
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

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.

Feb 10, 2025 • 51min
Part Three: The Haitian Revolution: The Most Successful Revolt in the Americas
Margaret talks further 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.

Feb 9, 2025 • 25min
CZM Book Club: Cool Zone 2055: Massacred by Demon Ents
Mixed Bunny Face Murder shares gripping tales from the Dino Wars of 2055, offering an insider's view of surreal battlefields in Catalonia. They reflect on the emotional turmoil of war, the stark realities of fighting for freedom, and the often absurd juxtaposition of humor and tragedy. Listeners are taken through chaotic confrontations with zombies and fascist soldiers, uncovering themes of survival and resilience. Through heartfelt anecdotes, the conversation balances the serious nature of conflict with the lightness of life's quirks, including quirks like country music cruises.

Feb 5, 2025 • 1h 2min
Part Two: The Haitian Revolution: The Most Successful Revolt in the Americas
Margaret continues 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.

Feb 3, 2025 • 1h 11min
Part One: The Haitian Revolution: The Most Successful Revolt in the Americas
Discover the remarkable story of the Haitian Revolution, a pivotal moment that reshaped perceptions of slavery and resilience in the Black community. The discussion highlights community resilience through bread-making in Portland, celebrating triumphs against adversity. Delve into colonization's impact in the Caribbean, and explore the rich cultural syncretism of Vodou. Engage with the complexities of identity and the historical figures woven into this narrative, all while reflecting on the significance of Black culture and history.

Feb 2, 2025 • 26min
CZM Book Club: Cool Zone 2055: The Dreadnaught Funeral
Margaret from the future continues her reporting from the front in Catalonia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.