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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

Part One: Jim Henson: A Complicated Guy Who Made Stories I Really Like

#23 trending · History

Margaret talks to Andrew Ti about the strange hippie who found mainstream success with a message of peace and puppets Sources: https://www.gothamcenter.org/blog/bread

Oct 19
55 min

CZM Book Club: "Ark of Bones," by Henry Dumas with Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond (Part 2)

We continue our conversation with Dr. Treasure about Herny Dumas and touch on all sorts of topics from Hoodoo to Fannie Lou Hamer to being mentored by one's father. See

Oct 18
42 min

Introducing: Knowledge Fight Country

Knowledge Fight Country is a platform where Dan Friesen and his guests can chew over the biggest and best ideas being disseminated in right wing media. Through a focus on

Oct 15
3 min

Part Two: The Warner Creek Free State: The Camp That Lasted a Year and Won

Margaret continues talking with Hazel Robin about the 30th anniversary of the successful fight to save Warner Creek in Oregon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf

Oct 14
59 min

Part One: The Warner Creek Free State: The Camp That Lasted a Year and Won

Margaret talks with Hazel Robin about the 30th anniversary of the successful fight to save Warner Creek in Oregon See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oct 12
54 min

CZM Book Club: "Ark of Bones," by Henry Dumas with Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond (Part 1)

Dr. Treasure Shields Redmond reads Margaret and Hazel a ghost story about transcendance, legacy and an unearthly river boat, by exalted ancestor Henry Dumas who was murde

Oct 11
42 min

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

Margaret finishes talking to you about the history behind Trump's latest boogieman, the Italian hacktavists who helped free the internet. Sources: https://chuffed.org

Oct 7
40 min

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

This week, Margaret continues talking to you about the history behind Trump's latest boogieman, the Italian hacktavists who helped free the internet. Sources: https:/

Oct 5
40 min

CZM Book Club: "The Devil Lives Here," by Margaret Killjoy

Margaret kicks off spooky month by sharing a spooky story of her own about a haunted cave and the 90s teens who get lost in it See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in

Oct 4
41 min

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

Margaret talks to you about the US's long history of intervention in Italian politics. Sources: https://chuffed.org/project/alexio-mutual-aid  https://publish.fid-m

Sep 30
38 min

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

In part two of this week's episode, Margaret continues her conversation with writer and podcast host Andrew Ti about how an informal union of children shut down the natio

Sep 28
1 h 09 min

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

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, Oct 20, 2026).

#91 ▲ 13 History US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

I’ve been listening to this podcast for awhile after learning about it on BtB. Though I’ve never met her, I can tell Margaret is just such a lovely human being. This show and Margaret’s optimism are helping me to keep going in a time that so many things feel impossible. Thanks ❤️

LoGo_1 · Feb 2026

Fun podcast that’s a mix of history wrapped up in modern day anecdotes. Great way to learn about the equally important - but often overlooked - parts of our histories.

Jayce2171 · Jan 2026

The history is lovely and wonderful, but I love more than anything the stories she curates and reads. Margaret is a great storyteller, whether it’s her own work or reading someone else’s. I even subscribed just so I could listen to her voice without it interruptions from god-awful ads. The stories keep me hanging on, so thanks for that.

trendy_gwendy · Oct 2025

Radical history told in an accessible and entertaining way through an anarchist lens. Well-researched deep dives. This show is an incredible resource. I’ve listened to every episode and there’s not a bad one in the bunch. My only gripe is that sometimes they reference seemingly nonexistent “show notes.” It would be amazing if the sources were listed for each episode.

10DaysLateIsABadLook · Aug 2025

I am very aware that podcast hosts are due their personal anecdotes and banter, and grant them that; but I had to abort my attempt to listen to the Baba Yaga episode because it just wouldn’t stay on topic even at the beginning. I’d suggest keeping banter in blocks, vs shoehorning it into each phase of the topic, so much so that listeners (at least this one) cannot become engaged in the story.

OldDexters · Oct 2025

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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