How Cool Is This?

Bob wants to attach something to every can that keeps track of where it ends up. Will that keep people from littering? And more importantly, is that cool?

"Whenever you make the purchase, via your credit card or, via your phone or whatever it attaches you to that can. So then if you're a horrible person and drive down the road and throw it out the window, you can get a fined for littering."

Bob wants to open a car wash that scares you. But can severed heads and limbs clean your car? And more importantly, is that cool?

"During Halloween time, they should make a haunted car wash where the brushes that scrub your car should be severed heads."

Andrea believes that cannabis use can help end the opioid epidemic. But can something natural be as effective as something made in a lab? And more importantly, is that cool?

"Did you know that various constituents in the cannabis plant like CBD have been proven to be safe and efficacious in helping people reduce their use of opiates?"

Lashon has a step by step plan to terraform Mars through completely natural means. But will that be enough to make it a habitable planet for humans? And more importantly, is that cool?

"We have everything in check — oxygen, food, and water through a completely natural means not unnatural, like lasers."

Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.

Tim thinks we should do a better job helping seniors better participate in society. But what's the best way to reach this still growing population? And more importantly, is that cool?

"There are roughly 56 million people in the US that are 65 and older. 48 million are getting Social Security and untold millions are not really participating in our society in any meaningful way."

Hannah thinks that brick and mortar businesses should be recognized for great window displays. Will that increase the amount of people that actually purchase items IRL? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"I was standing there sort of wishing that there was some way to let the rest of the world know, 'Hey, this nail place is doing a pretty good job at being an interesting store.'"

If you missed the 2023 Coolios Live from Stand Up New York on Monday, 2/27, you missed it. But at least you get this recap. 

Thanks to everyone who showed up, presented, and performed: 

The Coolios is an annual awards show celebrating the coolest (and least cool) ideas and stories of the year.

This year, they're happening live at Stand Up NY on Monday, February 27 starting at 8:00 pm EST. In addition to awards, the show will include standup comedy, live music & free pizza.

To wrap up 2022, we packed multiple ideas into one episode. Although they cover many different topics, they all have one thing in common: they were posted in Elon Musk's Twitter replies. 

Leslie is a high-performance weight loss coach who helps high-achieving women all over the world get a head-turning body while ending food obsession and negativities. She suggests sipping tea between bites of sweets can reduce sugar cravings. Does that really work? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"It works extremely well in helping you stop sugar cravings on site. It's because the bitter taste in tea is scientifically proven to rewire your brain's response towards the sugar."

Taly created a new dating app that doesn’t require the perfect profile to find a match. Is having a conversation without seeing someone the best way to find a match? And more importantly, is that cool?

“One of the ways that we're different from other apps is that we don't show profiles or photos before people talk to one another. I know that sounds really crazy, but psychology actually shows that as we get to know each other, we become more or less attracted to people.”

Julian, a reporter, wants to show people more hole-in-the-wall spots in New York City. Are his walks a good source for places no one else knows? And more importantly, is that cool?

“As someone who writes about new businesses in New York City, I've had the opportunity to discover a lot of hidden gyms over the past couple months. I want to share those hidden gems with you.”

James returns to the show to talk about his remote culture company GameApart, which is now called heyLIME. Does rebranding your company help with sales? And more importantly, is that cool?

“Any time I'd get on a sales call or a demo, we'd find that we were spending the first five, 10 minutes just sort of apologizing for our identity. So we wanted to go and make the vision we were selling to the world.”

Jade wants us all to be a lot less judgmental. But isn’t judging all that we do on this podcast? And more importantly, is that cool?

“When you accept that everything is different and the beauty in that, you would actually ascend much higher and people will be a lot happier.”

Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.

Bob from Static Radio is back with another idea: a watch that doesn’t just tell time, but changes it. But what does it mean when you’re always on time? And more importantly, is that cool?

“So let's say you're 10 minutes late, but you don't wanna be 10 minutes late. So you set your watch to be 10 minutes off time. Then whenever you walk in the room – bam! – all the clocks, all the watches, all the phones shift for those 10 minutes.”

For International Podcast Day, we wanted to do something special: a song. 

Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.

MIK wrote a song about how frustrating it can be to have salespeople show up to your door unannounced. Can a song properly capture that kind of universal frustration? And more importantly, is that cool?

“The dog went nuts
The baby woke up
I’ll have his guts
I said, 'No sales, no surveys, no saviours…Sanks very much.'

As a human being, Bob has to eat, but sometimes he wants to do other things while he is eating. Would ring utensils allow him to multitask more effectively? And more importantly, are they cool?

“You can put the fork on one hand, you can put a spoon on the other hand and then go to town on your favorite snacks.”

Inspired by sports agents, Ethan started an agency dedicated to help doctors make the money they deserve. Will advocating for higher doctor salaries lead to agents in other professions? And more importantly, is that cool?

“My goal is to bring opportunities to doctors and secondarily to maximize the value of those opportunities to doctors.”

While waiting to host Brian as a guest on her podcast, Lisa noticed an egregious error in the How Cool Is This? catalog. Will Lisa’s discovery lead more people to call into the show? And more importantly, is her way of informing us cool?

“On all of your podcast episodes, you are missing the last digit of your phone number asking for ideas, so how cool would it be to add a seven to complete those phone numbers?”

Chris and the team at creative agency C-90 created a mock advertising campaign inspired by the recent reversal of Roe v. Wade. Will C-90’s tongue-in-cheese signs help ‘Choose Life’ proponents reverse their approach? And more importantly, is that cool?

“We decided that we were going to do a campaign that looks very similar to the ‘Choose Life’ signs, which are very distinctive, and have a pro-cheese campaign called ‘Cheese Life.’"

John didn’t just write a book about time traveling with the power of whirlwinds. He built a replica of the time travel vessel in real life. Will John’s craftiness generate more attention for The Whirl Wind Man? And more importantly, is that cool?

“It will be accompanying me on book signing events across the country, with a percentage of the proceeds going to help tornado disaster relief.”

Koen created a matchmaking service that allows busy people to outsource online dating. Will Hovalo help more people find love? And more importantly, is that cool?

“We take over the online dating profiles of entrepreneurs and professionals. We improve their profiles, select the messages based on their preferences, and do all the texting for them.”

Larisa developed an app that can deliver inspirational quotes to your phone exactly when you need them. But are quotes really inspiring? And more importantly, is that cool?

“If you want a religious quote on Sunday at 10:00 AM, you could have it texted to you, emailed to you, notified to you through the app or spoken by voice from the app.”

Joe created a daily newsletter called RipViews that shares left-wing and right-wing headlines to the same story side-by-side. Does keeping up with competing slants of reality reduce political polarization? And more importantly, is that cool?

“All news should be viewed through a lens of bias, and RipViews calls out that bias each morning for our subscribers.”

Jordan thinks that shaking things up is the only way to keep growing. Does trying new things really help you reach your full potential? And more importantly, is that cool?

“You want to keep growing and learning more so you can maximize your potential. Get skilled. And even goes for this podcast.”

Tammy developed an app that discreetly calls for help when you say a specific word. Can an app that’s always listening keep people safe? And more importantly, is that cool?

“This app is hard to detect and easy to use. And because you record your own word and program your own alert partners, your assailant will never know that help is on the way.”

Morissa started a publishing company to help the next generation of authors make their voices heard. But do books even resonate with GenZ? And more importantly, is that cool?

“The more unique voices that we have talking about these topics, the more it will shape our world and improve the way we communicate.”

In line with the increased adoption of Corporate Social Responsibility over the last few decades, Harvey and his team at Addvert are working to advocate for a similar standard of self-imposed accountability in the Internet age

“That might be things like respecting your customers’ privacy or ensuring that your advertising spend isn't being used to support mis- and disinformation, or making sure that your social media content doesn't promote unrealistic beauty standards.”

Inspired by a growth opportunity in her own life, Julia started a podcast to celebrate and explore all of the different ways people build families in the 21st century.

“I like to equate it to the body positivity movement, where previously the media told us that one kind of body was beautiful. And it looked a certain way and it acted a certain way. Now we're doing a family positivity movement.”

Evan had an epiphany about money in the shower. His breakthrough might change how society’s approach to finances, but is it cool?

“We say we make more than we actually do: salary before taxes. And we say things cost less than they actually do: sticker prices before taxes.”

Have a cool idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-991.

While at the park soliciting strangers for ideas, we met Debbie Ciraolo who advocated that peace and harmony are both very cool. Is she right?

“It's not cool to have war, but it's real cool to have peace.”

Have a cool idea? Go to the park and tell people there. Or leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-991 to submit it to the show..

Jesse wants to introduce a new dessert to the world that he hopes will get people to explore different options. It sounds delicious, but is it cool?

“It’s like a moulded chocolate, and people put ganache fillings in it. I’m going to steep gulab jamuns… and then I’m going to use that cream, strained out, to make the ganache.”

Have a cool idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-991.

Kunal and his team have created what could be the physical therapist of the future. This innovation will surely help mankind progress, but more importantly, is it cool?

“If you have back pain or neck pain and you want to continue to exercise, our app will give you an assessment. You do an overhead squat, for example, and we'll basically look at your movement pattern and help you reduce your pain levels… giving you the exact exercises you need.”

Keyshawn provided some constructive criticism to the hosts of How Cool Is This?

“Y’all gotta make an Instagram so people can know who y’all are.”

Ginger is a cosmetic chemist who developed a new lip balm inspired by an interaction with Shark Tank’s Daymond John.

“I developed the best vegan lip balm, especially for speakers, people who talk a lot.”

With 50-70% of the workforce looking at remote or hybrid work setups in the next ten years, James has built a digital connection platform that allows for online team building games and fun virtual conference sessions.

“I was sitting around on my 50th hour on a Zoom or Teams, or Google Meet call. And I just realized as much as I liked or loved the people I was talking to, I needed something beyond that to keep me engaged.”

Suswati Basu is a multilingual disabled intelligence expert, journalist, mental health books show podcast host of How To Be..., and award-winning activist.

“I believe reading is very important because it develops our thoughts and gives us endless knowledge and lessons while keeping our minds active.”

Bernie approached How Cool Is This? with an idea that he said was not just cool, but cool for this podcast in particular.

“telbee is a voice messaging platform. Podcasters use it to collect messages from listeners, guests, and other people.”

In 2021, How Cool Is This? released 54 new episodes highlighting 32 different ideas, 10 rebuttals, and 12 weeks of cool. The Coolios is an awards show celebrating the coolest (and least cool) parts of the year, including:

In 2021, How Cool Is This? released 54 new episodes highlighting 32 different ideas, 10 rebuttals, and 12 weeks of cool. The Coolios is an awards show celebrating the coolest (and least cool) parts of the year.

Dr. Tera Jansen and Jeremiah James from University of Pleasure believe that it’s cool to start from the assumption that others are trying their best.

“A lot of conflict often arises out of people assuming mal-intent and assuming that other people are trying to cause harm, and often that's not the case.”

University of Pleasure is a cool podcast about sex, relationships, and being happier. They discussed a few ideas from the How Cool Is This? archive in their December 7 episode.

Dr. Tera Jansen and Jeremiah James from University of Pleasure think there should be a website or service that allows consumers to subscribe to a collection of ethically-created pornography.

“Ethical pornography is a type of pornography in which you can assure that everyone's over the age of 18, people are being paid fair wages, and that people there are consenting and doing it for their pleasure.”

University of Pleasure is a cool podcast about sex, relationships, and being happier. They discussed a few ideas from the How Cool Is This? archive in their December 7 episode.

Dr. Tera Jansen and Jeremiah James from University of Pleasure think it’s important for couples to have regular 30 minute check-ins to talk about their relationship.

“This is actually an assignment that I give a lot of couples that I see that are having struggles with communication, but I honestly think it's good for any couple.”

University of Pleasure is a cool podcast about sex, relationships, and being happier. They discussed a few ideas from the How Cool Is This? archive in their December 7 episode.

Dr. Tera Jansen and Jeremiah James from University of Pleasure noticed that the anonymity of driving often leads to a lapse in communication between drivers.

“If you had a ‘My Bad’ or ‘I'm Sorry’ button in your car that lit up on the back, people wouldn't hate so many people when they were driving.”

University of Pleasure is a cool podcast about sex, relationships, and being happier. They discussed a few ideas from the How Cool Is This? archive in their December 7 episode.

Dr. Tera Jansen and Jeremiah James from University of Pleasure believe education about sex and relationships should be taught from a young age.

“I think that this stuff should be just as important as math and science, and I think it would help us all in our friendships and our romantic relationships or sexual relationships.”

University of Pleasure is a cool podcast about sex, relationships, and being happier. They discussed a few ideas from the How Cool Is This? archive in their December 7 episode.

Austin wants to open a restaurant where the soundtrack is complete silence. Do people really want to eat while alone with their thoughts? And more importantly, is that cool?

“The rules are: there is no talking, there is no music, you cannot dine other people and cell phone use is strongly prohibited.”

Have a cool idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.

Genny turned her passion for pottery into a business when she lost her job. Are mean mugs still nice to drink out of? And more importantly, is that cool?

“I started doing it as a way to meet people and gain a new hobby. Once the pandemic hit, I kind of just looked at everything that I could profit off of in my life when I lost my job.”

David helped create more sustainable socks made from recyclable materials. Can what you put on your feet help make the world a better place? And more importantly, is that cool?

“Everything we do is rooted in how it's gonna impact the environment. On top of that, the socks obviously are unbelievable.”

Erica started a club where people can meet to discuss cryptocurrency over curry. Is a delicious meal a good way to build community? And more importantly, is that cool?

“We have lots of food and drinks involved for it to be easier for everybody to get to know each other, feel comfortable talking, have a lot of fun and build relationships.”

Steve created an app that helps you discover live streams from around the world. Can live streams help you discover something new from the comfort of your couch? And more importantly, is that cool?

“We're creating a really cool, unique live stream and social discovery feature on our app that we think is pretty amazing.”

An entrepreneur for more than 15 years, Matt has recently begun experiencing issues with the responsiveness of suppliers in China. Can a new strategy that Matt stumbled upon increase the efficiency of your supply chain? And more importantly, is that cool?

“It's really hard to get these suppliers and manufacturers to take you seriously.”

Allison's facilitates an educational game designed to combat the climate crisis. Will their innovative approach lead to a cooler globe? And more importantly, is that cool?

“Imagine if you could take a complex scientific report that defines the problem of climate change and turn it into a game that makes the science easy to understand.”

Brian and Nick have spent the better part of the last two years sourcing unique ideas and judging them on how cool they are. Have they figured out what it means to be cool, and more importantly, is that cool?

“For episode 100 we are getting a taste of our own medicine. We invited our girlfriends, who have been with us for all these episodes, to answer an extremely important question…how cool is How Cool Is This?”

Want to be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.

Trenton loves the taste and smell of coffee but has to think twice before drinking caffeine. Can the coffee he makes from date sees provide a healthier alternative? And more importantly, is that cool?

“I actually had a heart attack when I was 20 years old, and caffeine gives me chest pain.”

Heather started a voice only dating service to help lonely people connect during the pandemic. Can trading only voicemails lead to a love connection? And more importantly, is that cool?

“I was just so amazed by the power of voice and the acceleration of intimacy that happened through my experiment.”

Listen to Heather’s podcast chronicling the experience, It’s Nice To Hear You, wherever you listen to podcasts.

Have a cool idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.

Ryan thinks we should melt down statues of problematic historical figures and turn those raw materials into products you can buy. Is that the “win-win-win” that will satisfy all sides of the statue debate? And more importantly, is that cool?

“We should melt the statues rather than have them take up space and make everyone angry and use the space for something else.”

Have a cool idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.

This Week in Cool is a weekly look into what’s cool, what’s not, and nothing in between.

This 5 minute recap of the June 24 season finale covers:

This Week in Cool is a weekly look into what’s cool, what’s not, and nothing in between.

This 5 minute recap of the June 17 show covers:

Kay returns to the show with more information about episode 80, Kids Should Get To Learn Latin.

“The people who love classics… they’re not marketers. They’re not thinking like marketers. They’re thinking ‘because this has so much value, there is no need to market it to anyone.”

Kyle, winner of a 2020 Coolio, returns to the show to talk about episode 56, Hire-A-Karen.

“I’m trying to gauge interest, not necessarily for people to use the service, but are there people who self-identify as Karens that would be willing to be a part of this service plan?”

Ian returns to the show to talk about episode 52, Cardens.

“We should look to expand this idea to more than just cars and trucks, and maybe think about… if you have a basket on your bike or scooter.”

Dani, winner of a 2020 Coolio, returns to the show with a response to episode 48, Illegal Comedy.

“I’m not an anti-masker, but in my specific case, I believed you could produce shows in a safe way, which I believe we did.”

Fiona developed a resource for children of separated parents. Will her new co-parenting journal and planner help keep things cool in potentially uncool situations? And more importantly, is that cool?

“It's a physical book that combines the benefits of a planner and journal that always stays with the child as they go back and forth between houses.”

Amy is a tech entrepreneur who built a social and mindfulness app inspired by Post-It Notes. Can Daily Haloha inspire empathy and connect the globe? And more importantly, is that cool?

“We ask a single thought-provoking question to the world every day. Everyone reflects on the question, answers it, gives it a mood color, and then sends it off into the world to be delivered randomly and anonymously to one other human.”

Gary thinks prepping seems harder and more expensive than it needs to be. Will his advice help more people be ready for an emergency situation? And more importantly, is that cool?

“If you make it a habit, it can pay off in the long run.”

Rebecca returns to the show with a response to episode 85: Unity Is Strength Israeli/Palestinian Peace Forum.

“When we said let's give peace a chance on this site, we are slowly allaying people's skepticism.”

Golda returns to the show with a response to episode 77: What’s Cookin’ App.

“You put an offer to chat with people. They'll just schedule it with you and then you can have a 30 minute chat with somebody anywhere in the world.”

Eran returns to the show with a response to episode 77, Song Saga Game.

“In our play testing groups in Australia, the first question everyone asks is ‘how do you play?’. But when we play tested it in America, the first question everyone asked us was ‘how do I win?’.”

Ryan returns to the show with a response to episode 11, DMX On Broadway.

“The pandemic has made a Broadway theater a little tough, but I'm holding out hope that, with vaccines out there now, maybe some possibilities will come to fruition this year.”

Sami returns to the show with a response to episode 3, The West Wing But With Vince Vaughn.

“I think I would make a great candidate to play president in the show. And I know what you're thinking, Nick – ‘Oh, you know, you don't have any experience’, but I think that's what would make me so great.”

Our first three time guest, Kristian returns to the show with a response to episode 2, Brian Should Only Have One Podcast.

“I think that if Brian's allowed to have another podcast, what's to stop him from podcasting, with a dog or a cat. It's a slippery slope, that's all I'm worried about.”

Anina designed a stylish solution to a un-stylish problem. Can her wallet charge your phone and look good at the same time? And more importantly, is that cool?

“I have often found myself having very long days. And just as I'm going to call an Uber or Lyft, my phone is out of battery and I'm left standing on the street in a beautiful gown.”

Ian created a tool to help local businesses promote daily specials. Can the Dilly help consumers discover what’s cool in their community? And more importantly, is that cool?

“[It’s] special information that's posted only by local merchants. They can share something much like they would share on Instagram, but what they share is something special that's happening that day.”

Lee has an idea that helps dog owners collect hard to pick up dog poop. Can cardboard squares help keep sidewalks clean? And more importantly, is that cool?

“I came up with the idea of cardboard little squares to help pick up those droopy poops. I use cereal box tops, but how cool would it be if you could just buy them in the store?”

Terry thinks the only thing keeping us from victory is having the right mindset. Can embracing the uncomfortable help you lead an extraordinary life? And more importantly, is that cool?

“I believe everyone is destined to live an uncommon and extraordinary life. We are not all born with the same gifts and talents, but we all have the ability to become the best person we're capable of becoming.”

This Week in Cool is a weekly look into what’s cool, what’s not, and nothing in between.

This Week In Cool is a weekly look into what’s cool, what’s not, and nothing in between.

Introducing This Week in Cool, a weekly look into what’s cool, what’s not, and nothing in between, brought to you by the hosts of How Cool Is This?, Brian Reitz & Nick Holder.

Don developed a new way to virtually recreate the serendipitous connections we have IRL. Can a virtual platform ever replace getting together in person? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"This allows you to go up to somebody, move around the room, sit next to them and recreate those moments of serendipity that happen in real life." 

Jill created an app that helps you reverse the negative effects of every other app. Can technology with limited functionality help you be more mindful? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"It really represents spending time away from feeds and thinking deeper about our days so that we can share what actually matters with the people who actually matter to us." 

Vidal believes that ignoring one of the most important parts of business will help you succeed. Is focusing too much on your numbers holding your business back? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"Most, if not all accountants focus on, 'You need to know your numbers.' We don't."  

Rebecca created a place where two groups that have historically disagreed can figure out new ways to get along. Can this be a model for using the  internet to solve other problems? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"Our goal is to expand into other venues and on the ground and be able to actually move the needle and help people in the region." 

Daniel believes that creating liberty is one of the most important responsibilities we have as citizens. But does liberty for one mean liberty for all? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"We must create Liberty. Not just for ourselves, but for our countrymen and women to our left and to our right. These actions create our nation and help us uphold our values of life justice and the pursuit of happiness." 

Pamela thinks the Equal Rights Amendment should have been ratified a long time ago. But will the government ever be able to push this important legislation through? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"How cool would it be if the civil political and judicial apparatus of the United States got together and decided that women really are in need of equal protection under the law?" 

Mark created a browser extension that encrypts the conversations you have online. Is that the best way to protect yourself from intrusive advertisers and tech companies? And more importantly, it that cool? 

"You can have a conversation with your friends without Facebook and the monopolies trying to target you for ads or extracting information to sell to advertisers." 

Mark believes in the importance of building your personal brand. He thinks that one of the best ways to do that is by launching your own video podcast. Can creating more content improve your brand? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"It's the fastest way, in my opinion, to build your network because you can provide value to people."

This year had no shortage of ideas. Now, it's time to decide which ones were the coolest. Introducing... The Coolios: the live award show where we recognize the coolest and most uncool ideas from the past year of How Cool Is This?, including:

This year had no shortage of ideas.  Now it's time to decide which ones were the coolest.  

Introducing The Coolios: the live award show where we recognize the coolest and most uncool ideas from this past year of How Cool Is This?. 

Kay believes the US education system can be improved by introducing Latin at the elementary level. Can a dead language help young students get a better grasp of the languages they do speak? And more importantly, is that cool?

“A person who has built a solid foundation on the basics of Latin in elementary school will never think that a new word is too complicated to handle.”

Ian thinks t-shirt pockets don't have enough pizzaz. Can his custom pockets turn otherwise banal tees into elegant fashion statements? And more importantly, is that cool?

“Why not get a pocket shirt that has cool fabric on it, like hotdogs or lemons or trees or chicken tenders or whatever you want?”

Golda and Khailill developed an app that helps communities come together over home cooking. Can a recipe of technology and food help people get to know their neighbors? And more importantly, is that cool? 

"If your neighbor's cooking this lovely meal and they would love to share it with you, they don't know that you would like some, and you don't know that they're cooking it. You can't be going in and bothering your neighbor all the time, asking them what they're making for dinner."

Eran created a Zoom-friendly game that's based on something that almost everybody thinks is cool: music. 

"[Song Saga] is a tabletop party game for adults that helps them reconnect with the music and memories that make them who they are. And it's the only card game that's played along with your favorite music streaming app."

This episode was originally posted in April 2020 and is being reposted as part of Election Edition episodes.

With the most 2016 United States presidential election being won by a candidate who didn't have the highest number of total votes, Melissa believes it may be time to reevaluate how presidents are selected. Is that cool? 

“I think the electoral college is an outdated form of election rules” 

We’re running daily episodes featuring your ideas about voting, democracy and politics until the presidential election is decided. To get your idea on the show, leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.

Andrea has created an emergency kit for getting along during this divisive political period and highlighted one specific technique that’s designed to prevent defensiveness and hot takes. Can this technique help Americans overcome seemingly insurmountable ideological divides? And more importantly, would that be cool?

“To give the thinking brain a chance, we need an automatic stall technique, and my favorite one is Fogging.

Stephanie thinks “woke” culture has gone too far and has started a blog to push back against political correctness in the workplace. Is woke orthodoxy a suppressive force? And more importantly, is fighting against it cool?

“America was founded on the principle of free speech, which means that I can say something that's unpopular or that someone disagrees with. If we lose that, we will regret it.”

Golda has an old-school way to double check the accuracy of votes – ask people in person. In a country with over 100 million voters, is that even possible? And more importantly, is that cool?

“We have this rational way to verify and check if the machines are committing any kind of fraud or if there's any other kind of fraud being committed. And I just want to say, I think we should be ready to do that.”

Lulu wants to create a coalition to maintain the integrity of elections. If a bunch of smart people work together, can our elections work better to serve us? And more importantly, is that cool?

“If all of us work together, then we can really make this a hot button topic the way that other issues have really risen to the top of our national consciousness.”

Richard thinks that we should not get rid of the electoral college, but make the popular vote just as important. Is that more feasible than completely changing electoral politics? And more importantly, is that cool?

“How cool is this compromise? Don't destroy, be constructive. Allow for a vote in big cities, as well as rural states to count on election day: 50% electoral college, 50% popular vote.”

This episode was originally posted in June 2020 and is being reposted as part of Election Edition episodes.

Emily wants everyone to know how they can do their part to ensure a fair election. Can everyone work together to make sure this election represents the will of the people. And more importantly, is that cool?

“The whole country needs to be working together this year to make sure that everyone can vote and that votes are counted accurately.”

Michael’s the VP of Communications at The Infatuation. They’ve teamed up with The Migrant Kitchen to provide free food to people at polling places. Will this remove a barrier to voting and allow more people to exercise their sovereignty? And more importantly, is that cool?

“The goal is to dole out 50,000 meals on election day. And the math for us is pretty simple. The more money we're able to raise, the more meals we'll be able to serve.”

Sean believes a mysterious informant hasn’t been given enough credit. Does QAnon know what’s going to happen before it happens? Or is it a totally baseless conspiracy theory? More importantly, is any of this cool?

“Which keyword has been attacked by mainstream media, more than any other? It's QAnon. Would the mainstream media, really expend so much effort to discredit QAnon if it was a merely a self-evident conspiracy theory?”

We’re running daily episodes featuring your ideas about voting, democracy and politics until the presidential election is decided. To get your idea on the show, leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.

April created a form letter you can mail to your representatives to make sure they’re elected in free elections. But will notoriously untrustworthy people follow the rules? And more importantly, is that cool?

“My idea is to enlist the help of those who may be most motivated and best suited to advocate for an accurate count – the candidates themselves.”

Alex thinks Americans need a stronger incentive vote. Would cutting taxes for those who exercise their inalienable rights get more bodies to the polls? And more importantly, is that cool?

“One of the most common things that I always hear  in my work life and in my professional life, from people who don't vote regularly is why should I bother? How does this actually benefit me?”

Brandon thinks that whistleblowers need more protection, both legally and financially. What is there was a way for them to share their stories and have a financial safety net? And more importantly, is that cool?

“What if there was just a website where somebody leaving a company who wants to speak out about a workplace environment, problem that, you know, they otherwise couldn't afford to do.”

To get your idea featured on the next 5-minute episode of How Cool Is This?, leave a voicemail at 848-863-9917.

Brian wrote a book about his time in an insane asylum in southern California. Is this necessary preventative reading no matter your current mental faculties? And more importantly, is it cool?

“I thought the title was funny. But it’s really about me being in Santa Barbara County and the doctors giving me meds that made me go insane.”

Hanifah thinks that having a conversation with yourself is important for mental health. Does that idea make for a good podcast? And more importantly, is that cool?

“I was responding to my own thoughts and the way I was talking to myself as this big sister, always repeating those same steps. And I realized how crucial that had been for every success I had until that point.”

Dustin believes that people can be more than a jack of all trades – they can be a master of them. Those are the types of people he likes to have on his show. Is that cool?

“I'd always been multidisciplinary myself. I wanted to help others, who I knew were like me who are out there come together.”

Priya provides childcare to working parents. But after the pandemic hit, she transitioned to providing a new kind of care at home. Is that cool?

“At the end of the day, what we're doing is helping parents to get time back because they're struggling and juggling so much right now between having to be a worker, a parent, a cook, a, Uber driver, all of it. And we're trying to take at least the one piece of childcare off of their shoulders.”

Brenden launched a YouTube channel to help the world master the art of communication and public speaking.

“Through these YouTube videos I’ve created over the years, I was able to democratize the information and hopefully create resources that anyone in the world can use to share their ideas with the world.”

Ginger is a Human Connect Expert who has a few ideas to bring people closer together beyond the faux-connected feeling spawned from digital technologies.

“That feeling, that emotion, of being connected with another person is so powerful, and it’s what we’re craving right now more than ever.”

Arn thinks people aren’t reaching their potential because they’re afraid of making mistakes. “It’s none of your business what people think about you.”

Adam has a podcast that can help you take your life to the next level. Can getting just thirty minutes of mentorship from pro athletes, tech founders and other great leaders really have an impact. And more importantly, is that cool?

“Anyone and everyone can benefit from mentorship.”

Beth has a suggestion for finally getting the monkey off your back at work: focus on solving your own problems first. Is that cool?

“If you keep solving other people’s problems, they’re never going to be able to solve their own.”

Abraham wants to open up a coworking space for influencers on the rise. But he wants it to be a little more professional than the TikTok mansions springing up around L.A. Is that cool?

“Everything you need to be an influencer in one place.”

Ian wants to turn unused car trunk space into gardens. Could planting a few trees in trunks help save the earth from the impending climate crisis? And more importantly, is that cool?

“I have done quite a few calculations and I can tell you that this would completely offset carbon emissions and help us save the planet.”

To get your idea featured on the next 5-minute episode of How Cool Is This?, leave a voicemail at 848-863-9917.

Lauren and Andrea think everyone will get a better education if we focus on making it more individualized. But as Covid-19 throws the future of education into question, how will that work? And more importantly, is that cool?

“How do we make education more individualized when we have only 1 teacher for 30 kids?”

To get your idea featured on the next 5-minute episode of How Cool Is This?, leave a voicemail at 848-863-9917.

Alex has an idea to make investing cooler and more fun. “It’s basically fractional ownership in marine finance.”

To get your idea featured on the next 5-minute episode of How Cool Is This?, call 848-863-9917 and leave a voicemail.

Nina thinks skateboarding is a great activity for women to feel empowered. “This is hard for a lot of women because it’s a male-dominated sport”

To get your idea featured on the next 5-minute episode of How Cool Is This?, text or leave a voicemail @ 848-863-9917.

Nora wants an app that ranks men based on how they've treated women in the past. 

"I just wish there was a review for this person I could have seen before I invited them over." 

To get your idea featured on the next 5-minute episode of How Cool Is This?, text or leave a voicemail @ 848-863-9917.

Isaiah thinks that when men are stronger, men are better. 

"Cause right now it's not looking too good for a man." 

To get your idea featured on the next 5-minute episode of How Cool Is This?, text or leave a voicemail @ 848-863-9917.

Recorded in New York on February 22, 2020, Steve has an idea related to resource allocation. "I'm curious why politicians deem themselves empowered to determine how wealth should be distributed.."

Miguel has a big idea for a new kind of video game, based on New York's famous Times Square. "Everything is live... robberies, people using, people doing good... everything live." 

Josh wants to use AirPod-like devices to have private conversations in loud public areas. "You can have a conversation and you can hear everybody in your little group."

Inspired by two previous How Cool Is This? episodes, DMX on Broadway and BMX on Broadway, Hannah shares a new kind of approach to The Great White Way. "This program would supply Broadway theaters with DXM-based products."

(Editor's Note: The idea "DXM on Broadway" was submitted in January 2020, far before the Broadway Shutdown of March 2020)

Victor is a real estate developer who's taking a new approach to homebuilding. 

"Every home that you buy is so expensive, and it makes it very difficult for people to afford their own homes."

Demi has an idea inspired by her granddaughter. 

"The bib holds the food... so it doesn't go all the way down."

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Jim believes that better support for news and journalism can save our democracy. 

"Newspapers all over the country are closing down and suffering from poor economics."

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Jacqueline wants to start a podcast that crowdsources good dating advice. 

“When it comes to dating, we crowdsource our friend’s advice. And I have not found this most effective.”

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Kevin wants Ashton Kutcher to make amends for the pranks he made on TV. 

"Perhaps the most dangerous show that's ever been made is MTV's Punk'd." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Drew wants to open a drive-thru burrito restaurant in an old bank. 

"You can pull up, order your burrito and they will shoot it through the tubing straight to your car." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Caitlin wants to replace wedding showers with a celebration of graduation. 

"Most of the things you put on your registry end up being things you don't need." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Blake wants to pamper pets – with a twist. 

"Sit back, crack a beer and watch the money pile up." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Ryan wants to stage a musical chronicling the life and music of DMX. 

"Some people might say 'Why give a man with such controversial takes and conduct a platform?' I say, let's air it out." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Alex wants to buy unused domains and sell them to people who want to build a business on that domain and then sell that domain to someone else. 

"Think of me as the first person to pass the proverbial bag."

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Cailey wants to open a coffee shop where you can bring your own cup. 

"A coffee shop with a bring your own cup situation." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Joselyn wants one peanut butter and one caramel Twix in the same package. 

"I can't believe Twix hasn't done this yet. Kinda makes me angry." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Liz wants to launch an app that gives you bar details before you decide to go. 

"It would rate on liveliness, ratio of guys to girls, are there a shit ton of interns..."

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Pennifer wants to start a short-form podcast that's a platform for "awesome" ideas. 

"There are studies on the internet that say associating the word "awesome" with the word "idea" is almost totally proven to make it successful." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Hannah wants to make content filled toilet paper that keeps you entertained in the bathroom. 

"Rest assured that when you are resting on the toilet, you will never find your mind idly wandering again." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Sami wants to remake The West Wing but with Vince Vaughn playing the president. 

"The West Wing is almost timeless, except for one thing – the cast." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.

Kristian thinks that Brian should only host one podcast. 

"Anything else, frankly, is immoral in my eyes. And in God's eyes." 

Do you have an idea? Any idea? Literally anything? Email your idea to submit2howcoolisthis@gmail.com to get it on the show.