The Box of Oddities

The Box of Oddities Live! Learn More Here! Stranded, forgotten, and surprisingly resourceful—this week on The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro unearth the astonishing tale of the Tromelin Island survivors: enslaved people abandoned on a desolate speck in the Indian Ocean who managed to outwit fate for 15 years. Then, brace yourself for a prehistoric predator with a flair for theatrics—meet the galloping crocodile of the Cretaceous. Yes, it had hooves in spirit and a hunger in bone. From lost islands to sprinting swamp monsters, this episode dives headfirst into evolutionary plot twists and historical footnotes that read like sci-fi. Discover the odd, the unbelievable, and the strangely inspiring stories your textbooks politely ignored. 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: 23 June 2025

In this edition of Freak Family Favorites, Kat and Jethro peel back the powdered wig to reveal Ben Franklin’s freakier side—lightning rods and diplomacy were just the beginning. Then, it's off to Arizona, where a bizarre cryptid roams the cactus-laced landscapes, defying explanation and probably sunscreen. Finally, a fiery detour into the past with St. Anthony’s Fire: a hallucinogenic medieval nightmare served with a side of rye bread and screaming. Expect the weird, the wild, and the medically inadvisable. It’s history, mystery, and grotesque biology all rolled into one electrifying episode. 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 June 2025

LIVE SHOW TICKETS HERE! What do a vanished German tourist and an indestructible socialite have in common? Absolutely nothing—except they’re both ridiculously fascinating. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Jethro dives headfirst into the chilling and baffling case of Lars Mittank, the man who ran out of a Bulgarian airport... and into thin air. Was it paranoia, foul play, or something far stranger? Buckle in, because this one gets weird. Meanwhile, Kat uncovers the epic life of Margaret Tobin Brown. Activist. Icon. Titanic Survivor. If you like your history strange and your mysteries bottomless, you’ve found your people. Hit play, and let’s get uncomfortably curious. #TrueCrime #MysteryPodcast #LarsMittank #MollyBrown #TheBoxOfOddities #WeirdHistory #UnexplainedDisappearance #TitanicIcon #CuriosityKillsBoredom Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 18 June 2025

LIVE SHOW TICKETS HERE! The Brainiac Butcher & Presidential Plot Twists In this delightfully disturbing episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro dig up the brain of Edward H. Rulloff—literally. Once hailed as a linguistic genius, Rulloff also had a slight… homicidal streak. Turns out, being brilliant doesn’t mean you aren’t also a total sociopath. Come for the criminal mastermind, stay for the post-mortem brain measurements. Then, we ask the question no one seems to answer honestly: What exactly do U.S. presidents do after leaving office? The answer: anything from eradicating Guinea Worm infestation to distilling whiskey. Some post-presidential lives are more bizarre than their time in office—and that’s saying something. If you're into true crime, presidential weirdness, or unusually large brains in jars, you need this episode in your life. #TrueCrimePodcast #WeirdHistory #BoxOfOddities #PresidentialTrivia #StrangeButTrue #BrainInAJar Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 June 2025

Live Show Tickets! Father’s Day Bonus: The Relentless Father – The André Bamberski Story When 14-year-old Kalinka Bamberski died under mysterious circumstances in 1982 while visiting her mother and German stepfather, authorities dismissed her death as unfortunate, but natural. One person refused to believe that. Her father, André Bamberski, embarked on a 30-year odyssey of obsession, investigation, and international scandal in pursuit of the man he believed responsible: Dr. Dieter Krombach. This Father’s Day, we explore a chilling and extraordinary tale of paternal love pushed to its limits. It's a story of loss, obsession, and one man’s unwavering resolve to force justice across borders—by any means necessary. It’s not just a crime story. It’s a story about what happens when a father simply won't stop. 🕵️‍♂️ Revenge. Kidnapping. A very suspicious vitamin injection. This is The Box of Oddities. 🎙️ Listen now and hug your dad. #TrueCrimePodcast #FathersDaySpecial #BoxOfOddities #KalinkaBamberski #JusticeForKalinka #AndréBamberski #ColdCase #DarkHistory #WeirdButTrue f 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: 13 June 2025

Get your tickets for The Live Show here! Beneath the stone floors of a London church, a chilling discovery sent Victorian society into a frenzy—and now you get to peek inside this hidden vault. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro unearth the grotesque 1849 mystery hidden under the Church of Holy Trinity in the Minories. Was it a forgotten crypt, or something far more disturbing? Then, buzz into the bizarre with the vulture bee: nature’s most metal insect. It doesn’t just collect nectar—it makes meat honey. Well, sort of... from rotting flesh. Sweet and savory have never sounded more unholy. Expect unexpected twists, grim curiosity, and insect behavior that might ruin lunch. It’s history, science, and the delightfully morbid all in one box. #BoxOfOddities #WeirdHistory #MeatHoney #DarkHumor #TrueWeird Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 11 June 2025

Fall 2025 Tour Tickets Here! What do you get when you cross a brain surgery patient with an out-of-body experience and a ghost-repelling paint color? This episode of The Box of Oddities, naturally. Join Kat and Jethro as they dive into the astonishing near-death experience of Pam Reynolds—a woman who, while clinically dead during a high-risk procedure, claims to have seen and heard what no one should be able to. Then, things get… bluer. We explore the chilling folklore behind haint blue, the southern porch paint that allegedly sends ghosts packing faster than you can say “sweet tea séance.” Is consciousness more than brain chemistry? Can a color scheme protect your soul? Spoiler alert: this episode raises more questions than your weird aunt at a summer barbecue. Perfect for fans of the paranormal, NDEs, folklore, and paint swatches with an attitude. 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: 9 June 2025

🎧 "THE POSSESSED CAT & THE BATHROOM SQUIRREL” 🐈🧀🧻 In this utterly unhinged installment of Inbox of Oddities, we tackle the most important questions of our time: Can a shower grout demon be reasoned with? Why does Alexa giggle during arguments like a passive-aggressive poltergeist? Is IKEA just a Scandinavian liminal plane with meatballs? Join Kat & Jethro as they dive headfirst into a haunted ceiling squirrel invasion, a Cheesecake-Swilling Cat named Garfield (who may or may not have been possessed by a middle-aged man), and one poor soul’s biblical encounter with Bea Arthur in the Book of Revelations. Also in this episode:– A daring puppy heist across four lanes of traffic 🐕– The Tile Demon of Shower Sector 6 🚿– The haunted smart speaker that wants your man 💬– A dad trapped in a non-existent IKEA 📦 And don’t miss our youngest, most dedicated fan, Katie (age 13, net worth: $1.37), who might actually be running this show soon. You’ll laugh. You’ll scream. You’ll probably start checking your tea for cat tongue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 6 June 2025

Live Show Tickets Here! Ever shared a delusion so hard it needed a group chat? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore the truly mind-bending case of folie à trois. In this rare psychological phenomenon, three people spiral into the same shared psychosis. It's like synchronized swimming, but with hallucinations and existential dread. Then, buckle up for the harrowing and awe-inspiring true story of Alison Botha, who survived one of the most brutal attempted murders ever recorded—and lived to tell it with jaw-dropping resilience. From the bizarre depths of shared delusional disorder to a real-life tale of survival that redefines the word “unbreakable,” this episode delivers the weird, the dark, and the human spirit at its strangest. 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: 4 June 2025

LIVE SHOW TIX HERE! Time Travel Insurance and Unusual Post-Funeral Food Traditions: Ever worried about getting stuck in the 17th century without proper coverage? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro unearth the curious 19th-century phenomenon of time travel insurance—yes, that was a real thing, and yes, people actually bought it. Spoiler: it did not cover paradoxes. Then, journey into the comforting yet curious world of funeral foods, from the delightfully savory to the downright head-scratching. Why do certain cultures serve pickled fish or cookies shaped like bones when someone dies? The answers are as flavorful as they are fascinating. Prepare for a double-serving of the bizarre and the bereaved, where historical absurdity meets culinary ritual. If you love strange history, macabre traditions, and the kind of podcast content that makes you blurt out “wait, WHAT?” in public, this episode is for you. If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected] #WeirdHistory #FuneralTraditions #TimeTravelInsurance #BoxOfOddities #BizarreFacts #OddPodcast #DarkHumor #CuriousCulture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 2 June 2025

⁠Tickets to The Live Shows Here! The Inbox of Oddities #049: “The Tooth Collector of Apartment 3B” 🚨BREAKING: Squeaky hiccups have been entered into the official U.S. court record. Democracy survives—barely. Meanwhile, in this week’s INBOX episode of The Box of Oddities: Confirmation of the haunted Texas park where monkey cages move themselves. A refurbished La-Z-Boy that came with free nightmares. Teeth. In walls. In jars. Glued to cards. Where they absolutely should not be. A mysterious molar inside a running shoe. No one is missing teeth. Except maybe sanity. And a time-travel sandwich powered by bologna and battery acid logic. If your kid is willing to sell organs to see our live show, or if your parrot is smarter than you (and better adjusted), you’re gonna want to listen to this one. 🎟️ Shoutout to the Freaks grabbing RIP tickets in Philly and Atlanta. We'll bring the stories, you bring the holy water and extra molars. Tickets to The Live Shows Here! #BoxOfOddities #WeirdPodcast #TrueWeird #TeethInWalls #HauntedFurniture #SqueakyJustice #MonkeyRoad #InboxOfOddities #StayCurious #PodcastHumor #FreakFam #OddlySpecific #ToothMystery #TimeTravelSandwich #PodcastRecommendation Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 30 May 2025

See The Box Of Oddities Live! In this delightfully peculiar episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore two phenomena that are equal parts baffling and brilliant. First, the "Angels of Mons"—were they divine warriors, hallucinations, or just an epic case of wartime wishful thinking? Either way, something peculiar happened over those World War I trenches. Then: behold the annual crustacean apocalypse of Christmas Island, where millions of bright red crabs migrate en masse, overrunning roads, homes, and possibly your nightmares. It’s nature’s strangest traffic jam—and no one knows why they’re doing it. Expect ghosts, crustaceans, and confusion in equal measure. Prepare to question everything. Even your seafood preferences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 28 May 2025

Tickets to The Live Shows Here! In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we chip away at the icy mystery of Marcelin and Francine Dumoulin, a Swiss couple who vanished into thin air—only to reappear 75 years later like a very slow RSVP. Then, we time-travel to 18th-century Russia for the hilariously tragic reign of Peter III, a czar whose six-month stint makes your worst temp job look like a lifetime achievement. And finally, we tiptoe through Devon, England, where the Devil apparently went on a midnight jog in 1855—leaving behind some truly unsettling hoofprints that no one’s explained since. Get ready for frozen revelations, royal ridiculousness, and paranormal podiatry. It’s weird, it’s wild, it’s everything you listen to The Box of Oddities for. 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: 26 May 2025

Live Show Tickets Here INBOX OF ODDITIES: - “The Ghost in the Toothbrush Cup” In this kaleidoscopic journey through the wonderfully weird, Kat and Jethro crack open the mailbag and unleash a cavalcade of listener tales that range from hilariously haunted to just plain chewy. A lazy terrier named Morris becomes an anti-hero during a rodent emergency, a haunted hearing aid refuses to let the afterlife be silent, and a fridge appears to be starting its own pickle-based cult. Also: a ghostly Bluetooth grandma, a time-slip at the DMV, a soup deity with a raccoon entourage, and a cat who might be a reincarnated Gregorian monk. Throw in a spectral rainbow telegram from Mom, a jingle-induced fugue state, and a faceless imaginary friend shared across state lines, and you’ve got yourself an Inbox episode bursting at the seams with deliciously odd correspondence from The Box of Oddities Freak Family. Do ghosts use Bluetooth? Did Grandma become a banshee? Is your fridge whispering secrets about Greg? Listen in and find out. You might just have a Boo Effect of your own. 📦👻 #HauntedHearingAid #SoupGod #MorrisTheDog #BooEffect #GhostsUseBluetooth #RaccoonProphet #PickleWhispers #MrButterbeanLives #BoxOfOddities #InboxOfOddities #ParanormalPets #WeirdListenerTales #DMVTimeWarp #CatChantChoir #SpectralSnacks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2025

Fall Tour 2025 Tickets Here! Imagine controlling tech with your mind and watching a Viking ship burst through a flaming amphitheater — no, you're not dreaming. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro plug into the brain-bending world of Brain-Computer Interfaces (BCIs), where thought alone can type, move, and maybe even speak. It’s sci-fi made science — Elon wishes. Then, pack your imaginary passport for Puy du Fou. This French amusement park throws out roller coasters in favor of full-blown historical epics with live battles, wolves, and more costume changes than a Vegas revue. Think Renaissance Faire meets Michael Bay. From the cutting edge of neuroscience to the theatrical fever dream of medieval France, it’s a wild ride through human ingenuity, spectacle, and delightful weirdness. Plug in your brain, suspend your disbelief, and prepare to say, “Wait... that’s real?” #WeirdIsWonderful #BCI #PuyDuFou #OdditiesUnleashed #BrainTech #StrangeHistory #PodcastRecommendations #BoxOfOddities 1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 21 May 2025

LIVE SHOW TICKETS HERE! Was Herophilus a medical pioneer… or Alexandria’s most ambitious serial dissector? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro peel back the skin of history to examine the controversial legacy of Herophilus, the so-called “father of anatomy,” who may have blurred the line between science and something far more disturbing. Then: meet Vaughn Meader, the fastest-rising comedian of the 1960s—whose uncanny JFK impression made him a star… until one world-shaking moment erased him from fame almost overnight. From ancient scalpels to presidential satire, this episode explores the bizarre crossroads of history, medicine, and fame. Perfect for fans of weird true stories, dark humor, and those who like their trivia with a side of “what the actual heck?” Listen now—because the past is stranger than fiction. #StrangeHistory #WeirdFacts #Herophilus #VaughnMeader #DarkHumor #PodcastRecommendations #BoxOfOddities Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 19 May 2025

Tickets to our Live Shows Here!⁠ Kat and Jethro crack open the email vault and unleash a tsunami of weirdness in this edition of Inbox of Oddities! In this listener-powered episode: 🦷 A cat named Beans gifts a human molar💬 A dead aunt leaves a voicemail from beyond the grave🎒 A time-traveling wedding crasher photobombs the '70s🕰️ A possessed cuckoo clock oozes mystery (and probably tetanus)📸 A bloody pillow falls from drywall like a very sad piñata🌷 Tulips manipulate mankind, dead armadillos lead to leprosy museums, and nuclear dumps become scenic overlooks🧠 Foreign Accent Syndrome turns one Texan into a Norwegian nana overnight❤️‍🩹 And one moving letter asks the question: why do some souls whisper back from the beyond... while others stay silent? This episode is like licking a battery in a haunted antique store—and somehow, that’s a compliment. LISTEN NOW and question everything you thought you knew about time, teeth, and the tensile strength of cursed furniture polish. ⁠⁠Tickets to our Live Shows Here! #BoxOfOddities #InboxOfOddities #WeirdPodcast #HauntedClock #TimeTraveler #Paranormal #CatWithTeeth #CreepyStories #NorwegianPossession #DeadVoicemail #CursedDecor #ShatnerPanties #TulipTakeover #LeprosyMuseum #PodcastRecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 16 May 2025

Tickets to our Live Shows Here! Get ready for a joyride into the bizarre! In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we swerve down an East Texas road haunted by the ghost of… a monkey? Yep. Legend has it, this eerie stretch of asphalt is home to phantom primates and unexplained screeches in the night. Then we unbutton the strange and surprisingly political history of pants—yes, pants. From ancient legwear scandals to Victorian trouser taboos, you’ll never look at a waistband the same way again. Packed with ghost stories, roadside absurdity, and pants-related rebellion, this episode is your one-stop shop for the spooky and sartorially strange. Click play if you've ever feared a ghost monkey or questioned your slacks. ⁠Tickets to our Live Shows Here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 14 May 2025

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, the astonishing true story of Kara Robinson—abducted in broad daylight and held captive by a serial killer- she outsmarted her captor and escaped, rewriting the rulebook on survival. It's resilience meets real-life thriller. Then, we head to Sandtown, Indiana—a place that once bustled with life, and now? Gone. Vanished. Poof. No wreckage, no ruins, just whispers and weirdness. Was it swallowed by the earth, or just bad at city planning? Join Kat and Jethro as they dive into survival stories and small-town vanishings, sprinkling in their signature oddball humor and curiosity-fueled commentary. It's true crime meets urban legend with a side of "Wait, what?!" Tickets to our Live Shows Here! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcribed - Published: 12 May 2025

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