Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities

A pair of strange historical moments are explored, from a medieval siege that linked trade and pestilence to a modern Texan who built a 30-foot Cathedral of Junk in his backyard. The story covers recycled materials, inventive structural details, and the city code battles sparked by an eccentric tower. It closes on why the builder persisted and how the neighborhood responded.

A storm sets a Soviet barge adrift and strands sailors in a harrowing survival tale. Men battle the sea for hours, ration dwindling supplies and boiling leather to stay alive. An American warship later spots and rescues them after weeks. The story then shifts to Zheng He, his rise from captivity, command of a massive treasure fleet, and voyages across the Indian Ocean.

A crowded 1859 Panama City erupts after a stolen watermelon slice sparks a pistol, a chase, and a deadly riot. Tensions between travelers and locals and the chaos of gold rush travel are explored. A separate tale follows Violet Jessup’s terrifying ordeal on the Britannic, including an explosion, a lifeboat disaster, and her near-drowning survival that earned her a famed nickname.

A dive into Coco Chanel's rise from orphaned hatmaker to fashion revolutionary and the creation of an iconic perfume and the little black dress. A look at her wartime ties and controversial efforts during the Nazi occupation. A mysterious discovery beneath Paris reveals a hidden cinema, secret restorers, and a vanished underground theater that leaves more questions than answers.

Curiosity is everywhere you look, from the tap to the television. It's all about being receptive. Order the official Cabinet of Curiosities book by clicking here today, and get ready to enjoy some curious reading!  Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/grimandmildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today's tour through the Cabinet focuses on some weird and wacky ways humans have interacted with their environment. Order the official Cabinet of Curiosities book by clicking here today, and get ready to enjoy some curious reading!  Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/grimandmildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You don't need to go very far to find a curious story. Sometimes you don't even need to leave the dinning room. Order the official Cabinet of Curiosities book by clicking here today, and get ready to enjoy some curious reading!Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/grimandmildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most curiosities happen at ground level, but today's tour takes us into the skies. Order the official Cabinet of Curiosities book by clicking here today, and get ready to enjoy some curious reading!Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/grimandmildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Illusions can be curious, whether they are literal smoke and mirrors or an entire political regime. Order the official Cabinet of Curiosities book by clicking here today, and get ready to enjoy some curious reading!Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/grimandmildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sometimes you have to travel a very long distance to become a curiosity, as these two tales show so well. Order the official Cabinet of Curiosities book by clicking here today, and get ready to enjoy some curious reading!Join our Patreon for ad-free episodes!: https://www.patreon.com/grimandmildSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.