WEBVTT - How To Raise An Immortal Baby

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<v Speaker 1>School of Humans. Oh hello, you filthy, filthy filth heads.

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<v Speaker 2>Did any of you listen to last week's episode and

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<v Speaker 2>then be like, Wow, I can improve my life just

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<v Speaker 2>by thinking. I can think and grow rich. Anybody, did

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<v Speaker 2>anybody get rich? If so, please give me some money.

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<v Speaker 2>But yes, last week I was talking about Napoleon Hill,

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<v Speaker 2>the self help book writer and scammer and schemer, and

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<v Speaker 2>a lot of his philosophies can be boiled down to

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<v Speaker 2>positive thinking, or what I might call it being delusional.

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<v Speaker 1>Basically, if you can think it, it can happen.

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<v Speaker 2>And he isn't the one who came up with this,

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<v Speaker 2>A lot of people were having similar thoughts at the time.

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<v Speaker 1>He was just one of.

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<v Speaker 2>The many men of the moment who wrote about it.

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<v Speaker 2>Positive thinking was even making its way in to religion,

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<v Speaker 2>and there was this one guy who started a religious

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<v Speaker 2>cult called the Royal Fraternity of Master Metaphysicians. Wow, very fancy,

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<v Speaker 2>and he went even further than Napoleon Hill, and he

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<v Speaker 2>was like, Hey, the only reason we die is because

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<v Speaker 2>we know about death. If we didn't think about it,

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<v Speaker 2>that wouldn't happen. And so the leader of this cult,

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<v Speaker 2>he decided that he would test his theory that he

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<v Speaker 2>would prove his theory by raising an immortal baby. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 2>everyone's got to have one. Cue the theme song. This

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<v Speaker 2>is American Built and I'm Gabby Watts. Every week I

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<v Speaker 2>tell you a filthy story from American history. This week's

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<v Speaker 2>episode how to Raise an Immortal Baby. I like how

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<v Speaker 2>the name of this cult kind of sounds like it

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<v Speaker 2>would be in Harry Potter or like some sort of

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<v Speaker 2>wizard world. The Royal Fraternity of Master Metaphysicians. Well, it

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<v Speaker 2>was founded around the Great Depression by this guy named

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<v Speaker 2>James Bernard Shaeffer and little James Shaeffer. We don't know

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<v Speaker 2>that much about his early life. He was born in Fargo,

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<v Speaker 2>North Dakota, at the end of the nineteenth century, and

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<v Speaker 2>somewhere along the way he became really good at persuasive communication,

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<v Speaker 2>or you could just say he was a master manipulator,

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<v Speaker 2>and he had a lot of ambition, a very potent combination.

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<v Speaker 2>It does seem that he pursued studies in medicine at

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<v Speaker 2>some point, perhaps at the University of Meigan, and when

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<v Speaker 2>he was a young buck making his way in the world,

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<v Speaker 2>he developed interest in psychology, metaphysics, and esoteric teachings, and

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<v Speaker 2>he wasn't alone. At the time, the New Thought movement

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<v Speaker 2>was making waves throughout the country. That movement was a

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<v Speaker 2>spiritual and philosophical movement that started up in the United

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<v Speaker 2>States in the nineteenth century, and it's based on the

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<v Speaker 2>belief that particularly positive thought has the power to shape

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<v Speaker 2>reality and influence health, success, and personal well being, just

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<v Speaker 2>like all this stuff Napoleon Hill was talking about. Basically,

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<v Speaker 2>it's a movement devoted to good vibes.

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<v Speaker 1>Only just have a good vibe and it will be

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<v Speaker 1>all right.

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<v Speaker 2>Shaefer and others were basically like, yeah, positive thinking leads

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<v Speaker 2>to positive outcomes, while negative thinking results in negative experiences.

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<v Speaker 2>For example, the reason you're poor is that you simply

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<v Speaker 2>haven't thought yourself out of poverty. You have too many

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<v Speaker 2>negative thoughts. It's your own fault. James Shaeffer was hardcore

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<v Speaker 2>into these ideas. He even said at one point man

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<v Speaker 2>can have anything he can think. And sure, it's nice

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<v Speaker 2>to be positive, it's nice to have some sort of

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<v Speaker 2>hope for the future. But we're not going to be

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<v Speaker 2>on Shaeffer's side because, like Napoleon Hill, he liked to scheme,

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<v Speaker 2>he liked to scam, but here's another fun piece of

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<v Speaker 2>information about him. He was a member of the Ku

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<v Speaker 2>Klux Klan. That's crazy that he couldn't think his way

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<v Speaker 2>out of being a racist. But whatever his background, however

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<v Speaker 2>he got there, James Shaeffer ended up in New York

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<v Speaker 2>City by the nineteen thirties, he had a wife, a son,

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<v Speaker 2>a daughter, and he began preaching. I mean it was

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<v Speaker 2>more like lecturing, but by the mid nineteen thirties he

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<v Speaker 2>had a huge following. Hundreds of people would come out

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<v Speaker 2>every week on Sundays to hear him talk at Carnegie

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<v Speaker 2>Hall about how all you needed was your mind to

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<v Speaker 2>change the world around you. Shaeffer described himself as a

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<v Speaker 2>messenger and that he was involved with the joyous work

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<v Speaker 2>of helping others to help themselves. But let's just keep

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<v Speaker 2>in mind the context that.

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<v Speaker 1>He was in the clan.

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<v Speaker 2>But for the group of whites that praised him and

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<v Speaker 2>loved his ideas, it kind of made sense that this

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<v Speaker 2>was happening at the time that these ideas were in style,

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<v Speaker 2>because it was the Great Depression. People had lost a

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<v Speaker 2>lot of money, there was a lot of hopelessness. But

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<v Speaker 2>here Shaeffer is offering basically a free solution.

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<v Speaker 1>To their lives. You can just think, you don't need money,

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<v Speaker 1>just be thinking.

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<v Speaker 2>By the end of the nineteen thirties, some people think

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<v Speaker 2>he had about ten thousand followers, and of course from

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<v Speaker 2>those people he started soliciting money. Remember for the cause

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<v Speaker 2>for the religion was the Royal Fraternity of Master Metaphysicians

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<v Speaker 2>of Religion. Ah, he would say so, but as we'll see,

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<v Speaker 2>he mostly probably said that for the tax exemptions. But

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<v Speaker 2>by the end of the nineteen thirties Shaffer was like, huh,

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<v Speaker 2>I think we actually need a physical location. So in

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<v Speaker 2>nineteen thirty eight he bought a one hundred and ten

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<v Speaker 2>room mansion that used to belong to the Vanderbilts. It

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<v Speaker 2>was on Long Island and he renamed it the Peace Haven.

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<v Speaker 2>It kind of was like a country club, but some

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<v Speaker 2>people did end up living there. Initially, the fee to

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<v Speaker 2>become a member was one hundred dollars, but over the

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<v Speaker 2>three years that he had the property it increased to

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<v Speaker 2>five hundred dollars, and then you could board there for

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<v Speaker 2>two dollars a day. Furnishings were not provided, and it

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<v Speaker 2>was also suggested to bring along some stuff for the Shafers,

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<v Speaker 2>so a lit of his followers paid these fees. Of

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<v Speaker 2>course they were tax exempt because Shaffer was saying this

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<v Speaker 2>was a religious organization. Many of the contributions that Shaeffer

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<v Speaker 2>got to the property had no strings attached. But as

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<v Speaker 2>we'll see, a lot of those contributions were loans. People

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<v Speaker 2>expected to get that money back at some point once

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<v Speaker 2>the movement, once the cult was more profitable. That's right,

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<v Speaker 2>a religion that's profit based. But with that money he

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<v Speaker 2>made improvements to the mansion, like installing a swimming pool.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, if you can think you can have a

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<v Speaker 2>swimming pool, you can have one. And I know you're

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<v Speaker 2>not gonna be able to believe this, but a lot

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<v Speaker 2>of the members of the Royal Fraternity were women, and

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<v Speaker 2>there seemed to be kind of a weird sexual component

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<v Speaker 2>to the cult. Like Shaeffer said a few times that

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<v Speaker 2>his followers liked to caress and kiss him, and oh boy,

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<v Speaker 2>he thought it would be rude if he stopped them.

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<v Speaker 2>But as we all know, religion was created so that

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<v Speaker 2>men could fornicate with as many women as they like.

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<v Speaker 2>Is that a negative view of religion?

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<v Speaker 1>It's fine.

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<v Speaker 2>Also, while the Royal Fraternity was operating, Shaffer also ran

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<v Speaker 2>a semi secret organization called the Stork Club. The whole

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<v Speaker 2>group was made up of men, and what they did

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<v Speaker 2>is they would gather clothing and baby supplies for unwed

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<v Speaker 2>women and their babies, and to show that they were

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<v Speaker 2>part of this organization, they wore diaper pins on their lapels.

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<v Speaker 2>Schaeffer had the role of Chief Stork. Other members of

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<v Speaker 2>the group had titles like Stork Entertainment Second Assistant Chairman.

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<v Speaker 2>And sure, maybe these were all just good hearted men

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<v Speaker 2>trying to help out unwed women who were struggling with

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<v Speaker 2>their babies. But at the same time, a lot of

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<v Speaker 2>people thought the Stork Organization was a bit sus you know,

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<v Speaker 2>it was men going into unwed mothers' homes under the

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<v Speaker 2>guise of generosity. I'm sure they didn't expect anything in return.

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<v Speaker 2>And if that was really all they were doing, then

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<v Speaker 2>why did they have several assistant entertainment chair people. But

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<v Speaker 2>something that was a little bit different about the Royal

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<v Speaker 2>Fraternity of Master Metaphysicians was that Schaeffer and his followers

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<v Speaker 2>thought that illness and death resulted from destructive thinking. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>Napoleon Hill, the crazy man that he was, didn't say

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<v Speaker 2>this that Hey, the reason you die is because you

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<v Speaker 2>have bad vibes. He even seemed to be like, Hey, yeah,

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<v Speaker 2>that's just what happens.

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<v Speaker 1>You have a body and it dies.

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<v Speaker 2>But Shaeffer was like, Nope, the only reason you die

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<v Speaker 2>is because you be thinking about it. And Shaffer called

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<v Speaker 2>himself the secret giver, and that secret was that he

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<v Speaker 2>could bestow the secret of immortality. Unfortunately, that secret wasn't

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<v Speaker 2>very helpful with his adult followers. See, if you're an adult,

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<v Speaker 2>you've already been exposed to the dithers and drudgery of

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<v Speaker 2>the world. Your mind is already polluted with negative thoughts

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<v Speaker 2>that can't be undone. Thus you can't achieve immortality. So

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<v Speaker 2>what Shaeffer needed was a baby. We'll be right back

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<v Speaker 2>after these soothing advertisements. So James Schaeffer wasn't the first

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<v Speaker 2>person to have the idea of an immortal baby, just

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<v Speaker 2>most people didn't take it literally. Other people in the

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<v Speaker 2>New Thought movement coined immortal baby more as a concept,

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<v Speaker 2>a symbol representing the potential for eternal life, not necessarily physical,

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<v Speaker 2>but in the soul and the spirit. But Shaeffer, he

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<v Speaker 2>was like, hell, no, the immortal baby is a real

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<v Speaker 2>ass thing, and I'm going to show you with an experiment.

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<v Speaker 2>His idea was that death and disease only happened because

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<v Speaker 2>you know about them, because you thought about these concepts before.

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<v Speaker 1>If sickness, death, disease, if none.

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<v Speaker 2>Of that stuff is introduced to you at a young,

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<v Speaker 2>impressionable age, then you can live forever. But you also

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<v Speaker 2>must have a pure body. You know, you got to

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<v Speaker 2>abstain from alcohol, caffeine, drug, sex, Heaven forbid. If you

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<v Speaker 2>do that, the body should be able to live forever.

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<v Speaker 2>And James Schaeffer he didn't want to just prove this concept.

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<v Speaker 2>He also wanted to have an immortal baby to become

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<v Speaker 2>the supreme Leader of the Royal Fraternity of Master Metaphysicians.

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<v Speaker 2>If there was an immortal baby at the Helm, that

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<v Speaker 2>person could teach and guide everyone throughout the generations. So

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<v Speaker 2>first things first, Schaeffer needed a baby. In November nineteen

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<v Speaker 2>thirty nine, the baby Schaeffer found was baby Jean. Her mother,

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<v Speaker 2>Katherine Gaunt, was a waitress and was going through a

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<v Speaker 2>hard time. She couldn't afford to raise her babe. Catherine

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<v Speaker 2>wasn't part of the cult, and it's not clear exactly

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<v Speaker 2>how she knew Shaeffer. But when Shaeffer offered to take

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<v Speaker 2>the baby, she was like yeah. The later she would

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<v Speaker 2>say that she was coerced into giving up the child.

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<v Speaker 2>I know. Can you believe it that someone who believes

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<v Speaker 2>that positive thinking can evade death would be manipulative?

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<v Speaker 1>Weird?

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<v Speaker 2>Also, Shaeffer never officially adopted the baby, as I imagine

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<v Speaker 2>presenting this to a government official might be a little

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<v Speaker 2>suss being like, Hey, I'm going to adopt this baby

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<v Speaker 2>to make her immortal?

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<v Speaker 1>Is that okay?

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<v Speaker 2>When Shaeffer adopted her, baby, Jean was five months old

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<v Speaker 2>at the time, red haired and blue eyed. He brought

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<v Speaker 2>her to the peace Haven mansion and intended to raise

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<v Speaker 2>her amongst all the best luxuries and to be doted

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<v Speaker 2>on and cared for around the clock. All of this

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<v Speaker 2>to begin her journey to everlasting life. Shaeffer said, I

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<v Speaker 2>can think of no child outside of Royalty who might

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<v Speaker 2>have had a better start life. Baby Jean was quote

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<v Speaker 2>loved twenty four hours a day. The fact that a

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<v Speaker 2>bunch of Colt freaks were raising an immortal.

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<v Speaker 1>Baby obviously hit the press. What a story.

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<v Speaker 2>One reporter talked about how Shaeffer thought that this experiment

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<v Speaker 2>was so important that he tried to convince the officials

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<v Speaker 2>running the New York World's Fair to dig up a

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<v Speaker 2>time capsule so that they could add a memento from

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<v Speaker 2>Baby Jean. Shaeffer was like, wouldn't that be so great

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<v Speaker 2>because she would still be alive when you unearthed the capsule.

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<v Speaker 2>In the year sixty nine forty, another reporter came to

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<v Speaker 2>the mansion for her six month birthday party. There was

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<v Speaker 2>a huge cake which did seem to go against her

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<v Speaker 2>healthy diet of vegetables and other unseasoned foods. The reporter

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<v Speaker 2>wrote that the gooey frosting of her birthday cake interested

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<v Speaker 2>Baby Jean much more than the immortality for which she

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<v Speaker 2>is being trained by the Royal Fraternity of Master Metaphisians.

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<v Speaker 1>The reporter was.

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<v Speaker 2>Very sarcastic, having a good time, and said that Baby

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<v Speaker 2>Jean seemed like a mere mortal. After passing Baby Jean

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<v Speaker 2>off to her wrinkly, kindly faced old nurse, Schaeffer, who

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<v Speaker 2>the reporter said was immaculately groomed, explained that Jeane would

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<v Speaker 2>be raised quote in conformity with the code, which sets

0:14:27.605 --> 0:14:30.285
<v Speaker 2>up taboos against the eating of meat, use of tobacco,

0:14:30.405 --> 0:14:34.125
<v Speaker 2>and drinking of alcoholic beverages. The reporter also talked about

0:14:34.165 --> 0:14:38.005
<v Speaker 2>how she would avoid foods like vinegar and salt, you know,

0:14:38.165 --> 0:14:44.485
<v Speaker 2>extreme evils that would corrupt her purity. Baby Jane was

0:14:44.525 --> 0:14:47.885
<v Speaker 2>also very spoiled at the party. She clutched a teddy

0:14:47.885 --> 0:14:50.765
<v Speaker 2>bear as big as herself. There was also a rumor

0:14:50.805 --> 0:14:53.445
<v Speaker 2>that she had been bestowed a fifty thousand dollars ring

0:14:53.885 --> 0:14:57.685
<v Speaker 2>that she would get when she turned eighteen. And Napoleon Hill,

0:14:58.125 --> 0:15:00.765
<v Speaker 2>while he didn't come to this birthday party, six months later,

0:15:00.965 --> 0:15:03.965
<v Speaker 2>he came to her first, and he gave her many gifts,

0:15:04.805 --> 0:15:13.645
<v Speaker 2>and he also had been named her godfather. Unfortunately for Shaeffer,

0:15:13.725 --> 0:15:17.725
<v Speaker 2>but probably better for Baby Jean. Fifteen months after she

0:15:17.805 --> 0:15:21.445
<v Speaker 2>was adopted by the Shaffers, she was returned to her mother.

0:15:22.045 --> 0:15:26.565
<v Speaker 2>This was in nineteen forty. Her mother had apparently been

0:15:26.605 --> 0:15:28.605
<v Speaker 2>able to acquire a better place to live in New

0:15:28.645 --> 0:15:32.965
<v Speaker 2>York at a boarding house. One newspaper read, now the

0:15:33.045 --> 0:15:37.645
<v Speaker 2>parents have adjusted themselves and they want her back. Since

0:15:37.685 --> 0:15:41.365
<v Speaker 2>Baby Jean was never officially adopted, Shaffer seemed perfectly willing

0:15:41.405 --> 0:15:43.685
<v Speaker 2>to give the baby back, and he said it was

0:15:43.765 --> 0:15:46.045
<v Speaker 2>up to them whether or not they were going to

0:15:46.125 --> 0:15:49.885
<v Speaker 2>raise Baby Jean as an immortal just in case. He

0:15:49.925 --> 0:15:53.805
<v Speaker 2>gave them instructions on the eternity diet that involved being

0:15:53.845 --> 0:15:57.325
<v Speaker 2>a vegetarian and avoiding all those horrible things like vinegar

0:15:57.365 --> 0:15:57.805
<v Speaker 2>and salt.

0:15:59.045 --> 0:16:00.365
<v Speaker 1>However, it became very.

0:16:00.165 --> 0:16:03.565
<v Speaker 2>Clear that once Baby Jean was home, she was not

0:16:03.645 --> 0:16:09.085
<v Speaker 2>going to pursue immortality. Her mom gave her some prunes,

0:16:09.685 --> 0:16:12.645
<v Speaker 2>and prunes were not part of the diet. She immediately

0:16:12.725 --> 0:16:17.525
<v Speaker 2>started munching on them. So alas Baby Jean was destined

0:16:17.565 --> 0:16:22.325
<v Speaker 2>to do what the rest of us do die And

0:16:22.405 --> 0:16:25.285
<v Speaker 2>while on the surface, Schaeffer tried to make this exchange

0:16:25.325 --> 0:16:26.125
<v Speaker 2>seem very.

0:16:26.005 --> 0:16:27.805
<v Speaker 1>Easy, very friendly.

0:16:28.405 --> 0:16:30.805
<v Speaker 2>Probably one of the reasons why he gave Baby Jane

0:16:30.845 --> 0:16:34.765
<v Speaker 2>back so readily was that he was getting slammed with lawsuits.

0:16:36.325 --> 0:16:39.805
<v Speaker 2>First from Baby Jean's mom. Her lawyer had sent a

0:16:39.845 --> 0:16:44.565
<v Speaker 2>strongly worded letter demanding Baby Jean's return, and this lawyer

0:16:44.645 --> 0:16:48.245
<v Speaker 2>was also representing some other folks from the Royal Fraternity

0:16:48.245 --> 0:16:58.285
<v Speaker 2>of Metaphysicians for fraud and grand larceny whoopsies, and really,

0:16:58.325 --> 0:17:02.325
<v Speaker 2>ever since the Baby jen experiment began, the Royal Fraternity

0:17:02.365 --> 0:17:06.365
<v Speaker 2>of Master Metaphysicians was in decline. Shaeffer seemed to be

0:17:06.405 --> 0:17:10.285
<v Speaker 2>hemorrhaging money, and he was losing followers. Much of that

0:17:10.525 --> 0:17:14.445
<v Speaker 2>was probably a lack of return on investment. The members

0:17:14.445 --> 0:17:17.565
<v Speaker 2>gave Shaeffer money and they didn't get anything in return.

0:17:18.565 --> 0:17:20.685
<v Speaker 2>Perhaps they found they needed to do more than think

0:17:20.685 --> 0:17:24.725
<v Speaker 2>in their life to make things happen. Who would have thought.

0:17:25.325 --> 0:17:29.125
<v Speaker 2>But some people hadn't just invested money in the organization

0:17:29.165 --> 0:17:32.285
<v Speaker 2>as a whole. They had also invested in some other

0:17:32.445 --> 0:17:37.885
<v Speaker 2>schemes that Shaffer was up to, specifically with Napoleon Hill. Yes,

0:17:38.245 --> 0:17:43.365
<v Speaker 2>self help book writer Napoleon Hill. Shaeffer explained it that

0:17:43.485 --> 0:17:47.205
<v Speaker 2>Napoleon had got him interested in investing in a magazine

0:17:47.445 --> 0:17:48.685
<v Speaker 2>that he was trying to revive.

0:17:49.485 --> 0:17:51.005
<v Speaker 1>Shaeffer trusted Baby.

0:17:50.845 --> 0:17:54.445
<v Speaker 2>Jean's now former godfather and was like, ah, this must

0:17:54.445 --> 0:17:58.245
<v Speaker 2>be a good investment if Napoleon is suggesting it. And

0:17:58.325 --> 0:18:01.005
<v Speaker 2>Shaefer had convinced some members of the fraternity to also

0:18:01.045 --> 0:18:05.205
<v Speaker 2>invest in this magazine. And if you can believe it,

0:18:05.205 --> 0:18:09.685
<v Speaker 2>it was all a scam. Napoleon was just pocketing the money.

0:18:10.445 --> 0:18:13.525
<v Speaker 2>Shaffer said he had no idea that this was a scam.

0:18:13.725 --> 0:18:15.645
<v Speaker 1>And I'm sure he had no idea.

0:18:18.765 --> 0:18:21.325
<v Speaker 2>Things were getting so big and so bad that the

0:18:21.365 --> 0:18:25.005
<v Speaker 2>new York Attorney General launched an investigation into Shaffer's affairs,

0:18:25.925 --> 0:18:30.285
<v Speaker 2>and he saw several lawsuits piling up. One woman claimed

0:18:30.285 --> 0:18:32.965
<v Speaker 2>that the Shaffers owed her twenty five hundred dollars per

0:18:33.005 --> 0:18:37.085
<v Speaker 2>financing peace Haven. Another woman said that she needed one

0:18:37.085 --> 0:18:41.365
<v Speaker 2>thousand dollars for an unpaid publicity bill, and Baby Jean's

0:18:41.365 --> 0:18:44.645
<v Speaker 2>mom wasn't done. Not only had she demanded the return

0:18:44.685 --> 0:18:47.485
<v Speaker 2>of her daughter, she also said that Baby Jean had

0:18:47.525 --> 0:18:50.405
<v Speaker 2>been given that ring that was worth fifty thousand dollars

0:18:50.845 --> 0:18:52.485
<v Speaker 2>and the mom was like, well, that was a gift

0:18:52.525 --> 0:18:55.045
<v Speaker 2>for my babe, so it's mine, I get it.

0:18:56.445 --> 0:18:58.565
<v Speaker 1>This ring caused quite a hubbub.

0:18:59.445 --> 0:19:03.045
<v Speaker 2>One of the members of the cult slash organization Slash Fraternity,

0:19:03.685 --> 0:19:06.165
<v Speaker 2>claimed to be the gift giver of the ring, and

0:19:06.205 --> 0:19:07.965
<v Speaker 2>she said that the ring was not in fact worth

0:19:08.005 --> 0:19:12.605
<v Speaker 2>fifty thousand dollars and in fact had no monetary value.

0:19:13.125 --> 0:19:16.325
<v Speaker 2>Another big issue that the New York Attorney General found

0:19:16.965 --> 0:19:19.605
<v Speaker 2>was that Schaeffer had been claiming all of this.

0:19:19.725 --> 0:19:22.005
<v Speaker 1>Money tax free, all of.

0:19:21.925 --> 0:19:26.845
<v Speaker 2>These donations, all of these membership fees, because he said

0:19:26.885 --> 0:19:31.445
<v Speaker 2>it was a religious organization. But the Supreme Court of

0:19:31.445 --> 0:19:35.565
<v Speaker 2>New York ruled that there was nothing religious about the fraternity.

0:19:36.245 --> 0:19:39.765
<v Speaker 2>By September nineteen forty one, Schaeffer had so many legal

0:19:39.805 --> 0:19:42.365
<v Speaker 2>suits against him and so many legal fees that he

0:19:42.405 --> 0:19:44.965
<v Speaker 2>had to pay off, that he ended up having to

0:19:45.005 --> 0:19:50.405
<v Speaker 2>auction off Peacehaven, that huge mansion. The Vanderbilts had spent

0:19:50.525 --> 0:19:54.365
<v Speaker 2>one point five million dollars building this mansion, but in

0:19:54.405 --> 0:19:58.485
<v Speaker 2>the foreclosure sale, Schaeffer only got twenty two thousand dollars

0:19:59.245 --> 0:20:01.885
<v Speaker 2>for one hundred and ten rooms and twenty four acres.

0:20:02.565 --> 0:20:04.085
<v Speaker 1>Whoops.

0:20:05.525 --> 0:20:08.085
<v Speaker 2>Shaeffer did not actually attend the auction, as he was

0:20:08.125 --> 0:20:10.565
<v Speaker 2>only recently out of jail on a five thousand dollars

0:20:10.605 --> 0:20:14.885
<v Speaker 2>bail for grand larceny charges, and in nineteen forty two

0:20:15.445 --> 0:20:18.005
<v Speaker 2>he was sentenced to Sing Sing prison for five years,

0:20:18.405 --> 0:20:21.325
<v Speaker 2>specifically for embezzling nine thousand dollars from one of his

0:20:21.365 --> 0:20:27.565
<v Speaker 2>female members. The judge characterized Schaeffer like this as a thief,

0:20:27.645 --> 0:20:32.325
<v Speaker 2>an ex clansman who swindled his own organization, a spiritual faker,

0:20:32.725 --> 0:20:36.245
<v Speaker 2>and a religious hypocrite who's been loose preying on misguided

0:20:36.245 --> 0:20:42.125
<v Speaker 2>women for too long. Honestly, in my opinion, he sounds presidential.

0:20:43.125 --> 0:20:43.725
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, that's right.

0:20:43.765 --> 0:20:49.725
<v Speaker 2>Another stab at Trump in this series. Shaeffer served all

0:20:49.805 --> 0:20:53.285
<v Speaker 2>five years, and once he was out of prison, peace

0:20:53.325 --> 0:20:56.645
<v Speaker 2>Haven had been foreclosed, but somehow he was living on

0:20:56.725 --> 0:20:59.805
<v Speaker 2>another estate that was in New York. Like I have

0:20:59.885 --> 0:21:02.405
<v Speaker 2>no idea, and nobody else seems to know how he

0:21:02.485 --> 0:21:05.645
<v Speaker 2>got enough money to lease another big ass house. This

0:21:05.685 --> 0:21:08.125
<v Speaker 2>one had one hundred acres and they named it Oakdale.

0:21:08.925 --> 0:21:10.525
<v Speaker 1>I guess he still had some followers.

0:21:10.525 --> 0:21:13.045
<v Speaker 2>He still had that charisma, He still had that verve

0:21:13.085 --> 0:21:17.125
<v Speaker 2>that could get people attracted to his cause. At this estate,

0:21:17.205 --> 0:21:20.365
<v Speaker 2>he and his wife were teaching metaphysics and they also

0:21:20.445 --> 0:21:24.125
<v Speaker 2>printed a magazine. But even though they were somehow able

0:21:24.165 --> 0:21:26.485
<v Speaker 2>to get a new place to live and still had

0:21:26.605 --> 0:21:30.685
<v Speaker 2>enough people to teach metaphysics too, it seems the situation

0:21:30.805 --> 0:21:35.725
<v Speaker 2>was dire for Schaeffer and his wife, so dire that

0:21:35.805 --> 0:21:39.725
<v Speaker 2>on April twenty sixth, nineteen fifty five, Shaffer's daughter found

0:21:39.805 --> 0:21:43.525
<v Speaker 2>him and his wife dead in their car. The death

0:21:43.605 --> 0:21:47.365
<v Speaker 2>was quickly ruled a suicide from carbon monoxide poisoning. A

0:21:47.405 --> 0:21:50.405
<v Speaker 2>suicide note was found beside them, and in the letter

0:21:50.485 --> 0:21:56.765
<v Speaker 2>he said he had no way out. Isn't as a

0:21:56.765 --> 0:22:00.525
<v Speaker 2>fun way to end the story. It's not clear what

0:22:00.565 --> 0:22:03.285
<v Speaker 2>happened to Baby Jane. But I think it's safe to

0:22:03.325 --> 0:22:06.845
<v Speaker 2>say that she did not become immortal. And the reason

0:22:06.925 --> 0:22:10.485
<v Speaker 2>she did not become an immortal is because of the prunes. Obviously,

0:22:11.325 --> 0:22:14.005
<v Speaker 2>if she had avoided those prunes, everything would be fine.

0:22:15.845 --> 0:22:19.085
<v Speaker 2>As always, we learn a lesson on American filth, and

0:22:19.125 --> 0:22:21.885
<v Speaker 2>I think the lesson we learned today is that if

0:22:21.885 --> 0:22:24.965
<v Speaker 2>you want to be a healthier person and perhaps live forever,

0:22:25.605 --> 0:22:29.085
<v Speaker 2>stop eating so much salt and stop having so much vinegar.

0:22:29.525 --> 0:22:32.805
<v Speaker 2>Salt and vinegar chips are literally the enemy to a

0:22:32.845 --> 0:22:37.405
<v Speaker 2>long life. So if you're at a New Year's Eve party,

0:22:38.325 --> 0:22:40.205
<v Speaker 2>if you're at a Christmas Eve party, if you're at

0:22:40.245 --> 0:22:43.325
<v Speaker 2>a Hanuka party, whatever events you might be attending this

0:22:43.405 --> 0:22:46.685
<v Speaker 2>holiday season, if they have salt and vinegar chips there,

0:22:47.165 --> 0:22:49.605
<v Speaker 2>know that someone is trying to kill you.

0:22:52.365 --> 0:22:53.885
<v Speaker 1>All right, guys, talk about you next time.

0:22:58.845 --> 0:23:00.845
<v Speaker 2>American Field is a production of School of Humans and

0:23:00.885 --> 0:23:01.645
<v Speaker 2>iHeart Podcast.

0:23:01.685 --> 0:23:04.525
<v Speaker 1>This episode was written, hosted, and produced by me Gabby Watts.

0:23:04.565 --> 0:23:07.605
<v Speaker 2>Our theme song is by Niswanger. Our executive producers are

0:23:07.685 --> 0:23:10.965
<v Speaker 2>Virginia Prescott, Elsie Crowley, and Brandon Barr. You can follow

0:23:10.965 --> 0:23:13.405
<v Speaker 2>along with the show on Instagram at American filth Pod

0:23:13.725 --> 0:23:14.445
<v Speaker 2>and also.

0:23:14.285 --> 0:23:16.005
<v Speaker 1>Make sure to leave a review, leave some.

0:23:16.045 --> 0:23:18.645
<v Speaker 2>Stars, share it with your friends. Maybe this could be

0:23:18.645 --> 0:23:21.565
<v Speaker 2>a fun Christmas gift. People open up their Christmas box

0:23:21.605 --> 0:23:26.165
<v Speaker 2>and they're like, what a podcast? Amazing? I thought this

0:23:26.205 --> 0:23:29.205
<v Speaker 2>shit was free, but no, you paid for it. Wouldn't

0:23:29.205 --> 0:23:30.845
<v Speaker 2>that be terrible if you opened a gift and there's

0:23:30.925 --> 0:23:33.405
<v Speaker 2>just like me speaking inside of the box.

0:23:33.445 --> 0:23:36.165
<v Speaker 1>That would be so freaky. But anyway, talk to you

0:23:36.205 --> 0:23:36.805
<v Speaker 1>guys next time.

0:23:36.845 --> 0:23:45.725
<v Speaker 2>Bye School of Humans.