Cabinet of Curiosities

Episodes

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  Opossum Power: Sealed with a Hiss 19.10.2026 22m

  Don’t play dead or get lost in the dark! Join UCLA doctoral candidate Shanti Lindberg — a modern-day Lorax who speaks (and accessorizes) for the critters — as she guides your “Cabinet of Curiosities” co-hosts Madeline Adamo and Jonathan Riggs through the midnight secrets of the unfairly maligned opossum.Serving North America’s-only-native-marsupial realness, the adorable opossum and its relatives around the world deserve more respect and love. (Not only did their relatives outlast the dinosaurs, sweetie, but their marsupial movie cousins delivered the world’s wildest werewolf film Down Under or anywhere else.)What are you waiting for? Turn the key!Hosts and writers: Madeline Adamo and Jonathan RiggsGuest: Shanti LindbergEngineer: Álvaro CastilloProducer: Trever DucoteDesign: Tina HordzwickOriginal Music: Roger A. MartinezNarration: Alize Francheska RozsnyaiLearn more about Shanti Lindberg’s work in the lab of UCLA professor Karen SearsExplore the UCLA College and UCLA Newsroom
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  Library Ghosts of Los Angeles 24.08.2026 48m

  The UCLA William Andrews Clark Memorial Library is haunted…in all the best ways.  Grab a cobwebbed candelabra and follow head librarian and UCLA alumnus Derek Christian Quezada Meneses through its stacks, specters and stories. See you at the pet cemetery (or sematary in the King’s English) for a phantasmagorically good time with your “Cabinet of Curiosities” co-hosts Madeline Adamo and Jonathan Riggs. What are you waiting for? Turn the key! Hosts and writers: Madeline Adamo and Jonathan Riggs Guest: Derek Christian Quezada MenesesEngineer: Álvaro CastilloProducer: Trever DucoteDesign: Tina Hordzwick Original Music: Roger A. MartinezNarration: Alize Francheska RozsnyaiExplore the UCLA College and UCLA Newsroom
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  ‘Trans, Body, Horror’ 25.06.2026 30m

  Your mileage may vary, but one thing we all have in common is the experience of having a body. And few things are a better reminder of this than a good (or bad)horror movie.Learn more about the intersection of horror and humanity — and much more — from UCLA doctoral candidate and artist Wesleigh Gates, creator of the popular “Trans, Body, Horror” course in UCLA LGBTQ Studies.Take a sip of “The Substance” alongside Madeline Adamo and Jonathan Riggs as they get a “Cabinet of Curiosities” master class in terror.What are you waiting for? Turn the key!Hosts and writers: Madeline Adamo and Jonathan RiggsGuest: Wesleigh GatesEngineer: Álvaro CastilloProducer: Trever DucoteDesign: Tina Hordzwick Original Music: Roger A. MartinezNarration: Alize Francheska RozsnyaiExplore the UCLA College and UCLA Newsroom 
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  Holidays 16.12.2025 26m

  Across time and cultures, holidays offer a fascinating mirror into our own humanity…and maybe a melted face or two along the way.Hear from UCLA distinguished professor emeritus and world-renowned scholar Henry Ansgar Kelly about some surprising holiday origins—Geoffrey Chaucer is responsible for Valentine’s Day?!—and from UCLA alumna and staff member Andrea Corrales on meaningful traditions she continues every Día de los Muertos.Come away inspired to write your own obituary—it’s a good thing, we promise!—alongside Madeline Adamo and Jonathan Riggs in their second journey into the UCLA College/UCLA Newsroom's "odd"-cast "Cabinet of Curiosities."What are you waiting for? Turn the key!Hosts and writers: Madeline Adamo and Jonathan RiggsGuests: Henry Ansgar Kelly and Andrea CorralesEngineer: Álvaro CastilloProducer: Trever DucoteDesign: Tina Hordzwick and Katie SipekOriginal Music: Roger A. MartinezNarration: Alize Francheska RozsnyaiCheck out Professor Kelly’s self-penned obituary, UCLA faculty page and acclaimed scholarly publication Satan: A BiographyExplore the UCLA College, UCLA Humanities and UCLA Newsroom
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  Bat Boy(s) 16.10.2025 29m

  Bats won't get tangled in your hair, a dog is more likely to give you rabies and they work hard literally every night making the world a better place for humans.Christina's flying cousin Chiroptera Aguilera was right: Bats are beautiful in every single way.Learn more about these winged wonders from UCLA bat researcher Joey Curti and filmmaker Aaron Lemle as they discuss their award-winning short film "Bat Boy," the power of combining science and art, and why bats are definitively better than birds...except maybe quail.Join (na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na) bat-fans Madeline Adamo and Jonathan Riggs for their first adventure into the UCLA College/UCLA Newsroom's "odd"-cast "Cabinet of Curiosities."What are you waiting for? Turn the key!Hosts and writers: Madeline Adamo and Jonathan RiggsGuests: Joey Curti and Aaron LemleBat Supporting Actress: HazelEngineer: Álvaro CastilloProducer: Trever DucoteDesign: Tina Hordzwick and Katie SipekOriginal Music: Roger A. MartinezNarration: Alize Francheska RozsnyaiLearn more about "Bat Boy" the film and watch it hereCheck out Los Angeles Bat Rescue and the UCLA Stunt Ranch ReserveExplore the UCLA College and UCLA Newsroom