Rainy Day Rabbit Holes: History Unhinged

🔥 Join us LIVE for a Rainy Day Rabbit Holes experience! 🔥
Step into the shadows of Pacific Northwest history with us for a special live show featuring unforgettable stories, strange characters, and wild twists you won’t hear anywhere else.
🎭 Klondike Kate at the Pantages Theater
📍 Tacoma, WA
👉 Get tickets & event details
https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/274791-klondike-kate-and-the-pantages-theater
Don’t miss your chance to experience the rabbit hole in real life…

What if someone on stage knew your deepest secret before you even asked the question?
That was the promise of Alexander the Man Who Knows—a mysterious figure in jeweled turbans who claimed he could read minds, speak to the dead, and reveal truths hidden even from yourself. But behind the curtain lies a far more fascinating story…
🎙️ Special Guest: Tim Greyhavens
This episode features special guest Tim Greyhavens, a Seattle-based writer, researcher, and independent historian specializing in early Pacific Northwest photography and cultural history.
Tim brings a rare depth of research and storytelling to this episode, drawing on archival work, historical records, and his own published research on Claude Alexander Conlin. His insights help separate fact from myth—and reveal just how carefully constructed Alexander’s persona really was.
👉 Explore Tim’s work:
TimGreyhavens.com
Tim’s perspective is what transforms this episode from a wild story… into a deeply revealing look at performance, belief, and manipulation in early 20th-century America.
🎭 From Gold Rush Chaos to Stage Stardom
Alexander’s story begins in the chaos of the Klondike Gold Rush—where fortunes weren’t just mined… they were taken.
FACT: He spent time in Skagway during its most notorious era of con artists and opportunists.
FACT: He crossed paths with figures like Soapy Smith and theatrical entrepreneur Alexander Pantages.
SPECULATION: Some accounts suggest his early exposure to fraud and deception directly shaped his later career.
Rather than chasing gold, Alexander realized something far more valuable: people’s willingness to believe.
🧠 The Illusion of Mind Reading
By the 1910s and 1920s, Alexander reinvented himself as a psychic phenomenon.
FACT: He performed as “Alexander the Man Who Knows,” presenting himself as a mystical mind reader.
FACT: He used hidden radio receivers inside his turban to receive real-time audience intelligence.
FACT: Assistants gathered personal information from audience members before shows.
With stagecraft, psychology, and carefully curated mysticism, he created an experience so convincing that audiences believed they were witnessing something supernatural.
KEY INSIGHT (via Tim Greyhavens):
This wasn’t just magic—it was an early form of information-driven manipulation, combining surveillance, performance, and psychology decades ahead of its time.
💰 Wealth, Power & the Rialto Beach Estate
At the height of his fame, Alexander built an isolated retreat on Washington’s coast near what we now know as Rialto Beach.
FACT: The property included hidden microphones and listening systems inside guest spaces.
FACT: Conversations were used to enhance private readings and deepen the illusion of psychic ability.
SPECULATION: Wealthy guests—including rumored Hollywood figures—may have unknowingly been part of ongoing information-gathering efforts.
This wasn’t just a vacation home—it was an extension of his act.
Meanwhile, Prohibition opened yet another opportunity…
FACT: He reportedly ran liquor from Canada to fund his lifestyle and entertain guests.
🎬 The Fall of the Illusion
By the 1930s, everything changed.
FACT: The rise of film and special effects reduced public belief in live magic acts.
FACT: Vaudeville theaters declined, taking performers like Alexander with them.
FACT: He transitioned into writing and publishing—eventually revealing parts of his methods.
The man who once guarded his secrets above all else… began to expose them.
🧩 Legacy: The Original “Info Scam” Artist
Alexander’s story still feels strangely modern.
He combined:
Performance
Data gathering
Psychological manipulation
Emotional targeting
And built a fortune from it.
KEY QUESTION:
Was he after money… fame… or simply the thrill of proving how far he could go?
🔗 Explore More
🌧️ More strange Pacific Northwest stories:
👉 Rainy Day Rabbit Holes
📚 More from our guest:
👉 Tim Greyhavens
🔑 KEY TAKEAWAYS
Alexander used early technology and assistants to simulate psychic abilities
His techniques relied heavily on pre-show audience intelligence gathering
The Klondike Gold Rush environment influenced his approach to deception
Spiritualism and grief created ideal conditions for his rise
His Rialto Beach estate functioned as both retreat and intelligence hub
Private readings were a major source of income from wealthy clients
Prohibition-era bootlegging helped fund his lifestyle
The decline of vaudeville contributed to his fade from fame
He later published material revealing some of his own methods
His legacy reflects early forms of modern psychological and information-based scams

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NSFW / Listener Discretion
This episode contains explicit language, frank discussion of anatomy, bathroom humor, and references to medical complications involving enemas and rectal injury. It is intended for mature audiences.
Also: we are not medical professionals. This episode is not medical advice. It is a humorous commentary episode in which we react, recoil, and repeatedly ask how humanity got here.

We love coffee. We love podcasts. We love asking weird questions.
What we do not love is discovering that somewhere, somehow, people looked at a perfectly good beverage and thought:
“What if this went in the opposite end?”
In this Five Minute Friday, we laugh our way through one of the most cursed corners of wellness culture: the coffee enema. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds like, and no, we do not recommend it. Not even a little. Not even if someone expensive in beige linen tells you it’s “detoxifying.”
What this episode covers
Facts
A coffee enema is exactly the upsetting thing it sounds like: coffee introduced into the rectum/colon as an enema.
The reporting discussed in this episode presents coffee enemas as a bad idea, not a wellness necessity.
The articles referenced in the episode describe medical concerns associated with enemas in general, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, infection, and injury.
The coverage also references more serious complications reported in medical literature, including burns, rectal damage, and other severe outcomes.
Folklore / Wellness Claims
Some people claim coffee enemas can “detox” the body or flush out “toxins.”
These claims are discussed in the cited articles as lacking solid scientific support.
Like many bad ideas, this one tends to show up wearing the costume of “natural wellness.”
Speculation / Commentary
Why does every weird wellness trend sound like it was invented during a dare?
Why are people so willing to suffer in the name of “cleansing”?
And why is there always a luxury version of the worst possible decision?
Why this matters
Sure, this episode is funny. Very funny, in fact. We laughed a lot. But underneath the jokes is a real point: wellness culture can make dangerous nonsense sound premium, enlightened, or aspirational.
Sometimes bad ideas don’t arrive looking dangerous. Sometimes they arrive with minimalist packaging, a suspiciously expensive kit, and the word “detox.”
This episode is our loving reminder to maybe, just maybe, let coffee continue doing what it already does best:
going in a mug
smelling delightful
helping you survive a Monday
not becoming a DIY science experiment for your colon
If you want the extended version…
If this rabbit hole made you laugh, recoil, and question the entire wellness industry, there’s more.
💡 The extended version of this episode is available for supporters, along with:
bonus content
ad-free episodes
early access
👉 Support the show here:
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
Links
🌧 Website: https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/
🎧 Related episode:
5 Minute Friday: Rectum? Damn Near Evacuated ’Em
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/5-minute-friday-rectum-damn-near-evacuated-em
CTA
If you enjoy weird history, fringe beliefs, internet nonsense, and lovingly roasting terrible ideas, subscribe, leave a review, and send this episode to the friend who would absolutely text you,
“You are not going to believe what Gwyneth is selling now.”
And if you want the extended cut, plus bonus episodes, ad-free listening, and early access, support the show here:
👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/support
Key Takeaways
Coffee enemas are one of those wellness trends that sound fake until you realize someone is absolutely trying to sell them to you.
This episode explores how coffee enema “detox” claims keep circulating even though the concept is treated skeptically in the reporting discussed.
The cited articles describe coffee enemas as risky, unnecessary, and not supported by strong scientific evidence for the dramatic claims made about them.
The episode highlights how wellness culture can dress up a bad idea in expensive branding and call it self-care.
According to the reporting covered in the episode, enemas can come with real risks including dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and possible injury.
Coffee does not become a miracle health tool just because someone put it in a sentence with the word “cleanse.”
This Five Minute Friday mixes humor with skepticism to unpack one of the internet’s most baffling health trends.
We are not medical professionals, which is exactly why our advice here is simple and elegant: maybe do not put coffee in your butt.
The bigger rabbit hole is not just coffee enemas—it’s how easily pseudoscience spreads when it sounds glamorous or rebellious.
If a wellness trend sounds like it should come with a fire extinguisher and a legal waiver, it may not be the healing path you’re looking for.

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KEEP CLAM AND CARRY ON

What happens when a prankster, folk singer, and restaurateur accidentally gets elected to public office… and wins? Meet Ivar Haglund—the man who turned Seattle’s waterfront into a playground of clams, chaos, and community.
🌊 Seattle’s Strangest Success Story
(Facts)
Ivar Haglund wasn’t just the founder of Ivar’s Seafood—he was a full-blown Seattle phenomenon. From opening Seattle’s first aquarium to launching the iconic Acres of Clams restaurant in 1946, he built an empire rooted in humor, storytelling, and seafood culture.
He memorized hundreds of folk songs, hosted radio shows, and performed alongside major figures in the folk music world.
By the 1960s, his playful experimentation had turned into serious wealth—enough to buy Pier 54 and later the historic Smith Tower.
🐙 Pranks, Publicity, and Pure Chaos
(Facts + Folklore)
Ivar didn’t just run businesses—he staged experiences.
Created Seattle’s first aquarium using seawater pumped from Elliott Bay
Paraded a dressed-up seal through Pike Place Market
Hosted outrageous stunts—including octopus “wrestling”
(Speculation / Cultural Myth)
His legacy inspired one of Seattle’s greatest hoaxes: the infamous underwater billboards, which people believed he had planted decades earlier as a long-term marketing stunt.
🗳️ The Joke That Became Real
(Facts)
In 1983, frustrated with waterfront issues, Ivar filed paperwork to run for the Port Commission—as a joke.
He didn’t campaign. He didn’t promote himself.
And… he still won—by a huge margin.
Seattle had officially elected a prankster.
🐚 “Clam Culture” and a Lasting Legacy
(Facts)
Ivar created more than restaurants—he created a worldview. He called it “clam culture”, where humor, seafood, and community intersected.
Even his marketing leaned into absurdity:
“Keep Clam” slogans
Fake postage stamps
Salmon windsocks atop skyscrapers
After his death in 1985, his legacy endured—not just in business, but in spirit.
(Takeaway)
Ivar Haglund gave Seattle permission to be weird.
🔗 RELATED EPISODES
Was Seattle Built on Sex and Scams
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/was-seattle-built-on-sex-and-scams
Seattle’s Odd Couple: Doc Maynard and Chief Sealth
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/seattles-odd-couple-doc-maynard-and-chief-sealth
Starvation Heights and Linda Hazzard
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/28-starvation-heights-and-linda-hazzard-quack-doctor-or-murderer

Ivar Haglund founded Seattle’s first aquarium using Elliott Bay seawater
His restaurant “Acres of Clams” launched in 1946 and became iconic
He built a personal brand around humor called “clam culture”
Ivar staged bizarre publicity stunts to attract crowds and media
He accidentally won a Port Commission election without campaigning
His marketing included fake stamps, slogans, and theatrical protests
He owned major Seattle landmarks including Pier 54 and Smith Tower
His legacy inspired the “underwater billboard” hoax
Ivar blended entertainment, folklore, and business into one persona
He helped define Seattle’s identity as a city that embraces weirdness

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Please join us at McMenamins Elks Temple in Tacoma on September 16, 2026!
https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/274791-klondike-kate-and-the-pantages-theater
This week’s episode is a little different—and a lot more personal.
Jody and Shea sit down for a vulnerable, honest conversation about what it really takes to create Rainy Day Rabbit Holes. From the behind-the-scenes work that makes the show possible to the incredible community that’s grown around it, this episode pulls back the curtain in a way we never have before.
We also share something difficult: after a lot of reflection, Jody made the decision that she can’t continue producing the podcast in the same way right now. The past few years have been challenging, and she opens up about the personal struggles that led her to this point.
But this isn’t goodbye.
Instead, we’ve found a middle ground—Jody will be stepping away for six months to rest and reset, while Shea continues the show with the support of this amazing community.
And that’s where you come in.
Rainy Day Rabbit Holes has always been more than just a podcast—it’s a shared curiosity, a collective deep dive into the weird, the historical, and the unexplained. So we’re inviting listeners to help shape what comes next.
If you’ve ever wanted to be part of the show—whether that’s:
Researching rabbit holes
Helping write episodes
Assisting with social media
Or even joining as a guest
We’d love to hear from you.
📧 Reach out at: shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com
More than anything, this episode is about gratitude—for where we’ve been, where we’re going, and the incredible people who make it all worthwhile.
Thank you for being here. Truly.
Key Points
A candid, behind-the-scenes look at producing the podcast
Jody shares personal struggles from the past few years
Announcement: Jody is taking a six-month break
Shea will continue the show during this time
Call for community involvement in production
Deep appreciation for listeners and supporters
Call to Action
Want to help keep the rabbit holes going?
Email Shea at shea@rainydayrabbitholes.com to get involved.

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A Forgotten Life Hidden in Seattle’s History
Seattle is full of legends—underground tunnels, ghost stories, cryptids—but this episode explores something far stranger:
👉 a real historical figure whose story was nearly erased
Moses Seattle, the grandson of Chief Seattle, lived a life that sits between recorded history, oral tradition, and unsettling mystery. His story raises difficult questions about how—and why—some histories are remembered while others are buried.
And the person bringing this forgotten story back into light?
➡️ Historian, filmmaker, and author David Norman Lewis
👉 Explore David’s books here:
https://microcosmpublishing.com/catalog/artist/david-norman-lewis?srsltid=AfmBOorWkxSgPcvxOK6hQTgqHTTS5jxpxeIrytgQf3ZCphRm_AgNgxM5
👉 Listen to more episodes:
https://rainydayrabbitholes.com
Who Was Moses Seattle?
FACT: Moses Seattle was the grandson of Chief Seattle and part of a high-status Indigenous family.
FACT: He lived a complex life shaped by boarding schools, cultural change, and shifting identity between Indigenous and settler worlds.
FACT: He worked odd jobs, played accordion at community dances, and briefly entered the world of traveling entertainment.
SPECULATION: Some accounts suggest he may have been involved in labor organizing among hop pickers, though evidence is limited.
Culture, Folklore, and Identity
FOLKLORE: His origin story intersects with Indigenous beliefs about spirits, healing practices, and reincarnation.
FACT: Oral traditions play a major role in how his story survives—blending lived experience with cultural interpretation.
FACT: His life reflects the realities of assimilation, boarding schools, and identity pressures in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
A Tragic and Forgotten Ending
FACT: Moses Seattle’s death followed a violent incident tied to alcohol, conflict, and systemic conditions of the time.
FACT: Accounts describe severe burns and a prolonged survival before his passing.
FACT: No clear accountability followed, and responsibility remains unclear in historical records.
FACT: His story faded from public memory for decades.
Why This Story Matters
This episode isn’t just about one man—it’s about:
how history is preserved (or erased)
whose voices are recorded
and how uncomfortable stories disappear
David Norman Lewis reconstructs a powerful narrative that forces us to confront the gaps between official history and lived experience.
🎧 Related Episodes (Explore More Indigenous History)
If this story resonated with you, continue down the rabbit hole:
👉 Ishi: The Last of His Tribe
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/ishi-the-last-of-his-tribe
👉 How Did the Muckleshoot Rise Again?
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/how-did-the-muckleshoot-rise-again
👉 Seattle’s Odd Couple: Doc Maynard & Chief Sealth
https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/podcast/seattles-odd-couple-doc-maynard-and-chief-sealth
These episodes explore Indigenous history from different angles—personal stories, resilience, and the people who shaped the Pacific Northwest.

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