History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

Latest Episodes:

Ghosts, Gays, & Gambling: Portland’s Crystal Hotel (feat. PNW Haunts & Homicides) May 21, 2025

Show notes

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 episode on Portland's infamous Shanghai Tunnels (check out Episode 69!), we couldn’t resist diving into the hotel's own history.
Shaped like a pizza slice and stacked with nearly a century of secrets, this boutique hotel has been home to nightclubs, underground gambling rings, a subterranean bathhouse, and has played a meaningful role as a safe haven for Portland’s LGBTQ+ community. Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Crystal Hotel is more than just a fun place to crash after ghost-hunting—it’s a living time capsule, with music, mystery, and possibly a few lingering spirits echoing through its halls.
If you're into haunted hotels, queer history, and storytelling that sometimes goes off the rails (in the best way), this one's for you.
🎲👻🌈 Make sure to check out our new favorite ghouls, PNW Haunts & Homicides, and follow them for more spooky content! You can also find them at www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com. 💀
✨ And stay tuned—this is just the beginning of our haunted hijinks together. More ghostly adventures with Caitlyn and Cassie are coming soon!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

The Red Ghost of Arizona: A Desert Nightmare May 14, 2025

Show notes

💀 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 the Wild West. The “Red Ghost” terrified settlers across the Arizona Territory—appearing as a monstrous figure with bones on its back and blood-red fur. But was it really a ghost? Or something stranger? We explore the unsettling reports, panic-fueled stories, and the utterly bizarre government experiment that might explain it all… but probably won’t make it any less ridiculous. This one’s got everything: frightened ranchers, vanishing phantoms, and a ghost that kicks like a mule. Literally.
⏱️ Chapters:

00:00 – Intro: We’re in the desert, baby
03:50 – The First Sighting: Ghost or monster?
09:12 – Panic Spreads: Red Ghost hysteria
14:03 – Stranger Details Emerge
21:45 – Government Shenanigans
28:00 – What Was It, Really?
34:12 – Outro & Rabbit Hole Reflections

🔑 Keywords: Arizona ghost story, Red Ghost, haunted frontier, Wild West legends, spooky desert tales, unexplained mysteries, creepy historical events
📢 Support & More:
Love what we do? Get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and exclusive perks at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.
Visit our website at rainydayrabbitholes.com.
Catch us three times a week on @radiotacoma and tag along with the Umbrella Podcast Collective @umbrellapodcastcollective.
Check out Ze Frank's video about Camels! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc0ZCqLUjSo
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Monsters of the Mogollon Rim May 07, 2025

Show notes

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 ladies, this episode is packed with bizarre stories, laughs, and wild theories.
Could Zeke’s forbidden romance have birthed Arizona’s Bigfoot? Could goats really be the secret architects of desert cryptids?
Listen as we unravel it all, one ridiculous thread at a time!
Hear bonus content, ad-free episodes, and grab exclusive perks by joining our Patreon or Spreaker Supporters Club at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support!
Catch us three times a week on @RadioTacoma and explore more unhinged history at rainydayrabbitholes.com!
Proud member of @umbrellapodcastcollective.
Chapters:

0:00 Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes
1:00 Mogollon Monster Mispronunciation Mayhem
7:30 The Hairy Enigma of Arizona’s Mogollon Rim
15:00 Cryptid Traits: Screams, Scents, and Stones
28:00 The Goatman’s Curse and Drunken Love Story
42:00 Goat Genitalia Science 101 (You’re Welcome)
55:00 Solving Arizona’s Cryptid Genealogy
1:00:00 The Goatman Festival and Final Theories

Keywords: ArizonaCryptids, MogollonMonster, GoatmanArizona, ArizonaGhostStories, WeirdHistory, DesertLegends, CryptidLore, RainyDayRabbitHoles, UmbrellaPodcastCollective
Sources Mentioned:

- Arizona Republican (1903)
- Don Davis, Cryptozoologist
- Zeke Cartwright’s Legendary Journal

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Murder & Mystery at Lakeview Cemetery with Civil War Seattle Apr 30, 2025

Show notes

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 murder to Civil War veterans' untold stories, this tour was a wild ride through the West’s forgotten tragedies. Whether you're a true crime addict, history buff, or curious traveler, you’ll be hooked.
👉 Bonus content, ad-free episodes, and awesome perks await at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support!
🌧 Visit our website at rainydayrabbitholes.com for more!
Chapters with Timestamps:

00:00 - Welcome: From History Haters to Nerds
04:30 - Why We Took the Lakeview Cemetery Tour
10:00 - Atmospheric River Madness
15:40 - $3.85 Murder: The Charles Nordstrom Story
22:00 - Seattle’s Wild Cemetery Figures
30:00 - Dreaming of Giant Gravestones
40:00 - Shea’s One-Star Review Vendetta
45:00 - How You Can Support the Show

Book a tour with Seattle History Tours / Civil War Seattle

Seattle history, Lakeview Cemetery, true crime podcast, Victorian history, unhinged history, Civil War Seattle, Seattle tours, Western history podcast, Seattle cemetery stories
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Portland's Shanghai Tunnels with PNW Haunts & Homicides Apr 23, 2025

Show notes

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 Haunts & Homicides for a deep, dark dive beneath the streets of Portland, Oregon. From damp brick passageways to flannel-wearing apparitions, the crew recounts their visit to the Shanghai Tunnels Tour at Old Town Pizza & Brewing, while also dissecting the problematic roots of the term “shanghaied,” historic embellishments, and whether ghost pee is a thing. Expect history, hilarity, hauntings—and maybe some drunken shenanigans.
👻 Learn more or book your own tunnel tour: Shanghai Tunnels Tour at Old Town Pizza & Brewing
🎙 Support the podcasts:

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes → Website
PNW Haunts & Homicides → Website

🕰️ CHAPTERS
00:00 - Intro: Setting the Spooky Mood
03:45 - Meeting IRL for the First Time (and yes, we’re hot)
07:10 - What Are the Shanghai Tunnels, Really?
11:25 - Underground Pizza, Brewing, and Ambience
16:40 - Ghosts, Perfume, and Paranormal Pee
21:30 - History vs. Legend: Is Shea Ruining Everything?
27:55 - Who Was Nina (Nina?) and Did She Get Moidered?
35:45 - Tour Guide Shoutout: Doug Is a Legend
40:30 - Crimping Ain’t Just for Hair
44:15 - Rating the Tour: The Squatch Scale
50:05 - That Haunted Photo... And the Phillip Experiment
55:20 - Final Thoughts & The Case for Ziplining to Bars
59:00 - Goodbye from the Pod Pals
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Re-Release The Kraken! Sea Monsters of the Salish Sea Apr 16, 2025

Show notes

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 centuries.
From the legendary Kraken of Scandinavian folklore—known for its terrifying ability to capsize ships—to the local tales of Caddy, the elusive sea serpent, this episode is packed with bizarre sightings and outrageous stories. Discover how these sea monsters have shaped local culture and even inspired Seattle’s own hockey team.
As the duo navigates through ancient myths, they also tackle some of the more ridiculous explanations behind these sightings, including giant squids, oarfish, and even whale anatomy! With Shea's hilarious mispronunciations and Jody's witty commentary, you’re in for a wild ride through the waters of the Pacific Northwest.
🐉 Join us as we unravel the truth behind these captivating creatures and toast to the wonder and mystery that lies beneath the waves!
⏳ Chapters & Timestamps:
00:00 - Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes!
02:00 - The Kraken: Origins and Legends
06:30 - Meet the Cadborosaurus: Caddy's Tale
12:15 - Misidentified Monsters: Squids and Oarfish
18:00 - The Giant Pacific Octopus: Nature's Wonder
22:45 - The Tacoma Narrows and Its Legendary Octopus
28:00 - Debunking the Tree Octopus Hoax
32:30 - The Kraken's Legacy in Seattle Sports
🎧 Love the show? Get ad-free episodes and bonus content by joining our Patreon or Spreaker Supporters Club! Support us at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.
🔗 Discover more wild history at rainydayrabbitholes.com.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Geronimo! The Beaver Drop of Idaho Apr 09, 2025

Show notes

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 explore the unhinged tale of how Idaho’s beavers were parachuted into their new home in the 1940s! From the ingenious (and slightly bonkers) idea of air-dropping beavers to the clever contraptions designed to ensure their safe landing, this episode is packed with laughter and surprising facts about these furry engineers.
🐾 What does a beaver’s poop look like? Can you really see their impact from space? And how did one brave beaver named Geronimo become a parachuting legend? Find out all this and more in our beaver bonanza! 🎙️

00:00 - Welcome to rainy day rabbit holes where we take the history of the west off
00:15 - Beavers were basically most of the reason Hudson Bay company invaded Northwest
01:56 - O Weird involves beavers, parachutes and airplanes
02:39 - You could control this podcast by becoming a patron supporter at $10
04:47 - Beavers are considered ecosystem engineers and a keystone species
09:29 - Current events have got me a little bit roiled up
09:40 - After researching this story, I feel like beavers should be in every flag
13:45 - Department of Interior started reintroducing beavers to Idaho in 1936
15:51 - Elmo Heater came up with a brilliant plan to drop beavers
19:58 - NASA launched 76 beavers into Chamberlain Basin to help conserve natural habitat
22:53 - NASA uses satellites to monitor the impact of beavers on Earth
26:36 - Even if you don't support us financially, just sending us a nice message is helpful

💡 Want more unhinged history? Check out our episode on the Mossman of Idaho!
🌐 For bonus content and ad-free episodes, visit: rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
🎉 Don’t forget to share your thoughts and stories with us at shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com! Your feedback keeps us going!
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Haunted History: Fort Steilacoom Lantern Pretty Gritty Tour Review Apr 02, 2025

Show notes

🎧 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, Western State Hospital.
💀 Did we see a ghost? Did we embarrass ourselves in front of the tour group? And how does this compare to other haunted tours? Find out now! 🎙️
Chapters & Timestamps:

00:01:00 - Why We Took the Tour
00:05:30 - Fort Steilacoom’s Military Roots
00:10:15 - When History Feels a Little Too Real
00:15:45 - Western State Hospital’s Infamous Past
00:22:00 - Our Favorite Tour Moments
00:27:30 - Final Thoughts & Should You Go?

💡 Want more haunted history? Listen to Episodes 45 & 46 for a deep dive into Western State Hospital’s eerie past!
👻 Special Thanks: Chris with Pretty Gritty Tours www.prettygrittytours.com
🚀 Support Us & Get Bonus Content!
🔗 www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

Madame Mustache: The Wild West’s Most Badass Gambler Mar 26, 2025

Show notes

🎙 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 justice, her story is as wild as the Wild West itself.
😲 Why did the world remember her mustache more than her empire?
🎲 How did she run the classiest gambling hall in the lawless West?
🔫 And what was her final, dramatic exit?
🔥 Get ready for gambling, crime, whiskey, and Wild West nonsense!
📌 Chapters & Timestamps:
0:00 - Welcome to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes
2:10 - Jody wears a mustache for the occasion
9:45 - Eleanor Dumont takes over the gambling scene
26:30 - The ultimate revenge: tracking down her husband
30:20 - Madame Mustache’s high-class brothel
36:45 - The final hand: how Eleanor’s story ends
🎧 Listen now & fall down the rabbit hole!
👉 Get ad-free episodes & bonus content: rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
👉 Visit our website for more unhinged history: rainydayrabbitholes.com
👉 Hear Shea’s story on Live, Laugh, Larceny! Listen here
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

The Traveling Corpse of Elmer McCurdy Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

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 house, even making a surprise appearance on The Six Million Dollar Man.
💀 This is the story of the outlaw who found fame in death.
Chapters & Timestamps

00:00 – Intro & Banter
04:20 – The Pike Amusement Zone & Long Beach History
14:55 – Elmer’s Pathetic Criminal Career
28:30 – The Embalming & Carnival Circuit
39:45 – The Shocking Discovery in 1976
51:00 – Elmer Finally Gets Buried (For Real This Time)

🔗 Skip the ads & get bonus content at: rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
🌐 Website & More Episodes: rainydayrabbitholes.com
Check out Audibly Haunted! https://open.spotify.com/show/4K4ZntXpDJAq9lAFVTDxJT
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/history-unhinged-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

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