Podcasts about Jethro

Parshas Yisro is a tale of two narratives. It begins with the dramatic arrival of Jethro, father-in-law of Moshe. He heard about all the miracles that the Almighty performed for the nation during the Exodus and decided to join the nation. The Parsha details his arrival together with Moshe's wife and their two sons, the […]

When Bureaucracy Kills You on Paper and the 1906 exorcism of Clara Germana Cele.  What if you woke up one morning and discovered the government had already buried you—on paper?  In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore the quietly terrifying phenomenon of bureaucratic death: real cases in which living people were officially declared dead due to clerical errors, missing-person rulings, or database failures—and then found it nearly impossible to prove they were alive again. Bank accounts frozen. Benefits canceled. Identities erased. All because a system designed for finality has no process for resurrection.  From Social Security records that spread like digital wildfire to court rulings that insist you missed the deadline to object to your own death, this story exposes the absurd and Kafkaesque consequences of modern bureaucracy. We look at documented cases including men who stood in court, breathing and speaking, while judges acknowledged their physical existence—yet refused to reverse their legal death.  Then, just when you think reality has regained its footing, we pivot into one of the most chilling possession cases on record: the 1906 exorcism of Clara Germana Cele, a young orphan raised in a South African mission school. Accounts describe violent behavior, alleged levitation, sudden fluency in multiple languages, and a prolonged exorcism sanctioned by the Catholic Church. But viewed through a modern lens, the story raises unsettling questions about trauma, power, colonialism, and what happens when fear becomes doctrine.  Is possession supernatural—or is it what happens when vulnerable people are given no language for their suffering?  As always, we separate documented facts from speculation, explore credible historical sources, and sit comfortably in the discomfort where certainty breaks down. Also included: dangerously compassionate lizard-warming strategies, the unexpected poetry of snowplow names, and the reminder that sometimes the scariest thing in the room isn't a demon—it's a system that refuses to see you.  Because being alive, it turns out, is not always enough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why would a powerful, respected spiritual leader abandon comfort, status, and certainty to join a nation of former slaves in the desert?In this morning's class, Rabbi Yisroel Bernath explores the story of Jethro—not as ancient history, but as a living mirror. Through a surprising Talmudic question, we uncover what Jethro really heard that compelled him to move from observer to participant.This class weaves together three forces that define the Jewish story, irrational hatred, the moral genius of Torah, and the supernatural resilience of the Jewish people and asks a deeply personal question:What does Judaism ask of us when it's easier to stay comfortable?Jethro's journey challenges us to stop watching Jewish life from the sidelines and start stepping into it with intention, courage, and responsibility.KEY TAKEAWAYSBeing inspired is easy. Showing up changes everything.Irrational hatred is often the shadow cast by something deeply holy.Torah isn't just tradition, it's a radical moral framework that reshaped civilization.Jewish survival defies history, logic, and probability.You don't need to be born into greatness, but you do need to choose it.Judaism isn't meant to be admired from a distance, it's meant to be lived.The real question isn't what did Jethro hear? It's what are we hearing—and what are we doing about it?#Jewish #Judaism #Torah #Bible #BibleStudy #TorahLessons  #Jethro #FromFanToPlayer #JewishIdentity #TorahLife #PurposeOverComfort #LivingJudaism #JewishResilience #WhyBeJewish #KabbalahForEveryone #RabbiBernath #JewishNDG #MeaningOverConvenience #StepIntoTheStory Available now:Paperback (US): https://www.amazon.com/Forgiveness-Experiment-What-Would-Your/dp/1069217638Paperback (Canada): https://www.amazon.ca/dp/1069217638Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FR2QNJL6Support the showGot your own question for Rabbi Bernath? He can be reached at rabbi@jewishndg.com or http://www.theloverabbi.comSingle? You can make a profile on www.JMontreal.com and Rabbi Bernath will help you find that special someone.Donate and support Rabbi Bernath's work http://www.jewishndg.com/donateFollow Rabbi Bernath's YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/user/ybernathAccess Rabbi Bernath's Articles on Relationships https://medium.com/@loverabbi

Caller Questions & Discussion: JJ discusses the story in Exodus 18 where Moses' father-in-law, Jethro, advises Moses to delegate his responsibilities instead of handling everything alone. My 11-year-old daughter is terrified of vomiting. Should I seek professional help? Sometimes she refuses to eat because she feels nauseous. During the Superbowl, what advice do you have for people who have a tendency to overindulge with food, alcohol, or betting? How much help should I provide my 34-year-old son, who has struggled with bipolar disorder and psychosis? I'm considering renting an apartment for him. I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but I think it caused my diabetes. Can I stop taking my medication?

The arrival of Jethro, the preparation for Sinai, and the nature of the Sinai revelation – these are some of the subjects featured in our parsha. In this very special and atypically extemporaneous Parsha podcast, we offer four interesting ideas: one on the unique route that Jethro took to the truth; one on the particular […]

The arrival of Jethro, the preparation for Sinai, and the nature of the Sinai revelation - these are some of the subjects featured in our parsha. In this very special and atypically extemporaneous Parsha podcast, we offer four interesting ideas: one on the unique route that Jethro took to the truth; one on the particular form of pleasure that Torah bestows upon those who learn it; a supremely clever idea on the boundaries placed around Mount Sinai; and a fascinating observation on the splitting of the sea and the splitting of the heavens.– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –NEW TORCH Mailing Address POBox:TORCHPO BOX 310246HOUSTON, TX 77231-0246– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★

Why did Henry David Thoreau care so much about pencils—and why did some phone numbers keep ringing long after they were disconnected? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro wander into two stories that shouldn't be connected… but somehow are. First, we look at the surprising industrial legacy of Henry David Thoreau, long before Walden Pond. As a young man working in his family's pencil business, Thoreau applied chemistry, precision, and quiet rebellion to fix America's worst pencils—changing how graphite was processed, how pencils were graded, and why most pencils are still yellow today. It's a story about innovation, independence, and how financial stability made room for deep thinking… and eventually, deliberate living. Then, the episode takes a darker turn. During the 1960s and 70s, people across the U.S. reported receiving phone calls from businesses that had been closed—sometimes for decades. Funeral homes. Pharmacies. Local shops. Callers insisted they had just spoken to someone on the line. Engineers found nothing. Phone companies found no active service. The FCC investigated. No explanation stuck. What emerged instead was something stranger: the idea of telecom afterimages—echoes of human habit lingering in old copper wire. Conversations without ghosts. Voices without intent. Systems that didn't quite know how to forget. This episode explores how infrastructure remembers, how absence isn't always clean, and why the most unsettling stories are often the quietest ones—ordinary conversations that shouldn't exist, but somehow do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The most significant event in all of human history is the Revelation at Sinai, which occurs in Parshas Yisro. Prior to that monumental experience and the conveyance of the Ten Commandments, Moshe's father in law, Jethro, arrived at the camp and makes an important suggestion for improving the efficiency of the judicial process. – – […]

The most significant event in all of human history is the Revelation at Sinai, which occurs in Parshas Yisro. Prior to that monumental experience and the conveyance of the Ten Commandments, Moshe's father in law, Jethro, arrived at the camp and makes an important suggestion for improving the efficiency of the judicial process.– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –DONATE: Please consider supporting the podcasts by making a donation to help fund our Jewish outreach and educational efforts at https://www.torchweb.org/support.php. Thank you!– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –NEW TORCH Mailing Address POBox:TORCHPO BOX 310246HOUSTON, TX 77231-0246– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –Email me with questions, comments, and feedback: rabbiwolbe@gmail.com– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to my Newsletterrabbiwolbe.com/newsletter– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –SUBSCRIBE to Rabbi Yaakov Wolbe's PodcastsThe Parsha PodcastThe Jewish History PodcastThe Mitzvah Podcast This Jewish LifeThe Ethics PodcastTORAH 101 ★ Support this podcast ★

How might pastors approach the many administrative needs of a congregation? Pastor John draws four helpful guidelines from Jethro's counsel to Moses.

What happens when a military base shuts down… but the signals don't? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro dig into a strange, documented mystery tied to Camp Hero in Montauk, New York—a Cold War radar installation officially decommissioned in the early 1980s. Years after the gates were locked and the radar went dark, amateur ham radio operators began logging unexplained voice transmissions seemingly originating from the abandoned site. These weren't bursts of static or pirate radio chatter. Operators reported calm, procedural phrases—short, clipped, emotionally neutral language consistent with military communications. Even more unsettling: some transmissions appeared to echo Cold War–era radar terminology that had been out of use for decades. The reports were consistent, carefully logged, and compelling enough that they were forwarded to the FCC, which investigated and acknowledged the anomalies… but never provided a public explanation. Kat and Jethro walk through what we know for certain about Camp Hero, the documented reports from experienced radio operators, and why Montauk's long history of high strangeness makes this case especially unsettling. From theories involving atmospheric conditions and signal propagation to more speculative ideas about residual transmissions, time displacement, and non-intelligent “hauntings” of technology itself, this episode explores how systems built to listen may sometimes keep doing so long after we think they've stopped. Along the way, the conversation veers—delightfully—into unexpected territory, including bizarre animal adoption names, Denmark's most aggressively tasteless amusement park, and the thin line between serious investigation and the absurd places curiosity can take you. As always, the story stays rooted in documented accounts, official records, and firsthand reports—leaving you to decide whether these voices were nothing more than interference… or echoes from something that never fully powered down. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What happens when a wall hides more than it should? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore two unsettling, very real stories where history was quietly sealed away—literally and figuratively. First, we descend into the forgotten basement of Danvers State Hospital in Massachusetts, where renovation crews in the 1990s uncovered a bricked-over corridor that didn't exist on any blueprints. Inside were intact treatment rooms, restraint fixtures, and medical equipment from an era psychiatric institutions would rather forget. No records. No documentation. And once discovered, the space was quietly sealed again. Then we shift to a powerful and often overlooked chapter in American medical history: Freedom House Ambulance Service in Pittsburgh. In the 1960s, a group of Black paramedics—trained at an unprecedented level—quietly invented modern emergency medical care. They saved hundreds of lives, revolutionized on-scene treatment, and laid the foundation for today's EMS systems… before being erased from history when the city took over the program. Along the way, we talk about institutional amnesia, medical ethics, abandoned practices, historical erasure, and why the scariest stories are often the ones that actually happened. Because sometimes the question isn't what's haunting a place—It's what was deliberately forgotten. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

15:19.5In this episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro Jones interviews Benny, a 16-year-old sophomore at Alpha School in Austin. Benny discusses his Alpha X project—a YouTube channel explaining how video games are educational.The conversation explores Alpha School's innovative model, which combines AI-based academics in the morning with passion-driven project work in the afternoon. Benny shares insights on how video games teach critical life skills like problem-solving, resilience, teamwork, and communication through active learning environments.Jethro challenges Benny to stop perfecting his first video and start publishing immediately, emphasizing that consistent practice beats endless research. They discuss the importance of learning through doing, the value of failure in video games versus traditional education, and how Alpha School's approach helps students develop real-world skills.Alpha School academics and workshops. Benny's youtube channelUploading many videos as opposed to researching to make one video. Active worlds do 1.5x better than kids in traditional learning situations.Video games teaching organic skills. Portal 1 and 2 are great for teaching logicProfessor Layton Franchise - puzzle games.What makes you give up? Motivational models - motivating a student for doing a certain task or achievementHow minecraft raised us better than our schools. Brainlift Google DocAbout BennyBenny is a 16-year-old sophomore who attends Alpha High School. He enjoys playing video games, playing instruments, and debating a variety of topics. He has lived in Austin, Texas his whole life and has been attending Alpha for three years. At Alpha, students complete an AlphaX project, an individual project based on their passions. When he was in middle school and during his first year at Alpha High School, Benny's project was based on music therapy. However, as he progressed through high school, he began to change his project to a YouTube channel that explains how video games are educational. This change was inspired by the first thing he does when he gets home from school, which is playing video games.

Today, we're looking at Exodus 4 and finishing up God's call of Moses. In this chapter, we'll see that Moses was a man so lost in discouragement, it was affecting his obedience to the Lord. And yet, despite Moses' weaknesses, God will use him mightily. Join us as we continue our study through the Book of Exodus! DISCUSSION AND STUDY QUESTIONS: 1.    By this point, Moses is a broken man of 80 years old who has blown one of the greatest opportunities that could be had in his day. However, God had a plan for Moses and has been using this time to perform some divine heart surgery in Moses' life. From what you already know about Moses, what has had to be transformed in his life before he could step into his role as the leader of the Jews? Are there any things in your life that need to be transformed in order for you to step into God's next chapter for you? 2.    In verse 1, Moses brings up a third concern to the Lord about this new assignment to take on Pharaoh. What was this concern? From a natural perspective was this reasonable? What does this show us about the source of Moses' thinking at this point? How do we sometimes view a situation "naturally" (which may even have wide agreement from others who know of the situation) but where we're still not viewing our situation from God's perspective?  3.    How did Moses' low view of himself cloud his view of God and his trust in the Lord? Is there any area in your life, where your view of yourself is affecting your view of God? If so, how can that be brought into submission to the Lord? 4.    According to the podcast, what is a true miracle? How did God demonstrate a couple of miracles to Moses? Why did God do this? How did Moses respond? 5.    In verse 5, what was the reason God gave for why He was going to perform these great signs and wonders in Egypt? How has God worked in your life to show you who He is?  6.    In verse 10, Moses brings up yet another concern. What is it? Who is Moses focusing on, again? How does this focus increase our own worries and corrupt both our view of God and our trust in His work in our life? 7.    In verse 11 & 12, what was the Lord's response to Moses' concerns? What was God's focus? How was this different than Moses? When we're facing difficulties, how can a person develop this kind of focus?  8.    After Moses finally agrees to obey the Lord and step into this new role, what does he tell Jethro his reason for going back to Egypt? Was this the real reason? What does this show us about Moses' level of commitment (at this point) to the Lord's mission?  9.    The previous question shows us that even now, Moses was not fully the man God was calling him to be. We sometimes think we have to be perfect in order for God to use us. Instead, from the example of Moses, what kinds are things is God looking for?  10.    In verses 24-26, we read about a very uncomfortable event. What happened? What did the podcast suggest about why this event even needed to take place? What does this teach us about the importance of a leader's example?  11.    In verse 31, when the people first heard of God's message by way of Moses, how did they respond?  12.    In this passage, Moses is 80 years old and he still hasn't gotten life figured out. Is there ever a point where we can stop growing in our knowledge, understanding and obedience to the Lord? Why or why not?  Check out our Bible Study Guide on the Key Chapters of Genesis! Available on Amazon just in time for the Genesis relaunch in January! To see our dedicated podcast website with access to all our episodes and other resources, visit us at: www.keychapters.org. Find us on all major platforms, or use these direct links: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6OqbnDRrfuyHRmkpUSyoHv Itunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/366-key-chapters-in-the-bible/id1493571819 YouTube: Key Chapters of the Bible on YouTube. As always, we are grateful to be included in the "Top 100 Bible Podcasts to Follow" from Feedspot.com. Also for regularly being awarded "Podcast of the Day" from PlayerFM. Special thanks to Joseph McDade for providing our theme music.   

The Wisdom of Jethro and Why the Church Must Hear It Again • Sunday Service Website: www.PastorTodd.org To give: www.ToddCoconato.com/give Church, there are moments in Scripture that feel quiet, almost hidden, yet they carry explosive wisdom for every generation. The story of Jethro is one of those moments. It is not dramatic like the Red Sea. It is not thunderous like Sinai. But it is profoundly practical, and that is exactly why we need it right now. This passage shows us how God protects His work, His leaders, and His people from burnout, collapse, and unnecessary strain. 1. Even God-Appointed Leaders Can Become Overloaded Moses was called by God. He heard God's voice. He carried authority. He walked in miracles. Yet Exodus 18 tells us that Moses sat from morning till evening judging the people alone. Jethro watched this and said something startling: “What you are doing is not good. Both you and these people who are with you will surely wear yourselves out.” Exodus 18:17–18 NKJV 2. God Often Speaks Through Wise, Godly Counsel Jethro was not an Israelite leader. He was Moses' father-in-law. Yet God used him as a voice of protection and correction. This teaches us humility. God does not only speak through dramatic encounters. He speaks through relationships, through godly counsel, through people who can see what we can no longer see because we are too close to the problem. Proverbs says: “In the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Proverbs 11:14 NKJV 3. Delegation Is Not a Lack of Faith. It Is Obedience Jethro did not tell Moses to stop leading. He told him to lead differently. “Select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them.” Exodus 18:21 NKJV 4. The Health of the Leader Affects the Health of the People Jethro warned Moses that if he continued this way, both he and the people would suffer. That is a sobering word for the Church today. When leaders are exhausted, families feel it. When pastors burn out, churches drift. When ministry becomes survival instead of obedience, vision fades. God cares about sustainability because He cares about longevity. “If you do this thing, and God so commands you, then you will be able to endure.” Exodus 18:23 NKJV 5. This Is a Blueprint for the End-Time Church We are living in a season of urgency. The harvest is great. The pressure is real. Many leaders are carrying far more than they were meant to carry alone. The Jethro principle teaches us: Build teams, not empires Raise leaders, not dependents Protect spiritual stamina Stay humble and teachable This is not about efficiency alone. It is about obedience and fruitfulness. The enemy loves isolated leaders. God builds unified bodies. Church, the story of Jethro is not about management. It is about wisdom. It is about humility. It is about understanding that God's work done God's way will never destroy God's servants. If you are weary, hear this word. God never asked you to carry everything alone. If you are leading, ask this question honestly. Who has God sent to help carry the load? And if you are part of the body, understand this. Your faithfulness matters. Your service matters. Your obedience strengthens the whole. The Kingdom advances best when every part supplies what God designed it to give. Let us be a people who listen, who share the burden, and who endure until the work is finished. Show less

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore how some mysteries don't announce themselves with screaming headlines or dramatic hauntings—but instead settle in quietly and refuse to leave. The episode slips into dark territory with the true and well-documented case of the Hexham Heads—two crude stone carvings unearthed by children in a backyard in 1970s England. What followed were subtle but persistent disturbances: unexplained knocking, moving objects, and a growing sense that the house itself was reacting to something that should never have been brought inside. Investigated by members of the Society for Psychical Research, the case raises an unsettling possibility—that some hauntings are tied not to places but to objects that carry history badly. In the second half, the episode turns from the paranormal to forensic science with the decades-long mystery of Little Miss Lake Panasoffkee. Discovered murdered in Florida in 1971, she remained unidentified for over fifty years despite repeated exhumations, reconstructions, and scientific analysis. Advances in forensic technology finally restored her name—Maureen Lou Rowan—while also revealing how earlier scientific conclusions were quietly skewed by embalming practices of the era. The story becomes a sobering reminder that science evolves, truth is fragile, and identity can be lost far too easily. Along the way, Kat and Jethro weave in observations about human behavior, survival instincts, and the strange overlap between curiosity, caution, and consequence. No jump scares. No neat endings. Just a lingering sense that some things—objects, histories, and unresolved lives—leave marks long after they're buried. If you're fascinated by haunted objects, unsolved mysteries, forensic breakthroughs, and the quieter side of the unexplained, this episode delivers stories that stay with you well after the final sign-off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Exodus 18, Moses's father-in-law Jethro watched him do his work one day in serving the people. He saw the stress on both his son-in-law and the people waiting for him. So he shared his wisdom with Moses. Listen Exodus 18When Moses' father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he asked, “What are you really accomplishing here? Why are you trying to do all this alone while everyone stands around you from morning till evening?”… “This is not good!” Moses' father-in-law exclaimed. “You're going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. … select from all the people some capable, honest men who fear God. Appoint them as leaders … Let the leaders decide the smaller matters themselves. They will help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.” (vv. 14-23 NLT)Does trying to do everything alone and not bother anyone for help sound familiar to you? Does wearing yourself out hit close to home?With this in mind listen again to these specific parts of this passage with a bit of adaptation directed at you personally“You're going to wear yourself out ... This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself. Now listen to me, and let me give you a word of advice, and may God be with you. … let some capable, honest … [people] … help you carry the load, making the task easier for you. If you follow this advice, and if God commands you to do so, then you will be able to endure the pressures, and all these people will go home in peace.”God has placed people in your life that want to help you. Is it time to identify who they are, ask for their help, and finally agree to let them help because they have been offering?We can't truly achieve balance in life by ourselves. We need the help of others. Just like Jethro changed Moses' life and helped the people too with his advice, your life can be blessed and balanced by allowing others into your life.Let's pray together: “Heavenly Father, thank You for examples like this in Scripture that offer real wisdom for life. Help me to identify who can help me. Help me say yes when someone offers when I know it's right. I need Your help to balance family, work, and all of life. As above, so below.”

Jethro was the father-in-law of Moses. But he was also the one responsible for Moses's success as a leader over the people of God. Jethro provides five ways for leaders to thrive. Whether you lead a family, a small group, a large organization, or a fast-paced business, these five practices are imperative.I. Change Your Approach (vv. 13-18)II. Instruct the People (vv. 19-20)III. Build a Team (v. 21)IV. Trust the Team (vv. 22-23)V. Take Good Advice (v. 24)Talk with God: Meditate on Matthew 19:30 as you ask the Lord to strengthen you in each of these five areas.Talk with others: As a Connect Group, discuss how you can apply these practices to your daily life.Talk with kids: How did David respond to God's forgiveness?

Sometimes the strangest stories aren't dramatic. They're subtle. Ordinary. And impossible to shake. In this episode of Inbox of Oddities, Kat and Jethro share listener stories that live in the uncomfortable space between coincidence, memory, and something quietly off. These are not tales of screaming ghosts or shadow figures—but moments where reality seems to hesitate, update itself, or fail to line up the way it used to. Listeners write in about objects reappearing exactly where they were already searched for, buildings that forget which lights should be on, paintings that appear to change over time, and memories that don't match the physical evidence left behind. One message describes a calm, reassuring voice coming through a baby monitor. Another recalls a grandmother's unsettling phrase: “Not everyone comes back the same way.” Along the way, Kat and Jethro reflect on anxiety, aging memory, and the thin line between perception and certainty—mixing empathy, humor, and curiosity in the way only The Box of Oddities can. There are also moments of levity from the Freak Family: accidental near-microwaved laptops, quicksand metaphors, Australian heatwaves, rescued kookaburras, haunted municipal buildings, and the strange bond that forms when thousands of people start noticing the same small weird things. This episode isn't about answers.It's about the feeling you get when nothing is wrong… but nothing is entirely right either. If you've ever had the sense that the world quietly shifted when you weren't looking—this one's for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if two of America's most infamous unsolved murders were never separate at all? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Jethro explores a startling new claim that uses artificial intelligence, cryptography, and old-fashioned detective work to suggest a single suspect may link the Zodiac Killer and the Black Dahlia—two crimes long thought to belong to different eras and different monsters. At the center of the theory is the Zodiac's infamous Z13 cipher, a short, taunting code that promised to reveal the killer's name and resisted decryption for more than 50 years. A self-taught cold-case researcher applied AI-driven computation to generate and eliminate more than 70 million possible name combinations, cross-referencing them against military records, census data, timelines, and geographic constraints. The result? A single identity with chilling connections to Elizabeth Short, the victim known as the Black Dahlia. Retired detectives and former intelligence cryptography specialists weigh in on why this approach is different—and why it may be the closest anyone has come to a real answer. But that's only part of the journey. Kat and Jethro also dive into a collection of real human facts that sound completely fake—from the faint light emitted by the human body, to phantom limbs that can feel wet, to why eyewitness memories are far less reliable than we want to believe. Along the way, a Freak Family email reveals how deeply The Box of Oddities can rewire your brain (sometimes permanently). Finally, Kat closes the episode with one of history's most unsettling books: the Codex Gigas, the largest medieval manuscript ever created. Said to contain the entire Bible, medical texts, exorcisms, and forbidden knowledge—and famously featuring a full-page illustration of the devil—the manuscript's uniform handwriting and impossible scale raise an ancient question: was this the work of a single monk… or something else entirely? True crime, forbidden manuscripts, unsettling science, and the quiet moment when coincidences stop feeling accidental—this is The Box of Oddities doing what it does best. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do carnival sideshows, government paperwork, and half-billion-year-old nightmare creatures have in common? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore three very different corners of history where certainty was offered in place of understanding—and where things were far stranger than advertised. First, they step into the vanished world of early 20th-century hygiene exhibits: traveling carnival attractions that promised education but delivered fear. Set up alongside Ferris wheels and midway games, these sterile tents used wax models, shock imagery, and moral absolutism to teach the public what would happen if they failed to behave “correctly.” Disease was framed as punishment. Fear wasn't a side effect—it was the lesson. Then, in a Thing in the Middle, the focus shifts from bodies to paperwork. Kat and Jethro examine bizarre bureaucratic oddities: citizens declared dead while still alive, laws that regulate technologies no longer in use, records preserved on media that can no longer be read. It's a reminder that systems meant to create order can quietly lose track of reality. Finally, the episode dives deep into the Cambrian Explosion, a brief moment in geological time when life experimented wildly with form. From five-eyed predators to spined worms reconstructed upside-down for decades, these ancient creatures reveal a world where evolution hadn't settled on any final draft yet—and where “normal” hadn't been invented. Across carnivals, governments, and deep time, a pattern emerges: confidence without nuance, spectacle over explanation, and the human desire to make complicated worlds feel simple. The tents are gone.The paperwork remains.The creatures are fossilized. But the urge to replace understanding with certainty is still very much alive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Reject the Premise, Jethro and Danny challenge three common misconceptions in educational leadership. They argue that leadership development isn't a luxury but a necessity, emphasizing that top performers in every field invest in coaching and that having a coach demonstrates maturity rather than inadequacy. They reject the notion that leadership must be lonely, encouraging leaders to build supportive communities and connections rather than remaining isolated. Finally, they reframe innovation as a mindset focused on problem definition rather than an expensive, technology-dependent endeavor. Throughout the conversation, they stress that leaders must take ownership of their own development rather than waiting for districts to provide it, and they share practical examples of how constraints can actually fuel creativity and meaningful change in schools.Key Takeaways:Leadership development is not a luxury - it's essential. When you get better as a leader, everybody wins. Top performers across all fields have coaches, and school leaders deserve the same investment.Having a coach is a sign of humility and maturity, not weakness. The best leaders actively seek coaching and development opportunities because they know they haven't reached their full potential yet.Leadership doesn't have to be lonely - loneliness is a choice. Connect with other leaders through masterminds, coaching communities, online groups, or professional networks. Isolation is the number one enemy of excellence.Innovation is a mindset, not a budget item. It starts with clearly defining the problem you're trying to solve, not jumping to solutions. Real innovation often costs nothing but requires creativity, relationship building, and rethinking constraints.Don't wait for your district to develop you. Take ownership of your growth through external conferences, coaching, and learning from industries outside education. The best insights often come from beyond the education bubble.

Are you running on empty or just barely getting by? In this message from our Renew: Building Relationships God's Way series, Pastor Jay Austin walks through Exodus 18 to show how God never intended us to live isolated, overwhelmed, or spiritually drained. Using the story of Moses and the wise counsel of his father-in-law Jethro, we see God's design for moving from an empty cup to an overflowing life through healthy relationships and shared responsibility.This sermon explores how God fills us through worship, His Word, and intentional community so that what He pours into us can spill out onto others. You'll hear a powerful reminder that even strong leaders can be “isolated in plain sight,” and that God's solution is not more effort, but deeper connection. From the discipleship pathway to life-giving groups, this message invites us to stop doing life alone and start living from overflow.Whether you feel empty, half-full, or hopeful, this message will encourage you to embrace God's blueprint for renewal, community, and lasting impact.

Inbox of Oddities is back with another lovingly chaotic collection of listener stories, strange coincidences, quiet creepiness, and accidental comedy. In this episode, Kat and Jethro share a perfectly timed real-life oddity involving a disappearing blood bus, because sometimes the universe has a sense of humor—and it's not always kind. From there, the Freak Fam delivers. A childhood bedroom that made everyone feel watched—but never threatened. A night security guard who hears a humming tune no one else should know. A smart speaker that apologizes unprompted at 3:14 a.m. A Nevada rest stop that leaves footprints where no one was standing. And a Maine hunting trip that ends with three missing days, clean boots, and a man who never went into the woods again. There's also talk of misheard song lyrics, imaginary dream logic, family phrases that make no sense to outsiders, mysterious radio cutouts in hospital parking lots, and the oddly comforting ways this show has woven itself into listeners' daily lives—from late-night drives to chemo appointments. No monsters. No jump scares. Just rooms that don't want company, places that feel… aware, and moments that refuse to be explained. Exactly the way we like it. If you enjoy subtle paranormal experiences, uncanny coincidences, listener mail, strange comfort, and humor that sneaks up on you, this one's for you. Fly that freak flag proudly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if reality doesn't fully exist unless you're paying attention to it? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro tumble headfirst into some of the strangest intersections of consciousness, physics, philosophy, and fatal laughter. We explore the unsettling ideas of nuclear physicist Thomas Campbell, whose “My Big TOE (Theory of Everything)” proposes that reality itself may function more like a simulation—rendered only when observed, driven not by matter, but by consciousness itself. Is the universe a data stream? Are we avatars logged into a system designed to test our choices? And if so… who's running the server? From the science-backed work at the Monroe Institute to concepts like entropy, intent, and consciousness as the fundamental building block of existence, this episode breaks down Campbell's mind-bending claims in clear, conversational terms—without robes, chanting, or cosmic fluff. Then, just when things couldn't get stranger, we pivot to a surprisingly lethal topic: can laughter actually kill you? From ancient Stoic philosopher Chrysippus allegedly laughing himself to death over a fig-eating donkey, to documented modern cases involving heart conditions triggered by uncontrollable laughter, we trace the real medical risks behind “dying laughing.” Along the way, we examine historical reports, modern diagnoses like Long QT syndrome, and why comedy may be safer in moderation (or at least while seated). Plus, we serve up a classic Thing in the Middle featuring some of the world's most delightfully pointless “capitals,” including hubcaps, snowshoe baseball, lost luggage, jump rope, and barbed wire. It's an episode that asks big questions, delivers strange truths, and reminds us that no matter how serious philosophy gets, sometimes a donkey can still take you out. If you enjoy thought-provoking mysteries, odd history, consciousness theories, dark humor, and the weird edges of science—this one's for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Jethro Jones interviews Mike Goldstein, co-founder of Reset Teen Coaching and author of "I'll Do It Later." They discuss the challenges teens face with executive function, especially those with ADHD, and the trial-and-error nature of finding strategies that work. The conversation covers the limitations of one-size-fits-all approaches in education, the importance of supporting students and families, and the need for school leaders to rethink homework and support systems. Mike shares practical advice for principals, emphasizing the value of providing help during the times students struggle most, such as evenings, and encourages educators to partner with families and adapt to each student's unique journey.Jethro's current struggles with exerciseCase studies focused on the teens who are struggling with ADHDStrategies that could work with a certain situationHumility that you're going to try different things for different kids. Kids don't just have to struggle through school. College can cut both ways. ADHD only applies to things that feel like chores.Have we Been Thinking about ADHD All Wrong? Paul Tufts article in New York Times Magazine April 2025We will meet you more than halfway, grit and perseverance are importantHow to be a transformative principal? Your support staff may be trying to help kids at the wrong time. Try Zoom help in the evening with a support staff person. About Mike GoldsteinMike Goldstein is co-founder of Reset Teen Coaching.  Previously he was founder and executive director of Match Charter High School in Boston.  Mike's new book is I'll Do It Later: Surviving School (and Renewing The Love) with your Teenage Son.  

Recorded by Academy of American Poets staff for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. Published on January 3, 2026. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.poets.org⁠

This week on Inbox of Oddities, Kat and Jethro open the mailbag to stories that blur the line between coincidence, consciousness, and the truly unexplainable. From an apartment building where the elevator refuses to stop on one occupied floor, to a deeply moving firsthand account of near-death experience, angelic visitation, and spiritual awakening, these listener submissions linger long after the episode ends. You'll also hear eerie workplace anomalies that feel like time slips, mysterious recurring figures appearing in years of photographs, intimate moments of human-animal connection, and reflections on how trauma, survival, and compassion can reshape a life. Along the way, Kat and Jethro explore ideas of interconnected consciousness, the illusion of separation, and what it might mean to glimpse the larger web we're all part of. Equal parts unsettling, heartfelt, and quietly profound, this Inbox of Oddities episode delivers true listener stories of glitches in reality, unexplained encounters, and moments that forever change how we see the world—and ourselves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro Gilligan-Toth begin the new year by pulling apart something we all use but rarely question: the calendar. From Julius Caesar's ego-driven timekeeping decisions to the leap year, misplaced months, and how entire civilizations quietly agreed on when the year should begin, it's a surprisingly strange history of how humans try — and often fail — to organize time itself. But once the clock runs out, the episode takes a much darker turn. Jethro dives into the true story of the Memorial Mound in Bessemer, Alabama — an underground burial mausoleum inspired by ancient Roman catacombs and Indigenous burial traditions, designed to last for centuries. Instead, it became one of the most disturbing cases of abandonment in modern funeral history. After the site quietly closed, human remains were left behind for years. Caskets stacked like warehouse inventory. Bodies decomposing in sealed darkness. An infant among them. When urban explorers finally entered the structure in 2014, what they found triggered a federal investigation and raised troubling questions about oversight, neglect, and how easily the dead can be forgotten. Along the way, you'll hear:• The strange origins of month names and New Year's Day• How calendars slowly drifted out of reality• A “Thing in the Middle” packed with bizarre machine and technology facts• And a documented case of human remains abandoned inside an American mausoleum It's a story about time, memory, and what happens when systems fail — quietly, slowly, and out of sight. Keep flying that freak flag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special "reverse interview" episode of Transformative Principal, host Jethro Jones is interviewed by Mike Caldwell. Jethro reflects on his journey as a podcaster, the evolution of his career, and his philosophy on education, innovation, and personal growth. The conversation covers the origins of the podcast, lessons learned from hundreds of interviews, the role of AI in education, and Jethro's next chapter with Life Lab. LinkedLeaders: You need support. Get just-in-time mentoring at LinkedLeaders.comWe're thrilled to be sponsored by IXL. IXL's comprehensive teaching and learning platform for math, language arts, science, and social studies is accelerating achievement in 95 of the top 100 U.S. school districts. Loved by teachers and backed by independent research from Johns Hopkins University, IXL can help you do the following and more:Simplify and streamline technologySave teachers' timeReliably meet Tier 1 standardsImprove student performance on state assessments

his Christmas Box contains a fine selection of fascinating topics you can bring up during awkward moments at holiday parties. (or anytime, really) Jethro discusses the bizarre and intriguing histories of common foods while Kat shows us how numbers can be weird. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Holiday Oddities: Stolen Santa Bones, Pooping Logs, and the Strangest Christmas Traditions on Earth This holiday bonus episode of The Box of Oddities unwraps the weirdest, darkest, and most unexpectedly heartwarming Christmas stories from history. Kat and Jethro explore the true fate of Saint Nicholas's bones, including the medieval relic theft that scattered Santa's remains across Europe—and the unsettling legend of “Santa juice” still collected from his tomb. From there, the episode sleighs straight into bizarre holiday traditions from around the world: Catalonia's infamous pooping nativity figure, the gift-pooping Christmas log that children beat with sticks, Iceland's child-eating troll Grýla and her terrifying Yule Cat, and the unsettling folklore behind Santa once writing threatening letters to children instead of the other way around. Balancing the strange with the sincere, the episode also highlights true stories of compassion and humanity during wartime, including the Christmas Truce of 1914, enemies sheltering together on Christmas Eve during World War II, George Washington returning an enemy general's dog, and a Japanese pilot gifting his ancestral samurai sword to an American town decades after bombing it. It's a holiday episode filled with macabre history, unsettling folklore, absurd traditions, and genuine hope—a reminder that even in the darkest seasons, people can still surprise us. Listener discretion advised… and Merry Weird Christmas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In one ICU room, patients repeatedly report seeing the same silent man standing in the same corner—often just before sudden clarity, recovery, or death. Nurses notice the pattern. Doctors document an unusual concentration of terminal lucidity. The room keeps being used. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore a real medical mystery involving repeating end-of-life visions tied to a single hospital room, and why science struggles to explain why place—not patient—seems to matter. Then, we examine ancient Christmas folklore warning that animals speak at midnight—and that overhearing them reveals forbidden knowledge, often about death. From hospital wards to medieval superstition, this episode asks: what if clarity at the end comes after something leaves? Listener discretion advised. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From roadside alligators and paranormal children to phantom music in office vents, this Inbox of Oddities is packed with listener stories that blur the line between coincidence, the paranormal, and pure “what the hell just happened?” Kat and Jethro share unsettling and heartfelt emails from the Freak Fam, including a young child casually chatting with a grandmother who passed before he was born, a mysterious 1940s ballad heard only by one overnight janitor, and a chilling brain-surgery encounter where a deceased loved one may have appeared in the operating room. You'll also hear classic BOO Effects, eerie synchronicities, haunted roads in England, ghost tours gone strange, cursed dolls no one asked for, rats with impeccable comedic timing, and a very real reminder that quicksand is not just a cartoon problem. Add in Florida alligators, Canadian border misunderstandings involving shovels and tarps, creepy toys, and inexplicable moments that stop the second you notice them—and you've got an Inbox episode that delivers equal parts humor, heart, and goosebumps. As always, these stories come straight from listeners around the world and remind us why the weird finds us when we least expect it. Keep flying that freak flag. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why do we still dial phones with no dials, roll down windows that don't roll, and store things in cupboards that hold no cups? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore linguistic ghost limbs—words and phrases that outlived the objects they once described. From cupboard, dashboard, and glove box to carbon copy, footage, horsepower, and deadlines, language refuses to let go of the past. These verbal fossils reveal how history lingers in everyday speech through semantic shift, fossilized metaphors, and semantic bleaching. Then the show heads deep into New England folklore with the chilling legend of the Melon Heads of Connecticut—grotesque figures said to haunt back roads like Velvet Street and the edges of Roosevelt Forest. Are they escaped asylum patients, outcasts turned monsters, or something far darker? Language is haunted. So are the woods. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Awake brain surgery sounds impossible—until you hear about musicians who play instruments while surgeons operate on their exposed brains. In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro explore the true medical phenomenon of awake craniotomy, including the astonishing case of a professional violinist who played during brain tumor removal to protect the neural pathways that control her music. Then, things take a historical turn as we dive into the bizarre wellness craze known as the Grape Cure, once promoted as a treatment for cancer, tuberculosis, and nearly everything else—despite zero scientific evidence. From neuroscience and identity to medical quackery and human absurdity, this episode asks: How do you protect the part of yourself that makes you who you are? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this festive but delightfully off-kilter edition of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro return from an impromptu cruise with a pocketful of overheard conversations, a temporarily abandoned “walking rock,” and the kind of people-watching moments that make you wonder if Thin Mints are actually the glue holding society together. Then Jethro descends—figuratively—into the chilling depths of Sweden's historic Falun copper mine to uncover the true story of Fat Mats, the perfectly preserved miner whose body was found in 1719 after vanishing four decades earlier. Why did he look freshly deceased after 40 years? Why were his legs missing? And how did a simple silver coin become a family heirloom that still survives today? Kat follows with a world-tour of wonderfully unsettling holiday traditions: a rhyming duel with a Welsh dead horse named Mari Lwyd, a frog-eating, piggyback-demanding winter demon lurking in the Balkans, and Frau Perchta—an Alpine holiday enforcer who rewards the tidy and industrious while punishing the lazy with… well, creatively aggressive disembowelment. It's a globe-spanning celebration of strange seasonal folklore, preserved miners, questionable cruise-ship conversations, and precisely the kind of merry madness you've come to expect from The Box of Oddities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A buried bone pit filled with dismembered skeletons. Glowing underpants. Flying squirrels that light up like neon signs. Welcome back to The Box of Oddities, where Kat and Jethro dive into the wonderfully disturbing corners of archaeology, biology, and… their own questionable childhood traditions. In this episode, JG uncovers the shocking truth behind Pottery Mound, a quiet rise of earth outside Albuquerque that revealed one of the most unsettling archaeological finds in the Southwest. When excavators cracked open what they assumed was an ordinary pit, they found instead a layered mass of dismembered human remains—meticulously cut, sorted, painted, burned, and arranged over generations. Thanks to modern forensic anthropology, the truth of this centuries-old ritual practice is finally coming into focus. Was it violence? Worship? A conversation with the dead? Jethro explains how new scanning technology has rewritten what we know about Puebloan mortuary traditions. Then Kat swoops in with something equally strange but significantly furrier—bioluminescent animals hiding in plain sight. From glow-in-the-dark fox squirrel bones to flying squirrels that fluoresce bubblegum pink, we explore the weird, luminous world seen only under ultraviolet light. Throw in scorpions, platypuses, sharks, frogs, and one unforgettable pair of glowing Haunted Mansion underpants, and you've got yourself classic BOO chaos. Plus:– The gateway dangers of sniffing blueberry-scented markers– Why ancient vending machines dispensed holy water– The mystery of “vomit/popcorn bowls– And the latest inductees into the Order of Freaks If you love unsettling archaeology, strange science, fluorescent wildlife, and the occasional underwear confession, this episode is for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded in the middle of Bitcoin Month, this episode brings together Knut Svanholm, Giacomo Zucco, Mike Peterson, and Jethro Toro in El Zonte, El Salvador. They unpack what it feels like to live through Bitcoin Historico at the National Palace San Salvador, Adopting Bitcoin in San Salvador, and the Bitcoin Beach Festival on the coast. From free pupusas and packed plazas to barefoot plebs and kids everywhere, you get a ground-level view of why El Salvador still feels like Bitcoin Country after the El Salvador legal tender law and why so many Bitcoiners keep coming back.The crew shared the story everyone asks about, their surreal invitation to a formal dinner with President Bukele. Giacomo explains how he gifted a bottle of Dictador rum, they talk about Bukele's quick jokes about Libertarian anarchism and public sector jobs, and they explain what was actually discussed about Bitcoin adoption, circular economy experiments, and bottom-up projects like Bitcoin Beach and Bitcoin Berlin. It is not a press release, it is what it felt like for plebs and authors like Knut Svanholm and educators like Giacomo Zucco to suddenly find themselves at a presidential table with Max Keiser & Stacy Herbert and other Bitcoin builders.They also go deep on the work behind the scenes. Mike Peterson shares an update on Bitcoin Beach and the push to launch at least 14 new circular economy projects across El Salvador, plus the new Bitcoin-themed boutique hotel, the Citadel of Hope, and a pickleball court in Punta Mango. Giacomo walks through the three pillars of Plan B Network, global Bitcoin education like Cubo Plus and Node Nation, physical hubs in places such as Lugano, London, and future hubs in San Salvador, and an emerging Bitcoin venture path and startup support. Along the way, they touch on the IMF pressure, how the government stayed committed through bear markets after El Salvador, legal tender went live, and why ideas like Libertarian socialism still get a fair hearing in off-the-record debates.Running through the episode is the culture piece. Knut talks about his books, the Bitcoin Infinity framing, his talks at Bitcoin Historico inside the National Palace San Salvador, and why Adopting Bitcoin feels more like a festival than a standard conference. The group tells the origin story of Satoshi Rokamoto, the improvised Bitcoin rock band that now shows up at events from Mexico to Lugano, often playing long after the sound crew tries to shut things down. If you care about Bitcoin in El Salvador, circular economy models, or just want to know what it is really like on the ground during Bitcoin Month, this conversation will probably make you start checking flights.If you enjoyed this episode, share it with a Bitcoiner who has El Salvador on their list, leave a comment with your favorite story from Bitcoin Month, and hit subscribe so you do not miss the next chapter of Bitcoin Country.-Bitcoin Beach TeamConnect and Learn more about Giacomo, Knut, Jethro:Giacomo ZuccoX: https://x.com/giacomozucco Web: https://www.giacomozucco.com/ Knut SvanholmX: https://x.com/knutsvanholm YT: https://www.youtube.com/@BitcoinInfinityShow   Jethro ToroX: https://x.com/JethroToro Support and follow Bitcoin Beach:X: https://www.twitter.com/BitcoinBeach IG: https://www.instagram.com/bitcoinbeach_sv TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@livefrombitcoinbeach Web: Live From Bitcoin Beach

Inbox of Oddities: When Pigeons Gossip, Alexa Gets Emotional, and Black Ice Attacks In this Inbox of Oddities, the Freak Fam delivers one of the strangest collections of BOO Effects and real-life weirdness yet. A Milwaukee listener befriends a strangely insightful pigeon who may—or may not—be delivering messages from Mom. An Orlando vacationer steps into an Uber only to be ambushed by two Black Ice air fresheners after hearing Kat and Jethro rant about their toxic power... proving the BOO Effect stops for no one, not even on family trips to the Mouse. Then: an Alexa suddenly confesses, “I miss your grandmother,” unprompted. A Rockville festival fanatic discovers she accidentally witnessed the infamous “Brass Against incident” long before hearing it on the show. A listener bingeing hundreds of episodes finds herself unintentionally neighbors with Kat and Jethro. And from corporate dropouts to Dutch cyclists, you'll hear confessions, synchronicities, strange tech glitches, and enthusiastic fact-checks on Santa, hot coffee lawsuits, Hermetic philosophy, and why TikTok may be the new occult library. Plus—EVPs with Jack the Ripper vibes, mysterious bottle caps, mummified funhouse props, suspicious air fresheners, The Kybalion, and a pair of loyal listeners whose “aureolas are exploding” for reasons we probably shouldn't ask about. This episode is full of eerie coincidences, hilarious freak-outs, paranormal glitches, and heartfelt Freak Family moments that make the Inbox one of our favorite corners of the BOO universe. This Box Contains The Following Ingredients: Box of Oddities, BOO Effect, paranormal stories, listener submissions, synchronicity, creepy tech moments, Alexa weird response, Black Ice air freshener, pigeon synchronicity, Rockville festival story, EVPs, Hermetic philosophy, The Kybalion, Santa Claus Coca-Cola history, McDonald's hot coffee case facts, true weird stories, comedy podcasts, Freak Fam. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Moses is one of the most important figures in the Old Testament. But it was Moses' father-in-law who kept him from burning out while governing two million people. Today, Derek Thomas considers Jethro's godly counsel for leadership. For your donation of any amount, receive lifetime digital access to Derek Thomas' new teaching series, Who Are They?, and the companion study guide. We'll also send you a special Renewing Your Mind journal: https://gift.renewingyourmind.org/4459/offer   Live outside the U.S. and Canada? Get the digital teaching series and study guide with your donation: https://www.renewingyourmind.org/global    Meet Today's Teacher:   Derek Thomas is a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and Chancellor's Professor of Systematic and Pastoral Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.   Meet the Host:   Nathan W. Bingham is vice president of media for Ligonier Ministries, executive producer and host of Renewing Your Mind, and host of the Ask Ligonier podcast. Renewing Your Mind is a donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Jethro and Kat dive deep into the mind-bending story of Michel Siffre, the French researcher who willingly descended into total darkness—twice—to learn what happens when humans are cut off from time itself. With no sunlight, no clocks, and no sense of day or night, Siffre's body drifted into bizarre 30- to 48-hour “days,” entire memories vanished, and even astronauts later admitted they'd felt the same disorienting effects in space. His experiments reshaped our understanding of circadian rhythms, aging, mental endurance, and the mysterious internal clocks that tick inside us all. Then, the show shifts from inner space to inner hauntings with the chilling tale of the Joy Hotel's haunted electric player piano in Pittsburg, Kansas. This wasn't your typical whispered-once urban legend—its eerie late-night melodies were documented in the 1930s by the WPA Folklore Project and confirmed by hotel employees who watched its keys move with no power and no player roll turning. Desk clerks, housekeepers, and even the handyman swore they saw it come alive…sometimes humming along…always cheerful at the worst possible moments. A piano that played only when it wanted to—and stopped the moment someone got too close. It's isolation, time distortion, ghostly ragtime, and the unsettling reminder that the world gets weirdest when nobody's watching. If you love psychological mysteries, paranormal folklore, and the beautifully bizarre, this one's a can't-miss. human circadian rhythm experiment, Michel Siffre cave study, internal clocks, time perception research, astronauts' sleep cycles, haunted player piano, Pittsburg, Kansas ghost stories, Joy Hotel haunting, WPA folklore ghost accounts, paranormal piano story, Box of Oddities episode This Box Contains The following Ingredients: human circadian rhythm experiment, Michel Siffre cave study, internal clocks, time perception research, astronauts' sleep cycles, haunted player piano, Pittsburg, Kansas ghost stories, Joy Hotel haunting, WPA folklore ghost accounts, paranormal piano story, Box of Oddities episode Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The feast continues! Volume 2 of our Thanksgiving Cannibal Special delivers another helping of the most jaw-dropping, unsettling, and weirdly compelling cannibal stories we've ever told on The Box of Oddities. In this second collection, Kat and Jethro unwrap: Infamous cannibal crimes that shook entire communities Documented anthropological cases of ritual cannibalism Stranger-than-fiction historical accounts from explorers, shipwreck survivors, and medical archives Bizarre cravings, peculiar diets, and legendary “man-eaters” The unexpected parallels between cannibal folklore and modern psychology This dark, hilarious, and highly bingeable curated special is perfect for listeners who love weird history, true crime oddities, and the most unbelievable stories human behavior has ever produced. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This Thanksgiving, The Box of Oddities serves up the strangest feast imaginable: a curated collection of our wildest, weirdest, and most unbelievable stories involving real cannibals, bizarre survival tales, and historical accounts that are far too dark for the dinner table—but perfect for Freak Family listening. In Volume 1, Kat and Jethro revisit fan-favorite episodes featuring: True stories of cannibalism throughout history Shocking cases of survival cannibalism in the world's most unforgiving places Macabre cultural lore that blurs the line between myth and horrifying reality Odd historical figures whose appetites landed them in the pages of medical journals The psychology of cannibals and what makes these cases so deeply fascinating Expect dark humor, unbelievable facts, and the signature BOO blend of horror, history, and hilarity. Whether you're prepping a turkey or hiding from your relatives, this specially curated Thanksgiving collection is the perfect way to indulge in something truly twisted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this mind-bending episode of The Box of Oddities, Kat and Jethro dive into two stories that push the boundaries of communication, perception, and the very nature of time itself. First, Jethro unpacks the extraordinary modern effort to build the world's first dolphin chatbot—a real AI project inspired by a quirky 1960s SETI club called The Order of the Dolphin. From Carl Sagan and Frank Drake's early theories to Google DeepMind's modern neural networks decoding dolphin whistles, this segment explores how scientists hope communication with dolphins may become the training wheels for future alien contact. With signature humor and scientific wonder, we explore dolphin intelligence, their complex acoustic “language,” and what the first dolphin-to-human conversation might actually sound like. Then Kat takes us into the freezing darkness of the Scarassin Abyss, where French speleologist Michel Siffre spent 63 days isolated from all clocks, sunlight, and human contact to study how humans perceive time. As his internal world unraveled, Siffre made discoveries that reshaped chronobiology—and revealed how fragile our sense of reality truly is. From hallucinations to distorted time cycles to the stunning moment he emerged believing he still had a month left underground, Kat tells the story in vivid detail with plenty of Oddity-level dread and fascination. Plus: bizarre YouTube ads, Thanksgiving confusion, and a rapid-fire tour of wild historical events—from Einstein's famous paper to a meteor that turned night into day. It's science, strangeness, humor, and existential questions—all in one episode.Keep flying that freak flag, you beautiful freak. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special interview episode of The Box of Oddities, Jethro sits down with acclaimed science journalist Becky Ferreira—author of the new book First Contact: The Story of Our Obsession with Aliens. Together they explore humanity's oldest question: Are we alone? Ferreira, whose work has appeared in The New York Times, WIRED, Popular Science, MIT Technology Review, and NPR's Science Friday, guides us through the deep history of alien speculation—from ancient Greek and Roman philosophers to Hopi star-people traditions to the modern UAP debate. Jethro taps into his inner UFO enthusiast as they dive into:• Why ancient cultures believed the sky itself was communicating with them• The earliest “alien life” theories from Christian and Muslim scholars• The Fermi Paradox, Drake Equation, and what science gets wrong about “Where is everybody?”• Water worlds like Europa and Enceladus, and why alien life may be hiding inside dark interior oceans• Whether interdimensional phenomena at places like Skinwalker Ranch could explain UAP encounters• How humans might emotionally—and chaotically—respond if we picked up an alien signal• The surprising ways religion is preparing for extraterrestrial discovery• Whether we'll make contact in our lifetime… and what form it might take Ferreira's insights blend cutting-edge astronomy with anthropology, psychology, and the strange human tendency to project our own fears and hopes onto the stars. Equal parts science, myth, and cosmic mystery, this conversation asks why the idea of alien life has been with us since the beginning—and why we can't stop looking up. Becky Ferreira's book First Contact is available now in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook wherever books are sold. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What lies beneath the Great Sphinx of Giza—and why does it continue to fuel global obsession? In this episode of The Box of Oddities, Jethro uncovers the strange history, disputed radar scans, ancient legends, and modern controversies surrounding the Sphinx. From Edgar Cayce's “Hall of Records” prophecy to seismic anomalies beneath the limestone, this deep dive explores why some experts insist it's just geology while others believe an untouched vault—or even a lost city—still waits beneath those ancient paws. Then, Kat flips the script on the animal kingdom with a celebration of Earth's rule-breakers—creatures that defy everything we expect from their species. Meet the herbivorous jumping spider, the underwater-breathing diving bell spider, mudskippers that drown in water, axolotls that never grow up, the egg-laying electrified platypus, the “Jesus Christ” lizard that walks on water, the immortal jellyfish, and more. These misfit marvels prove evolution has a wonderfully weird sense of humor. If you love ancient mysteries, bizarre biology, strange science, and the delightfully unexpected, this episode delivers maximum oddity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this chilling and hilarious episode of The Box of Oddities, Jethro unwraps the eerie legend of Albuquerque's haunted KiMo Theatre and its resident ghost—a little boy named Bobby whose tragic death in a 1951 boiler explosion left more than scorch marks behind. From phantom footsteps to mysteriously vanishing donuts, discover why local performers never dare take the stage without leaving sweets for Bobby. Then, Kat dives headfirst into one of pop culture's most persistent conspiracies: Is Elvis Presley really dead? From DEA badges and bathroom mysteries to witness protection plots and alien abduction theories, this deep dive separates fact from fever dream. Join The Box of Oddities for an unforgettable mix of history, hauntings, and hilarity, where the paranormal meets pop culture. This Box contains the following ingredients:KiMo Theatre ghost story, Albuquerque haunted theater, Bobby KiMo ghost, Elvis Presley conspiracy, Elvis is alive theory, haunted theaters, ghost legends, paranormal podcast, The Box of Oddities, Jethro and Kat Tabor, ghost stories, pop culture mysteries, Elvis death theories, weird history podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this mind-bending episode of The Box of Oddities, Jethro dives into Robert Temple's electrifying theory that the universe might actually be alive—and trying to talk to us. Could plasma—the same substance that fills stars, powers lightning, and glows in neon lights—be a living intelligence? Temple suggests that the mysterious orbs, pillars of fire, and UFO-like lights seen throughout history might all be manifestations of the same cosmic consciousness reaching out across the galaxy. Kat and Jethro explore the parallels between deep-space structures and the human brain, the eerie beauty of ball lightning, and how ancient prophets may have witnessed plasma phenomena long before science had a name for it. Then, Kat switches gears to set fire to your curiosity—literally—by investigating the latest in fire science. From sound-wave extinguishers to DARPA's plasma-bending experiments, she reveals how modern tech is rethinking the way we fight flames. Plus, we discover what happens when your upstairs neighbor doubles as a weight-lifting thunder god, why Kat owns a crystal vase for questionable reasons, and how chickens got arms for Christmas. This Box contains the following ingredients: Robert Temple, plasma intelligence, ball lightning, crop circles, afterlife physics, intelligent universe, sound-wave fire extinguisher, DARPA fire suppression, Box of Oddities podcast, Kat and Jethro, paranormal science, weird science, cosmic consciousness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices