Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged

History

About

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes is a history podcast exploring wild, weird, and unhinged stories—from crazy disasters and juicy scandals to heartwarming moments and people behaving badly. History is messy, and we love it that way.

Episodes

  • America’s Only Emperor: The Strange, True Story of Emperor Norton

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, with PNW Haunts & Homicides, explores the story of Joshua Abraham Norton, who declared himself Emperor of the United5States in 1859. It covers his life, his proclamations, and how San Francisco embra…

  • Snake Oil Never Died (It Just Went Online): Featuring Dark History

    This episode features Dark History's Rob Bradley, who discusses the history of snake oil, examining how historical patterns of deception have adapted to modern online forms. It traces the evolution of selling certainty to vulnerable indivi…

  • The Fenn Treasure: A Deadly Riddle in the Rockies

    This episode explores Forrest Fenn's hidden treasure, a hunt that spanned a decade and led to various incidents including tragic deaths. The hosts unpack the poem's clues, online communities, and ethical questions when adventure turns dang…

  • 5 Minute Friday: When Pigs Fly

    This episode discusses a news story from China where a drone carrying a pig caused a power outage affecting a village. The incident involved a farmer's attempt to transport a pig, leading to it becoming entangled in high-voltage power line…

  • Claudette Colvin: The Girl History Forgot

    This episode discusses Claudette Colvin, a teenager whose refusal to give up her seat on a segregated bus predated Rosa Parks' protest. It explores her story, her role in Browder v. Gayle, and why her contributions to the Civil Rights Move…

  • 5 Minute Friday: Rectum? Damn Near Evacuated ’Em

    This episode recounts a modern news story about a World War I artillery shell, a hospital evacuation, and the ongoing discovery of unexploded ordnance from the war. It delves into the distinctions between historical artifacts and active ex…

  • Sergeant Stubby: A Very Good Boy Goes to War

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes details the true story of Sergeant Stubby, a Boston Terrier mix who became a decorated hero of World War I. The discussion includes his role in battles, gas detection, and battlefield rescues.

  • A Quick Update + A Very Exciting Event

    Rainy Day Rabbit Holes announces a live event in Tacoma, Washington, on June 3, 2026, focusing on the Maury Island Incident. The podcast also shares changes to its episode release schedule and discusses future plans for the show.

  • Hero Pets: When Animals Save the Day

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes features true stories of animal heroism, focusing on loyalty, bravery, and compassion. The hosts dedicate this episode to PACK, a nonprofit supporting pets and their owners in their community.

  • 5 Minute Friday: Victorian Cannibal Poetry-The Cannibal Bride

    This episode discusses a Victorian cannibal poem from 1891. It explores how 19th-century Americans and Europeans were fascinated with stories of cannibals, and how these ideas appeared in everyday entertainment.

  • The Colorado Cannibal, Part 2: Dead, Dead, Dead

    This episode, part 2 of the Colorado Cannibal story, focuses on Alfred Packer's trial. It details the legal challenges, public outcry, and unexpected twists that influenced the outcome of his case.

  • 5 Minute Friday: Victorian Cannibal Poetry-Love and Theology

    This episode explores a Victorian poem about a missionary and a cannibal maid. The discussion covers why 19th-century readers were fascinated with cannibal stories and the stereotype's cultural impact.

  • The Colorado Cannibal Part 1: Hunger in the High Country

    This is part one of a two-part series focusing on a true crime story from the American West. The episode details the disappearance of five men in 1870s Colorado and the unsettling discovery that followed.

  • 5 Minute Friday: The Squid King

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged discusses the 2021 news story of a Japanese town that used COVID-19 relief funds to build a giant squid statue. It then explores the history and culture of the Noto Peninsula, where…

  • 1904 Olympic Marathon

    This episode discusses the 1904 Olympic Marathon, an event that featured challenging conditions and unusual occurrences. The host, Jody, describes the race's progression and outcomes.

  • The Business Plot: A Real Coup Against FDR?

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes discusses the Business Plot, an alleged 1934 coup attempt against President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Wealthy Wall Street elites were accused of plotting to overthrow FDR and install an authoritarian gov…

  • Bonus Sample: Japan's Most Beautiful Historic Hike

    This episode explores the history of the Nakasendo trail in Japan, a 400-year-old road connecting Kyoto and Tokyo. It details a 13-mile hike through preserved towns along the trail.

  • Arizona Navy 1934: When a Desert State Went to War

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes discusses the 1934 conflict between Arizona and California over water rights, which led to Arizona briefly assembling a "navy." The conflict involved the Colorado River and the Parker Dam.

  • Hugh Glass: The Man Who Refused to Die

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes explores the life of Hugh Glass, including his survival story after a bear attack, betrayal, and journey through the wilderness. It examines the historical accounts and compares them to popular adapta…

  • Bonus Sample: Erfurt Latrine Disaster

    This episode discusses the Erfurt Latrine Disaster, a medieval event where a gathering went disastrously wrong. It examines the political tensions and decisions that led to this historical catastrophe.

  • Slippery Senator: Oregon's John H. Mitchell

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes examines the political career of U.S. Senator John H. Mitchell. The discussion covers his multiple terms, numerous controversies, and involvement in the Oregon Land Fraud.

  • The Oregon Land Fraud King - Fea. Allison Gill

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, with guest Allison Gill, investigates a 19th-century land fraud scandal in Oregon. The discussion covers the exploitation of public land laws and the involvement of various powerful figures.

  • America’s Rainmaker: Genius, Fraud, or Catastrophe?

    This episode explores the story of Charles Hatfield, a man who claimed he could manufacture rainfall in the early 1900s. It details how San Diego hired him to end a drought, which resulted in catastrophic flooding and long-lasting conseque…

  • Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Joins MSW Media!

    Rainy Day Rabbit Holes has joined the MSW Media Network. The episode covers this announcement and discusses a story about Columbia outdoor wear company.

  • Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Trailer

    Rainy Day Rabbit Holes is a history podcast that covers strange historical events. This episode serves as a trailer for the podcast, inviting listeners to explore various historical narratives.

  • The Last Voyage of Captain Dan

    This fan-fiction episode tells the story of a ship captain's final voyage in the 19th-century Salish Sea. He encounters Cadborosaurus, a legendary sea serpent. The episode blends historical elements, Pacific Northwest folklore, and romanti…

  • 100 Rabbit Holes Deep

    This episode celebrates the 100th episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged. The hosts reflect on two years of podcasting, share memorable stories, and acknowledge their listeners and collaborators. They also discuss an upcoming…

  • Japan’s Hidden Shrine of the Gods

    This episode of "Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged" explores Togakushi Shrine in Japan, focusing on Shinto mythology, including the myth of Amaterasu, and the experience of traveling to sacred sites beyond typical tourist routes. Th…

  • The Curious Case of the Tanuki’s Coin Purse

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes delves into Japanese folklore, specifically focusing on the tanuki, also known as the Japanese raccoon dog. Shea and Jody discuss the creature's portrayal as a trickster in myth and its cultural signi…

  • The Slit-Mouthed Woman

    This episode features Shea sharing Japanese legends and travel insights. Topics include driving in Japan, Japanese bathing culture, castles, and toilets, with a focus on the urban legend of Kuchisake-onna, the Slit-Mouthed Woman.

  • Ghosts of the Stanley Hotel

    This episode explores the haunted history of the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, the inspiration for "The Shining." It covers various spectral residents, including a chambermaid, spectral children, and a cowboy ghost.

  • Secret City of Death

    This episode explores the history of the Hanford nuclear site in Eastern Washington, covering its origins in the Manhattan Project, its impact on local communities, and ongoing cleanup efforts. The discussion also touches on the environmen…

  • Ishi: The Last of His Tribe

    This episode discusses the story of a man emerging from the wilderness, focusing on cultural identity and communication barriers. It highlights the complexities of understanding marginalized experiences.

  • How Did the Muckleshoot Rise Again?

    This episode discusses the history of the Muckleshoot Tribe, detailing their connection to the land, the impacts of colonization, the Fish Wars, and the revitalization of their community through the Muckleshoot Casino. It also covers their…

  • Madame Mustache

    This episode of "Rainy Day Rabbit Holes" examines the life of Eleanor Dumont, also known as Madame Mustache, a well-known gambler from the Wild West. The episode explores her early life, her career as a gambler, and her pursuit of justice…

  • Seattle's Odd Couple: Doc Maynard and Chief Sealth

    This episode explores the historical relationship between Doc Maynard and Chief Sealth, two figures in the shaping of Seattle. It discusses their unlikely friendship, cultural clashes, and the enduring legacy of their partnership in the Pa…

  • Doug's Naughty Coffee Kiosk

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged features fan fiction for Patreon supporters. The story is about Doug Holbrook and his coffee kiosk business.

  • Podcast Smackdown! PNW vs the Mid-West

    This episode features a debate comparing the Pacific Northwest and the Midwest. The discussion includes local legends, cryptids, and unusual regional laws.

  • Hollywood's Bad Girl: The Tragic Tale of Frances Farmer

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes explores the life of Frances Farmer, a Hollywood starlet known for her rebellious spirit and tragic struggles with mental illness. The episode covers her career, her controversial trip to the Soviet U…

  • When Tylenol Turned Deadly

    This episode discusses the Tylenol murders of 1982 and the Excedrin poisonings in 1986. It covers the investigations, tragic deaths, and resulting changes in product safety regulations, including the conviction of Stella Nickell for produc…

  • Who Was Tacoma’s Millionaire Magician Ray Gamble?

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes explores the life of Ray Gamble, Tacoma's millionaire magician, through an interview with historian Michael Sullivan. The discussion covers Gamble's early life, businesses, elephant collection, and im…

  • The Watts Family Ghosts

    This episode discusses the Watts family murder case, the disappearance of Shannan Watts and her daughters, and Chris Watts's confession to the murders. It also explores alleged paranormal occurrences following the tragedy.

  • What Lurks Along the Iron Goat Trail?

    This episode discusses the historical 1910 avalanche near Stevens Pass, the deadliest in U.S. history, which entombed two trains and the town of Wellington. It explores the subsequent folklore of the Iron Goat Trail, where visitors report…

  • Haunted Brothels of the Wild West

    This episode explores haunted brothels of the Wild West, focusing on the Birdcage Theater in Tombstone, Arizona, and the Red Onion Saloon in Skagway, Alaska. It delves into the history, deaths, and ghost stories associated with these locat…

  • Tacoma's Cursed Ghost Ship

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged explores the disappearance of the Andelana, a four-masted iron ship that vanished from Tacoma’s Commencement Bay in 1899. The discussion covers the ship's haunting legacy, including…

  • Did the World Almost End in 1980?

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes discusses the 1980 Titan II missile incident. It explores how a dropped tool in an Arkansas silo during the Cold War almost led to a nuclear disaster.

  • Delightful Wallace, Idaho

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes explores the history of Wallace, Idaho. Topics include silver mining, brothels, fires, and the town's efforts to prevent a highway from dividing it.

  • Dark Legacy of the Grand Coulee Dam

    This episode explores the history of the Grand Coulee Dam, from its construction during the Great Depression to its role in hydroelectric power and the atomic bomb. It examines the triumphs and tragedies associated with the dam, including…

  • The Dark History of Shanghaiing with Dark History

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged features Rob of Dark History discussing the history of shanghaiing. The episode details how thousands of men were abducted from port cities and forced to work on ships.

  • The Great Kentucky Meat Rain

    This episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged discusses the Great Kentucky Meat Rain of 1876, when meat inexplicably fell from the sky in Bath County, Kentucky. The hosts explore theories ranging from divine miracle to vultures,…