The Box of Oddities

John Elliott and Kat Walls

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

  • 35 minutes 44 seconds
    Inbox Of Oddities #038

    The Inbox of Oddities is a delightful bonus episode where Kat and Jethro dive into the treasure trove of listener emails, comments, and messages sent by you—the ever-curious Freak Family. From spine-tingling personal encounters with the paranormal to bizarre trivia, mysterious coincidences, and even a touch of the hilariously strange, this episode is a wild ride of oddities shared by the ones who make this community so unique. Tune in for heartfelt stories, jaw-dropping revelations, and the twisted humor that makes every episode of The Box of Oddities an unforgettable experience.

     If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected]

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    21 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 35 minutes 10 seconds
    A Warlord’s Curse & Ghosts of the Savannah

    Doom Unleashed – Timur’s Cursed Tomb & the Man-Eating Lions of Tsavo


    Some legends are just old stories… and then some prove themselves terrifyingly real. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Jethro and Kat unravel the eerie curse of Timur’s Tomb, a chilling prophecy that may have ignited one of the deadliest conflicts in history. Did disturbing the warlord’s grave actually unleash a catastrophe—or was it just a spine-tingling coincidence?


    Then, we journey to the dark heart of Africa for the true story behind The Ghost and the Darkness—a pair of bloodthirsty lions that turned a railway project into an all-you-can-eat buffet (for them). What drove these fearsome beasts to hunt humans? And just how many unfortunate souls ended up on the menu?


    Graves, curses, and ravenous apex predators—just another day at the office for Box of Oddities. Listen now… if you dare! 🎧🔮🦁


    #Podcast #TrueCrime #History #CursedTombs #ManEatingLions #BoxOfOddities

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    19 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 41 minutes 2 seconds
    Death by Winter, Theft by Haircut

    The Starlight Tours, aka The Saskatoon Freezing Deaths and The Phantom Barber


    In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we unravel the haunting case of the Saskatoon freezing deaths, where Indigenous men were abandoned in subzero temperatures by local police—an unsettling true crime story that’s both horrifying and heartbreakingly real. Then, we tiptoe into the baffling and bizarre tale of the Phantom Barber, a sneaky criminal who broke into homes—not to steal valuables but to give haircuts to unsuspecting victims as they slept. Why? That’s the million-dollar question.

    It's a strange journey into true crime, dark history, and weird mysteries that will leave you questioning everything—including your next haircut. Hit play… if you dare.

    #TrueCrime #WeirdHistory #Podcast #SaskatoonFreezingDeaths #PhantomBarber #BoxOfOddities

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    17 February 2025, 5:10 am
  • 31 minutes 48 seconds
    Inbox Of Oddities #037

    The Inbox of Oddities is a delightful bonus episode where Kat and Jethro dive into the treasure trove of listener emails, comments, and messages sent by you—the ever-curious Freak Family. From spine-tingling personal encounters with the paranormal to bizarre trivia, mysterious coincidences, and even a touch of the hilariously strange, this episode is a wild ride of oddities shared by the ones who make this community so unique. Tune in for heartfelt stories, jaw-dropping revelations, and the twisted humor that makes every episode of The Box of Oddities an unforgettable experience.


    If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected]

    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    14 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 42 minutes 10 seconds
    Your Brain Wants to Travel & Your Face Wants to Betray You

    Mad Travelers Syndrome & The Science of Blushing


    Ever woken up convinced you're supposed to be somewhere else—like, on another continent? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we unravel the baffling Mad Travelers’ Phenomenon, where people suddenly believe they must embark on an urgent, often nonsensical journey and don't remember any of it. Passport not required—just a healthy disregard for logic.


    Then, we dive face-first into the science of blushing. Why do humans alone turn into tomatoes when embarrassed? From secret evolutionary advantages to awkward social moments, we expose the bizarre reasons behind this involuntary trait. Spoiler: It involves shame, science, and the occasional mating ritual.


    Join us for a journey through the weird, the mysterious, and the oddly relatable. Hit play and prepare for some deeply unnecessary wanderlust—and even more unnecessary blushing.


    #Podcast #WeirdHistory #MadTravelers #HumanNature #BoxOfOddities

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    12 February 2025, 5:10 am
  • 42 minutes 44 seconds
    A Serial Killer Mystery & The Worst Medical Advice Ever

    A Serial Killer & Tobacco Where?! – Box of Oddities

    What do an elusive serial killer and some genuinely questionable medical practices have in common? Nothing—except that they’re both unbelievably weird, unsettling, and featured in this episode!

    First, Kat unpacks the chilling case of the Connecticut River Valley Killer, an unidentified predator who terrorized New England with a string of brutal attacks. Who was behind these unsolved crimes, and could they still be out there? (Spoiler: Probably. Sleep well.)

    Then, Jethro takes a deep inhale of history’s most baffling medical treatments—tobacco enemas. Yes, you read that correctly. Once upon a time, doctors thought blowing smoke up your…well…you know was a cure-all. Turns out, it was just as terrible an idea as it sounds.

    Murder, mystery, and medically sanctioned nonsense—what more could you ask for? Listen now!

    #TrueCrime #MedicalHistory #WeirdFacts #Mysteries #BoxOfOddities #Podcast

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    10 February 2025, 5:10 am
  • 53 minutes 18 seconds
    Tripping Cavemen, Turnip Attacks, and Everest’s Ghostly Hikers

    In this episode of Freak Family Favorites, we ask, Did Magic Mushrooms Make Us Human? And Why Is That Guy Getting Pelted with Turnips?

    In this mind-bending episode of The Box of Oddities, we dive into the Stoned Ape Theory—the wild idea that psychedelics might have turbocharged human evolution. Did our ancestors owe their intelligence to a little fungal inspiration? Then, we journey to Spain’s Jarramplas Festival, where a man willingly gets pelted with turnips for reasons that remain as mysterious as they are bruising. Finally, we ascend into the eerie world of the ghosts of Mount Everest, where lost climbers are said to wander the frozen peaks—forever. Is it the altitude playing tricks, or are restless spirits still summiting?

    Prepare for an episode packed with brain-expanding theories, high-velocity root vegetables, and spectral mountaineers. Because when it comes to history, science, and the unexplained, The Box of Oddities proves truth is always stranger than fiction.

    #WeirdHistory #Paranormal #StonedApeTheory #JarramplasFestival #GhostsOfEverest #BoxOfOddities

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    7 February 2025, 5:00 am
  • 47 minutes 19 seconds
    Time Travel & Gangster Hideouts

    What if time travel wasn’t just science fiction? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we unravel the mind-bending concept of the Tipler Cylinder. This theoretical object could, in theory, send you spiraling through time like a cosmic waterslide. Could it actually work? Is it working now? And if so… where do we sign up?


    Then, we shift gears (and centuries) With guest host Nan McNamara to uncover why St. Paul, Minnesota, became the go-to gangster paradise in the early 1900s. Spoiler: It wasn’t the weather. From public enemies to backroom deals, we dig into the secret arrangement that turned this Midwestern city into a criminal utopia.


    Get ready for a journey through wormholes and whiskey-fueled heists. Time travel, notorious gangsters, and the unexpected weirdness of history—it’s all here!


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    #Podcast #TrueCrime #TimeTravel #History #BoxOfOddities #WeirdScience #StrangeHistory #GangsterLife

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    5 February 2025, 5:10 am
  • 46 minutes 58 seconds
    Patient X & The Apollo 11 Doomsday Speech

    In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we explore two mind-boggling tales: the eerie case of Patient X, a medical mystery so bizarre it left doctors questioning everything they knew about the human body. Was it science? Was it sorcery? Or was it just a really weird Tuesday?

    Then, we unearth a long-forgotten, top-secret speech—written just in case the Apollo 11 astronauts didn’t make it back from the moon. Because nothing says “historic achievement” like also planning for catastrophic space doom. Who wrote this chilling message? And why does it read like the script for the world’s most unsettling Oscar speech?

    Join Jethro and Lindsay Schnebley, who are sitting in for Kat on a journey through the weird, the unsettling, and the oddly hilarious. Because history is stranger than fiction—and sometimes, way darker.

    #TheBoxOfOddities #MedicalMystery #Apollo11 #NASASecrets #WeirdHistory #PatientX #Podcast


    If you would like to advertise on The Box of Oddities, contact [email protected]

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    3 February 2025, 7:51 pm
  • 41 minutes 13 seconds
    Inbox & Favorites: A Freaky Fusion of the Bizarre and Beloved

    In this special hybrid episode, we’re combining the best of both worlds—The Inbox of Oddities and Freak Family Favorites!

    This episode kicks off with some of your wildest listener emails—because who doesn’t love a good strange coincidence or paranormal encounter? You shared your weirdest moments with us, and we’re ready to unpack them, from haunted keychains to mysterious disappearances. After that, we’re turning up the heat with one of our favorite freaky tales: spontaneous human combustion! It’s a topic that will make you question your every move (and maybe even reach for the fire extinguisher).

    Then, we take a look at the bizarre behaviors we still engage in today, thanks to evolution. From irrational fears to strange habits, we explore how our ancient instincts might be responsible for some of the odd things we do in the modern world. It’s an episode packed with listener contributions, creepy science, and a whole lot of unexpected oddities.

    Tune in for this one-of-a-kind mashup of the weird and the wonderful.


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    31 January 2025, 5:00 am
  • 48 minutes 12 seconds
    Inside The Wall

    What if the universe had a plan… or at least a wicked sense of humor? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, we unravel a jaw-dropping tale of a life-changing event that defies logic. Was it random chance? A cosmic wink? Or something far more miraculous? You decide.


    Then, Nan McNamara fills in for Kat and steps into the shadowy halls of Glensheen Mansion, the site of one of America’s most infamous murders. With a setting straight out of a gothic novel and enough intrigue to make your spine tingle, the murder of Elisabeth Congdon is a mystery dripping with scandal, secrets, and sheer weirdness.


    Join us for coincidences, dark mysteries, and the inexplicable await! Buckle up, oddlings—this is one episode you can’t miss.


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    #TrueCrime #Synchronicity #WeirdHistory #MurderMystery #PodcastLife

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    29 January 2025, 5:10 am
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