Very Special Episodes

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Latest Episodes:

The 1932 Crime That Birthed Superman Jul 16, 2025

Show notes

Superman is everywhere this summer, but today's bonus episode has nothing to do with James Gunn or David Corenswet. Let's go back to the beginning, when young Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster first conjured up the character. Superman may have never seen the light of day if not for a real crime that changed the duo’s lives forever.

This bonus episode was written by Jake Rossen and originally appeared as part of the Stealing Superman podcast. Go listen to that show and help us find Nic Cage's stolen comics!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hush! The Battle Over 'Goodnight Moon' Jul 09, 2025

Show notes

Today, Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon is considered a classic. The deceptively complex children’s book has been passed down for generations. But if the New York Public Library had gotten its way, you’d have never even heard of it.

Thanks to our Very Special guests Amy Gary, author of In the Great Green Room; and writer, children's book author, and podcaster Betsy Bird.

Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English
Written by Carmen Borca-Carrillo and edited by Emily Rudder at Wonder Media Network
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Fact-Checking by Maya Shoukri
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Voice Actors: Katie Mattie, Chris Childs, Josh Fisher, Jonathan Washington, Juliet English, and Charlotte English
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Who Really Wrote the Pledge of Allegiance? [Re-Release] Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

Although American schoolchildren still recite The Pledge every morning in nearly every classroom, we still aren't sure who actually wrote it. And all these years later, the long-accepted story is showing some cracks.

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason English
Written by Dave Roos
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington
Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier
Story Editor is Aaron Edwards
Research and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Dave Roos
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

We'll be back with a new episode next Wednesday!

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JFK's Forgotten Summer in Journalism (with Rob Reiner) Jun 27, 2025

Show notes

Eighty years ago this summer, a young John F. Kennedy took a job as a journalist for Hearst newspapers, filing dispatches in the final days of World War II. His columns capture the mood of a changing world.

Even the most seasoned JFK scholars often overlook this chapter. In today's extra special Very Special Episode, Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer Fred Logevall and legendary director Rob Reiner join us to explore the forgotten summer that helped shape Kennedy's worldview.

Check out Fred Logevall's excellent book: JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century.

Listen to Who Killed JFK? from Rob Reiner and Soledad O'Brien wherever you get your podcasts. And go see Spinal Tap II: The End Continues in theaters this September!

And thanks to our JFK voice actor, Tom Antonellis, for nailing another role.

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Joe Pompeo
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington and Josh Fisher
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Mixing and Mastering by Josh Fisher
Research and Fact-Checking by Joe Pompeo and Austin Thompson
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Nixon's Alien Adventure Jun 18, 2025

Show notes

Jackie Gleason of The Honeymooners was obsessed with UFOs. Obsessed! Lucky for him, his golfing buddy just happened to be the leader of the free world — with access to a secret facility in Florida that Gleason said held all the answers he'd been seeking.

Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English
Written by Zaron Burnett
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington and Josh Fisher
Mixing and Mastering by Josh Fisher
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Voice Actors are Elizabeth Dutton, Katie Mattie, Josh Fisher, and Jonathan Washington
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Got a question or comment, or an even weirder Nixon legend we should chase down? You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hemidemisemiquaver: A Modern Quiz Show Scandal Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

In 2009, a 10-year-old from Arizona flew to Los Angeles to compete on a new game show offering child prodigies the chance to win $500,000. But almost immediately, he could tell something was off. The experience had a profound impact on his life — and confounds legal scholars to this day.

Plus Dana takes us behind the scenes of her appearance on Jeopardy!, and Jason explains how his two-year-old daughter wound up answering trivia questions on The Rachael Ray Show.

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Jake Rossen
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington
Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Research and Fact-Checking by Jake Rossen and Austin Thompson
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Got a question or comment, or want to invite Zaron to compete on your game show? You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Big Bird Goes to China Jun 04, 2025

Show notes

During one of the most delicate periods for international relations, the United States sent Bob Hope to China with the ultimate wingman. Together, the two icons would play an unexpected role in bridging a massive cultural divide.

Very Special Thanks to our translator, Yixio Ren!

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Dylan Heuer
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier
Story Editor is Aaron Edwards
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Research and Fact-Checking by Dylan Heuer, Aaron Edwards, and Austin Thompson
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

You can email the show at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How a Three-Point Shot Saved Thousands of Lives [Re-Release] May 28, 2025

Show notes

Mykal Riley’s name isn’t mentioned alongside Stephen Curry or Larry Bird. But neither of those guys can say they hit a three-pointer that literally saved thousands of lives.

VERY SPECIAL CREDITS
Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason English
Written by Dave Roos
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Thanks for listening! We'll be back with new episodes every Wednesday in June. If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform. You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Chase's Wonder Years May 21, 2025

Show notes

Sopranos creator David Chase wrote an episode of The Wonder Years that was deemed too intense for network television. The internet says it's because the script involved hard core drug use. But we asked the legendary TV writer, and the truth is a whole lot stranger.

Thanks to Nicole Lambert of Chase Films for making today's interview happen!

Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English
Written by Katie Mattie
Produced by Josh Fisher
Story Editor is Zaron Burnett
Editing and Sound Design by Josh Fisher
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Got a question or comment, or a copy of David Chase's lost script? You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Night the Harlem Globetrotters Finally Lost May 14, 2025

Show notes

The Harlem Globetrotters always beat the Washington Generals. It's just what they do. As of 1971, they’d done it 2,495 times. But for one gloriously confusing night that January, the underdogs got to raise their hands in victory. Today on Very Special Episodes, the untold story of the greatest upset in sports history.

Very Special Thanks to Israel Gutierrez for lending his voice, and Peter Coughter for production support. Izzy and Peter have a new show out on our NBA slate about the rise of the Golden State Warriors. Check out Dub Dynasty wherever you get your podcasts.

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Jake Rossen
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington
Mixing and Mastering by Jonathan Washington
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Got a question or comment? You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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