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Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff: Daily Summaries Delivered
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As long as there’s been oppression, there’ve been people fighting it. This weekly podcast dives into history to drag up the wildest rebels, the most beautiful revolts, and all the people who long to be—and fight to be—free. It explores complex stories of resistance that offer lessons and inspiration for us today, focusing on the ensemble casts that make up each act of history. That is to say, this podcast focuses on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff.
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- Today42 min
CZM Book Club: Ocotillo, by Madeline ffitch
Margaret reads you a surreal story about the surreal Southwest, written by one of her favorite authorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 4 days ago25 min
AI Doesn't Work and We All Know It Doesn't Work
Margaret reads you an essay about the lying machines that will soon be ruling the worldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 6 days ago32 min
Beyond Climate Optimism, Beyond Climate Pessimism
Margaret reads you an essay about how we have to soberly confront the realities of climate change and look for ways we can collectively take action Source: https://margaretkilljoy.substack.com/p/beyond-climate-optimism-beyond-climate https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/31/climate/coral-reef-recovery-time.html https://ourworldindata.org/electricity-mix https://interestingengineering.com/culture/carbon-footprint-coined-by-big-oil-to-blame-you-for-climate-change https://climate.mit.edu/ask-mit/why-have-i-heard-eating-meat-bad-climate https://solarunitedneighbors.org/resources/what-to-know-about-plug-in-solar/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 1 weeks ago30 min
CZM Book Club: Reverse Book Club: Talking "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" with Bridget, Hazel and All of You
To close out Black August, Margaret sits down with Bridget Todd and Hazel Acacia to finish talking about one of the most iconic Trek episodes ever made (S6E13: Far Beyond the Stars of Deep Space Nine)- and you're invitedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 1 weeks ago31 min
Part Four: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance
Margaret finishes telling you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolenhttps://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprshttps://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.htmlhttps://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.htmlhttps://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutionalhttps://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognitionhttps://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendationshttps://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Melhttps://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.phphttps://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233022/http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/166494646.htmlhttps://www.etymonline.com/word/scofflawhttps://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demandhttps://www.404media.co/the-open-source-project-deflock-is-mapping-license-plate-surveillance-cameras-all-over-the-world/https://www.eff.org/document/flock-safety-cd-deflockmehttps://www.eff.org/document/eff-deflock-letter-flock-safetyhttps://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/former-kechi-police-lieutenant-sentenced-in-stalking-case/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2015/05/11/paradise-valley-license-plate-camera-reader/27144369/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gun-show-customers-license-plates-come-under-scrutiny-1475451302https://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2013/va-alpr.pdfhttps://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4232.asphttps://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/10/dea-plans-to-expand-license-plate-surveillance-program/https://qz.com/1400791/that-road-sign-telling-you-how-fast-youre-driving-may-be-part-of-a-us-government-surveillance-networkhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296https://www.docsumo.com/blog/optical-character-recognition-historyhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3330771.stmhttps://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18001802465783784125https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/corpus-christi-police-use-basic-license-plate-readers-not-flock/https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ALPRS-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 1 weeks ago36 min
Part Three: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance
This week, Margaret goes even deeper into the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolenhttps://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprshttps://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.htmlhttps://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.htmlhttps://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutionalhttps://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognitionhttps://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendationshttps://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Melhttps://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.phphttps://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233022/http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/166494646.htmlhttps://www.etymonline.com/word/scofflawhttps://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demandhttps://www.404media.co/the-open-source-project-deflock-is-mapping-license-plate-surveillance-cameras-all-over-the-world/https://www.eff.org/document/flock-safety-cd-deflockmehttps://www.eff.org/document/eff-deflock-letter-flock-safetyhttps://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/former-kechi-police-lieutenant-sentenced-in-stalking-case/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2015/05/11/paradise-valley-license-plate-camera-reader/27144369/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gun-show-customers-license-plates-come-under-scrutiny-1475451302https://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2013/va-alpr.pdfhttps://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4232.asphttps://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/10/dea-plans-to-expand-license-plate-surveillance-program/https://qz.com/1400791/that-road-sign-telling-you-how-fast-youre-driving-may-be-part-of-a-us-government-surveillance-networkhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296https://www.docsumo.com/blog/optical-character-recognition-historyhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3330771.stmhttps://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18001802465783784125https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/corpus-christi-police-use-basic-license-plate-readers-not-flock/https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ALPRS-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 2 weeks ago33 min
CZM Book Club: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Far Beyond the Distant Stars (Part One of Two)
Margaret discusses your reactions to the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, "Far Beyond the Distant Stars," with Hazel Acacia and Bridget ToddSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
- 2 weeks ago40 min
Part Two: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance
Margaret continues telling you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolenhttps://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprshttps://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.htmlhttps://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.htmlhttps://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutionalhttps://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognitionhttps://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendationshttps://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Melhttps://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.phphttps://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233022/http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/166494646.htmlhttps://www.etymonline.com/word/scofflawhttps://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demandhttps://www.404media.co/the-open-source-project-deflock-is-mapping-license-plate-surveillance-cameras-all-over-the-world/https://www.eff.org/document/flock-safety-cd-deflockmehttps://www.eff.org/document/eff-deflock-letter-flock-safetyhttps://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/former-kechi-police-lieutenant-sentenced-in-stalking-case/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2015/05/11/paradise-valley-license-plate-camera-reader/27144369/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gun-show-customers-license-plates-come-under-scrutiny-1475451302https://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2013/va-alpr.pdfhttps://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4232.asphttps://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/10/dea-plans-to-expand-license-plate-surveillance-program/https://qz.com/1400791/that-road-sign-telling-you-how-fast-youre-driving-may-be-part-of-a-us-government-surveillance-networkhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296https://www.docsumo.com/blog/optical-character-recognition-historyhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3330771.stmhttps://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18001802465783784125https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/corpus-christi-police-use-basic-license-plate-readers-not-flock/https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ALPRS-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdfSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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About Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff
As long as there’s been oppression, there’ve been people fighting it. This weekly podcast dives into history to drag up the wildest rebels, the most beautiful revolts, and all the people who long to be—and fight to be—free. It explores complex stories of resistance that offer lessons and inspiration for us today, focusing on the ensemble casts that make up each act of history. That is to say, this podcast focuses on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff.
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