Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff
Cool Zone Media and iHeartPodcasts
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 25, 2026 • 24min
CZM Book Club: Because Change Was the Ocean and We Lived by Her Mercy, by Charlie Jane Anders, Part Two
Margaret concludes reading you a story about subculture and love and how things changeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 21, 2026 • 55min
Part Two: The Banner Wars: How Dutch Squatters Fought Far-Right Immigration Policy
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.
Jan 19, 2026 • 57min
Part One: The Banner Wars: How Dutch Squatters Fought Far-Right Immigration Policy
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.
Jan 18, 2026 • 26min
CZM Book Club: Because Change Was the Ocean and We Lived by Her Mercy, by Charlie Jane Anders, Part One
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.
Jan 14, 2026 • 26min
Part Two: Q&A 2026: Margaret and Sophie Answer Your Questions
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.
Jan 12, 2026 • 21min
Part One: Q&A 2026: Margaret and Sophie Answer Your Questions
Everything you wanted to know about our dogs and our show and our thoughts about the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 11, 2026 • 26min
CZM Book Club: A Cup of Tea, by Katherine Mansfield
Margaret reads you a story about class and patriarchy but don't worry it's not as pedantic as that makes it sound.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 7, 2026 • 1h 3min
CZM Rewind: Part Four: Lakota Resistance to the American Empire
In the finale of this four-part episode, Margaret concludes her conversation with Miriam about two centuries of resistance to American imperialism, from Crazy Horse to Leonard Peltier. Original Air Date: 12.6.2023See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Jan 5, 2026 • 57min
CZM Rewind: Part Three: Lakota Resistance to the American Empire
Explore the rich history of Lakota resistance against American imperialism, from Crazy Horse to Leonard Peltier. Delve into the formation of the American Indian Movement and its early tactics, including street patrols and legal strategies. Discover the significance of the 1969 Alcatraz occupation and its cultural impact. Unpack Leonard Peltier's story, his early activism, and the challenges faced by AIM. The discussion is filled with evocative symbolism, community struggles, and a critique of governmental policies.
Jan 4, 2026 • 36min
CZM Rewind: CZM Book Club: "The Orchard of Tomorrow" by Kelsea Yu
Margaret dives into an emotional story about rebuilding hope through love and perseverance. The narrative unfolds in a once-bountiful peach orchard, now a memory of lost beauty. Tensions rise as Andrea and Lane confront their painful history of separation and betrayal. Folk tales like the Peach Myth intertwine with their personal struggles, revealing deep connections to immortality and sacrifice. With revelations of smuggled records and a renewed vision, they begin to dream again of a fertile future, aiming to reclaim their community and knowledge.
