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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

32:46

Zero Gravity: The Zambian Space Program [from Very...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/03/20

In the 1960s, a newly independent Zambia entered the space race with a bold — and baffling — plan. Led by self-declared “Minister of Space” Edward Nkoloso, a team of would-be astronauts trained in oil drums, dreamed of Mars, and captured the world’s attention. To Western observers, it looked like a joke. But Zambia's space ambitions may have been a front for something far more earthly — and far more dangerous. * Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason

en-US

48:24

Movie Mystery: The 2000 Oscars Heist [from Very...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/03/12

In 2000, weeks before the Academy Awards ceremony, 55 Oscars vanished during shipment to Los Angeles. The disappearance triggered a frantic search. Then, in a twist worthy of a movie plot, a man digging through a grocery store dumpster stumbled on dozens of missing trophies. He was hailed as a hero. But that was only the beginning. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Jake RossenSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Jonathan WashingtonAdditional

en-US

43:35

The Galápagos Murders [from Very Special Episodes]

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/03/05

In 1929, a pair of European lovers abandoned civilization for a remote island in the Galápagos. Their utopian experiment made headlines around the world. But within a few years, several residents had vanished or died under unsettling circumstances, leaving behind one of the strangest murder mysteries in the history of the islands. * Special thanks to Abbott Kahler! Check out her book, Eden Undone: A True Story of Sex, Murder, and Utopia at the Dawn of World War II.See omnystudio.com/listener

en-US

31:21

The Split-Second Decision That Changed Olympic...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/02/25

For 20 years, Canadian sailor Lawrence Lemieux chased perfection on the water. He slept in vans. He drained his savings. He dedicated his life to a single goal: standing on an Olympic podium. At the 1988 Games in Seoul, that dream was finally within reach. Then, in the chaos of a brutal race, he was forced to make a split-second decision. It would cost him his shot at a medal, and forever change his life. Listen to Very Special Episodes wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for

en-US

50:32

The Olympic Prison [from Very Special Episodes]

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/02/18

In the winter of 1980, the world turned its eyes to Lake Placid, New York, host of the Winter Olympics. But behind the pageantry, another structure loomed in the Adirondack woods. Built to house 1,800 athletes, the Olympic Village looked less like a dormitory than a detention center — because that’s exactly what it was designed to become. * Hosted by Zaron Burnett, Dana Schwartz, and Jason EnglishWritten by Zaron BurnettSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Jesse

en-US

24:12

How to Make the Olympics (Without Supernatural...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/02/11

Elizabeth Swaney fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an Olympian, defying all odds. But it wasn’t supernatural athletic ability that got her there. And by the time she made it to the 2018 Winter Olympics, a lot of people were rooting against her. Here's the incredible story of a woman who made it to the Games by understanding those odds better than anyone else. Listen to Very Special Episodes wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

52:14

Very Special Episodes: Meet the Steagles

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2026/02/06

During World War II, football itself was at risk. The Steagles—a hybrid of the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers—were a desperate wartime experiment. With rosters drained by the draft, the NFL turned to mostly players deemed unfit for military service.And it might be the only way the NFL can survive the war. Special thanks to Matthew Algeo! Check out his book Last Team Standing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

45:14

Very Special Episodes: JFK's Forgotten Summer [Best...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/12/31

Eighty years ago, a young John F. Kennedy took a summer job as a journalist for Hearst newspapers, filing dispatches in the final days of World War II. Even the most seasoned JFK scholars often overlook this chapter, missing the influence those months had on the future president. * "JFK's Forgotten Summer," which we originally published in June, was the top performing Very Special Episode of 2025. Tragically, it took on more significance earlier this month with the death of Rob Reiner. Rob —

en-US

19:15

Big in Japan: Kentucky Fried Christmas [from Very...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/12/24

In much of the world, Christmas dinner means roasted turkey, glazed ham, or a table crowded with family recipes passed down for generations. But in Japan, millions mark the holiday with something far less traditional — a bucket of KFC. Today we unwrap one of the strangest and most successful marketing stories of the modern era: how an American fast-food chain became an essential part of Japanese Christmas. On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us

en-US

49:52

Very Special Episodes: The Cabbage Patch Crisis

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/12/17

In 1983, a cherubic, homely doll triggered something close to national hysteria. Parents fought in store aisles. Shelves were stripped bare. Even the New York mafia found itself selling children’s toys. Cabbage Patch Kids went from handmade curiosities to the most coveted object in America — igniting riots, corporate battles, and a moral panic that stretched from suburban malls to federal courtrooms. All in a single Christmas season. And the frenzy didn’t end when the Kids

en-US

47:21

Very Special Episodes: Skylab Is Falling

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/12/11

In 1979, the world watched as NASA’s 77-ton space station made its fiery plunge back to Earth. When Skylab broke apart over a sleepy Australian town, the falling debris set off a global media frenzy. This is the story of the night the sky actually fell — and the teenager who became an improbable hero. * On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. Today's episode is a production of iHeartPodcasts and School of

en-US

2:56

Introducing: What Happened in Nashville

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/12/05

What Happened in Nashville is a deeply reported investigation into the sudden collapse of a Tennessee fertility clinic, and the patients caught in the fallout. When the Center for Reproductive Health shut down without warning, people lost access to their embryos, their treatments were abruptly cut off, and many were left scrambling to recover money, medical records, and time they couldn’t afford to lose. Through intimate conversations with the patients who lived through it, host Melissa

en-US

37:08

Music Law: The Fundamental Magical Element [from Very...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/12/03

Two Jamaican musicians are making a bold claim. They say they invented the now-ubiquitous reggaeton beat on a specific track in 1989. They're suing some of the genre's biggest stars for billions in royalties. But we found someone who’s telling a very different origin story. Hold onto your headphones as we dive into the mystery behind one of the most influential beats in modern music. * On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different

en-US

18:12

A Very Special Thanksgiving Mailbag [Very Special...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/11/26

It's Fandemonium! This week on Very Special Episodes, Dana, Zaron, and Jason respond to listener emails. They tell their Very Special origin stories, pick their favorite episodes, cast the movie version of the podcast, and preview the exciting stories coming this winter. Happy Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving Friday! And you can always reach us at veryspecialepisodes@gmail.com.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

en-US

45:00

The Dogs of Chernobyl

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/11/20

When Russia invaded Ukraine, hundreds of starving dogs were trapped inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. For years, Oregon-based veterinarian Dr. Jenn Betz had been their lifeline. Now, with Putin’s troops occupying the site, she had only one thought: How do I get back there? * If you would like to help the dogs of Chernobyl, visit CleanFutures.org. Today's episode is a production of iHeartPodcasts and School of Humans. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Lucas

en-US

43:53

Very Special Episodes: Boris Yeltsin Goes to Texas

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/11/13

In 1989, Boris Yeltsin walked into a Houston supermarket — and walked out ready to end an empire. What he saw in Texas that day would shake the foundations of the Soviet Union. * On the Very Special Episodes podcast, we tell one incredible story each week. Follow us down a different rabbit hole every Wednesday. Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Dave RoosSenior Producer is Josh FisherEditing and Sound Design by Jonathan WashingtonAdditional Editing by Mary

en-US

53:29

Very Special Episodes: The Arctic Balloon Diaries

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/11/06

In 1897, a Swedish engineer set out to reach the North Pole ... by balloon. With two companions, a crate of champagne, and the faith of a nation, he rose into the Arctic fog — and vanished. Decades later, their frozen journals and undeveloped film emerged from the ice, revealing the haunting truth behind one of exploration’s great mysteries. * Hosted by Dana Schwartz, Zaron Burnett, and Jason EnglishWritten by Marisa Brown and Mac MontandonSenior Producer is Josh FisherStory Editor is

en-US

48:21

Very Special Episodes: Being Joe Isuzu

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/10/30

In the golden age of 1980s television, few faces were more familiar — or more dishonest — than Joe Isuzu’s. Actor David Leisure brought the fast-talking car salesman to life, turning a parody of advertising into one of its greatest icons. In this Very Special Interview, the man behind America’s favorite liar revisits the campaign that changed commercials forever. * Listen to Very Special Episodes wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Wednesday. See

en-US

57:59

Very Special Episodes: A High School Brawl in the...

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/10/23

In the 1960s, there were 36,000 Americans living in the Canal Zone. They had Friday night high school football games, sock hops, and Hollywood movies at the local theater. It looked like a mid-century American town had been dropped into the Panamanian jungle — because that’s exactly what it was. But many Panamanians weren’t happy with this “country-in-a-country” arrangement. What would it take to get the Americans to leave? The answer, it turns out, was a bunch of

en-US

1:40

Introducing: Hoax! with Dana Schwartz and Lizzie Logan

The Legend of SwordQuest ·

2025/09/28

New Dana Schwartz podcast alert! Hoax!: Why do so many people believe things that aren’t true? In an era when claims of “fake news” come as naturally as breathing, and social media allows lies to spread and multiply like viruses, the question feels more relevant than ever. From the teenage girls who convinced Sir Arthur Conan Doyle that fairies were real in the 19th century to “Balloon boy” in 2009, Hoax! will explore the most audacious and ambitious tricks in history

en-US

47 results

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