Cabinet of Curiosities – "The Middle of Nowhere" (March 3, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this intriguing episode, host Aaron Mahnke, the mind behind "Lore," guides listeners on a journey through two little-known corners of history. True to the show's style, he explores the fascinating story of Bir Tawil—a desert patch between Egypt and Sudan famously claimed by no nation—and then delves into the dramatic history of the Pankhurst family and the Women's Social and Political Union, whose militant work changed the trajectory of women’s rights in Britain.

Story 1: Bir Tawil—A Country for No One

Theme: The only habitable land on Earth unclaimed by any country, and the stories and schemes it inspires.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Geographic Oddity:
  • Bir Tawil is a small, unclaimed sliver of land between Egypt and Sudan. It's unique for being "the only habitable land on planet Earth not claimed by one country or another."
    (01:35)
• Why It Exists:
  • Its existence is a result of conflicting colonial-era border definitions from British administrators in 1899 and 1902.
  • Both Egypt and Sudan claim the more valuable Halaib Triangle, but each renounces Bir Tawil in pursuit of Halaib.
• Characteristics of Bir Tawil:
  • No major cities or capital; mostly desert but larger in area than London or New York City.
  • Inhabited primarily by nomads and miners—"That's people who dig in the earth, not little kids. Just to clear that up."
    —Aaron Mahnke (02:43)
• Modern Claims and Stunts:
  • Internet myths paint Bir Tawil as free for the taking, attracting would-be monarchs and micronation enthusiasts.
    • 2014: Jeremiah Heaton (Virginia, USA) traveled there to "declare it the Kingdom of North Sudan" for his daughter's birthday, "the official title of princess."
      (03:29)
  • Heaton's story gained "eager press coverage and a crowdfunding campaign for his so-called country. He even claimed to have sold the film rights."
  • Heaton claimed his kingdom would be a "daring new idea in the world of geopolitics and technology," hinting at interest from companies for unregulated product development—though Mahnke dryly notes "such claims have yet to manifest. Surprise, surprise."
    —Aaron Mahnke (03:55)
• The True Inhabitants:
  • Contrary to internet myths, people do live there: the Ababda (Abada) people.
    • "In 2019, the first official tour group entered the area ... they had to gain approval and protection from the land's inhabitants, the Abada people. They consider the land to be their homeland, and they are quite protective of it."
      (04:47)
• Cautionary Note About Frontier Fantasies:
  • Places like Bir Tawil "make people in extremely regulated countries salivate with the possibility of freedom and adventure. But ... it's dangerous to assume that a place is up for the taking just because of a long out-of-date treaty."
    • "If you try to become king of the hill without understanding the hill itself, you either start a war or gain a reputation for being ignorant."
      —Aaron Mahnke (05:41)
  • "Neither reason, though, is worth building a whole career around, no matter how nicely that crown might fit on your head."
    —Aaron Mahnke (05:57)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Bir Tawil is the only habitable land on planet Earth not claimed by one country or another." (01:37)
• "That's people who dig in the earth, not little kids. Just to clear that up." (02:43)
• "[Jeremiah Heaton’s move] was allegedly in order to give his daughter a birthday present, the official title of princess. However sincere his reason, it was ultimately a cynical move..." (03:33)
• "If you try to become king of the hill without understanding the hill itself, you either start a war or gain a reputation for being ignorant." (05:41)

Story 2: Deeds, Not Words—The Suffragettes’ Fight in Britain

Theme: The radical struggle for women’s suffrage in early 20th-century Britain, as led by the Pankhurst family and the WSPU.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

• Shifting Rights Over Centuries:
  • Women in Europe had periods of property and leadership rights during the Middle Ages and Enlightenment, but by the late 1700s, things worsened: "women being given the same legal status as children"—needing to defer to their husbands in all matters.
    (08:34)
• The Pankhursts Strike Back:
  • Emmeline Pankhurst and her daughters Christabel and Sylvia founded the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU) in 1903.
  • Their motto: "Deeds, not words"—"meaning they were done asking nicely for their rights."
    —Aaron Mahnke (09:45)
• Militant Tactics:
  • 1910: Hundreds stormed Parliament, facing brutal police resistance including beatings and sexual assault.
  • WSPU members turned to even stronger action: "smashing windows and setting buildings on fire ... accost[ing] politicians in the streets, and insult[ing] them, demanding the right to vote."
    (10:18)
• Prison Protests:
  • Imprisoned suffragettes staged hunger strikes and suffered brutal force-feeding, leading to laws allowing their temporary release and re-arrest once healthy.
• Turning Point—Emily Davison:
  • At the 1913 Epsom Derby, Davison dramatically attempted to "plant a WSPU flag" on the King’s horse, was fatally struck, and died soon after.
  • The incident caused "even more strife. The WSPU held a parade in her honor, but the government and even the Queen herself denounced Emily."
    (11:36)
  • Queen Mary called her a "horrid woman," despite not being opposed to women's rights.
    —Aaron Mahnke (11:50)
• The War Changes Everything:
  • World War I’s outbreak in 1914 forced women into jobs previously denied to them.
  • By war’s end in 1918, attitudes had shifted and women “finally won the right to vote in Britain.”
    • Germany and the US soon followed: "The US passed the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote in 1920."
      (12:25)
• Legacy & The Role of Radicals:
  • Some historians suggest the WSPU's militancy harmed the cause, but others argue "many social movements require a radical component" to push progress.
    • "They can either give in to the more moderate groups asking nicely for their rights, or they can ignore them and drive them into the arms of the radicals."
      —Aaron Mahnke (13:23)
  • "Their methods may seem curious to us today, but without them, women may not have ever gained equal status in the Western world."
    —Aaron Mahnke (13:35)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Their motto was literally ‘deeds, not words’, meaning they were done asking nicely for their rights." (09:45)
• "It was not a great plan. The horse was moving pretty darn fast." (11:44)
• "Queen Mary actually called her [Emily Davison] a horrid woman." (11:50)
• “Radical groups like the WSPU make the establishment wake up and realize people are willing to die for the cause in question.” (13:19)
• "Without them, women may not have ever gained equal status in the Western world." (13:35)

Key Timestamps

• 01:14 — Introduction to Bir Tawil and the concept of unclaimed land.
• 03:29 — Jeremiah Heaton’s 2014 "Kingdom of North Sudan" stunt.
• 04:47 — The Abada people’s claim to Bir Tawil.
• 08:34 — Shifts in women’s rights and beginnings of the Pankhurst/WSPU story.
• 09:45 — Formation of the WSPU, introduction of their militant motto and tactics.
• 11:36 — Emily Davison’s fatal protest at the 1913 Derby.
• 12:25 — After World War I, rapid expansion of women’s suffrage.
• 13:23 — Reflection on the role of radical activism.

Conclusion & Takeaways

Aaron Mahnke’s storytelling brings both tales to life with wit, skepticism, and historical insight. They share a common thread: the spaces—physical or political—created by lines drawn and rules made (or unmade), and how adventurous or determined individuals try to claim them, for better or worse. Ultimately, both stories underscore the complexities of ownership, activism, and the risks (or absurdities) of trying to lay claim to something whose story didn’t begin with you.

“Stay curious.” — Aaron Mahnke (13:44)