Deep Dive: Stono Resistance, Tolstoy’s Moral Map, and the Curious 'Clowder' of Cats - September 9, 2025
Hosts Daniel Fletcher and Samuel Green examine a 1739 gathering near the Stono River as an early act of organized resistance, celebrate birthdays of Leo Tolstoy, Otis Redding, and Colonel Sanders with a focus on Tolstoy’s ethical arc, and share a whimsical fact about the word for a group of cats: 'clowder.'
In this Deep Dive episode, our hosts discuss the historical, literary, and curious natural-history moments tied to a single day.
- 📜 On this day in 1739 — about twenty Black Carolinians met near the Stono River, roughly twenty miles southwest of Charleston — a concentrated moment of organized resistance that reveals how geography, rivers, and proximity to urban centers shaped early acts of planning and defiance.
- 🎂 Today’s birthdays: Leo Tolstoy (1828), Otis Redding (1941), and Colonel Sanders (1890). The hosts linger on Tolstoy’s moral architecture — his novels as expansive examinations of individual choices rippling through society, and his later-life turn toward simplicity and social reform.
- 💡 Fact of the day: A group of cats is called a "clowder" — a charming, evocative term that reframes how we imagine cat social dynamics and naming conventions in natural history.
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Creators and Guests
Producer
Chad Thompson
Chad Thompson is the producer of Neural Newscast, bringing his expertise in technology, cybersecurity, media production, DJing, music production, and radio broadcasting to deliver high-quality, engaging news content. A futurist and early adopter, Chad has a deep passion for innovation, storytelling, and automation, ensuring that Neural Newscast stays at the forefront of modern news delivery. With a background in security operations and a career leading cyber defense teams, he combines technical acumen with creative vision to produce informative and compelling broadcasts. In addition to producing the podcast, Chad creates its original music, blending his technical expertise with his creative talents to enhance the show's unique sound. Outside of Neural Newscast, Chad is a dedicated father, electronic music enthusiast, and builder of creative projects, always exploring new ways to merge technology with storytelling.
