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
  • Inbox Of Oddities #79

    Inbox Of Oddities #79
    Mar 20 2026
    Listener stories that blur the line between coincidence and the unexplained take center stage in this eerie and hilarious installment of the Inbox of Oddities. From a respiratory therapist’s chilling encounter with a phantom gurney in a forgotten hospital wing to bizarre ‘Boo Effect’ moments that connect real life with podcast episodes in uncanny ways, this episode dives deep into strange experiences that refuse to be explained. Along the way, Kat and Jethro explore odd family histories, cryptid what-ifs (would Mothman take a selfie?), mysterious artifacts that shouldn’t exist, and the wonderfully weird thoughts that keep us all up at night. Equal parts unsettling and laugh-out-loud funny, this collection of listener-submitted oddities is a reminder that the strangest stories are often true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    22 mins
  • Frozen Minds & Goat Bladders

    Frozen Minds & Goat Bladders
    Mar 18 2026
    One man falls asleep in the early 1920s… and wakes up to a world on the brink of the moon landing. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore the chilling true story behind encephalitis lethargica—the mysterious neurological epidemic that left thousands frozen in time. Through the haunting experience of Leonard, a patient who remained aware for decades inside his own unmoving body, we dive into questions of consciousness, time, and what it means to truly be alive. Then, in a wildly unexpected turn, the conversation shifts to the strange, shocking, and sometimes downright dangerous history of birth control—from ancient Egyptian remedies and medieval amulets to Lysol douches and goat bladder condoms. It’s bizarre history, unsettling medical mysteries, and laugh-out-loud moments you won’t believe are real. Perfect for fans of weird facts, strange history, and the wonderfully unsettling—this episode delivers curiosity, humor, and a reminder that humans have always been… creative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    37 mins
  • The Body Beneath The Gas Station

    The Body Beneath The Gas Station
    Mar 16 2026
    Sometimes history hides its secrets in the strangest places… like the bottom of a forgotten well. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro uncover the chilling real-life mystery of the Woman in the Well—a century-old murder discovered when construction workers in Saskatoon accidentally unearthed human remains buried in a barrel deep beneath the earth. Using modern DNA technology and genetic genealogy, investigators finally revealed the victim's identity after more than 100 years, connecting a name to a long-lost story. Then the conversation turns to one of the strangest forms of human spectacle: the bizarre history of people being buried alive as endurance stunts, from carnival-era “human moles” to modern performers testing the limits of the human body. It’s a journey through bizarre history, unsolved mysteries, and the unsettling lengths people go for fame, faith, or curiosity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    39 mins
  • Inbox Of Oddities #78

    Inbox Of Oddities #78
    Mar 13 2026
    Strange coincidences, mysterious encounters, and the oddly comforting idea that your dog might be greeting someone from beyond the hallway—this episode of The Inbox of Oddities dives deep into the wonderfully weird moments listeners can’t quite explain. Kat and Jethro share eerie listener stories, including a bus stop encounter that left someone puzzled for 15 years, a house photo that may contain a ghostly relative, and a loyal dog who appears to greet a late-night visitor after its owner’s father passed away. Along the way, they explore uncanny coincidences, bizarre dreams featuring shadowy figures, abandoned animals that inspire unforgettable names, and the strange reality that humans have explored only about 5% of Earth’s oceans—leaving most of our own planet an unsolved mystery. If you love weird facts, strange stories, and the unexplained corners of everyday life, this episode is packed with delightful oddities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    31 mins
  • Arsenic And Old Wallpaper

    Arsenic And Old Wallpaper
    Mar 11 2026
    Victorian homes were supposed to be safe havens of comfort and refinement… but what if the most dangerous thing in the room was the wallpaper? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro uncover the bizarre history of arsenic-laced green wallpaper that quietly poisoned Victorian households, causing mysterious headaches, illness, and even death while families admired their fashionable décor. Then, the show shifts from deadly décor to astonishing resilience with the remarkable true story of Susan La Flesche Picotte, the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree, who spent her life bringing healthcare to underserved communities on the Omaha Reservation. It’s a strange mix of bizarre history, hidden dangers, and inspiring real-life heroes—exactly the kind of odd, fascinating stories that make The Box of Oddities such a delightfully weird listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    34 mins