
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 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.

Jan 29, 2025 • 1h 6min
Part Two: Push the Button: The Brief Life and Quick Death of Giuseppe Zangara
Discover the fascinating life of Giuseppe Zangara, an Italian man driven to violence by chronic pain and socio-political turmoil. The discussion covers the chaotic scene of his assassination attempt on Franklin D. Roosevelt, blending dark humor with historical analysis. Reflect on media portrayals and their biases while enjoying playful banter among hosts. Explore the intertwining of personal struggles with radical ideologies, and evaluate the tragic implications of violence in society, all wrapped up in humor and a lively atmosphere.

Jan 27, 2025 • 1h 3min
Part One: Push the Button: The Brief Life and Quick Death of Giuseppe Zangara
Margaret talks with Miriam about an Italian man with chronic pain who decided to kill someone important.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 26, 2025 • 29min
CZM Book Club: Cool Zone 2055: The Battle of Ogre Hill
Margaret from the future describes the terrifying battle of ogre hill.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 22, 2025 • 55min
Part Two: Bethel House: How Schizophrenic Folks in Japan Created a New Model of Psychiatric Care
Margaret continues talking with Samantha McVey about the decades-long project in Northern Japan full of worker-cooperatives and new ways of living. https://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/resource/bethel/bethel_0805.htmlKaren Nakamura, A Disability of the Soulhttps://aeon.co/essays/japans-radical-alternative-to-psychiatric-diagnosisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 20, 2025 • 1h 7min
Part One: Bethel House: How Schizophrenic Folks in Japan Created a New Model of Psychiatric Care
Margaret talks with Samantha McVey about the decades-long project in Northern Japan full of worker-cooperatives and new ways of living. https://www.dinf.ne.jp/doc/english/resource/bethel/bethel_0805.htmlKaren Nakamura, A Disability of the Soulhttps://aeon.co/essays/japans-radical-alternative-to-psychiatric-diagnosisSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 19, 2025 • 27min
CZM Book Club: Cool Zone 2055: In Bed With the Dreadnaughts
Margaret from the future reads a report from behind the Iron Curtain in fascist-occupied Spain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 15, 2025 • 54min
Part Two: The Great Dismal Swamp and 200 Years of Revolt in the US South
Margaret continues talking to Sophie about the largest and longest-lasting maroon community in what became the United States. https://daily.jstor.org/constructing-the-white-race/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-04-02-0080https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/events-african-american-history/san-miguel-de-gualdape-slave-rebellion-1526/https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/05/peter-h-wood-strange-new-land-excerpt.htmlJ Brent Morris, Dismal FreedomModibo Kadalie, Intimate Direct DemocracySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 13, 2025 • 49min
Part One: The Great Dismal Swamp and 200 Years of Revolt in the US South
Margaret talks to Sophie about the largest and longest-lasting maroon community in what became the United States. https://daily.jstor.org/constructing-the-white-race/https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Franklin/01-04-02-0080https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/events-african-american-history/san-miguel-de-gualdape-slave-rebellion-1526/https://slate.com/human-interest/2015/05/peter-h-wood-strange-new-land-excerpt.htmlJ Brent Morris, Dismal FreedomModibo Kadalie, Intimate Direct DemocracySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 12, 2025 • 31min
CZM Book Club: Cool Zone 2055: A Bestiary of Beasts
Margaret from the future talks about all of the terrible creatures that fascists have invented to attack internationalist forces.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.