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What happens when a city decides kindness is better than cruelty? In this special crossover episode of Rainy Day Rabbit Holes, we’re joined by the incredible gals from PNW Haunts & Homicides to explore one of the strangest—and most unexpectedly heartwarming—stories in American history: Joshua Abraham Norton, the self‑declared Emperor of the United States. Born into loss, fortune, ruin, and obscurity, Norton reemerged in 1859 with a bold declaration that could have ended very badly… except San Francisco leaned in. What followed was a twenty‑year “reign” filled with proclamations, public appearances, political commentary, and a city that collectively decided to play along. Along the way, we explore:A Gold Rush city bursting with chaos, ambition, and opportunityA man who issued decrees abolishing Congress and the Supreme CourtA public arrest that backfired spectacularlyAn Emperor who defended immigrants, challenged racist violence, and promoted civil rights long before it was fashionableA city that fed him, clothed him, saluted him… and mourned himWas Emperor Norton mad? Satirical? Visionary? Or something else entirely? And why did San Francisco—of all places—embrace him instead of locking him away? You’ll have to fall down the rabbit hole with us to find out. 👻 Crossover Love Huge thanks to PNW Haunts & Homicides, where ghosts, murder, and Pacific Northwest weirdness all hang out together.👉 Follow and listen at: https://www.pnwhauntsandhomicides.com/ 🌧️ More Rabbit HolesFind sources, photos, episode notes, and more at our website:👉 https://www.rainydayrabbitholes.com/ 🎟️ LIVE EVENT ALERT Love strange history in person? Join us June 3rd in Tacoma, WA for a live event at McMenamins Spanish Ballroom at the Elks Temple. History Pub: Tacoma’s UFO Story — The Maury Island Incident Presented by Steve Edmiston, Shea Drury, and Chris Staudinger 🎫 Tickets here:👉 https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/41193663/history-pubtacomas-ufo-story-the-maury-island-incident-presented-by-steve-edmistonshea-druryand-chris-staudinger-tacoma-mcmenamins-spanish-ballroom-elks-temple Sometimes the strangest stories are the most human. Stay curious—and we’ll see you down the rabbit hole.🐇👑 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/pnw-haunts-homicides--5955451/support.

Here's this week's tarot reading!

George Cecil David’s journey from Neah Bay to Port Angeles along Washington’s rugged coastline should have ended in a somber gathering just days later—family and friends coming together in remembrance. Instead, it became the beginning of a mystery that would remain unsolved for years. In March of 2016, renowned Indigenous artist and master carver George Cecil David was on his way to Vancouver Island to attend a funeral, stopping in Port Angeles along the way—but he never made it to his final destination. What followed was a complex investigation involving surveillance footage, missing evidence, and a timeline that raised more questions than answers. For years, his case remained unsolved. In this episode, we examine the life of a respected artist, the circumstances surrounding his death, and a case that would become a landmark moment for Washington’s Missing & Murdered Indigenous People (MMIWP) Cold Case Unit. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

This episode features stories of real-life paranormal encounters, blending eerie roadside sightings with deeply personal ghost experiences that blur the line between reality and perception. One listener recounts a terrifying shadow figure sighting on a dark, snowy country road. Describing a human-like silhouette illuminated briefly in oncoming headlights before vanishing without a trace. The unexplained encounter leaves lingering questions about shadow people and other supernatural phenomena, especially after repeated visits to the same location yield nothing. The second story takes a spicy turn into ghostly apparitions and possible entity attachment. This anonymous listener describes sexual encounters with a transparent female figure that appears both at home and in public!  With themes of ghost sightings, haunting encounters, and unexplained entities, this episode explores how the paranormal can intrude into everyday life in ways that are as confusing as they are chilling. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. 

A hidden treasure. A cryptic 24-line poem. The hunt that followed blurred the line between adventure and obsession—and in some cases, turned deadly. In this collaborative episode with the Rainy Day Rabbit Holes podcast, we dig into the story of Forrest Fenn and the decade-long mystery that sent thousands into the Rocky Mountains searching for gold. What begins as a story about curiosity and exploration quickly turns darker—with dangerous terrain, mounting controversy, and lives lost along the way. We break down the infamous poem, the clues that captivated a generation, and the question that still lingers: was this an ingenious puzzle… or something far more complicated? This is the story of a modern legend—and the questions that still refuse to stay buried. We also acknowledge the lives lost during the search and approach this story with care. Because even after the treasure was found, not everything was solved. Safety Note: If you plan to explore remote or wilderness areas, always prioritize safety. Check conditions, let someone know your plans, and be prepared with proper gear and navigation tools. For more information, visit the National Park Service for outdoor safety guidelines. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. 

A hidden treasure. A cryptic 24-line poem. The hunt that followed blurred the line between adventure and obsession—and in some cases, turned deadly. In this collaborative episode with the Rainy Day Rabbit Holes podcast, we dig into the story of Forrest Fenn and the decade-long mystery that sent thousands into the Rocky Mountains searching for gold. What begins as a story about curiosity and exploration quickly turns darker—with dangerous terrain, mounting controversy, and lives lost along the way. We break down the infamous poem, the clues that captivated a generation, and the question that still lingers: was this an ingenious puzzle… or something far more complicated? This is the story of a modern legend—and the questions that still refuse to stay buried. We also acknowledge the lives lost during the search and approach this story with care. Because even after the treasure was found, not everything was solved. Safety Note: If you plan to explore remote or wilderness areas, always prioritize safety. Check conditions, let someone know your plans, and be prepared with proper gear and navigation tools. For more information, visit the National Park Service for outdoor safety guidelines. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts.

We’re taking a break this week and using the time to amplify the voices of other creators we love in the true crime space. This week we’re bringing you a fabulous story from the Rainy Day Rabbit Holes podcast hosted by our friends Shea & Jody. This episode delves into the chilling events surrounding the Tylenol murders of 1982 and the subsequent Excedrin poisonings in 1986. It explores the tragic deaths caused by cyanide-laced capsules, the investigations that followed, and the impact these events had on product safety regulations in the United States. The discussion highlights the key figures involved, including Stella Nickell, who was ultimately convicted for product tampering, and the broader implications for consumer safety. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. 

On a dark September night in 1986, a van sat abandoned on the Sunset Highway outside Portland—with the engine running.  Upon closer inspection there was a purse on the gas pedal, and blood everywhere. What first appeared to be a tragic accident quickly unraveled into something far more disturbing. Cheryl Keeton was a successful attorney, a mother of three, and a woman in the middle of a bitter divorce. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a story of control, fear, and a staged accident that quickly began to fall apart —revealing a murder. In this episode, we examine the evidence, the timeline, and the case that would take nearly a decade to bring to justice. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. 

On a dark September night in 1986, a van sat abandoned on the Sunset Highway outside Portland—with the engine running. Upon closer inspection there was a purse on the gas pedal, and blood everywhere. What first appeared to be a tragic accident quickly unraveled into something far more disturbing. Cheryl Keeton was a successful attorney, a mother of three, and a woman in the middle of a bitter divorce. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a story of control, fear, and a staged accident that quickly began to fall apart —revealing a murder. In this episode, we examine the evidence, the timeline, and the case that would take nearly a decade to bring to justice. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Pastebin for sources.

This week we dive into the strange, fascinating world of superstitions, starting with a few well-known ones before venturing into some truly bizarre beliefs from around the globe. The episode explores classic superstitions like unlucky black cats, knocking on wood, the taboo of walking under ladders, the bad luck of breaking mirrors, and why you shouldn’t open an umbrella indoors.  From there, we travel through a collection of unusual cultural superstitions. In parts of South America and Spain, sweeping someone’s feet with a broom is said to doom them to a lifetime of being single, while in the Caribbean an itchy palm might signal money coming in or going out depending on which hand it is. Some beliefs are even stranger, like the Irish warning that an itchy nose means a fight is coming, or the Turkish superstition that chewing gum after dark turns it into human flesh. The hosts also chat about customs tied to everyday life and sleep, such as instructions about when to cut your nails, never placing a hat on a bed, reshaping mattresses to prevent the devil from hiding in them! We wrap up with theatrical lore surrounding “The Scottish Curse,” the long-standing belief among actors that saying the name of Shakespeare’s Macbeth inside a theater invites disaster! Blending history, folklore, and humor, the episode highlights how superstition has shaped human behavior for centuries and how many of these quirky beliefs still linger today. 🪵🐈‍⬛✨ Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

This week we dive into the strange, fascinating world of superstitions, starting with a few well-known ones before venturing into some truly bizarre beliefs from around the globe. The episode explores classic superstitions like unlucky black cats, knocking on wood, the taboo of walking under ladders, the bad luck of breaking mirrors, and why you shouldn’t open an umbrella indoors. From there, we travel through a collection of unusual cultural superstitions. In parts of South America and Spain, sweeping someone’s feet with a broom is said to doom them to a lifetime of being single, while in the Caribbean an itchy palm might signal money coming in or going out depending on which hand it is. Some beliefs are even stranger, like the Irish warning that an itchy nose means a fight is coming, or the Turkish superstition that chewing gum after dark turns it into human flesh. The hosts also chat about customs tied to everyday life and sleep, such as instructions about when to cut your nails, never placing a hat on a bed, reshaping mattresses to prevent the devil from hiding in them! We wrap up with theatrical lore surrounding “The Scottish Curse,” the long-standing belief among actors that saying the name of Shakespeare’s Macbeth inside a theater invites disaster! Blending history, folklore, and humor, the episode highlights how superstition has shaped human behavior for centuries and how many of these quirky beliefs still linger today. 🪵🐈‍⬛✨ Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

In the early 1900s, the Hood River Valley was still frontier country. Homesteads were scattered across rugged land, neighbors lived miles apart, and life revolved around routine and survival. When that routine suddenly stopped - others took notice.   Louisa Nesbitt and her daughter Alma vanished from their rural homestead without warning. At first, neighbors assumed the women had simply left the valley. But as time passed with no word from either of them, suspicion began to grow. What followed would become one of Oregon’s most unusual early murder cases—one that tested the limits of the legal system and left a mystery that still lingers in the Pacific Northwest today. Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

Pack your raincoat and your flannel, we’re heading to Grays Harbor in Washington, the salty gateway to the Pacific and the misty doorstep of the Olympic Peninsula. The most notable town on Grays Harbor is Aberdeen, hometown of Kurt Cobain. The town leans into its legacy with a welcome sign that reads “Come As You Are,” a nod to the iconic Nirvana anthem. Nearby, a humble highway sign became rock folklore and was eventually relocated due to its popularity with fans. But Grays Harbor is more than grunge nostalgia. The stately Polson Museum, a 1924 riverfront mansion built by the Polson Logging Company family, houses antiques and logging relics that some visitors swear carry more than just dust. The museum gift shop shelves true crime tales like Deep in the Woods about the 1935 kidnapping of George Weyerhaeuser, and The Port of Missing Men, which recounts the chilling legend of sailor turned union man Billy Gohl. Dubbed the “Ghoul of Grays Harbor,” Billy Gohl was accused of murdering dozens of sailors in the early 1900s, allegedly stealing their valuables and dumping their bodies into the harbor. Convicted of only two murders, he died in prison, but debate still churns like gray water. Was he a serial killer responsible for up to 100 deaths, or a convenient scapegoat for powerful men threatened by his labor activism? His legend lingers at his namesake — Billy’s Bar & Grill. The harbor’s ghostly roll call does not end on land. The Lady Washington, a 1989 replica of the first American vessel to make landfall in the Pacific Northwest in 1788 under Captain Robert Gray, sails as a floating tribute to maritime history. Many believe old sea spirits are drawn out wherever the ship sails into port! Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

This episode originally aired in three parts - now conveniently edited down to one for your listening pleasure! Today we’re going to talk about a very mysterious hole, known as Mel’s Hole. Who is Mel, and what is so special about his hole? On Feb 21st 1997, a self described Willie Nelson Doppelgänger named Mel Waters, contacted radio talk show “Coast to Coast with Art Bell.” Five phone interviews over the course of 5 years detailed a bewildering tale with many peaks and pits!   Extended versions: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3   Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources

This episode originally aired in three parts - now conveniently edited down to one for your listening pleasure! Today we’re going to talk about a very unique hole, known as Mel’s Hole. Who is Mel, and what is so special about his hole? On Feb 21st 1997, a self described Willie Nelson Doppelgänger named Mel Waters, contacted radio talk show “Coast to Coast with Art Bell.” Five phone interviews over the course of 5 years detailed a bewildering tale with many peaks and pits! Extended versions: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 Visit our website! Find us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Patreon, & more! There are so many ways that you can support the show: BuyMeACoffee, Spreaker, or by leaving a rating & review on Apple Podcasts. Sources