Hero or Dick
Welcome to Hero or Dick — the podcast where Kate and KJ dig into the strange, funny, and unforgettable corners of history, pop culture, and everything in between. Each episode, we take on famous (and infamous) figures, events, and ideas, breaking them down with humor, insight, and just enough irreverence to ask the question that matters: hero…or dick?
From legendary icons to the odd stories behind movies, music, and everyday life, we pull the threads that make people and moments extraordinary. Along the way, you’ll get Kate’s infamous Fast Five lists (and KJ forgetting his), personal anecdotes, and plenty of chances to weigh in with your own takes.
Ever wondered if a celebrated artist was secretly a scoundrel? Or if a movie villain actually had a point? We live in those gray areas — the messy, funny, human places where the line between hero and dick isn’t so clear.
Join us bi-weekly for deep dives, playful banter, and the kind of conversations that leave you laughing, thinking, and maybe a little surprised. Whether you’re here for the history, the pop culture, or just to see if Kate finally got her car back, Hero or Dick is your go-to podcast for stories that entertain as much as they reveal.
Write in with your suggestions, stories, or just a friendly hello at heroordick2023@gmail.com.
Subscribe today — because life, like our podcast, is never just black and white.
Thanks!
~ Kate & KJ
Episodes
67 episodes
Hero or dick - S4., Ep. 6 - Mary Todd Lincoln
Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick!This time around, we take a look at Mary Todd Lincoln.From early loss to life in the White House, we get into what people still argue about: the spending, the behavior, the grief...
Hero or Dick - S4., Ep. 5 - Vegas
Las Vegas sells the same promise to everyone: step into the lights, forget your life, let chance take over. We trace how that illusion was built—from desert outpost to gambling hub to mob-financed Strip—backed by the numbers people argue about:...
Hero or Dick - S4., Ep. 4 - The Chimp Whisperer, Jane Goodall
Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick! In this one, we talk about Jane Goodall, the outsider who changed how we see animals and, whether we like it or not, ourselves.Chimps don’t just climb and stare. They make tools...
Hero or Dick - S4., Ep. 3 - The Winter Olympics
Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick! This time around, we jump from local happenings (shout out to Alpena, MI!) to a fast, funny, and frank tour of the Winter Olympics: how the Games are organized, who gets to...
Hero or Dick - S4., Ep. 2 - The Vanderbilts
It starts with a borrowed $100, a stubborn teenager, and a ferry that never slept. From there, the Vanderbilt story runs fast—from Cornelius Vanderbilt’s ruthless rise through ferries, steamships, and railroads to the cultural institutions and ...
Hero or Dick - S4., Ep. 1 - EMO
If you ever sang along to a lyric in your car because it said the thing you couldn’t, this one’s for you.We open Season Four with special guest Harley, talking emo—where it came from, what it did, and why it still matters. From Rites ...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 24? - Heroes, Dicks, And A Side Of Clotted Cream Fudge
A thousand downloads. Cookies, steak, and one deeply suspect mushroom Swiss.That’s how we close 2025—by taking inventory and not pretending it was tidy.What surprised us wasn’t which episodes blew up, but why. The biggest listens ...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 23 - George Washington
This week we peel George Washington down to the bone—no marble shine, just the man. The contradictions stack up fast: hundreds enslaved at Mount Vernon, Washington freeing only the people he personally owned after Martha died, Martha burning th...
Hero or Dick - S.3, Ep. 22 - Turkeys
Ever met a bird that sees nearly 270 degrees, purrs when it’s calm, hits fifty miles an hour, and still ends up glazed on a platter by sundown? In this episode of Hero or Dick, we move from the woods to the warehouse, dropping d...
Hero or Dick - S.3, Ep. 20 - Game Shows
Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick! This time, we trace the wild history of American game shows — from 1930s radio quizzes like Brooklyn Eagle Quiz and Vox Pop to the TV titans that shaped f...
Hero or Dick - S.3, Ep. 19 - Houses & Homes & the Rooms That Hold us Together
Thanks for tuning into another episode of Hero or Dick!A house can be your safest place and still give you the creeps. We dive into the rooms that shape who we are—from bathrooms that reset a chaotic day to kitchens ...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 18 - Why Late Night Still Matters
The night’s messy and honest—perfect for comedy to tell the truth. From Carson’s cool to Letterman’s edge, Rivers’ rebellion to Conan’s redemption, late-night TV has always tested who gets to speak after midnight. We talk about ego, chaos, poli...
Coffee and the Cosmos: Stephen Hawking
Fascinated by cosmology? Curious about the complicated humans behind world-changing ideas? Then maybe this episode is for you! Tune into Kate and KJ as they take a look into the life and legacy of Stephen Hawking.
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 16 - Ducks: From Corkscrews to Cultural Icons
Ever wondered what's really going on beneath the surface of that seemingly innocent duck paddling across your local pond? Prepare to have your perceptions forever altered as Kate and KJ dive headfirst into the fascinating and occasionally shock...
Hero or Dick - S.3, Ep. 15 - The Prince of F'ing Darkness: Ozzy
Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick! Kate & KJ track Ozzy Osbourne’s run from slaughterhouse kid to rock icon worth an estimated $220M. Bats, the Alamo, 25 Vicodin a day—then…Dad? Did the Prince of Darknes...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 13 - Bloody Mary, Melon Heads, and Hitchhikers
Greetings, Dear Listeners!Ever wonder why we can't stop sharing stories about hook-handed killers, vanishing hitchhikers, or creatures lurking in the woods?Join us for this exploration of storytelling traditions that continue to ...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 12 - Dan Akroyd
It's time for another episode of everybody's favorite unknown podcast--Hero or Dick! This time around, we explore the life and career of Dan Aykroyd, from his early days on SNL to his vodka selling and deep belief in...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 11 - Shootin' the Bull (or Bison)
Greetings and Salutations, Listener! In this episode, we're just shootin' the bull, and our casual conversation covers whatever crosses our minds on a humid summer day.• Finding a bison farm in Metz, Michigan • Recommend...
Hero or Dick - S3, Ep. 10 - Pee-wee Herman
The gray suit. The red bow tie. The unmistakable laugh that echoed through living rooms every Saturday morning. Paul Rubens created more than just a character in Pee-wee Herman—he built an entire world that shaped a generation.We...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 9 - Blackbirds
Thanks, Dear Listener, for tuning into another episode of Hero or Dick!They recognize faces, hold grudges, mourn their dead, and might be smarter than your neighbor. From royal ravens and ghostly folklore to punk-ass...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 8 - Roald Dahl
Thanks for tuning into another episode of Hero or Dick! Behind the giant peaches and chocolate rivers was a man as complex as his characters. This time around, Kate & KJ explore the wild life of Roald Dahl — figh...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 7 - Pickle Passion: Dill Forever
Welcome, Listeners!The great pickle debate has arrived, and it's clear that few foods inspire such passionate opinions. Dill or sweet? Hero or dick? During our deep dive into the world of pickles, we discovered that American...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 6 - Roseanne Barr
Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick! This time around, Kate & KJ discuss Roseanne Barr.How does a groundbreaking comedian who transformed television representation become one of the most divisive voices in American cu...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 5 - Val Kilmer
Welcome, dear Listeners! It's another episode of Hero or Dick! This time around we take a scenic detour through Val Kilmer’s wild ride in Hollywood.Between updates on Kate’s latest travels and plenty of banter, we dig into Kilme...
Hero or Dick - S3., Ep. 4 - Joaquin Phoenix
Welcome to another episode of Hero or Dick! From a childhood spent in a controversial cult to becoming one of Hollywood’s most celebrated actors, Joaquin Phoenix’s story is anything but typical. In this episode, we explore his unconven...