
Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff
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

Mar 5, 2025 • 54min
Part Two: Lesbian Mutual AID During the AIDS Crisis
Margaret continues talking with Andrew Ti about the mutual aid and solidarity offered by lesbians in the 1980s. https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/ward-5b-documentary/ https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/14/us/ward-5b-a-model-of-care-for-aids.html https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/06/26/736060834/1st-aids-ward-5b-fought-to-give-patients-compassionate-care-dignified-deaths https://www.reddit.com/r/Actuallylesbian/comments/16uyn8i/are_there_more_nuanced_accounts_of_lesbians/ https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/gay-bisexual-men-can-donate-blood-new-fda-rules-rcna83937 https://gcn.ie/lesbian-blood-sisters-crucial-1980s-aids/ https://womensmuseum.wordpress.com/2019/04/10/the-blood-sisters-of-san-diego/#:~:text=Wendy%20Sue%20Biegeleisen%2C%20Nicolette%20Ibarra,in%20at%20least%20130%20donations. https://www.thebody.com/article/candy-marcum-therapist-since-aids-early-days https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Wellness/nurse-cared-aids-patients-1980s-epidemic-explains-fight/story?id=63970606 https://onlineexhibits.library.yale.edu/s/we-are-everywhere/page/why-are-women-invisible-in-the-aids-pandemic https://onlineexhibits.library.yale.edu/s/we-are-everywhere/page/lesbian-aids-activism https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/07/us/aids-definition-excludes-women-congress-is-told.html https://www.acon.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/Ann-Maree-Sweeney-today.pdf https://inews.co.uk/opinion/comment/the-lesbian-blood-sisters-who-helped-save-gay-mens-lives-235100?srsltid=AfmBOorQfWpzL-6iOSpigFOpkO8TeyPRA03Z7I1qPQELuO1cW9hVbTPy http://www.thedallasway.org/stories/written/2017/11/24/howie-daire https://www.texasobituaryproject.org/081983daire.html https://time.com/archive/6703557/guerrilla-drug-trials-the-underground-test-of-compound-q/ https://www.quietheroes.net/about https://www.cscsisters.org/holy-cross-quiet-heroes/ https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/blog/aids-epidemic-lasting-impact-gay-men/ https://www.workingnurse.com/articles/the-nurses-of-ward-5b/ https://www.npr.org/2019/12/01/783932572/how-the-catholic-church-aided-both-the-sick-and-the-sickness-as-hiv-spreadSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 3, 2025 • 48min
Part One: Lesbian Mutual AID During the AIDS Crisis
Andrew Ti, host of 'Yo Is This Racist,' dives into the invaluable role of lesbians during the 1980s AIDS crisis. He shares gripping stories of mutual aid, showcasing how grassroots efforts provided vital support to marginalized communities. The discussion touches on the evolution of LGBTQ+ activism, the importance of solidarity in health crises, and the enduring emotional connections forged through acts of care. Ti highlights how these historical responses resonate with today's social justice movements, emphasizing resilience in the face of stigma.

Mar 2, 2025 • 29min
CZM Book Club: Cool Zone 2055: The Peace Department
Margaret reports from the whimsical future where dinosaurs coexist with humans in a quirky, yet critical exploration of societal issues. Discussions dive into the contrasts between war and peace, featuring a fascinating character from the Peace Department. The podcast humorously tackles the commercialization of activism and reflects on nostalgic past movements. With a focus on climate change's existential threats and a call to fight fascism, listeners are taken on a thought-provoking journey through a creatively united society.

Feb 26, 2025 • 1h 5min
Part Four: Crass: How Some Hippies Reinvented Punk and Changed the World
Margaret talks even further with Jolie Holland about a multigenerational punk band from the 70s that introduced punk ethics to punk rock. https://expmag.com/2019/01/when-your-real-life-friend-is-your-facebook-troll/ Rebel Clothes, Rebel Songs, Rebel Pose: Anarchists on Punk Rock 1977-2010, anonymous https://www.ubu.com/papers/cage_montague_interview.html John Cage, Anarchy The Story of Crass, George Berger https://crosseyedpianist.com/2017/07/15/silence-presence-and-challenging-conventions-thoughts-on-john-cages-433/ https://www.soundoflife.com/blogs/mixtape/history-punk-music https://fastnbulbous.com/punk/ https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/punk-politics-music-rebellion/ https://beltmag.com/mc5-detroits-godfathers-of-punk/ https://dangerousminds.net/comments/our_wedding_crasss_magnificent_romance_mag_prank https://www.fifthestate.org/archive/301-february-26-1980/british-anarchists-found-not-guilty/ https://thehippiesnowwearblack.org.uk/2016/03/12/vi-subversa-and-poison-girls-an-appreciation/ https://www.ukrockfestivals.com/henge-history-80.html https://jprobinson.medium.com/the-rotten-etymology-of-punk-86db2fcc16f8 https://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/crass-thatchergate-prank https://libcom.org/article/stop-city-demonstrations-1983-1984See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 24, 2025 • 58min
Part Three: Crass: How Some Hippies Reinvented Punk and Changed the World
Margaret talks further with Jolie Holland about a multigenerational punk band from the 70s that introduced punk ethics to punk rock. https://expmag.com/2019/01/when-your-real-life-friend-is-your-facebook-troll/ Rebel Clothes, Rebel Songs, Rebel Pose: Anarchists on Punk Rock 1977-2010, anonymous https://www.ubu.com/papers/cage_montague_interview.html John Cage, Anarchy The Story of Crass, George Berger https://crosseyedpianist.com/2017/07/15/silence-presence-and-challenging-conventions-thoughts-on-john-cages-433/ https://www.soundoflife.com/blogs/mixtape/history-punk-music https://fastnbulbous.com/punk/ https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/punk-politics-music-rebellion/ https://beltmag.com/mc5-detroits-godfathers-of-punk/ https://dangerousminds.net/comments/our_wedding_crasss_magnificent_romance_mag_prank https://www.fifthestate.org/archive/301-february-26-1980/british-anarchists-found-not-guilty/ https://thehippiesnowwearblack.org.uk/2016/03/12/vi-subversa-and-poison-girls-an-appreciation/ https://www.ukrockfestivals.com/henge-history-80.html https://jprobinson.medium.com/the-rotten-etymology-of-punk-86db2fcc16f8 https://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/crass-thatchergate-prank https://libcom.org/article/stop-city-demonstrations-1983-1984See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 23, 2025 • 23min
CZM Book Club: Cool Zone 2055: The Last Report from Mx. Murder
Margaret from the future relays the last message from Mx. Bunny Face Murder.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 19, 2025 • 54min
Part Two: Crass: How Some Hippies Reinvented Punk and Changed the World
Margaret continues to talk with Jolie Holland about a multigenerational punk band from the 70s that introduced punk ethics to punk rock. https://expmag.com/2019/01/when-your-real-life-friend-is-your-facebook-troll/ Rebel Clothes, Rebel Songs, Rebel Pose: Anarchists on Punk Rock 1977-2010, anonymous https://www.ubu.com/papers/cage_montague_interview.html John Cage, Anarchy The Story of Crass, George Berger https://crosseyedpianist.com/2017/07/15/silence-presence-and-challenging-conventions-thoughts-on-john-cages-433/ https://www.soundoflife.com/blogs/mixtape/history-punk-music https://fastnbulbous.com/punk/ https://www.udiscovermusic.com/stories/punk-politics-music-rebellion/ https://beltmag.com/mc5-detroits-godfathers-of-punk/ https://dangerousminds.net/comments/our_wedding_crasss_magnificent_romance_mag_prank https://www.fifthestate.org/archive/301-february-26-1980/british-anarchists-found-not-guilty/ https://thehippiesnowwearblack.org.uk/2016/03/12/vi-subversa-and-poison-girls-an-appreciation/ https://www.ukrockfestivals.com/henge-history-80.html https://jprobinson.medium.com/the-rotten-etymology-of-punk-86db2fcc16f8 https://www.cbc.ca/strombo/news/crass-thatchergate-prank https://libcom.org/article/stop-city-demonstrations-1983-1984See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 17, 2025 • 49min
Part One: Crass: How Some Hippies Reinvented Punk and Changed the World
Margaret talks with Jolie Holland about a multigenerational punk band from the 70s that introduced punk ethics to punk rock.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 16, 2025 • 26min
CZM Book Club: Cool Zone 2055: After the Battle
Margaret from the future tells you about Mx. Bunny Face Murder's childhood.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 12, 2025 • 55min
Part Four: The Haitian Revolution: The Most Successful Revolt in the Americas
Margaret finishes talking with Prop about how the people of Haiti destroyed a slave empire. Sources: https://www.newsweek.com/poland-nationalism-new-york-haiti-slave-rebellion-revolution-1382388 A Secret among the Blacks: Slave Resistance before the Haitian Revolution, John D. Garrigushttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VofAQYxcHHY https://catholiceducation.org/en/faith-and-character/king-afonso-i-of-kongo12-06-17.html https://ecda.northeastern.edu/makandal-knowledge/ http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/files/ideology/pdf/F6.2.pdf https://ecda.northeastern.edu/makandal-knowledge/ https://www.afrikaiswoke.com/makandal-the-black-messiah/ https://blogs.loc.gov/law/2011/01/slavery-in-the-french-colonies/ https://haitidoi.com/2013/03/18/1804-census-gros-morne-haiti/ https://haitidoi.com/2016/01/26/dessalines-reader-1-april-1804-2/ https://www.google.com/books/edition/Claiming_the_International/vUltAAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA147&printsec=frontcover https://revolution.chnm.org/exhibits/show/liberty--equality--fraternity/slavery-and-the-haitian-revolu https://www.google.com/books/edition/Claiming_the_International/vUltAAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA147&printsec=frontcover https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41603-019-00071-5See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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