Ed Helms, known for his comedic roles, is making waves in the literary and podcasting world with his recent projects centered around historical blunders.
His podcast and book series, both titled “SNAFU,” explore a variety of historical screwups, highlighting lesser-known events that showcase human folly.
As part of the Atlanta Film Festival, Helms is scheduled to appear at the Tara Theatre on Friday, May 2, at 7 p.m.
Attendees can participate in a talk and book signing, with ticket prices set at $35 for a pre-signed copy of the book and $65 for a meet-and-greet that includes a personalized signature.
Helms is eager to connect with audiences and share his journey through history.
“I’m insanely proud of the podcast,” he stated.
“It’s a cinematic audio experience. When you close your eyes, it should feel extremely immersive and vivid.”
The podcast, which is now in its third season, dives deep into fascinating themes such as the scare of nuclear war in the 1980s and the Prohibition era of the 1920s.
Each season focuses on different historical topics, weaving in scores, sound effects, and a blend of archival audio and interviews to create a rich narrative.
While researching for the podcast, Helms and his team stumbled upon countless stories that were intriguing yet not extensive enough for a full season.
This discovery led to the creation of the “SNAFU” book, which features 34 unique tales averaging eight pages each.
Helms describes it as very digestible, ideal for readers looking to learn in small chunks.
“I really try to put my comedy topspin on the stories,” he explained, emphasizing that the work, while entertaining, isn’t meant to be snarky or irreverent.
One standout narrative involves an Air Force pilot who was forced to land an American spy plane in China and was captured without incident.
Humorously reflecting on this incident, Helms wrote, “If it were me, I would have then vomited violently.”
The pilot’s experience in China was likened to “the world’s weirdest cross-cultural summer camp — with some light torture thrown in.”
Helms wants to steer clear of widely known historical events like 9/11 or World War II to focus on less familiar occurrences that might surprise readers.
His keen interest in the Cold War infuses the work with a sense of urgency and relevance.
“The Cold War was so fraught with bad judgment and mistakes that led to ridiculous snafus,” Helms remarked.
He highlights bizarre incidents, including a CIA scientist who purchased the world’s supply of LSD for unethical mind control tests and another instance of the agency attempting to spy using live cats outfitted with audio equipment.
Among the oddest stories in the book are those of Russian spies Karl and Hana Koecher, who gathered intelligence through a peculiar method: swinging parties.
Helms humorously dubbed it “sexpionage,” tying pleasure into the world of espionage.
Furthermore, as a Georgia native close to Coca-Cola’s headquarters, Helms felt compelled to tackle the cola wars, particularly focusing on Pepsi’s ambitious Covert Ventures in the 1970s.
He recounts how Pepsi gained access to the Russian market, striking a barter deal involving vodka since the Russian ruble was nearly worthless outside of the USSR.
In a surprising twist, by 1989, Russia offered 17 submarines, a cruiser, a frigate, and a destroyer in exchange for soda.
Helms humorously notes that “Pepsi would take possession of the sixth-largest naval fleet in the world.”
Ultimately, Pepsi opted not to create its own military unit, selling most of the leftover ships for scrap instead.
As the Soviet Union collapsed, Coke would eventually enter Russia and surpass Pepsi in sales.
Helms also delves into the story of Jimmy Carter, another Georgian who played a crucial role in an emergency at a nuclear reactor meltdown in Deep River, Ontario, in 1952.
At just 28 years old, Carter was part of the team assigned to disarm the reactor, managing an intricate and dangerous operation while being exposed to intense radioactivity.
Helms described Carter’s actions as “incredibly intricate” and noted the remarkable discipline required.
“It’s kind of a miracle he didn’t suffer adverse health effects,” he said, reflecting on Carter’s remarkable life.
The former president continued to live a long life, passing away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100.
In editing the book, Helms managed to add the epitaph, “RIP, Jimmy,” capturing the significance of Carter’s extraordinary experience that influenced history positively.
If you’re interested in exploring these fascinating stories, joining Ed Helms for his talk and book signing at the Atlanta Film Festival promises to be an insightful and entertaining experience.
image source from：https://www.ajc.com/arts-entertainment/2025/04/atlanta-native-ed-helms-of-office-fame-delves-into-big-historical-snafus-in-new-book/
