He vanished in a beam of light. When he came back, he said he’d been taken aboard a UFO. And that was just the beginning.


In 1975, 22-year-old logger Travis Walton disappeared without a trace after a terrifying encounter with a UFO in the forests near Snowflake, Arizona. When he reappeared five days later, confused and frightened, he claimed he'd been taken aboard an alien craft. Was it the most credible alien abduction in U.S. history? Or an elaborate hoax designed to escape a failed logging contract?

This week, Shea is joined by her brother Jason—recording on location in Arizona—to explore the infamous Travis Walton incident. We break down what happened on that strange November night along the Mogollon Rim, dig into Travis’s vivid and chilling account of his time aboard the ship, and examine how the story inspired the nightmare-fuel film Fire in the Sky. We also look at how Walton has turned this event into a career, and why even some UFO believers think the whole thing might’ve been staged. 

👽 Buckle up. It’s gonna get weird in the woods.

🎙 Support the show, get bonus content, early access, and more at
👉 www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
Use code SUMMEROFSAUCERS for 15% off your first month—through June 25 only!

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

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Presents: Mysterious Pacific Northwest – The McMinnville UFO Photos

As part of our Summer of Saucers celebration this June, we’re featuring an episode from Mysterious Pacific Northwest, one of our sister shows in the Umbrella Podcast Collective!

In this episode, they explore the captivating story of the McMinnville UFO photographs, taken by Evelyn and Paul Trent in May 1950. These images became some of the most famous pieces of alleged extraterrestrial evidence, sparking global interest in UFOs, fueling debates, and even inspiring the annual McMinnville UFO Festival.

You'll hear about:
👽 The backstory of the Trents and the day they captured the photos

📸 The cultural impact and investigations into their authenticity

🌎 How McMinnville became a UFO hotspot

🌐 Listen to more from Mysterious Pacific Northwest: Apple Podcasts
🌐 Discover all Umbrella Collective shows: rainydayrabbitholes.com/umbrella
🌐 Visit us: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

Sources:

• https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/McMinnville_UFO_photographs
• https://ufofest.com
• https://www.ipaco.fr/ReportMcMinnville.pdf
• https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2015/05/past_tense_oregon_ufo_photos_t.html
• https://www.scottbakal.com/mcminnvilleufo
• https://blog.mcmenamins.com/the-history-of-the-1950-trent-ufo-sighting-in-mcminnville-oregon/
• https://www.koin.com/news/oregon/oregons-extraterrestrial-history-the-1950-trent-ufo-sighting/amp/
• https://www.oregonlive.com/history/2017/10/famous_mcminnville_ufo_photos.html

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

In this final installment of our three-part conversation with filmmaker, lawyer, and legend-level storyteller Steve Edmiston, we’re diving deep into the most unhinged festival in the Pacific Northwest: the Men In Black Birthday Bash!

We cover:
👽 The wild origin story of the bash

🐶 The heroic tale of Sparky the Dog and the upcoming disc dog tournament

👑 Drag queens, trivia, and SNL-worthy cosplay

🎟️ All the details you need to show up and how to win FREE tickets and exclusive swag!

This episode is part party preview, part UFO-lore love letter, and part official field guide for all things MIBBBFest. If you’re into aliens, oddities, or just need an excuse to dress in all black and scream-laugh at a trivia night — this one’s for you.

🎁 GIVEAWAY INFO:

We’re giving away:

• 2 pairs of tickets to the Maury Island Incident screening + Drag Queen Trivia on June 20
• 2 pairs of tickets to the MIBBB Main Event on June 21
• 2 MIBBB swag bags full of exclusive alien-approved goodies

🕛 Deadline: Midnight, June 13!

➡️ Enter all three at rainydayrabbitholes.com 🎧 Listen now!
🔗 Full event info: https://mibbbfest.squarespace.com/

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

What do you get when you mix craft beer, cryptids, and a whole lot of laughs? Shea from Rainy Day Rabbit Holes joins the Short Pour Podcast to drink Rogue Brewing’s Batsquatch IPA and unravel the juicy mysteries behind the legendary Bat Squatch.

In this episode, Shea crashes the Short Pour Podcast to sip Batsquatch IPA and dive headfirst into Pacific Northwest cryptid lore. From the weed-fueled origin stories of Bat Squatch to tales of Skamania County’s Bigfoot protection laws, the conversation hops between hazy beers, ridiculous one-star reviews, and Shea’s trademark skeptical humor. You’ll learn about Rogue’s famous Beard Beer, the Great American Beer Festival, and why Shea’s convinced the teenage Bat Squatch witness was just high as a kite. Plus, stick around for hilarious tangents on Momo the Missouri Monster, the Ozark Howler, and the infamous Ape Canyon attack.

🎧 Listen for juicy details, wild theories, and plenty of Pacific Northwest charm.

Make sure to follow the Short Pour Podcast! https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/short-pour/id1730164900

And don’t forget — you can get bonus content, ad-free episodes, and exclusive perks at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.

Catch us three times a week on Radio Tacoma!

Find more at rainydayrabbitholes.com. 

Chapters:
00:00 – Intro & Meet Shea
08:45 – First Beers & Craft Beer Journey
18:20 – Rogue Brewing’s Wild Beers
31:45 – Legend of Bat Squatch
41:10 – The Skeptic’s Take
52:00 – Other PNW Cryptids & Ape Canyon
60:15 – Ridiculous Beer Reviews
66:30 – Bigfoot Laws & Cryptid Culture
75:00 – Rainy Day Rabbit Holes & Sign Off

Batsquatch, Rogue Brewing, cryptids, Pacific Northwest legends, craft beer, hazy IPA, Bat Squatch IPA, Short Pour Podcast, Shea Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, funny cryptid stories, Bigfoot laws, Skamania County Bigfoot, Ape Canyon attack, beer podcast

The Maury Island Incident wasn’t just a weird UFO story — it was the first X-File, complete with FBI agents, bomber crashes, and shadowy Men in Black.

In Part 2 of our conversation with filmmaker and historian Steve Edmiston, Shea and Jody pull you deep into the tangled webs of the Maury Island mystery. Why did J. Edgar Hoover take personal interest in a Washington state UFO case? What secrets were sealed away for 50 years? And was Fred Crisman a truth-teller or just a chaos-loving sociopath? Expect wild laughs, sharp insights, and deep dives into the Men in Black birthday bash, hidden military tests, and why UFO stories still haunt the Northwest.

Listen for our behind-the-scenes takes, award-winning costumes, and why Shea and Jody might just show up at this year’s bash. https://mibbbfest.squarespace.com/

✨ Chapters:

• 00:00 Welcome Back & Bash Teasers
• 10:30 FBI Takes Over UFO Investigation
• 22:15 Agent Jack Wilcox: The First Mulder
• 35:45 Crisman: Sociopath or Storyteller?
• 52:00 Military Secrets vs. UFOs
• 1:05:20 Industrial Waste Theories
• 1:18:00 Future Film & Series Ideas
• 1:25:00 The (Very Real) Struggles of Podcasting

🎧 Don’t miss our bonus content, ad-free episodes, and exclusive perks on Patreon or the Spreaker Supporter’s Club! Join at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support.

🌐 More at rainydayrabbitholes.com.

We’re giving away:

👽 2 pairs of tickets to the June 20 Maury Island Incident screening + afterparty
🕶️ 2 pairs of tickets to the June 21 Men in Black Birthday Bash
🎁 2 exclusive MIBBB swag bags ⚠️ You only have until MIDNIGHT, June 13 to enter!
👉 rainydayrabbitholes.com Enter all three contests + maximize your chances!

Tagging the Umbrella Podcast Collective (@umbrellapodcastcollective) + hear us three times a week on Radio Tacoma (@radiotacoma)!

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

A little behind the scenes bonus conversation we had with filmmaker and Maury Island expert Steve Edmiston. We chat about skepticism, how we create history, and the art of combat storytelling!

Make sure to enter to win tickets to the Men In Black Birthday Bash, happening in Des Moines WA the weekend of June 20th! www.rainydayrabbitholes.com

Find out more at https://mibbbfest.squarespace.com/

Follow the Men In Black Birthday Bash on social!

https://www.facebook.com/622.MIB/
https://www.instagram.com/mibbb622/?hl=en

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

✨ UFOs, Men in Black, and Maury Island Mysteries (with Steve Edmiston) | Part 1
✨ Summary:

In this first episode of a three-part series, Shea and Jody sit down with filmmaker, lawyer, and UFO expert Steve Edmiston to uncover the wild story behind the Maury Island Incident — the Pacific Northwest’s own UFO conspiracy that helped birth the Men in Black legend! We dive into:

👽 The strange events at Maury Island
🕶️ How the term “flying saucer” started here in the PNW
🎬 Steve’s short film The Maury Island Incident
🎉 The upcoming Men In Black Birthday Bash

🎁 How YOU can win tickets + exclusive swag from the event! Stick around for Part 2 + 3, where we explore shady players like Fred Crisman, the legend of Sparky the dog, Roy Olmstead’s bootlegging empire, Yamashita’s gold, and Steve’s fascinating activism work. Links + Resources:

🎟️ Enter the giveaway → rainydayrabbitholes.com
🛸 Learn more about MIBBB Fest → mibbbfest.squarespace.com
🎬 Watch Steve’s film → https://mauryislandincident.com/ 
#MenInBlack #MauryIslandIncident #MIBBBFest #UFOhistory #PNWPodcast #ConspiracyTheories #RainyDayRabbitHoles #PNWstories #PodcastLife #UFOsightings #DragQueenTrivia #UFOEvents #AlienConspiracies #PodcastGiveaway

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

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.

💀 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.

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.