Aaron Mahnke's Cabinet of Curiosities: "Medium-Sized"

Date: December 4, 2025
Host: Aaron Mahnke
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts and Grim & Mild

Episode Overview

In this episode, Aaron Mahnke presents two fascinating tales:

1. The unconventional rise (and fall) of Helena Blavatsky, the enigmatic founder of Theosophy and alleged spiritual fraud.
2. The origin story behind the iconic "Charlie Card" of Boston’s subway, tracing it back to a quirky political campaign and a folk song that became a local legend.

As always, Mahnke peels back the layers of history to reveal the curiosity hidden just beneath the surface of the familiar, combining dry wit and a deft storytelling touch.

Story One: Madame Blavatsky—Medium, Maverick, and Mystery (01:10–06:11)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Blavatsky's Origins

  • Born Helena in 1831, Russia; reputed to have supernatural experiences in her youth after the family settled in Odessa, Ukraine.
  • "She would spend hours in the unused passageways under her house, playing with the ghosts who lingered there." (02:06)

• Restless Youth and First Forays into the Occult

  • Married off at 16; escaped, traveled the globe, delved into study of multiple religions.
  • Claimed after a horse-riding accident in Tibet that her spiritual powers were "fully realized."

• The Rise of Madame Blavatsky

  • Adopted an iconic ‘fortune teller’ persona, hosting seances that drew crowds in New York.
  • Won over Henry Steele Olcott, a Civil War veteran and investigative journalist intent on exposing frauds, who became her ardent supporter.

• Birth of the Theosophical Society

  • In 1877, they formalized their gatherings, with Blavatsky’s book "Isis Unveiled" laying out "the synthesis of science, religion, and philosophy." (04:32)
  • The movement achieved international fame and moved their headquarters to India.

• Exposure and Decline

  • Disaster struck when incriminating letters surfaced, revealing the mechanisms behind their seances and exposing Blavatsky as a fraud.
  • Blavatsky and Olcott were forced to flee India, disgraced.

• Resurgence and Lasting Influence

  • In London, she pivoted away from paranormal demonstrations and refocused on Theosophy, founding the Blavatsky Lodge and writing influential works.
  • Her blend of science and religion outlived her scandals: "As it turns out, Helena never needed smoke and mirrors to make a mark on history. Her curious mind was more than enough." (06:07)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On her early 'gifts':
  "She also developed a supernatural gift that she called Solomon's Wisdom... the neighborhood kids said that she could use the gift to lull street pigeons to sleep." (01:49)
• On her influence:
  "The book became enormously popular, launching Madame Blavatsky into widespread fame in the U.S. the notoriety gave Helena and Alcott the confidence they needed to sell their belongings and move to India." (04:47)
• On her exposure:
  "A series of letters surfaced... detailing all the intricate tricks and mechanisms they used during seances to fake otherworldly visitors. It soon became clear... Madame Blavatsky was a fraud." (05:12)
• Closing Reflection:
  “Her curious mind was more than enough.” (06:07)

Story Two: Charlie on the MTA—Politics, Protest, and a Boston Legend (07:18–11:41)

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• The Dysfunctional Roots of Boston’s Subway System

  • In the 1940s, Boston’s MBTA fare system was notoriously confusing, with ticket pamphlets spanning nine pages and unpopular exit fees.

• Walter A. O’ Brien’s Unconventional Mayoral Campaign

  • Reformer Walter O' Brien, running for mayor in 1949, couldn’t afford radio ads, so his team broadcast policy-inspired folk songs from a loudspeaker truck.
  • The most enduring of these was “Charlie on the MTA,” about a commuter trapped on the subway for lack of a nickel to pay the exit fare.

• Musical Legacy and Political Fallout

  • O' Brien was fined $10 for disturbing the peace, lost the election, and was later sidelined during the Red Scare, eventually retiring quietly to Maine.
  • The song “Charlie on the MTA” lived on, becoming a New England folk standard—adapted by the Kingston Trio (with a sanitized lyric) and deeply ingrained in Boston lore.

• Enduring Impact: The Charlie Card

  • Eventually, the MBTA overhauled its fare system along the lines O’ Brien advocated.
  • Since 2004, Boston’s subway smart card bears the name “Charlie Card” in honor of the song and its accidental mascot.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Boston’s early fare system:
  "At one point a nine page pamphlet breaking down the various ticket prices... they implemented exit fees, meaning that you paid to take the train and then... pay again to disembark. Nobody liked that system..." (07:45)
• On the birth of a folk legend:
  "The song about his plans for public transit was a ballad... It tells the story of a man named Charlie... 'But did he ever return? No, he never returned and his fate is still unlearned... he's the man who never returned.'" (08:51)
• On the afterlife of a political protest:
  "The song was so iconic that it became deeply ingrained in Boston culture. Now, 76 years after Walter A. O' Brien tried to become mayor... that metro card has been known as the Charlie Card." (11:13)

Selected Timestamps

• 01:10 – Madame Blavatsky’s childhood and supernatural origins
• 03:20 – Seances in New York and partnership with Olcott
• 04:32 – Theosophy and "Isis Unveiled"
• 05:12 – Scandal and exposure as a fraud
• 06:07 – Reflection on Blavatsky’s legacy
• 07:18 – Early days of Boston’s public transport system
• 08:51 – The creation and chorus of “Charlie on the MTA”
• 11:13 – The real ‘Charlie Card’ in modern Boston

Tone & Language

Aaron Mahnke’s narration is brisk, witty, and laced with curiosity. He maintains an atmosphere that is equal parts respectful of the strange quirks of history and gently skeptical of its charlatans and dreamers.

Conclusion

This “Cabinet of Curiosities” episode uncovers how clever personalities—from the mysterious Madame Blavatsky to the reformer Walter O’ Brien—used everything from mysticism to music to shape their worlds. Whether their legacies were marred by controversy or outshone their humble beginnings, both tales reveal that sometimes, curiosity itself leaves the most lasting mark.