The Box of Oddities

LIVE SHOW TICKETS HERE! New dates being added! EPISODE REWIND: Step into the creaky time machine as we dig up some gloriously odd gems from the archive: The Great Horse Manure Crisis of the 1800s — When cities were drowning in poop, and people feared equine waste would bring about the downfall of civilization. Spoiler: It didn't. But it was a real pile of trouble. The Bretzius House of Horrors — During what was supposed to be a charming home renovation, the Bretzius family unearthed mummified cats, twisted occult artifacts, and one big reason to just rent. Was it witchcraft, folk magic, or just an extreme case of DIY gone wrong? Bachelor’s Grove Cemetery — One of the most haunted graveyards in America, where phantom farmers plow ghostly fields, glowing orbs float like confused fireflies, and spectral cars drive absolutely nowhere. These stories are so strange, you'll think we made them up. We didn’t. History just has a weird sense of humor. Listen now to this Box of Oddities rewind — vintage weirdness, zero manure smell. #BoxOfOddities #HauntedHistory #WeirdFacts #HorseManureCrisis #GhostStories #CursedRenovations #PodcastRewind #TrueWeird #OccultHistory #HauntedCemetery #OddlyFascinating Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 May 2025

Get your live show Tickets and details HERE! Step into a timeline tangle and sip the strangest origin story ever brewed in this episode of The Box of Oddities. First, we explore the baffling time slips of Canevaro Avenue in Lima, Peru, where unsuspecting pedestrians report stepping into centuries-old realities, only to snap back to present day like glitchy NPCs in a haunted simulation. Is it a wrinkle in time or just an aggressive tourist trap? Then: coffee. You drink it, you love it, but did you know its discovery involved a hyperactive goat, a skeptical monk, and possibly divine intervention? Spoiler: it's the most chaotic beverage backstory in history. Get your brain weird and your mug ready—because we’re serving mystery, caffeine, and just enough existential dread to pair perfectly with your morning brew. Fun Facts from this episode: Carnavaro Avenue in Lima, Peru, is reportedly a location where people experience mysterious 'time slips' - momentary shifts into different time periods while walking down a seemingly ordinary street Multiple eyewitnesses have described vivid experiences of seeing the street transform, with people wearing clothing and experiencing environments from different historical eras, ranging from the 1940s to the 1970s Theories about these time slips include potential connections to ley lines, ancient indigenous beliefs about energy portals, and the area's rich historical background with Incan and pre-Incan cultural influences The coffee origin story traces back to Ethiopia, with a legendary account of a goatherd named Kaldi discovering coffee's stimulating effects when his goats became unusually energetic after eating coffee berries Coffee spread from Ethiopia and Yemen to become a global beverage, first through Islamic world coffee houses and later through European exploration and colonial expansion Brazil's entire coffee industry allegedly originated from a single coffee plant smuggled by a French naval officer in 1723, which became the ancestor of over 18 million coffee trees in the Caribbean, Central, and South America Coffee houses historically were not just places to drink, but community hubs for intellectual and political discourse, often viewed with suspicion by religious and political leaders The scientific and cultural understanding of time remains limited, with experiences like those on Carnavaro Avenue suggesting that our perception of time might be more flexible than currently understood #TimeSlips #WeirdHistory #CoffeeOrigin #BoxOfOddities #OddPod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 May 2025

Get Tickets For The Box Of Oddities Live Show Here! This time on The Box of Oddities, we chew through two stories that will leave your brain deliciously baffled. First, travel back to Zürich, 1522, for The Affair of the Sausages—a rebellious feast that helped ignite the Protestant Reformation. When eating meat during Lent becomes a political act, things get oddly spicy. Then, we descend into the shadowy caves of South America to meet the Oil Bird—a nocturnal, echolocating enigma that smells like rancid milk and looks like a feathered flashlight that’s lost its will to live. From religious rebellion fueled by cured meats to a bird that might be part candle, part cryptid, this episode is peak historical weirdness and evolutionary chaos. #BoxOfOddities #WeirdHistory #AffairOfTheSausages #OilBird #StrangeFacts #BizarreBiology #OddPodcast #HistoryNerds #WTFNature Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 May 2025

Get Tickets to The Box Of Oddities Shows Live ⁠HERE!⁠ Pack a lunch and maybe an exorcist—this episode of The Box of Oddities is going full ghost tour. First, we trudge down England’s "corpse roads," where the dead were literally carried across the countryside because Uber hadn’t been invented yet. Are the spirits still commuting? Tune in and find out. Then, it’s off to the haunted Mizpah Hotel in Nevada, where the decor includes vintage wallpaper, bad decisions, and an occasional ghostly slap in the face. From medieval funeral logistics to bed-and-breakfast poltergeist etiquette, it’s a journey through the weird, the haunted, and the deeply questionable. Bring snacks. Possibly holy water. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 April 2025

Get Tickets to The Box Of Oddities Shows Live HERE! When contractors cracked open the aging walls of a 120-year-old department store, they expected dust, maybe a few old rats with top hats. What they didn’t expect was a discovery so bizarre it had the building inspector saying, “Yeah… I’m gonna need backup.” In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro peel back the drywall on a mystery that’s been sealed for over sixty years. Then: before TikTok influencers and Times Square billboards, there were the banner girls—humans turned mobile advertisements, parading products on their bodies with the same enthusiasm as a sandwich board at a conspiracy convention. What happened when marketing met mayhem? You’ll have to hear it to believe it. Tune in for strange secrets, forgotten history, and the kind of content that makes you mutter, “What the weird?” under your breath in public. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 April 2025

TIX TO BOX OF ODDITES LIVE SHOWS ARE NOW ON SALE HERE! Welcome to Inbox of Oddities, where reality takes a smoke break and the inbox bursts open with haunted urns, chalk-eating tulpas, Cold War wristbands, and at least one New Jersey-based armadillo that defies all natural law. In this listener-fueled fever dream: One listener's imaginary friend—Bimble, the caped, spoon-draped chalk connoisseur—appears in someone else’s childhood, uninvited and possibly still out there. A surgical nurse from Kalamazoo fact-checks a historical deep dive and dishes on a defunct statue that looked like it belonged in a museum labeled “Regret.” A cat becomes a Latin-hating oracle, an ER trip turns mildly conspiratorial, and Albania is revealed to be bunker-rich and surprisingly scenic. Also: haunted urn gymnastics, ritual birthmarks, a cheese grater mishap, armadillo teleportation, and a touching reminder that kindness still matters—even when your neighbor might be a Siberian shaman. Come for the mystery. Stay because your pet just growled at the speaker and now you can’t blink. BOO is powered by your stories—and possibly interdimensional rodent portals. #BoxOfOddities #InboxOfOddities #WeirdPodcast #ListenerTales #HauntedUrn #ImaginaryFriendOrDemon #SiberianShamanNeighbor #PossessedCat #BunkerTourism #PodcastWeirdness #StayBizarre #FreakFlagFlying Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 25 April 2025

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, your curiosity is about to be abducted—possibly by a 19th-century mermaid in a UFO-shaped boat. First, we plunge into the Utsuro-bune Incident—a baffling tale from 1803 Japan involving a mysterious woman, a sealed vessel, and just enough alien energy to make your eyebrows levitate. Then, we trek into the frosty footprint of Peter Freuchen, the towering Dutch explorer who survived the Arctic by literally pooping his way out of an ice prison. Yes, really. Prepare for mystery, adventure, and bodily function-based survival tactics, all served with that signature Box of Oddities flavor: one part absurdity, two parts historical weirdness. Listen now before your toilet brush becomes sentient. #HistoryPodcast #WeirdHistory #BizarreButTrue #TheBoxOfOddities #UFOFolklore #ArcticExplorer #OddPod Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 April 2025

The Psychology of Heaven's Gate and Nan Songer, The Spider Lady What makes a person trade all earthly belongings for a pair of Nikes and a one-way ticket on a UFO behind a comet? In this episode, Jethro dives into the unnerving psychology behind the Heaven’s Gate cult: belief, identity, and how a group of intelligent, seemingly rational people boarded the strangest spaceship never built. Then Kat introduces us to Nan Songer—California’s charming, eccentric “Spider Lady”—who became famous for her eight-legged companions and a personal brand that was equal parts science, spectacle, and complete arachnid chaos. So, please ensure your seat is in its upright and fully locked position: One story might make you question the nature of belief, while the other might make you check your shoes. Listen now wherever pods are cast! #HeavensGate #CultPsychology #SpiderLady #NanSonger #BoxOfOddities #TrueWeird #OddlyFascinating #CultsAndCritters #SpidersAndSpaceships If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 April 2025

The Portal Opens at 2:13 PM (And Smells Like Popcorn) In this curiously chaotic installment of Inbox of Oddities, the freaks are flying high, the lawn gnomes are marching with purpose, and at least one Alexa may be orchestrating an ancient sand-based summoning ritual. A possessed kitchen appliance taps out Morse code mid-spaghetti. A haunted mirror whispers the name Trevor. And somewhere in France, a brave listener dry-heaves her way off the highway thanks to an unsolicited deep dive into the glamorous world of… vomit collectors. Also: dog grief, wisdom teeth trauma, spectral cologne, and a disappearing cat named Muffin with possible ties to the multiverse (or at least a smoky Victorian parlor). From ghostly pasta warnings to post-mortem flower shotgun shells, this episode is a love letter to the gloriously weird lives of our listeners—and a gentle reminder to always question a migrating garden gnome. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 April 2025

In this episode, Jethro explores Tulip Mania, the 17th-century Dutch financial disaster that saw people selling their homes for tulip bulbs. Yes, actual tulips. Because nothing screams economic stability like mortgaging the farm for a flower. Meanwhile, Kat saddles up for the story of the Pack Horse Libraries—badass Depression-era librarians who braved mountains, rivers, and wild animals just to make sure rural America had something to read besides old seed catalogs. From botanical bubbles to literary cowboys, it’s another journey into the gloriously bizarre. Because if history teaches us anything, it's that humans will do anything—whether it’s trading goats for petals or delivering Mark Twain via muleback. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 April 2025

The question is, what do a three-legged man and a biblical seafood storm have in common? Absolutely nothing—except they’re both real and demand answers. In this episode, Kat and Jethro dive leg-first into the astonishing life of Frank Lentini, the sideshow legend born with three legs and two sets of male genitalia. Then, hold onto your galoshes—because we’re heading to Honduras, where the skies have been raining fish with unnerving regularity. Is it divine intervention, aquatic aviation, or just an overachieving waterspout? Prepare to question everything you know about anatomy, meteorology, and lunch. #FrankLentini #RainOfFish #WeirdHistory #StrangeWeather #SideshowLegends #OdditiesPodcast #BoxOfOddities #TrueWeird #CuriosityCurse #BizarreButTrue Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 April 2025

This week on The Box of Oddities, it's Freak Family Friday—our sacred ritual of opening the email portal and unleashing your most unsettling, hilarious, and "wait, is this even legal?" listener stories. Plus, we’re digging into the archive crypt to resurrect some of your most requested weirdest-of-the-weird episodes. Listener love, spine-tingling flashbacks and enough oddities to make a taxidermist weep with joy—this episode is stitched together with your weirdest, wildest, most wonderful words. #BoxOfOddities #WeirdPodcast #TrueWeird #HauntedInbox #ListenerStories #CreepyEmails #FreakFamilyFriday #PodcastRecommendations #OddButTrue #AbsurdHistory Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 April 2025

Why does a six-story elephant loom over the Jersey Shore like a Victorian kaiju? And what kind of dystopian mollusk surveillance program is Poland running these days? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro investigate the bizarre legacy of Lucy the Elephant. This 138-year-old wooden behemoth once moonlighted as a real estate lure, a tavern, and possibly the most haunted elephant architecture in history. Then it’s off to Warsaw, where the city’s water purity is guarded not by scientists but by clams—actual clams—with jobs. Learn how these shelled sentinels are hooked up to biometric sensors and become the unsung bivalve heroes of municipal hygiene. A pachyderm with a history. Mollusks with a mission. Just another day in the oddiverse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 9 April 2025

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we begin with the extraordinary life—and tragic death—of Khaled al-Asaad, the Syrian archaeologist who courageously protected the ancient city of Palmyra from destruction. Refusing to reveal the location of hidden treasures, he faced unspeakable brutality to ensure the survival of irreplaceable history. His legacy is carved not in stone but in sacrifice. Then, from solemnity to sheer absurdity, we dive headfirst into The Great Stork Derby—a 1930s Canadian legal spectacle where a millionaire’s will turned childbirth into a competitive sport. Yes, a real-life baby-making contest. What happens when estate law meets aggressive procreation? A weirdly fertile lawsuit. Two stories: one man dies for ancient artifacts; several women compete for a fortune by having the most artifacts. Heroism and hilarity. Antiquity and maternity. Welcome to The Box. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 April 2025

Inbox of Oddities #043: The Duck, the Frog, and the Glitch in the Gas Station Matrix In this electrifying edition of the Inbox of Oddities, the Freakverse flexes hard. A lonely duck returns with backup, a frog named Jeffrey maybe poisons a listener via tongue-torch, and the plumbing gods get petty when mocked. Also in this episode: mail-predicting cats and a bathroom mirror that knocks back. Listener tales of the absurd, uncanny, and accidentally profound. Is the universe trying to tell us something? Maybe. Is it doing so through ceiling fans and ducks with vendettas? Definitely. Submit your stories. Fly your freak flag. And remember: if your backyard starts shrinking or your cat joins the postal service… you're probably not alone. #InboxOfOddities #BoxOfOddities #StayWeird #GlitchInTheMatrix #DuckRevenge #FreakVerse #WeirdStories #SupernaturalHumor Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 4 April 2025

What do a mysterious metal orb and a sadistic ultramarathon have in common? They’re both ready to ruin your weekend—and they’re both in this episode of The Box of Oddities. First, Kat and Jethro roll into the strange saga of the Betz Sphere—a shiny, sentient-looking ball discovered in Florida that might be haunted, alien... or just really into Foghat. Then, lace up for the Barkley Marathons, the grueling backwoods race that has chewed up Navy SEALs and spit out their shoelaces. With no official start time, no GPS, and a course mapped in blood and sarcasm, it’s less “fun run” and more “forest-based psychological thriller.” From paranormal spheres to sadistic sprints, this episode dives headfirst into the bizarre. Because who needs sanity when you’ve got The Box of Oddities? If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 April 2025

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, things get weird—fast. First, JG explores the chilling legend and even chillier reality of Wendigo psychosis—a rare (and horrifyingly real) condition where individuals become obsessed with consuming human flesh. Spoiler: It’s not a new fad diet. Then, Kat balances the darkness with heartwarming stories of random acts of kindness that didn’t just make someone’s day—they triggered astonishing ripple effects across lives, time zones, and possibly dimensions. It’s cannibalism meets compassion, because why not? Tune in for a mind-bending blend of the macabre, mysterious, and meaningful, delivered with the trademark curiosity and humor you expect from The Box of Oddities. Whether you're into dark folklore, psychological anomalies, or unexpected tearjerkers, this episode has your weird little heart covered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 31 March 2025

What do a duck with refined musical taste, a prophetic child, a phantom couch with mom-guilt, and a mysterious man named “Lars” (who pays in silver and fears airborne horsefish) all have in common? In this latest Inbox of Oddities episode, they’re all real tales from you, the wonderfully weird freak family. Join Kat and JG as they dive headfirst into listener-submitted stories featuring: Sleep paralysis demons who look suspiciously like mom Time-looping tabbies named Beebo Haunted projectors and accidental lube product placements Military radio ghosts and emotionally supportive succulents A dog who literally bowled over an entire town Plus: meet the man who wants a Heineken in his cold dead hand, a taco-bearing dream intruder with your Gmail password, and the legend of the village that said, “Yes, we will roll cannonballs down Main Street.” Weird? Absolutely. Heartwarming? Surprisingly. Hilarious? Always. The freak flag flies high in this one. #Podcast #WeirdStories #SleepParalysis #Paranormal #BoxOfOddities #InboxOfOddities #HauntedHouse #TimeLoop #GhostSignals #PodcastCommunity #ListenerStories #TrueWeirdness #DuckTalesButWeirder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 March 2025

Operation Highjump and Tycho Brahe Was Antarctica the site of a secret Nazi UFO battle? And did a 16th-century astronomer really keep a pet elk... that kept falling down the stairs? In this delightfully peculiar episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro dive deep into the chilling conspiracy theories behind Operation Highjump, a U.S. Navy mission shrouded in mystery, paranoia—and possibly interdimensional penguins. Then, it’s off to the Renaissance, where the brilliant but wildly eccentric Tycho Brahe charts the stars while hosting epic parties, wearing a brass nose, and feuding with a man over math (which ends precisely how you'd expect). Join us as we explore the weird, the wonderful, and the questionably historical. Because when facts get strange, we dig stranger. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 March 2025

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat, and Jethro unbox a double dose of historical weirdness and cultural curiosity. First, meet Gebhard Leberecht von Blücher—Prussian war hero, chaos gremlin, and the kind of guy who believed he was pregnant with an elephant. (Spoiler: He wasn’t.) His wild behavior helped defeat Napoleon but also raised a few powdered eyebrows. Then, we head to the island of Pere in Papua New Guinea, where death isn’t just a biological inconvenience—it’s a suspicious social faux pas. In these ancient belief systems, people don’t just die… someone causes it. Naturally. Because obviously. Ghosts, generals, and a little gastrointestinal confusion—what more could you want? 🎧 Tap play for bizarre military delusions and deeply-held death conspiracies from cultures that see the afterlife very differently. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] #WeirdHistory #DeathCulture #BoxOfOddities #TrueWeird #BlücherFacts #PapuaNewGuinea #Oddcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 March 2025

The Inbox of Oddities is a delightful bonus episode where Kat and Jethro dive into the treasure trove of listener emails, comments, and messages sent by you—the ever-curious Freak Family. From spine-tingling personal encounters with the paranormal to bizarre trivia, mysterious coincidences, and even a touch of the hilariously strange, this episode is a wild ride of oddities shared by the ones who make this community so unique. Tune in for heartfelt stories, jaw-dropping revelations, and the twisted humor that makes every episode of The Box of Oddities an unforgettable experience. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 March 2025

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we unravel two wildly bizarre tales that will leave you questioning reality itself. First, Jethro dives into the terrifying legend of the Red Ghost of Arizona—a monstrous, bloodthirsty creature that terrorized the Old West, leaving a trail of destruction and something even more horrifying in its wake. Then, Kat sets sail with the SS Sapona, a ship with a strange past that feels like a fever dream. This Prohibition-era vessel went from a floating rum depot to a military target, and today, it’s a sunken relic with an eerie presence—and Kat actually dived on it. Strange creatures, haunted shipwrecks, and inexplicable oddities? Just another day at The Box of Oddities! If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] #WeirdHistory #ParanormalMysteries #RedGhost #Shipwrecks #BoxOfOddities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 March 2025

Elmer McCurdy Won’t Stay Dead & Sapphire Sandalo on the Spirit World What happens when an Old West outlaw refuses to stay buried—literally? The saga of Elmer McCurdy, the train-robbing bandit-turned-traveling-corpse, takes another bizarre twist. We’ve got the latest on his posthumous misadventures because, apparently, being dead is just a minor inconvenience. Then, we delve into the supernatural with Sapphire Sandalo, paranormal investigator, co-investigator on The Ghost Town Terror (Travel Channel), and host of Stories with Sapphire. From ghostly encounters to the ethics of spirit communication, she shares eerie firsthand experiences that will make you question what’s lurking in the shadows. Do the dead really speak—or are we just bad at listening? Expect weirdness, true tales of the unexplained, and all the creepy-cool strangeness you love from The Box of Oddities. #TrueCrime #Paranormal #GhostStories #HauntedHistory #BoxOfOddities If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 March 2025

The Inbox of Oddities is a delightful bonus episode where Kat and Jethro dive into the treasure trove of listener emails, comments, and messages sent by you—the ever-curious Freak Family. From spine-tingling personal encounters with the paranormal to bizarre trivia, mysterious coincidences, and even a touch of the hilariously strange, this episode is a wild ride of oddities shared by the ones who make this community so unique. Tune in for heartfelt stories, jaw-dropping revelations, and the twisted humor that makes every episode of The Box of Oddities an unforgettable experience. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 March 2025

What do interdimensional beings and the freakiest game of evolutionary Jenga have in common? Absolutely nothing—except they’re both on today’s episode of The Box of Oddities! First, we plunge headfirst into the psychedelic rabbit hole of DMT and the Machine Elves—the eerie, hyper-intelligent entities that thousands claim to encounter during their otherworldly trips. Are they hallucinations, cosmic tricksters, or proof we live in a simulation? (Or all of the above?) Then, we crane our necks (pun absolutely intended) to explore the bizarre, twisty-turny story of neck evolution. From giraffes to humans to a particular dinosaur that took things way too far, we break down why necks are basically nature’s weirdest flex. Get ready for mind-melting mysteries and evolutionary oddities—because reality is way stranger than fiction. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] #Podcast #WeirdScience #DMT #MachineElves #Evolution #StayCurious Share Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 March 2025

Plum Island and Alice Clement Is a top-secret government island harboring bioengineered nightmares? Probably. But does it also have weirdly aggressive seagulls? Absolutely. This episode of The Box of Oddities unravels the bizarre conspiracies swirling around Plum Island—a place so mysterious it makes Area 51 look like a roadside gift shop. Then, we step back to the Roaring Twenties to meet Alice Clement, a detective who cracked cases, rocked the latest fashions, and single-handedly proved that crime-fighting could involve both grit and style. How did this flapper-era policewoman bust criminals with a flair that put Hollywood to shame? And what really lurks beyond Plum Island’s restricted shores? Strap in for a wild ride of mystery, history, and possibly some biohazardous seagulls. Listen now—before they censor it! If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] #TrueCrime #HistoryMystery #ConspiracyTheories #WeirdHistory #BoxOfOddities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 March 2025

The Inbox of Oddities is a delightful bonus episode where Kat and Jethro dive into the treasure trove of listener emails, comments, and messages sent by you—the ever-curious Freak Family. From spine-tingling personal encounters with the paranormal to bizarre trivia, mysterious coincidences, and even a touch of the hilariously strange, this episode is a wild ride of oddities shared by the ones who make this community so unique. Tune in for heartfelt stories, jaw-dropping revelations, and the twisted humor that makes every episode of The Box of Oddities an unforgettable experience. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 March 2025

The Toilet Bowl Parade & A Call from the Dead—Strange But True! What do a parade of toilets and a phone call from beyond the grave have in common? They’re both gloriously bizarre—and they’re both in this episode of The Box of Oddities! First, we plunge into the world of the Toilet Bowl Parade, an annual event where porcelain thrones take center stage, proving that even plumbing can be pageantry. Who decided that toilets needed their own parade? And more importantly, why? Then, things get even stranger with the eerie true story of Simma Lieberman, who received a chilling phone call… from a man who was already dead. Was it a glitch in the matrix? A ghostly long-distance charge? Or something even weirder? Flush away your expectations and dive into an episode full of the strange, the unexplained, and the wonderfully absurd. Because reality is always weirder than fiction. #WeirdHistory #Paranormal #BoxOfOddities #HauntedCalls #ToiletBowlParade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 March 2025

Ghost Transmissions from the Vietnam War and The History of Prostitution Some say the dead don’t speak—but what if they broadcast? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we tune in to the eerie world of ghostly transmissions from the Vietnam War. Could long-lost soldiers still be sending distress signals through the static through some glitch in the matrix? Are there more grounded theories? Or maybe a combination of all? Then, we take a deep dive into the complex, scandalous, and often surprising history of prostitution. From ancient sacred rituals to modern legal battles, the world’s oldest profession has a past that’s as shocking as it is fascinating. Strange radio signals, spectral voices, and a career choice with a history more tangled than your headphone wires—what more could you ask for? Tune in for a mix of the bizarre, the mysterious, and the hilarious, only on The Box of Oddities! #GhostSignals #ParanormalMysteries #HistoryOfProstitution #BoxOfOddities #StrangeButTrue If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 March 2025

In this episode of Freak Family Favorites, we ask the following question: What happens when a person literally freezes solid and somehow lives to tell the tale? Meet Jean Hilliard, the woman who defied science after spending six hours in subzero temperatures—completely frozen. Then, we waddle into the world of the kākāpō, the 9-pound, nocturnal, flightless parrot that’s just as bizarre as it sounds (and somehow weirder). Finally, we explore some of the most haunting and downright unsettling last words ever spoken on a deathbed. From chilling final confessions to cryptic utterances that leave more questions than answers, you won’t believe what some people say before they go. Prepare for mystery, absurdity, and just the right amount of dark humor—it’s another delightfully weird ride with The Box of Oddities! #WeirdHistory #TrueStories #ParrotFacts #FrozenMiracle #FinalWords #Podcast If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 February 2025

The Lakewood Artillery Shell Incident & Nature’s Tiny Assassins What do you do when a giant artillery shell crashes into your backyard? If your answer is “casually mow around it for years,”—congratulations, you would be so very, very not correct. We'll tell you the story of an unsuspecting homeowner at the center of the Lakewood artillery shell incident. Then, we shift gears (and continents) to uncover the real deadliest creatures on Earth. Sharks? Nope. Not even close. The truth is often lurking where you least expect it. From deceptively adorable killers to insects with murder in their tiny hearts, you may never look at nature the same way again. Explosive discoveries and microscopic menace await—so strap in for another wild ride with The Box of Oddities! #TrueCrime #WeirdHistory #DeadlyAnimals #PodcastRecommendations #StrangerThanFiction Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 26 February 2025

Strap in for a ride through the bizarre and the badass! In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we set sail on the doomed T-36 barge—because what’s more fun than an ice-clogged death trap in the middle of the North Pacific? Discover the harrowing tale of survival, mystery, and a terrifying maritime disaster that makes your morning commute look like a spa day. Then, we shift gears as we meet Bessie Stringfield, the fearless motorcyclist who shattered racial and gender barriers while riding solo across America. From surviving the Jim Crow era on two wheels to performing death-defying stunts, Bessie proved that nothing—not even 1930s societal norms—could slow her down. Whether you love nautical nightmares or trailblazing triumphs, this episode is packed with history, horror, and horsepower. #WeirdHistory #SurvivalStories #MotorcycleLegends #BoxOfOddities If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2025

The Inbox of Oddities is a delightful bonus episode where Kat and Jethro dive into the treasure trove of listener emails, comments, and messages sent by you—the ever-curious Freak Family. From spine-tingling personal encounters with the paranormal to bizarre trivia, mysterious coincidences, and even a touch of the hilariously strange, this episode is a wild ride of oddities shared by the ones who make this community so unique. Tune in for heartfelt stories, jaw-dropping revelations, and the twisted humor that makes every episode of The Box of Oddities an unforgettable experience.  If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2025

Doom Unleashed – Timur’s Cursed Tomb & the Man-Eating Lions of Tsavo Some legends are just old stories… and then some prove themselves terrifyingly real. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Jethro and Kat unravel the eerie curse of Timur’s Tomb, a chilling prophecy that may have ignited one of the deadliest conflicts in history. Did disturbing the warlord’s grave actually unleash a catastrophe—or was it just a spine-tingling coincidence? Then, we journey to the dark heart of Africa for the true story behind The Ghost and the Darkness—a pair of bloodthirsty lions that turned a railway project into an all-you-can-eat buffet (for them). What drove these fearsome beasts to hunt humans? And just how many unfortunate souls ended up on the menu? Graves, curses, and ravenous apex predators—just another day at the office for Box of Oddities. Listen now… if you dare! 🎧🔮🦁 #Podcast #TrueCrime #History #CursedTombs #ManEatingLions #BoxOfOddities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 February 2025

The Starlight Tours, aka The Saskatoon Freezing Deaths and The Phantom Barber In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we unravel the haunting case of the Saskatoon freezing deaths, where Indigenous men were abandoned in subzero temperatures by local police—an unsettling true crime story that’s both horrifying and heartbreakingly real. Then, we tiptoe into the baffling and bizarre tale of the Phantom Barber, a sneaky criminal who broke into homes—not to steal valuables but to give haircuts to unsuspecting victims as they slept. Why? That’s the million-dollar question. It's a strange journey into true crime, dark history, and weird mysteries that will leave you questioning everything—including your next haircut. Hit play… if you dare. #TrueCrime #WeirdHistory #Podcast #SaskatoonFreezingDeaths #PhantomBarber #BoxOfOddities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 February 2025

The Inbox of Oddities is a delightful bonus episode where Kat and Jethro dive into the treasure trove of listener emails, comments, and messages sent by you—the ever-curious Freak Family. From spine-tingling personal encounters with the paranormal to bizarre trivia, mysterious coincidences, and even a touch of the hilariously strange, this episode is a wild ride of oddities shared by the ones who make this community so unique. Tune in for heartfelt stories, jaw-dropping revelations, and the twisted humor that makes every episode of The Box of Oddities an unforgettable experience. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 February 2025

Mad Travelers Syndrome & The Science of Blushing Ever woken up convinced you're supposed to be somewhere else—like, on another continent? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we unravel the baffling Mad Travelers’ Phenomenon, where people suddenly believe they must embark on an urgent, often nonsensical journey and don't remember any of it. Passport not required—just a healthy disregard for logic. Then, we dive face-first into the science of blushing. Why do humans alone turn into tomatoes when embarrassed? From secret evolutionary advantages to awkward social moments, we expose the bizarre reasons behind this involuntary trait. Spoiler: It involves shame, science, and the occasional mating ritual. Join us for a journey through the weird, the mysterious, and the oddly relatable. Hit play and prepare for some deeply unnecessary wanderlust—and even more unnecessary blushing. #Podcast #WeirdHistory #MadTravelers #HumanNature #BoxOfOddities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 February 2025

A Serial Killer & Tobacco Where?! – Box of Oddities What do an elusive serial killer and some genuinely questionable medical practices have in common? Nothing—except that they’re both unbelievably weird, unsettling, and featured in this episode! First, Kat unpacks the chilling case of the Connecticut River Valley Killer, an unidentified predator who terrorized New England with a string of brutal attacks. Who was behind these unsolved crimes, and could they still be out there? (Spoiler: Probably. Sleep well.) Then, Jethro takes a deep inhale of history’s most baffling medical treatments—tobacco enemas. Yes, you read that correctly. Once upon a time, doctors thought blowing smoke up your…well…you know was a cure-all. Turns out, it was just as terrible an idea as it sounds. Murder, mystery, and medically sanctioned nonsense—what more could you ask for? Listen now! #TrueCrime #MedicalHistory #WeirdFacts #Mysteries #BoxOfOddities #Podcast If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 10 February 2025

In this episode of Freak Family Favorites, we ask, Did Magic Mushrooms Make Us Human? And Why Is That Guy Getting Pelted with Turnips? In this mind-bending episode of The Box of Oddities, we dive into the Stoned Ape Theory—the wild idea that psychedelics might have turbocharged human evolution. Did our ancestors owe their intelligence to a little fungal inspiration? Then, we journey to Spain’s Jarramplas Festival, where a man willingly gets pelted with turnips for reasons that remain as mysterious as they are bruising. Finally, we ascend into the eerie world of the ghosts of Mount Everest, where lost climbers are said to wander the frozen peaks—forever. Is it the altitude playing tricks, or are restless spirits still summiting? Prepare for an episode packed with brain-expanding theories, high-velocity root vegetables, and spectral mountaineers. Because when it comes to history, science, and the unexplained, The Box of Oddities proves truth is always stranger than fiction. #WeirdHistory #Paranormal #StonedApeTheory #JarramplasFestival #GhostsOfEverest #BoxOfOddities If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 7 February 2025

What if time travel wasn’t just science fiction? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we unravel the mind-bending concept of the Tipler Cylinder. This theoretical object could, in theory, send you spiraling through time like a cosmic waterslide. Could it actually work? Is it working now? And if so… where do we sign up? Then, we shift gears (and centuries) With guest host Nan McNamara to uncover why St. Paul, Minnesota, became the go-to gangster paradise in the early 1900s. Spoiler: It wasn’t the weather. From public enemies to backroom deals, we dig into the secret arrangement that turned this Midwestern city into a criminal utopia. Get ready for a journey through wormholes and whiskey-fueled heists. Time travel, notorious gangsters, and the unexpected weirdness of history—it’s all here! If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] #Podcast #TrueCrime #TimeTravel #History #BoxOfOddities #WeirdScience #StrangeHistory #GangsterLife Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 5 February 2025

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we explore two mind-boggling tales: the eerie case of Patient X, a medical mystery so bizarre it left doctors questioning everything they knew about the human body. Was it science? Was it sorcery? Or was it just a really weird Tuesday? Then, we unearth a long-forgotten, top-secret speech—written just in case the Apollo 11 astronauts didn’t make it back from the moon. Because nothing says “historic achievement” like also planning for catastrophic space doom. Who wrote this chilling message? And why does it read like the script for the world’s most unsettling Oscar speech? Join Jethro and Lindsay Schnebley, who are sitting in for Kat on a journey through the weird, the unsettling, and the oddly hilarious. Because history is stranger than fiction—and sometimes, way darker. #TheBoxOfOddities #MedicalMystery #Apollo11 #NASASecrets #WeirdHistory #PatientX #Podcast If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 3 February 2025

In this special hybrid episode, we’re combining the best of both worlds—The Inbox of Oddities and Freak Family Favorites! This episode kicks off with some of your wildest listener emails—because who doesn’t love a good strange coincidence or paranormal encounter? You shared your weirdest moments with us, and we’re ready to unpack them, from haunted keychains to mysterious disappearances. After that, we’re turning up the heat with one of our favorite freaky tales: spontaneous human combustion! It’s a topic that will make you question your every move (and maybe even reach for the fire extinguisher). Then, we take a look at the bizarre behaviors we still engage in today, thanks to evolution. From irrational fears to strange habits, we explore how our ancient instincts might be responsible for some of the odd things we do in the modern world. It’s an episode packed with listener contributions, creepy science, and a whole lot of unexpected oddities. Tune in for this one-of-a-kind mashup of the weird and the wonderful. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 31 January 2025

What if the universe had a plan… or at least a wicked sense of humor? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we unravel a jaw-dropping tale of a life-changing event that defies logic. Was it random chance? A cosmic wink? Or something far more miraculous? You decide. Then, Nan McNamara fills in for Kat and steps into the shadowy halls of Glensheen Mansion, the site of one of America’s most infamous murders. With a setting straight out of a gothic novel and enough intrigue to make your spine tingle, the murder of Elisabeth Congdon is a mystery dripping with scandal, secrets, and sheer weirdness. Join us for coincidences, dark mysteries, and the inexplicable await! Buckle up, oddlings—this is one episode you can’t miss. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] #TrueCrime #Synchronicity #WeirdHistory #MurderMystery #PodcastLife Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 29 January 2025

What do AI, augmented reality, and an antique telegraph inside a casket have in common? They’re all part of humanity’s centuries-old obsession with chatting up the dearly departed! In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore the eerie evolution of using technology to interact with the dead—from Victorian gadgets to cutting-edge AI that might just make "ghosting" a whole new thing. But that’s not all—brace yourself as they dive into the unintended (and deeply uncomfortable) souvenirs people accidentally receive during surgery. Sponge? Check. Surgical tool? Check. An entire scalpel? Yep. You won’t believe what’s been left behind! Prepare for a wild ride through the macabre, mysterious, and downright bizarre. Join us for laughs, chills, and a few jaw-dropping “Wait, WHAT?!” moments. 🎧 #WeirdHistory #HauntedTech #SurgeryFails #PodcastFun If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 27 January 2025

The Inbox of Oddities is a delightful bonus episode where Kat and Jethro dive into the treasure trove of listener emails, comments, and messages sent by you—the ever-curious Freak Family. From spine-tingling personal encounters with the paranormal to bizarre trivia, mysterious coincidences, and even a touch of the hilariously strange, this episode is a rollercoaster of oddities shared by the ones who make this community so special. Tune in for heartfelt stories, jaw-dropping revelations, and the signature humor that makes every episode of The Box of Oddities an unforgettable experience. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 24 January 2025

What prowls the dark Wisconsin backroads, leaving behind tales of terror and… maybe a little fur? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we sink our teeth into the chilling legend of the Bray Road Beast—a creature so mysterious it makes Bigfoot look like an open book. Is it a werewolf, a cryptid, or just the world's angriest raccoon? Then, we sniff out answers to the ultimate question: What does the Moon smell like? Or space? Or even a diamond when it’s burned (yes, diamonds burn—it’s a thing)? Dive nose-first into the unexpected aromas of things you’ll never get to sniff IRL as we uncover the science and mystery behind these out-of-this-world scents. Curiosity might kill cats, but it feeds us. Tune in for a peculiar ride filled with monsters, moon dust, and a sprinkle of delightful weirdness. #BrayRoadBeast #CryptidLore #WeirdScience #TheBoxOfOddities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 22 January 2025

Prepare to clutch your pearls and adjust your tinfoil hats as The Box of Oddities dives into the dark, dramatic, and downright bizarre! In this devilishly delightful episode, we explore the Satanic Panic of the 1980s, a moral hysteria that had suburban parents convinced their neighbors were secret Satan-worshiping cultists. From heavy metal album burnings to questionable daycare accusations, it’s a cautionary tale of how fear, misinformation, and a little too much daytime TV can send society spiraling into chaos. Then, we take on 666, the number that makes hotel elevators skip a floor and sends shivers down numerologists’ spines. Is it truly the “number of the beast,” or just ancient branding gone rogue? We unravel its biblical origins, occult meanings, and modern-day pop culture cameos that prove this sinister figure isn’t done stirring the pot. Dive into the madness—your ears will thank you! #TrueCrime #OccultHistory #SatanicPanic #PodcastLovers #666 If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 20 January 2025

The inbox of Oddities is a delightful bonus episode where Kat and Jethro dive into the treasure trove of listener emails, comments, and messages sent by you—the ever-curious Freak Family. From spine-tingling personal encounters with the paranormal to bizarre trivia, mysterious coincidences, and even a touch of the hilariously strange, this episode is a rollercoaster of oddities shared by the ones who make this community so special. Tune in for heartfelt stories, jaw-dropping revelations, and the signature humor that makes every episode of The Box of Oddities an unforgettable experience.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 17 January 2025

What do a wildly beloved school cat and a baseball player with a firetruck obsession have in common? They’re both delightfully odd and waiting for you in this episode of The Box of Oddities! First, unravel the purr-fectly peculiar story of Room 8, the stray cat who became a permanent resident of a California classroom, winning hearts and raising eyebrows along the way. How does a feline end up on yearbook pages and immortalized in local lore? Then, step up to the plate with Rube Waddell, the eccentric pitcher who traded curveballs for firehoses between games. From wrestling alligators to chasing fire engines, Rube’s life was a curveball of its own. Join Kat and Jethro as they dive into two wildly bizarre tales of unexpected fame and fiery passion. It’s a doubleheader of quirky charm you won’t want to miss! #Oddities #Podcast #WeirdHistory #CatStories #BaseballLegends #Room8 #RubeWaddell Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 15 January 2025

What do a grisly public execution and a pack of socially conscious canines have in common? They’re both waiting for you in this delightfully strange The Box of Oddities episode! First, explore the gruesome tale of William Jobling, a miner whose horrifying punishment—being gibbeted and left to rot in a metal cage—made him an eerie symbol of injustice in 19th-century England. What did Jobling do to deserve such a fate? And why does the word "gibbet" sound like it belongs in a pirate movie? Then, brace yourself for the paws-itively incredible story of the dogs who helped spark social change. These four-legged revolutionaries weren't fetching sticks—they were fetching justice. Discover how humanity's best friends played a role in historic moments of progress. It’s a macabre-meets-wholesome adventure you won’t want to miss! #BoxOfOddities #TrueCrime #WeirdHistory #DogsOfInstagram #StrangeButTrue #HistoryPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 13 January 2025