Explore every episode of the podcast History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

This conversation explores the rich and tumultuous history of the Muckleshoot Tribe, from their deep-rooted connection to the land and salmon to the devastating impacts of colonization and treaty betrayals. It highlights their struggle for survival, the significance of the Fish Wars, and the transformative power of the Muckleshoot Casino in revitalizing their community. The discussion also addresses the challenges that come with newfound prosperity and the tribe's ongoing efforts to revive their culture and language.

 

In case you missed it, we are rereleasing one of our most popular episodes-

Madame Mustache: The Wild West’s Most Badass Gambler In this captivating episode of "Rainy Day Rabbit Holes," we delve into the remarkable life of Eleanor Dumont, famously known as Madame Mustache, a figure who epitomized the grit and spirit of the Wild West. Prepare to be transported to a time when high-stakes gambling was not just a pastime but a battleground for power and prestige, where the stakes were as high as the mountains that towered over Nevada's frontier towns.

Madame Mustache was no ordinary gambler. With her signature mustache and sharp intellect, she carved a name for herself in a male-dominated world, effortlessly outsmarting the toughest card sharks and swindlers who dared to challenge her. We explore her early life, where her cunning nature began to flourish, leading her to the bustling saloons of San Francisco and the rough-and-tumble gambling halls of Virginia City. Listeners will be captivated as we recount her legendary poker games, where she employed not just skill but also an unyielding spirit that transformed her into a local legend.

But the tale of Madame Mustache isn’t just about winning hands and collecting fortunes; it’s also a gripping story of revenge and resilience. In a dramatic twist, Eleanor's life takes a dark turn when she discovers her husband has been conning her and others. Fueled by betrayal, she embarks on a relentless quest for justice, tracking him down with a determination that serves as a testament to her strength. With every twist and turn, her journey unfolds like a thrilling narrative from the pages of a Western novel, blending elements of mystery and drama that will keep listeners on the edge of their seats.

As we weave through the rich historical tapestry of the Wild West, we also highlight the broader themes of gender dynamics and empowerment that Madame Mustache embodied. At a time when women were often relegated to the shadows, Eleanor stood tall, not only as a successful businesswoman but as a trailblazer who defied societal norms. Her story prompts us to reflect on the struggles and triumphs of women in history, making her tale not just one of gambling prowess but also of breaking barriers and asserting one’s identity in a tumultuous world.

Join us for this enthralling episode as we uncover the layers of Madame Mustache's life, rich with anecdotes, historical insights, and a few surprises along the way. From the saloons of the Gold Rush to the dusty trails of the frontier, Eleanor Dumont's journey is a celebration of courage and defiance that resonates even today. Tune in to "Rainy Day Rabbit Holes" and discover the woman behind the legend—Madame Mustache, the Wild West’s most badass gambler.

🎙 Madame Mustache: The Wild West’s Most Badass Gambler

 

🎩 High-stakes games, a mustachioed legend, and one hell of a revenge story—this episode has it all! Eleanor Dumont, better known as Madame Mustache, was a sharp-witted gambler, a successful businesswoman, and a woman way ahead of her time. From outplaying men at their own game to tracking down her con artist husband and personally delivering justice, her story is as wild as the Wild West itself.

 

😲 Why did the world remember her mustache more than her empire?

 

🎲 How did she run the classiest gambling hall in the lawless West?

 

🔫 And what was her final, dramatic exit?

 

🔥 Get ready for gambling, crime, whiskey, and Wild West nonsense!

 

🎧 Listen now & fall down the rabbit hole!

 

👉 Get ad-free episodes & bonus content: rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

 

👉 Visit our website for more unhinged history: rainydayrabbitholes.com

 

👉 Hear Shea’s story on Live, Laugh, Larceny! Listen here

Make sure to listen to the end for another installment of our Patreon Fan Fiction!

This conversation explores the historical relationship between Doc Maynard and Chief Sealth, two pivotal figures in the shaping of Seattle. Set against the backdrop of the Pacific Northwest in the 1850s, the discussion delves into their unlikely friendship, the cultural clashes of the time, and the enduring legacy of their partnership. The hosts highlight how Maynard's vision for Seattle included collaboration with Native Americans, contrasting with the more conservative views of other settlers. The episode concludes by reflecting on the lasting impact of their alliance on modern Seattle and its identity.

 

We want to say thank you to our beloved Patreon supporters, so we are creating a bespoke piece of fan fiction starring each of our supporters! These little stories are based on one of our past episodes, chosen at random, and feature a completely fictional tale with a supporter as the main character.

This week, we are thanking Doug Holbrook and his lovely wife Marsha. In this tale, Doug uses his economics background to start a lucrative coffee kiosk business, with a spicy twist. 

If you want your own piece of bespoke fan fiction, consider joining our Patreon! You get ad-free episodes, bonus content, plus more! Head on over to www.rainydayrabbitholes.com for more!

The Great Midwest vs. PNW Debate (Feat. Rainy Day Rabbit Holes)

You’ve heard of East Coast vs. West Coast — but forget all that. This week, we’re settling the real rivalry: the Midwest vs. the Pacific Northwest.

Shea and Jody of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, the podcast that uncovers the wild, weird, and wonderful hidden stories of the Pacific Northwest and beyond, join Trevin and Amanda for a four-round battle of regional pride, petty chaos, and pointless competition.

Before the main event, our hosts bring their dreadful dilemmas, ranging from awkward public encounters with subtly racist strangers, being too busy for dog playdates, and making retirement plans far too early — plus, Amanda spots our modern-day muse, Chappell Roan, out in the wilds of Kansas City.

Then, it’s time for the Great Debate — a showdown across four over-the-top rounds:
 Round One: The Great Debate – Each team makes an absurdly passionate case for their homeland, backed by one bizarre local legend. From the Midwest’s failed utopia of Fordlandia to Oregon’s infamous exploding whale, chaos is the only constant.
 Round Two: Cryptid Showdown – Batsquatch, the Missouri Monster, and the Frogman of Loveland go head-to-head in a mythical melee.
 Round Three: Ridiculous Laws – From a tax for being single to the price of killing Bigfoot, we discover which region is the most unhinged legislatively.
 Round Four: Absurd Headlines – Viral zebras, weird weather, and headlines that make you question the human condition — both sides bring their best regional ridiculousness.

Along the way, we tackle Midwest pride, Pacific Northwest rain superiority, Starbucks and T-Mobile empires, and even the truth about why singing the ABCs won’t save you from Midwest politeness.

So grab your casseroles and coffee cups — because this isn’t just a debate.
This is a geographically inconvenient grudge match for the ages.

Check out the Live Laugh Larceny Podcast! https://www.livelaughlarceny.com/

 

Caroline Fraser recently mentioned the tragic tale of Frances farmer in her new book "Murderland" and it is such a great story that I just needed to share this episode again! 

With special guests Laura & Stephen from the Midday Movies Podcast! Make sure to check them out! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/midday-movies/id1715523597

This episode of the Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Podcast delves into the life of Frances Farmer, a Hollywood starlet known for her rebellious spirit and tragic struggles with mental illness. From her early years in Seattle to her rise in Hollywood, Frances's story is one of defiance against societal norms and the pressures of fame. The conversation explores her controversial trip to the Soviet Union, her institutionalization and the brutal treatments she endured, and her lasting legacy, including a connection to Kurt Cobain. The episode emphasizes the importance of understanding mental health and the societal expectations placed on women.

 

The end of pain....forever

This conversation delves into the chilling events surrounding the Tylenol murders of 1982 and the subsequent Excedrin poisonings in 1986. It explores the tragic deaths caused by cyanide-laced capsules, the investigations that followed, and the impact these events had on product safety regulations in the United States. The discussion highlights the key figures involved, including Stella Nickell, who was ultimately convicted for product tampering, and the broader implications for consumer safety.

 

South Sound Magazine recently featured the Elephant House, the former home of Ray Gamble, Tacoma's millionaire magician, in an article, and mentioned our podcast. We thought we would rerelease this episode for you all to explore!

 

Check out the article! https://www.southsoundmag.com/features/tacoma-elephant-house-history/article_01883564-0abe-4ce3-a95a-308b7c9d2473.html

 

This episode explores the life of Ray Gamble, Tacoma's millionaire magician, through the insights of historian Michael Sullivan. The conversation delves into Gamble's early life, his entrepreneurial ventures, his passion for collecting elephants, and his contributions to the local magic scene. The discussion also touches on the importance of historical preservation in Tacoma, the impact of Gamble's legacy, and the cultural significance of his story in the context of the city's history.

 

This week, we are sharing an episode from one of our favorite pod-friends: Ani from Audibly Haunted.

This episode delves into the haunting story of the Watts family murder case, exploring the chilling events surrounding the disappearance of Shannan Watts and her two daughters, Bella and Celeste. The narrative unfolds with a focus on the true crime aspect, revealing the sinister actions of Chris Watts, who ultimately confessed to the murders. The conversation then shifts to the paranormal elements that emerged following the tragedy, including eerie occurrences in the Watts home and Chris's haunting experiences in prison. The episode concludes with reflections on the lasting impact of this horrific crime and the emotional echoes it leaves behind.

 

In 1910, two trains—one passenger, one mail—were trapped for nearly a week in a brutal Washington blizzard near Stevens Pass. When lightning struck Windy Mountain, a half-mile-wide avalanche thundered down, sweeping the trains and the town of Wellington into the abyss. Nearly one hundred lives were lost in what remains the deadliest avalanche in U.S. history.

Today, the site is known as the Iron Goat Trail, a scenic hiking path shadowed by eerie tales of ghost lights, disembodied voices, and icy cold spots where the dead once lay. Shea and Jody take listeners on a chilling journey through tragedy and folklore—laughing, theorizing, and debating whether these stories are history, hauntings, or both.

From spectral lanterns to phantom whistles, they explore why the spirits of Wellington refuse to rest—and why hikers still say they’re not alone on the mountain.

🎧 Dive into this haunting tale and explore more at www.rainydayrabbitholes.com.
Support the show, unlock ad-free episodes, and get bonus content at www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.

Special thanks to our Mistress of Marketing and Wizard of Websites, Letha Davis. If you love our site, imagine what she can build for you. Visit lethadavis.com to start your own magical website journey.

The Wild West wasn’t all shootouts and saloons—it also had brothels where life, death, and legends collided. Some of those stories never left.

In this episode, Shea and Jody take you inside two infamous houses of ill repute:

• The Birdcage Theater, Tombstone, Arizona – 26 deaths, bullet holes in the walls, and a love triangle that turned into a ghost story still whispered today.
• The Red Onion Saloon, Skagway, Alaska – where miners, madams, and a lingering ghost named Lydia turned a gold rush brothel into one of the most haunted stops in Alaska.

Along the way, the hosts debate where they’d haunt if stuck for eternity, spill some spicy legends, and prove once again that history is never as tidy as it looks on paper.

Grab your whiskey, dim the lights, and follow us down the rabbit hole… if you dare.

👉 For ad-free episodes, bonus content, and even bespoke fan fiction, visit: www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

Will you hear laughter, smell perfume, or feel a ghostly touch when you step inside? Listen now to find out…

In 1899, a massive four-masted iron ship called the Andelana vanished from Tacoma’s Commencement Bay overnight — leaving behind only a pair of floating logs and a haunting legacy.

In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Shea and Jody are joined by Tacoma historian and tour guide Chris Staudinger of Pretty Gritty Tours to unravel the chilling mystery of Tacoma’s “ghost ship.” From tales of curses and unlucky sailors to divers who met their doom, the Andelana’s story is one of tragedy, unanswered questions, and eerie persistence.

But the ship’s curse doesn’t stop with its sinking. The legend ties into eerie paranormal accounts — including the infamous tale of an eyeless ghost girl said to wander Tacoma’s historic streets. Along the way, we explore the city’s haunted history, connections to human trafficking, and the way folklore preserves Tacoma’s darker past.

If you love ghost stories, maritime mysteries, and local legends that linger in the shadows, this is one you won’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now and join us on this haunting journey through Tacoma’s waterfront.

We've made our bonus episode with Chris available to everybody for FREE on Patreon!

 

https://www.patreon.com/posts/ghosts-of-high-139977306?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

👉 For bonus content, ad-free episodes, and ways to support the show, visit: www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

Beneath the quiet farmlands of Arkansas, a single dropped tool set off a chain of events that could have changed history forever. In this episode, Shea and Jody take you deep underground into the Titan II missile program — the Cold War’s most volatile secret. What happens when human error meets doomsday weapons? And how close did we really come to nuclear apocalypse in 1980?

Strap in. This rabbit hole goes from darkly funny to downright terrifying.

👉 Full story, blog posts, and more episodes at: www.rainydayrabbitholes.com
🙏 Special thanks to Letha Davis for marketing and website design: www.lethadavis.com

⏱ Episode Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes
04:15 – Stepping into a Titan II missile silo
09:40 – The Cold War and Mutually Assured Destruction
15:50 – America’s 103-foot “doomsday stick”
21:30 – Accidents in Kansas and Arkansas silos
28:00 – The Damascus Incident begins
36:20 – A socket wrench drops… and disaster unfolds
45:10 – Explosion in the silo
54:00 – The end of the Titan II program
01:00:15 – Women’s peace movements take a stand
01:08:30 – Why remembering this near-apocalypse matters today
01:15:00 – Closing thoughts (and a little levity)

🔗 Related Links

• Titan II Missile Museum – Official Site

• PBS American Experience: “Command and Control” (Documentary)

• “Command and Control” by Eric Schlosser (book on the Damascus accident)

• Cold War Nuclear History Blog

• U.S. National Archives – Cold War Nuclear Strategy

• YouTube: Footage of Titan II Missile Test Launches

Silver mines, brothels that ran until the 1990s, a highway battle that saved a whole town, and a firefighting hero who invented one of the most iconic tools in history. Wallace, Idaho has it all. In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Jody takes us through the quirky, fiery, scandal-filled history of Wallace, a town that declared itself the Center of the Universe, and you can’t disprove it.

Grab your pickaxe (or Pulaski tool), because we’re heading down a rabbit hole where mining strikes, infernos, and bordellos collide in the Silver Valley.

Chapters:
00:00 – Welcome to Wallace, Idaho
04:22 – Colonel Wallace and the shady land deal
09:51 – Silver mines and strikes that shook the valley
15:35 – Fires that burned Wallace down twice
21:44 – The legend of Ed Pulaski and the Big Burn
33:10 – Brothels, nightlife, and the Oasis Bordello Museum
40:55 – How Wallace beat the federal government and I-90
50:30 – Declaring Wallace the Center of the Universe
57:00 – Why Wallace is worth your road trip stop

Support the show and get exclusive bonus stories (and even fan fiction about you) by joining our Patreon: www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

Want a killer website or digital marketing that works? Our website magic is thanks to Letha Davis. Check her out at lethadavis.com

Listen now at: www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

Visit Wallace, Idaho!

https://wallace.id.gov/

A river is the most powerful force in nature—and blocking one is the boldest act a human can attempt. In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, we dive into the colossal story of the Grand Coulee Dam: a project born in the desperation of the Great Depression, built with sweat and sacrifice, and shadowed by broken promises.

From Hoovervilles to hydroelectric power, boomtown brothels to Woody Guthrie ballads, and even the secret connection between the dam and the atomic bomb, this is history at its most epic and unsettling. We’ll explore the triumphs, tragedies, and the question that lingers today: who really paid the price for progress?

 

✨ And don’t miss the end of the episode—we’ve got a brand new piece of Patreon fan fiction, starring one of our amazing supporters!

💡 If you like your history wild, weird, and a little unhinged, you’re in the right place.

👉 Listen, review, and support us at:
🌐 rainydayrabbitholes.com
💖 rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

Special thanks to Leetha, our Mistress of Marketing, and to our amazing Patreon supporters for keeping us powered up and rabbit-hole ready.

Chapters

00:00 – Intro: Blocking a river is the boldest act of man
00:35 – The Great Depression & Washington’s economic collapse
04:30 – The New Deal & the Columbia Basin Project
08:15 – The pumpers vs. the ditchers: epic dam debates
16:30 – Breaking ground & boomtown chaos on B Street
20:15 – Sex work, taxi dancers, and wild nights at the work camps
24:30 – Engineering feats: freezing dirt, cooling concrete, and sheer scale
28:47 – Powering wartime industry and postwar agriculture
31:22 – The dark side: lost salmon, flooded villages, and broken treaties
39:00 – From Grand Coulee to Hanford: fueling the atomic bomb
40:50 – The monument scandal and a stolen statue
43:30 – Reflections: who pays for progress?
44:10 – Patreon fan fiction: Matt Pearson and ghostly encounters

 

Today, we are proud to present an episode by one of our fabulous Umbrella Podcast Collective members-Rob of Dark History. You've heard us talk about the Portland Shanghai Tunnels before, now go even deeper. Check it out!

In this gripping episode of The Dark History Podcast, we dive deep into one of the most chilling and overlooked forms of human trafficking in history: shanghaiing. From the mid-1800s to the early 20th century, thousands of men were abducted from port cities like Portland, San Francisco, and Liverpool—drugged, beaten, or tricked into signing forged contracts, only to wake up trapped aboard ships bound for Asia.

This wasn’t just the work of shady criminals in back alleys. It was a full-blown industry. Crimps, saloon keepers, hotel owners, and even police officers played their part, all for a quick payout. Some victims were lured by the promise of work or a warm bed. Others were dropped through trapdoors into underground tunnels and chained in holding cells until a ship was ready. Few escaped. Most were never seen again.

You’ll hear the real names behind the crimes, like the notorious “Bunko” Kelly, who once claimed to have sold a ship a crew of corpses. We'll uncover how this brutal system thrived in plain sight for decades, and how changing laws, technology, and public outrage eventually brought it down.

This isn’t the maritime adventure story you’ve been told. It’s about organised trafficking, greed, and the silent suffering of thousands who were stolen from familiar streets and forced into a life at sea. The legacy of shanghaiing lives on in the sealed trapdoors and forgotten tunnels beneath modern cities.

If you're fascinated by the dark undercurrents of history—the parts that rarely make it into textbooks—this episode is a must-listen.

Support the show

*** Patreon link https://patreon.com/Darkhistory2021?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link ***

Merch:
https://www.teepublic.com/stores/dark-history?ref_id=36220

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/darkhistorypod?mibextid=LQQJ4d

 

Discord https://discord.gg/3mHPd3xg

 

Email: darkhistory2021@outlook.com

 

Tiktok: https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMLSvwJJV/

 

YouTube :https://youtube.com/c/DarkHistory2021

 

 

Twitter: @darkhistory2021

 

Instagram: @dark_history21

In March 1876, the skies opened above Bath County, Kentucky… and instead of rain, meat fell from the heavens. Was it a divine miracle, a bizarre prank, or an avian puke-fest courtesy of startled vultures? Shea and Jody dig into one of history’s strangest mysteries—the infamous Kentucky Meat Shower.

Chapters:

• 0:00 – Welcome to Rainy day rabbit holes where we take the history of the west off the rails
  00:20 – Today we are covering a meteorological event. Precipitation. Don't you wish we could time travel
  01:17 – Carrie Thompson: I've never made soap. Have you
  05:08 – There are several theories about what caused meat to rain in 1800s
  09:16 – After 150 years, no one has figured out definitively what this is
  10:57 – Did anyone ever get sick from the 1876 Kentucky meat shower
  13:50 – We appreciate the support of our patrons more than you could know
  15:31 – All of our Apple reviews, subscribers and statistics got lost recently

Calls to Action:
👉 Love weird history? Support us on Patreon and get your own bespoke fan fiction story written by us! www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
👉 Please leave us a review on Apple Podcasts—we lost all our reviews and subscribers due to a glitch, so hitting “Follow” again helps us out tremendously.
👉 Follow us on social media for behind-the-scenes fun and bonus content!

Silly Summer Season: The CIA’s Bonkers Spy Cat – Project Acoustic Kitty

In this delightfully absurd Silly Summer Season episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Jody takes us down the rabbit hole of one of the strangest Cold War experiments you’ve never heard of—Project Acoustic Kitty.

In the 1960s, the CIA actually spent millions of taxpayer dollars trying to turn a real, living cat into a stealthy spy. The plan? Surgically implant a microphone, radio transmitter, and antenna into an adorable feline operative to eavesdrop on Soviet conversations.

From top-secret surgery to a very short-lived field mission, this story has everything—government overconfidence, questionable ethics, and one very confused kitty. Shea and Jody can barely keep it together as they imagine what could possibly go wrong with strapping espionage gear to a cat.

Grab a cool drink, settle in, and enjoy one of the most ridiculous espionage stories in history. This is Cold War absurdity at its finest.

A huge thank you to our amazing Patreons—you’re the reason we get to keep chasing these ridiculous and fascinating stories.

If you enjoyed this episode, please take a moment to leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen—it really helps other curious minds find us.

Want more rabbit holes? Join our Patreon for bonus content, behind-the-scenes extras, and even bespoke fan fiction starring you at www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.

Visit us at www.rainydayrabbitholes.com for episode blogs, links, and more.

Special thanks to Letha Davis, our Magician of Marketing, at lethadavis.com for making our show shine.

In this mind-boggling episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, hosts Shea and Jody take you on a wild ride through one of the most absurd plans in Cold War history: Project A119, the United States Air Force's secret proposal to nuke the moon. Yes, you read that right! Join us as we explore the motivations behind this bizarre plan, from ego and public relations to a desperate need for cosmic swagger in the face of Soviet competition.

You'll discover:
- How the Cold War turned into a cosmic pissing contest
- The role of young Carl Sagan in calculating the visibility of a lunar explosion
- The environmental and geopolitical repercussions of detonating a nuke on the moon
- Why this plan was ultimately scrapped and buried deeper than your most embarrassing secrets
Expect a mix of laughter and disbelief as we delve into this ridiculous chapter of history that almost turned our celestial neighbor into a glowing crater. After all, what's a little lunar devastation when national pride is at stake?
🌕 CHAPTERS
00:00 – Intro and Welcome
02:30 – The Hypothetical Cold War Dilemma: Blow It Up!
08:15 – Introducing Project A119: The Moon Nuke
15:45 – The Science Behind the Madness: Carl Sagan’s Involvement
24:00 – The Risks of Nuke-ing the Moon: Tides and Climate
32:20 – Why the Project Was Shelved: A Cosmic Cautionary Tale
40:00 – Wrapping Up and Reflections on Human Folly

🔗 LINKS
🌐 Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Website: https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com
💌 Support Us on Patreon: https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

Show notes created by https://headliner.app

Episode 81-Cryptids and Kindred Spirits – A Dive with Devon from Ouija Broads

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes is thrilled to welcome Devon from the Ouija Broads, one of the most beloved podcasts about Pacific Northwest paranormal history, ghosts, and cryptids. With a relaunch underway and a new book on cryptids in progress, Devon joins Shea and Jody for a hilarious and heartwarming episode about everything from mosquito bites and neighbor drama to her favorite haunted stories, paranormal research, and crafting workshops.

Plus, after the break, Devon faces her biggest challenge yet: a Who Am I? Cryptid Edition trivia game where she flexes her cryptozoology knowledge and tells us what really qualifies as a cryptid vs. a myth.

🔮 Expect weird neighbor stories, beavers falling from the sky, Bigfoot posters with grills, and a whole lot of laughter.

✨ Featured Guest:

Devon from the Ouija Broads

🧭 CHAPTERS

00:00 – Intro and Welcome

02:40 – What’s Chapping Our Ass: Mosquitoes, Trashy Neighbors, and Home Depot Rage

14:10 – Meeting Devon and the Origins of Ouija Broads

20:30 – Soul Sisters of Weird History and Podcast Chemistry

27:00 – Creative Lives, Art Farm Dreams, and Teaching Classes at MostGhost.com

33:30 – Devon’s Upcoming Cryptid Book (What Is a Cryptid, Really?)

38:45 – 🎧 AD BREAK & Patreon Shout-Out (BREAK POINT)

41:10 – 👣 Who Am I? Cryptid Edition – Devon Plays the Game

01:12:30 – Wrapping Up and Where to Find More Ouija Broads & Most Ghost

🔗 LINKS

🌐 Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Website: https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

👻 Ouija Broads Website: https://ouijabroads.com

🎨 Devon’s Classes & Art: https://www.mostghost.com

What happens when church politics go full horror movie?

In this jaw-dropping episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, hosts Shea and Jody unearth one of the most bizarre trials in history—the Cadaver Synod of 897 CE, when the Catholic Church literally put a dead pope on trial.

You'll learn:

• Why Pope Formosus was exhumed, dressed in papal robes, and propped up in court
• How medieval church power struggles spiraled into corpse mutilation and chaos
• What role Charlemagne’s crumbling empire played in this grotesque drama
• How public backlash, earthquakes, and papal revenge shaped the aftermath

Part of our “Silly Summer Season,” this episode trades the misty PNW for medieval Rome, where ecclesiastical drama meets dark comedy. It’s Mean Girls meets The Exorcist, and somehow, it’s all real.

Visit www.rainydayrabbitholes.com for more!

Support us by joining our Patreon! You get access to our unhinged bonus episodes plus more! www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

🔍 Keywords: Cadaver Synod, Pope Formosus, Stephen VI, weird Catholic history, medieval trials, corpse on trial, Vatican scandals, exhumed pope, bizarre history podcast, funny history stories

How did a 7-ton statue of Vladimir Lenin—a symbol of Soviet communism—end up in Seattle’s artsy, free-spirited Fremont neighborhood? In this listener-requested episode, Shea and Jody uncover the bizarre journey of Fremont’s Lenin statue, from a scrapyard in post-Communist Europe to its quirky life as a holiday-themed, drag-clad Seattle oddity.

They dive into the statue's Cold War origins, the eccentric American who brought it to the U.S., and the ongoing debate: Is it art, satire, or an accidental shrine to tyranny? Expect laughter, social commentary, wild hypotheticals, and a heartfelt nod to Fremont’s fading weirdness.

 

📍 Chapters

00:00 – Welcome to Summer Silly Season

02:15 – Listener Request from Brian of Spirits and Monsters of Old Seattle

03:20 – Who Sculpted Lenin (and Why It Took 10 Years)

06:05 – From Poprad to the Scrapyard: Lenin's Fall

09:25 – Enter Lou Carpenter: The English Teacher Who Bought Lenin

13:55 – Issaquah Says “Nope”

15:10 – A Tragic Car Crash and a Statue with No Home

18:40 – Fremont to the Rescue

21:10 – Yes, It’s Still For Sale (for $300,000!)

23:30 – Dressing Lenin: From Jack-o’-Lanterns to Drag

26:45 – Art or Offense? Slavic Americans Weigh In

29:15 – When the Mayor Got Involved

32:40 – Can You Mock History Without Glorifying It?

35:00 – Final Thoughts: Quirky Art, Political Satire, or Both?

37:00 – Patreon Shoutouts, Sexy Bigfoot, and Thank Yous

🔗 Links

🌐 Website: www.rainydayarabbitholes.com

💰 Support the show: www.rainydayarabbitholes.com/support

🎧 Bonus Content & Merch: Patreon

Normally, this kind of jaw-dropping rabbit hole is reserved just for our Patreon supporters—but today, we’re unlocking it for everyone.

 

In 1968, Irishman Mick Meaney decided to let himself be buried alive for 61 days in a Guinness record stunt that captured international attention…and caused his pregnant wife to find out via the radio. In this bonus episode, Shea welcomes special guest Kevin Ryan, host of Tyrant in Training Podcast and a fellow member of our Umbrella Podcast Collective, to explore:

• The surprisingly popular 1960s fad of human burial endurance contests
• The bizarre safety coffins that people invented to avoid being buried alive by accident
• Edgar Allan Poe’s stories—and real-life fears—of premature burial
• The transatlantic rivalry with Texan “Living Corpse” Bill White
• And how Mick Meaney’s stunt became a moment of Irish legend

🎧 This is the kind of fascinating, darkly funny story our Patreon supporters get access to every month. If you enjoy it, we’d love to have you join the community!

 

💸 Special Offer:

Get 20% off your first month on Patreon through the end of July with promo code SUMMERFUN20.

 

Unlock more bonus episodes, early access, and exclusive content:

👉 rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

 

🎙️ About Our Guest:

Kevin Ryan is the host of Tyrant in Training Podcast, where he dives into the strange and the sinister side of history.

🌐 Learn more at tyrantpod.com

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: Silly Summer Season — Napoleon vs. The Bunny Apocalypse

In this episode, we travel back to 1807, when Napoleon Bonaparte, the conqueror of Europe and master tactician, faced the most humiliating defeat of his career — at the paws of a swarm of ravenous rabbits. We explore how a grand hunting party meant to celebrate his triumph turned into slapstick chaos, why the bunnies charged, and whether this story was an elaborate piece of historical trolling.

 

Topics Covered:

• The aftermath of the Treaty of Tilsit
• Napoleon’s love of grand gestures
• Alexandre Berthier’s ill-fated event planning
• The possibly hangry domesticated rabbits
• Paul Thiebault’s rivalry and the murky origins of the story
• What it all means for the myth of invincibility

Resources & Further Reading:

• Ripley’s Believe It or Not
• Mental Floss
• Just History Posts
• History Facts

 

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes is the podcast that makes history wild, weird, and unforgettable. Join hosts Jody and Shea as they dig into outrageous true stories, haunted places, bizarre disasters, and scandals from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. With unfiltered humor and a love of storytelling, each episode brings you the fascinating tales you never learned in school. Perfect for anyone who enjoys history, true crime, and a good laugh along the way.

He vanished in a beam of light. When he came back, he said he’d been taken aboard a UFO. And that was just the beginning.


In 1975, 22-year-old logger Travis Walton disappeared without a trace after a terrifying encounter with a UFO in the forests near Snowflake, Arizona. When he reappeared five days later, confused and frightened, he claimed he'd been taken aboard an alien craft. Was it the most credible alien abduction in U.S. history? Or an elaborate hoax designed to escape a failed logging contract?

This week, Shea is joined by her brother Jason—recording on location in Arizona—to explore the infamous Travis Walton incident. We break down what happened on that strange November night along the Mogollon Rim, dig into Travis’s vivid and chilling account of his time aboard the ship, and examine how the story inspired the nightmare-fuel film Fire in the Sky. We also look at how Walton has turned this event into a career, and why even some UFO believers think the whole thing might’ve been staged. 

👽 Buckle up. It’s gonna get weird in the woods.

🎙 Support the show, get bonus content, early access, and more at
👉 www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
Use code SUMMEROFSAUCERS for 15% off your first month—through June 25 only!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Presents: Mysterious Pacific Northwest – The McMinnville UFO Photos

As part of our Summer of Saucers celebration this June, we’re featuring an episode from Mysterious Pacific Northwest, one of our sister shows in the Umbrella Podcast Collective!

In this episode, they explore the captivating story of the McMinnville UFO photographs, taken by Evelyn and Paul Trent in May 1950. These images became some of the most famous pieces of alleged extraterrestrial evidence, sparking global interest in UFOs, fueling debates, and even inspiring the annual McMinnville UFO Festival.

You'll hear about:
👽 The backstory of the Trents and the day they captured the photos

📸 The cultural impact and investigations into their authenticity

🌎 How McMinnville became a UFO hotspot

🌐 Listen to more from Mysterious Pacific Northwest: Apple Podcasts
🌐 Discover all Umbrella Collective shows: rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella
🌐 Visit us: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

Sources:

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMinnville_UFO_photographs
• https://ufofest.com
• https://www.ipaco.fr/ReportMcMinnville.pdf
• https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2015/05/past_tense_oregon_ufo_photos_t.html
• https://www.scottbakal.com/mcminnvilleufo
• https://blog.mcmenamins.com/the-history-of-the-1950-trent-ufo-sighting-in-mcminnville-oregon/
• https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/oregons-extraterrestrial-history-the-1950-trent-ufo-sighting/amp/
• https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2017/10/famous_mcminnville_ufo_photos.html

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

In this final installment of our three-part conversation with filmmaker, lawyer, and legend-level storyteller Steve Edmiston, we’re diving deep into the most unhinged festival in the Pacific Northwest: the Men In Black Birthday Bash!

We cover:

👽 The wild origin story of the bash

🐶 The heroic tale of Sparky the Dog and the upcoming disc dog tournament

👑 Drag queens, trivia, and SNL-worthy cosplay

🎟️ All the details you need to show up and how to win FREE tickets and exclusive swag!

This episode is part party preview, part UFO-lore love letter, and part official field guide for all things MIBBBFest. If you’re into aliens, oddities, or just need an excuse to dress in all black and scream-laugh at a trivia night — this one’s for you.

🎁 GIVEAWAY INFO:

We’re giving away:

• 2 pairs of tickets to the Maury Island Incident screening + Drag Queen Trivia on June 20
• 2 pairs of tickets to the MIBBB Main Event on June 21
• 2 MIBBB swag bags full of exclusive alien-approved goodies

🕛 Deadline: Midnight, June 13!

➡️ Enter all three at rainydayrabbitholes.com 🎧 Listen now!

🔗 Full event info: https://mibbbfest.squarespace.com/

What do you get when you mix craft beer, cryptids, and a whole lot of laughs? Shea from Rainy Day Rabbit Holes joins the Short Pour Podcast to drink Rogue Brewing’s Batsquatch IPA and unravel the juicy mysteries behind the legendary Bat Squatch.

In this episode, Shea crashes the Short Pour Podcast to sip Batsquatch IPA and dive headfirst into Pacific Northwest cryptid lore. From the weed-fueled origin stories of Bat Squatch to tales of Skamania County’s Bigfoot protection laws, the conversation hops between hazy beers, ridiculous one-star reviews, and Shea’s trademark skeptical humor. You’ll learn about Rogue’s famous Beard Beer, the Great American Beer Festival, and why Shea’s convinced the teenage Bat Squatch witness was just high as a kite. Plus, stick around for hilarious tangents on Momo the Missouri Monster, the Ozark Howler, and the infamous Ape Canyon attack.

🎧 Listen for juicy details, wild theories, and plenty of Pacific Northwest charm.

Make sure to follow the Short Pour Podcast! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-pour/id1730164900

And don’t forget — you can get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and exclusive perks at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.

Catch us three times a week on Radio Tacoma!

Find more at rainydayrabbitholes.com. 

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Meet Shea
08:45 – First Beers & Craft Beer Journey
18:20 – Rogue Brewing’s Wild Beers
31:45 – Legend of Bat Squatch
41:10 – The Skeptic’s Take
52:00 – Other PNW Cryptids & Ape Canyon
60:15 – Ridiculous Beer Reviews
66:30 – Bigfoot Laws & Cryptid Culture
75:00 – Rainy Day Rabbit Holes & Sign Off

Batsquatch, Rogue Brewing, cryptids, Pacific Northwest legends, craft beer, hazy IPA, Bat Squatch IPA, Short Pour Podcast, Shea Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, funny cryptid stories, Bigfoot laws, Skamania County Bigfoot, Ape Canyon attack, beer podcast

The Maury Island Incident wasn’t just a weird UFO story — it was the first X-File, complete with FBI agents, bomber crashes, and shadowy Men in Black.

In Part 2 of our conversation with filmmaker and historian Steve Edmiston, Shea and Jody pull you deep into the tangled webs of the Maury Island mystery. Why did J. Edgar Hoover take personal interest in a Washington state UFO case? What secrets were sealed away for 50 years? And was Fred Crisman a truth-teller or just a chaos-loving sociopath? Expect wild laughs, sharp insights, and deep dives into the Men in Black birthday bash, hidden military tests, and why UFO stories still haunt the Northwest.

Listen for our behind-the-scenes takes, award-winning costumes, and why Shea and Jody might just show up at this year’s bash. https://mibbbfest.squarespace.com/

✨ Chapters:

• 00:00 Welcome Back & Bash Teasers
• 10:30 FBI Takes Over UFO Investigation
• 22:15 Agent Jack Wilcox: The First Mulder
• 35:45 Crisman: Sociopath or Storyteller?
• 52:00 Military Secrets vs. UFOs
• 1:05:20 Industrial Waste Theories
• 1:18:00 Future Film & Series Ideas
• 1:25:00 The (Very Real) Struggles of Podcasting

🎧 Don’t miss our bonus content, ad-free episodes, and exclusive perks on Patreon or the Spreaker Supporter’s Club! Join at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.

🌐 More at rainydayrabbitholes.com.

We’re giving away:

👽 2 pairs of tickets to the June 20 Maury Island Incident screening + afterparty
🕶️ 2 pairs of tickets to the June 21 Men in Black Birthday Bash
🎁 2 exclusive MIBBB swag bags ⚠️ You only have until MIDNIGHT, June 13 to enter!
👉 rainydayrabbitholes.com Enter all three contests + maximize your chances!

Tagging the Umbrella Podcast Collective (@umbrellapodcastcollective) + hear us three times a week on Radio Tacoma (@radiotacoma)!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

A little behind the scenes bonus conversation we had with filmmaker and Maury Island expert Steve Edmiston. We chat about skepticism, how we create history, and the art of combat storytelling!

Make sure to enter to win tickets to the Men In Black Birthday Bash, happening in Des Moines WA the weekend of June 20th! www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

Find out more at https://mibbbfest.squarespace.com/

Follow the Men In Black Birthday Bash on social!

https://www.facebook.com/622.MIB/
https://www.instagram.com/mibbb622/?hl=en

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

✨ UFOs, Men in Black, and Maury Island Mysteries (with Steve Edmiston) | Part 1
✨ Summary:

In this first episode of a three-part series, Shea and Jody sit down with filmmaker, lawyer, and UFO expert Steve Edmiston to uncover the wild story behind the Maury Island Incident — the Pacific Northwest’s own UFO conspiracy that helped birth the Men in Black legend! We dive into:

👽 The strange events at Maury Island
🕶️ How the term “flying saucer” started here in the PNW
🎬 Steve’s short film The Maury Island Incident
🎉 The upcoming Men In Black Birthday Bash

🎁 How YOU can win tickets + exclusive swag from the event! Stick around for Part 2 + 3, where we explore shady players like Fred Crisman, the legend of Sparky the dog, Roy Olmstead’s bootlegging empire, Yamashita’s gold, and Steve’s fascinating activism work. Links + Resources:

🎟️ Enter the giveaway → rainydayrabbitholes.com
🛸 Learn more about MIBBB Fest → mibbbfest.squarespace.com
🎬 Watch Steve’s film → https://mauryislandincident.com/ 
#MenInBlack #MauryIslandIncident #MIBBBFest #UFOhistory #PNWPodcast #ConspiracyTheories #RainyDayRabbitHoles #PNWstories #PodcastLife #UFOsightings #DragQueenTrivia #UFOEvents #AlienConspiracies #PodcastGiveaway

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

We’ve made some new pod besties, and they are just as spooky as we are!

In this deliciously haunted crossover, we team up with Caitlyn and Cassie from PNW Haunts & Homicides to share ghost stories, history, and a healthy dose of shenanigans from Portland’s Crystal Hotel—a McMenamins property with a haunted, glamorous, and queer-friendly past.

While staying at the Crystal Hotel to record our episode on Portland's infamous Shanghai Tunnels (check out Episode 69!), we couldn’t resist diving into the hotel's own history.

Shaped like a pizza slice and stacked with nearly a century of secrets, this boutique hotel has been home to nightclubs, underground gambling rings, a subterranean bathhouse, and has played a meaningful role as a safe haven for Portland’s LGBTQ+ community. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Crystal Hotel is more than just a fun place to crash after ghost-hunting—it’s a living time capsule, with music, mystery, and possibly a few lingering spirits echoing through its halls.

If you're into haunted hotels, queer history, and storytelling that sometimes goes off the rails (in the best way), this one's for you.

🎲👻🌈 Make sure to check out our new favorite ghouls, PNW Haunts & Homicides, and follow them for more spooky content! You can also find them at www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com. 💀

✨ And stay tuned—this is just the beginning of our haunted hijinks together. More ghostly adventures with Caitlyn and Cassie are coming soon!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

💀 When Arizona settlers saw something stomping through the desert, draped in death and taller than a man, they did what any rational person would do—freak the hell out. This is the story of a ghost that haunted the West in the most unexpected way imaginable.

In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Shea and Jody dive headfirst into one of the weirdest and creepiest ghost stories to come out of the Wild West. The “Red Ghost” terrified settlers across the Arizona Territory—appearing as a monstrous figure with bones on its back and blood-red fur. But was it really a ghost? Or something stranger? We explore the unsettling reports, panic-fueled stories, and the utterly bizarre government experiment that might explain it all… but probably won’t make it any less ridiculous. This one’s got everything: frightened ranchers, vanishing phantoms, and a ghost that kicks like a mule. Literally. 

⏱️ Chapters:

• 00:00 – Intro: We’re in the desert, baby
• 03:50 – The First Sighting: Ghost or monster?
• 09:12 – Panic Spreads: Red Ghost hysteria
• 14:03 – Stranger Details Emerge
• 21:45 – Government Shenanigans
• 28:00 – What Was It, Really?
• 34:12 – Outro & Rabbit Hole Reflections

🔑 Keywords: Arizona ghost story, Red Ghost, haunted frontier, Wild West legends, spooky desert tales, unexplained mysteries, creepy historical events

📢 Support & More:
Love what we do? Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and exclusive perks at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.

Visit our website at rainydayrabbitholes.com.

Catch us three times a week on @radiotacoma and tag along with the Umbrella Podcast Collective @umbrellapodcastcollective.

Check out Ze Frank's video about Camels! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc0ZCqLUjSo

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

What do goatmen, turpentine, cryptid festivals, and cursed gold have in common? Apparently, Arizona — and we are here for it!

In this hilarious, unhinged episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Shea and Jody dive deep into the lore of Arizona’s Mogollon Monster and the absurd legend of the Goatman.

From bloodcurdling screams in the desert night to drunken prospectors falling in love with half-goat ladies, this episode is packed with bizarre stories, laughs, and wild theories.

Could Zeke’s forbidden romance have birthed Arizona’s Bigfoot? Could goats really be the secret architects of desert cryptids?

Listen as we unravel it all, one ridiculous thread at a time!

Hear bonus content, ad-free episodes, and grab exclusive perks by joining our Patreon or Spreaker Supporters Club at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support!

Catch us three times a week on @RadioTacoma and explore more unhinged history at rainydayrabbitholes.com!

Proud member of @umbrellapodcastcollective.

Chapters:

• 0:00 Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes
• 1:00 Mogollon Monster Mispronunciation Mayhem
• 7:30 The Hairy Enigma of Arizona’s Mogollon Rim
• 15:00 Cryptid Traits: Screams, Scents, and Stones
• 28:00 The Goatman’s Curse and Drunken Love Story
• 42:00 Goat Genitalia Science 101 (You’re Welcome)
• 55:00 Solving Arizona’s Cryptid Genealogy
• 1:00:00 The Goatman Festival and Final Theories

Keywords: ArizonaCryptids, MogollonMonster, GoatmanArizona, ArizonaGhostStories, WeirdHistory, DesertLegends, CryptidLore, RainyDayRabbitHoles, UmbrellaPodcastCollective

Sources Mentioned:

• • Arizona Republican (1903)
  • Don Davis, Cryptozoologist
  • Zeke Cartwright’s Legendary Journal

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

What do a $3.85 murder, torrential rain, and Civil War vets have in common? They’re all part of Lakeview Cemetery’s unhinged history—and Shea and Jody are here for every wild minute.
In this hilarious and haunting episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Shea and Jody brave Seattle’s atmospheric river to explore Lakeview Cemetery with Richard from Seattle History Tours.

From true crime tales of $3.85 murder to Civil War veterans' untold stories, this tour was a wild ride through the West’s forgotten tragedies. Whether you're a true crime addict, history buff, or curious traveler, you’ll be hooked.

👉 Bonus content, ad-free episodes, and awesome perks await at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support!

🌧 Visit our website at rainydayrabbitholes.com for more!

Chapters with Timestamps:

• 00:00 - Welcome: From History Haters to Nerds
• 04:30 - Why We Took the Lakeview Cemetery Tour
• 10:00 - Atmospheric River Madness
• 15:40 - $3.85 Murder: The Charles Nordstrom Story
• 22:00 - Seattle’s Wild Cemetery Figures
• 30:00 - Dreaming of Giant Gravestones
• 40:00 - Shea’s One-Star Review Vendetta
• 45:00 - How You Can Support the Show

• Book a tour with Seattle History Tours / Civil War Seattle

Seattle history, Lakeview Cemetery, true crime podcast, Victorian history, unhinged history, Civil War Seattle, Seattle tours, Western history podcast, Seattle cemetery stories 

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Booze, Brothels, and the Dark Side of Portland’s Past (Feat. PNW Haunts & Homicides)


What happens when you toss two hilarious Pacific Northwest history podcasts into Portland’s creepiest tunnels with beer, ghosts, and a whole lot of sass? This. You get this glorious chaos.

In this unhinged crossover episode, Shea and Jody from Rainy Day Rabbit Holes team up with Caitlyn and Cassie from PNW Haunts & Homicides for a deep, dark dive beneath the streets of Portland, Oregon. From damp brick passageways to flannel-wearing apparitions, the crew recounts their visit to the Shanghai Tunnels Tour at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, while also dissecting the problematic roots of the term “shanghaied,” historic embellishments, and whether ghost pee is a thing. Expect history, hilarity, hauntings—and maybe some drunken shenanigans. 

👻 Learn more or book your own tunnel tour: Shanghai Tunnels Tour at Old Town Pizza & Brewing

🎙 Support the podcasts:

• Rainy Day Rabbit Holes → Website
• PNW Haunts & Homicides → Website

🕰️ CHAPTERS

 00:00 - Intro: Setting the Spooky Mood
03:45 - Meeting IRL for the First Time (and yes, we’re hot)
07:10 - What Are the Shanghai Tunnels, Really?
11:25 - Underground Pizza, Brewing, and Ambience
16:40 - Ghosts, Perfume, and Paranormal Pee
21:30 - History vs. Legend: Is Shea Ruining Everything?
27:55 - Who Was Nina (Nina?) and Did She Get Moidered?
35:45 - Tour Guide Shoutout: Doug Is a Legend
40:30 - Crimping Ain’t Just for Hair
44:15 - Rating the Tour: The Squatch Scale
50:05 - That Haunted Photo... And the Phillip Experiment
55:20 - Final Thoughts & The Case for Ziplining to Bars
59:00 - Goodbye from the Pod Pals

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Check out one of our listener favorites from last year!

🐙 The Kraken and Other Pacific Northwest Sea Monsters

Dive into the depths of the Pacific Northwest's most mysterious legends in this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes! Join Shea and Jody as they explore the fascinating tales of the Kraken, Cadborosaurus, and other mythical sea creatures that have haunted the waters of the Salish Sea for centuries.

From the legendary Kraken of Scandinavian folklore—known for its terrifying ability to capsize ships—to the local tales of Caddy, the elusive sea serpent, this episode is packed with bizarre sightings and outrageous stories. Discover how these sea monsters have shaped local culture and even inspired Seattle’s own hockey team.

As the duo navigates through ancient myths, they also tackle some of the more ridiculous explanations behind these sightings, including giant squids, oarfish, and even whale anatomy! With Shea's hilarious mispronunciations and Jody's witty commentary, you’re in for a wild ride through the waters of the Pacific Northwest.

🐉 Join us as we unravel the truth behind these captivating creatures and toast to the wonder and mystery that lies beneath the waves!

⏳ Chapters & Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes!
02:00 - The Kraken: Origins and Legends
06:30 - Meet the Cadborosaurus: Caddy's Tale
12:15 - Misidentified Monsters: Squids and Oarfish
18:00 - The Giant Pacific Octopus: Nature's Wonder
22:45 - The Tacoma Narrows and Its Legendary Octopus
28:00 - Debunking the Tree Octopus Hoax
32:30 - The Kraken's Legacy in Seattle Sports

🎧 Love the show? Get ad-free episodes and bonus content by joining our Patreon or Spreaker Supporters Club! Support us at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.
🔗 Discover more wild history at rainydayrabbitholes.com.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

 Dive into the wild and wacky world of beavers with Shea & Jody in this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes! 🪂

Ever thought about how a cute little rodent could change the course of history? Well, beavers did just that by influencing the Hudson Bay Company’s expansion into the Pacific Northwest, and they’re more than just furry critters; they’re essential eco-warriors! 🌲💧

Join us as we explore the unhinged tale of how Idaho’s beavers were parachuted into their new home in the 1940s! From the ingenious (and slightly bonkers) idea of air-dropping beavers to the clever contraptions designed to ensure their safe landing, this episode is packed with laughter and surprising facts about these furry engineers.

🐾 What does a beaver’s poop look like? Can you really see their impact from space? And how did one brave beaver named Geronimo become a parachuting legend? Find out all this and more in our beaver bonanza! 🎙️

• 00:00 - Welcome to rainy day rabbit holes where we take the history of the west off
• 00:15 - Beavers were basically most of the reason Hudson Bay company invaded Northwest
• 01:56 - O Weird involves beavers, parachutes and airplanes
• 02:39 - You could control this podcast by becoming a patron supporter at $10
• 04:47 - Beavers are considered ecosystem engineers and a keystone species
• 09:29 - Current events have got me a little bit roiled up
• 09:40 - After researching this story, I feel like beavers should be in every flag
• 13:45 - Department of Interior started reintroducing beavers to Idaho in 1936
• 15:51 - Elmo Heater came up with a brilliant plan to drop beavers
• 19:58 - NASA launched 76 beavers into Chamberlain Basin to help conserve natural habitat
• 22:53 - NASA uses satellites to monitor the impact of beavers on Earth
• 26:36 - Even if you don't support us financially, just sending us a nice message is helpful

💡 Want more unhinged history? Check out our episode on the Mossman of Idaho!

🌐 For bonus content and ad-free episodes, visit: rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

🎉 Don’t forget to share your thoughts and stories with us at shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com! Your feedback keeps us going!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

🎧 Step into the flickering lantern light with Shea & Jody as they review the haunted Fort Steilacoom Lantern Tour! 🔦

From chilling ghost stories to fascinating history, this episode has it all! Shea & Jody dive into the eerie experience of walking through a historic military site by lantern light. Plus, Jody gives us a brief (and wild) history of Fort Steilacoom and its infamous neighbor, Western State Hospital.

💀 Did we see a ghost? Did we embarrass ourselves in front of the tour group? And how does this compare to other haunted tours? Find out now! 🎙️

Chapters & Timestamps:

• 00:01:00 - Why We Took the Tour
• 00:05:30 - Fort Steilacoom’s Military Roots
• 00:10:15 - When History Feels a Little Too Real
• 00:15:45 - Western State Hospital’s Infamous Past
• 00:22:00 - Our Favorite Tour Moments
• 00:27:30 - Final Thoughts & Should You Go?

💡 Want more haunted history? Listen to Episodes 45 & 46 for a deep dive into Western State Hospital’s eerie past!

👻 Special Thanks: Chris with Pretty Gritty Tours www.prettygrittytours.com

🚀 Support Us & Get Bonus Content!
🔗 www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

🎙 Madame Mustache: The Wild West’s Most Badass Gambler

🎩 High-stakes games, a mustachioed legend, and one hell of a revenge story—this episode has it all! Eleanor Dumont, better known as Madame Mustache, was a sharp-witted gambler, a successful businesswoman, and a woman way ahead of her time. From outplaying men at their own game to tracking down her con artist husband and personally delivering justice, her story is as wild as the Wild West itself.

😲 Why did the world remember her mustache more than her empire?

🎲 How did she run the classiest gambling hall in the lawless West?

🔫 And what was her final, dramatic exit?

🔥 Get ready for gambling, crime, whiskey, and Wild West nonsense!

📌 Chapters & Timestamps:
0:00 - Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes
2:10 - Jody wears a mustache for the occasion
9:45 - Eleanor Dumont takes over the gambling scene
26:30 - The ultimate revenge: tracking down her husband
30:20 - Madame Mustache’s high-class brothel
36:45 - The final hand: how Eleanor’s story ends

🎧 Listen now & fall down the rabbit hole!

👉 Get ad-free episodes & bonus content: rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

👉 Visit our website for more unhinged history: rainydayrabbitholes.com

👉 Hear Shea’s story on Live, Laugh, Larceny! Listen here

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

The Wild Afterlife of Elmer McCurdy: Train Robber, Mummy & Amusement Park Prop

Ever heard of a train robber so bad that he found more success as a corpse? Elmer McCurdy’s life was a series of spectacular failures—botched robberies, mistaken trains, and blown-up safes. But his real adventure started after he died. Preserved with arsenic, he was passed from carnival to wax museum to haunted house, even making a surprise appearance on The Six Million Dollar Man. 

💀 This is the story of the outlaw who found fame in death.

 Chapters & Timestamps

• 00:00 – Intro & Banter
• 04:20 – The Pike Amusement Zone & Long Beach History
• 14:55 – Elmer’s Pathetic Criminal Career
• 28:30 – The Embalming & Carnival Circuit
• 39:45 – The Shocking Discovery in 1976
• 51:00 – Elmer Finally Gets Buried (For Real This Time)

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🌐 Website & More Episodes: rainydayrabbitholes.com

Check out Audibly Haunted! https://open.spotify.com/show/4K4ZntXpDJAq9lAFVTDxJT

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🕯️ Exploring Tacoma's Hidden History: The Stadium High School Tour

In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Shea and Jody embark on a delightful adventure through the iconic Stadium High School in Tacoma, Washington, a building that looks more like a castle than a high school. Join us as we dive into the fascinating history of this architectural wonder, originally designed as a luxurious hotel for the Northern Pacific Railroad before being transformed into a public school in 1906.

Our hosts share their excitement about the Pretty Gritty Tours, the company behind this unique experience, and reveal what makes their tours stand out from the rest. With humor and storytelling that captivates, Chris Staudinger, the tour guide, brings the history of Stadium High to life, from its stunning views to its eerie legends. Shea even shares her experiences as a newly minted tour guide, showcasing the hidden gems of the school, including the underground pool and the mysterious attic.

Whether you're a history buff, a fan of the cult classic film "10 Things I Hate About You," or just curious about Tacoma's quirkiest spots, this episode is packed with laughs, insights, and a few ghost stories to boot!

🎓 Join us for this enchanting journey through Tacoma's past and discover why Stadium High School is a must-see destination! Go to www.prettygrittytours.com to sign up!

⏳ Chapters & Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes!
02:00 - Introduction to Pretty Gritty Tours
05:30 - The History of Stadium High School
10:00 - The Tour Experience: What to Expect
15:00 - Chris Stoder: The Storyteller Extraordinaire
20:00 - Hidden Gems: The Underground Pool and More
25:00 - Ghost Stories and Eerie Legends
30:00 - Final Thoughts and Recommendations

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Show notes created by https://headliner.app

🍹 The Sour Toe Cocktail: A Toast to the Absurd in Dawson City

You can drink it fast, you can drink it slow, but your lips must touch the toe.

In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, we venture into the chilling and bizarre history of Dawson City's infamous Sour Toe Cocktail Club. Join Shea and Jody as they unravel the chilling tale of how a mummified toe became the key ingredient in a drink that has captivated the curious and the brave alike.

Set against the backdrop of the Yukon Territory in the 1920s, we meet bootlegging brothers whose ill-fated adventure leads to a gruesome DIY surgery that would ultimately preserve a toe for posterity. Fast forward to 1973, when Captain Dick Stevenson discovers this preserved digit, sparking the creation of the now-legendary cocktail that requires patrons to kiss the toe in order to join the exclusive Sour Toe Cocktail Club.

With stories of missing toes, drunken antics, and the bizarre lengths people go to for a night of fun, you'll be both horrified and amused by the lengths to which humans will go in the name of a good time. Can you believe over 100,000 people have dared to sip from this macabre concoction? Would you be brave enough to join them?

💀 Grab your drink and join us as we toast to the strange, the unhinged, and the downright absurd!

⏳ Chapters & Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes!
02:00 - Dawson City: A Brief Overview
05:15 - Meet the Bootlegging Brothers
09:30 - The Toe Amputation and Its Aftermath
14:00 - Captain Dick Stevenson and the Birth of the Sour Toe Cocktail
18:45 - The Ritual of the Sour Toe Cocktail
23:00 - Tales of Missing Toes and Wild Antics
28:30 - The Legacy of the Sour Toe Cocktail Club

🎧 Love the show? Get ad-free episodes and bonus content by joining our Patreon or Spreaker Supporters Club! Support us at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.
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Show notes created by https://headliner.app

🎪 JP Patches: Seattle's Beloved Clown in a Garbage Wonderland

In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, we dive into the chaotic and hilarious world of JP Patches, the iconic clown who ruled Seattle's airwaves from 1958 to 1981. Known for his questionable hygiene and absurd antics, JP Patches was anything but your typical children's show host. Join Shea and Jody as they explore the life of Chris Weeds, the man behind the clown, and how he became a beloved figure for generations of Pacific Northwest kids.

From his humble beginnings in Minneapolis to becoming the "mayor of the city dump," JP's off-the-cuff performances and improvisational style made him a staple of live television. We'll reminisce about the wild characters that populated his show, including the unforgettable Gertrude, and how JP's genuine kindness left a lasting impact on the community. Did he really have the ability to see kids through the TV? And what was the deal with all those bizarre props?

💖 Join us as we celebrate the legacy of a man who brought joy to countless children, proving that sometimes a little chaos and absurdity are exactly what we need.

⏳ Chapters & Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes!
02:00 - Who was JP Patches?
05:30 - The Birth of a Clown Legend
09:15 - The Wild World of Live Television
12:45 - Meet Gertrude and Other Zany Characters
16:00 - JP Patches and the Kids of Seattle
20:30 - The Legacy of JP: A Lasting Impact

🎧 Love the show? Get ad-free episodes and bonus content by joining our Patreon or Spreaker Supporters Club! Support us at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.
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https://jppatches.com/

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🔥 How does a man end up naked in a hot spring for 28 days?

 In 1984, a man Outside Magazine dubbed “Slim Becker” took an ill-advised winter soak in Idaho’s Frenchman’s Bend Hot Springs. His clothes froze solid, leaving him stuck, exposed, and slowly transforming into Moss Man.

From hallucinations of wolves to a bizarre town festival in his honor, this story is as absurd as it is unbelievable. 

😱 Did he survive? Did he learn his lesson? And why did a guy on a snowmobile give him a beer instead of helping him out?!

⏳ Chapters & Timestamps: 00:00 - Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes – New Format Announcement!
02:00 - How NOT to enjoy Idaho’s hot springs
04:10 - The moment Slim realizes he messed up
06:00 - 28 Days Later: The Moss Man Transformation
09:12 - A town celebrates his terrible decisions
12:00 - Final thoughts: Would you do this?

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Lewis & Clark: Mapping the West, Bedding the Best

How the Corps of Discovery paddled their way up Coochie Creek.

Episode Summary: Think Lewis & Clark were just noble explorers charting the wilderness? Think again. While the Corps of Discovery mapped new lands, they also explored forested ravines (wink wink), spreading their “big medicine” across the continent. From spiritual sex ceremonies to questionable medicine (hello, penis syringes!), this episode uncovers the raunchy reality behind one of America’s greatest expeditions.


Mentioned in This Episode:

• Lewis & Clark’s original journals
• Accounts from the Nez Perce and Mandan tribes
• The history of syphilis treatments (spoiler: they were horrifying)

Love the Show? Support Us! 🎧 Get ad-free episodes, bonus content, and exclusive gifts by joining our Patreon or Spreaker Supporters Club! Support us at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.

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Hogging The Headlines: The Pig Wars


🐷💥 The dumbest war in Pacific Northwest history started with… a pig? That’s right! The infamous Pig War of the 1800s all began when an American settler shot a British pig on San Juan Island, leading to an international standoff between the U.S. and Britain.
Spoiler alert: No humans were harmed, but the drama was deliciously absurd.

Originally recorded as our third episode of the day (when we were well on our way to Tipsy Town), this episode was an instant fan favorite. In this Rainy Day Rewind, we’ve polished it up—shorter, free of swearing, and with 95% fewer drunk mouth noises. But don’t worry, Shea still hilariously mispronounces half the words, and the tangents are just as ridiculous.

Join us as we relive the outrageous series of events that nearly brought two nations to war over a farm animal. Because, honestly, how much more PNW can you get?

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💬 Tell us: What’s the dumbest historical conflict you’ve ever heard of?

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Join Shea and Jody for a wild ride through Talkeetna, Alaska, where Mayor Stubbs, an orange tabby, ruled with his furry charm for two decades. Learn how this small town’s unconventional politics captured hearts worldwide. Then, laugh along as the duo unpacks the Moose Drop Festival—a quirky event featuring painted moose turds, charity, and a helicopter. From feline mayors to PETA’s hilarious misunderstandings, this episode is packed with whiskered wisdom and Alaskan hijinks.

 Chapters:

• 00:00 – Intro: Meet Mayor Lynx Monsoon and Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Newsroom.
• 05:00 – Patron Shout-Out: Celebrating Scott, our Hot Dummy of the Week!
• 10:00 – Mayor Stubbs: The rise of Talkeetna’s honorary feline mayor.
• 20:00 – Talkeetna Trivia: Exploring the town’s history and charm.
• 25:00 – Moose Drop Festival: Painted poop and PETA’s uproar.
• 28:00 – Alaska’s Weirdness: The Florida Man of the Northwest.

Love the episode? Get ad-free listening, bonus content, and more by joining our Patreon or Spreaker Supporter’s Club at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support. Explore more episodes and blogs at rainydayrabbitholes.com.

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What happens when greed, power, and ego collide? Meet Montana’s Copper Kings: the men who turned a mining boom into a chaotic feud that shaped the state forever.

This episode takes you to the Gilded Age of the late 1800s, where Montana's vast copper reserves became a battleground for four larger-than-life figures. From Clark’s blatant bribery to Hines’ legal loopholes and Daily’s relentless grit, discover the petty feuds and cutthroat tactics that defined the era. Learn how their greed built empires, destroyed lives, and left an environmental mess that persists today. Plus, find out why Anaconda almost became Montana’s capital!

Chapters:

• 00:00-02:00 - Welcome Back and Montana Origins
• 02:01-08:19 - Copper Fever: Why Montana Mattered
• 08:20-19:50 - The Rise of William A. Clark and Marcus Daly
• 19:51-28:30 - Hines, Legal Loopholes, and Explosions
• 28:31-39:30 - The Legacy of the Copper Kings

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