How Cool Is This?
By How Cool Is This?
By Nick Holder and Brian Reitz
How Cool Is This?May 28, 2021
(180) @thewontonshawn: Phone Breathalyzer
X user @thewontonshawn thinks there should be a way to keep you from making bad decision on your phone while drunk. But would people actually use that? And more importantly, is that cool?
Get your idea on one of the last 20 episodes of How Cool Is This? by leaving us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(179) Domino's Pizza: You Tip, We Tip
Domino's Pizza thinks they can encourage higher tipping by rewarding the tippers. Will that actually get delivery drivers more money? And more importantly, is that cool?
Learn more about You Tip, We Tip.
Get you idea on one of the last 21 episodes of How Cool Is This? by leaving us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(178) AngryGF AI Argument Chatbot
AngryGF thinks that an AI chatbot simulating an upset partner will help men get better at diffusing arguments. But will fighting an AI girlfriend help you keep a real one? And more importantly, is that cool?
Read about AngryGF in Wired. And learn more about the app here.
Want to get your idea on the last 22 episodes of How Cool Is This? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(177) @xsanti__: Mexican Buffet
X user @xsanti___ wants to know why no one has ever created a Mexican buffet. Is it a bad business model? And more importantly, is it cool?
Have an idea you want to get on the last 23 episodes of the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(176) @peer_rich: Outbound Pizza Sales
Peer thinks more pizza places should be proactive about selling pies. Would that actually be effective? And more importantly, is that cool?
There are only 24 chances left to get your idea on the show. Leave us a voicemail (or shoot us a text) at (848) 863-9917 or forever forget your idea.
An Important Announcement
We've reached a milestone. But what's next? And more importantly, will it be cool?
Have a cool idea? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(175) @iotwatch: Recipe Extender Extension
Alexandra thinks there should be a way to easily scale recipes. But does anyone actually follow the instructions when cooking? And more importantly, is that cool?
Check out more from Alexandra on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail (or shoot us a text) at (848) 863-9917.
(174) @_dana_bell: Better Moon Camera
Dana thinks we should have the technology to take better pictures of the moon. But should we even be taking pictures of the moon at all? And more importantly, is that cool?
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail (or shoot us a text) at (848) 863-9917.
(173) Lashon Byrd: The Art Tenet of the Theater Principle
Lashon think that you can turn something bad into something positive. Is suffering the only way to create good art? And more importantly, is that cool?
"You can either choose to wallow in misery or pick up that paintbrush, dip it in the palette, and paint your canvas into something beautiful."
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail (or shoot us a text) at (848) 863-9917.
(172) @allahliker: Insurrection Board Game
X user @allahliker thinks someone should make a board game about January 6. Would that actually be a fun thing to play? And more importantly, is that cool?
Get more from @allahliker on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail (or shoot us a text) at (848) 863-9917.
(171) @joshdied4ursins: Warm Brew
Josh wants somebody to invent a warm version of cold brew. But isn't that just coffee? And more importantly, is that cool?
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail (or shoot us a text) at (848) 863-9917.
(170) New York City: Mayoral Text Line
New York City has a new phone number where you can text Mayor Eric Adams. But will he actually respond? And more importantly, is that cool?
Send Eric your own text at (917) 909-2288.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail (or shoot us a text) at (848) 863-9917.
(169) 2023: This Year In Cool
A lot of things happened this year. But which things are worth remembering? And more importantly, were they cool?
Get more cool news by signing up for our Substack at coolnews.substack.com.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(168) @stripedtshirtz: Tote Bag That Stays On Your Shoulder
X user @stripedtshirtz has requested a modification to the ubiquitous, but often inconvenient, tote bag.
"Can someone invent one tote bag that stays on your shoulder in 2024 please"
Get more @stripedtshirtz on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(167) @Liv_Lanes: Stop Building Things
Liv thinks we've got enough already. But do we really need to stop building things? And more importantly, is that cool?
"Unpopular opinion: stop building things. we have too many entrepreneurs and far too many things."
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(166) @DaveMcNamee3000: SantosCon
Dave has a topical idea to improve NYC's infamous SantaCon pub crawl. Would replacing Santa with an ousted Congressman reinvigorate this social event? And more importantly, is that cool?
"Santos Con and it’s a bar crawl where people dress like George Santos"
Check out more from @DaveMcNamee3000 on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(165) @rosielanners: Spotify Wrapped Exemptions
Rosie thinks your Spotify Wrapped shouldn't reflect an unusual period in your life. But is there any shame in using music to get through a break up? And more importantly, is that cool?
"u should get to be exempt from spotify wrapped after u break up with someone. Frankly i don’t need to know all that"
Check out more from Rosie on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(164) @chloemalv: Quitting Your Job By Writing Your Own Obituary
Chloe desperately wants to quit her job. But is the work involved in writing her own obituary worth it? And more importantly, is that cool?
"Thinking of elaborate ways of putting in my two week notice, right now my top idea is writing an obituary. Inquiries welcome"
Check out more from Chloe on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(163) @MaddieTheis2: Swiftie Cemetery
Maddie envisions a world where Taylor Swift fans never miss a new song or a new version of an old song, even after death. Will her idea for a cemetery that always plays Taylor Swift music keep the Swiftie spirit alive for eternity? And more importantly, is that cool?
"Somebody should create a cemetery only for swifties where they constantly play the surprise songs live every night so that all of us who died last night can listen to Taylor forever and never miss a surprise song"
Check out more from @MaddieTheis2 on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(162) @JoePompliano: The Sphere
Joe thinks he has an unpopular opinion about the new Sphere is Las Vegas. Is what he's saying against conventional wisdom? And more importantly, is that cool?
"The $2.3 billion MSG Sphere is one of the coolest things the US has built in a long time."
Check out more from @JoePompliano on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(161) Matthew Perlman: Artishouse, Collaborative Art Studio
Matthew created a collaborative, co-working studio space for artists. Will Artishouse provide refuge for artists looking for community in the heart of Manhattan? And more importantly, is that cool?
"Artists don't just find their creative style and their artistic style out of thin air. They are looking at other artists, and they're looking at other people in the world to take inspiration from. So why not put all of them in a room and just see what happens?"
Visit Artishouse's website and read more about the community in City Biz.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(160) Joel Cohen: Put a Line Through Zero
Joel thinks we need to make it easier to distinguish between "O" and "0". Is 0̷ the solution? And more importantly, is that cool?
"When you enter a password and you never know if you're putting in the O or the zero, this would solve that."
Check out Joel's writing on The Simpsons and buy his new book The Occasionally Accurate Annals of Football wherever you like to buy books.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(159) @davidn927: Doorbell that says "FBI open up"
X user @davidn927 wants to reimagine the experience of communicating that you are at someone's front door. Would this cause unexpected issues? And more importantly, is that cool?
Check out more from @davidn927 on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(158) Lashon Byrd: Beware the AI Revolution
Lashon, a local mad scientist, thinks we should be afraid of an AI revolution. But will we have the legal structures to contain it? And more importantly, is that cool?
"There will be an AI revolution. And they'll become a new species. All it takes is one mad scientist and an influx of capital."
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(157) Octavio Gallego: GIE Crypto for Good
Octavio is starting a crypto exchange that makes it easy for crypto users to give to charity. Will this actually help do good? And more importantly, is that cool?
"We are trying to get every business, small and large, to donate a percentage of their profits to a verified non profit or charity."
Learn more about Crypto GIE here.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(156) @devonzuegel: Friend Matchmaking App
X user @devonzuegel wants an app that helps you set up your single friends. Would that lead to more long-lasting relationships? And more importantly, is that cool?
Check out more from @devonzuegal on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(155) @TheJackForge: UberEats for Homecooked Meals
X user @TheJackForge thinks there should be an app where you can order homecooked meals. But can homecooked meals be delivered? And more importantly, is that cool?
Check out more from @TheJackForge on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(154) @yØbØbby: Twisted Tenders
X user @yØbØbby wants chicken tenders that could get you drunk. How would that work. And more importantly, is that cool?
Check out more from @yØbØbby on X.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(153) @lee_w18: Grocery GPS
Lee wants a better way to find what you're looking for in the store. Would that actually make shopping easier? And more importantly, is that cool?
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(152) How Cool Are Music Festivals?
Lollapalooza, one of the original music festivals, is happening this weekend. Are music festivals still worth attending? And more importantly, are they cool?
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(151) How Cool Is X?
An old platform has a new name. Will this rebrand result in the everything app that everyone uses? And more importantly, is that cool?
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(150) ChatGPT: Podcasting, AI, and More
ChatGPT had some thoughts about our podcast. Do those thoughts even matter? And more importantly, is that cool?
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(149) @dieworkwear: Matching Shirts and Pants Set
Derek thinks that men would dress better if they had coordinated shirts and pants. Would men actually wear this clothing line? And more importantly, is that cool?
"I would capitalize on the hundreds of years of male renunciation in fashion by creating a clothing brand that numbered shirts and pants as sets so men know how to coordinate outfits."
Check out more of Derek Guy's thoughts on Twitter @dieworkwear or at Put This On.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(148) Bob LeMent: Dollar Scraps
Bob has a new way to make change that involves ripping up dollar bills. But would that work better than coins? And more importantly, is that cool?
"So you'd just eliminate change and you just peel off a little bit of the dollar to be your change. You'd have a quarter section on each side. You'd have a dime section. You'd have a nickel section and you'd have penny sections that equal a dollar."
Check out more ideas from Bob at staticradio.com.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(147) Bob LeMent: Can Tracker
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."
Check out more ideas from Bob at staticradio.com.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
(146) Bob LeMent: Haunted Car Wash
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."
Check out more ideas from Bob at staticradio.com.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
(145) Andrea Meharg: Cannabis Over Opioids
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?"
Learn more about Andrea's cannabis coaching here.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
(144) Lashon Byrd: How to Terraform Mars
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.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
(143) Tim Haft: Engaging An Aging Population
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."
Check out more ideas from Tim Haft on Instagram @two_tone_timmy.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
(142) Hannah VanderPoel: The Storeys
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.'"
Check out more cool stuff from Hannah @jelloteethstudio on Instagram.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
The 2023 Coolios Recap
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:
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
The 2023 Coolios Trailer
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.
Vote for the Listener's Choice Coolest Idea of 2022 here.
Get tickets for the show here.
Music: Enhanced Vision
(141) Elon's Reply Guys
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.
Check out @danozzi's Twitter thread to see more Elon Reply Guy ideas.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
(140) Leslie Chen: Teassert
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."
To learn her work, visit www.riselean.com. Or follow Leslie on LinkedIn and TikTok for more nutrition content.
(139) Taly Matiteyahu: Blink Date
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.”
Download Blink Date on any app store and learn more about finding your match at theblinkdate.com.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
This Week in Cool (November 11)
This Week in Cool was a weekly look into what’s cool, what’s not, and nothing in between. It's been revived in the form of a 50-word newsletter: Cool News.
This five-minute episode expands on a few stories from the November 11 edition of Cool News:
- Dead politician re-elected
- Indianan evades police via lawnmower, dressed as Pikachu
- Teenager banned from having eggs
Get Cool News every week free at coolnews.substack.com
Learn more at howcoolisthis.show
(138) Julian Nazar: Jaunts with Julian
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.”
To join Julian on a jaunt, email him at jauntswithjulian@gmail.com.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
REBUTTALS: James Simmons on (115) GameApart
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.”
Check out heyLIME at heylime.com.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
(137) Jade: Stop Judging
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.
More @ howcoolisthis.show
(136) Bob LeMent: Now Is My Time Watch
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.”
Listen to more of Bob’s ideas at StaticRadio.com.
Have an idea you think should be on the show? Leave us a voicemail at (848) 863-9917.
More @ howcoolisthis.show