The Atlas Obscura Podcast · Tuesday, July 14, 2026
Edwin Perkins, a Nebraska native, is credited as the inventor of Kool-Aid, a powdered beverage concentrate. Perkins was described as a blend of an ad man and a mad scientist, who transformed his small town through his innovative product and marketing strategies. His journey began with tinkering in his mother's kitchen and evolving into a successful business.
“Today's episode is brought to you in partnership with Visit Nebraska. And today we're going to dive into the most famous rags to riches story of the Nebraska plains. It's about the real Kool-Aid Man, Edwin Perkins.”
“He was kind of a cross between an ad man and a mad scientist. So like, picture if Beaker from the Muppets and Don Draper were fused into one person.”
“There's something very American to my mind about Edwin Perkins' tale. It's about coming up with something brand new and then figuring out how to sell it to as many people as possible.”