The Mothball Prophecies

This week Sam, Mel, Grae, and I (Spellcheck) all crammed into the pod office to talk about whatever's been filling our brains for the last few weeks. We had our coffee and snacks and just had a regular (for us) conversation. Once or twice a month, we'll be dropping an episode of just our ADHD braindumps. After existing every day in the world, like we all must, sometimes we just want to to let our minds go to autopilot, and we want you all to be a part of it. Topics range from new hobbies, Spartan races, vultures, being a kid again, and doing the thing that makes you happy. We love you guys. Let's hang out. 

This Curio Corner is mostly about the cool stuff the Mavens talked to Jessie (British fashion historian in the making and parallel universe Spellcheck) about on Monday's episodes. It's also something of a walk down nostalgia lane for Sam, Mel, and Grae: internet connections in the 90s, music from their formative years, and early signs of neuro divergence that are so obvious, it's truly astounding. Listen in for lessons on Tuberculosis Chic and its lasting influence on fashion, the surprising science behind why all of us should be taking cold showers, and Spellcheck's newest obsession: Pond's Cold Cream and vintage skincare. 

Step into a parallel universe with our guest this week, where Spellcheck is British and went to university to study the history of fashion (which, in reality, is something Spellcheck genuinely wanted to do). A certain writer for the podcast was shocked more than a few times. The similarities are numerous. Jessie (ghostsintime) a person of the English persuasion, is an absolute doll. Sweet and polite, knowledgeable about her subject, she was a joy to chat with. The Mavens are smitten. Her Instagram account is filled with beauty-related historical posts and reels, some of which lean heavily toward the bizarre. We don't know about you, but we've never considered adding a raw meat mask to our nighttime skincare routine. Jessie is younger than everyone on the Mothball team, and we all felt it when the topic of 90s fashion came up. Grae pops up momentarily to defend the voluntary taking of cold showers. Barbies, the Spice Girls, and the "Goth to History" pipeline all make an appearance. If you haven't already, Jessie recommends watching The Love Witch (2016) as soon as humanly possible.

Sam and Mel sit down to share the unlikely demise of Evergleam Christmas Trees, what boundaries their implementing with collectibles, and share about the oldest crewel.

We're all finally settling down from the rush and bustle of Thanksgiving (if you're in the States, anyway) and our butts are more than ready for a long sit on the couch. The weather in Idaho is getting colder and snowier as the days pass, sending us all into the pod office with hot coffee and retro crocheted afghans. This week, the hygge mood is complete as Sam and Spellcheck have a relaxed chat with vintage maximalism enthusiast and down-to-earth music teacher, Kristi Snarsky. Her collection is a choreographed ballet of mid-century color and class. Her precise decorating skills are the envy of the team, with teal and pink playing a central role. Bowls and platters and Pyrex, oh my! Kristi brings to light the concept of boundaries within a collection and we all get confused about how to pronounce Cathrineholm. Plus, Sam gets a chance to brag about the amazing holiday Holy Grail item she recently acquired. 

We could have listened to Josh talk for hours and hours about all the incredible parts of his collections and his plans to spread that knowledge to the masses. But we all have lives to live and families to tend to. In lieu of having Josh back to nerd out over pirate history (which we're hoping to make happen, don't you worry), your weekend Curio Corner has Sam, Spellcheck, and Grae in the Pod Office chatting over an actual mountain of silver in Bolivia, Sam Bellamy's treasure on the shipwrecked Whydah, and a brief history of the flintlock firing mechanism on those fancy pistols seen in every pirate movie ever made.  

Good morning, Mothballers. The team was hit with a few curve balls this year and we are more than ready to get back to what brought us together in the first place: Collectors and their stories. To celebrate our renewed joie de vivre, we have an incredible guest who's ready to wade with us through a topic never before visited by the Mavens... Literal pirate treasure! Josh Scott of Redbeard Coins,Commodore Coins, and Tortuga Trading, is a real life treasure hunter. He collects and sells gold doubloons, pirate weapons, rare documents and books, and more. He has so many other unique items in his personal collection and available in his store, but we just don't have enough space or time to give them justice. Josh is enthusiastic, charismatic, and deeply knowledgeable about his subject. He was so electrifying to talk to that the Mothball Team has already claimed him as one of our own. If you watched The Goonies or Pirates of the Caribbean as a kid and dreamt of a map with a big, red X on it, then you cannot miss this episode. 

Last week the Mavens had a grand ol' time with @fare11kat, a previous guest that the Mothball team adopted by force. Lady Erin of the Almost-Hairless Cats is a dashing young woman with hair of fire and a ridiculous streak of good luck. But her latest episode seemed different. Truncated, somehow... Where did the Curio Corner go? During the 100th episode, Sam and Mel announced that we would be trying out a new format for the show. Interviews will still come out on Mondays. But the Curio Corner will be its own episode, a treat for the weekend, released on Thursdays. With this being the maiden voyage of said experiment, the Mavens are joined by Grae (because he was already in Sam's basement) to mull over the existence of luck and chat about the most recent estate sale.

This week on The Mothball Prophecies, we talk holiday traditions. Sam,Melissa, and Grae reminisce about childhood meals, grandparents houses, and horrifying genetic turkey mutations.

Erin Pipgras, perhaps better known as fare11kat on Instagram, has been a guest on the show before (episode 39, if you're curious about our first encounter with her). Obviously we all fell madly in love with each other, but in a sweary, meme fueled sort of way. Erin has become a staple in every day conversation for the Mothball team, and is frequently asked to petition the universe on our behalf. On top of being perhaps the luckiest human in Wisconsin, she also has the distinct honor of igniting a new porcine passion in Spellcheck. Hear tell of the mighty pig of fortune and how luck isn't really luck. Melissa and Sam talk shop and Sam used the word "gooses" about half way through the interview. This editor threw up slightly. Fortunately, we're all still friends. 

We know you have questions. Where have you been? Is the podcast still a thing? Are you still alive!? The answers, in order: The Mavens are running a wildly successful estate sale business. Absolutely the podcast is still a thing. The Mothball universe is expanding, so schedules are shifting. We're all settling into a new routine. And yes, we're alive and thriving. The last three months have been chaotic, but in the best way. The estate sale company is booming. Grae moved to Idaho (10 points if you guess where he's currently living). Sam and Melissa are learning and growing and it's just fantabulous. Today, these two dish on all the weird and wonderful behind the scenes of the most recent estate sales, explain the new format for the podcast, and ponder why they both seem to injure themselves at every single sale house. So if you've been missing us, never fear! We aren't going anywhere.

Mandy Arnold is a long time friend of the pod and all around glorious human. She has now shifted from regular podcast listener to a part of the foundational mythology of the Mothball Prophecies. She was LITERALLY one of the very first people to follow the pod, become a patron, and now is stuck with all of us as friends for the rest of her days. The prodigal daughter returned to her homeland, from that far off land of holly and wood, to wine and dine with the Mavens and hit the latest Mothball estate sale. She regales us with tales of her possibly problematic predilection for pyrex and volumes of vintage Halloween. Her to-DIE-for wardrobe and style are enthusiastically discussed, as is only right for such an adorable creature. And, as for the Estate Sale Walkthrough goes, she was a real champ. Cheers to Mandy, for making the trip to hang out with us and for wearing that damn egg shirt to dinner. Thank you to our team :Edit and Sound Design by: Grae @ Grae Matter StudiosIntro by: Caylin TempleCopyediting by: Spell Checkintro and Outro Music: Down the Rabbit Hole by myuuSource: https://soundcloud.com/myuu/down-the-rabbit-holeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

A while back, Sam did some mini-interviews with some Mothball listeners. Alex Di Giovanni was one of those interviewees, and we just had to have him back for a full episode! Alex started reselling as a teen, but he didn't start collecting until his early 20s; it's a bit backwards from most people and we LOVE IT. For his personal collection, Alex loves signs and American license plates. In his professional life, he's an avian ecologist, with a full-blown master's degree. This dude knows his birds. He drops some sweet ontological knowledge on us in between blowing Spellcheck's mind with the history of porcelain license plates and needing out with Sam over classic signage. Bird-related felonies are discussed, along with a mutual love of the dearly departed Dodo. Sam deserves a medal for not making the hundreds of bird puns she was probably dying to make. They would have flown right over Spellcheck's head, anyway.Thank you to our team :Edit and Sound Design by: Grae @ Grae Matter StudiosIntro by: Caylin TempleCopyediting by: Spell Checkintro and Outro Music: Down the Rabbit Hole by myuuSource: https://soundcloud.com/myuu/down-the-rabbit-holeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We recently recorded the 100th episode. But because all that frivolity took up so many hours, we weren't able to cover everything we wanted to talk about during the recording. To correct this, Grae and Sam sit down to expand, in a bit more detail, on the future of the podcast. Additionally, Sam gives a blow for blow account of the first Mothball estate sale at the Eleanor house, and Grae explains the more mysterious parts of what his job actually entails. Warning for anyone legally considered an adult: you will feel your age with this episode. Lo, the passage of time.

Sam, Jill, Melissa, Grae, and Spellcheck. We were once five people with no connections, whatsoever. We each met at different times, under different circumstances. We grew up in different places, lived separate lives, had unique views and experiences... Until this podcast threw us together. If The Mothball Prophecies was a child, we were soda. And that child mixed all the flavors together with reckless abandon. Each of us has our part to play, much like each soda adds it's own zing to the final product. This was the first time all five of us had been in the same room together, and we were all on cloud nine. It was like meeting a long distance boyfriend for the first time. In this episode, we talk about our favorite guests, least favorite interviews, answer listener questions, put Sam through a retaliatory Estate Sale Walkthrough, and make some announcements. Sit with us. Laugh with us. Cry, if you feel up to it. But always remember, no matter what, to look under the damn tables. 

Next week's episode is all about the future of the podcast, where we're all headed, and what you, as listeners, can expect. For a study in opposites, the 99th episode is none of those things. This week, we are releasing an episode that has never seen the light of day, an episode that was recorded back in 2020 shortly after quarantine ended. People were getting back to a new version of normal while Jill and Sam recorded a pre-ADHD diagnosis cornucopia of unfiltered thoughts. They literally sat in the car, in a parking lot, and pinged off eachother for almost an hour. The intro originally had different music, the Estate Sale Walkthrough is a mere fetus, and there is no Curio Corner whatsoever. But in the midst of the fumbles and technical issues, you can see the origin of the podcast you know today. Cheers to humble beginnings and fruitful futures. Thank you to our team :Edit and Sound Design by: Grae @ Grae Matter StudiosIntro by: Caylin TempleCopyediting by: Spell Checkintro and Outro Music: Down the Rabbit Hole by myuuSource: https://soundcloud.com/myuu/down-the-rabbit-holeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

We still don't know what this segment will be called, so its temporary name will be:"Down the Curiosity Rabbit Hole With Sam, Jill, and Spellcheck."This month's Patreon special is all about the dangerous chemicals found in antiques and vintage items that might be in your collection. Death lurks around every corner, beneath tea towels and on window sills. No ceiling is safe, no bowl left untouched by the chilly fingers of poison. From lead (which is extremely common) to asbestos to arsenic, there are all kinds of fatal goodies to be found in your curio cabinet. Learn about the ancient history of asbestos, all the places lead likes to hide, and the commonality of JILL'S Uranium. There's even a recipe for uranium glass!

This week on The Mothball Prophecies, Sam sits down solo with the queen of fireplaces, Riley Reyes of Darling Diddies. Riley and Sam commiserate about the insanity of an “I don't need to buy this because I can build it’ attitude. Both ladies suffer from said affliction. Our guest laments the projects that get left behind in between fireplace and lighting restoration. Riley steps in as our podcast dad to share her knowledge and the steps she takes to bring something back to life and ensure modern energy efficiency. The estate sale walkthrough is on the fly and quite possibly the strangest scenario to date. Here’s a hint, pack some mentholatum and re-up your TV Land subscription.Thank you to our team :Edit and Sound Design by: Grae @ Grae Matter StudiosIntro by: Caylin TempleCopyediting by: Spell Checkintro and Outro Music: Down the Rabbit Hole by myuuSource: https://soundcloud.com/myuu/down-the-rabbit-holeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ 

The cat has officially been released from the bag: Mothball Estate Sales has manifested itself at last, when absolutely no one was expecting it. The idea of this company has been a dream for longer than the podcast, believe it or not, and is currently unfolding in the most unlikely way imaginable. Sam is joined by Grae this week to discuss the origins of the company, his steadfast refusal to bullshit anyone, and the future of the Mothball universe. Grae conveniently edited out the part where he admits that he hates dipping fries into frosties. Please send all thoughts and opinions on said topic to the official Mothball Prophecies website. Thank you to our team :Edit and Sound Design by: Grae @ Grae Matter StudiosIntro by: Caylin TempleCopyediting by: Spell Checkintro and Outro Music: Down the Rabbit Hole by myuuSource: https://soundcloud.com/myuu/down-the-rabbit-holeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/

Being a Patreon member comes with its own set of perks. Extra episodes are one of those. But this episode is too cool and has sat for too long, so we've decided to set it free! Enjoy!Here at Mothball headquarters, we're always brainstorming new and weird ideas to keep you monsters entertained. You're a ravenous lot, and we love you for it. To answer your question, "How much do you love us?" we've cooked up a new treat. Every month, for our Patreon members only, The Mothball Prophecies will release a full-length, hyper-specific Curio Corner. Each bonus episode will focus on an iconic place or object. We're talking about the crown jewels of the vintage world; subjects that are just too vast for a regular Curio Corner. To start off this new series, we're taking a mental trip to a celebrated California hotel. The Madonna Inn is legendary for its kitschy decor and unrivaled gift shop. If you're looking for new glassware to collect, the Inn's signature goblets are to die for. Grab your drink of choice and get cozy because we're about to plunge headlong into the most glamorous hotel this side of the Mississippi. Thank you to our team :Edit and Sound Design by: Grae @ Grae Matter StudiosIntro by: Caylin TempleCopyediting by: Spell Checkintro and Outro Music: Down the Rabbit Hole by myuuSource: https://soundcloud.com/myuu/down-the-rabbit-holeLicense: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/