Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff

As long as there’s been oppression, there’ve been people fighting it. This weekly podcast dives into history to drag up the wildest rebels, the most beautiful revolts, and all the people who long to be—and fight to be—free. It explores complex stories of resistance that offer lessons and inspiration for us today, focusing on the ensemble casts that make up each act of history. That is to say, this podcast focuses on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff.

Ad free and exclusive episodes from all our shows

$4.99/mo or $41.99/yr after trial

  1. Sep 9

    Part Four: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance

    Margaret finishes telling you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolenhttps://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprshttps://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.htmlhttps://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.htmlhttps://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutionalhttps://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognitionhttps://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendationshttps://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Melhttps://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.phphttps://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233022/http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/166494646.htmlhttps://www.etymonline.com/word/scofflawhttps://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demandhttps://www.404media.co/the-open-source-project-deflock-is-mapping-license-plate-surveillance-cameras-all-over-the-world/https://www.eff.org/document/flock-safety-cd-deflockmehttps://www.eff.org/document/eff-deflock-letter-flock-safetyhttps://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/former-kechi-police-lieutenant-sentenced-in-stalking-case/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2015/05/11/paradise-valley-license-plate-camera-reader/27144369/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gun-show-customers-license-plates-come-under-scrutiny-1475451302https://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2013/va-alpr.pdfhttps://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4232.asphttps://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/10/dea-plans-to-expand-license-plate-surveillance-program/https://qz.com/1400791/that-road-sign-telling-you-how-fast-youre-driving-may-be-part-of-a-us-government-surveillance-networkhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296https://www.docsumo.com/blog/optical-character-recognition-historyhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3330771.stmhttps://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18001802465783784125https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/corpus-christi-police-use-basic-license-plate-readers-not-flock/https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ALPRS-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  2. Sep 7

    Part Three: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance

    This week, Margaret goes even deeper into the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolenhttps://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprshttps://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.htmlhttps://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.htmlhttps://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutionalhttps://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognitionhttps://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendationshttps://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Melhttps://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.phphttps://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233022/http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/166494646.htmlhttps://www.etymonline.com/word/scofflawhttps://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demandhttps://www.404media.co/the-open-source-project-deflock-is-mapping-license-plate-surveillance-cameras-all-over-the-world/https://www.eff.org/document/flock-safety-cd-deflockmehttps://www.eff.org/document/eff-deflock-letter-flock-safetyhttps://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/former-kechi-police-lieutenant-sentenced-in-stalking-case/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2015/05/11/paradise-valley-license-plate-camera-reader/27144369/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gun-show-customers-license-plates-come-under-scrutiny-1475451302https://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2013/va-alpr.pdfhttps://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4232.asphttps://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/10/dea-plans-to-expand-license-plate-surveillance-program/https://qz.com/1400791/that-road-sign-telling-you-how-fast-youre-driving-may-be-part-of-a-us-government-surveillance-networkhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296https://www.docsumo.com/blog/optical-character-recognition-historyhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3330771.stmhttps://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18001802465783784125https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/corpus-christi-police-use-basic-license-plate-readers-not-flock/https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ALPRS-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  3. Sep 2

    Part Two: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance

    Margaret continues telling you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolenhttps://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprshttps://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.htmlhttps://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.htmlhttps://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutionalhttps://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognitionhttps://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendationshttps://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Melhttps://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.phphttps://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233022/http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/166494646.htmlhttps://www.etymonline.com/word/scofflawhttps://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demandhttps://www.404media.co/the-open-source-project-deflock-is-mapping-license-plate-surveillance-cameras-all-over-the-world/https://www.eff.org/document/flock-safety-cd-deflockmehttps://www.eff.org/document/eff-deflock-letter-flock-safetyhttps://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/former-kechi-police-lieutenant-sentenced-in-stalking-case/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2015/05/11/paradise-valley-license-plate-camera-reader/27144369/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gun-show-customers-license-plates-come-under-scrutiny-1475451302https://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2013/va-alpr.pdfhttps://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4232.asphttps://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/10/dea-plans-to-expand-license-plate-surveillance-program/https://qz.com/1400791/that-road-sign-telling-you-how-fast-youre-driving-may-be-part-of-a-us-government-surveillance-networkhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296https://www.docsumo.com/blog/optical-character-recognition-historyhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3330771.stmhttps://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18001802465783784125https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/corpus-christi-police-use-basic-license-plate-readers-not-flock/https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ALPRS-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  4. Aug 31

    Part One: The Valiant War on Flock: How People Are Fighting Mass Surveillance

    Margaret tells you the sordid history of Automated License Plate Readers and the people who have stood up against them Sources: https://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://azmirror.com/2019/07/08/arizona-police-agencies-gather-share-license-plate-data-but-few-ensure-rules-are-being-followed/https://www.denver7.com/news/local-news/aurora-police-detain-black-family-after-mistaking-their-vehicle-as-stolenhttps://sls.eff.org/technologies/automated-license-plate-readers-alprshttps://www.winonapost.com/news/crime/all-of-wpd-s-flock-cameras-stolen/article_9c61aa25-411b-4f2f-a5cd-ca02942f5f9f.htmlhttps://krocnews.com/stolen-flock-cameras-winona-mn/https://www.winonapost.com/news/wpd-wont-replace-stolen-flock-cameras-citing-public-trust/article_06a67859-2d97-414b-aa8f-d8751ad214bb.htmlhttps://www.military.com/air-force-engineer-accused-of-cutting-down-13-police-cameras-says-they-are-unconstitutionalhttps://lookouteugene-springfield.com/story/justice/2025/12/16/timeline-the-brief-troubled-history-of-flock-cameras-in-eugene-springfield/https://www.forbes.com/sites/thomasbrewster/2025/09/03/ai-startup-flock-thinks-it-can-eliminate-all-crime-in-america/https://stateofsurveillance.org/news/flock-cameras-destroyed-nationwide-ice-backlash-2026/https://ngscinc.com/history-license-plate-recognitionhttps://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/automatic-license-plate-readers-legal-status-and-policy-recommendationshttps://www.policechiefmagazine.org/patrol-cars-poles-alpr/https://www.thedailytimes.com/news/state-house-hopeful-arrested-in-flock-fiasco/article_2bb9aca2-5ede-4f42-9329-a8754aad7350.htmlhttps://www.facebook.com/MontereyCountySheriffsOffice/posts/pfbid0YWZxSJqZSBJu2BDQiQQnWUqzNiYEoHxQEgF88NBRjRXfDwQxMtqfNyHoiry5m3Melhttps://www.wlky.com/article/attorney-lmpd-flock-camera-scandal/69895783https://www.alxnow.com/2026/07/14/alexandria-man-arrested-for-allegedly-destroying-multiple-license-plate-readers/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/flock-camera-sawed-old-braeswood-22370015.phphttps://nypost.com/2026/08/02/us-news/flock-safety-cameras-vandalized-on-long-island-after-accusations-cop-tracked-lover/https://nypost.com/2026/07/29/us-news/flock-cameras-vandalized-in-monterey-county/https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2026/08/04/down-with-the-flock-florida-man-uses-simple-trick-to-combat-flock-cameras/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/03/police-flock-safety-surveillance-cameras-getting-pushback-florida/90915780007/https://web.archive.org/web/20120819233022/http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/166494646.htmlhttps://www.etymonline.com/word/scofflawhttps://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/02/anti-surveillance-mapmaker-refuses-flock-safetys-cease-and-desist-demandhttps://www.404media.co/the-open-source-project-deflock-is-mapping-license-plate-surveillance-cameras-all-over-the-world/https://www.eff.org/document/flock-safety-cd-deflockmehttps://www.eff.org/document/eff-deflock-letter-flock-safetyhttps://www.kwch.com/2022/11/04/kechi-police-lieutenants-arrest-puts-flock-technology-under-scrutiny/https://www.kwch.com/2022/10/31/kechi-police-lieutenant-arrested-using-police-technology-stalk-wife/https://www.ksn.com/news/crime/former-kechi-police-lieutenant-sentenced-in-stalking-case/https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/scottsdale/2015/05/11/paradise-valley-license-plate-camera-reader/27144369/https://www.wsj.com/articles/gun-show-customers-license-plates-come-under-scrutiny-1475451302https://www.thenewspaper.com/rlc/docs/2013/va-alpr.pdfhttps://www.thenewspaper.com/news/42/4232.asphttps://blog.tenthamendmentcenter.com/2018/10/dea-plans-to-expand-license-plate-surveillance-program/https://qz.com/1400791/that-road-sign-telling-you-how-fast-youre-driving-may-be-part-of-a-us-government-surveillance-networkhttps://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10000872396390443995604578004723603576296https://www.docsumo.com/blog/optical-character-recognition-historyhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/3330771.stmhttps://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=18001802465783784125https://bluewaterhealthyliving.com/news/national-news/texas/corpus-christi-police-use-basic-license-plate-readers-not-flock/https://legislativeanalysis.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/ALPRS-Fact-Sheet-FINAL.pdf See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shows with Subscription Benefits

Ad free and exclusive episodes from all our shows

$4.99/mo or $41.99/yr after trial

4.7
out of 5
888 Ratings

About

As long as there’s been oppression, there’ve been people fighting it. This weekly podcast dives into history to drag up the wildest rebels, the most beautiful revolts, and all the people who long to be—and fight to be—free. It explores complex stories of resistance that offer lessons and inspiration for us today, focusing on the ensemble casts that make up each act of history. That is to say, this podcast focuses on Cool People Who Did Cool Stuff.

More From Cool Zone Media