
Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Most discussed topics
Brands & references
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 4 chart positions in 4 markets.
By chart position
- 🇵🇭PH · History#152500 to 3K
- 🇿🇦ZA · History#154500 to 3K
- 🇰🇪KE · History#186500 to 3K
- 🇳🇿NZ · History#191500 to 3K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
600 to 3.6K🎙 Daily cadence·76 episodes·Last published today - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
2K to 12K🇵🇭25%🇿🇦25%🇰🇪25%+1 more - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
1.1K to 6.6K
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
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Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
From 12 epsHosts
Recent guests
Recent episodes
Dock Ellis: High and Outside
May 13, 2026
1h 01m 47s
The Family Who Vanished Into Siberia for Over 40 Years
May 6, 2026
50m 56s
A Very Special Mini-Mailbag
Apr 29, 2026
13m 00s
Marilyn, Hamilton + John Wilkes Booth's Statue: NYC History Hiding in Plain Sight
Apr 22, 2026
48m 42s
The Unintended Insanity of the 1994 Caribbean Cup (w/John Green and Daniel Alarcón of The Away End)
Apr 15, 2026
9m 04s
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| Date | Episode | Topics | Guests | Brands | Places | Keywords | Sponsor | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/13/26 | ![]() Dock Ellis: High and Outside | 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. * 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. Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason EnglishWritten by Zaron BurnettStory Editor is Virginia PrescottSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Jesse NighswongerMixing and Mastering by Jesse NighswongerResearch and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson and Zaron BurnettOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 1h 01m 47s | ||||||
| 5/6/26 | ![]() The Family Who Vanished Into Siberia for Over 40 Years✨ | isolationSiberia+4 | — | Pijama FilmsThe Forest in Me | — | Siberiafamily+5 | — | 50m 56s | |
| 4/29/26 | ![]() A Very Special Mini-Mailbag✨ | listener questionsyearbook quotes+3 | — | Very Special EpisodesiHeartPodcasts+1 | — | mailbaglistener questions+5 | — | 13m 00s | |
| 4/22/26 | ![]() Marilyn, Hamilton + John Wilkes Booth's Statue: NYC History Hiding in Plain Sight✨ | New York historyhidden history+4 | Greg Young | Bowery BoysYarberry Media+1 | New YorkSoHo+1 | New Yorkhistory+6 | — | 48m 42s | |
| 4/15/26 | ![]() The Unintended Insanity of the 1994 Caribbean Cup (w/John Green and Daniel Alarcón of The Away End)✨ | soccer1994 Caribbean Cup+4 | John GreenDaniel Alarcón | The Away End | — | soccerCaribbean Cup+6 | — | 9m 04s | |
| 4/6/26 | ![]() Bar Trivia: How a Staten Island Pub Made College Hoops History✨ | college basketballbetting+4 | — | iHeartPodcastsBar Trivia | Staten Island | NCAAbasketball+5 | — | 20m 45s | |
| 4/1/26 | ![]() Richard Nixon and the Magic Suitcase✨ | politicsjazz+4 | — | The Arcane Arts | — | Richard NixonApril Fools' Day+6 | — | 44m 49s | |
| 3/25/26 | ![]() 10 Minutes to Live: Hawaii's Text Message Fiasco of 2018✨ | emergency responsepublic safety+3 | — | — | Hawaii | Hawaiitext message+3 | — | 54m 18s | |
| 3/18/26 | ![]() Zero Gravity: The Zambian Space Program✨ | Zambiaspace program+5 | — | School of Humans | — | Zambiaspace race+5 | — | 32m 46s | |
| 3/11/26 | ![]() Movie Mystery: The 2000 Oscars Heist✨ | Oscars heistAcademy Awards+3 | — | iHeartPodcasts | — | Oscarsheist+4 | — | 48m 24s | |
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| 3/4/26 | ![]() The Galápagos Murders✨ | murder mysteryGalápagos Islands+4 | — | Eden Undone: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II | — | Galápagosmurders+5 | — | 43m 35s | |
| 2/25/26 | ![]() Taking On Water✨ | sailingOlympics+3 | — | iHeartPodcasts | — | Lawrence LemieuxOlympic podium+3 | — | 31m 21s | |
| 2/18/26 | ![]() The Olympic Prison✨ | Olympicshistory+4 | — | — | Lake Placid, New York | Olympic VillageWinter Olympics+5 | — | 50m 32s | |
| 2/11/26 | ![]() Breaking the Olympics | 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. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Mike SmeltzSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsAdditional Editing by Mary DooeMixing and Mastering by Josh FisherOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason EnglishSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 24m 12s | ||||||
| 2/6/26 | ![]() Meet the Steagles | 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. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Jake RossenSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Jonathan WashingtonAdditional Editing by Mary DooeMixing and Mastering by Josh FisherResearch and Fact-Checking by Jake Rossen and Austin ThompsonVoice Actors are Josh Fisher and Jonathan WashingtonOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 52m 14s | ||||||
| 12/31/25 | ![]() JFK's Forgotten Summer [Best of 2025] | 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. * "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. * 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. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Joe PompeoProduced by Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington and Josh FisherAdditional Editing by Mary DooeMixing and Mastering by Josh FisherResearch and Fact-Checking by Joe Pompeo and Austin ThompsonOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason EnglishSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 45m 14s | ||||||
| 12/24/25 | ![]() Big in Japan: Kentucky Fried Christmas | 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 EnglishWritten by Maria TrimarchiSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsMixing and Mastering by Chris ChildsOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English Got a question or comment for Dana, Zaron, and Jason? Hit us up at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 19m 15s | ||||||
| 12/17/25 | ![]() The Cabbage Patch Crisis | In 1983, a cherubic, homely doll triggered something close to national hysteria. Parents fought in store aisles. Shelves were stripped bare. Even the New York mafia found itself selling children’s toys. Cabbage Patch Kids went from handmade curiosities to the most coveted object in America — igniting riots, corporate battles, and a moral panic that stretched from suburban malls to federal courtrooms. All in a single Christmas season. And the frenzy didn’t end when the Kids disappeared from shelves. In an unexpected twist decades later, these dolls would get more care and attention than they ever had before. Previously on VSE: The Furby Files * Very special thanks to all our guests! You can hear more of Larry Mazza’s story in his book The Life, available on Amazon. * Today's episode is a production of iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Jake RossenSenior Producer is Josh FisherStory Editor is Virginia PrescottEditing and Sound Design by Jonathan WashingtonAdditional Editing by Mary DooeMixing and Mastering by Josh FisherFrom School of Humans, producers are Emilia Brock and Edeliz PerezResearch and Fact-Checking by Jake Rossen, Virginia Prescott, and Austin ThompsonOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaSocial Clips by Yarberry MediaExecutive Producers are Virginia Prescott and Jason English Got a question for a future mailbag? Send it to veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 49m 52s | ||||||
| 12/10/25 | ![]() Skylab Is Falling | In 1979, the world watched as NASA’s 77-ton space station made its fiery plunge back to Earth. When Skylab broke apart over a sleepy Australian town, the falling debris set off a global media frenzy. This is the story of the night the sky actually fell — and the teenager who became an improbable hero. * Today's episode is a production of iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Jake RossenSenior Producer is Josh FisherStory Editor is Virginia PrescottEditing and Sound Design by Jonathan WashingtonMixing and Mastering by Josh FisherFrom School of Humans, producers are Emilia Brock and Edeliz PerezResearch and Fact-Checking by Jake Rossen, Virginia Prescott, and Austin ThompsonOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaSocial Clips by Yarberry MediaExecutive Producers are Virginia Prescott and Jason English Got a question for a future mailbag? Send it to veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 47m 21s | ||||||
| 12/3/25 | ![]() The Fundamental Magical Element | Two Jamaican musicians are making a bold claim. They say they invented the now-ubiquitous reggaeton beat on a specific track in 1989. They're suing some of the genre's biggest stars for billions in royalties. But we found someone who’s telling a very different origin story. Hold onto your headphones as we dive into the mystery behind one of the most influential beats in modern music. * On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason EnglishWritten by Dave RoosSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Jonathan WashingtonMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierResearch and Fact-Checking by Austin Thompson, Dave Roos, and Zaron BurnettOriginal Music by Elise McCoy and Jonathan WashingtonShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaSocial Clips by Yarberry MediaExecutive Producer is Jason English Got a question for Dana, Zaron, and Jason? Hit us up at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 36m 50s | ||||||
| 11/26/25 | ![]() A Very Special Thanksgiving Mailbag | It's Fandemonium! This week Dana, Zaron, and Jason respond to listener emails. They tell their Very Special origin stories, pick their favorite episodes, cast the movie version of the podcast, and preview the exciting stories coming this winter. Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving Friday! And you can always reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 18m 12s | ||||||
| 11/19/25 | ![]() The Dogs of Chernobyl | When Russia invaded Ukraine, hundreds of starving dogs were trapped inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. For years, Oregon-based veterinarian Dr. Jenn Betz had been their lifeline. Now, with Putin’s troops occupying the site, she had only one thought: How do I get back there? * If you would like to help the dogs of Chernobyl, visit CleanFutures.org. Today's episode is a production of iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Lucas ReillySenior Producer is Josh FisherStory Editor is Virginia PrescottEditing and Sound Design by Jesse NighswongerMixing and Mastering by Jesse NighswongerFrom School of Humans, producers are Emilia Brock, Edeliz Perez and Gabbie WattsResearch and Fact-Checking by Lucas Reilly and Austin ThompsonOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaSocial Clips by Yarberry MediaExecutive Producers are Virginia Prescott and Jason English See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 45m 00s | ||||||
| 11/12/25 | ![]() The Grocery Store That Killed Communism | In 1989, Boris Yeltsin walked into a Houston supermarket, and walked out ready to end an empire. What he saw in Texas that day would shake the foundations of the Soviet Union. * 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 Dave RoosSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Jonathan WashingtonAdditional Editing by Mary DooeMixing and Mastering by Josh FisherResearch and Fact-Checking by Dave Roos and Austin ThompsonVoice Actor is Tom AntonellisOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaSocial Clips by Yarberry MediaExecutive Producer is Jason English Special thanks to composer Evan Mack for letting us play a clip of “Make Your Move,” from his original opera Yeltsin in Texas. Learn more at evanmack.com. And thanks to Yelena Biberman for sharing her story. Check out her excellent podcast How to Kill a Superpower. We've got a mailbag episode coming later this month. Got a question for Dana, Zaron, or Jason? Email us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 43m 53s | ||||||
| 11/5/25 | ![]() The Arctic Balloon | In 1897, a Swedish engineer set out to reach the North Pole ... by balloon. With two companions, a crate of champagne, and the faith of a nation, he rose into the Arctic fog — and vanished. Decades later, their frozen journals and undeveloped film emerged from the ice, revealing the haunting truth behind one of exploration’s great mysteries. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Marisa Brown and Mac MontandonSenior Producer is Josh FisherStory Editor is Marisa BrownEditing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsAdditional Editing by Mary DooeMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierOriginal Music by Elise McCoyResearch and Fact-Checking by Marisa Brown and Austin ThompsonShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaSocial Clips by Yarberry MediaSpecial thanks to our voice actors Tom Antonellis, Chris Childs, and Josh FisherExecutive Producer is Jason English You can email the show at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 53m 29s | ||||||
| 10/29/25 | ![]() Being Joe Isuzu | In the golden age of 1980s television, few faces were more familiar — or more dishonest — than Joe Isuzu’s. Actor David Leisure brought the fast-talking car salesman to life, turning a parody of advertising into one of its greatest icons. In this Very Special Interview, the man behind America’s favorite liar revisits the campaign that changed commercials forever. * Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason EnglishWritten by Zaron BurnettSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsMixing and Mastering by Baheed FrazierOriginal Music by Elise McCoyShow Logo by Lucy QuintanillaExecutive Producer is Jason English Question? Comment? Idea for which advertising icon we should try to interview next? Email us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. | 48m 21s | ||||||
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Chart Positions
4 placements across 4 markets.
Chart Positions
4 placements across 4 markets.
















![JFK's Forgotten Summer [Best of 2025] episode artwork](https://www.omnycontent.com/d/clips/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/a9f8aaf1-b12b-40b8-85aa-b08f0126e2b6/350a2a46-5a66-4ad6-8a1b-b3c400e80670/image.jpg?t=1767192521&size=Large)








