History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes podcast

1:17:53

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 .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
Re-Release The Kraken! Sea Monsters of the Salish Sea 38:29

il y a environ 13 jours38:29

38:29

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 .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
68. Geronimo! The Beaver Drop of Idaho 28:02

il y a environ 20 jours28:02

28:02

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 .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
67 Haunted History: Fort Steilacoom Lantern Pretty Gritty Tour Review 17:28

il y a environ 27 jours17:28

17:28

🎧 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 .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
66. Madame Mustache: The Wild West’s Most Badass Gambler 46:37

il y a 5 weeks46:37

46:37

🎙 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 .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
65 The Traveling Corpse of Elmer McCurdy 35:43

il y a 6 weeks35:43

35:43

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) 🔗 Skip the ads & get bonus content at: rainydayrabbitholes.com/support 🌐 Website & More Episodes: rainydayrabbitholes.com Check out Audibly Haunted! https://open.spotify.com/show/4K4ZntXpDJAq9lAFVTDxJT Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
64. Unhinged History Tours: Tacoma's Own Hogwarts, Stadium High School 19:17

il y a 7 weeks19:17

19:17

🕯️ 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 🎧 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. Show notes created by https://headliner.app…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
63. Sourtoe Cocktail Club 25:57

il y a 8 weeks25:57

25:57

🍹 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 . 🔗 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 . Show notes created by https://headliner.app…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
62. J.P. Patches: The Clown Who Built Seattle 28:53

il y a 9 weeks28:53

28:53

🎪 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 . 🔗 Explore more unhinged history at rainydayrabbitholes.com . https://jppatches.com/ Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
61. The Moss Man of Idaho: A 28-Day Hot Spring Nightmare 14:52

il y a 10 weeks14:52

14:52

🔥 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? 🎧 Get ad-free episodes & bonus content! Join Patreon or Spreaker Supporter’s Club → rainydayrabbitholes.com/support 🔗 More weird history: rainydayrabbitholes.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
60. Sex on the Lewis & Clark Expedition 1:15:44

il y a 11 weeks1:15:44

1:15:44

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 . 🌎 Explore 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 .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
The Pig Wars: Rainy Day Rewind 57:57

il y a 12 weeks57:57

57:57

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? Join our supporter's club for bonus episodes, ad-free episodes and more! Check out your options at www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support 💬 Tell us: What’s the dumbest historical conflict you’ve ever heard of? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
59. Mayor Stubbs: How a Cat Ruled an Alaskan Town for 20 Years 29:29

il y a 13 weeks29:29

29:29

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

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
58. Montana's Real Life Monopoly Men: The Copper Kings 45:45

il y a 14 weeks45:45

45:45

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 Enjoyed the episode? Get ad-free episodes and bonus content at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support . Explore more stories like this at rainydayrabbitholes.com . Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support .…

History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

1
57: Scandalous Love & Suffrage: Free Spirits of the 1860s Pacific Northwest with PNW Haunts & Homicides 47:34

il y a 15 weeks47:34