This week Sam, Mel, Grae, and I (Spellcheck) all crammed into the pod office to talk about whatever's been filling our brains for the last few weeks. We had our coffee and snacks and just had a regular (for us) conversation. Once or twice a month, we'll be dropping an episode of just our ADHD braindumps. After existing every day in the world, like …

This Curio Corner is mostly about the cool stuff the Mavens talked to Jessie (British fashion historian in the making and parallel universe Spellcheck) about on Monday's episodes. It's also something of a walk down nostalgia lane for Sam, Mel, and Grae: internet connections in the 90s, music from their formative years, and early signs of neuro dive…

Step into a parallel universe with our guest this week, where Spellcheck is British and went to university to study the history of fashion (which, in reality, is something Spellcheck genuinely wanted to do). A certain writer for the podcast was shocked more than a few times. The similarities are numerous. Jessie (ghostsintime) a person of the Engli…

Sam and Mel sit down to share the unlikely demise of Evergleam Christmas Trees, what boundaries their implementing with collectibles, and share about the oldest crewel.Di The Mothball Prophecies

We're all finally settling down from the rush and bustle of Thanksgiving (if you're in the States, anyway) and our butts are more than ready for a long sit on the couch. The weather in Idaho is getting colder and snowier as the days pass, sending us all into the pod office with hot coffee and retro crocheted afghans. This week, the hygge mood is co…

We could have listened to Josh talk for hours and hours about all the incredible parts of his collections and his plans to spread that knowledge to the masses. But we all have lives to live and families to tend to. In lieu of having Josh back to nerd out over pirate history (which we're hoping to make happen, don't you worry), your weekend Curio Co…

Good morning, Mothballers. The team was hit with a few curve balls this year and we are more than ready to get back to what brought us together in the first place: Collectors and their stories. To celebrate our renewed joie de vivre, we have an incredible guest who's ready to wade with us through a topic never before visited by the Mavens... Litera…

Last week the Mavens had a grand ol' time with @fare11kat, a previous guest that the Mothball team adopted by force. Lady Erin of the Almost-Hairless Cats is a dashing young woman with hair of fire and a ridiculous streak of good luck. But her latest episode seemed different. Truncated, somehow... Where did the Curio Corner go? During the 100th epi…

This week on The Mothball Prophecies, we talk holiday traditions. Sam,Melissa, and Grae reminisce about childhood meals, grandparents houses, and horrifying genetic turkey mutations.Di The Mothball Prophecies

Erin Pipgras, perhaps better known as fare11kat on Instagram, has been a guest on the show before (episode 39, if you're curious about our first encounter with her). Obviously we all fell madly in love with each other, but in a sweary, meme fueled sort of way. Erin has become a staple in every day conversation for the Mothball team, and is frequent…

We know you have questions. Where have you been? Is the podcast still a thing? Are you still alive!? The answers, in order: The Mavens are running a wildly successful estate sale business. Absolutely the podcast is still a thing. The Mothball universe is expanding, so schedules are shifting. We're all settling into a new routine. And yes, we're ali…

Mandy Arnold is a long time friend of the pod and all around glorious human. She has now shifted from regular podcast listener to a part of the foundational mythology of the Mothball Prophecies. She was LITERALLY one of the very first people to follow the pod, become a patron, and now is stuck with all of us as friends for the rest of her days. The…

A while back, Sam did some mini-interviews with some Mothball listeners. Alex Di Giovanni was one of those interviewees, and we just had to have him back for a full episode! Alex started reselling as a teen, but he didn't start collecting until his early 20s; it's a bit backwards from most people and we LOVE IT. For his personal collection, Alex lo…

We recently recorded the 100th episode. But because all that frivolity took up so many hours, we weren't able to cover everything we wanted to talk about during the recording. To correct this, Grae and Sam sit down to expand, in a bit more detail, on the future of the podcast. Additionally, Sam gives a blow for blow account of the first Mothball es…

Sam, Jill, Melissa, Grae, and Spellcheck. We were once five people with no connections, whatsoever. We each met at different times, under different circumstances. We grew up in different places, lived separate lives, had unique views and experiences... Until this podcast threw us together. If The Mothball Prophecies was a child, we were soda. And t…

Next week's episode is all about the future of the podcast, where we're all headed, and what you, as listeners, can expect. For a study in opposites, the 99th episode is none of those things. This week, we are releasing an episode that has never seen the light of day, an episode that was recorded back in 2020 shortly after quarantine ended. People …

We still don't know what this segment will be called, so its temporary name will be: "Down the Curiosity Rabbit Hole With Sam, Jill, and Spellcheck." This month's Patreon special is all about the dangerous chemicals found in antiques and vintage items that might be in your collection. Death lurks around every corner, beneath tea towels and on windo…

This week on The Mothball Prophecies, Sam sits down solo with the queen of fireplaces, Riley Reyes of Darling Diddies. Riley and Sam commiserate about the insanity of an “I don't need to buy this because I can build it’ attitude. Both ladies suffer from said affliction. Our guest laments the projects that get left behind in between fireplace and li…

The cat has officially been released from the bag: Mothball Estate Sales has manifested itself at last, when absolutely no one was expecting it. The idea of this company has been a dream for longer than the podcast, believe it or not, and is currently unfolding in the most unlikely way imaginable. Sam is joined by Grae this week to discuss the orig…

Being a Patreon member comes with its own set of perks. Extra episodes are one of those. But this episode is too cool and has sat for too long, so we've decided to set it free! Enjoy! Here at Mothball headquarters, we're always brainstorming new and weird ideas to keep you monsters entertained. You're a ravenous lot, and we love you for it. To answ…

Hardly an honorary Maven at this point, but a truly integral part of the Mothball team, Melissa hangs out with Sam this week to interview sweet-as-pie duo Elizabeth Sweigart and Ricky Saetta of The Times Vintage in Greenport, New York. The former is the proprietor of the shop and the latter, is a skilled carpenter. The carpenter, it just so happens…

The Mavens sit down with Michael Ray Williams to talk about his job with Replacements Ltd., Movies, and The Gem Belt. Thank you to our team : Edit and Sound Design by: Grae @ Grae Matter Studios Intro by: Caylin Temple Copyediting by: Spell Check intro and Outro Music: Down the Rabbit Hole by myuu Source: https://soundcloud.com/myuu/down-the-rabbit…

We get a bit of hurricanes." If you were in any doubt, here is your proof: Mothballers are hardcore. The fans of this podcast are top-tier, badass (CAN I SAY THIS?) humans and the whole foundation of the show. Sam, Jill, and the rest of the team can create content all day long, but if no one loves what we do here at the Mothball Prophecies, we woul…

Everyone on the Mothball team grew up, to some extent, in the 90s, which means we all have some weird attachments to certain toys. That being said, this week's guests came in on a flaming chariot of Cosmic Brownies and Kool-aid to shower us with nostalgia. Laura and Jeannine of Shiny Brite Doggo are a couple of fabulous millennials who are paving t…

Hey kids, it's me, your friendly neighborhood Spellcheck. I'm breaking the fourth wall here but please, stay with me. This episode is an interview with my paternal grandmother, Mickey. She was recently diagnosed with dementia, brought on by Alzheimer's. This is my last chance to hear the stories that now only reside in her mind. Stories that I've a…

It's been a long, strange road following the birth of glass manufacturing in the United States. We've met some weird characters over the past few episodes and this week will be no different. Though, in place of eccentric producers, we get a laundry list of laws and practices that will cock even the most discerning of eyebrows. And because Jill is o…

We've got something new this week: Birdie is a native Texan with a decidedly deceptive collection. Deceptive in that it seems so mundane. Birdie deals exclusively with paper ephemera. The podcast has certainly had guests whose collections include ephemera, but not on this scale and not this level of prestige. Also, other paper collectors probably d…

With Jill off on soccer-related adventures out of town, Melissa joins up with Sam for this week's episode. Maven and Mavenette read some listener-submitted stories and talk about some of their own "in the wild" finds. Sam shares with us some more amazing tidbits from cleaning her late grandmother's home. There were some interesting finds, lots of t…

Kevin Jones (Instagram: Blactiquing) collects items that make people uncomfortable, and that is entirely on purpose. Racism in the antique world is nothing new and still thrives across the country. On this podcast, we are always learning and making changes where needed. This week Kevin speaks frankly about race, oppression, and antiques with hatefu…

Repeat listeners will already know this, but if you're new to the Mothball Prophecies you might not: Jill, one of the two lovely hosts of the show, likes Pyrex. She has a few bowls at home and occasionally browses eBay for interesting patterns. Nothing too crazy, *wink wink nudge nudge*... That may or may not be sarcasm. She's also not the most loq…

In the next installation of Mothball Miscellaneous, Sam and Melco finish up the story of the complete insanity that constitutes the Wistarburgh Glass Company. Not only do we get a full commentary on glassmaking in the 18th century (including Melissa's thoughts on labor rights), there's also a cameo by one of America's Founding Fathers. Here's your …

Jasmine and Kyla are staples in the behind the scene production of the show. Not in an editorial capacity like Grae and Spellcheck, but in a "Marco Polo the group chats at 2 in the morning to show off a cool find" capacity. Since their first visit to the show, the ladies of Corkscrew have become lifetime inmates at the Mothball Asylum. And that's t…

The passage of time allows for a great many things. The lives of those closest to us shape the history of our existence. We hear stories of those who’ve come before, of faces we will never see smile, laugh, or cry but still we feel the richness of their emotions. We exchange memories over cups of tea and slices of hummingbird cake or huckleberry pi…

Ash from Ashtomaton is living in an actual Disney movie. There's a kindly old organ grinder and everything. She's an ex-pat currently living in Holland. And yes, the screeching you hear is Spellcheck in the distance repeating (again) that she is also Dutch. Pickings in that land of wooden shoes and tulip fields are much fancier than what you might …

She grew up in Hawaii, she sews for a living, and she understands your obsession with glass toothpick holders. Please welcome Dawn Emry (IG: Dawnbythebay). Dawn is most definitely someone the Mavens dreamt up and accidentally brought to life. She's a long time thrifter packing some serious talent behind the sewing machine. Dawn takes vintage fabric…

Mothball Miscellaneous is a series on the Mothball Prophecies all about American manufacturing and how to find and identify possible collectables. This week Sam nerds out with Melissa Watson, everyone's favorite leather worker. These two marvelous ladies go over how glass making came to the United States (colonies of Great Britain at the time), som…

Jennifer Perkins, for those of you who don't watch TV, is an actual TV personality. She has hosted multiple programs on both HGTV and the DIY Network. On top of that, she's a crafting Queen and old hat when it comes to vintage and thrift. As in, she's been collecting bakelite since infancy. But don't worry, she's real low key about it. Really chill…

For those of you not running your own business or podcast or vintage reselling empire, you probably haven't ever thought about how much time and brainpower goes into marketing. Business marketing is essential if you want to succeed. If you don't believe it, ask Sam and Jill. The learning curve is sharp and the Mavens had to learn quickly what works…

Raise your hand if you absolutely loved listening to Megan Powell of Goods Resurrected (Ep 36) and have been silently screaming at Sam and Jill to bring her back. Everyone? That's how we feel too. So here she is: Megan hops back on the Mothball train with tales of her newest venture. Last year you may remember Megan talking about living the ultimat…

The Mothball Prophecies fully endorses the urge to spend hours, if not days, researching every aspect of a particular niche subject until you pass out on your laptop from lack of sleep. In fact, we tend to encourage it. But with Mothball Miscellaneous, we do the hard part and you get to relax. Reap the rewards of our labor. This month's installment…

If any of you were put a little on edge by the Holiday Special's detailed depiction of Rushton Santas (Thanks for giving us all nightmares Erin), then you may need a weighted blanket for this week's episode. Kewt Kitsch was recommended to us by a fan with a not so vague threat of bodily harm should we refuse. She's an obsessive Rushton toy fan with…

Happy New Year to one and all! How any of us are still sane after the past two years is a total mystery, but we made it. It's officially 2022 and the Mothball Team is ready for something new. The Vintage Tip of the Week is a feature of the show that came about completely by accident. In the middle of an episode, many, many moons ago, Sam's brain mo…

'Tis the season! Come one and all! Join the Mothball Prophecies in a jolly jaunt through the various holiday traditions and family stories. We're joined by some of our favorite past guests. First, we are blessed with a visit from our Fairy Goth Mother: Kate from Bittersqueaks. Kate spills the hot thrift goss' on restoring old and second-hand orname…

Immigration is a part of every American. For some, our ancestors arrived in a new hundreds of years ago. For some, our great grand parents left the only home they knew to find greener pastures. Others though, they straddle the line between two countries. Cristina talks to us through the latter most lense. She came to the states from Romania as a sm…

Winter is upon us, and with that come a multitude of holidays. Thanksgiving for the Americans, Christmas for some, Hanukkah for others, Yule or a little Winter Solstice maybe? Whatever you celebrate this time of year, most of us have family traditions that we hold near and dear. On this week's intimate episode we get the full rundown of the Christm…

This episode is not at all what you think it's going to be. In any way. The Mavens met a plethora of amazing and episode worthy people while on their trip to the Oddities Expo. One of these was Kat Handler of Century Guild. Conversations were had and friends were made over art nouveau and Kat was promptly scheduled to be a guest on the show. She is…

If you're the sort of person who likes vintage Halloween, classic movie monsters, or VHS then you may already know this week's guest. Her hair is a dream and her lashes could kill. The lady of the hour is none other than Atomic Bettie (or Tanya if you must). This devilish queen hails from a quiet, out of the way lane in the middle of Amish country,…

If you are blessed with a petite frame that fits genuine vintage clothing, then you are one lucky ducky and we at the pod applaud you for it. For many a modern human, however, vintage clothing feels like it was made for children or elves. Josie Chase is changing that in a big way. In a fabulous response to fast fashion and the lack of plus size (or…

Get ready to swoon. This week we get a real treat. Firstly: He's Irish. Secondly: He's a history buff (Spellcheck is currently hyperventilating). Our guest is a multi-generational jeweler with a great grandfather who was hired by the Irish government to recover the stolen Irish crown jewels. Spoiler: They were never found. His other great grandfath…

Back at the end of summer the Mavens purchased tickets to The Oddities Flea Market Curated and hosted by the queen and king of weird antiques, Regina and Ryan Cohn. The show took place over the course of a single weekend in October in Los Angeles, California. This week's episode is Jill, Sam, and honorary Maven Riley of Darling Diddies rehashing th…