Very Special Episodes

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 is a history podcast hosted by iHeartPodcasts, with 91 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

iHeartPodcasts hosts Very Special Episodes, a history show with 91 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #90

  The Case of the Missing Novelist [Re-Release]

  Aug 19, 202639 minS1

  Agatha Christie is the best-selling novelist of all time. But her biggest mystery unfolded outside the pages of her books. In this episode, Dana examines the 11 days in 1926 when the beloved author went missing, and the rollicking media circus inspired by her disappearance. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Joe Pompeo Produced by Josh Fisher Story Editor is Marisa Brown Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington and Josh Fisher Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier Voice Actors are Brittany Joyner and Steve Bradford Original Music by Elise McCoy Research and Fact Checking by Joe Pompeo and Austin Thompson Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #89

  Nicolas Cage, Y2K, and History's Most Unlikely Art Heist

  Aug 6, 202649 minS1

  After a party at Nicolas Cage’s Bel-Air mansion, one of the rarest comic books on Earth disappeared. Action Comics #1 — the comic that introduced Superman — is worth millions of dollars. With almost no evidence and a suspect list that includes employees and celebrity guests alike, Cage and his trusted comic book dealer launch a decade-long investigation into one of the strangest art heists ever attempted. * Dana, Zaron, Jason and the gang are hard at work on the next batch of Very Special Episodes. So today we're sharing episode one of Stealing Superman , a limited series we made in 2023. If you want to continue down the Nic Cage rabbit hole, you can listen to the whole series on your favorite podcast platform: Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart .  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #88

  North by North Korea [Re-Release]

  Jul 29, 20261h 8mS1

  When two of the most influential figures in film become the personal hostages of Kim Jong Il, they have two objectives: to elevate North Korean cinema on the world stage, and to plot their daring escape.  * We're hard at work on our next season of new VSEs. If you've already heard this one, email us — veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com — and we'll recommend something else you can listen to instead! Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Adrien Behn and edited by Carmen Borca-Carrillo at Acast Creative Studios Produced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Chris Childs Mixing and Mastering by Chris Childs 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 SOURCES + FURTHER READING/LISTENING/VIEWING A Kim Jong-Il Production , by Paul Fisher The Observant , by Ravi Mangla Michelle Cho , assistant professor, University of Toronto "Are You There Godzilla? It's Me, Kim Jong Il" [Ridiculous Crime podcast] Country Reports on Human Rights Practices , U.S. State Department Big Brother: North Korea's Forgotten Prince [An iHeart Original Podcast] "Kim Jong Il, the Director he Kidnapped, and the Awful Godzilla Film They Made Together" [Mental Floss Magazine] The Korean War [PBS] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #87

  Spies and Dolls [Re-Release]

  Jul 22, 202650 minS1

  Velvalee Dickinson ran a doll shop on Madison Avenue that catered to wealthy collectors. But in one of the strangest espionage cases of World War II, Dickinson's clients had no idea she was using correspondence about doll orders to transmit coded U.S. military intelligence to the Japanese. * We're hard at work on our next season of new VSEs. If you've already heard this one, email us — veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com — and we'll recommend something else you can listen to this week! Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason English Written by Joe Pompeo Produced by Josh Fisher Editing and Sound Design by Jonathan Washington and Josh Fisher Mixing and Mastering by Baheed Frazier Research and Fact-Checking by Joe Pompeo and Austin Thompson Original Music by Elise McCoy Show Logo by Lucy Quintanilla Executive Producer is Jason English See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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  Episode #86

  The Dog Who Saved the 1966 World Cup [from Ridiculous Crime]

  Jul 15, 20261h 9mS1

  Hello, Very Special listeners! Today we're dipping into the archives of Zaron's other podcast, Ridiculous Crime , to share a tale of dog excellence from World Cup history.  In 1966, England hosted the FIFA World Cup, an incredible honor and landmark moment for English football. Just one problem: someone made off with the cup itself just weeks before the start of play. How can you have a global tournament with no prize? How can England save face? Enter Pickles, the pooch with a nose for sirloin and purloined goods. Check out Ridiculous Crime wherever you're getting your podcasts these days. Thanks to Zaron, Elizabeth, and Producer Dave for letting us share this one!    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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