Hodgepodgecast

Sometimes the world feels a little heavy—so let’s flip the script with a burst of good news! In this Positivity Pop-up episode of HodgePodgeCast, I’m sharing three uplifting stories that remind us there’s still so much joy, creativity, and kindness out there. Stay curious—and come soak up the good vibes with me. Resources and Links Mentioned: Engineering Student Turns Red Solo Cups into Stylish Sweaters There’s a New Baby Boy in Cincinnati Zoo’s Gorilla World Woman Donates Lottery Winnings to Charities The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration Shalom Farms Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society   Have suggestion? Reach out via my website: www.hodgepodgecast.net  Music provided by: Silly Intro by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Listen in as Mur tells Jess the story of when 1,400,000 balloons were released in Cleveland's town square. It took a lot of work to pull this off and we'll do our best to fill you in!    Resources: 2023-Qualatex-latex-polymer-Test.pdf. Qulatex Latex Polymer Test. (n.d.). https://pioneerballooncompany.widen.net/s/26ns5sgqcd/2023-qualatex-latex-polymer-test   All-america city award- celebrating the best in Civic Engagement. National Civic League. (2025, January 31). https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/america-city-award/   Cleveland.com. (2024, May 25). BalloonFest 1986: What Really Happened?. YouTube. https://youtu.be/MIM-pJP5A0o?si=CRfXC0O2P2QuBK09   Guerrieri, V. (2023, December 15). Balloonfest made Cleveland a laughingstock. did it deserve it?. Defector. https://defector.com/balloonfest-made-cleveland-a-laughingstock-did-it-deserve-it   Newman, V. (2024, November 18). Rested Guinness World Records titles and why we no longer monitor them. Guinness World Records. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2024/11/rested-guinness-world-records-titles-and-why-we-no-longer-monitor-them   Quinn, C. (2024, May 31). Where truth ends and fake news begins on Cleveland’s 1986 balloonfest: Letter from the editor. cleveland. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/06/where-truth-ends-and-fake-news-begins-on-clevelands-1986-balloonfest-letter-from-the-editor.html   Record policies. Guinness World Records. (n.d.). https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/record-policies   Sheridan, T. (n.d.). Thom Sheridan. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/thom.sheridan/posts/pfbid0qVDd6havqPqQvu3QknXfijSjaYcHRV1D2K44pqdKCVjwhLY7MWTQ9qEoTodjnfJ3l   Walker, T. (2021, January 12). YouTube. https://youtu.be/-j1AeV-n8j4?si=tFUCPaLYDMzDq-wC   Wikimedia Foundation. (2024a, November 17). Balloon release. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloon_release#:~:text=A%20balloon%20release%20in%201986,balloons%20in%20a%20single%20release   Wikimedia Foundation. (2024b, December 17). Timeline of Cleveland. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiiomeline_of_Cleveland   Wikimedia Foundation. (2025, February 1). Hough riots. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hough_riots     Music provided by:   Silly Intro by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Mur and Sara discuss the incredible story of Claire Sylvia, a heart-lung transplant survivor who felt a deep connection to her donor.    Resources for this episode: G. Jung Institute of New England. (n.d.). C.G. Jung Institute of New England. CG Jung Institute NE. https://cgjungne.com/about-us/c-g-jung-institute-new-england/ Liester, M. B. (2020). Personality changes following heart transplantation: The role of cellular memory. Medical Hypotheses, 135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109468 Pearsall, P., Schwartz, G. E. R., & Russek, L. G. S. (2000). Changes in heart transplant recipients that parallel the personalities of their donors. Integrative Medicine, 2(2–3), 65–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1096-2190(00)00013-5 Sylvia, C., & Novak, W. (1998). A change of heart: A memoir. Warner Books.   Music provided by: Silly Intro by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mur and Jenny explore the phrase: If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale!   Resources for this episode: Ancestry®. (n.d.-a). U.S. Immigration in the 1800s. U.S. Immigration in the 1800s | Ancestry® Family History Learning Hub. https://www.ancestry.com/c/family-history-learning-hub/1800-us-immigration#:~:text=In%20the%20years%20between%201880,escape%20increasing%20oppression%20and%20violence. Brooklyn Bridge. NYC DOT - Brooklyn Bridge. (n.d.). https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/infrastructure/brooklyn-bridge.shtml#:~:text=The%20Brooklyn%20Bridge%20was%20designed,and%20was%20completed%20in%201883. Clancy, C. J. (2024, December 12). The man who “sold” the brooklyn bridge, statue of liberty, and Ulysses Grant’s tomb. IrishCentral.com. https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/man-sold-brooklyn-bridge-statue-of-liberty John a roebling suspension bridge > bridge history. John A Roebling Suspension Bridge. (n.d.). https://roeblingbridge.org/Bridge-History Nelson, T. (2021, July 1). “capt.” George C. Parker (1860-1937) -... Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/229047420/george-c.-parker New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Confidence game. New World Encyclopedia. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Confidence_game Sifakis, C. (1993). Parker, George C. Brooklyn Bridge impressario. In Hoaxes and Scams A Compendium of Deceptions, Ruses and Swindles (pp. 198–199). story, Facts on File.    Music provided by: Silly Intro by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

Do you think you know what these phrases mean? The early bird gets the worm! Blood is thicker than water. Great minds think alike. Jack of all trades. Think again, fellow explorers! In this episode, the Sirens explore phrases that are commonly misused. If you love this episode, the conversation continues on Patreon where you’ll get exclusive content, including our conversations after the episode wraps: Siren Soapbox on Patreon   Check out this video of birds flying in perfect sync! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dskCpuxqtI  Support us by buying us a (virtual) coffee and help keep the adventure train running! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sirens  

This week the Sirens explore recipes that are at least 150 years old. Check out this tasty episode and check out www.sirensoapbox.com for more!

Upcoming: 150 Year Old Recipes Juggling Mur’s Mystery Episode - not discussed in this episode, but there’s been a change in schedule Kite Flying Book Club   www.sirensoapbox.com   Buy us a (virtual) coffee and help keep the adventure train running! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sirens Join our Patreon and get exclusive content: Siren Soapbox on Patreon

In this episode, the Sirens explore the ancient art of origami! The Sirens had a good time exploring this art form. We hope you’ll give it a try and share your artwork with us!   Link the kit Siren Sara used: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0804854459?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_HCTYM2NBB7SK6HXRWS6C&language=en_US&fbclid=IwAR042aXBspz_mPI7LI_P-pY-91GzlfNn4q6iqaE0dbEQxADAtjvr10aZnJI    Here are some links to a few famous Origami Artists: Akira Yoshizawa – considered the grandmaster of origami https://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/03/akira-yoshizawa-master-of-origami.html   Juho Konkkola https://juhokonkkola.fi/origami/   Sipho Mabona – to scale origami elephant https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/03/white-elephant-sipho-mabona-2/    Here are a couple of ways to support the Sirens: Buy us a (virtual) coffee and help keep the adventure train running! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sirens   Join our Patreon and get exclusive content: Siren Soapbox on Patreon

Check out this episode of Getting Reel with Siren Soapbox! The Sirens and their guests discuss the 1971 cult classic, Harold and Maude. Enjoy the show!   #explore #movieclub #cultclassic

This week the Sirens explore a new type of book club - they'll be writing their comments about what they are reading, and exchanging books so everyone has a chance to comment on every book.  Tune in to hear all about these shenanigans!    Buy us a (virtual) coffee and help keep the adventure train running! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sirens Join our Patreon and get exclusive content: Siren Soapbox on Patreon