Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities

Episode: Lead Balloon
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Aaron Mahnke presents two illuminating and unsettling stories about disruptions to traditional power—one political and one technological. The first tale explores the forgotten period when Japanese peasants overthrew their samurai rulers and governed themselves, while the second dives into the life and catastrophic legacy of Thomas Midgley Jr., an inventor whose well-intended curiosity led to mass harm.

Story 1: The Peasants' Kingdom of Kaga Iki (00:47–05:38)

Key Discussion Points

• Historical Setting:
  The late 15th-century Kaga Province in Japan, during a time of upheaval and weakening central power.

• Rebellion & Rule:

  • Togashi Masachika, the military governor, faces persistent peasant uprisings.
  • These grassroot movements, known as iki, comprised Buddhist warrior monks and dissatisfied peasants.
  • In 1488, after the castle is besieged and with no help from the shogun, Masachika commits seppuku; true power passes to the iki.

• A Peasant-Led Region:

  • Kaga becomes the first Japanese province not ruled by a samurai or noble lord, instead led by ordinary people and religious figures.
  • Initially perceived as a utopian inversion of the feudal system.

• Internal Conflict and Decline:

  • As external threats diminish, factions within the iki begin to clash over leadership.
  • In 1531, a civil war among the iki results in Ren Jun taking power.
  • Over time, the leadership shifts from peasants to Buddhist priests, forming a new, theocratic ruling class.

• End of Autonomy:

  • In the 1570s, Oda Nobunaga, pursuing unification of Japan, launches a decade-long campaign against Kaga.
  • Despite initial defeats, Nobunaga eventually secures the region through a truce—the iki surrender, their stronghold at Honganjai is destroyed and replaced with Osaka Castle.
  • Guerrilla resistance continues but the independent peasant kingdom ends.

• Legacy:
  Mahnke notes the uniqueness of this social experiment and its challenge to the notion of leadership as a divine or natural right.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Peasant Rule:
  “It was the first time in Japanese history that a province was ruled by someone other than a lord or a samurai... it’s tempting to see this as a moment of utopia.”
  — Aaron Mahnke (02:26)

• Power is an Agreement:
  “It may only have been a brief cul de sac in the middle of Japanese history, but it’s a useful reminder that the power of a king or a shogun is not a law of the universe. It’s an agreement like any other—one that only holds weight if the people agree.”
  — Aaron Mahnke (05:25)

Segment Timestamp Overview:

• Start: 00:47 — Kaga Province details and rebellion origins
• 01:58 — Success of the iki and formation of a peasant-ruled domain
• 03:20 — Internal strife and transformation into a priestly dynasty
• 04:44 — Siege by Oda Nobunaga and end of autonomy
• 05:25 — Mahnke’s reflective conclusion on power and history

Story 2: Thomas Midgley Jr. and the Catastrophic Cost of Curiosity (06:37–12:30)

Key Discussion Points

• Profile of Thomas Midgley Jr.:

  • Celebrated by some as a brilliant inventor; condemned by others as “a monster with a body count to rival Hitler or Stalin.”

• The Leaded Gasoline Tragedy:

  • In 1921, tasked with halting engine knocking, Midgley discovers that adding lead to gasoline solves the mechanical problem.
  • Despite ancient knowledge of lead’s dangers, he proceeds, rationalizing that exhaust would be harmless.

• Industrial Disaster:

  • Plant workers begin to suffer hallucinations and deaths; within weeks, several die or are hospitalized for lead poisoning.
  • Faced with media scrutiny, Midgley holds a press conference where he infamously washes his hands in leaded gasoline, “proving” its safety.
  • Mahnke observes the performative and unscientific nature of the demonstration, and the public’s acceptance despite growing evidence of harm.

• Aftermath and Legacy:

  • Widespread adoption of leaded gasoline leads to tens of millions of deaths and significant, lifelong health issues, especially among children.
  • Midgley also invents Freon, another globally harmful compound (damaging the ozone layer).

• Midgley’s Downfall:

  • Stricken with polio, Midgley invents a pulley system to help himself out of bed but accidentally strangles himself, a turn Mahnke describes as “cosmic justice.”

• Reflection:

  • The story concludes with a stark reminder about the sometimes catastrophic consequences of unchecked curiosity.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lead's Dangers:
  “Lead is toxic. People had known this since the days of the Roman Empire.”
  — Aaron Mahnke (07:41)

• Press Conference Stunt:
  “He did the only thing he could think of: he took out a small bowl of gasoline and used it to wash his hands. And then he inhaled the vapors, saying that he could do this every day to no ill effect.”
  — Aaron Mahnke (09:11)

• Staggering Impact:
  “Over the next several decades, scientists estimate that lead gasoline killed tens of millions of people, primarily children. Those it didn’t kill had permanent lifelong brain damage that has been linked to the rise in violent crime in the late 20th century...”
  — Aaron Mahnke (10:21)

• Ironic End:
  “Curiously, Thomas was eventually hoisted, quite literally, by his own hubris.”
  — Aaron Mahnke (11:30)

• Final Reflection:
  “Unfortunately, this is just one situation where curiosity didn’t simply kill the cat, but a whole lot of other people as well.”
  — Aaron Mahnke (12:23)

Segment Timestamp Overview:

• Start: 06:37 — Midgley’s assignment and discovery
• 08:15 — Factory deaths and initial cover-up
• 09:10 — Public demonstration and adoption
• 10:21 — Global impact and aftermath
• 11:20 — Midgley’s inventions and ironic demise
• 12:23 — Episode closes with a cautionary thought

Tone and Style

Aaron Mahnke’s storytelling balances historical detail with an unsettling sense of irony. His delivery is measured, often contemplative, with a wry appreciation of history’s stranger twists and a cautionary undertone. Both stories merge curiosity, ambition, and unintended consequences.

Summary

Lead Balloon offers two tales about attempts to change the world: one, a near-forgotten revolution where peasants temporarily shaped their own destiny in feudal Japan; the other, a destructive innovation whose well-intentioned inventor unleashed tragedy on a global scale. Mahnke leaves listeners reflecting on how societal agreements about power—and the unpredictable results of scientific curiosity—shape the course of history.

For those interested in more, visit curiositiespodcast.com or subscribe on Apple Podcasts. Stay curious!