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PODCAST

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

history improv

All Episodes

57:02

Convergence: True Crime and Corruption in the Windy City

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/10/07

A Murder Case Everyone Wanted to AbandonWhat do you do when witnesses vanish, evidence disappears, and corruption reaches into the courtroom itself?Former Cook County homicide prosecutor Gregg Owen faced exactly that challenge.In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Gregg joins Shea to discuss his upcoming true crime book, Convergence, which chronicles an extraordinary double murder prosecution that unfolded during one of the most corrupt periods in Chicago's history.But Gregg's story is

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31:33

How the Atomic Age Changed Metal Forever

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/09/30

Did Nuclear Testing Change Every Piece of Steel on Earth?What if one of humanity's biggest technological achievements accidentally altered the materials we use every day?In this Rabbit Hole short, Shea welcomes back her brother Jason to uncover a bizarre scientific mystery involving nuclear bombs, radioactive contamination, sunken warships, and some of the most sensitive scientific instruments ever built.The story begins with the first atomic bomb test in New Mexico in 1945. While the world

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83:50

Snake Oil and Opium Eaters

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/09/23

Snake Oil, Opium Eaters, and the Original Wellness GriftersWhat do nineteenth-century snake oil salesmen, opium-laced medicines, and today's wellness trends have in common?More than you might think.In this special crossover episode, Shea from Rainy Day Rabbit Holes joins forces with historian Kenyon Payne, host of the Outcasts of the Earth Podcast, to explore the fascinating and often bizarre world of patent medicines, miracle cures, and the people who made fortunes selling hope in a bottle.Shea

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47:13

The Red Ghost of Arizona (Rewind)

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/09/16

🐪 RERUN ALERT: One of Our Most-Downloaded Listener Favorites Returns!Some episodes are simply too weird, too wonderful, and too delightfully Western to stay buried in the archives. This week we're bringing back one of our favorite listener-favorite episodes: The Red Ghost of Arizona.What happens when a terrifying monster stalks the Arizona desert for nearly a decade, leaves giant hoofprints, carries a decaying corpse on its back, and inspires stories of demons, ghosts, and curses? The answer

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79:25

How the Vietnam War Changed the Pacific Northwest

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/09/09

The Vietnam War is usually remembered as a conflict fought half a world away. But for the Pacific Northwest, especially the communities surrounding Fort Lewis, the war wasn't something happening "over there." It was happening right at home.In this episode, Shea is joined by historian, retired Army Reserve Lieutenant Colonel, former Lewis Army Museum Director, and current battlefield historian Erik Flint to explore how the Vietnam War transformed Washington State, the U.S. military, and

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13:49

Scientists Invented Smart Underwear to Track Farts

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/09/02

What If We've Been Counting Farts Wrong Our Entire Lives?For years, scientists believed the average person passes gas about 14 times per day. It turns out that number may have been dramatically underestimated.In this bonus episode, Shea dives into a wonderfully bizarre study where researchers developed wearable "smart underwear" capable of detecting intestinal gas. The device allowed scientists to measure real-world gas production more accurately than ever before, and the findings were

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80:05

Radithor: The Toxic Wellness Trend That Fooled America

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/08/26

🎙️ LIVE SHOW – SEPTEMBER 16TH IN TACOMA!Join Shea Drury and Jody Shaw of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes for a special live podcast recording at the historic McMenamins Spanish Ballroom inside the Elks Temple in Tacoma, Washington.Long before Tacoma's Pantages Theater lit up Broadway Avenue, a woman known as Klondike Kate ruled the dance halls of the Yukon. She was the "Queen of the Gold Rush," a vaudeville performer, businesswoman, and according to some accounts, a key figure behind the early

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7:55

Quick Update from Shea!

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/08/24

Hey, it's Shea, popping in for a quick update about what's coming up on the show, and some exciting events!Come see us LIVE! Wednesday September 16th at the McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma Washington.https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/274791-klondike-kate-and-the-pantages-theaterCheck out the Bootleggers Ball! Friday, October 16th in Seattle, Washington.https://www.strangertickets.com/events/185904773/bootleggers-ballWant to get in touch? Email me at shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com or reach out

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16:28

1,000 Swingers, One Town, Zero Earplugs

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/08/19

🎤 LIVE SHOW ALERT: KLONDIKE KATE IN TACOMABefore we get into this week's episode...Join us on September 16 for a special presentation of Klondike Kate and the Pantages Theater at McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma.Klondike Kate was one of the most colorful figures of the Yukon Gold Rush era, and this live event explores her remarkable story and connection to Pacific Northwest history.🎟️ Tickets and event details:Klondike Kate and the Pantages Theater🚨 NSFW Warning: This episode contains

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69:12

Blade Runner with Midday Movies

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/08/12

Blade Runner: Humanity, Memory, and Replicants in the RainThis week on Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, we're turning the tables a bit. Instead of our usual deep dive, we're featuring a special crossover appearance from the Midday Movies podcast, where Shea and her brother Jason joined hosts Laura and Stephen to discuss Ridley Scott's groundbreaking 1982 sci-fi masterpiece, Blade Runner.Set in a rain-soaked, neon-lit Los Angeles of the future, Blade Runner is far more than a detective story

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16:48

That Time Lenny Kravitz Lost a Fight With His Pants

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/08/05

🚨 NSFW WARNING 🚨This episode contains discussion of a legendary rock-and-roll wardrobe malfunction, adult language, and way more giggling than is medically recommended. If you're listening at work, around children, or while giving a serious presentation, maybe save this one for later. Consider yourself warned.Sometimes the world is a lot. Sometimes you need a break from the news, your responsibilities, and the relentless march of reality.This is one of those times.On this week's 5-Minute

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54:05

The Psychic Who Scammed a Nation

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/07/29

🔥 Join us LIVE for a Rainy Day Rabbit Holes experience! 🔥Step into the shadows of Pacific Northwest history with us for a special live show featuring unforgettable stories, strange characters, and wild twists you won’t hear anywhere else.🎭 Klondike Kate at the Pantages Theater📍 Tacoma, WA👉 Get tickets & event detailshttps://www.mcmenamins.com/events/274791-klondike-kate-and-the-pantages-theaterDon’t miss your chance to experience the rabbit hole in real life…What if someone on stage knew

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30:39

Why Are People Putting Coffee… There?

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/07/24

NSFW / Listener DiscretionThis episode contains explicit language, frank discussion of anatomy, bathroom humor, and references to medical complications involving enemas and rectal injury. It is intended for mature audiences.Also: we are not medical professionals. This episode is not medical advice. It is a humorous commentary episode in which we react, recoil, and repeatedly ask how humanity got here.We love coffee. We love podcasts. We love asking weird questions.What we do not love is discovering

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55:53

How Ivar Haglund Turned Clam Chowder Into Fame

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/07/15

KEEP CLAM AND CARRY ONWhat happens when a prankster, folk singer, and restaurateur accidentally gets elected to public office… and wins? Meet Ivar Haglund—the man who turned Seattle’s waterfront into a playground of clams, chaos, and community.🌊 Seattle’s Strangest Success Story(Facts)Ivar Haglund wasn’t just the founder of Ivar’s Seafood—he was a full-blown Seattle phenomenon. From opening Seattle’s first aquarium to launching the iconic Acres of Clams restaurant in 1946, he built an empire rooted

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51:04

We Need To Talk: What’s Next for Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/07/08

Please join us at McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma on September 16, 2026!https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/274791-klondike-kate-and-the-pantages-theaterThis week’s episode is a little different—and a lot more personal.Jody and Shea sit down for a vulnerable, honest conversation about what it really takes to create Rainy Day Rabbit Holes. From the behind-the-scenes work that makes the show possible to the incredible community that’s grown around it, this episode pulls back the curtain in a way we

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59:41

The Forgotten Life of Moses Seattle

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/07/01

A Forgotten Life Hidden in Seattle’s HistorySeattle is full of legends—underground tunnels, ghost stories, cryptids—but this episode explores something far stranger:👉 a real historical figure whose story was nearly erasedMoses Seattle, the grandson of Chief Seattle, lived a life that sits between recorded history, oral tradition, and unsettling mystery. His story raises difficult questions about how—and why—some histories are remembered while others are buried.And the person bringing this forgotten

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9:03

Did the FBI Actually Investigate Bigfoot?

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/06/26

🧠 Ever Wondered What Happens When the FBI Investigates Bigfoot?Spoiler alert: it does not end in a dramatic Sasquatch reveal.In this Five Minute Friday episode, we dig into the FBI’s real-life Bigfoot files—yes, those exist—and unpack one of the strangest (and funniest) government investigations you’ve probably never heard of.From mysterious hair samples to very polite scientific disappointment, this is the story of how Bigfoot almost became official… and then immediately didn’t.🕵️ The FBI vs

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55:32

Aliens, UFOs, and Pancakes? True Story

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/06/17

Welcome to the Intergalactic House of Pancakes👽 Pancakes from a UFO?When you think of UFO encounters, you probably imagine abductions, bright lights, and terrifying alien experiments. But what if one of the strangest alien mysteries ever recorded involved… pancakes?In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, host Shea Drury is joined by Amanda and Trevin from the Live, Laugh, Larceny podcast to explore one of the most bizarre, weird, and outrageous UFO encounters in history. Check out their show

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17:14

The Spaghetti Tree Hoax That Fooled Millions

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/06/12

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

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33:49

Japan's Oldest UFO Mystery

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged ·

2026/06/03

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

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