Cool Stuff Ride Home
In just 15 minutes, the coolest stuff that happened in the world today. Science, progress, life-hacks, memes, exciting art and hope. The antidote to depressing headlines. Smart stuff in podcast form. Cool news, as a service.
Recent Episodes
July 22, 2026
Three Kids Trapped Under a Capsized Boat...Until an Off-Duty Firefighter Dove In
Off-duty North Texas Firefighter Saves 3 Children Trapped Under Boat on 4th of July "You can breathe, baby": Off-duty North Texas firefighter saves 3 children from overturned boat on 4th of July Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 21, 2026
Now You See It… Now You Almost Don't: The Phantom Twist Drone
Tiny drone hits invisible mode by twisting faster than eye can detect New spinning drone hides in plain sight Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 20, 2026
Winter Mode: Scientists Discover the Hidden Genetic Switch That Reprograms Animals for Winter
Animals have a genetic switch that puts them in winter mode Study reveals a winter version of the biological clock Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 17, 2026
The Ghost Stars Next Door: Hubble Finds Four Hidden Stellar Corpses
Hubble uncovers four hidden dead stars near the Sun Dead stars in our cosmic backyard: Astronomers spot four white dwarfs hiding under our noses Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 16, 2026
The Personality Secret of People Who Live to 100
People Who Live to 100 Have One Thing in Common – And It's Not Just Diet People Who Live to 100 Have One Thing in Common Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 15, 2026
From Junk Drawer to Data Center: Google’s Brilliant Plan for Old Smartphones
Google gets creative with AI recycling Google Turns Old Phones Into AI Servers to Fight E-Waste Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 14, 2026
The School Bus That Can Power Your Neighborhood
6 New Electric Buses in Colorado Double as Backup Batteries for Denver Area Power Grid Cherry Creek’s yellow school buses will double as electric power plants Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 13, 2026
Catnip vs. Mosquitoes: The Plant That Could Replace DEET?
Homegrown catnip rivals DEET as mosquito repellent Catnip lotion works as well as DEET at repelling mosquitoes, study finds Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 10, 2026
Did AI Just Reopen the Hunt for Dark Matter? A Milky Way Mystery Takes a Surprising Turn
The Milky Way’s Mysterious Glow May Be Dark Matter After All The Milky Way’s weird gamma-ray glow may be dark matter after all Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 9, 2026
The One-Plant Invasion: How a Single Seed Can Conquer an Ecosystem
One plant is all it takes to start an invasive population Mating strategies shape tropical plants' invasive ability Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 8, 2026
One Woman. One Boat. Forty-Three Days. One Incredible Pacific Record.
Female Rower Completes Record-Breaking Solo Journey from California to Hawaii Female American rower completes record-breaking solo journey from California to Hawaii Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 7, 2026
AI Can Spot Cyber Threats... But Should It Be Making Security Decisions?
AI Can Identify Threats. It Can't Own Security Decisions Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 6, 2026
July's Biggest Sky Show: The Buck Moon, Two Meteor Showers, and Nature's Own Fireworks
July Fireworks Include 2 Separate Meteor Showers to Light up the Night Sky Late in the Month July's buck moon to be followed by 2 meteor showers. What to know Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
July 3, 2026
Why Your Dominant Hand Isn't Actually Better—It's Just Had More Practice
Why your dominant hand seems better at almost everything Hand Dominance Is Driven by Practice, Not Birth Contact the Show: coolstuffdailypodcast@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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About the Host
Jackson Bird
Host, Kottke Ride Home
Jackson Bird is a writer and internet creator dedicated to demystifying the transgender experience. A YouTube NextUp Creator and GLAAD Rising Star Digital Innovator, Jackson shares his and others’ stories on his YouTube channel, jackisnotabird, and in his debut book Sorted: Growing Up, Coming Out, and Finding My Place. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Vulture, The Advocate, and more, and his TED Talk "How to talk (and listen) to transgender people" has been viewed over one and a half million times. Jackson lives in New York City, where he hosts the daily podcast Kottke Ride Home. You can follow him online @jackisnotabird.
