Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes explores unhinged history, wild scandals, and politicians behaving badly - those moments when history went completely off the rails. Funny, curious, and unapologetic, hosts Shea and Jody break down the past like a late-night hang with your besties who just happen to love history. Visit www.rainydayrabbitholes.com for more! Proud member of MSW Media Network.   Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rainydayrabbitholespod/   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RainyDayRabbitHolesPodcast/   Support the show! https://www.patreon.com/c/RainyDayRabbitHolesPodcast

  1. The Spaghetti Tree Hoax That Fooled Millions

    1d ago ·  Bonus

    The Spaghetti Tree Hoax That Fooled Millions

    What if you turned on a trusted news broadcast… and it told you spaghetti grew on trees? Sounds ridiculous today—but in 1957, millions of people believed it. In this hilarious Five Minute Friday episode, Shea walks Jody through one of the most legendary April Fools’ Day pranks ever aired: the BBC’s infamous “spaghetti tree” hoax. And honestly? It reveals more about human psychology than you might expect. Fact: On April 1, 1957, the BBC aired a segment showing a Swiss family harvesting spaghetti from trees. The report looked completely legitimate: Filmed like a documentaryNarrated by a trusted broadcasterIncluded details about “spaghetti weevils” and cultivationAnd people believed it. Fact: Millions tuned in, and hundreds called the BBC asking how to grow their own spaghetti trees. The BBC’s response? 👉 “Place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.” That’s peak British humor. 🤯 Why This Prank Worked (REAL INSIGHT)Fact: In 1950s Britain, spaghetti wasn’t common—many people had only seen canned versions. So when a trusted program presented it as agriculture… it didn’t sound totally impossible. This episode dives into something deeper: Trust in authority figuresPresentation vs. realityHow easily belief can form when something “sounds right”Insight: As Shea points out, belief isn’t always about ignorance—it’s about comfort and trust. 😂 From Hoax to Life Lesson (MODERN CONNECTION)The conversation quickly turns into something relatable (and hilarious): Would you believe this if a trusted voice told you?Could you trick your kids or grandkids the same way?Is this really that different from modern misinformation?Speculation: The hosts jokingly suggest recreating the prank with kids as a fun experiment—planting pasta in soil to see what happens. Folklore-esque takeaway: Not everything on TV—or the internet—is what it seems. 🎧 Why You’ll Love This EpisodeA legendary prank that still holds upClassic dry British humorA playful but thought-provoking look at human beliefLaugh-out-loud tangents (because of course)🔗 Related EpisodesIf you loved this mix of absurd history and humor: “Hold My Sake: Japan Made Alcohol Out of Moth Poop” https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/hold-my-sake-japan-made-alcohol-out-of-moth-poop-5-minute-friday“When Pigs Fly” https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/5-minute-friday-when-pigs-fly“Rectum? Damn Near Evacuated ‘Em” https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/5-minute-friday-rectum-damn-near-evacuated-emTakeawaysThe 1957 BBC spaghetti tree hoax convinced millions it was real.A trusted news format made an absurd prank believable.Many viewers didn’t question the idea due to limited food familiarity.Hundreds contacted the BBC asking how to grow spaghetti trees.Authority and presentation can override common sense.The prank highlights how easily misinformation spreads.British humor played a major role in the joke’s success.Belief is often rooted in trust, not ignorance.The hoax still serves as a cautionary tale about media literacy.It mirrors modern issues with internet misinformation and trust. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    17 min
  2. Japan's Oldest UFO Mystery

    Jun 3

    Japan's Oldest UFO Mystery

    In 1803, Japanese fishermen spotted something strange bobbing in the Pacific Ocean—a round, sealed vessel unlike any boat they’d ever seen. Inside was a woman with red hair, pale skin, unfamiliar clothing, and a mysterious box she refused to let go. This episode dives into the legend of the Utsuro-bune, often called Japan’s earliest “UFO” story. Recorded decades after the alleged event in Edo‑period collections of strange tales, the story has been cited by everyone from folklorists to modern UFO enthusiasts. But what really happened on that beach in Hitachi Province? Was it an alien encounter? A castaway from a distant land? Or a piece of folklore shaped by fear, curiosity, and isolation during Japan’s sakoku era? Join Shea and Jason as they explore: The original Edo‑period sources that describe the Utsuro-buneWhy the vessel looks suspiciously like a flying saucerHow Japan’s isolation policy shaped stories about outsidersWhy historians and folklorists are deeply skeptical of the alien explanationAnd why sometimes the most human response to the unknown… is paperwork avoidanceHistory is messy, weird, and full of rabbit holes. This one just happens to float. Find sources, images, and more episode notes at 👉 https://rainydayrabbitholes.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    34 min
  3. Hold My Sake: Japan Made Alcohol Out of Moth Poop 5 Minute Friday

    May 29 ·  Bonus

    Hold My Sake: Japan Made Alcohol Out of Moth Poop 5 Minute Friday

    SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT! Join us Wednesday, June 3rd at the McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma (Spanish Ballroom) for a live Rainy Day Rabbit Holes event exploring Tacoma’s own overlooked UFO story—the Maury Island Incident. Weeks before Roswell made headlines in 1947, Tacoma was already grappling with reports of flying saucers, mysterious Men in Black, and a federal investigation that raised more questions than answers. This special History Pub presentation features storytelling from Shea Drury and Jody Shaw, historical context from Chris Staudinger of Pretty Gritty Tours, and an in-depth look at the case from filmmaker Steve Edmiston, creator of The Maury Island Incident and founder of the Men in Black Birthday Bash. Join us for a meet and greet from 4:30–6pm before doors open at 6pm, with the show starting at 7. Patreon supporters—or anyone who signs up before the event—can stop by for a free thank-you gift (including some very adorable dog bandanas), and we’ll also have tote bags and t-shirts available. Find the show link at https://rainydayrabbitholes.com, and get your Men in Black Birthday Bash tickets at https://mibbbfest.squarespace.com. Now onto the show! Secret Spring & Questionable Choices For more than 2,500 years, sake brewing in Japan has been treated as a near-sacred craft—steeped in patience, restraint, and tradition. And then… moth poop entered the chat. In this Five Minute Friday episode, Shea and Jason tumble headfirst into one of Japan’s most eyebrow‑raising modern sake experiments: a sake brewed using tea made from moth larvae droppings. Yes, actual insect poop. Developed using a tea created from moths that consumed cherry blossom leaves, this sake comes from a craft brewery in Fukushima, Japan, and somehow—against all odds—people say it tastes good. Along the way, the conversation veers into civet coffee, fermented minnows, shrimp digestive tracts, natto trauma, and the philosophical question of how far curiosity should be allowed to roam without adult supervision. Is this innovation? Is it madness? Or is it just Japan doing what Japan does best—calmly perfecting something no one asked for? Japan’s Moth Poop Sake: The Strangest Alcohol Experiment You’ve Never Heard Of A Fukushima brewery in Japan created sake using tea made from moth larvae droppings. Yes, really. Here’s how it happened—and why. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    16 min
  4. Come See Us Live in Tacoma Washington June 3rd!

    May 25

    Come See Us Live in Tacoma Washington June 3rd!

    Join us Wednesday, June 3rd at the McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma Washington (Spanish Ballroom) for a live Rainy Day Rabbit Holes event exploring Tacoma’s own overlooked UFO story—the Maury Island Incident. Weeks before Roswell made headlines in 1947, Tacoma was already grappling with reports of flying saucers, mysterious Men in Black, and a federal investigation that raised more questions than answers. This special History Pub presentation features storytelling from Shea Drury and Jody Shaw, historical context from Chris Staudinger of Pretty Gritty Tours, and an in-depth look at the case from filmmaker Steve Edmiston, creator of The Maury Island Incident and founder of the Men in Black Birthday Bash. Join us for a meet and greet from 4:30–6pm before doors open at 6pm, with the show starting at 7. Patreon supporters—or anyone who signs up before the event—can stop by for a free thank-you gift (including some very adorable dog bandanas), and we’ll also have tote bags and t-shirts available. Find the show link at https://rainydayrabbitholes.com, and get your Men in Black Birthday Bash tickets at https://mibbbfest.squarespace.com. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    2 min
  5. The Deadly Glow: America’s Radium Craze

    May 20

    The Deadly Glow: America’s Radium Craze

    At the dawn of the 20th century, radium was not feared. It was celebrated. Marketed as a miracle of modern science, this newly discovered element promised vitality, beauty, and better health. Companies sold radioactive clocks, cosmetics, medical devices, and even drinking water, all proudly glowing with progress. In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Shea sits down with the creator behind Radiant Radium, a collector and historian who specializes in household and beauty products from the radium craze of the 1910s through the 1930s. Drawing from his extensive personal collection, Radiant Radium walks us through a period when radiation was a selling point and the long term dangers were barely understood. We discuss how these objects escaped the laboratory and ended up in kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms across America. From glow in the dark clocks and uranium glass to radium water crocks, radioactive cones, cosmetics, medical quackery, and infamous patent medicines like Radithor, this episode traces the rise and fall of one of the strangest health fads in American history. Along the way, we explore the Radium Girls, the tragic death of Eben Byers, the collapse of public trust in radium, and why belief in the health benefits of radiation still persists today. We also talk about the legality and safety of collecting radioactive antiques, how to identify them, and what to do if you find one in an antique store or a relative’s home. History, curiosity, and caution collide in this deep dive into a time when the future looked bright, and sometimes literally glowed. Find Radiant RadiumTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@radiantradiumInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiantradium/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radiant.radiumVisit UsRainy Day Rabbit Holes: www.rainydayrabbitholes.com Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1h 22m
  6. Glowing From The Inside: Radium Beauty-5 Minute Friday

    May 15 ·  Bonus

    Glowing From The Inside: Radium Beauty-5 Minute Friday

    “Here are the first toilet preparations to embody actual radium, an astonishing new force for betterment, applied as an aid to beauty.”The early 20th century was a strange and optimistic time. In the years following Marie and Pierre Curie’s discovery of radium, the world became obsessed with this mysterious, glowing element—and before long, that obsession made its way into everyday life. During the height of the Radium Craze, companies sold beauty products that claimed to contain real radium, promising smoother skin, renewed vitality, and a healthy glow—sometimes quite literally. Creams, powders, and cosmetics were marketed as cutting‑edge science, long before the dangers of radiation were understood. This 5‑Minute Friday episode offers a quick glimpse into that bizarre moment in history and serves as a teaser for next week’s full‑length episode. Shea will be joined by the creator behind the Radiant Radium social media channels, a collector and historian who specializes in household and beauty products from the radium era. Next week, we’ll go far beyond cosmetics—into glowing clocks, radioactive water, dangerous health fads, and the long shadow these products left behind. Subscribe now so you don’t miss it. Find Radiant Radium online: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radiant.radiumTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@radiantradiumInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiantradium/ Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    14 min
  7. America’s Only Emperor: The Strange, True Story of Emperor Norton

    May 6

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

    What happens when a city decides kindness is better than cruelty? In this special crossover episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, we’re joined by the incredible gals from PNW Haunts & Homicides to explore one of the strangest—and most unexpectedly heartwarming—stories in American history: Joshua Abraham Norton, the self‑declared Emperor of the United States. Born into loss, fortune, ruin, and obscurity, Norton reemerged in 1859 with a bold declaration that could have ended very badly… except San Francisco leaned in. What followed was a twenty‑year “reign” filled with proclamations, public appearances, political commentary, and a city that collectively decided to play along. Along the way, we explore: A Gold Rush city bursting with chaos, ambition, and opportunityA man who issued decrees abolishing Congress and the Supreme CourtA public arrest that backfired spectacularlyAn Emperor who defended immigrants, challenged racist violence, and promoted civil rights long before it was fashionableA city that fed him, clothed him, saluted him… and mourned himWas Emperor Norton mad? Satirical? Visionary? Or something else entirely? And why did San Francisco—of all places—embrace him instead of locking him away? You’ll have to fall down the rabbit hole with us to find out. 👻 Crossover LoveHuge thanks to PNW Haunts & Homicides, where ghosts, murder, and Pacific Northwest weirdness all hang out together. 👉 Follow and listen at: https://www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com/ 🌧️ More Rabbit HolesFind sources, photos, episode notes, and more at our website: 👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/ 🎟️ LIVE EVENT ALERTLove strange history in person? Join us June 3rd in Tacoma, WA for a live event at McMenamins Spanish Ballroom at the Elks Temple: History Pub: Tacoma’s UFO Story — The Maury Island Incident Presented by Steve Edmiston, Shea Drury, and Chris Staudinger 🎫 Tickets here: 👉 https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/41193663/history-pubtacomas-ufo-story-the-maury-island-incident-presented-by-steve-edmistonshea-druryand-chris-staudinger-tacoma-mcmenamins-spanish-ballroom-elks-temple Sometimes the strangest stories are the most human. Stay curious—and we’ll see you down the rabbit hole. 🐇👑 Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    1 hr
  8. Snake Oil Never Died (It Just Went Online): Featuring Dark History

    Apr 29 ·  Bonus

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

    Today’s episode is a special feature from Dark History: Where the Darkness Sees the Light, a podcast that’s part of our Umbrella Podcast Collective. Hosted by Rob Bradley, Dark History explores the uncomfortable, often unsettling stories we like to believe are safely buried in the past—and then shows how they still shape the world we live in. In this episode, Rob takes a deep dive into the history of snake oil: the miracle cures, the confident sales pitches, and the long tradition of selling certainty to people who are scared, sick, or searching for answers. What begins in the 19th century quickly becomes something much more familiar, as the same patterns of deception reappear in modern forms—polished, optimized, and online. This is one of our favorite episodes Rob has done. Not just because of the history, but because of how clearly it reveals a hard truth: the scams didn’t disappear. They adapted. Listen closely. The bottles may be gone, but the promises remain. 🔗 Listen to Dark History🎙️ Dark History: Where the Darkness Sees the Light 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s5-e4-snake-oil-never-died-it-just-went-online/id1603599807?i=1000751583276 ☔ Rainy Day Rabbit Holes🌧️ Explore more episodes and rabbit holes at: 👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com ☔ Umbrella Podcast CollectiveRainy Day Rabbit Holes is proud to be part of the Umbrella Podcast Collective, a group of independent podcasts exploring strange history, dark stories, and the things that refuse to stay buried. 🌐 Learn more about the collective: 👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella-collective Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

    47 min
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Rainy Day Rabbit Holes explores unhinged history, wild scandals, and politicians behaving badly - those moments when history went completely off the rails. Funny, curious, and unapologetic, hosts Shea and Jody break down the past like a late-night hang with your besties who just happen to love history. Visit www.rainydayrabbitholes.com for more! Proud member of MSW Media Network.   Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rainydayrabbitholespod/   Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RainyDayRabbitHolesPodcast/   Support the show! https://www.patreon.com/c/RainyDayRabbitHolesPodcast

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