Time for another mailbag episode! This week Dana, Zaron, and Jason answer pressing listener questions on yearbook quotes, hidden talents, and ads they'd read for free. Plus they plan a Very Special Festival (and/or Cruise). 

We'll be back with a new episode next Wednesday. Got a question for a future mailbag? Send it to veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. 

Time for another mailbag episode! This week Dana, Zaron, and Jason answer pressing listener questions on yearbook quotes, hidden talents, and ads they'd read for free. Plus they plan a Very Special Festival (and/or Cruise).&nbsp;
We'll be back with a new episode next Wednesday. Got a question for a future mailbag? Send it to <a href="mailto:veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com">veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp;

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 Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

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 Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday.

Very Special Episodes

A Very Special Mini-Mailbag

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/e3734a3f-84c9-450f-b692-b43b00263230/transcript

Gene Fleming and his pet goose Andy made headlines around the world. They brought out the best in the people of Hastings, Nebraska. But amid all this attention, Andy also brought out the worst. And three decades later, Andy's legacy is still reverberating around their hometown.

Note: This episode, which we originally published in early 2025, includes the murder of a beloved goose. And don't forget to check out Dana's new book, The Arcane Arts. Out this week in bookstores everywhere!

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Very Special Thanks to Jessica Korgie for sharing her family's story with us.

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Sara Schleede and edited by Carmen Borca-Carrillo at Wonder Media Network
Produced by Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Josh Fisher
Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

We'll see you back here next Wednesday. 

Gene Fleming and his pet goose Andy made headlines around the world. They brought out the best in the people of Hastings, Nebraska. But amid all this attention, Andy also brought out the worst. And three decades later, Andy's legacy is still reverberating around their hometown.
Note: This episode, which we originally published in early 2025, includes the murder of a beloved goose. And don't forget to check out Dana's new book, <a href="https://dana-schwartz.com">The Arcane Arts</a>. Out this week in bookstores everywhere!
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Very Special Thanks to Jessica Korgie for sharing her family's story with us.
Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Sara Schleede and edited by Carmen Borca-Carrillo at Wonder Media Network Produced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Josh Fisher Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier Additional Editing by Mary Dooe Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
We'll see you back here next Wednesday.&nbsp;

The Mysterious Death of Andy the Sneaker-Wearing Goose [Re-Release]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/1aab7d08-5771-4b05-931d-b44f0181530e/transcript

In June 1970, Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates somehow tossed a no-hitter while tripping on acid. The LSD stunt made him a legend, but it overshadowed a much deeper story: a man who spent the second half of his life searching for redemption, purpose, and a way to help others escape the same darkness that once enveloped him.

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Today's episode was produced in partnership with School of Humans. For School of Humans, Producers are Emilia Brock and Edeliz Perez. Executive Producer is Virginia Prescott.

Special thanks to American Public Media’s Weekend America, and to Todd Snider.

- “Dock Ellis: An LSD No-No” from American Public Media  
- “America’s Favorite Pastime” by Todd Snider

Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English
Written by Zaron Burnett
Story Editor is Virginia Prescott
Senior Producer is Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Jesse Nighswonger
Mixing and Mastering by Jesse Nighswonger
Research and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Zaron Burnett
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

 

In June 1970, Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates somehow tossed a no-hitter while tripping on acid. The LSD stunt made him a legend, but it overshadowed a much deeper story: a man who spent the second half of his life searching for redemption, purpose, and a way to help others escape the same darkness that once enveloped him.
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Today's episode was produced in partnership with <a href="https://www.schoolofhumans.com/podcast-work">School of Humans</a>. For School of Humans, Producers are Emilia Brock and Edeliz Perez. Executive Producer is Virginia Prescott.
Special thanks to American Public Media&rsquo;s&nbsp;Weekend America, and to Todd Snider.
- <a href="https://weekendamerica.publicradio.org/display/web/2008/03/28/pitch.html">&ldquo;Dock Ellis: An LSD No-No&rdquo;</a> from American Public Media &nbsp; - <a href="https://youtu.be/KG2SPjcKM4M">&ldquo;America&rsquo;s Favorite Pastime&rdquo; </a>by Todd Snider
Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English Written by Zaron Burnett Story Editor is Virginia Prescott Senior Producer is Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Jesse Nighswonger Mixing and Mastering by Jesse Nighswonger Research and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Zaron Burnett Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
&nbsp;

Dock Ellis: High and Outside

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/45c9c950-ffbe-4230-a017-b448011881a5/transcript

In 1978, Soviet geologists flying over Siberia spotted something impossible: a family living in total isolation, untouched for decades by the modern world. But when outsiders finally reached their remote cabin, the family’s hidden world began to change forever.

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Special thanks to Rebecca E. Marshall for letting us share clips from her documentary, The Forest in Me. We also want to shout out the film's composer, Xylouris White. You can stream The Forest in Me right now on Pijama Films.

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Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Dave Roos
Senior Producer is Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs
Voice Actors are Katie Mattie and Chris Childs
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Got a very special question? You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

In 1978, Soviet geologists flying over Siberia spotted something impossible: a family living in total isolation, untouched for decades by the modern world. But when outsiders finally reached their remote cabin, the family&rsquo;s hidden world began to change forever.
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Special thanks to Rebecca E. Marshall for letting us share clips from her documentary, <a href="https://www.dearfuturefilms.com/the-forest-in-me">The Forest in Me</a>. We also want to shout out the film's composer, Xylouris White. You can stream The Forest in Me right now on <a href="https://pijamafilms.com/watch/45cd826638f54a5ea3c2f010bcbe1c08">Pijama Films</a>.
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Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Dave Roos Senior Producer is Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs Additional Editing by Mary Dooe Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs Voice Actors are Katie Mattie and Chris Childs Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
Got a very special question? You can reach us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com">veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com</a>.

The Family Who Vanished Into Siberia for Over 40 Years

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/52631e16-dca3-4c6d-9da2-b44101330387/transcript

A Very Special Mini-Mailbag

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