1 00:00:15,304 --> 00:00:22,824 Speaker 1: Pushkin, I was Fati Kirsten a Rula, and I wrote 2 00:00:22,864 --> 00:00:25,944 Speaker 1: America's greatest hidden treasure was found? So why are people 3 00:00:25,984 --> 00:00:29,424 Speaker 1: still looking for popular mechanics? And it's the story of 4 00:00:29,464 --> 00:00:29,864 Speaker 1: the week. 5 00:00:30,664 --> 00:00:34,304 Speaker 2: This week's story is about a treasure hunt. So before 6 00:00:34,304 --> 00:00:37,184 Speaker 2: I did my interview, I immediately called my good friend 7 00:00:37,264 --> 00:00:40,824 Speaker 2: Chris Harris, who is a very successful TV writer, but 8 00:00:41,384 --> 00:00:44,704 Speaker 2: more importantly to me right now, is an expert at 9 00:00:44,744 --> 00:00:48,464 Speaker 2: treasure hunts. Chris Harris, thank you for taking the time. 10 00:00:48,504 --> 00:00:52,064 Speaker 2: I know you're very, very busy right now. This is 11 00:00:52,104 --> 00:00:52,824 Speaker 2: between pickating. 12 00:00:52,904 --> 00:00:55,184 Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah, I've got my two to four pm 13 00:00:55,264 --> 00:00:58,304 Speaker 3: shift at the Fox Loot walking around carrying a sign. 14 00:00:58,504 --> 00:00:59,744 Speaker 3: This will be much more civilized. 15 00:01:00,304 --> 00:01:02,264 Speaker 2: We had the same job in college together, writing a 16 00:01:02,304 --> 00:01:05,104 Speaker 2: humor column. I continued that job, whereas you had an 17 00:01:05,144 --> 00:01:08,424 Speaker 2: incredibly successful career writing for Letterman. How I met your mother, 18 00:01:09,224 --> 00:01:11,224 Speaker 2: But most importantly, did a show called The good Win Games, 19 00:01:12,304 --> 00:01:13,944 Speaker 2: which is why I wanted to talk to you, And 20 00:01:13,944 --> 00:01:15,984 Speaker 2: it's based on this thing you love to do, which 21 00:01:16,024 --> 00:01:17,944 Speaker 2: I believe you're the one who got me to do this. 22 00:01:17,984 --> 00:01:21,544 Speaker 2: In college. I stayed up all night one night and 23 00:01:21,584 --> 00:01:24,944 Speaker 2: we drove around the Bay Area looking for clues. You know, 24 00:01:24,984 --> 00:01:27,344 Speaker 2: I'm realizing I drove my station, Mike, and I probably 25 00:01:27,344 --> 00:01:29,504 Speaker 2: you chose me because I could fit a lot of 26 00:01:29,504 --> 00:01:30,184 Speaker 2: people in my car. 27 00:01:33,064 --> 00:01:35,664 Speaker 3: There is sometimes a utilitarian component to them. Yeah. It 28 00:01:35,744 --> 00:01:39,424 Speaker 3: was a twenty four hour, non stop hunt, driving around 29 00:01:39,944 --> 00:01:42,344 Speaker 3: trying to solve a clue that tells you where. 30 00:01:42,144 --> 00:01:44,784 Speaker 2: To go next. You've taken me to like the modern 31 00:01:44,864 --> 00:01:46,904 Speaker 2: version of this, which is the escape room. 32 00:01:47,184 --> 00:01:47,624 Speaker 1: Escape room. 33 00:01:47,704 --> 00:01:50,904 Speaker 2: Yes, I did with your family and my son, and 34 00:01:51,224 --> 00:01:55,064 Speaker 2: we felt so stupid. Would just walk up to something 35 00:01:55,064 --> 00:01:57,864 Speaker 2: on the wall and be like, oh, clearly Botswana and 36 00:01:57,904 --> 00:01:59,704 Speaker 2: we'd be like, what, it's a picture of a cow. 37 00:01:59,744 --> 00:02:03,064 Speaker 2: What is going on? And the good Win Games was 38 00:02:03,104 --> 00:02:05,104 Speaker 2: about a guy. I watched all of them, so I 39 00:02:05,144 --> 00:02:07,584 Speaker 2: know is a guy who died and for his will 40 00:02:07,744 --> 00:02:10,224 Speaker 2: he asked his kids to kind of do one of 41 00:02:10,224 --> 00:02:10,784 Speaker 2: these hunts. 42 00:02:11,224 --> 00:02:14,064 Speaker 3: Yeah, and it was about three adult siblings coming back 43 00:02:14,104 --> 00:02:16,584 Speaker 3: together after their father's death because he knew that they 44 00:02:16,584 --> 00:02:18,464 Speaker 3: were each broken in some way and he was hoping 45 00:02:18,504 --> 00:02:20,584 Speaker 3: that through these games and puzzles they would sort of 46 00:02:20,624 --> 00:02:23,704 Speaker 3: find their way, and instead it ended up breaking us. 47 00:02:23,784 --> 00:02:27,664 Speaker 3: Because the head of Fox at the time hated the 48 00:02:27,704 --> 00:02:31,784 Speaker 3: game affect of it hated it right, always told us guys, 49 00:02:31,784 --> 00:02:33,824 Speaker 3: I love the game, and then would go behind the 50 00:02:33,824 --> 00:02:36,064 Speaker 3: scenes and tell everyone else I hate the game. Literally, 51 00:02:36,064 --> 00:02:39,064 Speaker 3: the title is the Goodwin Games, and we were told 52 00:02:39,104 --> 00:02:40,984 Speaker 3: less games, less games, less games. Do you mean no 53 00:02:41,064 --> 00:02:43,624 Speaker 3: games because we can just turn it into something else. 54 00:02:43,824 --> 00:02:45,784 Speaker 2: Do you think he was right and that viewers weren't 55 00:02:45,784 --> 00:02:46,824 Speaker 2: interested in the game part? 56 00:02:47,224 --> 00:02:50,264 Speaker 3: Uh, It's hard to say how much interest there is 57 00:02:50,304 --> 00:02:54,064 Speaker 3: in solving puzzles among the general population. Every once in 58 00:02:54,064 --> 00:02:55,664 Speaker 3: a while, people will try to come up with them. Oh, 59 00:02:55,664 --> 00:02:57,624 Speaker 3: here's a book, and if you solve everything in it, 60 00:02:57,664 --> 00:03:00,024 Speaker 3: there's a million dollar prize. And no one ever seems 61 00:03:00,064 --> 00:03:00,784 Speaker 3: to really care. 62 00:03:00,744 --> 00:03:03,944 Speaker 2: Except for this one. You know, the forest thing. One 63 00:03:04,544 --> 00:03:06,144 Speaker 2: huge and went. 64 00:03:06,024 --> 00:03:08,264 Speaker 3: On for a very long time and it's amazing. 65 00:03:08,664 --> 00:03:10,544 Speaker 2: All right, we're gonna go tell that story now. 66 00:03:10,624 --> 00:03:11,504 Speaker 3: Can't wait to hear it. 67 00:03:18,024 --> 00:03:19,024 Speaker 2: Writing is hard. 68 00:03:19,264 --> 00:03:20,984 Speaker 4: Who's got that kind of time. 69 00:03:20,984 --> 00:03:24,544 Speaker 3: When you're already busy trying to dijon stand So. 70 00:03:24,664 --> 00:03:25,784 Speaker 2: It turns on a mike. 71 00:03:26,104 --> 00:03:29,584 Speaker 4: Maybe the twiddles enough because a journalist trand. 72 00:03:29,264 --> 00:03:33,984 Speaker 1: Has got in that juble job out single story. Just 73 00:03:34,144 --> 00:03:36,184 Speaker 1: listen to smart people speak. 74 00:03:37,944 --> 00:03:41,904 Speaker 4: Conversation, Film and information is the story. 75 00:03:41,584 --> 00:03:55,664 Speaker 2: Of in twenty ten, a man named Forrest Fenn hit 76 00:03:55,704 --> 00:03:58,264 Speaker 2: a chest with more than a million dollars worth of 77 00:03:58,304 --> 00:04:01,544 Speaker 2: treasure inside. He gave clues about where the treasure might 78 00:04:01,584 --> 00:04:04,544 Speaker 2: be hidden in his memoir, which set off what has 79 00:04:04,584 --> 00:04:09,024 Speaker 2: been called by some the greatest treasure hunt in American history. 80 00:04:09,064 --> 00:04:13,104 Speaker 2: He Kirsten Rula wrote about it for Popular Mechanics. Suddie, 81 00:04:13,144 --> 00:04:16,824 Speaker 2: thank you for doing this. Your story is about so 82 00:04:16,824 --> 00:04:19,464 Speaker 2: many people, but to me, it's mostly about Forrest Fenn. 83 00:04:19,784 --> 00:04:21,344 Speaker 2: Who is that dude? 84 00:04:21,624 --> 00:04:27,104 Speaker 1: He is an eccentric art dealer. He really cultivated this 85 00:04:27,704 --> 00:04:32,024 Speaker 1: air of being like a swashbuckling, not rebel, but someone 86 00:04:32,064 --> 00:04:34,504 Speaker 1: who didn't necessarily follow the rules, and someone who was 87 00:04:34,624 --> 00:04:36,264 Speaker 1: very adventurous. 88 00:04:35,784 --> 00:04:38,704 Speaker 2: Which was true, right, kind of like Indiana Jones is 89 00:04:38,744 --> 00:04:39,984 Speaker 2: she always has that fedora on. 90 00:04:40,224 --> 00:04:42,464 Speaker 1: For the most part. Yeah, he lived an adventurous life. 91 00:04:42,464 --> 00:04:43,904 Speaker 1: He was in the Air Force, He went to a 92 00:04:43,944 --> 00:04:46,064 Speaker 1: lot of different places when he was young, and. 93 00:04:46,024 --> 00:04:49,184 Speaker 2: Then he somehow became an art dealer. Yeah, but that's 94 00:04:49,304 --> 00:04:53,104 Speaker 2: kind of like Western art dealer. I'm picturing like, oh, 95 00:04:53,184 --> 00:04:56,544 Speaker 2: those statues of guys on horses. 96 00:04:57,104 --> 00:04:59,744 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, yeah, is that kind of thing. Plus so 97 00:04:59,864 --> 00:05:02,904 Speaker 1: much more. Forrest Fen's house it was just like a museum. 98 00:05:02,944 --> 00:05:06,224 Speaker 1: There were artifacts in there from King kutz tomb, you know, 99 00:05:06,464 --> 00:05:09,424 Speaker 1: like a smoking pipe from Sitting Bull, all of this 100 00:05:09,504 --> 00:05:13,184 Speaker 1: crazy stuff. Fenn was investigated by the FBI in two 101 00:05:13,184 --> 00:05:16,344 Speaker 1: thousand and nine because they suspected that a lot of 102 00:05:16,344 --> 00:05:19,464 Speaker 1: it had been looted, but nothing came of it. 103 00:05:19,864 --> 00:05:22,744 Speaker 2: And then so he gets cancer at some point. 104 00:05:23,064 --> 00:05:26,664 Speaker 1: Yeah, so he had cancer in the eighties and he 105 00:05:26,704 --> 00:05:30,144 Speaker 1: came up with this idea to hide this treasure chest 106 00:05:30,184 --> 00:05:33,464 Speaker 1: and it's a literal treasure chest in his favorite spot 107 00:05:33,624 --> 00:05:36,704 Speaker 1: out in the mountains. So the whole idea was that 108 00:05:37,104 --> 00:05:38,984 Speaker 1: he was going to lay down and die of this 109 00:05:39,104 --> 00:05:42,224 Speaker 1: cancer next to his treasure and then he wanted people 110 00:05:42,264 --> 00:05:44,424 Speaker 1: to come look for the treasure, but they'd essentially be 111 00:05:44,504 --> 00:05:45,264 Speaker 1: robbing his grave. 112 00:05:46,144 --> 00:05:48,264 Speaker 2: Why what motivates someone to do this? 113 00:05:48,544 --> 00:05:52,144 Speaker 1: I think wanting to leave a legacy. Because ultimately the 114 00:05:52,184 --> 00:05:54,704 Speaker 1: cancer did not kill him, and later he decided, you 115 00:05:54,704 --> 00:05:55,944 Speaker 1: know what, I'm not going to wait to die. I'm 116 00:05:55,984 --> 00:05:57,504 Speaker 1: going to go ahead and hide this now and I 117 00:05:57,544 --> 00:05:59,784 Speaker 1: want to be alive and watch people search for the treasure. 118 00:06:00,144 --> 00:06:02,824 Speaker 1: And when he did that, he said his motivation was 119 00:06:02,864 --> 00:06:06,104 Speaker 1: to get people outside, you know, forrest Fenn was someone 120 00:06:06,104 --> 00:06:10,024 Speaker 1: who loved the great outdoors, had a flung love of 121 00:06:10,224 --> 00:06:13,304 Speaker 1: fishing and hunting and things like that, and he wanted 122 00:06:13,344 --> 00:06:15,704 Speaker 1: to inspire more people to get off their couches and 123 00:06:15,824 --> 00:06:16,784 Speaker 1: go explore. 124 00:06:17,384 --> 00:06:19,904 Speaker 2: I like when you call it the great outdoors, not 125 00:06:19,984 --> 00:06:21,904 Speaker 2: just the outdoors, the great outdoors. 126 00:06:21,944 --> 00:06:22,584 Speaker 1: They are great. 127 00:06:24,104 --> 00:06:26,384 Speaker 2: So he decides, even though it's not gonna be next 128 00:06:26,384 --> 00:06:28,264 Speaker 2: to his body, he's going to bury this treasure. And 129 00:06:28,264 --> 00:06:29,704 Speaker 2: it looks what does this thing look like? It's an 130 00:06:29,744 --> 00:06:31,824 Speaker 2: actual chest, right, it's. 131 00:06:31,704 --> 00:06:34,824 Speaker 1: An actual chest. And he told one of his friends 132 00:06:34,824 --> 00:06:37,944 Speaker 1: at the time, Douglas Preston, that he thought what was 133 00:06:37,984 --> 00:06:40,264 Speaker 1: inside of it was worth about a million dollars. 134 00:06:40,664 --> 00:06:41,344 Speaker 2: What's inside of. 135 00:06:41,344 --> 00:06:48,184 Speaker 1: It Ruby's other jewels, regular artifacts. He also had something 136 00:06:48,184 --> 00:06:51,264 Speaker 1: inside of it that was purported to be his autobiography. 137 00:06:52,304 --> 00:06:54,544 Speaker 1: That was something that people really seized on and we're 138 00:06:54,584 --> 00:06:55,544 Speaker 1: looking forward to seeing. 139 00:06:55,664 --> 00:06:59,384 Speaker 2: But he published, which is like unpublished autobiography. Yes, oh, 140 00:06:59,464 --> 00:07:01,504 Speaker 2: so this would be like the only copy of it. Yeah, 141 00:07:01,544 --> 00:07:06,064 Speaker 2: like the Wu Tang album that Martin Schrikelly bought. Yeah, 142 00:07:06,264 --> 00:07:08,744 Speaker 2: oh okay, So he's got his autobiography plus a bunch 143 00:07:08,784 --> 00:07:11,264 Speaker 2: of and it looks like one of those like dungeons 144 00:07:11,264 --> 00:07:15,464 Speaker 2: and dragons like metal chests totally. But I would imagine 145 00:07:15,904 --> 00:07:19,504 Speaker 2: that if some art dealer in New Mexico buried a chest, 146 00:07:19,664 --> 00:07:21,384 Speaker 2: no would care. I mean, how do you get people 147 00:07:21,424 --> 00:07:22,344 Speaker 2: interested in this? Well? 148 00:07:22,384 --> 00:07:25,104 Speaker 1: He wrote a memoir about it. He wrote a book 149 00:07:25,344 --> 00:07:25,704 Speaker 1: called The. 150 00:07:25,664 --> 00:07:27,424 Speaker 2: Thrill of Not the one in the Chest. 151 00:07:27,504 --> 00:07:29,464 Speaker 1: No, this is a different one. He self published a 152 00:07:29,464 --> 00:07:32,504 Speaker 1: book called The Thrill of the Chase, and that was 153 00:07:32,584 --> 00:07:34,744 Speaker 1: like the map to the treasure. Basically there was a 154 00:07:34,784 --> 00:07:37,824 Speaker 1: poem in it, and the poem had all the clues. 155 00:07:38,104 --> 00:07:42,024 Speaker 2: We have a recording of this poem read by Forrest 156 00:07:42,024 --> 00:07:43,944 Speaker 2: Bend himself. I'm excited to hear it. 157 00:07:44,024 --> 00:07:44,984 Speaker 1: Are you going to play it now? 158 00:07:45,264 --> 00:07:47,024 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've got the technology. 159 00:07:47,944 --> 00:07:51,104 Speaker 4: If you've been wise and found the blaze, look quickly 160 00:07:51,184 --> 00:07:55,664 Speaker 4: down your quest to cease. But Terry scant with marble gaze. 161 00:07:55,984 --> 00:07:59,464 Speaker 4: Just take the chest and go in peace. So why 162 00:07:59,544 --> 00:08:01,744 Speaker 4: is it that I must go and leave my troll 163 00:08:01,904 --> 00:08:06,104 Speaker 4: for all to seek the answers already? No, I've done it, tired, 164 00:08:06,144 --> 00:08:09,744 Speaker 4: and now I'm weak. So here me all and lesson good. 165 00:08:10,224 --> 00:08:13,304 Speaker 4: Your effort will be worth the cold. If you've been 166 00:08:13,384 --> 00:08:16,064 Speaker 4: brave and in the wood, I give you a title 167 00:08:16,144 --> 00:08:17,064 Speaker 4: to the Gold. 168 00:08:17,424 --> 00:08:19,384 Speaker 2: Okay, I think I got it. I think it's in 169 00:08:19,424 --> 00:08:20,304 Speaker 2: the Misty Mountains. 170 00:08:21,024 --> 00:08:22,904 Speaker 1: Oh well, wrong. 171 00:08:23,904 --> 00:08:26,464 Speaker 2: He sounds like Gollum a little bit, doesn't it. 172 00:08:27,424 --> 00:08:28,664 Speaker 1: I don't know what he sounds like. 173 00:08:29,744 --> 00:08:31,624 Speaker 2: Is that considered a good poem or that's not even 174 00:08:31,624 --> 00:08:31,944 Speaker 2: the point? 175 00:08:32,424 --> 00:08:35,504 Speaker 1: I haven't even thought about it. It's a fine poem, 176 00:08:35,664 --> 00:08:36,264 Speaker 1: I suppose. 177 00:08:36,424 --> 00:08:39,344 Speaker 2: Okay, it's fine. Rhymes rhyme. 178 00:08:39,704 --> 00:08:40,144 Speaker 1: There you go. 179 00:08:40,704 --> 00:08:43,264 Speaker 2: And so why do people even believe he really hid 180 00:08:43,304 --> 00:08:43,664 Speaker 2: this thing? 181 00:08:44,144 --> 00:08:46,584 Speaker 1: One thing you have to remember about this whole thing 182 00:08:46,784 --> 00:08:50,744 Speaker 1: is that Forrest was extremely credible. It was not hard 183 00:08:50,864 --> 00:08:54,664 Speaker 1: to believe that a He actually owned all this treasure 184 00:08:54,984 --> 00:08:57,464 Speaker 1: and put it in a chest, and b that he 185 00:08:57,584 --> 00:08:59,584 Speaker 1: actually hid it somewhere in the mountains. 186 00:08:59,864 --> 00:09:02,424 Speaker 2: I'm just realizing, is if a wife and kids who 187 00:09:02,424 --> 00:09:05,344 Speaker 2: are like not getting their like inheritance because it's all 188 00:09:05,384 --> 00:09:06,184 Speaker 2: being buried somewhere. 189 00:09:06,344 --> 00:09:08,864 Speaker 1: I don't think this is even like a tenth of 190 00:09:09,144 --> 00:09:10,184 Speaker 1: Forest's fortune. 191 00:09:10,544 --> 00:09:11,224 Speaker 2: Oh really? 192 00:09:11,424 --> 00:09:14,424 Speaker 1: Okay, yeah, I think he had so much else if. 193 00:09:14,384 --> 00:09:17,824 Speaker 2: Your parents took a tenth of what they have and 194 00:09:17,904 --> 00:09:21,944 Speaker 2: buried it somewhere, you'd be cool with that, yeah. 195 00:09:21,784 --> 00:09:24,704 Speaker 1: They Yeah, I would. It's just a tax I would 196 00:09:24,744 --> 00:09:25,184 Speaker 1: do right. 197 00:09:25,704 --> 00:09:30,944 Speaker 2: Yeah, right, yeah, it's like tax yeah. And so he 198 00:09:31,024 --> 00:09:36,704 Speaker 2: writes this mediocre at best poem in a self published memoir. 199 00:09:37,624 --> 00:09:40,664 Speaker 2: How many people wind up looking for this treasure? 200 00:09:41,504 --> 00:09:44,944 Speaker 1: The psychology professor named Alan King estimated it was four 201 00:09:45,024 --> 00:09:46,064 Speaker 1: hundred thousand people. 202 00:09:46,704 --> 00:09:49,904 Speaker 2: No way, four hundred. It's more than the population of Cincinnati. 203 00:09:50,144 --> 00:09:52,144 Speaker 2: There's no way four hundred thousand people were looking for this. 204 00:09:52,224 --> 00:09:53,904 Speaker 1: I believe it. Think about it. I mean this went 205 00:09:53,944 --> 00:09:58,504 Speaker 1: on for about ten years, and in that time, I mean, 206 00:09:58,624 --> 00:10:01,064 Speaker 1: especially with all the media attention, it got one of 207 00:10:01,064 --> 00:10:03,984 Speaker 1: this people I spoke to this for the story. He 208 00:10:04,104 --> 00:10:07,824 Speaker 1: found out about it reading an airline magazine. Imagine if 209 00:10:07,864 --> 00:10:10,664 Speaker 1: you in twenty fifteen, we're on an airplane and you 210 00:10:10,704 --> 00:10:12,984 Speaker 1: read about this and you realize, huh, people have been 211 00:10:13,024 --> 00:10:16,704 Speaker 1: looking for this for half a decade. It's treasure. It 212 00:10:16,704 --> 00:10:19,064 Speaker 1: could change my life, and it's just out there in 213 00:10:19,104 --> 00:10:20,704 Speaker 1: the wilderness for anyone to find. 214 00:10:21,264 --> 00:10:24,344 Speaker 2: Here's here's a hole in your theory. When have you 215 00:10:24,424 --> 00:10:27,584 Speaker 2: ever read an airline magazine article and it caused you 216 00:10:27,584 --> 00:10:28,264 Speaker 2: to do something? 217 00:10:30,424 --> 00:10:35,264 Speaker 1: I don't know. Probably a lot of times. Southwest used 218 00:10:35,304 --> 00:10:36,704 Speaker 1: to have a great airline magazine. 219 00:10:36,864 --> 00:10:37,944 Speaker 2: I miss them so much. 220 00:10:38,104 --> 00:10:38,624 Speaker 1: I do too. 221 00:10:39,064 --> 00:10:42,504 Speaker 2: Okay, so what is going on a hunt for forest 222 00:10:42,704 --> 00:10:45,304 Speaker 2: fens treasure look like for most people? 223 00:10:45,584 --> 00:10:49,144 Speaker 1: For most people, it's a lot of time online. They're 224 00:10:49,144 --> 00:10:51,824 Speaker 1: on message boards, they're on Reddit forums. 225 00:10:52,064 --> 00:10:54,344 Speaker 2: Oh so it's collaborative, it'sople working together. 226 00:10:54,504 --> 00:10:56,944 Speaker 1: Yeah, and that was kind of an interesting part of this. 227 00:10:57,104 --> 00:10:59,784 Speaker 1: I think it was really important for people to get 228 00:10:59,824 --> 00:11:04,544 Speaker 1: info on where others have looked already, because once you 229 00:11:04,744 --> 00:11:08,904 Speaker 1: made the decision to actually go search physically for the 230 00:11:10,264 --> 00:11:12,464 Speaker 1: it was an investment. So it was really important for 231 00:11:12,504 --> 00:11:14,784 Speaker 1: them to learn from each other. And you know, hear 232 00:11:14,864 --> 00:11:16,864 Speaker 1: someone say, yeah, I went to this river, I went 233 00:11:16,864 --> 00:11:18,864 Speaker 1: to this fishing hole. I didn't see any sign of it. 234 00:11:19,384 --> 00:11:22,184 Speaker 2: But after you parse all the clues and look things 235 00:11:22,224 --> 00:11:24,464 Speaker 2: up online, you still have to go on an adventure 236 00:11:24,504 --> 00:11:28,184 Speaker 2: physically in the world. They're going in canoes, They're like 237 00:11:28,304 --> 00:11:29,824 Speaker 2: going helicopters. What are people doing? 238 00:11:30,224 --> 00:11:33,864 Speaker 1: No helicopters that I know of a lot of rental 239 00:11:33,864 --> 00:11:36,464 Speaker 1: cars being abused. They would learn after a couple of 240 00:11:36,504 --> 00:11:39,304 Speaker 1: trips like, oh, we need to spring for the rental 241 00:11:39,304 --> 00:11:44,584 Speaker 1: car with four wheel drive. Yeah. Some people were just 242 00:11:44,624 --> 00:11:48,064 Speaker 1: going out for essentially day hikes. Other people found themselves 243 00:11:48,104 --> 00:11:51,544 Speaker 1: hiking sixteen miles at a time. Other people found themselves 244 00:11:51,904 --> 00:11:54,304 Speaker 1: nearly drowning in rivers and needing to call search and 245 00:11:54,344 --> 00:11:59,504 Speaker 1: rescue services. Yeah, there was one guy. He got so 246 00:11:59,624 --> 00:12:01,424 Speaker 1: committed to it. I mean he ended up in jail 247 00:12:01,464 --> 00:12:04,264 Speaker 1: one night after searching over the treasure because there are 248 00:12:04,304 --> 00:12:06,784 Speaker 1: certain things you're not allowed to do in national parks, 249 00:12:08,264 --> 00:12:10,624 Speaker 1: and he got in big t you can't go in 250 00:12:10,664 --> 00:12:13,824 Speaker 1: certain places, and you know they told him at a 251 00:12:13,864 --> 00:12:16,784 Speaker 1: certain point, like, don't come back here, and he came 252 00:12:16,824 --> 00:12:18,744 Speaker 1: back and that's how I think he ended up in jail. 253 00:12:19,384 --> 00:12:23,704 Speaker 2: So, Okay, of all these searchers, what's their relationship like 254 00:12:23,864 --> 00:12:27,104 Speaker 2: with Forrest Vent. It's weird to have someone alive who 255 00:12:27,184 --> 00:12:29,624 Speaker 2: knows the answer, like to the end. They must be bothering. 256 00:12:29,344 --> 00:12:32,744 Speaker 1: Him, Yeah, totally. You know, Forrest was willing to communicate 257 00:12:32,784 --> 00:12:35,344 Speaker 1: with people about this. He used to sort of hold 258 00:12:35,424 --> 00:12:38,344 Speaker 1: court in this bookstore in Santa Fe and people would 259 00:12:38,344 --> 00:12:40,704 Speaker 1: come visit him and talk to him, and you know, 260 00:12:40,824 --> 00:12:44,464 Speaker 1: he really seemed to relish having people come. You know, 261 00:12:44,504 --> 00:12:46,144 Speaker 1: he was a celebrity. He was like a little local 262 00:12:46,144 --> 00:12:48,384 Speaker 1: celebrity and then a national celebrity, and people would come 263 00:12:48,504 --> 00:12:51,744 Speaker 1: visit him and try and talk to him about the hunt. 264 00:12:51,864 --> 00:12:54,624 Speaker 1: You know, you would say something like I'm going to 265 00:12:54,664 --> 00:12:56,384 Speaker 1: go look here to look for the treasure, and he 266 00:12:56,864 --> 00:12:59,624 Speaker 1: would just like wink at you. And then people would think, Oh, 267 00:12:59,704 --> 00:13:01,584 Speaker 1: he's confirming my suspicions. 268 00:13:02,464 --> 00:13:05,984 Speaker 2: Oh, he becomes like an oracle for his own prediction. 269 00:13:06,104 --> 00:13:07,104 Speaker 2: Oh that's so interesting. 270 00:13:07,304 --> 00:13:09,864 Speaker 1: And he kept publishing things on his own website where 271 00:13:09,864 --> 00:13:13,024 Speaker 1: he would say, you know, hi everyone, just here's a 272 00:13:13,384 --> 00:13:17,304 Speaker 1: you know, a story from my childhood about fishing. People 273 00:13:17,304 --> 00:13:18,864 Speaker 1: would think that there were clues in that. 274 00:13:19,144 --> 00:13:20,784 Speaker 2: Wait, were there were those clues? 275 00:13:21,184 --> 00:13:24,824 Speaker 1: I don't think so, but people thought they were. 276 00:13:25,624 --> 00:13:28,664 Speaker 2: Of course they would. Yeah, so she is just loving 277 00:13:28,704 --> 00:13:29,264 Speaker 2: his fan. 278 00:13:29,584 --> 00:13:31,744 Speaker 1: I think so. I mean, it's a little bit twisted, 279 00:13:32,024 --> 00:13:34,704 Speaker 1: and one of the reasons why when I was reporting 280 00:13:34,704 --> 00:13:36,944 Speaker 1: on this it was frustrating. I think the whole thing 281 00:13:36,984 --> 00:13:41,544 Speaker 1: is frustrating. I think Forrest just like drove people crazy, 282 00:13:41,704 --> 00:13:44,624 Speaker 1: and it was something that was hard for me to 283 00:13:44,704 --> 00:13:48,744 Speaker 1: relate to. You know, when you think about all the 284 00:13:48,784 --> 00:13:53,944 Speaker 1: searchers who are hanging on his every word and trying 285 00:13:53,984 --> 00:13:57,184 Speaker 1: to draw connections between the cinnamon and his spice cabinet, 286 00:13:57,224 --> 00:13:59,144 Speaker 1: and the fact that maybe one of them had emailed 287 00:13:59,184 --> 00:14:01,064 Speaker 1: him that they were going to look and simmer on 288 00:14:01,344 --> 00:14:04,624 Speaker 1: New Mexico, you know, and they thought, oh, that's a clue. Like, 289 00:14:05,264 --> 00:14:06,304 Speaker 1: I can't relate to that. 290 00:14:06,904 --> 00:14:07,904 Speaker 2: What seems so weird to you? 291 00:14:08,184 --> 00:14:12,104 Speaker 1: The obsessiveness and the like grasping for things that aren't really. 292 00:14:11,944 --> 00:14:15,304 Speaker 2: There, Uh like a conspiracy theory kind of thing. 293 00:14:15,624 --> 00:14:18,064 Speaker 1: Yeah, Okay, this is gonna sound silly. But one thing 294 00:14:18,104 --> 00:14:19,704 Speaker 1: I thought about a lot while I was working on 295 00:14:19,744 --> 00:14:24,384 Speaker 1: this story is how similar Forced Fen is to Taylor Swift. 296 00:14:24,704 --> 00:14:27,024 Speaker 1: Do you know how like Taylor Swift's fans are sort 297 00:14:27,024 --> 00:14:30,504 Speaker 1: of obsessed with finding like secret clues whenever she like 298 00:14:30,584 --> 00:14:32,864 Speaker 1: paints her nails a certain color or she like, no, 299 00:14:33,504 --> 00:14:34,304 Speaker 1: you don't know about this. 300 00:14:35,904 --> 00:14:37,744 Speaker 2: I don't know about that. This is what I'm supposed 301 00:14:37,744 --> 00:14:41,544 Speaker 2: to know about. This is what I'm getting judged for. Sorry, 302 00:14:41,584 --> 00:14:44,824 Speaker 2: I don't know what happens when Taylor Swift paints her fingernails. Honey, 303 00:14:44,864 --> 00:14:47,344 Speaker 2: I'm a fifty one year old man. I barely know 304 00:14:47,384 --> 00:14:49,104 Speaker 2: who she is. Is she a country singer? 305 00:14:50,984 --> 00:14:54,144 Speaker 1: I have no wag Taylor Swift fan, but I can't 306 00:14:54,224 --> 00:14:58,584 Speaker 1: stand Taylor Swift's fandom. Millions of people will try to 307 00:14:58,584 --> 00:15:02,704 Speaker 1: decode the fact that her nail Polish was purple and 308 00:15:03,024 --> 00:15:05,384 Speaker 1: say it means that her next album is going to 309 00:15:05,424 --> 00:15:10,144 Speaker 1: be this. People just making crazy pret out of nothing, 310 00:15:10,624 --> 00:15:13,384 Speaker 1: and she plays into it. I don't understand why people 311 00:15:13,424 --> 00:15:16,344 Speaker 1: are reading things that don't exist. 312 00:15:16,424 --> 00:15:19,744 Speaker 2: They're so desperate for more information about the future. So 313 00:15:19,784 --> 00:15:21,584 Speaker 2: these four hundred thousand people, you think they have a 314 00:15:21,664 --> 00:15:24,744 Speaker 2: very specific psychology. 315 00:15:24,904 --> 00:15:29,184 Speaker 1: You know, they're persistent, they enjoy problem solving, they enjoy 316 00:15:29,344 --> 00:15:32,264 Speaker 1: riddles and puzzles. I mean one of the guys that 317 00:15:32,344 --> 00:15:34,224 Speaker 1: I talked to a lot for this story was soone 318 00:15:34,304 --> 00:15:35,184 Speaker 1: named Ryan Bavetta. 319 00:15:35,384 --> 00:15:36,704 Speaker 2: Okay, what's Ryan like. 320 00:15:38,104 --> 00:15:40,864 Speaker 1: I mean, he's a pretty normal guy. I would say 321 00:15:41,024 --> 00:15:43,944 Speaker 1: he has a wife and kids. He lives in California. 322 00:15:44,384 --> 00:15:47,264 Speaker 1: He's an MIT graduate. He worked for Google at one 323 00:15:47,264 --> 00:15:47,704 Speaker 1: point in. 324 00:15:47,664 --> 00:15:49,624 Speaker 2: His life, like an engineer type. 325 00:15:49,704 --> 00:15:53,944 Speaker 1: Yep, he's an engineer. And you know when he started 326 00:15:53,984 --> 00:15:57,464 Speaker 1: working on this treasure hunt. By that point, by twenty eighteen, 327 00:15:57,704 --> 00:16:00,384 Speaker 1: some people had sort of devoted their lives to searching 328 00:16:00,424 --> 00:16:01,384 Speaker 1: for this treasure full. 329 00:16:01,264 --> 00:16:04,464 Speaker 2: Time wait, full time, Yeah, like a job. 330 00:16:04,824 --> 00:16:07,984 Speaker 1: Yeah. And Ryan Bavetta was like, I'm not the type 331 00:16:07,984 --> 00:16:10,744 Speaker 1: of guy who's going to start doing this full time. 332 00:16:11,464 --> 00:16:14,344 Speaker 1: So I'm just gonna look at it. I'm gonna see 333 00:16:14,384 --> 00:16:16,584 Speaker 1: what I can do. I'm gonna maybe take one or 334 00:16:16,584 --> 00:16:18,584 Speaker 1: two trips to search once I feel like I have 335 00:16:18,624 --> 00:16:21,424 Speaker 1: a good idea of where it could be, and that's it. 336 00:16:21,544 --> 00:16:22,784 Speaker 1: I'm going to be chill about it. 337 00:16:23,024 --> 00:16:23,224 Speaker 4: You know. 338 00:16:24,064 --> 00:16:25,744 Speaker 2: So what were these trips like that he took. 339 00:16:26,264 --> 00:16:28,944 Speaker 1: It sounds like they were really fun. Actually, oh, he 340 00:16:28,984 --> 00:16:32,664 Speaker 1: went to Yellowstone twice and then he went to New 341 00:16:32,704 --> 00:16:37,224 Speaker 1: Mexico once. You know, he, like many other searchers, had 342 00:16:37,264 --> 00:16:41,504 Speaker 1: read about these places in Fenn's books. And I think 343 00:16:41,544 --> 00:16:44,464 Speaker 1: even without the forest Fence story, the first time you 344 00:16:44,464 --> 00:16:47,824 Speaker 1: go to Yellowstone National Park, you're gonna be impressed. You're 345 00:16:47,824 --> 00:16:50,784 Speaker 1: gonna have fun. And then to have a purpose that 346 00:16:50,944 --> 00:16:54,504 Speaker 1: is driving you to go into a part of the 347 00:16:54,504 --> 00:16:58,184 Speaker 1: park that maybe other people haven't explored, that's just exciting. 348 00:16:59,144 --> 00:17:03,264 Speaker 2: Yeah. So it can be fun, But is it dangerous 349 00:17:03,264 --> 00:17:05,344 Speaker 2: for other people or is it always just a good time? 350 00:17:06,664 --> 00:17:09,944 Speaker 1: I mean it can be dangerous. Five people died. 351 00:17:10,144 --> 00:17:12,144 Speaker 2: Five people died looking for this strategy. 352 00:17:12,224 --> 00:17:16,504 Speaker 1: Yeah, how ah. You know, this stuff happens going out 353 00:17:16,544 --> 00:17:19,424 Speaker 1: in the back country, especially by yourself, right. 354 00:17:19,344 --> 00:17:21,464 Speaker 2: Like drowning or frostbite. 355 00:17:20,984 --> 00:17:23,664 Speaker 1: Or drowning frostbite, getting off dehydration. 356 00:17:24,344 --> 00:17:24,544 Speaker 4: Yeah. 357 00:17:25,744 --> 00:17:30,264 Speaker 2: Yeah, so five people died. Does far as men think 358 00:17:30,264 --> 00:17:32,744 Speaker 2: about calling this whole thing off when that did? 359 00:17:32,904 --> 00:17:37,064 Speaker 1: Yes, So in twenty nineteen, he seriously considered calling it off. 360 00:17:37,904 --> 00:17:42,864 Speaker 1: He was getting pleased from law enforcement in various states, 361 00:17:42,984 --> 00:17:46,584 Speaker 1: including New Mexico, to call it off. Wait, why they 362 00:17:46,584 --> 00:17:49,104 Speaker 1: were sick of people dying and looking for people who 363 00:17:49,184 --> 00:17:49,904 Speaker 1: were in danger? 364 00:17:50,544 --> 00:17:54,144 Speaker 2: Yeah, and then people are getting more intense about bothering 365 00:17:54,264 --> 00:17:56,184 Speaker 2: him too, write for answers. 366 00:17:56,344 --> 00:17:59,664 Speaker 1: Yeah, someone had sent him a letter deorizing that his 367 00:17:59,944 --> 00:18:04,984 Speaker 1: granddaughter was the treasure, and so that person was sort 368 00:18:05,024 --> 00:18:08,864 Speaker 1: of threatening to kidnap his granddaughter. Oh, multiple people broke 369 00:18:08,864 --> 00:18:09,504 Speaker 1: into house. 370 00:18:09,824 --> 00:18:11,504 Speaker 2: Multip people broke into his house. 371 00:18:11,624 --> 00:18:14,024 Speaker 1: Yeah, this is directly from the email that Forrest wrote. 372 00:18:14,144 --> 00:18:17,504 Speaker 1: He says, I quote another searcher kicked a door down 373 00:18:17,544 --> 00:18:20,424 Speaker 1: to gain access to my property. He then shattered a 374 00:18:20,424 --> 00:18:23,264 Speaker 1: glass door with an axe and was removing a wooden 375 00:18:23,384 --> 00:18:25,944 Speaker 1: chest when my daughter and I held him at gunpoint 376 00:18:26,024 --> 00:18:27,344 Speaker 1: until the SWAT team arrived. 377 00:18:28,184 --> 00:18:32,624 Speaker 2: My daughter and I. This whole family's badass. My god. Wait, 378 00:18:32,784 --> 00:18:35,744 Speaker 2: my favorite part of the email is there's another chest 379 00:18:35,744 --> 00:18:36,264 Speaker 2: in his house? 380 00:18:36,344 --> 00:18:37,384 Speaker 1: Oh yeah, sure there. 381 00:18:37,944 --> 00:18:40,904 Speaker 2: You just got chests everywhere yeah, so did anyone ever 382 00:18:40,944 --> 00:18:42,384 Speaker 2: come close to finding this treasure? 383 00:18:42,744 --> 00:18:48,104 Speaker 1: People did, and at one point Forrest even wrote, I 384 00:18:48,184 --> 00:18:50,504 Speaker 1: know someone has been within five hundred feet of the chest. 385 00:18:51,384 --> 00:18:54,504 Speaker 1: Oh and you can guess how crazy people went when 386 00:18:54,504 --> 00:18:56,784 Speaker 1: they saw that, you know. Yeah, they were like, who 387 00:18:56,944 --> 00:19:00,104 Speaker 1: was it? There's just a lot a lot of speculation there, 388 00:19:00,384 --> 00:19:01,864 Speaker 1: and then someone finally found it. 389 00:19:03,144 --> 00:19:05,944 Speaker 2: When we return, we'll find out why the search didn't 390 00:19:06,064 --> 00:19:09,024 Speaker 2: end even though the treasure had been found. But first 391 00:19:09,344 --> 00:19:12,224 Speaker 2: our advertisers are going to offer you great treasure. You 392 00:19:12,384 --> 00:19:17,744 Speaker 2: don't even have to leave your house for God, we're soft. 393 00:19:21,824 --> 00:19:24,744 Speaker 1: So is June of twenty twenty when someone finally found 394 00:19:24,784 --> 00:19:30,664 Speaker 1: it and then released a photo of the chest. 395 00:19:31,904 --> 00:19:33,704 Speaker 2: Is it like a huge ceremony like at the end 396 00:19:33,704 --> 00:19:34,264 Speaker 2: of Star Wars. 397 00:19:34,584 --> 00:19:36,224 Speaker 1: No, that would have been great. 398 00:19:36,704 --> 00:19:39,944 Speaker 2: So people must be disappointed. There's so many people doing 399 00:19:39,944 --> 00:19:40,544 Speaker 2: this full time. 400 00:19:40,704 --> 00:19:45,544 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, yeah, incredibly disappointed. People described like crushing grief, 401 00:19:45,784 --> 00:19:46,864 Speaker 1: like they couldn't believe it. 402 00:19:47,064 --> 00:19:49,224 Speaker 2: Right, the whole purpose of your life has been looking 403 00:19:49,264 --> 00:19:51,744 Speaker 2: for this thing. Yeah, and now it's over. 404 00:19:51,984 --> 00:19:53,144 Speaker 1: Yeah. 405 00:19:53,504 --> 00:19:55,504 Speaker 2: It's like if they just got rid of the NFL, 406 00:19:55,544 --> 00:19:57,224 Speaker 2: like the whole country would be lost. 407 00:19:58,664 --> 00:19:59,824 Speaker 1: Some of us would celebrate. 408 00:20:01,304 --> 00:20:04,064 Speaker 2: Okay, so who finds this chest? 409 00:20:04,384 --> 00:20:07,264 Speaker 1: So it took a long time for everyone to know 410 00:20:07,344 --> 00:20:10,024 Speaker 1: who this person was. Came out that it was an 411 00:20:10,064 --> 00:20:14,744 Speaker 1: anonymous person from back East, and everyone was like, who 412 00:20:14,784 --> 00:20:17,584 Speaker 1: who is this? And what Ryan Bavetta told me, the 413 00:20:17,624 --> 00:20:22,464 Speaker 1: Google engineer guy, he actually was relieved. Ryan was someone 414 00:20:22,464 --> 00:20:25,224 Speaker 1: who more just wanted to solve the puzzle, and so 415 00:20:25,304 --> 00:20:27,424 Speaker 1: when he found out that someone had found it, he 416 00:20:27,544 --> 00:20:29,944 Speaker 1: was like, great, We're gonna get the answer soon. This 417 00:20:30,064 --> 00:20:32,064 Speaker 1: is gonna like soothe my brain. 418 00:20:33,824 --> 00:20:35,304 Speaker 2: It right exactly. 419 00:20:36,384 --> 00:20:39,784 Speaker 1: Exactly. So he was like great, and then he started 420 00:20:39,784 --> 00:20:42,744 Speaker 1: to get a little impatient because all they knew was 421 00:20:42,784 --> 00:20:46,744 Speaker 1: it was an anonymous person from back East. Apparently Forrest 422 00:20:46,824 --> 00:20:49,704 Speaker 1: Fan kept saying all will come out in due time, 423 00:20:50,024 --> 00:20:51,984 Speaker 1: and they kept thinking, we're going to find out, We're 424 00:20:52,024 --> 00:20:57,784 Speaker 1: going to find out. And then Forest Fen died. 425 00:20:57,904 --> 00:21:00,264 Speaker 2: Oh before he announced where the chest had been. M 426 00:21:01,544 --> 00:21:02,864 Speaker 2: Do you suspect foul play? 427 00:21:03,344 --> 00:21:07,944 Speaker 1: I've not heard anyone speculate that he was murdered. This 428 00:21:08,184 --> 00:21:11,704 Speaker 1: is a podcast, so we have to talk about murder 429 00:21:11,704 --> 00:21:12,224 Speaker 1: on the podcast. 430 00:21:12,424 --> 00:21:14,024 Speaker 2: It would help, it would help. Yeah. 431 00:21:14,064 --> 00:21:17,144 Speaker 1: The most popular conspiracy theory seemed to be more along 432 00:21:17,184 --> 00:21:19,624 Speaker 1: the lines of Forrest knew he was going to die, 433 00:21:20,184 --> 00:21:22,424 Speaker 1: and he wanted it to be found before he died, 434 00:21:22,544 --> 00:21:25,024 Speaker 1: and so he chose someone to help. 435 00:21:25,784 --> 00:21:28,504 Speaker 2: Do you buy that? Not really, So no one knows 436 00:21:28,504 --> 00:21:31,304 Speaker 2: who found it, so we do now. 437 00:21:31,864 --> 00:21:34,304 Speaker 1: So the person met with Forest Fenn, But then I 438 00:21:34,344 --> 00:21:39,184 Speaker 1: think he decided to stay anonymous. Unfortunately for this anonymous finder, 439 00:21:39,944 --> 00:21:44,544 Speaker 1: someone else in the search community filed a lawsuit asserting 440 00:21:44,664 --> 00:21:47,584 Speaker 1: that you know, whoever found it must have hacked into 441 00:21:47,584 --> 00:21:49,704 Speaker 1: her computer and stole her solution to the poem. 442 00:21:50,744 --> 00:21:52,624 Speaker 2: This is a stupid law This is stupider than the 443 00:21:52,704 --> 00:21:53,944 Speaker 2: Gwyneth Paltrow skiing lot. 444 00:21:55,144 --> 00:21:55,224 Speaker 4: It. 445 00:21:55,504 --> 00:21:58,984 Speaker 1: Yeah, it does sound stupider than that. For whatever reason, 446 00:21:59,304 --> 00:22:02,504 Speaker 1: something about the lawsuit made it clear to the person 447 00:22:02,544 --> 00:22:05,184 Speaker 1: who found the chest that his identity was going to 448 00:22:05,224 --> 00:22:07,984 Speaker 1: come out, and so to sort of head that off, 449 00:22:08,144 --> 00:22:15,024 Speaker 1: in December, he reveals himself on medium dot com. Who 450 00:22:15,064 --> 00:22:17,944 Speaker 1: is Well, he doesn't. He doesn't give his name at 451 00:22:17,944 --> 00:22:20,144 Speaker 1: the time, so he's trying to stay anonymous, which really 452 00:22:20,224 --> 00:22:24,544 Speaker 1: upset people. He said, I'm aware some people hope this 453 00:22:24,624 --> 00:22:26,904 Speaker 1: lawsuit will reveal what the clues and the poe meant 454 00:22:26,944 --> 00:22:29,464 Speaker 1: and where the treasure was located. But I feel a 455 00:22:29,504 --> 00:22:34,424 Speaker 1: responsibility to keep that a secret. So people were like, 456 00:22:34,504 --> 00:22:35,224 Speaker 1: what the heck? 457 00:22:36,184 --> 00:22:38,304 Speaker 2: Yeah, why would he not want to tell people where 458 00:22:38,344 --> 00:22:38,624 Speaker 2: it was? 459 00:22:39,744 --> 00:22:42,984 Speaker 1: At that point, it wasn't quite clear. His name did 460 00:22:43,024 --> 00:22:46,104 Speaker 1: come out. His name is Jack Stuff and he is 461 00:22:46,144 --> 00:22:50,504 Speaker 1: from Pennsylvania. Ryan Bavetta actually was one of the people 462 00:22:50,504 --> 00:22:54,184 Speaker 1: who sort of helped figure out who Jack Stuff was 463 00:22:54,424 --> 00:22:57,624 Speaker 1: based on, you know, some Reddit posts that matched up. 464 00:22:57,824 --> 00:23:00,104 Speaker 2: There was like a little separate treasure hunt to figure 465 00:23:00,104 --> 00:23:02,104 Speaker 2: out who found the treasure hunt exactly. 466 00:23:02,184 --> 00:23:03,304 Speaker 1: This became its own thing. 467 00:23:03,704 --> 00:23:05,144 Speaker 2: Yeah, was there treasure in there? 468 00:23:05,264 --> 00:23:10,304 Speaker 1: Oh? Yeah, the treasure was real. And this past November 469 00:23:10,384 --> 00:23:12,824 Speaker 1: Stuff put it up for auction and he said, I've 470 00:23:12,864 --> 00:23:16,944 Speaker 1: never told anyone where I searched, other than someone whose 471 00:23:17,064 --> 00:23:19,824 Speaker 1: job requires them to know, and I never planned to 472 00:23:19,824 --> 00:23:20,144 Speaker 1: do so. 473 00:23:20,704 --> 00:23:24,744 Speaker 2: Wait, so people are still searching for the treasure spot 474 00:23:24,824 --> 00:23:29,424 Speaker 2: even though the treasure is gone. Yes, that's interesting. 475 00:23:29,744 --> 00:23:33,424 Speaker 1: People want to know if they were close to figuring 476 00:23:33,424 --> 00:23:35,824 Speaker 1: this out. I've got to go see for myself. 477 00:23:36,064 --> 00:23:41,624 Speaker 2: So Ryan about the Google engineer is still searching, still 478 00:23:41,664 --> 00:23:44,024 Speaker 2: using the poem, but he has other clues now I 479 00:23:44,064 --> 00:23:45,264 Speaker 2: assume since it's been found. 480 00:23:45,504 --> 00:23:49,504 Speaker 1: Yeah, he feels like he's honed in on a location 481 00:23:49,664 --> 00:23:54,344 Speaker 1: pretty well based on things that Jack Stuff has said. Now, 482 00:23:55,224 --> 00:23:58,384 Speaker 1: because Jack Stuff has done a couple more medium posts, 483 00:23:58,464 --> 00:24:00,424 Speaker 1: he's answered some questions from people. 484 00:24:00,864 --> 00:24:04,984 Speaker 2: But Ryan's also filed some FOYA reports to get more information. 485 00:24:05,104 --> 00:24:10,464 Speaker 1: Right, Yes he has. I think what he got was 486 00:24:10,544 --> 00:24:16,624 Speaker 1: emails between Yellowstow National Park officials which confirmed that the 487 00:24:16,664 --> 00:24:18,904 Speaker 1: treasure had been found in the park. 488 00:24:19,824 --> 00:24:22,144 Speaker 2: Is that cheating or is that just like another angle, 489 00:24:22,224 --> 00:24:23,104 Speaker 2: like a meta search. 490 00:24:23,264 --> 00:24:26,144 Speaker 1: I don't think there's any cheating at this point. If 491 00:24:26,144 --> 00:24:27,784 Speaker 1: it's not there anymore. 492 00:24:27,624 --> 00:24:29,704 Speaker 2: Right, you just want the answer, it's just bugging you. 493 00:24:29,744 --> 00:24:31,664 Speaker 2: So it doesn't even matter what way you find out. 494 00:24:31,704 --> 00:24:35,024 Speaker 2: You just need to know where this spot is totally. Oh, 495 00:24:35,784 --> 00:24:37,904 Speaker 2: how many people are still searching for the treasure? 496 00:24:38,064 --> 00:24:40,304 Speaker 1: I don't know, but a fair number yet. 497 00:24:40,504 --> 00:24:43,984 Speaker 2: Maybe maybe the real treasure with the friendships these people 498 00:24:44,064 --> 00:24:45,344 Speaker 2: made along the way. 499 00:24:45,144 --> 00:24:48,264 Speaker 1: Now, that was the idea I was going for with 500 00:24:48,384 --> 00:24:51,904 Speaker 1: this whole story. Really, absolutely absolutely. 501 00:24:51,344 --> 00:24:52,384 Speaker 2: I was making fun of you. 502 00:24:52,424 --> 00:24:57,024 Speaker 1: No, really, really people found community. People really did make 503 00:24:57,064 --> 00:25:00,824 Speaker 1: solid connections with each other just from these online forums 504 00:25:00,864 --> 00:25:02,224 Speaker 1: where they were talking about the treasure. 505 00:25:02,624 --> 00:25:03,224 Speaker 2: Yeah. 506 00:25:03,304 --> 00:25:06,104 Speaker 1: I mean there are stories of like guys who are 507 00:25:06,144 --> 00:25:09,064 Speaker 1: now playing dungeons and dragons together after searching together. 508 00:25:09,384 --> 00:25:11,184 Speaker 2: Of course these are my people. Yep. 509 00:25:13,104 --> 00:25:16,104 Speaker 1: You know. Ryan Bavetta has since like linked up with 510 00:25:16,144 --> 00:25:20,264 Speaker 1: other treasure hunters who are looking for other things, and 511 00:25:20,304 --> 00:25:22,984 Speaker 1: he's just realized that this is something he enjoys doing. 512 00:25:23,744 --> 00:25:25,384 Speaker 2: What kind of treasure hunt has he moved on to? 513 00:25:25,904 --> 00:25:26,104 Speaker 3: You know? 514 00:25:26,144 --> 00:25:29,464 Speaker 1: What Ryan Bavetta moved on to recently is in San 515 00:25:29,464 --> 00:25:33,304 Speaker 1: Francisco's Golden Gate Park. They think there's one of twelve 516 00:25:33,304 --> 00:25:36,944 Speaker 1: ceramic boxes hidden in this park. Apparently there are twelve 517 00:25:36,944 --> 00:25:40,464 Speaker 1: of them hidden across the US from a writer named 518 00:25:40,504 --> 00:25:43,704 Speaker 1: Byron Price. When Ryan Bavetta told me about this, he 519 00:25:43,784 --> 00:25:45,784 Speaker 1: was like, you know about the Price boxes? And I 520 00:25:45,824 --> 00:25:48,064 Speaker 1: was like, no, I don't know about the Price boxes. 521 00:25:49,104 --> 00:25:51,184 Speaker 2: You got your next story right there. You're gonna be 522 00:25:51,304 --> 00:25:52,664 Speaker 2: this is your beat for the rest of your life. 523 00:25:52,744 --> 00:25:53,264 Speaker 1: Please know? 524 00:25:55,184 --> 00:25:58,024 Speaker 2: Do you think you know where the treasure was hidden? 525 00:25:58,224 --> 00:26:02,824 Speaker 1: I feel around nine Mile Hole in Yellowstone Park. I 526 00:26:02,824 --> 00:26:06,864 Speaker 1: think that's what everyone who has really been devoted to 527 00:26:06,904 --> 00:26:07,744 Speaker 1: this has landed on. 528 00:26:08,104 --> 00:26:10,544 Speaker 2: But how will the searchers ever know if they're right 529 00:26:10,624 --> 00:26:12,944 Speaker 2: now that there's no X to mark the spot anymore? 530 00:26:13,144 --> 00:26:16,264 Speaker 1: Yeah, I mean my best guess is like someone has 531 00:26:16,304 --> 00:26:18,224 Speaker 1: to kidnap jack Stuff and force. 532 00:26:18,144 --> 00:26:20,984 Speaker 2: Him to tell let's do it. Let's do it. That's journalism. 533 00:26:21,264 --> 00:26:24,504 Speaker 2: This is bullshit what we're doing. Let's just that's what 534 00:26:24,544 --> 00:26:25,824 Speaker 2: you do. You grab the guy. 535 00:26:26,264 --> 00:26:28,104 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's the only optional. Let's do this. 536 00:26:28,304 --> 00:26:32,104 Speaker 2: Okay, Okay, this is an adventure. The other stuff I'm hiking, 537 00:26:32,264 --> 00:26:35,224 Speaker 2: I'm taking a boat out. That's not an adventure. Us 538 00:26:35,424 --> 00:26:39,264 Speaker 2: finding Jack stuff, tying them up and we make them talk. 539 00:26:39,344 --> 00:26:41,624 Speaker 1: Okay, let's do it. Okay, you can do it, and 540 00:26:41,704 --> 00:26:42,464 Speaker 1: I'll write about it. 541 00:26:43,024 --> 00:26:48,024 Speaker 2: Ugh Svadi Kirstindrula, you wrote America's greatest hidden treasure was found, 542 00:26:48,104 --> 00:26:52,384 Speaker 2: So why are people still looking for popular mechanics? And 543 00:26:52,424 --> 00:26:57,224 Speaker 2: it's inspired me to commit crimes. So thank you. 544 00:26:57,224 --> 00:26:58,104 Speaker 1: You're very welcome. 545 00:26:59,144 --> 00:27:01,824 Speaker 2: In each of the thirty previous episodes of Story of 546 00:27:01,864 --> 00:27:04,984 Speaker 2: the Week, I've dropped a clue that leads to a treasure. 547 00:27:05,784 --> 00:27:08,744 Speaker 2: To find these clues, you'll probably have to download each 548 00:27:08,744 --> 00:27:14,144 Speaker 2: episodisode several times. Giving each episode five stars unlocks further clues. 549 00:27:14,384 --> 00:27:17,184 Speaker 2: I can't say more, but still download this stuff again. 550 00:27:17,624 --> 00:27:18,024 Speaker 2: Just do it. 551 00:27:20,704 --> 00:27:23,904 Speaker 4: At the end of the show, what's next for joel Stein? 552 00:27:24,064 --> 00:27:27,504 Speaker 4: Maybe you'll take a naper Poker Round online. 553 00:27:28,064 --> 00:27:32,424 Speaker 2: Our show is produced by Joey fish Ground and nishaven Cut. 554 00:27:32,704 --> 00:27:35,664 Speaker 2: It was edited by Lydia Jan Kopp. Our engineer is 555 00:27:35,664 --> 00:27:38,264 Speaker 2: a Manda kay Wang and our executive producer is cath 556 00:27:38,344 --> 00:27:41,944 Speaker 2: Ronald cher Ado. Our theme song was produced by Jonathan Colton. 557 00:27:42,464 --> 00:27:45,024 Speaker 2: A special thanks to my voice coach Vicky Merrick and 558 00:27:45,104 --> 00:27:49,664 Speaker 2: my consulting producer Laurence elast Night. To find more Pushkin podcasts, 559 00:27:49,824 --> 00:27:54,024 Speaker 2: listen on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you 560 00:27:54,104 --> 00:27:58,424 Speaker 2: listen to your podcasts. I'm Joel Stein and this is 561 00:27:58,504 --> 00:28:03,624 Speaker 2: story of the Week. I don't know any chess. Do 562 00:28:03,624 --> 00:28:04,624 Speaker 2: you own any chess? 563 00:28:04,904 --> 00:28:05,144 Speaker 4: Hm? 564 00:28:06,504 --> 00:28:08,424 Speaker 2: Yes you do? Yeah, well kind of chest? 565 00:28:08,464 --> 00:28:11,624 Speaker 1: Do you a little wooden chest that I have sweaters 566 00:28:11,664 --> 00:28:13,224 Speaker 1: and blankets in yeah? 567 00:28:13,824 --> 00:28:16,184 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, you know, they're probably chests in my house 568 00:28:16,184 --> 00:28:19,664 Speaker 2: I have that sounds familiar, like a thing of scarf somewhere. 569 00:28:19,744 --> 00:28:19,944 Speaker 4: Yeah. 570 00:28:20,024 --> 00:28:22,704 Speaker 2: Maybe right. I didn't buy any of this stuff.