Episode Overview

Title: Fedora the Explorer
Podcast: Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities
Date: January 15, 2026
Host: Aaron Mahnke
In this episode, Aaron Mahnke explores two fascinating stories: the forgotten cinematic roots of Indiana Jones and the legacy of a British physician who inspired the modern Olympic Games. Through bite-sized historical storytelling, Mahnke uncovers the hidden connections and curiosities that linger just beneath the surface of popular culture and world-shaping events.

Segment 1: The Real Roots of Indiana Jones (00:40–05:07)

Main Discussion Points

• The Appeal of Adventure Stories

  • Mahnke reflects on why adventure stories—especially treasure hunts—are so universally beloved, referencing classics like National Treasure and The Goonies (00:40–01:07).
  • Sets up a familiar adventure movie trope: a charming, rugged hero thwarting villains in search of an ancient treasure, often accompanied by betrayal and iconic puzzle-solving scenes (01:23–02:55).

• Iconic Imagery and Influences

  • Paints a vivid picture of the adventure hero archetype, epitomized by “his chiseled good looks, that stubble on his chin, his tan pants, leather jacket and trademark fedora hat” (03:00).
  • Nostalgically compares the classic style of old adventure films to the spectacle of modern CGI-laden blockbusters (03:24–03:41).

• 'Secret of the Incas'—The Unsung Precursor

  • Reveals a twist: the film most responsible for shaping Indiana Jones wasn’t what many expect, but rather 1954’s Secret of the Incas starring Charlton Heston (03:41–03:51).
  • “And all those scenes that I described for you are straight from that movie.” (03:51)
  • Notes differences (character names, setting, prop choices) but emphasizes that the essence is the same (03:56–04:08).

• Acknowledging Cinematic Homage

  • Shares how “many of the crew watched Secret of the Incas multiple times for inspiration” while developing Raiders of the Lost Ark (04:09).
  • Costume designer Deborah Nadulman Landis explicitly drew upon Heston’s look for Indiana Jones (04:09–04:30).
  • Mahnke urges listeners: “Don’t call it a rip-off though. Think of it more as an homage, a callback to an adventure film from three decades earlier that inspired a bunch of people so deeply that they had to make their own.” (04:32)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “It’s Indiana Jones through and through nonetheless.” (03:56; Mahnke)
• “Frankly, I’m glad they did. I don’t think my childhood or Hollywood itself would have been filled with such joy and fun without Indiana Jones—the fictional embodiment of curiosity.” (04:41–04:46; Mahnke)

Segment 2: The Father of the Modern Olympics (05:07–09:40)

Main Discussion Points

• Introduction to William Penny Brooks

  • Presents Brooks as a compassionate physician from Much Wenlock, England, deeply committed to the well-being of the rural poor (05:07–05:44).
  • Brooks made healthcare accessible and pushed for public health improvements (05:41–05:44).

• Championing Education and Fitness

  • In 1841, founded the Agricultural Reading Society for free learning—establishing a lending library and classes on diverse topics (05:44–06:31).
  • His vision extended to physical fitness, culminating in the creation of the Wenlock Olympics in 1850—open to all ages and social classes, with events ranging from sprinting to rifle shooting (06:31–07:03).

• Radical Inclusivity in Victorian England

  • Stresses the revolutionary idea of inclusivity at the Games at a time when Britain’s class system sharply divided "the haves and the have-nots" (07:03).

• Connection to Pierre de Coubertin and the Global Olympics

  • Brooks’s correspondence with fitness advocates led to contact with Baron Pierre de Coubertin, who visited in 1890 and was inspired by what he saw (07:34–07:36).
  • De Coubertin would later credit Brooks with demonstrating “that the Olympic ideal can live again in the modern world” (07:36).
  • The Wenlock Games directly inspired the creation of the International Olympic Committee and the first modern Olympic Games in 1896 (07:36–08:47).

• Brooks’s Legacy and Later Recognition

  • Tragically, Brooks died just months before the inaugural modern Olympics—a dream realized, but just out of reach (08:47).
  • He remains honored in his hometown, and by Olympic historians worldwide: “The Olympic Games would not be alive today if it hadn’t been for Dr. William Penny Brooks.” (08:47 and 09:19)
  • The Wenlock Olympian Society persists, and Brooks received public tributes during the 100th Olympic anniversary in 1996 (09:19–09:30).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “Brooks believed that physical fitness and structured learning should be available to all.” (05:41)
• “The Games… a radical concept for Victorian England, whose caste system rigidly separated the haves and the have-nots.” (07:03)
• “De Coubertin made sure to give Brooks his due, posthumously telling the world that the Olympic Games would not be alive today if it hadn’t been for Dr. William Penny Brooks.” (09:19)

Memorable Moments and Quotes

• Adventure Film Nostalgia:
  “Sure, he’s got a revolver tucked into his belt, but that’s not getting used all the time. No, he prefers to punch his way through trouble and use his ingenuity instead.” (03:09; Mahnke)

• On Homage, Not Theft:
  “Don’t call it a rip-off though. Think of it more as an homage.” (04:32)

• On Brooks’ Enduring Vision:
  “His belief that physical fitness and free learning should belong to everyone lived on in every stadium and at each podium.” (09:30)

Key Timestamps

• 00:40: Introduction to adventure movie tropes and the setup for Indiana Jones’s real inspiration.
• 03:41: Reveal of Secret of the Incas as the Indiana Jones precursor.
• 04:30–04:41: Discussion on paying homage versus copying in Hollywood.
• 05:07: Transition to the story of William Penny Brooks.
• 06:31: Founding of the Wenlock Olympics and their radical inclusivity.
• 07:36: Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s visit and subsequent inspiration.
• 08:47: Brooks’s death and posthumous recognition.
• 09:19: De Coubertin’s tribute and Brooks’s continuing legacy.

Tone & Style

Aaron Mahnke maintains his signature tone of curiosity, warmth, and wonder, blending historical insight with pop culture awareness. The narrative is peppered with a sense of nostalgia, reverence for forgotten visionaries, and a twist of lightheartedness—inviting listeners on a journey through history’s surprising intersections.

Conclusion

This episode expertly twines pop culture and global history, showing how cinematic icons and world-changing institutions often have curious, lesser-known origins. Mahnke’s storytelling reveals the hidden roots of Indiana Jones in a 1950s adventure film and highlights Dr. William Penny Brooks’s fundamental yet underappreciated role in shaping the modern Olympic Games—a true celebration of curiosity itself.