The Box of Oddities Podcast By Kat & Jethro Gilligan Toth cover art

The Box of Oddities

The Box of Oddities

By: Kat & Jethro Gilligan Toth
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The Webby Award-winning “Box of Oddities" is a podcast that delves into the strange and mysterious aspects of our world, exploring topics ranging from bizarre medical conditions to unsolved mysteries, and from paranormal phenomena to strange cultural practices from around the world. With a focus on oddities, curiosities, and the macabre, each episode is a journey into the unknown, where hosts Kat and Jethro Gilligan Toth share their love for unusual stories and inject their humor and commentary. From the strange history of medical practices to chilling true crime stories, to natural (and unnatural) events, "The Box of Oddities" satisfies your thirst for the weird and the unusual, offering an informative and entertaining look into the dark and mysterious corners of our world. JIMMY KIMMEL, ABC-TV says, "Should you be the type who has an interest in weird stuff, this is a fun thing to allow in your head!" “Truth is stranger than fiction, and the Box of Oddities is the strangest of all!” -SLUGGO, SIRIUS XM LITHIUM “Kat & Jethro wring humor from bizarre, macabre and perplexing places.” -BOSTON MAGAZINE© 2023 Eleven Eleven llc Biographies & Memoirs Social Sciences True Crime
Episodes
  • The Atomic Priesthood Problem

    The Atomic Priesthood Problem
    Mar 27 2026
    Freak Family Favorites: The Nuclear Warning That Must Survive 10,000 Years What message would you leave for humans who don’t exist yet? In this Freak Family Favorites bonus episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro revisit one of the most haunting questions ever asked: how do we warn future generations about deadly nuclear waste… when language itself may not survive? From radioactive materials with lifespans longer than civilization to eerie “do not enter” messages designed to last 24,000 years, this episode dives into the bizarre world of nuclear semiotics—where science meets psychology, fear, and a little existential dread. Because here’s the problem: humans forget. Fast. And what looks like a warning today… might look like buried treasure tomorrow. Also in this episode:For centuries, explorers, missionaries, and locals have described Mokele-Mbembe—a massive, long-necked creature said to roam remote rivers and swamps. A living dinosaur? A cultural legend? Or something stranger? Despite dozens of expeditions, no proof has ever been found… but the stories refuse to die. A listener-requested favorite returns… if you can survive the message. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    35 mins
  • A Message Hidden for 120 Years

    A Message Hidden for 120 Years
    Mar 25 2026
    A library receives a small, unremarkable package… but inside is a book that’s more than a century overdue—and a message that was never meant to be read in its own time. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro unravel the eerie true story of a Victorian-era library book returned over 120 years late, complete with a handwritten note from the original borrower… written with the quiet certainty they would never return it themselves. What follows is a strange, deeply human moment—one that feels less like a forgotten object and more like a message sent forward through time. Who was the borrower? What stopped them from returning the book? And why does their apology still feel so immediate, even now? Then—because balance is important—we pivot hard into something completely different: the wildly real, deeply bizarre world of competitive outhouse racing. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like. Human-powered toilets. Snow tracks. Championship titles like “gold throne.” You’ll never look at plumbing—or Midwestern ingenuity—the same way again. From haunting historical oddities to delightfully ridiculous human traditions, this episode delivers the full Box of Oddities experience: curious, hilarious, and just a little unsettling. Because sometimes… the past doesn’t just stay buried. It waits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    33 mins
  • Voices Inside the Ice & America’s Strangest Relic

    Voices Inside the Ice & America’s Strangest Relic
    Mar 23 2026
    What if the Earth itself could sing—and early explorers thought they were hearing voices beneath the ice? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro unravel the eerie mystery of Antarctica’s “frozen choir,” a haunting phenomenon reported for over a century by polar expeditions who swore the ice was alive with sound. Then, a bizarre journey through history reveals an unexpected relic: actual strands of George Washington’s hair, preserved, traded, and even sold for thousands. Along the way, discover the strange truth about Washington’s iconic hairstyle—and why it wasn’t a wig at all. From singing ice shelves to collectible presidential hair, this episode dives into bizarre history, strange science, and the wonderfully weird details that make the world far more unusual than it seems. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    32 mins
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I love the Box of Oddities Podcast! It's very entertaining and true facts! Kat and JG state where their facts come from. They really do their research.

The best in odd true stories!

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Kat and Jethro’s amazing chemistry and relationship is hands down the best. They can give each other crap and not take it to heart. Absolutely love it. Their stories always have me sitting on the edge of my seat, so to speak, although I’m always taking a walk while listening. It’s my little vacation from life when I am listening to them. I have so many relatable stories that I want to share someday. Lots of boo effects as well. Love them both and thank you for being there for me and many other people!

Chemistry

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The always make me laugh, and the stories are always interesting, and presented in a fun, engaging way. I listen at work, and they make the time pass quickly.

Love these guys!

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Its always a great time listening to the podcast. The two host keep you hooked and intrested threw their wired and odd topics.

Great podcast.

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LOVE LOVE LOVE this podcast, I cant recommend enough, especially if you are after the weird and unexplained.

Perfect Mix of Weird

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