Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged

🎙️ 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

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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 [email protected] 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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🎤 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.

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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. 🎸🍷😂

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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

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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.

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

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: [email protected]

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 [email protected] to get involved.

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

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.

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