How A Giant Pack Of Life Savers Ended Up In A Northern New York Town

Today in 1987, the community of Gouverneur, in northern New York, placed on its town green a giant roll of Pep-O-Mint Life Savers. It was a tribute to a local man, Edward John Noble, who ended up making Life Savers one of the best known candies in the world.

By |2024-12-14T10:40:14-05:00November 10, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

The Cheeseburger Has More Than One Origin Story

This weekend is National Cheeseburger Day, and there's only one such holiday. But if you ask where the cheeseburger came from, there are a couple answers.

By |2024-12-16T06:45:52-05:00September 17, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

Yuan Longping Developed The Rice That Fed Millions

Yuan Longping, born today in 1930, was known as the Father of Hybrid Rice, and his work saved countless people from famine and starvation. Here's more of his story.

By |2024-12-07T08:20:36-05:00September 7, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

The Popsicle Was Invented By An 11 Year Old Who Forgot To Clean Up After Himself

It's National Cherry Popsicle Day, so obviously, we have to tell the story of the popsicle, and Frank Epperson, the 11 year old you invented it.

By |2024-12-16T10:11:03-05:00August 26, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , |

How A Statue In Lucille Ball’s Honor Became Known As “Scary Lucy”

Today in 2016, Celeron, New York unveiled and dedicated a statue of its most famous resident, TV legend Lucille Ball. It took the place of a different statue from 2009 that had been nicknamed "Scary Lucy."

By |2024-12-16T10:10:15-05:00August 6, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , , |

Agnes B. Marshall, The First “Queen” Of Ice Cream

It's National Ice Cream Day, so it's a good day to tell the story of Agnes B. Marshall. The "Queen of Ices" helped make this frozen treat the icon that it is today.

Benny Benson, The 13 Year Old Who Designed Alaska’s Flag

Today in 1929, the then-territory of Alaska flew its flag for the first time. That flag, which is still used today, was designed by a 13 year old of Aleutian descent, Benny Benson.

By |2024-12-04T05:42:16-05:00July 9, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , , |

How Sliced Bread Became The Greatest Thing Since Itself

Today in 1928, the Chillicothe Baking Company in Missouri began publicly selling something new: bread that had been sliced by a multi-bladed machine, and the world gained a new way to measure greatness.

By |2024-12-02T10:20:11-05:00July 7, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , , , , |

Pretzels Have Been Twisting Their Way Into Our Hearts For Over A Millennium

It's National Pretzel Day, so of course we're going to take a deep dive into the history of this near-perfect snack.

By |2025-01-31T08:53:24-05:00April 26, 2021|Categories: Cool Weird Awesome, Podcasts|Tags: , |

A “Mammoth Loaf” Once Turned The U.S. Senate Chamber Into A Big Bread Box

Today in 1804, the US Senate held a party featuring something called the “Mammoth Loaf.” To explain, we have to first tell you about Thomas Jefferson, an enormous block of cheese and an archeology project. Plus: a very cold town in Siberia has some very cool music, thanks to spring ice drums.

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