miles, two women, working separately, tried to assassinate the president of the United States, Gerald R. Ford. These are the only two times we know of that a woman has tried to assassinate an American president. Tune in to this top-tier true crime story, but don't just take our word for it, check out the trailer to decide for yourself! Listen to Rip Current on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hi, LSAC fans! iHeartPodcasts and TenderfootTV are excited to tell you about the Flashpoint podcast. Host Cole Locascio investigates to complex topics surrounding the 1996 Olympic bombings in Atlanta, Ga. We think you'll want to hear this, but you don't have to take our word for it. Check out the trailer and decide if this is your next listen! Show Description: On July 27th, 1996, a domestic terrorist bombed the Summer Olympic Games held in Atlanta, GA. While the FBI and the media fixated on the wrong man, the bomber planned his next, more overtly political attacks on 2 abortion clinics and a gay nightclub. The bomber would later be identified as a dedicated soldier in the white-supremacist Christian Identity Movement. Through the lens of these 4 bombings, and the victims left to pick up the pieces, Flashpoint explores America's greatest threat, the political and religious radicalization of homegrown terrorists. Listen to Flashpoint on the free iHeartRadio app, or wherever you get your podcasts!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Medal of Honor is the United States' highest military award. It is awarded for bravery in combat that goes far above and beyond the call of duty– those acts of heroism and courage that save lives despite impossible risk. Since its inception in 1861, at the outset of the Civil War, more than 3,500 people have received the Medal of Honor. This podcast is about those heroes. What they did. What it meant. And what their stories tell us about the nature of sacrifice– and about ourselves. Listen here or on the iHeartRadio app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 1904 St. Louis Olympics featured the strangest sporting event in history. During the marathon, runners paused for naps, got chased by dogs, went apple picking, and doped with rat poison — all while being unwitting participants in a cruel scientific experiment. * Thanks for listening! Our next episode comes out Wednesday, June 26th. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten by Lucas ReillyProduced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design: Emily MarinoffMixing and Mastering: Baheed FrazierStory Editor: Marisa BrownResearch and Fact-Checking: Austin Thompson and Lucas ReillyMedal-Worthy Voice-Acting: Karl Keadle and Josh FisherOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer: Jason English Want to email the show? Go for it. You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mykal Riley's name isn't mentioned alongside the likes of Steph Curry or Larry Bird. But neither of those guys can say they hit a three-pointer that literally saved thousands of lives. * VERY SPECIAL CREDITSHosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten by Dave RoosProduced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From the fall of the Taliban until its return, people all over Afghanistan planned their lives around Afghan Star. People would pack into apartments. Villages would hook up generators to a single tv so crowds could watch. New Year's celebrations would come to a halt, all to watch this one show. Over its 15 seasons, Afghan Star spotlighted an Afghanistan that could be: women singing without hijabs, Afghanistan's first rapper, people of warring ethnic groups hugging and cheering for each other on stage. And it launched a cultural revolution. This is the story behind it all– from how a ragtag team scrambled to make the show every week, to the dangers they faced for trying to push the country forward. In Afghanistan, a cultural revolution was televised through a musical talent show, and this is its story. Hosted by John Legend. Listen here or on the iHeartRadio app.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy was a French countess with a dubious claim to nobility and one brilliant idea: she was going to steal a diamond necklace from Louis XVI. After weaseling her way into court, Jeanne impersonates Marie Antoinette in a series of letters, starts a tabloid scandal, and inadvertently lights the fuse of the French Revolution. *On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishResearch, Writing, and Interviews for today's episode provided by Wonder Media NetworkProduced by Josh Fisher Story Editor is Marisa BrownEditing and Sound Design by Emily MarinoffMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierVoice Actors: Coco-Margeaux Rodale and Tom AntonellisOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English Special thanks to Jenny Kaplan, Emily Rudder, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, and Lauren Williams. Thanks for listening! You don't owe us any favors. But if you enjoy the show and want to do us one anyway, could you head over to your favorite podcast platform(s) and leave us a rating?  Now you can email the show: veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, we present a smattering of stories you might have missed. If you've inhaled all these, email us — veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com — and we'll recommend something else worth your time. Operation Lunar EclipseApple • Spotify • iHeart Boat TripApple • Spotify • iHeart The PledgeApple • Spotify • iHeart Old Man on CampusApple • Spotify • iHeart Seed WarsApple • Spotify • iHeart We're back with a new episode on May 15th!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martha's Vineyard once was a place you could gossip with neighbors, shop for supplies, or play a cutthroat game of cards — all without saying a word. That's because it had a thriving Deaf community. Residents, Deaf and hearing alike, communicated with a unique version of sign language that predates ASL. But it's mostly forgotten today.  Today we dig into Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) and the folks who are working to keep its history. * On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Joanna Sokolowski and Julia SmithAdditional Writing by Marisa BrownProduced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Josh ThaneMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierStory Editors are Abbey Stone and Marisa BrownResearch and Fact-Checking by Meredith Danko, Austin Thompson, Joanna Sokolowski, and Julia SmithOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English Oral history clips with Eric Cottle, Everett Poole, Sydney Harris, and Jane Slater are excerpted from interviews conducted with Linsey Lee, Martha's Vineyard Museum Oral History Curator. Courtesy of the Martha's Vineyard Museum.  ASL interpretation for Nyle DiMarco by Grey Van Pelt. Thanks for listening! You don't owe us any favors. But if you enjoy the show and want to do us one anyway, could you head over to your favorite podcast platform(s) and leave us a rating? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the 1870s, Palisade, NV was the meanest little town west of the Mississippi. Every week, newspapers announced another gunpowder-fueled cowboy showdown. Palisade put the wild in the “Wild West.” But there was a lot more to the story that didn't make the papers. * Very Special Episodes is a podcast with a simple premise: we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten by Lucas ReillyProduced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierResearch and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Lucas ReillyVoice Actors: Josh Fisher, Zaron Burnett, Karl KeadleOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platforms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the main event. The greatest botany rivalry in history! It's Vavilov vs. Lysenko for the fate of the Soviet Union.  In the 1920s and '30s, Nikolai Vavilov was a big deal. He was studying seed genetics and learning how to prevent famines. Everyone wanted to work with him. Including a young kid named Trofim Lysenko.   Lysenko studied with Vavilov. They were friends. But years later, Lysenko turned on his mentor, and turned against science. This became a problem, because Lysenko was good buddies with Stalin. The feud would bring the Soviet Union to its knees. And it would force Vavilov to make a fateful choice: one between the truth … or his life.   * Very Special Episodes is a new podcast with a simple premise: we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten by Lucas ReillyProduced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsAdditional Editing by Jonathan WashingtonMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierStory Editor is Josh FisherResearch and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Lucas ReillyVoice Actors: Tom Antonellis, Zaron Burnett, Josh Fisher, and Chris ChildsOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English Hear Also...Noble Blood: Catherine the Great and Her Husband the MediocreNoble Blood: The Ice QueenRidiculous Crime: Dope Floats: The Uncrashable Gary Betzner And here's Peter Pringle's excellent book on Vavilov mentioned in the episode. Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platforms. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Very Special Episodes, 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. Listen here or on the iHeartRadio app. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who Killed JFK? For 60 years, we are still asking that question. In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's tragic assassination, legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner teams up with award-winning journalist Soledad O'Brien to tell the history of America's greatest murder mystery. They interview CIA officials, medical experts, Pulitzer-prize winning journalists, eyewitnesses and a former Secret Service agent who, in 2023, came forward with groundbreaking new evidence. They dig deep into the layers of the 60-year-old question ‘Who Killed JFK?', how that question has shaped America, and why it matters that we're still asking it today. Listen to Who Killed JFK? on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-who-killed-jfk-127000428/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Congressional investigation is, surprise, a farce. Those in office – heavily influenced by their powerful donors – seem determined to prevent any genuine attempt at investigating Smedley's evidence. The press, controlled by the same forces, dismisses his claims as the paranoid ramblings of an old, no longer relevant relic of a bygone age. Yet the nation is listening. The original gonzo journalist John Spivak digs into the story – and he is able to prove Smedley's claims. What happens next?  LINK: http://coat.ncf.ca/our_magazine/links/53/spivak-NewMasses.pdf  (Page 8 for conspiracy board)  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the conspiracy to overthrow the United States government rushes from idea to action, Major General Smedley Butler draws a line in the sand. From what he can tell, the country's most powerful people have both the money and the political will to betray their own nation. And he knows the plotters' mercenary army could outnumber U.S. forces. Smedley orders a pizza and then blows the whistle, triggering a Congressional investigation. Yet, it seems, Smedley forgot one important thing: the shadowy forces plotting the coup may have already bought Congress.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alex and Ben have done their best to be fair and objective in their exploration of the coup, but one Marine objects. In this week's episode, Smedley Butler (played by Joe Kinosian) takes the mic to tell the story from his perspective. Looking back on his career as a hard-nosed death-dealer for Big Business, Smedley wonders: What led him to this point? Where will he go next?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You may say time machines don't exist… but this week iHeart sends Ben and Alex back to the 1930's for a gut-busting, guided tour of the dark, smoky rooms where a clandestine crew of ultra-wealthy schemers concocted the Business Plot. Our hosts consult with a cavalcade of sketchy historical figures, leading Ben and Alex to begin connecting the dots of the grand conspiracy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While history books and Hollywood like their stories in simple black and white, real life is much more complicated. So, what made Major General Butler the ideal candidate to lead a coup? In this week's episode – against Smedley's wishes – Ben and Alex dive into the Major General's dark backstory to explore why the bankers believed he was the man they were looking for.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nowadays, most people can agree that fascism is, well, a bad thing. But back in the 1930s, life absolutely sucked for most Americans, and fascism still had a sort of new car smell. Wall Street bankers were convinced they could take their country back from the clutches of ‘class traitors' like Roosevelt, sink the New Deal and put the United States on a better – meaning more profitable – path.  They had the money. They had an army. Now all they needed was a leader.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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