Listen in as Mur tells Jess the story of when 1,400,000 balloons were released in Cleveland's town square. It took a lot of work to pull this off and we'll do our best to fill you in! 

Resources:

2023-Qualatex-latex-polymer-Test.pdf. Qulatex Latex Polymer Test. (n.d.). https://pioneerballooncompany.widen.net/s/26ns5sgqcd/2023-qualatex-latex-polymer-test

All-america city award- celebrating the best in Civic Engagement. National Civic League. (2025, January 31). https://www.nationalcivicleague.org/america-city-award/

Cleveland.com. (2024, May 25). BalloonFest 1986: What Really Happened?. YouTube. https://youtu.be/MIM-pJP5A0o?si=CRfXC0O2P2QuBK09

Guerrieri, V. (2023, December 15). Balloonfest made Cleveland a laughingstock. did it deserve it?. Defector. https://defector.com/balloonfest-made-cleveland-a-laughingstock-did-it-deserve-it

Newman, V. (2024, November 18). Rested Guinness World Records titles and why we no longer monitor them. Guinness World Records. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2024/11/rested-guinness-world-records-titles-and-why-we-no-longer-monitor-them

Quinn, C. (2024, May 31). Where truth ends and fake news begins on Cleveland’s 1986 balloonfest: Letter from the editor. cleveland. https://www.cleveland.com/news/2023/06/where-truth-ends-and-fake-news-begins-on-clevelands-1986-balloonfest-letter-from-the-editor.html

Record policies. Guinness World Records. (n.d.). https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/records/record-policies

Sheridan, T. (n.d.). Thom Sheridan. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/thom.sheridan/posts/pfbid0qVDd6havqPqQvu3QknXfijSjaYcHRV1D2K44pqdKCVjwhLY7MWTQ9qEoTodjnfJ3l

Walker, T. (2021, January 12). YouTube. https://youtu.be/-j1AeV-n8j4?si=tFUCPaLYDMzDq-wC

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024a, November 17). Balloon release. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloon_release#:~:text=A%20balloon%20release%20in%201986,balloons%20in%20a%20single%20release

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024b, December 17). Timeline of Cleveland. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiiomeline_of_Cleveland

Wikimedia Foundation. (2025, February 1). Hough riots. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hough_riots

Silly Intro by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mur and Sara discuss the incredible story of Claire Sylvia, a heart-lung transplant survivor who felt a deep connection to her donor. 

Resources for this episode:

Liester, M. B. (2020). Personality changes following heart transplantation: The role of cellular memory. Medical Hypotheses, 135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109468

Pearsall, P., Schwartz, G. E. R., & Russek, L. G. S. (2000). Changes in heart transplant recipients that parallel the personalities of their donors. Integrative Medicine, 2(2–3), 65–72. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1096-2190(00)00013-5

Sylvia, C., & Novak, W. (1998). A change of heart: A memoir. Warner Books.

Music provided by:

Silly Intro by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mur and Jenny explore the phrase: If you believe that, I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale!

Resources for this episode:

Ancestry®. (n.d.-a). U.S. Immigration in the 1800s. U.S. Immigration in the 1800s | Ancestry® Family History Learning Hub. https://www.ancestry.com/c/family-history-learning-hub/1800-us-immigration#:~:text=In%20the%20years%20between%201880,escape%20increasing%20oppression%20and%20violence.

Brooklyn Bridge. NYC DOT - Brooklyn Bridge. (n.d.). https://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/html/infrastructure/brooklyn-bridge.shtml#:~:text=The%20Brooklyn%20Bridge%20was%20designed,and%20was%20completed%20in%201883.

Clancy, C. J. (2024, December 12). The man who “sold” the brooklyn bridge, statue of liberty, and Ulysses Grant’s tomb. IrishCentral.com. https://www.irishcentral.com/roots/history/man-sold-brooklyn-bridge-statue-of-liberty

John a roebling suspension bridge > bridge history. John A Roebling Suspension Bridge. (n.d.). https://roeblingbridge.org/Bridge-History

Nelson, T. (2021, July 1). “capt.” George C. Parker (1860-1937) -... Find a Grave. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/229047420/george-c.-parker

New World Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Confidence game. New World Encyclopedia. https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Confidence_game

Sifakis, C. (1993). Parker, George C. Brooklyn Bridge impressario. In Hoaxes and Scams A Compendium of Deceptions, Ruses and Swindles (pp. 198–199). story, Facts on File. 

Music provided by:

Silly Intro by Alexander Nakarada (CreatorChords) | https://creatorchords.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Creative Commons / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

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Do you think you know what these phrases mean?

• The early bird gets the worm!

Think again, fellow explorers! In this episode, the Sirens explore phrases that are commonly misused. If you love this episode, the conversation continues on Patreon where you’ll get exclusive content, including our conversations after the episode wraps: Siren Soapbox on Patreon

Check out this video of birds flying in perfect sync!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dskCpuxqtI 

Support us by buying us a (virtual) coffee and help keep the adventure train running! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sirens

This week the Sirens explore recipes that are at least 150 years old. Check out this tasty episode and check out www.sirensoapbox.com for more!

Upcoming:

• 150 Year Old Recipes

www.sirensoapbox.com

Buy us a (virtual) coffee and help keep the adventure train running! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sirens

In this episode, the Sirens explore the ancient art of origami! The Sirens had a good time exploring this art form. We hope you’ll give it a try and share your artwork with us!

Link the kit Siren Sara used: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0804854459?ref_=cm_sw_r_mwn_dp_HCTYM2NBB7SK6HXRWS6C&language=en_US&fbclid=IwAR042aXBspz_mPI7LI_P-pY-91GzlfNn4q6iqaE0dbEQxADAtjvr10aZnJI 

Here are some links to a few famous Origami Artists:

Akira Yoshizawa – considered the grandmaster of origami

https://www.amusingplanet.com/2012/03/akira-yoshizawa-master-of-origami.html

Juho Konkkola

https://juhokonkkola.fi/origami/

Sipho Mabona – to scale origami elephant

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2014/03/white-elephant-sipho-mabona-2/ 

Here are a couple of ways to support the Sirens:

Buy us a (virtual) coffee and help keep the adventure train running! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sirens

Join our Patreon and get exclusive content: Siren Soapbox on Patreon

This week the Sirens explore a new type of book club - they'll be writing their comments about what they are reading, and exchanging books so everyone has a chance to comment on every book.  Tune in to hear all about these shenanigans! 

Buy us a (virtual) coffee and help keep the adventure train running! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sirens

This week the Sirens explore the fascinating world of cryptids! Do you have a local cryptid story? Share it with us over at www.sirensoapbox.com 

North American Dogman Sightings

Buy us a (virtual) coffee and help keep the adventure train running! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/sirens

Join our Patreon and get exclusive content including our coverage of Mothman: Siren Soapbox on Patreon