Pacific Northwest History & Humor: Rainy Day Rabbit Holes

• The Pig Wars: Rainy Day Rewind

  Hogging The Headlines: The Pig Wars🐷💥 The dumbest war in Pacific Northwest history started with… a pig? That’s right! The infamous Pig War of the 1800s all began when an American settler shot a British pig on San Juan Island, leading to an international standoff between the U.S. and Britain.Spoiler alert: No humans were harmed, but the drama was deliciously absurd.Originally recorded as our third episode of the day (when we were well on our way to Tipsy Town), this episode was an instant fan favorite. In this Rainy Day Rewind, we’ve polished it up—shorter, free of swearing, and with 95% fewer drunk mouth noises. But don’t worry, Shea still hilariously mispronounces half the words, and the tangents are just as ridiculous.Join us as we relive the outrageous series of events that nearly brought two nations to war over a farm animal. Because, honestly, how much more PNW can you get?Join our supporter's club for bonus episodes, ad-free episodes and more! Check out your options at www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support💬 Tell us: What’s the dumbest historical conflict you’ve ever heard of?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pacific-northwest-history-humor-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

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• 59. Moose Turds & Feline Mayors: Alaska’s Weirdest Wonders

  Join Shea and Jody for a wild ride through Talkeetna, Alaska, where Mayor Stubbs, an orange tabby, ruled with his furry charm for two decades. Learn how this small town’s unconventional politics captured hearts worldwide. Then, laugh along as the duo unpacks the Moose Drop Festival—a quirky event featuring painted moose turds, charity, and a helicopter. From feline mayors to PETA’s hilarious misunderstandings, this episode is packed with whiskered wisdom and Alaskan hijinks. Chapters:00:00 – Intro: Meet Mayor Lynx Monsoon and Rainy Day Rabbit Holes Newsroom.05:00 – Patron Shout-Out: Celebrating Scott, our Hot Dummy of the Week!10:00 – Mayor Stubbs: The rise of Talkeetna’s honorary feline mayor.20:00 – Talkeetna Trivia: Exploring the town’s history and charm.25:00 – Moose Drop Festival: Painted poop and PETA’s uproar.28:00 – Alaska’s Weirdness: The Florida Man of the Northwest.Love the episode? Get ad-free listening, bonus content, and more by joining our Patreon or Spreaker Supporter’s Club at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support. Explore more episodes and blogs at rainydayrabbitholes.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pacific-northwest-history-humor-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

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• 58. Montana's Real Life Monopoly Men: The Copper Kings

  What happens when greed, power, and ego collide? Meet Montana’s Copper Kings: the men who turned a mining boom into a chaotic feud that shaped the state forever.This episode takes you to the Gilded Age of the late 1800s, where Montana's vast copper reserves became a battleground for four larger-than-life figures. From Clark’s blatant bribery to Hines’ legal loopholes and Daily’s relentless grit, discover the petty feuds and cutthroat tactics that defined the era. Learn how their greed built empires, destroyed lives, and left an environmental mess that persists today. Plus, find out why Anaconda almost became Montana’s capital!Chapters:00:00-02:00 - Welcome Back and Montana Origins02:01-08:19 - Copper Fever: Why Montana Mattered08:20-19:50 - The Rise of William A. Clark and Marcus Daly19:51-28:30 - Hines, Legal Loopholes, and Explosions28:31-39:30 - The Legacy of the Copper KingsEnjoyed the episode? Get ad-free episodes and bonus content at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support. Explore more stories like this at rainydayrabbitholes.com.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pacific-northwest-history-humor-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

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• 57: Wild Love in the Wild West

  Free Love & Feminism in 1860s PNW-The Extraordinary Life of Eliza Woodard Hurd DeWolfeUncover the wild story of free love advocate Eliza DeWolfe in 1800s Pacific Northwest. Scandal, feminism, and boldness await! Listen now!Ever wondered how free love, feminism, and scandal shaped the 1800s Pacific Northwest? Join Shea and guest Caitlyn from PNW Haunts and Homicides as they dive into the life of Eliza Woodard Hurd DeWolfe. This episode unravels tales of unconventional relationships, daring dress reform, and the enduring fight for women’s suffrage. Packed with humor, history, and heartfelt moments, it’s a wild ride into the past.Discover the roots of the free love movement and its surprising ties to early feminism.Follow the bold actions of Eliza DeWolfe as she challenges 19th-century social norms.Learn how dress reform became a symbol of freedom and suffrage in the Pacific Northwest.Chapters & Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction: Meet Shea from Rainy Day Rabbit Holes and Caitlyn from PNW Haunts and Homicides.00:10 - Free Love Origins: The surprising history of free love, starting in the 2nd century.00:33 - Eliza’s Defiance: Riding in bloomers and the "conjugal alliance" scandal.00:43 - Dress Reform & Suffrage: Eliza’s lasting impact on women’s rights.00:58 - Final Thoughts & Takeaways: Celebrating Eliza’s legacy.For bonus content, ad-free episodes, and other perks, support us on Patreon or Spreaker at rainydayrabbitholes.com/support. Don’t forget to visit our website at rainydayrabbitholes.com! Special thanks to Caitlyn from PNW Haunts and Homicides for joining us and to Bethany Kay Matthews for her invaluable research. Visit pnwhauntsandhomicides.com Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pacific-northwest-history-humor-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

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• 56. Free Love, Fraud & Sawmills: The Wild Life of Henry Yesler

  If you want ad-free episodes, bonus content, free merch, and eternal happiness—because our podcast is a guaranteed mood booster (probably)—please consider subscribing to us either on Patreon or via the Spreaker Supporters Club. Head to rainydayrabbitholes.com/support for more information.Discover the outrageous life of Henry Yesler, one of Seattle’s founding fathers! From his free-love lifestyle to wild business schemes, Yesler's story is packed with scandal and surprises. Join Shea and guest Bryon Kershaw (Spirits & Monsters of Old Seattle podcast) for a hilarious and jaw-dropping dive into Seattle history.What You’ll Learn:The origins of "Skid Row" and how Yesler reshaped Seattle’s landscape.Yesler’s scandalous lottery and other audacious business ventures.The shocking details of Yesler’s personal life, including his marriage to his cousin.Timestamps: 0:36 – Who was Henry Yesler? 5:35 – Seattle’s real seasons—a hilarious breakdown. 22:57 – Yesler’s lottery scheme—and its messy aftermath. 42:14 – Yesler’s eyebrow-raising marriage scandal.  Don’t miss this deep dive into Seattle’s wild history! Like, subscribe, and share your thoughts in the comments.https://www.spiritsandmonsters.com/Sources include Sons of the Profits by Bill Speidel and History Link.org, as always! Big thanks to the historians at historylink.orgBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pacific-northwest-history-humor-rainy-day-rabbit-holes--6271663/support.

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