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 the South Sound.

From counterinsurgency training exercises in Washington forests to anti-war movements inside the military itself, Erik reveals how Fort Lewis became one of the Army's most important Vietnam-era installations and how the conflict left a lasting mark on Tacoma, Seattle, and the surrounding communities.

Please check out tours with historian Erik Flint! (Psst, he's also now a fellow guide with Pretty Gritty Tours!)

https://stephenambrosetours.com/historian/erik-flint/

Fort Lewis Becomes a Gateway to Vietnam

Long before Joint Base Lewis-McChord became one of America's largest military installations, Fort Lewis was already a critical part of the nation's defense infrastructure. During Vietnam, its role expanded dramatically.

As the war escalated, Fort Lewis became a major training center and personnel processing hub for soldiers heading to and returning from Southeast Asia. Hundreds of thousands of service members passed through the South Sound during the conflict, making the region one of the most important military gateways on the West Coast.

Erik explains how Washington's geography, transportation networks, and established military presence made the area uniquely suited to support the war effort. He also discusses the Army's early counterinsurgency training programs, some of which took place on the Olympic Peninsula years before large-scale American involvement in Vietnam.

In this section:

• Why Fort Lewis became a major Vietnam-era training center
• Early Army counterinsurgency exercises in Washington State
• The difference between draftees and volunteers
• How soldiers moved through Fort Lewis on their way to and from Vietnam
• The South Sound's growing connection to the war effort

Protest, Resistance, and the GI Movement

One of the most surprising stories from the Vietnam era is that some of the strongest anti-war activism came from inside the military itself.

Erik explores the rise of the GI Movement at Fort Lewis, including underground newspapers, anti-war coffeehouses, legal aid organizations, and soldiers who openly challenged military policies and America's involvement in Vietnam.

The conversation dives into publications like Fed Up and the Lewis-McChord Free Press, as well as the broader cultural shifts of the late 1960s that fueled dissent both inside and outside military communities.

Shea and Erik also discuss:

• The Fort Lewis Six
• National Guard resistance efforts
• Anti-war organizing near military bases
• Jane Fonda's involvement in local activism
• The growing divide between military leadership and younger soldiers

These stories highlight a rarely discussed side of Vietnam-era history: the conflict between military discipline and a generation increasingly willing to question authority.

How Vietnam Changed the Military Forever

The Vietnam War exposed challenges the military could no longer ignore.

Drug abuse, racial tensions, morale issues, recruiting difficulties, and widespread dissatisfaction forced Army leaders to rethink how service members lived and worked. Many of the reforms that followed shaped the modern military Americans know today.

Erik explains how military leaders implemented new equal opportunity programs, improved quality of life initiatives, expanded educational opportunities, and ultimately helped guide the transition from the draft to an all-volunteer force. Fort Lewis once again found itself at the center of that transformation.

Topics include:

• Military desegregation and civil rights progress
• Equal Opportunity programs
• The transition to the all-volunteer Army
• Improvements to soldier quality of life
• Drug treatment programs for returning service members
• How Vietnam influenced modern military culture

The Economic Impact on Washington State

When the war wound down, the economic impact hit Washington hard.

Military employment declined, defense-related spending decreased, and major employers such as Boeing faced significant challenges. Communities throughout the Puget Sound region felt the effects as wartime demand disappeared and the state entered a difficult economic period.

The end of Vietnam wasn't simply a military story. It became an economic and social story as well, affecting everything from jobs and housing to local politics and community identity.

Fact, Folklore & Debate

Fact

Fort Lewis served as a major Vietnam-era training and personnel processing center, connecting Washington State directly to the war effort.

Fact

Anti-war newspapers, coffeehouses, and GI activism existed within the Fort Lewis military community during the Vietnam War.

Fact

The military implemented reforms related to equal opportunity, quality of life, and recruitment during and after the Vietnam era.

Folklore & Ongoing Historical Debate

Stories about returning Vietnam veterans being routinely mistreated remain heavily debated among historians. While documented examples exist, the prevalence and scope of those incidents continue to be discussed.

Key Takeaways

• Fort Lewis became one of the Army's most important Vietnam-era installations.
• Washington State played a larger role in the Vietnam War than many people realize.
• Anti-war activism existed both outside and inside the military.
• Underground GI newspapers flourished at Fort Lewis during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
• Vietnam accelerated changes in military policies related to race and equal opportunity.
• The Army's transition to an all-volunteer force was shaped by lessons learned during Vietnam.
• Returning veterans often experienced little transition time between combat and civilian life.
• Military reforms introduced after Vietnam still influence service members today.
• Washington's economy felt the effects of both the war's expansion and its end.
• The legacy of Vietnam remains visible throughout the South Sound.

Related Episodes

🐕 Sergeant Stubby: A Very Good Boy Goes to War

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/sergeant-stubby-a-very-good-boy-goes-to-war

⚓ Arizona Navy (1934): When a Desert State Went to War

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/arizona-navy-1934-when-a-desert-state-went-to-war

🌙 That Time We Almost Nuked the Moon

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/that-time-we-almost-nuked-the-moon

If you enjoy surprising military history, unexpected wartime stories, and the strange ways national events shape local communities, these are great rabbit holes to explore next.

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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 both surprising and hilarious.

But that's only half the story.

Once we're done discussing wearable fart technology, we head to the ocean where a whale's gas reportedly created sounds that were mistaken for a possible underwater security threat. Because apparently even military intelligence isn't immune to the power of a well-timed toot.

In This Episode

• The surprising reason the "14 farts per day" estimate may be wrong
• How researchers built wearable gas-detecting underwear
• Why self-reporting isn't always reliable science
• The Human Flatus Atlas project and what researchers hope to learn
• The medical importance of understanding normal gas production
• The whale fart that allegedly sounded suspiciously like a military threat
• Why some of the funniest scientific studies can still produce valuable discoveries

Fact, Folklore, or Speculation?

Fact: Researchers developed wearable technology to measure intestinal gas production in real-world settings and found people may pass gas far more often than previously estimated.

Fact: Scientists are using this data to better understand digestion, microbiomes, and gastrointestinal health.

Reported Incident: Unusual underwater sounds investigated as a potential security concern were later attributed to a whale.

Universal Truth: Farts have apparently been funny for thousands of years.

Coming Soon: Klondike Kate Live!

🎙️ Join us for our upcoming Klondike Kate live show!

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes is heading to the stage to explore the fascinating history, colorful characters, and larger-than-life legends surrounding the iconic Klondike Kate. Expect laughs, fascinating stories, audience interaction, and plenty of unexpected rabbit holes along the way.

For show details, updates, tickets, and upcoming events, visit:

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

Related Episodes

If bizarre science, strange human behavior, and wonderfully weird discoveries are your thing, check out:

• 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
• Why Are People Putting Coffee There?
• https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/why-are-people-putting-coffee-there
• Rectum? Damn Near Evacuated 'Em
• https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/5-minute-friday-rectum-damn-near-evacuated-em

Explore the full archive at:

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

Listen, Laugh, and Keep Digging

Got a strange article we should cover in a future bonus episode? We'd love to hear it.

Visit us at:

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

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🎙️ 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 rise of theater mogul Alexander Pantages.

Follow Kate's story from the chaos of the Klondike Gold Rush to the bright lights of Tacoma as we trace a tale of ambition, money, love, betrayal, and the origins of one of Tacoma's most iconic theaters.

🎟️ Tickets: McMenamins Live Show Event Page

In the 1920s, Americans were told radioactivity was healthy.

Radium appeared in beauty products, toothpaste, drinking water systems, and even medical treatments. But one product stood apart from all the rest. Unlike many "radioactive" products of the era, Radithor actually contained measurable amounts of radium—and people were encouraged to drink it.

This week, Shea welcomes back Radiant Radium to uncover the unbelievable story of Radithor, the radioactive patent medicine that became one of history's most infamous health disasters.

☢️ The Rise of Radithor

Created by self-styled medical entrepreneur William J.A. Bailey, Radithor was marketed as a cure-all capable of restoring energy, improving vitality, stimulating the endocrine system, and even enhancing sexual performance.

Doctors prescribed it.

Patients trusted it.

And many consumers reported feeling better—at least initially.

But beneath the promises of "perpetual sunshine" and scientific progress lurked a far darker reality.

In this episode:

• The radium craze that swept America in the 1910s and 1920s
• How William J.A. Bailey built a radioactive wellness empire
• The bizarre history of irradiated medical devices and "radiation therapy" products
• Why consumers believed radioactive products improved health
• How actual radium differs from many other so-called radioactive products of the era

💀 The Tragic Story of Eben Byers

One of Radithor's most devoted customers was wealthy socialite and champion golfer Eben Byers.

After suffering an injury, he began taking Radithor on his physician's recommendation.

At first, he felt fantastic.

Over time he consumed an estimated 1,400 bottles.

Then the symptoms began.

What happened next became one of the most famous medical tragedies of the twentieth century and helped expose the dangers of radioactive patent medicines to the public.

Fact: Byers' highly publicized death became a turning point in public attitudes toward radium health products.

🔬 Did Radium Really Make People Feel Better?

The answer is more complicated than you might think.

Shea and Radiant Radium discuss why some users believed Radithor worked, how radium interacts with the body, the placebo effect, and why dangerous health trends can persist long after evidence shows they're harmful.

They also explore surprising modern parallels with today's wellness industry and examine why extraordinary health claims continue to attract believers.

📺 Follow Radiant Radium

Want to see original Radithor bottles, radioactive antiques, Geiger counter demonstrations, and the strange artifacts of the Radium Age?

📺 YouTube: Radiant Radium

🎧 Related Episodes

☢️ The Deadly Glow: America's Radium Craze

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/the-deadly-glow-americas-radium-craze

💄 Glowing From the Inside: Radium Beauty | 5 Minute Friday

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/glowing-from-the-inside-radium-beauty-5-minute-friday

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

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/snake-oil-never-died-it-just-went-online-featuring-dark-history

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content

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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-theater

Check out the Bootleggers Ball! Friday, October 16th in Seattle, Washington.

https://www.strangertickets.com/events/185904773/bootleggers-ball

Want to get in touch? Email me at shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com or reach out on Instagram @rainydayrabbitholespod

Thank you to all of the listeners and historians who have been supporting us!

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

🎤 LIVE SHOW ALERT: KLONDIKE KATE IN TACOMA

Before 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 discussion of an adults-only event and mature themes. Listener discretion is advised.

This week on Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Jody takes us down a rabbit hole that starts with a local noise complaint and quickly spirals into one of the strangest headlines you'll read all year.

A large swingers convention called Swingathon became the subject of widespread attention after neighbors reportedly complained about the sounds coming from the event. The story quickly spread across social media and news outlets, creating one of those rare moments where everyone collectively stops and says, "There's no way that's a real headline."

Rather than focus on the lifestyle itself, we're interested in how unusual stories become cultural phenomena, how media outlets frame bizarre events, and why some headlines are simply impossible to ignore.

Along the way, Jody delivers plenty of laughs, observations, and commentary on a story that somehow gets weirder the deeper you go.

Featured Article

• Swingathon Draws Noise Complaints Over Loud Moaning From 1,000 Swingers
• Read the article on Vice:
• View Article

In This Episode

• The Swingathon story
• The noise complaint that made international news
• How weird headlines spread online
• Public reaction to unusual events
• Media coverage and sensationalism
• Jody's hilarious commentary
• The strange intersection of privacy and publicity

Support Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

If you enjoy the show, visit our website for episodes, show archives, updates, merchandise, and more.

🌧️ Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

Want to help support the podcast?

You can become a patron through Patreon, which is linked directly from our website. Your support helps us continue researching strange stories, weird history, forgotten legends, and fascinating rabbit holes from the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Sponsor Spotlight

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BrzySend is a fast and reliable file transfer service designed for creators, businesses, podcasters, videographers, photographers, and anyone who regularly shares large files.

Whether you're delivering a video project, podcast episode, photo gallery, or important documents, BrzySend makes file sharing simple, secure, and stress-free.

Learn more about BrzySend through the links available on our website and support the businesses that help make Rainy Day Rabbit Holes possible. https://brzysend.com/

Thanks for listening to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes.

The world is full of strange stories. We're just here to dig them up. 🌧️🐇🕳️

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Blade Runner: Humanity, Memory, and Replicants in the Rain

This 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. It's a philosophical exploration of what it means to be human, how memories shape identity, and whether artificial life deserves the same rights and dignity as its creators. Nearly 45 years after its release, the film remains one of the most influential works in science fiction history.

In this conversation, Laura, Stephen, Shea, and Jason share their personal experiences with the film and unpack the themes that have made Blade Runner a lasting cultural touchstone. From the tragic journey of Roy Batty to the mystery surrounding Rick Deckard, the discussion explores why audiences continue to wrestle with the film's biggest questions decades later.

The group also examines the movie's stunning visual style, its impact on the cyberpunk genre, and the ways its vision of the future feels surprisingly relevant today. Along the way, they dive into themes of memory, empathy, mortality, consumerism, and the ethical implications of creating artificial life.

Whether you're a longtime fan who can quote the "tears in rain" monologue by heart or someone experiencing Blade Runner for the first time, this episode offers an engaging and thought-provoking look at one of cinema's most enduring achievements.

In This Episode

• First impressions and evolving perspectives on Blade Runner
• The replicants' search for identity and purpose
• Memory, empathy, and what defines humanity
• The visual design that helped define cyberpunk
• Roy Batty as one of science fiction's greatest characters
• The film's influence on modern movies, television, and gaming
• The enduring mystery of Deckard's true nature
• Why Blade Runner remains relevant more than four decades later

Chapters

00:00 — Introduction to Blade Runner

02:45 — Personal experiences with the film

10:30 — Themes of identity and humanity

18:00 — The film's visual style and influence

25:15 — Memory and the replicants' struggle for meaning

35:00 — Character dynamics and moral complexity

45:20 — The ambiguous ending and its implications

50:00 — Final thoughts on the film's legacy

For more Laura and Stephen, follow them at ⁠⁠@middaymoviespod⁠⁠, ⁠⁠@umbrellapodcastcollective⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠@facehuggersandfriendspod⁠⁠

🎭 Live Show Announcement!

Join us for Klondike Kate: Queen of the Yukon, a special live edition of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes at McMenamins on September 16th. We'll explore the fascinating life, legends, and larger-than-life legacy of one of the most famous figures from the Klondike Gold Rush.

🎟️ Tickets are available now at RainyDayRabbitHoles.com.

Connect with Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

🌧️ Website: RainyDayRabbitHoles.com

🎟️ Live Show Tickets: RainyDayRabbitHoles.com

🎙️ Listen wherever you get your podcasts

📱 Follow us on social media for upcoming episodes, live events, and behind-the-scenes content

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a rating and review—it helps more curious minds find the rabbit hole.

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🚨 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 Friday, Shea reads Jody an absolutely ridiculous article from Vice celebrating the anniversary of one of the most infamous wardrobe malfunctions in rock history: the moment Lenny Kravitz's leather pants gave up the fight during a concert and revealed far more than anyone expected.

What starts as a simple reading of a bizarre article quickly spirals into complete chaos. To be fair, Jody and Shea were working their way through their second bottle of wine, so maintaining professionalism was never really an option.

The result? A short episode packed with laughter, derailed conversations, questionable observations, and a healthy appreciation for the strange moments that unite humanity.

Is it educational? Not particularly.

Is it important? Probably not.

Is it a welcome distraction from reality? Absolutely.

So thank you, Lenny Kravitz. Your sacrifice has brought joy to generations.

🍷 In This Episode

• The infamous Lenny Kravitz pants incident
• A Vice article that somehow gets funnier with age
• What happens when podcast hosts reach bottle number two
• Uncontrolled laughter and total derailment
• The healing power of absurd internet history

📖 Source Article

Read the Vice article that inspired this episode:

👉 "Happy Anniversary to Lenny Kravitz's Dick Flopping Out of His Pants (NSFW)"

https://www.vice.com/en/article/happy-anniversary-to-lenny-kravitzs-dick-flopping-out-of-his-pants-nsfw/

🐇 Explore More Rabbit Holes

Visit our website for more weird, hilarious, and fascinating stories:

🌧️🐇 Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

🎉 Join Our Patreon

Want even more rabbit holes?

Support the show on Patreon and get:

• Ad-free episodes
• Early access to new releases
• Exclusive bonus episodes
• Behind-the-scenes content
• Extra ridiculousness (and occasionally something serious)

If you enjoy the chaos, Patreon is where we keep even more of it.

🎧 Related Episodes

🌲 Did the FBI Actually Investigate Bigfoot?

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/did-the-fbi-actually-investigate-bigfoot

☕ Why Are People Putting Coffee There?

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/why-are-people-putting-coffee-there

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

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/hold-my-sake-japan-made-alcohol-out-of-moth-poop-5-minute-friday

5-Minute Friday is where we embrace the weird, celebrate the absurd, and occasionally discover that the internet never forgets. This week: leather pants lose, comedy wins. 🎸🍷😂

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content

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🔥 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 details

https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/274791-klondike-kate-and-the-pantages-theater

Don’t miss your chance to experience the rabbit hole in real life…

What if someone on stage knew your deepest secret before you even asked the question?

That was the promise of Alexander the Man Who Knows—a mysterious figure in jeweled turbans who claimed he could read minds, speak to the dead, and reveal truths hidden even from yourself. But behind the curtain lies a far more fascinating story…

🎙️ Special Guest: Tim Greyhavens

This episode features special guest Tim Greyhavens, a Seattle-based writer, researcher, and independent historian specializing in early Pacific Northwest photography and cultural history.

Tim brings a rare depth of research and storytelling to this episode, drawing on archival work, historical records, and his own published research on Claude Alexander Conlin. His insights help separate fact from myth—and reveal just how carefully constructed Alexander’s persona really was.

👉 Explore Tim’s work:

TimGreyhavens.com

Tim’s perspective is what transforms this episode from a wild story… into a deeply revealing look at performance, belief, and manipulation in early 20th-century America.

🎭 From Gold Rush Chaos to Stage Stardom

Alexander’s story begins in the chaos of the Klondike Gold Rush—where fortunes weren’t just mined… they were taken.

FACT: He spent time in Skagway during its most notorious era of con artists and opportunists.

FACT: He crossed paths with figures like Soapy Smith and theatrical entrepreneur Alexander Pantages.

SPECULATION: Some accounts suggest his early exposure to fraud and deception directly shaped his later career.

Rather than chasing gold, Alexander realized something far more valuable: people’s willingness to believe.

🧠 The Illusion of Mind Reading

By the 1910s and 1920s, Alexander reinvented himself as a psychic phenomenon.

FACT: He performed as “Alexander the Man Who Knows,” presenting himself as a mystical mind reader.

FACT: He used hidden radio receivers inside his turban to receive real-time audience intelligence.

FACT: Assistants gathered personal information from audience members before shows.

With stagecraft, psychology, and carefully curated mysticism, he created an experience so convincing that audiences believed they were witnessing something supernatural.

KEY INSIGHT (via Tim Greyhavens):

This wasn’t just magic—it was an early form of information-driven manipulation, combining surveillance, performance, and psychology decades ahead of its time.

💰 Wealth, Power & the Rialto Beach Estate

At the height of his fame, Alexander built an isolated retreat on Washington’s coast near what we now know as Rialto Beach.

FACT: The property included hidden microphones and listening systems inside guest spaces.

FACT: Conversations were used to enhance private readings and deepen the illusion of psychic ability.

SPECULATION: Wealthy guests—including rumored Hollywood figures—may have unknowingly been part of ongoing information-gathering efforts.

This wasn’t just a vacation home—it was an extension of his act.

Meanwhile, Prohibition opened yet another opportunity…

FACT: He reportedly ran liquor from Canada to fund his lifestyle and entertain guests.

🎬 The Fall of the Illusion

By the 1930s, everything changed.

FACT: The rise of film and special effects reduced public belief in live magic acts.

FACT: Vaudeville theaters declined, taking performers like Alexander with them.

FACT: He transitioned into writing and publishing—eventually revealing parts of his methods.

The man who once guarded his secrets above all else… began to expose them.

🧩 Legacy: The Original “Info Scam” Artist

Alexander’s story still feels strangely modern.

He combined:

• Performance
• Data gathering
• Psychological manipulation
• Emotional targeting

And built a fortune from it.

KEY QUESTION:

Was he after money… fame… or simply the thrill of proving how far he could go?

🔗 Explore More

🌧️ More strange Pacific Northwest stories:

👉 Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

📚 More from our guest:

👉 Tim Greyhavens

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Alexander used early technology and assistants to simulate psychic abilities
• His techniques relied heavily on pre-show audience intelligence gathering
• The Klondike Gold Rush environment influenced his approach to deception
• Spiritualism and grief created ideal conditions for his rise
• His Rialto Beach estate functioned as both retreat and intelligence hub
• Private readings were a major source of income from wealthy clients
• Prohibition-era bootlegging helped fund his lifestyle
• The decline of vaudeville contributed to his fade from fame
• He later published material revealing some of his own methods
• His legacy reflects early forms of modern psychological and information-based scams

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

NSFW / Listener Discretion

This 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 that somewhere, somehow, people looked at a perfectly good beverage and thought:

“What if this went in the opposite end?”

In this Five Minute Friday, we laugh our way through one of the most cursed corners of wellness culture: the coffee enema. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like, and no, we do not recommend it. Not even a little. Not even if someone expensive in beige linen tells you it’s “detoxifying.”

What this episode covers

Facts

A coffee enema is exactly the upsetting thing it sounds like: coffee introduced into the rectum/colon as an enema.

The reporting discussed in this episode presents coffee enemas as a bad idea, not a wellness necessity.

The articles referenced in the episode describe medical concerns associated with enemas in general, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, infection, and injury.

The coverage also references more serious complications reported in medical literature, including burns, rectal damage, and other severe outcomes.

Folklore / Wellness Claims

Some people claim coffee enemas can “detox” the body or flush out “toxins.”

These claims are discussed in the cited articles as lacking solid scientific support.

Like many bad ideas, this one tends to show up wearing the costume of “natural wellness.”

Speculation / Commentary

Why does every weird wellness trend sound like it was invented during a dare?

Why are people so willing to suffer in the name of “cleansing”?

And why is there always a luxury version of the worst possible decision?

Why this matters

Sure, this episode is funny. Very funny, in fact. We laughed a lot. But underneath the jokes is a real point: wellness culture can make dangerous nonsense sound premium, enlightened, or aspirational.

Sometimes bad ideas don’t arrive looking dangerous. Sometimes they arrive with minimalist packaging, a suspiciously expensive kit, and the word “detox.”

This episode is our loving reminder to maybe, just maybe, let coffee continue doing what it already does best:

going in a mug

smelling delightful

helping you survive a Monday

not becoming a DIY science experiment for your colon

If you want the extended version…

If this rabbit hole made you laugh, recoil, and question the entire wellness industry, there’s more.

💡 The extended version of this episode is available for supporters, along with:

bonus content

ad-free episodes

early access

👉 Support the show here:

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

Links

🌧 Website: https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/

🎧 Related episode:

5 Minute Friday: Rectum? Damn Near Evacuated ’Em

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/5-minute-friday-rectum-damn-near-evacuated-em

CTA

If you enjoy weird history, fringe beliefs, internet nonsense, and lovingly roasting terrible ideas, subscribe, leave a review, and send this episode to the friend who would absolutely text you,

“You are not going to believe what Gwyneth is selling now.”

And if you want the extended cut, plus bonus episodes, ad-free listening, and early access, support the show here:

👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

Key Takeaways

Coffee enemas are one of those wellness trends that sound fake until you realize someone is absolutely trying to sell them to you.

This episode explores how coffee enema “detox” claims keep circulating even though the concept is treated skeptically in the reporting discussed.

The cited articles describe coffee enemas as risky, unnecessary, and not supported by strong scientific evidence for the dramatic claims made about them.

The episode highlights how wellness culture can dress up a bad idea in expensive branding and call it self-care.

According to the reporting covered in the episode, enemas can come with real risks including dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and possible injury.

Coffee does not become a miracle health tool just because someone put it in a sentence with the word “cleanse.”

This Five Minute Friday mixes humor with skepticism to unpack one of the internet’s most baffling health trends.

We are not medical professionals, which is exactly why our advice here is simple and elegant: maybe do not put coffee in your butt.

The bigger rabbit hole is not just coffee enemas—it’s how easily pseudoscience spreads when it sounds glamorous or rebellious.

If a wellness trend sounds like it should come with a fire extinguisher and a legal waiver, it may not be the healing path you’re looking for.

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KEEP CLAM AND CARRY ON

What 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 in humor, storytelling, and seafood culture.

He memorized hundreds of folk songs, hosted radio shows, and performed alongside major figures in the folk music world.

By the 1960s, his playful experimentation had turned into serious wealth—enough to buy Pier 54 and later the historic Smith Tower.

🐙 Pranks, Publicity, and Pure Chaos

(Facts + Folklore)

Ivar didn’t just run businesses—he staged experiences.

• Created Seattle’s first aquarium using seawater pumped from Elliott Bay
• Paraded a dressed-up seal through Pike Place Market
• Hosted outrageous stunts—including octopus “wrestling”

(Speculation / Cultural Myth)

His legacy inspired one of Seattle’s greatest hoaxes: the infamous underwater billboards, which people believed he had planted decades earlier as a long-term marketing stunt.

🗳️ The Joke That Became Real

(Facts)

In 1983, frustrated with waterfront issues, Ivar filed paperwork to run for the Port Commission—as a joke.

He didn’t campaign. He didn’t promote himself.

And… he still won—by a huge margin.

Seattle had officially elected a prankster.

🐚 “Clam Culture” and a Lasting Legacy

(Facts)

Ivar created more than restaurants—he created a worldview. He called it “clam culture”, where humor, seafood, and community intersected.

Even his marketing leaned into absurdity:

• “Keep Clam” slogans
• Fake postage stamps
• Salmon windsocks atop skyscrapers

After his death in 1985, his legacy endured—not just in business, but in spirit.

(Takeaway)

Ivar Haglund gave Seattle permission to be weird.

🔗 RELATED EPISODES

• Was Seattle Built on Sex and Scams
• https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/was-seattle-built-on-sex-and-scams
• Seattle’s Odd Couple: Doc Maynard and Chief Sealth
• https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/seattles-odd-couple-doc-maynard-and-chief-sealth
• Starvation Heights and Linda Hazzard
• https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/28-starvation-heights-and-linda-hazzard-quack-doctor-or-murderer

Ivar Haglund founded Seattle’s first aquarium using Elliott Bay seawater

His restaurant “Acres of Clams” launched in 1946 and became iconic

He built a personal brand around humor called “clam culture”

Ivar staged bizarre publicity stunts to attract crowds and media

He accidentally won a Port Commission election without campaigning

His marketing included fake stamps, slogans, and theatrical protests

He owned major Seattle landmarks including Pier 54 and Smith Tower

His legacy inspired the “underwater billboard” hoax

Ivar blended entertainment, folklore, and business into one persona

He helped define Seattle’s identity as a city that embraces weirdness

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content

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Please join us at McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma on September 16, 2026!

https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/274791-klondike-kate-and-the-pantages-theater

This 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 never have before.

We also share something difficult: after a lot of reflection, Jody made the decision that she can’t continue producing the podcast in the same way right now. The past few years have been challenging, and she opens up about the personal struggles that led her to this point.

But this isn’t goodbye.

Instead, we’ve found a middle ground—Jody will be stepping away for six months to rest and reset, while Shea continues the show with the support of this amazing community.

And that’s where you come in.

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes has always been more than just a podcast—it’s a shared curiosity, a collective deep dive into the weird, the historical, and the unexplained. So we’re inviting listeners to help shape what comes next.

If you’ve ever wanted to be part of the show—whether that’s:

• Researching rabbit holes
• Helping write episodes
• Assisting with social media
• Or even joining as a guest

We’d love to hear from you.

📧 Reach out at: shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com

More than anything, this episode is about gratitude—for where we’ve been, where we’re going, and the incredible people who make it all worthwhile.

Thank you for being here. Truly.

Key Points

• A candid, behind-the-scenes look at producing the podcast
• Jody shares personal struggles from the past few years
• Announcement: Jody is taking a six-month break
• Shea will continue the show during this time
• Call for community involvement in production
• Deep appreciation for listeners and supporters

Call to Action

Want to help keep the rabbit holes going?

Email Shea at shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com to get involved.

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A Forgotten Life Hidden in Seattle’s History

Seattle is full of legends—underground tunnels, ghost stories, cryptids—but this episode explores something far stranger:

👉 a real historical figure whose story was nearly erased

Moses 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 story back into light?

➡️ Historian, filmmaker, and author David Norman Lewis

👉 Explore David’s books here:

https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/david-norman-lewis?srsltid=AfmBOorWkxSgPcvxOK6hQTgqHTTS5jxpxeIrytgQf3ZCphRm_AgNgxM5

👉 Listen to more episodes:

https://rainydayrabbitholes.com

Who Was Moses Seattle?

FACT: Moses Seattle was the grandson of Chief Seattle and part of a high-status Indigenous family.

FACT: He lived a complex life shaped by boarding schools, cultural change, and shifting identity between Indigenous and settler worlds.

FACT: He worked odd jobs, played accordion at community dances, and briefly entered the world of traveling entertainment.

SPECULATION: Some accounts suggest he may have been involved in labor organizing among hop pickers, though evidence is limited.

Culture, Folklore, and Identity

FOLKLORE: His origin story intersects with Indigenous beliefs about spirits, healing practices, and reincarnation.

FACT: Oral traditions play a major role in how his story survives—blending lived experience with cultural interpretation.

FACT: His life reflects the realities of assimilation, boarding schools, and identity pressures in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

A Tragic and Forgotten Ending

FACT: Moses Seattle’s death followed a violent incident tied to alcohol, conflict, and systemic conditions of the time.

FACT: Accounts describe severe burns and a prolonged survival before his passing.

FACT: No clear accountability followed, and responsibility remains unclear in historical records.

FACT: His story faded from public memory for decades.

Why This Story Matters

This episode isn’t just about one man—it’s about:

• how history is preserved (or erased)
• whose voices are recorded
• and how uncomfortable stories disappear

David Norman Lewis reconstructs a powerful narrative that forces us to confront the gaps between official history and lived experience.

🎧 Related Episodes (Explore More Indigenous History)

If this story resonated with you, continue down the rabbit hole:

👉 Ishi: The Last of His Tribe

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/ishi-the-last-of-his-tribe

👉 How Did the Muckleshoot Rise Again?

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/how-did-the-muckleshoot-rise-again

👉 Seattle’s Odd Couple: Doc Maynard & Chief Sealth

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/seattles-odd-couple-doc-maynard-and-chief-sealth

These episodes explore Indigenous history from different angles—personal stories, resilience, and the people who shaped the Pacific Northwest.

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

🧠 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 Bigfoot (A Very Polite Letdown)

Back in the 1970s, a cryptozoology group sent the FBI a batch of mysterious hair samples they couldn’t identify. Naturally, they believed this might finally be proof of Sasquatch.

And the logic was simple:

If we can’t identify it… it must be Bigfoot.

The FBI, in a rare moment of curiosity (or maybe boredom), agreed to analyze the samples—despite normally only handling criminal investigations.

After careful examination using the technology available at the time, they came back with their official conclusion:

It was deer.

That’s it. That’s the story.

Dreams crushed. Case closed. Hair returned.

🌲 The Atlas That Sparked Sasquatch Fever

This whole situation started when a 1975 government atlas casually included references to Sasquatch sightings in the Pacific Northwest—complete with maps.

Yes. A real government document basically said:

• Here’s the plants
• Here’s the animals
• Also… Bigfoot might be out there

That single detail sparked public curiosity, media attention, and a wave of people demanding answers from the FBI.

Because nothing fuels belief faster than:

• Vague government statements
• “Unknown” scientific results
• And a creature that refuses to be photographed clearly

🧬 Facts vs Folklore vs Speculation

FACT:

The FBI tested alleged Bigfoot hair and determined it came from deer.

FOLKLORE:

Sasquatch has been a staple of Pacific Northwest legends for decades, with countless sightings and stories.

SPECULATION:

Before modern DNA testing, “unknown” samples created space for imagination—and Bigfoot filled that gap perfectly.

🚨 The Part We Tried to Forget (But Won’t Let You)

At one point in this episode, we briefly revisit something we wish we could unlearn:

Bigfoot erotica.

Yes. It exists.

No. You should not Google it.

If you’re curious (or dangerously brave), we covered it in a past episode that lives safely behind our Patreon paywall—where it can hopefully do less harm.

Support the show and unlock that deeply questionable content here:

👉 rainydayrabbitholes.com/support

You’ve been warned.

🐾 Final Thought

The FBI says Bigfoot isn’t real.

But also…

They tested the hair.

So.

Draw your own conclusions.

🔗 Related Episodes

This episode pairs perfectly with our deeper dive into Sasquatch legends and sightings. If you want more Bigfoot chaos, mythology, and history, check out:

https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/6-this-is-not-a-bigfoot-podcast-sasquatch-and-ape-canyon

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content

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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 here:

👉 https://www.livelaughlarceny.com/

🛸 The 1961 Wisconsin UFO Encounter

Facts

In April 1961, Joe Simonton, an ordinary man living in Eagle River, Wisconsin, reported seeing a silver, disc shaped UFO land in his driveway.

Inside were three human-like men who communicated using gestures. After requesting water, one of them was seen cooking pancakes on a strange, flameless grill inside the craft.

Simonton claimed he received several pancakes before the UFO flew away, leaving no physical evidence behind except the food itself.

Adding to the mystery, a second witness nearby reported seeing a disc shaped object in the sky at roughly the same time.

🧪 Government Investigation and Testing

Facts

This strange UFO encounter was investigated by the United States Air Force under Project Blue Book during the Cold War.

The pancakes were tested in a lab and the results were completely ordinary:

Wheat and buckwheat ingredients

No radiation

No unknown materials

In other words, the so-called alien pancakes were just pancakes.

🤔 Folklore, Speculation, and Theories

This case stands out in UFO lore because of how oddly normal it feels.

Folklore: This has become one of the weirdest alien stories because it involves a calm interaction instead of abduction or fear

Speculation: Some theories suggest a misunderstanding involving humans, experimental aircraft, or even time travel

Skeptical view: No physical evidence of a landing was ever found

Believer view: Simonton never changed his story and was considered credible

It is a mystery that sits right between the ordinary and the impossible.

🔗 Related Episodes

Want to explore more UFOs, aliens, and mysteries? Check out these related episodes:

🌀 Explore early UFO sightings and Men in Black origins in the Pacific Northwest

👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/33-summer-of-saucers-ufos-and-the-men-in-black-in-the-pnw

🇯🇵 Dive into historical UFO folklore in Japan’s oldest recorded encounter

👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/japans-oldest-ufo-mystery

🛸 One of the most famous alien abduction stories in America

👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/travis-walton-the-most-famous-ufo-abduction-in-america

🐇 Final Thought

No abduction. No missing time. No terrifying encounter.

Just a quiet morning… and a handful of pancakes from something that should not exist.

And somehow, that makes this one of the most bizarre UFO mysteries ever told.

🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. The Joe Simonton UFO encounter is one of the strangest alien stories involving pancakes instead of abduction
2. A Wisconsin man reported a flying saucer landing in his driveway in 1961
3. The UFO occupants appeared human-like and communicated using gestures
4. The visitors requested water and gave pancakes in exchange
5. The pancakes were analyzed and found to contain normal Earth ingredients
6. Project Blue Book investigated the case during the Cold War
7. A second witness reported seeing a disc-shaped object nearby
8. Simonton maintained his story and was considered credible
9. The case blends UFO folklore with unusually mundane details
10. The incident remains unexplained despite scientific testing

Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes/exclusive-content

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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 documentary
• Narrated by a trusted broadcaster
• Included details about “spaghetti weevils” and cultivation

And 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 figures
• Presentation vs. reality
• How 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 Episode

• A legendary prank that still holds up
• Classic dry British humor
• A playful but thought-provoking look at human belief
• Laugh-out-loud tangents (because of course)

🔗 Related Episodes

If 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-em
• 
  

Takeaways

• The 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

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Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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-bune
• Why the vessel looks suspiciously like a flying saucer
• How Japan’s isolation policy shaped stories about outsiders
• Why historians and folklorists are deeply skeptical of the alien explanation
• And why sometimes the most human response to the unknown… is paperwork avoidance

History 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

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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

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

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 Radium

• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@radiantradium
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiantradium/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@radiant.radium

Visit Us

• Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

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“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.radium
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@radiantradium
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/radiantradium/

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