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Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

History Podcasts

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.

Location:

United States

Description:

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.

Language:

English


Episodes
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CZM Book Club: The Comet, by W.E.B. Du Bois

3/1/2026
Margaret reads you a 1920 classic fiction story by the seminal theorist See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:43:51

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Part Two: The Colored Farmers Alliance and Early Black Cooperativism in the US

2/25/2026
Margaret continues her talk with Courtney Kocak about the potentially million-strong alliance of Black farmers who built up a cooperative economics in the post-war American South Sources: https://greekcitytimes.com/2025/02/07/the-helots-a-labour-force/ https://www.lucyparsonsproject.com/writings/negro.html https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RR194.pdf https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=TE009 https://worldblackhistory.blogspot.com/2022/11/blog-post_11.html https://lawyersgunsmon.wpengine.com/2012/12/this-day-in-labor-history-december-11-1886 https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2017/09/day-labor-history-september-25-1891 https://temple.manifoldapp.org/read/the-black-worker-during-the-era-of-the-knights-of-labor-volume-iii/section/cf118f82-0d04-4251-9934-c474e4daef2e https://www.jstor.org/stable/40030730?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents https://wp.nyu.edu/compliance_enforcement/2025/08/07/doj-secures-first-criminal-conviction-in-wage-fixing-case/ https://ncbaclusa.coop/content/uploads/2023/02/Fall-2022_Winter-2023-Cooperative-Business-Journal_FINAL-v2.pdf https://www.jstor.org/stable/40030730 https://www.givinggrove.org/blog-reference/black-farmers-in-america https://snccdigital.org/events/fannie-lou-hamer-founds-freedom-farm-cooperative/ https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/November-15/the-march-to-the-sea-begins https://explorethearchive.com/shermans-march-to-the-sea https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/teachers/lessonplans/Document6(SpecialOrder).pdf https://www.grunge.com/601373/what-you-should-know-about-the-granger-movement-of-the-1860s/ https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/shermans-field-order-no-15/ https://www.jstor.org/stable/40030586?read-now=1&seq=7#page_scan_tab_contents See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:43:54

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Part One: The Colored Farmers Alliance and Early Black Cooperativism in the US

2/23/2026
Margaret talks to Courtney Kocak about the potentially million-strong alliance of Black farmers who built up a cooperative economics in the post-war American South Sources https://greekcitytimes.com/2025/02/07/the-helots-a-labour-force/ https://www.lucyparsonsproject.com/writings/negro.html https://www.rd.usda.gov/files/RR194.pdf https://www.okhistory.org/publications/enc/entry?entry=TE009 https://worldblackhistory.blogspot.com/2022/11/blog-post_11.html https://lawyersgunsmon.wpengine.com/2012/12/this-day-in-labor-history-december-11-1886 https://www.lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com/2017/09/day-labor-history-september-25-1891 https://temple.manifoldapp.org/read/the-black-worker-during-the-era-of-the-knights-of-labor-volume-iii/section/cf118f82-0d04-4251-9934-c474e4daef2e https://www.jstor.org/stable/40030730?read-now=1&seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents https://wp.nyu.edu/compliance_enforcement/2025/08/07/doj-secures-first-criminal-conviction-in-wage-fixing-case/ https://ncbaclusa.coop/content/uploads/2023/02/Fall-2022_Winter-2023-Cooperative-Business-Journal_FINAL-v2.pdf https://www.jstor.org/stable/40030730 https://www.givinggrove.org/blog-reference/black-farmers-in-america https://snccdigital.org/events/fannie-lou-hamer-founds-freedom-farm-cooperative/ https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/November-15/the-march-to-the-sea-begins https://explorethearchive.com/shermans-march-to-the-sea https://www.nps.gov/common/uploads/teachers/lessonplans/Document6(SpecialOrder).pdf https://www.grunge.com/601373/what-you-should-know-about-the-granger-movement-of-the-1860s/ https://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/history-archaeology/shermans-field-order-no-15/ https://www.jstor.org/stable/40030586?read-now=1&seq=7#page_scan_tab_contents See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:59:45

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CZM Book Club: The Clover Still Grows Wild in Wawanosh, by Kelly Rose Pflug-Back

2/22/2026
Margaret reads you a lush post-apocalyptic slice of life story by an amazing poet See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:26:38

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The Punk Rock Good Life: A Guide to an Aesthetic Life

2/17/2026
Margaret reads you an essay about how to live a beautiful life See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:32:10

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CZM Book Club: Black Hole, by November Rush

2/15/2026
Happy Valentine's Day! Margaret reads you a story about codependent lesbian mushroom parasites. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:41:02

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Part Two: Saint Maximillian Kolbe: A Conservative Who Died Protecting People From Fascists

2/11/2026
Margaret continues her conversation with Molly Conger about a complicated man who spent his early life promoting antisemitic conspiracies before sheltering thousands of Jews and dying in Auschwitz. Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/12/05/mass-is-set-for-the-saint-of-auschwitz/18a930db-756e-4f7c-a484-399305713a29/ The Life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, William LaMay https://pisma-niepokalanow-pl.translate.goog/967-czy-prawda-sie-zmienia?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/19/world/saint-charged-with-bigotry-clerics-say-no.html https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/was-st-maximilian-kolbe-an-antisemite-1068 https://web.archive.org/web/20140102091901/http://www.consecration.com/default.aspx?id=41 https://www.reddit.com/r/freemasonry/comments/rva0iu/the_giordano_brunisti/ https://studiaelblaskie.pl/assets/Numery/SE-tom212020.pdf#page=199 https://www.scross.co.za/2023/08/st-maximilian-kolbe-the-remarkable-martyr-to-nazis/ https://www.laprogressive.com/progressive-issues/saint-maximillian-kolbe Less Than Nothing: Hegel and the Shadow of Dialectical Materialism, Slavoj Zizek https://eastwestreport.org/?view=article&id=343:persecution-of-christians-in-tsarist-russia-and-the-soviet-and-post-soviet-union&catid=43:e-20-2 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:52:47

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Part One: Saint Maximillian Kolbe: A Conservative Who Died Protecting People From Fascists

2/9/2026
Margaret talks to Molly Conger about a complicated man who spent his early life promoting antisemitic conspiracies before sheltering thousands of Jews and dying in Auschwitz Sources: https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1982/12/05/mass-is-set-for-the-saint-of-auschwitz/18a930db-756e-4f7c-a484-399305713a29/ The Life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, William LaMay https://pisma-niepokalanow-pl.translate.goog/967-czy-prawda-sie-zmienia?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp https://www.nytimes.com/1982/11/19/world/saint-charged-with-bigotry-clerics-say-no.html https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/library/was-st-maximilian-kolbe-an-antisemite-1068 https://web.archive.org/web/20140102091901/http://www.consecration.com/default.aspx?id=41 https://www.reddit.com/r/freemasonry/comments/rva0iu/the_giordano_brunisti/ https://studiaelblaskie.pl/assets/Numery/SE-tom212020.pdf#page=199 https://www.scross.co.za/2023/08/st-maximilian-kolbe-the-remarkable-martyr-to-nazis/ https://www.laprogressive.com/progressive-issues/saint-maximillian-kolbe Less Than Nothing: Hegel and the Shadow of Dialectical Materialism, Slavoj Zizek https://eastwestreport.org/?view=article&id=343:persecution-of-christians-in-tsarist-russia-and-the-soviet-and-post-soviet-union&catid=43:e-20-2 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:01:05:49

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CZM Book Club: Mutual Aid by Dean Spade, Part Two

2/8/2026
Margaret continues to read you excerpts from a book explaining the ins and outs of mutual aid See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:42:28

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Part Two: Ben Passmore on Black History

2/4/2026
Margaret continues her interview with Black history comic author Ben Passmore about his new book Black Arms to Hold You Up See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:36:21

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Part One: Ben Passmore on Black History

2/2/2026
Margaret interview Black history comic author Ben Passmore about his new book Black Arms to Hold You Up. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:35:45

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CZM Book Club: Mutual Aid by Dean Spade, Part One

2/1/2026
Margaret reads you excerpts from a book explaining the ins and outs of mutual aid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:36:50

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Everyone vs ICE: On the Ground In Minnesota, Pt. 2

1/28/2026
In the second part of a two part series, Margaret and James reflect on their time in Minnesota, the incredible community response to the immigration raids, and what other communities can learn from the Twin Cities. Links: Rent Support for neighbors in Phillips https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-phillips-families-in-urgent-need Rent Support for neighbors in Central https://www.gofundme.com/f/critical-rent-assistance-for-central-neighborhood-families Rent Support for neighbors in Powderhorn https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-powderhorn-families-in-crisis Supplies for Political Art Making https://givebutter.com/spno Protective Gear for Legal Observers https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-equip-twin-cities-legal-observers-with-ppe Diapers and Menstrual Supplies https://secure.everyaction.com/jLLKnfwWk0qdptMbYLoyPQ2 Abolish Ice Shirts https://www.eaglescreenprint.com/printshop/p/defend-612-abolish-ic3-wnj6e Northstar Front Line Street Medics https://www.paypal.com/biz/profile/northstarhealth Twin Cities Swoletariat Bail Fund Venmo: @TCSwoletariat Cashapp: $TCSwoletariat See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:01:02:17

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Everyone vs ICE: On the Ground In Minnesota

1/27/2026
Margaret and James reflect on their time in Minnesota, the incredible community response to the immigration raids, and what other communities can learn from the Twin Cities. Links: Rent Support for neighbors in Phillips https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-phillips-families-in-urgent-need Rent Support for neighbors in Central https://www.gofundme.com/f/critical-rent-assistance-for-central-neighborhood-families Rent Support for neighbors in Powderhorn https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-powderhorn-families-in-crisis Supplies for Political Art Making https://givebutter.com/spno Protective Gear for Legal Observers https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-equip-twin-cities-legal-observers-with-ppe Diapers and Menstrual Supplies https://secure.everyaction.com/jLLKnfwWk0qdptMbYLoyPQ2 Abolish Ice Shirts https://www.eaglescreenprint.com/printshop/p/defend-612-abolish-ic3-wnj6e Northstar Front Line Street Medics https://www.paypal.com/biz/profile/northstarhealth Twin Cities Swoletariat Bail Fund Venmo: @TCSwoletariat Cashapp: $TCSwoletariat See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:56:44

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CZM Book Club: Because Change Was the Ocean and We Lived by Her Mercy, by Charlie Jane Anders, Part Two

1/25/2026
Margaret concludes reading you a story about subculture and love and how things change See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:23:49

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Part Two: The Banner Wars: How Dutch Squatters Fought Far-Right Immigration Policy

1/21/2026
Margaret continues her conversation with Samantha McVey about the motley and international assortment of activists who refused to let a fascist off the hook. Sources: The Banner Wars, Strangers in a Tangled Wilderness, 2005 https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/international/europe/11-die-in-fire-at-dutch-airport-detention-center.html https://web.archive.org/web/20051210182413/http://www.time.com/time/europe/hero2005/cohen.html https://noborder.org/archive_item.php%3Fid=353.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/blast-damages-muslim-school-in-southern-netherlands-532504.html https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/world/europe/arson-suspected-at-dutch-mosque.html https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-height-by-country https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2005/10/amst-o28.html https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/report_fire_schiphol_oost.pdf https://www.politico.eu/article/netherlands-right-wing-government-dick-schoof-mark-rutte-party-for-freedom/ https://apnews.com/article/migration-netherlands-wilders-asylum-38a5149bf59fad91d2368350405ba9dd https://www.visaverge.com/news/dutch-parliament-enacts-strictest-asylum-policy-in-history/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:55:20

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Part One: The Banner Wars: How Dutch Squatters Fought Far-Right Immigration Policy

1/19/2026
Margaret talks to Samantha McVey about the motley and international assortment of activists who refused to let a fascist off the hook. Sources: The Banner Wars, Strangers in a Tangled Wilderness, 2005 https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/27/international/europe/11-die-in-fire-at-dutch-airport-detention-center.html https://web.archive.org/web/20051210182413/http://www.time.com/time/europe/hero2005/cohen.html https://noborder.org/archive_item.php%3Fid=353.html https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/blast-damages-muslim-school-in-southern-netherlands-532504.html https://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/14/world/europe/arson-suspected-at-dutch-mosque.html https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/average-height-by-country https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2005/10/amst-o28.html https://www.onderzoeksraad.nl/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/report_fire_schiphol_oost.pdf https://www.politico.eu/article/netherlands-right-wing-government-dick-schoof-mark-rutte-party-for-freedom/ https://apnews.com/article/migration-netherlands-wilders-asylum-38a5149bf59fad91d2368350405ba9dd https://www.visaverge.com/news/dutch-parliament-enacts-strictest-asylum-policy-in-history/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:56:34

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CZM Book Club: Because Change Was the Ocean and We Lived by Her Mercy, by Charlie Jane Anders, Part One

1/18/2026
Margaret reads you a story about the far-post-apocalypse and the joy we find in one another. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:26:21

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Part Two: Q&A 2026: Margaret and Sophie Answer Your Questions

1/14/2026
Even more of what you wanted to know about our dogs and our show and our thoughts about the future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:25:40

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Part One: Q&A 2026: Margaret and Sophie Answer Your Questions

1/12/2026
Everything you wanted to know about our dogs and our show and our thoughts about the future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duration:00:20:44