
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

Jan 8, 2024 • 59min
Part One: Freedom House: The World’s First Paramedics Were Black Men from Pittsburgh
Kaveh Hoda discusses the world's first modern paramedic service created by down-and-out black men from Pittsburgh. The podcast explores the history of emergency medical care, paramedics, and ambulance services. It touches on the impact of war and racial bias in healthcare. It also covers the remarkable life of Peter Saffir, the doctor who developed CPR and protected a hospital from the Nazis during World War II.

Jan 7, 2024 • 33min
CZM Book Club: "The Untimely Death of Northgate Mall" by Evan J Peterson
Margaret reads Gare an urban folk horror story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 3, 2024 • 39min
Here's To You, Dear Listeners: 2024 Q&A
On this special episode of Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff, Margaret and Sophie answer questions from you, the listeners! CBP is detaining thousands of migrants, including children and the elderly, in the desert without food, water or shelter when overnight temperatures drop below freezing. Support the mutual aid groups helping them tinyurl.com/borderaidgfm or https://www.gofundme.com/jacumba-migrant-campsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 20, 2023 • 53min
Part Two: The Battle of Negro Fort: Florida's Maroon Community
In part two of this week's episode, Margaret continues her conversation with Jamie Loftus about the Black and Indigenous soldiers who lived free in a fort in Spanish Florida until Andrew Jackson broke a lot of laws to fight them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 18, 2023 • 1h 2min
Part One: The Battle of Negro Fort: Florida's Maroon Community
Jamie Loftus joins Margaret to discuss the Battle of Negro Fort in Spanish Florida. They explore the history of the fort and its diverse community of Black and Indigenous soldiers. They also touch on Florida's history during the Revolutionary War, slavery and abolition in the US, and the formation of a multiracial army led by Edward Nichols.

Dec 17, 2023 • 37min
CZM Book Club: The Flair by Nick Mamatas
Margaret reads Mia a sci-fi story about what people will do for free power and war. And about hacker clowns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

37 snips
Dec 13, 2023 • 1h 9min
Part Two: Israeli & International Solidarity with Palestinian Struggle
The podcast explores the solidarity of anti-zionist Jews and others supporting the Palestinian struggle. Topics include reminiscing about shoplifting, protesting the security fences in Israel, collective action and solidarity, recognition and anarchist support, bike ride protest against occupation, taking responsibility for protests, solidarity and hope, and movie discussions and sponsors.

23 snips
Dec 11, 2023 • 1h 9min
Part One: Israeli & International Solidarity with Palestinian Struggle
Matt Lieb, an anti-zionist Jew and advocate for Palestinian rights, talks about solidarity with the Palestinian struggle, reflections on activism and arrests, anti-Zionist movements in the Jewish community, the first intifada, the one-state and two-state solutions, legislation and implications, human shielding, and a murder case. They also discuss social media, writing, and promote other podcasts.

Dec 10, 2023 • 29min
CZM Book Club: Printed Guns & Sold Schematics by SJ Klapecki
Margaret reads you a story about an engineer in a collapsed United States, just trying to make her living selling weapons to rebels.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 6, 2023 • 1h 3min
Part Four: Lakota Resistance to the American Empire
In the finale of this four-part episode, Margaret concludes her conversation with Miriam about two centuries of resistance to American imperialism, from Crazy Horse to Leonard Peltier.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.