Elizabeth Swaney fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an Olympian, defying all odds. But it wasn’t supernatural athletic ability that got her there. And by the time she made it to the 2018 Winter Olympics, a lot of people were rooting against her. Here's the incredible story of a woman who made it to the Games by understanding those odds better than anyone else.

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Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Mike Smeltz
Senior Producer is Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Additional Editing by Mary Dooe
Mixing and Mastering by Josh Fisher
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Elizabeth Swaney fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an Olympian, defying all odds. But it wasn&rsquo;t supernatural athletic ability that got her there. And by the time she made it to the 2018 Winter Olympics, a lot of people were rooting against her. Here's the incredible story of a woman who made it to the Games by understanding those odds better than anyone else.
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Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Mike Smeltz Senior Producer is Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs Additional Editing by Mary Dooe Mixing and Mastering by Josh Fisher Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English

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

Breaking the Olympics

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/67f12bf4-e605-465a-8a44-b3ee00108a2d/transcript

During World War II, football itself was at risk. The Steagles—a hybrid of the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers—were a desperate wartime experiment. With rosters drained by the draft, the NFL turned to mostly players deemed unfit for military service. And it might be the only way the NFL can survive the war.

Special thanks to Matthew Algeo! Check out his book Last Team Standing. 

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

 

During World War II, football itself was at risk. The Steagles&mdash;a hybrid of the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers&mdash;were a desperate wartime experiment. With rosters drained by the draft, the NFL turned to mostly players deemed unfit for military service.&nbsp;And it might be the only way the NFL can survive the war.
Special thanks to Matthew Algeo! Check out his book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Last-Team-Standing-Pittsburgh-Philadelphia/dp/0306815761">Last Team Standing</a>.&nbsp;
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Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Jake Rossen Senior Producer is Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington Additional Editing by Mary Dooe Mixing and Mastering by Josh Fisher Research and Fact-Checking by Jake Rossen and Austin Thompson Voice Actors are Josh Fisher and Jonathan Washington Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
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Meet the Steagles

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/c7f08d69-b510-42bd-a152-b3e90165636c/transcript

Eighty years ago, a young John F. Kennedy took a summer job as a journalist for Hearst newspapers, filing dispatches in the final days of World War II. Even the most seasoned JFK scholars often overlook this chapter, missing the influence those months had on the future president. 

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"JFK's Forgotten Summer," which we originally published in June, was our top performing episode of 2025. Tragically, it took on more significance earlier this month with the death of Rob Reiner.

Rob — who, with Soledad O'Brien, hosted Who Killed JFK?, one of the most successful podcasts of 2023 — kindly shared with us his knowledge and passion about the Kennedy family and appears in this episode. He was under no obligation to do this. He just wanted to help. It was an honor to work with him. We still cannot believe he and Michele are gone. 

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Listen to Who Killed JFK? from Rob Reiner and Soledad O'Brien wherever you get your podcasts. 

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

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

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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

Eighty years ago, a young John F. Kennedy took a summer job as a journalist for Hearst newspapers, filing dispatches in the final days of World War II. Even the most seasoned JFK scholars often overlook this chapter, missing the influence those months had on the future president.&nbsp;
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"JFK's Forgotten Summer," which we originally published in June, was our top performing episode of 2025. Tragically, it took on more significance earlier this month with the death of Rob Reiner.
Rob &mdash; who, with Soledad O'Brien, hosted&nbsp;Who Killed JFK?, one of the most successful podcasts of 2023 &mdash; kindly shared with us his knowledge and passion about the Kennedy family and appears in this episode. He was under no obligation to do this. He just wanted to help. It was an honor to work with him. We still cannot believe he and Michele are gone.&nbsp;
*<a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/242113/jfk-by-fredrik-logevall/"></a>
Listen to Who Killed JFK? from Rob Reiner and Soledad O'Brien wherever you get your podcasts.&nbsp;
Check out Fred Logevall's excellent book: <a href="https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/242113/jfk-by-fredrik-logevall/">JFK: Coming of Age in the American Century.</a>
And thanks to our JFK voice actor, Tom Antonellis, for nailing another role.&nbsp;
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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

JFK's Forgotten Summer [Best of 2025]

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/350a2a46-5a66-4ad6-8a1b-b3c400e80670/transcript

In much of the world, Christmas dinner means roasted turkey, glazed ham, or a table crowded with family recipes passed down for generations. But in Japan, millions mark the holiday with something far less traditional — a bucket of KFC. Today we unwrap one of the strangest and most successful marketing stories of the modern era: how an American fast-food chain became an essential part of Japanese Christmas.

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

Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English
Written by Maria Trimarchi
Senior Producer is Josh Fisher
Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs
Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Got a question or comment for Dana, Zaron, and Jason? Hit us up at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. 

In much of the world, Christmas dinner means roasted turkey, glazed ham, or a table crowded with family recipes passed down for generations. But in Japan, millions mark the holiday with something far less traditional &mdash; a bucket of KFC. Today we unwrap one of the strangest and most successful marketing stories of the modern era: how an American fast-food chain became an essential part of Japanese Christmas.
On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. See Also: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/very-special-episodes/id1727423228?i=1000681434144">Stealing Baby Jesus</a>.
Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English Written by Maria Trimarchi Senior Producer is Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
Got a question or comment for Dana, Zaron, and Jason? Hit us up at <a href="mailto:veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com">veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com</a>.&nbsp;

Big in Japan: Kentucky Fried Christmas

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/512a2a90-d572-4bed-83fb-b3bc0132a9b0/transcript

Breaking the Olympics

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