Hidden Holiday Hosts

After a great suggestion from some of our favorite fans, Dan & Cordy decided to try something new: Explore a user submitted holiday, and then discuss some of teh selections they didn’t make. It’s less than 15 minutes of breezy brainstorming, a little less structured than others, but not like that keeps us on track!Please comment here or text us with some suggestions we should take next time (Juneish). Don’t worry - we have new full-length episodes coming too! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Draw a Picture of a Bird Day seemed like a fun, simple pick. But digging into the origins revealed the beautiful, if heartbreaking story of Dorry Cooper. She inspired people to create for the sake of it, and enjoy the process as a way to feel a bit better for a bit. Not to care about the outcome. The connections to our own lives & beliefs are robust, and we have lots of fun chatting through the activities, guests and even Cordy’s Aphantasia. Celebrate art, joy, and recovery by drawing a picture of a bird on April 8th or any other time of year. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

March 1st is Zero Discrimination Day. In this episode, we dig into the history, symbolism, and social signaling of how we see each other: the roots of the holiday in the HIV/AIDS crisis, the “remissive” state of modern medicine, and how the 90s era of government silence shaped our current narrative. Of course there’s still some fun games, and way-too-inside jokes. Open your heart, check your bias, and join us for a celebration that’s way more existential than expected. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

January 15th is National Hat Day. The holiday feels… almost too obvious for Cordy. But as he and Dan quickly discover, hats are doing a lot more work than just covering heads.In this episode, we dig into the history, symbolism, and social signaling of hats: why we I wear them, what they say about us, and how something as simple as a fedora can quietly become part of a personal identity. Cordy reflects on how hats went from accessory to accidental brand, while Dan wrestles with the itchy, overheated reality of wearing one indoors.As usual we go through a lot, and highlight our favorite guests. Diving into peacocking, practicality, personality projection, and how hats can function as armor, shorthand, or beacon. It’s a surprisingly revealing conversation about how small choices turn into signals, and why no day (or outfit) is ever random.Put a lid on it, tip your cap, and join us for a celebration that’s way more existential than expected. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

In this episode of Hidden Holiday Hosts, Cordy and Dan celebrate Celebrate Short Fiction Day, a holiday that lands on the shortest day of the year - making it the perfect excuse to curl up with a complete story in one sitting.Unlike sprawling novels or endless TV seasons, short stories demand intention - every character, detail, and moment has to earn its place. That constraint makes them powerful, memorable, and deeply human. We process mental health, build empathy inhabiting other perspectives, and make sense of uncertainty - especially the unknowns we can’t logically resolve, like death.Dan shares his recent dive into creative writing, including finishing short horror stories as a personal goal, while Cordy goes down a metaphysical rabbit hole - from movies and music to marketing and comedy. To celebrate the holiday, they suggest writing a short story in one sitting, reading an anthology, playing creative writing games, sharing prompts with friends, or even building a cozy “reading and writing nook” for the day. The emphasis isn’t on perfection - it’s on finishing, sharing perspective, and remembering that creativity is something humans need, not something reserved for professionals.Ultimately, this episode is a love letter to storytelling. No matter how short the form, stories are how we understand ourselves, each other, and the world.Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

If you are ever looking for an excuse to spoil your best friends, November 1st gives us Cook for your Pets Day! We know it’s a few weeks later, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your animal a real meal - especially in honor of Thanksgiving!It’s more dog talk, but also looking into how we treat our dogs differently, some dangerous food history, and how cookforyourpets.com may have been an echo of the internet bubble, just a decade later. Don’t just give them leftovers, make a small bit extra for your pet to feel special every day! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

In this episode, Cordy & Dan discuss the origins of World Hello Day (November 21st), and the impact a simple greeting can have. Forced extroversion, breaking bread with enemies, and talking to neighbors. Cordy’s worst nightmare is Dan’s everyday joy!Thanks for listening! Subscribe for free to receive new episodes! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Competence porn. Skepticism. Tigers. B******t. Not enough Arrested Development jokes. It’s a debate between Dan’s enthusiasm, and Cordy’s skepticism. Luckily we know who usually wins that fight! The behavioral & literal engineering of Magic is broken down, along with what kind of transformation can be represented by brands. Happy holidays! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Cordy & Dan finally got back together to talk about more curious events. Yes, this could also be the name of this podcast. But embracing the unknowable, and how we create curiosity to trigger action in work & life. Embrace the unanswerable and create more curious events! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

In the delightfully nerdy 10th episode, Dan Eng introduces Cordy to Collect Some Rocks Day: a (kind of) real celebration encouraging people to get outside, look down, and pick up something solid. From shimmery crystals to “ethical collecting,” the hosts tumble into conversations about geology, the ethics of picking things up, and what it means to find joy in something as simple as a rock.Featuring: pandemic-era Google Trends, beach glass nostalgia, and a surprisingly deep appreciation for the world right beneath us.🎧 To… rock-solid hobbies and low-stakes celebrations. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Who decides if a question is stupid? Why don’t we encourage more curiosity in adults? Why don’t we ask an astronaut about the bottom of the ocean?Dan & I love to poke & prod and question everything. I have a tattoo that says ‘doubt everything’ in latin. But more people need to maintain and encourage that type of investigation. Unless it’s more fun to not know. Sometimes those are the best dumb questions. I hope you enjoy us asking our own stupid questions and maybe giving even stupider answers (and some occasionally interesting thoughts) - but it’s fun and that’s what matters! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Cordy & Dan dive right in the deep end in this episode, turning a basic conversation about giving things a way into a deep discussion on the nature of friendship & creativity. Plus it’s a very easy one to find partnerships with! We hope you enjoy!Thanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Cordy & Dan are two friends who can’t live without dogs. Since college we’ve been petting as many as we can and regularly squealing at cuteness. We celebrate mutts but reminisce about the dogs in our lives, how we could leverage that cuteness for a few brands, and just how good that Futurama episode about a dog is! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

In this episode we throw out a blanket and decide what makes a picnic and who should be selling them! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Cordy & Dan dive deep down a rabbit hole exploring the ideas, activations, and celebrations that could come on Alice in Wonderland Day. Celebrate nonsense & absurdity with us on the 4th of July! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Cordy and Dan crack open International Museum Day (May 18th) a holiday dedicated to quiet rooms, strange artifacts, and pretending you understand modern art. They dig into its (real) origins, reflect on personal museum habits (lingering vs. speed-running), and explore how thousands of institutions in 158 countries use this day to reframe what museums actually do. From fake exhibits at home to low-stakes reverence, it’s an episode about what we choose to preserve, and what we pretend to understand. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Cordy and Dan explore National Splurge Day AKA "Treat Yo. Self!" Perhaps unsurprisingly the episode turns into a discussion on consumer behavior and the nature of impulse shopping - from both personal, and professional viewpoints. Finding the balance between a financial treat and delusion, and entertaining inspiration to embrace the day.  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Chaos is always around us. Learn to embrace with Dan's incredible holiday find, and listen as Cordy's brain breaks while he deals with it feeling like therapy! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Want to learn about AppleJack? Do you know what it is? Want to hear about the history and hear some thoughts on how to celebrate?  This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com

Hear a brief intro while we get the first episode ready for ya! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cinemccord.substack.com