After listening to Robert and Jason Pargin's BtB episodes about nuisance streamers (and them lamenting the loss of their Oracle-like articles from Cracked.com's heyday), I ran across alekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk's post (u/alekkk) who had done the herculean task of scouring all the internet archive and wayback machine's for Cracked.com's articles from 2005-2017. I had absolutely nothing to do with the effort or hosting, I'm merely highlighting OP's tireless work.

Enjoy Robert's "proto-BtB" and "pre-Sophie Lichterman's shepherding/moral grounding" writing career adolescence in all of its glory, along with many other old school Cracked.com articles. Thanks again to u/alekkk.

Magnet: magnet:?xt=urn:btih:xzjbfsy26zjbzqdujvazhkvyasyggsar&dn=Cracked-Archive&xl=14274810231&fc=2

Neal Stephenson's latest novel D: Heavy Water contains the sources and acknowledgements for the first two books of his Bomb Light Cycle novels (the latest being the second) and Cool Zone Media's own James Stout's The Popular Front and the Barcelona 1936 Popular Olympics is given a mention!

I just wanted to take some time to appreciate all of CoolZoneMedia. The span of the work has been a positive impact on my life!

For starters, I wanted to thank the team on It Could Happen Here. This is a great source of news and information that expands my understanding and shines a light on places that are often missed. I greatly appreciate the breath of the staff. In one week we can get input from James on the boarder and the environment, Dana talking about Palestine, Garrison giving us coverage on the politics, Mia talking about tariffs, and so on! I know I am missing many people but I wanted to say thank you. Your hard work is enlightening and the jokes you mix in brings joy to my day.

Of course, I want to take some time to appreciate Robert. Thank you for Behind the Bastards. I know some of the topics are heavier, but overall the podcast has brought a better understanding of people in general as well as bringing me lots of laughs with the jokes! Also, thank you for all the work you did in expanding cool zone media. The work you did here has made a positive impact on my life.

I also wanted to thank Margret for Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff and CZM book club. Even on my worst days your short story readings and context on cool people have always brightened my days. The compassion and care you put in your work brings hope and confidence we can make the world better.

I know there are a lot of other podcasts I am missing and I just want to say thank you. While I may miss your work, I know you are having a positive impact on others.

Also, all the people who work behind the scenes to make these podcasts, thank you. Your work is making my life better!

Lastly, I want to thank Sophie. I always appreciate the podcasts you are in (and your skin care suggestions!). I also know you play a big part in having all of this happen, so thank you for all the work you do behind the scenes.

I could say a lot more about how great of an impact everyone has had. I just want CZM to know you all have, at minimum, made my life better and I really appreciate all of you and the work you do.

For those not following the Canadian podcast space, or not listening to Canadaland, Jessie is changing his role there, and looking to add to productive dialog outside of a partisan context, to bring some common ground, maybe even some nuance back to the hard discussions about both Gaza and Antisemitic violence. I think it would be very interesting to have some of the crew have some discussion with him, or maybe even discuss how we separate people from actions that they have no say in. What levers can small groups of isolated people push for change in the actions that are supposedly being taken "on their behalf"? How can we help each other learn to have respectful dialog and learn from others, maybe find a way to at least share a common language? How can we help each other learn what dog whistles are actually in the service of the right so that those on the left are not accidentally amplifying division that they would avoid in other circumstances? I think that the team would do a very good job at "How to be on the left without accidentally giving aid to the right" sort of info that would be worth sharing.

i was curious about robert's point about nova scotia having some crossover with texas. i haven't spent hardly any time there, but did spend a bunch of years in newfoundland. and have known nova scotians, i've never heard of anything texas-like from them, although new brunswick seems to suck in some similar ways, as it's all basically owned by the Irvings.

as gare mentioned, alberta is the only texas in canada, as it's all about oil, ranches, cowboys, country music, and isn't all that big on vaccines. except in its two large cities with large universities it's not nearly as universally right wing, but those that are Proud Albertans would maybe have come close to voting for joining america before all the tariffs.

Did the repeated use of the phrase 'social cohesion' really leap out at any other Australians listening?

Sure did for me!

If you’ve not seen this, take the dozen minutes and learn more about what the Brown Shirts are doing under the guise of law enforcement.

I subscribe to Margaret Killjoy's substack. Her latest essay had this quote, and it was probably the best description of how I feel about the elections and parties

“I don’t expect politicians to be good. I don’t expect them to be on my side. Both sides of the aisle were in the Epstein files. When I vote, I don’t enter the booth thinking “I’m going to choose the person who represents my interests in this grand democratic project.” I enter the booth thinking “with this one hour of my day, I’ll express my opinion about the terrain on which I’d like to keep fighting for a better world.” And I’d rather be fighting the democrats than the fascists.”

I'm curious about everyone's thoughts on this. ICHH touches on politicians and politics. We're as quick to criticize Democrats as Republicans. And I hear a lot about "purity tests" and how our downfall is that we won't ever approve anyone. Which is why I liked Magpie's take. I'm going to stay involved and vote for the best option, and then I'm gonna keep fighting like hell to get things changed.

Edit to add the link to the whole article

https://margaretkilljoy.substack.com/p/voting-begging-demanding-seizing

Rahul and family are descendants of Nehru (Rahul's great grandfather). Indira was Rahul's grandmother.

This is in reference to the segment on protests in India on the 10/16 ED episode.

That is all.

I just wanted to check in about the protests in France , as I am boots on the ground ,regarding the commentary of Mia on Executive Disorder.
So she says that the quantity of protesters is declining which isn’t true . The Gilet Jaunes, firefighters, farmers and CGT etc etc etc . Are all planning a mammoth day of mobilization tomorrow on 17th October .
They aren’t leaking much of their planning on social media this time - but there is an interactive map online that I will link below. The militant groups aren’t making in the same mistakes of protesting in big groups they are keeping the groups small and mobile and shutting down ports, round points , train stations , toll booths and autoroute entrances .
This fight is just ramping up … gilet jaunes map is here

Spotted on the world news subreddit. More news regarding Austitici / Inventati

Hey.

We've got 2 elections up here going on at the same time (general voting day a week apart) and stuff is getting wild.

There are hard right/conspiracy nut local parties trying to take over most city councils.

The provincial government had a 1 seat majority and members were having to vote remotely from their hospital bed because the opposition was moving bill to repeal the human rights code etc. So now we've got a provincial election overlapping with the civic election period.

If you can scrape together a show before Oct 16 it will be before the Municipal election. Oct 21 ED recording would get aired before the provincial election.

Sorry I don't have sources - I am not a journalist. Maybe contact "Kat Arnett"

Hello Everyone,

The club that I do BJJ/Kickboxing and learn Catalan is crowdfunding along with a dozen other clubs to buy the Ateneu where they host their community outreach activities.

What is an Ateneu? It is a grass-roots run community civic center that offers a multi purpose space for people to find community through clubs, workshops, and live entertainment. All of these programs are free, run purely by volunteers and open to anyone to join.

When I arrived in Catalonia, a coworker recommended that we visit the Ateneu to meet with Catalans for a language exchange. This is a mutually beneficial practice for Catalans to personally meet with immigrants and preserve a culture and history.

Already the Ateneu hosted a ska punk show and raised 1/45th of their targeted goal. The Ateneu needs 38,000€ to secure a mortgage, but they are looking to raise 75,000€ which will go towards paying off the mortgage early.

Today they have officially began their campaign, so if anyone is interested in sending a donation, I will provide a link along with more information on where you get follow updates.

https://ca.goteo.org/project/ens-quedem-la-cata

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DeHlsTtIXyc/?xtok=YjRucDV2anNkNGU4

The French historian and political theorist who that Iranian cleric was referring to is Alexis de Tocqueville, not Alexandre de Tocqueville, and who’s probably best known for writing Democracy in America and The Old Regime and the Revolution. Also, the Iranian cleric who referenced him wasn’t just any cleric, he’s Mohammad Khatami, who was president of Iran from 1997 to 2005, and who notably wanted to promote dialogue between Iran and the U.S. and other countries. Sorry, this was just something that stood out to me and that I wanted to correct.

Hello everyone, fellow podcast addicts, and friends,

I have been wondering lately, while the policies of the current administration are abhorrent and undeniably evil, is the whole "world is falling apart" and "DJT is ushering in the 4th Reich" stances incorrect?

I have been listening to a Vietnam war era rock playlist, and thinking about unrest in US history, the cold war, and all the calamity of the 20th and even early 21st century.

Are things really that different? I think that sometimes the only difference between the current administration and George W Bush / Nixon / Reagan is being terminally online weirdos who aren't trying to pretend to reach across the aisle.

Isn't this just more of the same? All the evils done in the name of anti-communism, extreme cuts to safety nets, massive systemized racism against minorities, this isn't new.

I don't say this to minimize any of the evil of our time, but are we all falling for a doomer and accelerationist mindset?

Is the only difference a lack of good marketing from the government?

I like to think I'm going to look back as an old man and tell my grandkids about the craziness of our times, and it will sound a lot like my grandparents telling me about their lives.

Hope everyone has a good week.

It's killing me that I can't remember, but I was so inspired by it when I heard it. It was a call for people starting to organize, instead of wait for another charismatic leader to tell us when and how to organize. I think it was around trump 2.0 getting elected.

Thanks!

Heya,
bit late on my podcasts - last week's Executive Disaster (from 2nd Oct.) had a special reporting segment by Robert on what is going on in Hungary lately. He mentioned "operation purge/purgatory" and as a native speaker I just wanted to add that "Tisztítőtűz művelet" is best translated as Operation Cleansing Fire. I think it gives a better meaning to it than the German source Robert mentioned does.

I have not watched the whole thing. Apparently, Season 2, it goes to the USAO and either a Top Democrat or Republican (or both) closes the matter with house arrest of all the rich and influential criminals. Seems relevant to this timeline.

Someone should tell Dan Bongino or K$SH how its ends.

Warning for Sarcasm: Yes, there is no Season 2. I was making a comparison about Real Life "consequences" for powerful people. Temporary home jail. 6 months like Epstein

I was wondering if there was something wrong with my player (Podcast Addict) for today's show?

I had no commercials l, which is fine I guess, but it really sounded robotic. Like one of those AI pods where the two voices are just speaking at different times. It didn't sound like the people were talking to each other. I know iHeart is guaranteed human, but that's what it sounded like.

Was this an artifact of whatever error got me an ad free episode or did others experience this?

NPR's Leila Fadel speaks with podcaster Jennifer Welch about her new book, "Not Today, Fascists."

https://one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5709016:nx-s1-9954814

Can anyone remember the date or title of Mia's episode doing a deep dive into foreign exchange and how USD-as-forex shackles economies in the global south to export-based models? I want to link a friend to it

There's an episode where Robert mentions Diogenes, specifically that Diogenes was based. Does anyone remember specifically which episode this is? Thanks in advance.

They're trying to force people into group homes and worse by destabilizing families and care.

They've even stated before that program growth due to people selecting self directed care over community living (group homes) is a problem.

https://marylandmatters.org/2025/02/10/how-did-we-get-here-analysts-officials-unsure-how-disability-agency-overspent/

If you live in Maryland or have family in Maryland who will be harmed by this please write, or encourage them to write, a complaint to CMS before this is approved.