Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: Pacific Northwest History and Humor

About Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: Pacific Northwest History and Humor

Looking for a funny podcast that makes history wild, weird, and unforgettable? History Unhinged: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes is the best history podcast for fans of outrageous true stories, ridiculous history, and unfiltered humor—with the occasional dip into true crime. Hosts Shea and Jody dig up the strangest moments in American history, with a special love for the Pacific Northwest and the rest of Western North America. From haunted ghost towns and scandalous figures to bizarre disasters and a sprinkle of true crime, no rabbit hole is off-limits! History doesn’t have to be boring—especially when it’s filled with laughter, chaos, and jaw-dropping stories they didn’t teach in school. Visit www.rainydayrabbitholes.com (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com) for more! Instagram https://www.instagram.com/rainydayrabbitholespod/ (https://www.instagram.com/rainydayrabbitholespod/) Facebook https://www.facebook.com/RainyDayRabbitHolesPodcast/ (https://www.facebook.com/RainyDayRabbitHolesPodcast/) Support the show! https://www.patreon.com/c/RainyDayRabbitHolesPodcast (https://www.patreon.com/c/RainyDayRabbitHolesPodcast)

Publisher

Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

Category

comedy · history · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

4 Oct 2023

Latest episode

7 Jan 2026

Latest episodes

174 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   7 Jan 2026

   The Last Voyage of Captain Dan

   In this special fan-fiction episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Shea and Jody dive headfirst into myth, memory, and maritime magic with a story written especially for beloved Patreon supporter Captain Dan. Set against the storm-soaked docks and taverns of the 19th-century Salish Sea, this tale follows a seasoned ship’s captain whose final voyage brings him face-to-face with Cadborosaurus—the legendary sea serpent said to haunt the waters of Cadboro Bay. What begins as a routine herring run turns into an encounter with something ancient, terrifying, beautiful… and irresistible. Blending historical texture, Pacific Northwest folklore, and unapologetic romantic weirdness, this episode is a love letter to: Old sailors with haunted eyes Sea monsters who may not be monsters at all The pull of the ocean—and what happens when you answer it This story is inspired by Episode 26, “Release the Kraken: Sea Monsters of the Salish Sea,” and created as a thank-you to Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Patreon supporters. It is fan fiction, folklore, and birthday present all rolled into one slightly damp, fish-scented package. 🎂 Happy (belated) 70th birthday, Captain Dan. ⚓ Some sailors retire. Others sail on forever. If fog rolls in and you hear singing from the harbor… maybe don’t follow it. Or do. Chris Staudinger, sorry we killed you off.

2. 

   7 Jan 2026

   100 Rabbit Holes Deep

   🎉 This week is a little different—and very special. We’re not bringing you a new historical story in this episode. Instead, we invite you to curl up with us as we look back, laugh, and reflect on the last 100 episodes of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes. If you’re in the mood for something story-driven instead, no worries at all—feel free to hop over to our latest fan fiction episode, which is ready and waiting for you. 🐇 🎙️ 100 episodes. Somehow. In this milestone episode, Shea and Jody celebrate over two years of podcasting chaos, curiosity, friendship, and forgotten history. What started as a half-formed idea in the Pacific Northwest turned into 100 full episodes, countless rabbit holes, a growing community, and friendships we never expected. This episode is part celebration, part reflection, and part love letter—to listeners, collaborators, historians, and each other. 🐇 What We Talk About: Why reaching 100 episodes is such a rare podcast milestone Early audio struggles, evolving formats, and champagne-fueled recording days The episodes that still stick with us (and why) Listener-favorite stories like: Madam Mustache The Salish Sea Human Foot Discoveries The Traveling Corpse of Elmer McCurdy Ishi: The Last Wild Indian Sea Monsters of the Salish Sea How podcasting changed the way we see history—and historians Why preserving uncomfortable history matters Messages and reflections from listeners, friends, and fellow podcasters The friendships and creative communities that grew out of this show 💖 Gratitude & Community: We take time to thank the people who made the last 100 episodes possible—from collaborators and historians to fellow podcasters, Radio Tacoma, behind-the-scenes helpers, and the listeners who stuck with us while we figured things out. 🔮 What’s Next: We also share news about an upcoming project, State of Disgrace, where we’ll explore moments in history that echo loudly into the present—starting with McCarthyism, fear politics, and how societies find their way back from the brink. This new show will be more focused and seasonal, but rooted in the same curiosity that drives Rainy Day Rabbit Holes. 🥂 Final Thoughts: This episode isn’t about numbers or algorithms. It’s about showing up, staying curious, and building something together. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or just fell down the rabbit hole—thank you for being part of this journey. 🕳️ Here’s to 100 more. See you down the rabbit hole.

3. 

   24 Dec 2025

   The Curious Case of the Tanuki’s Coin Purse

   In this episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, Shea and Jody wander straight into the delightfully unhinged heart of Japanese folklore, where the landscapes are beautiful, the temples are ancient, and the raccoon dogs have… opinions. And tricks. And extremely versatile anatomy. Fresh off Shea's travels through Nagano, the conversation opens with reflections on Japan’s quiet magic — misty mountains, timeless streets, and the spiritual gravity of places like Zenkoji Temple, where centuries of belief hang in the air like incense smoke. From there, things take a turn. A tanuki-shaped turn. Enter the Tanuki: real animal, legendary menace, folkloric chaos goblin. Known in English as the Japanese raccoon dog, the tanuki occupies a strange and wonderful space where biology collides with myth. Shea and Jody dig into how this very real creature became one of Japan’s most beloved tricksters — a shapeshifter, a prankster, and a master of illusion who delights in confusing humans, impersonating monks, and generally causing low-stakes supernatural nonsense. And then there’s the scrotum. Yes, that scrotum. In tanuki folklore, it’s not just anatomy — it’s a multipurpose magical object capable of stretching, transforming, disguising, and occasionally funding a night out. Shea and Jody unpack how this bizarre detail isn’t just crude humor for humor’s sake, but ties back to real historical practices, particularly Kanazawa’s gold-leaf industry, where tanuki legends became symbols of wealth, flexibility, and good fortune. Folklore, it turns out, is nothing if not practical. Along the way, the episode explores why tanuki statues are everywhere in Japan — outside restaurants, shops, temples, and bars — grinning, wide-eyed, eternally mid-prank. These statues aren’t just cute roadside oddities; they’re cultural shorthand for prosperity, humor, and a reminder not to take life too seriously. Or at least to keep an eye on your wallet when magical animals are nearby. The discussion weaves together travel stories, religious history, art, pop culture, and the enduring appeal of a creature that refuses to behave. From ancient tales to modern anime, the tanuki continues to evolve, shape-shift, and bounce gleefully through Japanese storytelling, dragging its legends — and its lucky bag — right along with it. It’s an episode about Japan’s ability to hold beauty and absurdity in the same breath. About sacred spaces and silly stories. About how folklore survives because it entertains as much as it teaches. And about a mischievous raccoon dog whose legacy proves that sometimes, the weirdest stories are the ones that stick the longest. Visit our website for pictures from Shea's trip to Japan plus links to social media and more! www.rainydayrabbitholes.com (https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com) Looking for a gorgeous SEO optimized website? We owe ours to www.easybrzy.com (https://www.easybrzy.com)

Who has been a guest on Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: Pacific Northwest History and Humor

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Steve Edmiston
• Caitlyn
• Kevin Ryan

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

4,983

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

4.7 / 5

33 ratings

Spotify

4.8 / 5

40 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 80 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

100

Social presence

0

YouTube

74

Engagement

77

Contact Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: Pacific Northwest History and Humor

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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