Podcast Summary: Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities

Episode: Living Fossils
Date: December 16, 2025
Host: Aaron Mahnke

Overview

In this episode, Aaron Mahnke guides listeners through two compelling stories, each exploring the idea of "living fossils"—remnants, whether biological or cultural, that have endured beyond their era. The first tale examines evolutionary anachronisms in nature, focusing on plants and animals out of step with the present. The second recounts the story of Pompey, an enslaved man in Massachusetts, whose recognition as a community leader echoed traditions from his distant African past and persists in modern celebrations of Black Election Day.

Segment 1: Evolutionary Anachronisms—Nature Out of Sync

[01:17 – 05:53]

Key Points & Insights

• Time’s Perspective
  Mahnke draws attention to the relativity of time—how lifespans of different creatures overlap with epochs and how individuals fit into the grand scale of geological time.

  "A whole lifetime for a fly is a moment for a human, and a whole lifetime for a human is a brief blink from the perspective of geologic time." (01:29)

• Fruits with No Feeders
  The episode spotlights plants like the Osage orange, the Kentucky coffee tree, and the honey locust that produce large, seemingly inedible fruits for which there are no contemporary animal consumers.

  "What does one do with a fruit that no animals eat? Biologists have found many examples of these...there are fruits that are too large for most animal species to eat practically." (02:28)

• The Age of Megafauna
  Mahnke explains these fruits are leftovers from a time when massive animals (megafauna) like mammoths and giant sloths would spread their seeds.

  "The Osage orange is an example of what's known as an evolutionary anachronism." (03:48)

• Plant and Animal Evolutionary Orphans
  Not just plants—some animals are theorized to have adapted due to the loss of their partners:

  • Madagascar’s giant dung beetle now relies on human feces, possibly since its natural partner went extinct.
  • Lemurs train offspring to avoid predatory birds that no longer exist.

  "None of these animal examples have been proved definitively. After all, how do you measure the behavior of species that no longer exist?" (05:08)

• The Memory of Extinction
  Despite unanswered questions, nature “preserves a memory” of extinct relationships, echoing through behaviors and adaptations.

  "Nature, in its complex web of relationships, can inadvertently preserve memory of something, even if it's unclear what that something originally was." (05:18)

• Evolution’s Ongoing Story
  Mahnke ends the segment quoting a famous scientist:

  “Life finds a way.” (05:42)

Segment 2: A King Named Pompey—Enduring Traditions of Black Leadership

[07:40 – 12:15]

Key Points & Insights

• Black Election Day in Colonial Massachusetts
  The story shifts to North Boston where Black Election Day—an alternative leadership election—allowed enslaved and free Black people to elect a "king" within their community.

  "It was a time when families and individuals, both enslaved and free, came together...the group would vote for and crown a king who would provide wisdom and insight to the black community." (07:44)

• The Life of Pompey
  Pompey, born in West Africa and sold into New England slavery, worked to buy his own freedom, eventually owning land and hosting the cherished Black picnic.

  "As a young man in 1745, he married an enslaved woman named Phyllis…by 1762, he had earned enough to purchase a small property…" (08:32)

• Assertion of Civil Rights
  The Black picnic was an act of resistance—affirming civil rights and leadership centuries before Black Americans could legally vote in the U.S.

  "This act of unity was a rebellion against their circumstances and an assertion of civil rights. More than 200 years before black Americans secured the right to vote in general elections..." (08:51)

• Crowning Pompey
  The emotional moment when Pompey is elected king by his community after years of enslavement.

  "Just before sunset, a hush fell over the crowd...And then they announced his name. After decades of degradation, hard work and dehumanization, he'd regained the dignity and respect that were taken from him by slavery." (09:28)

• His Legacy
  As king, Pompey empowered others, resolved disputes, and became a trusted leader—a status remembered well after his tenure.

  "By all accounts, Pompey was an esteemed leader and venerated in the years both before and after his reign." (10:21)

• Modern Black Election Day
  The tradition endures in Salem, Massachusetts—with updated practices, awards for community service, and expanded celebrations, instead of crowning a monarch.

  "Today, Black Election Day is still celebrated in Salem, Massachusetts...accompanied by a parade. Instead of electing a monarch, community awards are given for advocacy, wisdom, and outstanding citizenship." (10:41)

• Final Reflection
  Mahnke leaves listeners reflecting on the persistence of tradition and the enduring significance of figures like Pompey:

  "We may never know for certain whether Pompey came from African royalty, but in Massachusetts there is no question that he was and always will be a king." (11:20)

Notable Quotes

• On nature’s evolutionary relics:

  “The Osage orange is an example of what's known as an evolutionary anachronism.” – Aaron Mahnke (03:48)

• On resilience and legacy:

  "After decades of degradation, hard work and dehumanization, he'd regained the dignity and respect that were taken from him by slavery." – Aaron Mahnke (09:34)

• On tradition’s survival:

  "Today, Black Election Day is still celebrated in Salem, Massachusetts, every year. Now held on the third Saturday in July, the event still resembles those first gatherings in many ways..." – Aaron Mahnke (10:41)

• On evolution’s persistence:

  “Life finds a way.” – Aaron Mahnke quoting a famous scientist (05:42)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:17] Start of evolutionary anachronisms story
• [03:48] Explanation of the Osage orange and evolutionary anachronisms
• [05:18] Nature’s “memory” and evolutionary legacy
• [07:40] Introduction to Pompey and Black Election Day
• [09:28] Pompey’s crowning as king
• [10:41] Modern Black Election Day traditions

Tone and Style

Aaron Mahnke’s narration is measured, thoughtful, and curious, mixing poetic reflection with succinct exposition. He invites listeners to ponder both the mysteries of natural history and the enduring spirit of human community.

For more uncanny and insightful stories, subscribe to Cabinet of Curiosities or visit curiositiespodcast.com.