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History · Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

by Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts

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 podcast focuses on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff.

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

CZM Book Club Presents: Stories from "Black Box," by Mata Kastrisiou and translated by Kostas Kaltsas

Margaret reads you 4 very short, dream like stories from a collection by a Greek author See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 27
40 min

CZM Rewind: Part One: The Newsies on Strike: Soaking Scabs and Taking Names

Margaret talks with writer and podcast host Andrew Ti about how an informal union of children shut down the nation’s biggest newspapers and won their rights. Original A

Sep 23
1 h 08 min

Part One: Autistici/Inventati and the Fight for the Autonomous Internet

Margaret talks to you about Trump's latest boogieman, the Italian hacktavists who helped free the internet Sources: https://publish.fid-media.de/server/api/core/bitst

Sep 21
38 min

CZM Book Club: Ocotillo, by Madeline ffitch

Margaret reads you a surreal story about the surreal Southwest, written by one of her favorite authors See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 20
43 min

AI Doesn't Work and We All Know It Doesn't Work

Margaret reads you an essay about the lying machines that will soon be ruling the world See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sep 16
25 min

Beyond Climate Optimism, Beyond Climate Pessimism

Margaret reads you an essay about how we have to soberly confront the realities of climate change and look for ways we can collectively take action Source: https://ma

Sep 14
32 min

CZM Book Club: Reverse Book Club: Talking "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" with Bridget, Hazel and All of You

To close out Black August, Margaret sits down with Bridget Todd and Hazel Acacia to finish talking about one of the most iconic Trek episodes ever made (S6E13: Far Beyond

Sep 13
30 min

Part Four: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance

Margaret finishes telling you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/1

Sep 9
31 min

Part Three: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance

This week, Margaret goes even deeper into the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwc

Sep 7
36 min

CZM Reverse Book Club: Talking "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" with Bridget, Hazel, and All of You

To close out Black August, Margaret sits down with Bridget Todd and Hazel Acacia to talk about one of the most iconic Trek episodes ever made (S6E13: Far Beyond the Stars

Sep 6
33 min

Part Two: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance

Margaret continues telling you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/

Sep 2
40 min

Part One: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance

Margaret tells you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-

Aug 31
43 min

Introducing: Natural Causes

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

Aug 28
2 min

Part Four: Big Annie Clemenc and the Copper Strike of 1913

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 Sourc

Aug 26
31 min

Part Three: Big Annie Clemenc and the Copper Strike of 1913

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 Sour

Aug 24
34 min

CZM Book Club: Jesus Christ in Texas, by W.E.B. DuBois

Margaret reads a story about a strange visitor by a civil rights activist and writer See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 23
33 min

Part Two: Big Annie Clemenc and the Copper Strike of 1913

Margaret tells you 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: http

Aug 19
36 min

Part One: Big Annie Clemenc and the Copper Strike of 1913

Margaret tells you 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: http

Aug 17
28 min

CZM Book Club: The Storming of the Bastille, by Alexandre Dumas

Margaret reads you a story about the French Revolution and the destruction of a prison See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aug 16
44 min

Part Two: Cory Doctorow on Speculative Fiction for Social Change

Margaret continues her interview with author and activist Cory Doctorow about the role of fiction in making a better world See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform

Aug 12
37 min

Chart trend

Position in the History chart (US), last 90 days.

#39
all-time peak
7
days in the top 50 since Nov 2024

Chart positions

Where Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 27, 2026).

#113 ▼ 12 History US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

Love this podcast. History is interesting but sometimes dry and this podcast makes it so entertaining and easy to follow. I learn a ton every time. Also, I wanna hear from Danil. Hi Danil!

notjanewolff · Aug 2024

Love learning about all the under-taught, radical subjects of history covered on the podcast. Margaret does a great job researching and keeping the nuance of her subjects. ❤️ Would love to hear her cover Clarence Darrow. He seems like a cool guy who did cool stuff. Hope he wasn’t a bad husband.

Hel-raiser · Jun 2024

I love learning about history through story. Margaret is absolutely amazing- I appreciate all of the context and love the “rants” too! The guests are always a wonderful addition. The addition of book club Sundays has brought me so much joy! Thank you for existing ❤️

B Rat 🐀 · May 2024

Amazing material, amazing conversations, amazing narrator, amazing guests, amazing dynamic! P.S. the people who say you go on too many tangents are technically not wrong, but please, please, please don’t listen to them. I love podcasts narrated by chaotic ADHD people like myself :D

Platypusoppossum · May 2024

This podcast is a mess. Even listening to it sped up the pace was unbelievably slow and they spent an hour covering what would have taken 20 minutes and been more entertaining on a different podcast. The idea is good but execution is seriously lacking.

aabfrvr · Jul 2024

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About Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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