16 episodes

On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Stranger-than-fiction tales about normal people in extraordinary situations. Stories that make you say, “this should be a movie.” Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

Very Special Episodes iHeartPodcasts

    • History
    • 4.4 • 178 Ratings

On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Stranger-than-fiction tales about normal people in extraordinary situations. Stories that make you say, “this should be a movie.” Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

    The Affair of the Diamond Necklace

    The Affair of the Diamond Necklace

    Jeanne de Valois-Saint-Rémy was a French countess with a dubious claim to nobility and one brilliant idea: she was going to steal a diamond necklace from Louis XVI. After weaseling her way into court, Jeanne impersonates Marie Antoinette in a series of letters, starts a tabloid scandal, and inadvertently lights the fuse of the French Revolution.

    *On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

    Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishResearch, Writing, and Interviews for today’s episode provided by Wonder Media NetworkProduced by Josh Fisher Story Editor is Marisa BrownEditing and Sound Design by Emily MarinoffMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierVoice Actors: Coco-Margeaux Rodale and Tom AntonellisOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English

    Special thanks to Jenny Kaplan, Emily Rudder, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, and Lauren Williams.

    Thanks for listening! You don't owe us any favors. But if you enjoy the show and want to do us one anyway, could you head over to your favorite podcast platform(s) and leave us a rating? 

    Now you can email the show: veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

     
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 1 hr
    The Buffet Table

    The Buffet Table

    This week, we present a smattering of stories you might have missed. If you've inhaled all these, email us — veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com — and we'll recommend something else worth your time.

    Operation Lunar EclipseApple • Spotify • iHeart

    Boat TripApple • Spotify • iHeart

    The PledgeApple • Spotify • iHeart

    Old Man on CampusApple • Spotify • iHeart

    Seed WarsApple • Spotify • iHeart

    We're back with a new episode on May 15th!
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 16 min
    Signs of Life: Revisiting Martha's Vineyard Sign Language

    Signs of Life: Revisiting Martha's Vineyard Sign Language

    Martha's Vineyard once was a place you could gossip with neighbors, shop for supplies, or play a cutthroat game of cards — all without saying a word. That's because it had a thriving Deaf community. Residents, Deaf and hearing alike, communicated with a unique version of sign language that predates ASL. But it's mostly forgotten today. 

    Today we dig into Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL) and the folks who are working to keep its history.

    *

    On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

    Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Joanna Sokolowski and Julia SmithAdditional Writing by Marisa BrownProduced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Josh ThaneMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierStory Editors are Abbey Stone and Marisa BrownResearch and Fact-Checking by Meredith Danko, Austin Thompson, Joanna Sokolowski, and Julia SmithOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English

    Oral history clips with Eric Cottle, Everett Poole, Sydney Harris, and Jane Slater are excerpted from interviews conducted with Linsey Lee, Martha's Vineyard Museum Oral History Curator. Courtesy of the Martha's Vineyard Museum. 

    ASL interpretation for Nyle DiMarco by Grey Van Pelt.

    Thanks for listening! You don't owe us any favors. But if you enjoy the show and want to do us one anyway, could you head over to your favorite podcast platform(s) and leave us a rating? 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 33 min
    On the Hunt for Math's Most Mysterious Number

    On the Hunt for Math's Most Mysterious Number

    Right now thousands of people are on a mathematical treasure hunt from the comfort of their home offices. Our own Zaron Burnett is one of them. Here's how you can join him — and compete for $50,000.

    *On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

    Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten by Lucas ReillyProduced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Emily MarinoffMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierResearch and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Lucas ReillySpecial Thanks to Voice Actor Karl KeadleOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English

    Thanks for listening! You don't owe us any favors. But if you enjoy the show and want to do us one anyway, could you head over to your favorite podcast platform(s) and leave us a rating? 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 33 min
    Westward Hoax: The Secret History of Palisade, Nevada

    Westward Hoax: The Secret History of Palisade, Nevada

    In the 1870s, Palisade, NV was the meanest little town west of the Mississippi. Every week, newspapers announced another gunpowder-fueled cowboy showdown. Palisade put the wild in the “Wild West.”

    But there was a lot more to the story that didn’t make the papers.

    *

    Very Special Episodes is a podcast with a simple premise: we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

    Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten by Lucas ReillyProduced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierResearch and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Lucas ReillyVoice Actors: Josh Fisher, Zaron Burnett, Karl KeadleOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English

    Thanks for listening! If you're enjoying Very Special Episodes, leave us a rating and review on your favorite podcast platforms. 
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 34 min
    The Worldwide Sensation That Started as an April Fools' Joke

    The Worldwide Sensation That Started as an April Fools' Joke

    In the summer of 2016, the entire world was going crazy for a new mobile game. All these years later, it’s easy to forget the wildest part about Pokémon GO: the whole thing began as an April Fools’ joke.

    *

    Very Special Episodes is a new podcast where we tell one incredible story each week. Episodes usually go up on Wednesdays. We made an exception for April Fools' Day.

    Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, Jason EnglishWritten by Dave RoosProduced, Edited and Sound Designed by Josh FisherAdditional Editing by Jonathan WashingtonStory Editor is Marisa BrownMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierResearch and Fact-Checking by Austin ThompsonOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    • 19 min

Customer Reviews

4.4 out of 5
178 Ratings

178 Ratings

liz1397 ,

Fun

Great quick history. Love random historical facts and stories and could listen to Dana narrate anything. Just please don’t have anyone do a Russian accent ever again.

dkline250 ,

Fun Podcast

I enjoy these quick, random stories very much and I’m hoping there will be many more episodes!

gansen ,

Fun but Dana sounds like Siri when reading

Can she just read the copy normally instead of all stilted? So distracting!

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