Thanks to her McDonald’s fortune, Joan Kroc was one of the world’s wealthiest people. And she was determined to die nearly broke.

*

Special thanks to our guests Lisa Napoli, Dick Starmann, and Stephanie Bergsma. Go check out Lisa's excellent book Ray & Joan. 

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Jake Rossen
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

You can always reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

Thanks to her McDonald&rsquo;s fortune, Joan Kroc was one of the world&rsquo;s wealthiest people. And she was determined to die nearly broke.
*
Special thanks to our guests Lisa Napoli, Dick Starmann, and Stephanie Bergsma. Go check out Lisa's excellent book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ray-Joan-McDonalds-Fortune-Woman/dp/1101984953">Ray &amp; Joan</a>.&nbsp;
Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Jake Rossen 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
You can always reach us at <a href="mailto:veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com">veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com</a>.

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

Chaotic Philanthropy: Saint Joan of the Golden Arches

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/bb4417c2-4f3e-40fe-bf2c-b47901147ff3/transcript

Comic Sans is a punchline. A design crime. Cultural shorthand for bad taste. But the notorious font's legacy isn't one of failure. Because Comic Sans succeeded in ways its critics never saw coming.

*

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

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.

Comic Sans is a punchline. A design crime. Cultural shorthand for bad taste. But the notorious font's legacy isn't one of failure. Because Comic Sans succeeded in ways its critics never saw coming.
*
Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Bess Lovejoy Senior Producer is Josh Fisher Story Editor is Virginia Prescott Editing and Sound Design by Jesse Nighswonger Mixing and Mastering by Josh Fisher Research and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Bess Lovejoy Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
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.

How a Dog Talks: The Surprising Redemption of Comic Sans

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/297179bb-01bf-4ba8-aa7f-b4720143ff1f/transcript

In 1968, a woman wrote a romantic story about Kirk and Spock, passed it quietly among friends, and hoped it would never see the light of day. Before vanishing entirely, The Ring of Soshern had become the stuff of legend. The quest to recover it would lead back to a community of women who'd been building something remarkable in the shadows for generations.

Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English
Written by Edie Allard 
Story Editor is Carmen Borca-Carrillo 
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

Happy Pride month from Very Special Episodes!  For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the Outspoken Network from iHeartPodcasts. Today’s episode was produced in partnership with Acast Creative Studios. Very Special Episodes is a production of iHeartPodcasts.

In 1968, a woman wrote a romantic story about Kirk and Spock, passed it quietly among friends, and hoped it would never see the light of day. Before vanishing entirely,&nbsp;The Ring of Soshern had become the stuff of legend. The quest to recover it would lead back to a community of women who'd been building something remarkable in the shadows for generations.
Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Edie Allard&nbsp; Story Editor is Carmen Borca-Carrillo&nbsp; 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
Happy Pride month from Very Special Episodes! &nbsp;For more of your favorite LGBTQ+ content, check out the <a href="https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26source%3Dweb%26rct%3Dj%26opi%3D89978449%26url%3Dhttps%3A%2F%2Fwww.iheart.com%2Fpodcast%2Fcategory%2Foutspoken-255%2F%26ved%3D2ahUKEwiW1431sbSUAxXdlYkEHQ5SCHEQFnoECBcQAQ%26usg%3DAOvVaw0K6CaeOaxYnvh3y-xE8vIu&amp;data=05%7C02%7CJasonEnglish%40iheartmedia.com%7C9f92be2c13d8463bc0fa08dec1ac3aee%7C122a527e5b714eba878d9810b495b9e3%7C0%7C0%7C639161142630857914%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&amp;sdata=QBVX9uCxEDcZR1r8S5igTEGU5fUIuDnfvsI%2Bti0edjg%3D&amp;reserved=0" data-outlook-id="0eb242f6-f560-40d9-986f-831930474cad">Outspoken Network</a> from iHeartPodcasts. Today&rsquo;s episode was produced in partnership with Acast Creative Studios. Very Special Episodes is a production of iHeartPodcasts.

Searching for Soshern: The Forbidden Star Trek Fanfiction

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/0387d5a2-3b0f-4eaf-a964-b46c00248cdb/transcript

In the winter of 1939, Finland faced overwhelming odds. The Soviet Union was invading with hundreds of thousands of troops. Standing in their way was an unlikely defender: a shy farmer and expert marksman who would later become known as “The White Death.” But behind the myth was simply a reserved man fighting for his homeland.

Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English
Written by Lucas Reilly
Story Editor is Virginia Prescott
Senior Producers are Josh Fisher and Emilia Brock
Additional Production by Edeliz Perez
Story Editor is Virginia Prescott
Editing and Sound Design by Jesse Nighswonger
Mixing and Mastering by Jesse Nighswonger
Research and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Lucas Reilly
Original Music by Elise McCoy and Jesse Nighswonger
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producers are Virginia Prescott and Jason English

Give it up for our excellent cast who brought this one to life!

Featuring Miska Kajanus as Simo Häyhä 

Additional voices provided by Tuomas Ahva,Jukka Hurme, Tuomas Brock, and Tuukka Rantanen

Special thanks to Sirpa Ristimäki-Brock

In the winter of 1939, Finland faced overwhelming odds. The Soviet Union was invading with hundreds of thousands of troops. Standing in their way was an unlikely defender: a shy farmer and expert marksman who would later become known as &ldquo;The White Death.&rdquo; But behind the myth was simply a reserved man fighting for his homeland.
Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason English Written by Lucas Reilly Story Editor is Virginia Prescott Senior Producers are Josh Fisher and Emilia Brock Additional Production by Edeliz Perez Story Editor is Virginia Prescott Editing and Sound Design by Jesse Nighswonger Mixing and Mastering by Jesse Nighswonger Research and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Lucas Reilly Original Music by Elise McCoy and Jesse Nighswonger Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producers are Virginia Prescott and Jason English
Give it up for our excellent cast who brought this one to life!
Featuring Miska Kajanus as Simo H&auml;yh&auml;&nbsp;
Additional voices provided by&nbsp;Tuomas Ahva,Jukka Hurme,&nbsp;Tuomas Brock, and&nbsp;Tuukka Rantanen
Special thanks to Sirpa Ristim&auml;ki-Brock

The White Death

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/779e6b89-adae-4e2b-99de-b464012f46e7/transcript

Chaotic Philanthropy: Saint Joan of the Golden Arches

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