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PODCAST

The Legend of SwordQuest

What started as a promotion for a new Atari game would become one of the most controversial moments in ‘80s pop culture, with a central mystery that’s consumed fans for decades: what happened to the missing SwordQuest prizes? To unlock the biggest mystery in video game history, host Jamie Loftus is going on a treasure hunt 40 years in the making.

society & culture documentary

All Episodes

46:51

Taye Diggs on Trauma, Ambition, and the Discomfort of...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/09/25

Ryan sits down with actor Taye Diggs for a deeply personal conversation about the drive to keep achieving — and what happens when you finally stop. Taye opens up about growing up around poverty and abuse, being bullied for his dark skin, and discovering a sense of belonging and possibility through theater. He looks back at joining the original cast of Rent, becoming an unexpected sex symbol in How Stella Got Her Groove Back, and the ambition that kept him chasing the next level even as his

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44:10

The Joyride: Amelia and Eleanor's Excellent Adventure...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/09/19

In 1933, Eleanor Roosevelt and Amelia Earhart ducked out of a White House event and commandeered an airplane. The First Lady and the first lady of aviation flew to Baltimore and back. The event was documented by journalists, and later recounted in books. But there was more to this spontaneous joyride that didn't make the papers. Listen to Very Special Episodes wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

1:41

Introducing: Free Therapy with Ben & Kevin

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/09/11

We’re two best friends having unfiltered conversations about the modern sh*t we all go through, with a rotating cast of top therapists to help us unpack it all. We’re not experts, just very curious, slightly unhinged, and can label our feelings (most of the time). Come hang with us as we have the uncomfortable conversations about dating, love, sex, mental health, loneliness, friendships, grief and everything else that only Alex Cooper talks about. Listen to Free Therapy on the

en-US

3:05

Introducing: UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob |...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/09/04

Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa star in the untold true story of how the New York Mafia exploited the aftermath of 9/11. Nearly 3,000 families lost loved ones that day, and a shocked world mourned alongside them. But for Five Families—the New York Mafia—the day meant something very different. While the world saw an unspeakable tragedy, they saw an opening: the business opportunity of a lifetime. They might have succeeded were it not for one dedicated and courageous cop. Because of

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18:41

Introducing: UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/09/04

Chapter One: As New York reels from the attacks of 9/11, NYPD Lieutenant Commander Frank Sturiano races toward the devastation. He is soon handed the difficult task of overseeing the World Trade Center cleanup, unaware that the Five Families are already plotting to turn the tragedy into a fortune. * UnderGround Zero: 9/11 & The Mob is the shocking true story born in the immediate aftermath of 9/11—one that has never been told. Names of the guilty have been changed to protect the innocent

en-US

66:53

Jamie-Lynn Sigler on Mental Health, Motherhood and...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/08/21

Ryan sits down with actress and advocate Jamie-Lynn Sigler (The Sopranos, Entourage) for an unfiltered conversation about awakening through adversity. Jamie opens up about living with multiple sclerosis for 25 years, the belief that she was "a problem" that shaped her early life, and how vulnerability finally set her free. They explore codependency and letting parents own their own healing, the terrifying near-death experience of her son Beau and what he brought back from it, and the on-set moments

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38:56

The Case of the Missing Novelist [from Very Special...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/08/20

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. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

50:40

E.T. and Me [from Very Special Episodes]

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/08/19

In 1981, 11-year-old Matt DeMeritt got a call that would change his life. He wasn’t a child actor, or a performer of any kind. He was just a suburban kid enjoying his summer break. But Matt had something no other kid had. Something Steven Spielberg needed to make his most ambitious movie yet. * Note: This episode contains discussions of suicide. Please take care while listening. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Jake RossenProduced by Josh FisherStory Editor

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49:37

Spies and Dolls [from Very Special Episodes]

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/08/07

Velvalee Dickinson sold dolls to Manhattan’s elite. She also sent secrets to America’s enemies. During World War II, Velvalee Dickinson turned her Madison Avenue doll shop into the center of a covert espionage operation. * 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 EnglishWritten

en-US

49:21

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

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/08/06

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. * If you want to continue down the Nic Cage rabbit hole, you can listen to

en-US

68:23

North by North Korea [from Very Special Episodes]

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/07/29

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. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Adrien Behn and edited by Carmen Borca-Carrillo at Acast Creative StudiosProduced by Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Chris ChildsMixing and Mastering by Chris ChildsAdditional Editing by Mary DooeFact-Checking by Austin

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50:47

Searching for Soshern: The Forbidden Star Trek...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/06/18

In 1968, a woman wrote a romantic story about Kirk and Spock, passed it quietly among friends, and hoped it would never see the light of day. Before vanishing entirely,The Ring of Soshern had become the stuff of legend. The quest to recover it would lead back to a community of women who'd been building something remarkable in the shadows for generations. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Edie AllardStory Editor is Carmen Borca-CarrilloSenior Producer is Josh

en-US

45:34

The White Death [from Very Special Episodes]

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/06/12

In the winter of 1939, Finland faced overwhelming odds. The Soviet Union was invading with hundreds of thousands of troops. Standing in their way was an unlikely defender: a shy farmer and expert marksman who would later become known as “The White Death.” But behind the myth was simply a reserved man fighting for his homeland. Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason EnglishWritten by Lucas ReillyStory Editor is Virginia PrescottSenior Producers are Josh Fisher and Emilia

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42:37

Children of the Moon [from Very Special Episodes]

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/06/05

Emma has never felt the sun on her skin. Born with a rare condition that makes UV light dangerous, she lives by sunscreen, meters, and moonlight. But she’s also part of a community finding extraordinary ways to make ordinary childhood possible. And thanks to new research, the future may actually be bright. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Jake RossenSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Jonathan WashingtonAdditional Editing by Mary

en-US

50:25

The Other James Bond [from Very Special Episodes]

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/05/28

When Ian Fleming needed a name for the secret agent at the center of his new novel, he stole one from the cover of a birdwatching book. The real James Bond wasn’t a martini-drinking spy, but a shy American ornithologist who spent decades exploring the Caribbean. Then one surreal day, he finally tracked down the man who stole his identity. Special thanks to Jim Wright and his excellent book, The Real James Bond: A True Story of Identity Theft, Avian Intrigue, and Ian Fleming (From Schiffer

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38:20

The Mysterious Death of Andy the Sneaker-Wearing...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/05/21

Gene Fleming and his pet goose Andy made headlines around the world. They brought out the best in the people of Hastings, Nebraska. But amid all this attention, Andy also brought out the worst. And three decades later, Andy's legacy is still reverberating around their hometown. Note: This episode includes the murder of a beloved goose. And don't forget to check out Dana's new book, The Arcane Arts. Out this week in bookstores everywhere! * Very Special Thanks to Jessica Korgie for sharing her

en-US

61:47

Dock Ellis: High and Outside [from Very Special...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/05/14

In June 1970, Dock Ellis of the Pittsburgh Pirates somehow tossed a no-hitter while tripping on acid. The LSD stunt made him a legend, but it overshadowed a much deeper story: a man who spent the second half of his life searching for redemption, purpose, and a way to help others escape the same darkness that once enveloped him. * Today's episode was produced in partnership with School of Humans. For School of Humans, Producers are Emilia Brock and Edeliz Perez. Executive Producer is Virginia

en-US

50:56

The Family Who Vanished Into Siberia for Over 40...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/05/07

In 1978, Soviet geologists flying over Siberia spotted something impossible: a family living in total isolation, untouched for decades by the modern world. But when outsiders finally reached their remote cabin, the family’s hidden world began to change forever. Special thanks to Rebecca E. Marshall for letting us share clips from her documentary, The Forest in Me. We also want to shout out the film's composer, Xylouris White. You can stream The Forest in Me right now on MUBI. Listen to Very

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48:42

Marilyn, Hamilton + John Wilkes Booth's Statue: New...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/04/23

Today's installment of Very Special Episodes is a tour of New York’s secret history with a very special guest! Greg Young of the belovedBowery Boys podcast joins Dana Schwartz to prove the world is a very interesting place, if you just know where to look. There's hidden history in subway grates, SoHo stores, Central Park statues, and Hamilton lyrics. * Listen to Very Special Episodes wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

9:04

The Unintended Insanity of the 1994 Caribbean Cup...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/04/15

Today we're sharing an excerpt from a new soccer podcast, The Away End with John Green and Daniel Alarcón. In a recent episode they covered the 1994 Caribbean Cup, which felt very Very Special Episodes-y. If you like soccer or enjoy listening to smart friends chat, check out their show! Dana, Zaron + Jason will be back with a new episode next Wednesday. About The Away End Two novelists, Daniel Alarcón and John Green, friends since they were teenagers, tackle questions big and small

en-US

70 results

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