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

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

The White Death

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

Emma has never felt the sun on her skin. Born with a rare condition that makes UV light dangerous, she lives by sunscreen, meters, and moonlight. But she’s also part of a community finding extraordinary ways to make ordinary childhood possible. And thanks to new research, the future may actually be bright.

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
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Question? Comment? Want to share your favorite episode? You can always reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.

Emma has never felt the sun on her skin. Born with a rare condition that makes UV light dangerous, she lives by sunscreen, meters, and moonlight. But she&rsquo;s also part of a community finding extraordinary ways to make ordinary childhood possible. And thanks to new research, the future may actually be bright.
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 Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
Question? Comment? Want to share your favorite episode? You can always reach us at <a href="mailto:veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com">veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com</a>.

Children of the Moon

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/a085a464-b94c-4561-bc79-b45e002fe744/transcript

When Ian Fleming needed a name for the secret agent at the center of his new novel, he stole one from the cover of a birdwatching book. The real James Bond wasn’t a martini-drinking spy, but a shy American ornithologist who spent decades exploring the Caribbean. Then one surreal day, he finally tracked down the man who stole his identity.

Special thanks to Jim Wright and his excellent book, The Real James Bond: A True Story of Identity Theft, Avian Intrigue, and Ian Fleming (From Schiffer Publishing). 

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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
Original Music by Elise McCoy
Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla
Executive Producer is Jason English

Got a very special question? Willing to share your favorite Very Special Episode? You can reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. And go pick up Dana's new book!

When Ian Fleming needed a name for the secret agent at the center of his new novel, he stole one from the cover of a birdwatching book. The real James Bond wasn&rsquo;t a martini-drinking spy, but a shy American ornithologist who spent decades exploring the Caribbean. Then one surreal day, he finally tracked down the man who stole his identity.
Special thanks to Jim Wright and his excellent book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Real-James-Bond-Identity-Intrigue/dp/0764359029">The Real James Bond: A True Story of Identity Theft, Avian Intrigue, and Ian Fleming</a> (From <a href="https://schifferbooks.com">Schiffer Publishing</a>).&nbsp;
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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 Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English
Got a very special question? Willing to share your favorite Very Special Episode? You can reach us at <a href="mailto:veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com">veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com</a>. And go pick up <a href="https://dana-schwartz.com">Dana's new book</a>!

The Other James Bond

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/7370c559-762d-467f-8852-b457001c1d83/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

The White Death

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