• Money Week: At The Arkansas State Capitol, They Let Visitors Hold Actual Taxpayer Dollars
    Apr 24 2026

    This week we're replaying some of our favorite shows about the stuff that makes the world go round. In this episode from April 2022, a visit to a room at the Arkansas State Capitol where you can hold the state’s money in your hands. Plus: Albuquerque, New Mexico hosts the Southwest Chocolate and Coffee Fest.

    Arkansas Treasurer’s Office: About Us

    Southwest Chocolate & Coffee Fest

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    3 mins
  • Money Week: Ben Franklin vs Counterfeiters
    Apr 23 2026

    This week we're replaying some of our favorite shows about the stuff that makes the world go round. In this episode from January 2020, the story of how printing enthusiast Benjamin Franklin used his cleverness and creativity to try to head off the big problem of counterfeiters. Plus: New Orleans hosts the Samantha Fish Cigar Box Guitar Festival.

    Library of Congress exhibit explores early American notes (Coin World)

    Samantha Fish stops by to talk cigar box festival (WGNO)

    You can support Cool Weird Awesome on Patreon for just $1 a month! No counterfeit bills, please.

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    3 mins
  • Money Week: Australia’s Biggest Little Spelling Error
    Apr 22 2026

    This week we're replaying some of our favorite shows about the stuff that makes the world go round. In this episode from May 2019, Australians laugh, curse, sigh and facepalm over a misspelled word on the newest printing of their $50 note. Plus: a guy in Grand Haven, Michigan drives through town with a cardboard box containing $30,000 in cash. And of course the box fell off his truck and the money started flying all over the place.

    Huge typo spotted on new $50 note (News.com.au)

    Bank alerted to Joyce coin risk (The Herald of Dublin)

    Error Is Human, Pt. 1: Certifiable U.S. Paper Money Errors (Coin Week)

    People rush to grab whirling cash after $30,000 falls off back of truck (MLive)

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    3 mins
  • Money Week: How Did U.S. Dollars Get Their Name?
    Apr 21 2026

    This week we're replaying some of our favorite shows about the stuff that makes the world go round. In this episode from July 2022, the story of how and why the US Congress decided that the name of our country’s currency would be the dollar. Plus: when Althea Gibson made history at Wimbledon, even the woman she beat was singing her praises.

    The Almighty Dollar (AdamSmith.org)

    Althea Gibson: Tennis Turmoil and Triumph (Library of Congress)

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    3 mins
  • Money Week: Tenino, Washington, The Town That Makes Its Own Money Out Of Wood
    Apr 20 2026

    This week we're replaying some of our favorite shows about the stuff that makes the world go round. In this episode from July 2022, a visit to Tenino, Washington, where wooden money has been making a mark for decades. Plus: if you feel like you’ve been to every museum and you’re not sure what to do next, try the German Food Additives Museum.

    Why Tenino is still printing wooden money (KING 5)

    There is a museum dedicated to food additives in Hamburg, Germany (Boing Boing)

    For just $1 a month (regular bills or wooden money) you can help support this show on Patreon

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    3 mins
  • A Big Bat Tower In The Florida Keys Sounded Like A Great Idea To Everyone Except The Bats
    Apr 17 2026

    It's International Bat Appreciation Day. Bats are smart, versatile and often adorable in their way. But they do have minds of their own… which foiled a project that seemed like a useful idea for the Florida Keys. Plus: today in 2018, a story about a Pennsylvanian who had an airtight reason to get out of jury duty.

    BAT TOWER SEEMED LIKE GOOD IDEA, BUT NO ONE TOLD THE BATS (Chicago Tribune)

    4-year-old Summoned for Jury Duty, Excused for Preschool (WNEP)

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    4 mins
  • During A Job Interview, Try Not To Get Into A Loud Argument With Your Pet Parrot
    Apr 16 2026

    Today in 2018, Fast Company published an article called “What You Can Learn From 7 Of The Most Cringeworthy Job Interviews.” One lesson: yelling at your parrot for interrupting the conversation may not work out well. Especially if the parrot yells back. Plus: this month in Turkey, it’s the Istanbul Tulip Festival.

    What You Can Learn From 7 Of The Most Cringeworthy Job Interviews (Fast Company)

    Istanbul Tulip Festival (Visit Istanbul)

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    3 mins
  • We Could Use Kale To Mine Heavy Metals And Clean Up Polluted Soil
    Apr 15 2026

    Greens are good for us, and a new study finds greens are good for soil that’s been contaminated with toxic metals… which may also be a big deal in the world of mining. Plus: this month in 1925, the state of Oregon first flew its official flag. It's the only American state flag where the image on the back is different from what’s on the front.

    Kale, cabbage found effective at mining toxic thallium metal from polluted soil (Interesting Engineering)

    Oregon State Flag (Oregon Encyclopedia)

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    3 mins