Can't Wait to Celebrate

We're Cat and Fox of the Can't Wait to Celebrate podcast. Follow us here for more celebratory mayhem

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August 30

First Black American in Space

Guion S. Bluford Jr. made his mark in history as the first Black American in space. As Mission Specialist 1, he was responsible for launching the primary payload, INSAT-1B, an Indian communications satellite, from the Challenger.

Whale Shark Day

The largest living fish is a gentle filter-feeder. Swimming open mouthed near the surface of the ocean, they filter thousands of liters of water per hour. Plankton and small organisms get caught in gill rakers and are swallowed when water is expelled.

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August 16

International Homeless Animal Day

Founded by the International Society for Animal Rights in 1992, IHAD brings together like-minded organizations, emergency responders, and individuals to promote and support animal welfare initiatives in their communities.

Roller Coaster Day

The most crucial roller coaster safety technologies were developed by John Miller. In 1910, he invented the "safety chain dog", an anti-rollback device which prevents trains from falling back down the lift hill. It is what makes the "click-click" when riders ascend.

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August 2

Sixth Sense (1996)

Cole Sear is a medium, an individual who speaks to the dead. His profession dates as far back as Mesopotamia where diseases were believed to be caused by ghosts and other spirits. The ašipu combined herb medicine and spells to treat their patients.

Alice in Wonderland

English author Lewis Carroll fostered a deep relationship with Dean Henry Liddell and his growing family. Carroll, who had cared for his own 8 younger siblings, entertained Liddell's children by telling them stories accompanied by live illustrations.

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July 19

Dinosauria: Volume 2

Dead Sound is an independent animator who is unmatched in design and storytelling. Cat highlights his ability to color his environments with a limited palette. His Dinosauria series evokes awe and curiosity for our dotted past.

1903 Tour de France

The premiere Tour de France was a brutal race organized by sports newspaper L'Auto. Cyclists covered 2,428 km (1,509 mi) in six stages and were expected to ride in the dark. Maurice Garin, an accidental professional cyclist won the first edition with a time of 94h 33' 14“.

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July 5

Dolly the Clone

The first clone was produced by shaking a two-cell sea urchin egg in a test tube. A crude method when compared to the highly-specialized SCNT cloning procedure, but it was the best a scientist from 1885 could do.

Graham Cracker Day

The symbol of summer indulgence is made with an ingredient that was supposed to temper gluttonous and lustful desires. But even its inventor could not temper the passions of his followers and during one of his lectures they threw limes at his critics from a hotel roof.

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June 21

Summer Solstice

Sharing seasonal food with friend and kin for the Summer Solstice is an effortless way to celebrate in the morning. Tonight there will be a bonfire at the beach with a basket of bay leaves and markers. Write your wish on the bay leaf and drop it into the fire so it will come true in the coming months.

Ferris Wheel Day

The Ferris wheel has been used as an amusement device since the 17th Century. Its grand design was standardized by George Ferris Jr. for the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. As a staple of the summer fair, people with means can travel to one of the many curious variations around the world.

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June 7

National Prairie Day

Fox went to the market to forage for a small tuber native to the Interior Plains of North America. The sunchoke was cultivated by Indigenous Tribes before being introduced into French Cuisine around the mid-1600s.

National Trails Day

Cat recommends Capilano Pacific Crest Trail in North Vancouver. It is an easy 4-hour round-trip hike accessible by public transit. You'll find yourself teetering on edge of staggering cliffs, crossing over bubbling creeks, and standing at the base of a dense temperate rainforest.

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May 24

First Morse Code message

Samuel F. B. Morse was a highly accomplished painter and founded the National Academy of Design. A personal loss motivated him to improve existing telecommunications systems and invent Morse Code alongside Alfred Vail.

First Eurovision Song Contest

Non-European Broadcasting Area networks may not be eligible to compete, but there will always room for lovers of the incredibly political ESC as organized by the 'politically-neutral' European Broadcasting Union. We'll have a fun surprise for 2026!

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May 10

Twister (1996)

Don't just chase storms, register through SKYWARN as a citizen scientist in the United States. On-the-ground data collection helps researchers create comprehensive weather models and you'll be the first line of defense against severe weather.

Archery Day

Gods, kings, and heroines. All made use of one of the most iconic weapons of human history. The weapon speaks to the values of the culture that wields it, from the Yumi bow of Japan to the horsebow of the Huns.

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April 26

Independent Bookstore Day

Cat went out to support his local queer bookstore, Cross & Crows Books. This shop, and others like it, promote marginalized authors, are lifelines for readers, and fuel community events.

Seven Samurai

Regarded as the most influential film in cinematic history, you will not find a movie, TV, or video game that does not use one of the tropes developed by Kurosawa or were popularized following the international success of Seven Samurai. Fox loves the False Reassurance trope.

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April 12

Yuri Gagarin/Cosmonautics Day

Growing up, the First Cosmonaut was no stranger to life-threatening danger and was able to navigate the challenges at Star City with diligence and charm.

Grilled Cheese Sandwich Day

This food fueled the soldiers of WWI and used American ingredients. Today, there are hundreds of breads and cheeses to choose from. Cat makes his with Canadian rye bread and slices of Havarti cheese. Fox prefers sourdough bread and local blue cheese crumbles.

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March 29

Mermaid Day

After sharing the evolution from goddess to career. Cat encourages all to design their own mermaid tail to celebrate this fantastically mythical and queer holiday.

Terracotta Warriors

Located 1.5 km from the Mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi, it is estimated there are over 6,000 terracotta warriors in Pit 1. Each life-sized warrior and horse was molded, assembled, kiln-fired, lacquered, and painted.

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March 22

World Water Day

We're fortunate to have another year of promoting holidays that show our listeners how intertwined our world is. Take a moment to study strategies to fight climate change in your communities.

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March 14/15

The Godfather

Mafia boss Joe Colombo makes an offer producer Al Ruddy can't refuse under the guise of civil rights concerns. Fox then asks if you should accept an offer of justice in exchange for friendship?

Ides Of March

A swift subjugation of the continent, consolidation of power, and the betrayal of political allies are the key points you want to hit if your life goal is to be assassinated

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March 1

World Seagrass Day

Known as the 'lungs of the sea', a single square meter bed of seagrass generates up to 10 liters of oxygen per day. As the photo shows, they are vastly different from seaweed, having roots and rhizomes rather than a holdfast.

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon

David Gilmore describes the theme of the album as so, “It was madness, I suppose—to put it briefly. The pressures of modern living, and all the elements that one goes through that conspire to send some people insane.”

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February 15

Hippopotamus Day

Though terribly cute, Moo Deng will grow into a near 600 lbs animal with sharp canines and a sprint speed faster than the average human. We on the pod both admire and fear this beautiful beast

Susan B. Anthony's Birthday

Mrs. Mary Olney Brown of the Washington Territory reminds us that in every era the disenfranchised have navigated roadblocks as nonsensical as the ones we experience today. FYI, if you read History of Woman Suffrage, it is very one-sided

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January 18

A. A. Milne's Birthday

A. A. Milne was a prolific playwright and humorist before the publication of Winnie-the-Pooh in 1926. His small collection of children's literature has staked his name in history but left his other works forgotten.

Thesaurus Day

Peter Mark Roget released the first English language thesaurus in 1805. Since then, hundreds of books of a similar vein have been published to assist the writer or poet in selecting the precise word for their work.