Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged

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 ep...

💀 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...

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 ladi...

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 mu...

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 Hau...

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...

 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 explor...

🎧 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...

🎙 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...

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 hous...

🕯️ 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 hot...

🍹 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 drin...

🎪 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 l...

🔥 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.  😱...

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...

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 t...

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 misun...

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 gr...

Free Love & Feminism in 1860s PNW-The Extraordinary Life of Eliza Woodard Hurd DeWolfe Uncover the wild story of free love advocate Eliza DeWolfe in 1800s Pacific Northwest. Scandal, feminism, and boldness await! Listen now! Ever wondered how free love, feminism, and scandal shaped the 1800s Pacific Northwest? Join Shea and guest Caitlyn from PNW Haunts and Homicides as they dive into the life...

If you want ad-free episodes, bonus content, free merch, and eternal happiness—because our podcast is a guaranteed mood booster (probably)—please consider subscribing to us either on Patreon or via the Spreaker Supporters Club. Head to rainydayrabbitholes.com/support for more information. Discover the outrageous life of Henry Yesler, one of Seattle’s founding fathers! From his free-love lifestyle...

In this whimsical episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, we dive into one of Washington state’s quirkiest political scandals: Beardgate ’73. Governor Dan Evans—known for his sharp mind and clean-cut image—set off a bizarre chain reaction when he grew a beard during a family vacation. While the beard’s time was short-lived, the drama it unleashed was unforgettable. From letters comparing him to Rip Van...

What do you get when you mix cadets, contraband whiskey, and a strict military academy? An absolutely legendary holiday debacle known as the Eggnog Riot! This week on Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, we’re serving up a festive tale of rebellion, smashed furniture, and boozy eggnog that got a little too rowdy. Learn how West Point’s “Father of Discipline,” Colonel Sylvanus Thayer, tried to keep the cadets i...

This Week's Bonus Episode: Hear a conversation cut from the main episode this week, where Jody, Shea, and Kevin Ryan sit down for a lighthearted chat about Irish stereotypes and cultural quirks. From the best ways to compliment someone in Ireland to breaking down preconceived notions, it’s the perfect way to round off the week! Follow Kevin: Dive into Kevin's podcast at tyrantintraining.io...

Get Ad-Free Episodes on Patreon: Want exclusive, ad-free episodes? Visit us on Patreon, link at rainydayrabbitholes.com . This Week's Episode: Shea & Jody welcome the hilarious Kevin Ryan of Tyrant In Training, a podcast where guests live out their inner tyrannical fantasies. Jody dives into the rise and fall of Mark Driscoll and the Mars Hill Church. From salacious sermons to cult-like sc...

Bonus Episode : Jason’s UPS Tales—Luxury, Laughs, and a Dash of Roca What’s it like handling packages worth tens of thousands of dollars for a luxury-loving guru? Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Podcast is diving into the world of JZ Knight from an unexpected angle: Shea’s brother Jason joins us for a hilarious and jaw-dropping bonus episode! Jason recounts his time working for UPS, where he processed pack...