Monday, June 22nd, 2026 — Today is National Onion Rings Day, which somehow led us to environmental disasters, mobile phones, and Harry Potter.
In this episode, we look at the Cuyahoga River fire and how it became a symbol of environmental reform… the launch of America’s first regularly scheduled cellular phone service… and the publication of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, a book that grew into a worldwide phenomenon.
Plus, a slightly biased birthday segment celebrating Bruce Campbell, one of the most beloved cult figures in entertainment.
A lot of today’s stories ended up becoming about unexpected impact:
environmental change,
technological change,
and cultural change.
Anyway… that’s what I ended up finding while working through June 22.