E475 Adventures in Lunacy and Birthday Butterfly Effects

TOPICS: THE GOLDFIELD HOTEL PT. 2/THE ORIGINAL 2004 GHOST ADVENTURES DOCUMENTARY, THE HARVEY’S CASINO BOMBING

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Young Christine and her mom posing with King Louie at Disney

Leona in matching outfit meeting Mirabel at Disney

Young Em posing next to the Hush-A-Bomb at Universal Studios

Em recreating the pose next to the Hush-A-Bomb

A quick note! We had a ghost in the system this week that caused some occasional echoed audio moments - we apologize for any of these you may hear during the episode!

It’s Episode 475 and we’re taking a trip down memory lane to the Disney and Universal Studios visits of our past! Today Em brings us Part Two of the Goldfield Hotel/The Original 2004 Ghost Adventures Documentary where young Z.B. is armed only with a flashlight, a camera, and a dream. Then Christine did some boots on the ground journalism to bring us the case of the Harvey’s Casino Bombing, where for once no one was hurt or killed! And will someone please make Em a Rainforest Cafe River Adventure tee? …and that’s why we drink!

Video Links:
The Ghost Adventures Documentary
The Flying Brick Clip (0:20 seconds in)

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Transcript

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[intro music]

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: Can you imagine if we threw a baby shower for a 40-year-old woman–

Christine: D–

Em: –and then tagged ZipRecruiter? [laughs]

Christine: Without like getting her permission or like any sort o– [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Christine: –any sort– By the way, a child-free lesbian woman.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Like someone who’s like not even in– [laughs]

Em: [laughs] That’d be very funny.

Christine: Oh, I think it’s a good idea.

Em: I think it’s– I literally actually want to do it so bad. Um, it would be hysterical.

Christine: We can ha– We can have ParaPods host it. Um–

Em: That’s what I– Literally, that could be our first like big networking event.

Christine: Aww. A retreat.

Em: Like, “Do you have a little baby that’s actually a grown adult?”

Christine: We should do a retreat and then surprise her with the baby shower part.

Em: You know what? I’m m– I never had a stork-themed baby shower. We can make that happen for all of us at once.

Christine: Did people ever have that?

Em: No, but I feel like at a lot of ‘90s birthday– uh, ba– bri–

Christine: They had the big stork though as like the imagery.

Em: Or they had like the wooden one outside the door or like–

Christine: That creepy gigantic wooden one. What is with that?

Em: Yeah. And it had like all the stats of the baby.

Christine: So weird.

Em: I would like to have a big wooden bird in my yard that tells all my stats right now.

Christine: Would you? Would you?

Em: Maybe I’ll just get like one of those plastic flamingos and a scroll, and I’ll just tape it in its mouth.

Christine: [laughs] Wait.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Okay. [laughs]

Em: And it’ll just say like, “Six feet tall. I’m alright. I like burgers. You wanna get a burger? We can do that.”

Christine: I’m gonna get like a big woodpecker, and I’m gonna say, “J–“ [laughs] Actually, wait. Hang on. [laughs] Where’s a– Where’s the grackles this time of year? ’Cause I think it’s–

Em: What? What are grackles? Are you speaking German again? It’s English, this podcast, Christine.

Christine: Oh, my mistake. You know how I feel about English. Um–

Em: [looking up] Grackles.

Christine: I guess we’re in the bit now, so, uh, we’re rolling by accident, I guess. Um, I need every–

Em: Yeah. [chuckles]

Christine: [chuckles] I need everyone to understand that we’re talking about storks, which a– depending on how much Jack leaves in, you’ll know that already. But we’re talking about like stork-themed– Well, we were talking about throwing a baby shower for Eva as the baby.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: To be clear, she’s not having a child. She’s getting married–

Em: Though she is the baby.

Christine: –to the love of her life. She’s, she’s, she’s good. But she is the baby in this, uh, hypothetical but quickly becoming real realistic, um, event we’re hosting, which is a ParaPods retreat baby shower of Eva being brought by ZipRe–

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: It’s sponsored by ZipRecruiter obviously.

Em: Yeah, ZipRecruiter is gonna pay for it. He– She–

Christine: They’re gonna pay for the whole thing.

Em: She doesn’t know though. ZipRecruiter, I haven’t told her.

Christine: Yeah, ZipRecruiter doesn’t know either, but they are gonna both be heavily involved.

Em: Exactly.

Christine: Yeah. And it–

Em: 100%. It’ll–

Christine: So it all makes sense now. And based on that, Em said, “Oh, well, I never really had a stork-themed baby shower,” and I said, “I guess–” Yeah, we talked about how that was a ‘90s– It’s still a thing, but like it was a, a thing where people would put the big stork outside with the baby stats, and Em was like, “I want a big bird with my stats.” And for some reason–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –instead of just like, “Hey, maybe we can rent a stork,” Em was like, “I know. I’ll get a flamingo with a scroll.” And I was like, “W–“

Em: [chuckles] I was trying to like, “How do we–”

Christine: My brain couldn’t–

Em: “How do we zhuzh it up from the ‘90s?” and like–

Christine: It was like you parallel jumped both the stats and the bird to like two other things, and my brain was like, “Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.” Uh–

Em: Well, and the stats would be interesting because the stats when you’re a baby are so boring. It’s like–

Christine: “Six foot tall.” [laughs]

Em: –“Oh, all ten toes,” and I’m like, “I still have those, first of all.”

Christine: [laughs]

Em: I should put that on the flamingo. I should say, “We still have the toes.”

Christine: Em, they don’t put, “All ten toes,” on the like stats. [laughs]

Em: [chuckles] And then also like a QR code to like feet pics, you know, like just in case people want to check.

Christine: Ah! Oh my god, I thought you were gonna say to the baby registry, and then it got so dark.

Em: Oh, a baby registry for an adult. That sounds fun. Oh!

Christine: First of all, there is no way in hell that your mother did not throw some sort of baby sh– Oh, you’re saying as you as the parent didn’t receive the party.

Em: I don’t really–

Christine: Or– You, for sure, have had the stats. Linda– If anyone got a fucking giant wooden stork to announce their baby’s arrival, it was Linda. So don’t even act like you didn’t have one of those.

Em: I think hers was more like a firework ceremony over like a popular city. Like she like– It was like–

Christine: A po– [chuckles]

Em: It’s like the pope came to town.

Christine: A mid-size metropolitan area. [chuckles]

Em: Yeah. It’s like the pope came to town, so I think she wasn’t paying attention to like the wooden bird sign, you know.

Christine: Oh, that was like small– That was like children’s play. Yeah.

Em: Yeah, small potatoes, I think. Yeah, um–

Christine: Gotcha. But you want the classic. You want a flamingo holding a scroll, and that’s–

Em: You see.

Christine: It's like you’re gonna relive that. I get it.

Em: You see.

Christine: Well, also it could be like–

Em: If you–

Christine: –it couldn’t– It didn’t– It won’t have to be like pink. It’ll be like rainbow stork, you know. Like you could play with it.

Em: It would be glow in the dark, so people could still see the note at night.

Christine: Ah! Of course, of course.

Em: I’m not an idiot. What am I, an idiot? No.

Christine: I’m an idiot. Let’s be real.

Em: If you had, if you had to have a flamingo with a scroll in his mouth to announce your current stats, what stats would it be? You’re still your weight, maybe, you know.

Christine: All ten toes, all ten finge–

Em: [chuckles] That’d be crazy.

Christine: Yeah, I’m, I’m still–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Well, I was–

Em: “I’m still six ounces or whatever.” [laughs]

Christine: I was gonna say, I was really fucking heavy. I think I was like 11 pounds. Actually, you know what? That’s another thing that my mother would always say like, “You were an 11 pound baby,” and then I found my birth certificate. It was like eight pounds and ten ounces. And I was like, on the one hand, I’m relieved.

Em: Drama.

Christine: On the other hand, I’m like, ‘Why would you just keep exaggerating how gigantic I was? What is the psychology there? And what is it saying about your subconscious–“

Em: Yeah.

Christine: “–like view of me?” 11 pound baby, and I was like 8 pound. I don’t know. Anyway.

Em: Well, it’s like eight was just your head. The three– The rest of you was your– [chuckles]

Christine: It could be.

Em: –little legs.

Christine: It could be. I was a C-section. Um, anyway, I forget what we were talking about.

Em: Well, your stats would be on a flamingo scroll.

Christine: Oh.

Em: And then we can step away from this. But I do need to know what you would– If you get to choose– ’Cause the, the thing is like the baby never got to choose w– Like can you imagine if there’s a baby who’s so insecure about her weight and she’s like, “I really don’t want the stork to tell everybody in the neighborhood.”

Christine: Like, “Why would you put the ounces?”

Em: You know?

Christine: “Like that was water weight.”

Em: Yeah. [chuckles] “Please back up. I had a big, big week.” Um, so–

Christine: [laughs] “it was bloat.”

Em: [laughs] “It was bloat.” Um, yeah. So, now with autonomy to write whatever you want on the scroll, what would you have on there?

Christine: Oh, that’s really beautiful. Take it back. Um–

Em: It reclaim–

Christine: Reclaim? Aw.

Em: “Reclaiming My Time” is what I’ll call the flamingo.

Christine: Um, that’s a great question. So they usually have birth, date, time, weight, length–

Em: Oh, length. Yeah.

Christine: –and then the gender– or the sex of the baby. So I’m trying to think like what you would put. I don’t want any of those, I don’t think, on mine.

Em: You don’t want your birthday so people could come bring you presents?

Christine: Uh, no, ’cause I feel like people already do. Um–

Em: Oh! Okay, brag.

Christine: No, that sounds– No, not in a nice way. No, that sounds bad. That sounds worse. Um, what I’m trying to say is–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: –sometimes, um–

Em: We got her, folks. We got her.

Christine: [laughs] What I’m trying to say is that there are a couple people in my personal life who, um, just don’t really understand the concept of boundaries. And so I’ve really been–

Em: I see.

Christine: –trying to like set a perimeter that’s like impenetrable. And I feel like the stats sh– need to maybe be a little more threatening maybe or like a little more grandiose rather than like i-invitational.

Em: So you need more like a raven than a flamingo.

Christine: Oh, I love this. Yeah.

Em: Or like a– I don’t know what’s a scary bird?

Christine: Is there like a–

Em: Grackle sounds horrible, so.

Christine: A grackle? Those are, those are, those are– They have these big beady eyes. So yeah, kind of.

Em: Or like a– just a gargoyle that’s shaped like a bird.

Christine: I was thinking gargoyle, and then I was like, “That’s not a bird.” But I’m glad you said it ’cause I think that would really do the trick.

Em: Okay. Well, I mean if you ever need me to help you come up with stats– You could write your favorite wine if you–

Christine: My stats would be like, “Black belt.”

Em: Oh?

Christine: I would make stuff up.

Em: Oh. Oh, oh, oh, oh. So it’d be like– It wouldn’t be a scroll. It’d be like a dry erase board. You can just change it up–

Christine: It’d be a threat.

Em: A thr– Okay. [laughs] Perfect. Um–

Christine: [laughs] What would your stats be?

Em: Hm. What would my–

Christine: I’m assuming the same, if not– or the– similar, if not the same.

Em: I think mine would be– I don’t know. It depends on my mood. If I was feeling whimsical like today, it would say like what my last dream was or like–

Christine: Oh, that’s cool.

Em: Or like s– like a conversation starter in case next time people see me out and about, they’re like, “Oh my god, I, I had that dream too.”

Christine: [gasps]

Em: “We should meet in dream world.”

Christine: I like that. Well, then how would they know where you live?

Em: Well, the, the flamingo’s in the yard, just like the wooden stork was.

Christine: Oh, so they would like find you and be like– See, this is again why– I just don’t like the invitational stuff. But I guess, I guess if you’re trying to meet people, that’s a better way to do it.

Em: Well, the trick is that in the flamingo its eyes are cameras, you know. [chuckles]

Christine: I know. Same in the gargoyle’s mouth. Oh my god, we had the same idea.

Em: Yeah, so–

Christine: I like that we silently planned that ourselves. Well, I did.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: And then I was like, “Same with mine,” that I’m inventing hypothetically.

Em: If I don’t, if I don’t like what I’m overhearing, then, you know, the– it also has like a squirting flower like a clown, and then it just spits at them.

Christine: I was gonna say it starts squirting wa– Em, it’s like we’re on the same wavelength.

Em: Trust– What? Come on. Please.

Christine: Holy shit.

Em: Wha– Unsurprising to me.

Christine: What? Like we’re new to this? Please.

Em: Um, anyway, if you happen to be in my neighborhood, you’ll know when there’s a flamingo with stats about me, and it is so that way next time I run into you, we have something to talk about, so.

Christine: I like that the stats are about you are like, “I had this weird dream last night.” It’s like–

Em: Oh, also you know what another thing that the stork doesn’t have? We’re 28 minutes into this. Um, I– [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] Holy shit.

Em: Is that there’s, there’s never any, um, space for people to also write their own stats on there so we can compare and contrast. I don’t like that. So I would–

Christine: Oh?

Em: I’d like to leave a little space where it’s like, you know, what–

Christine: “Now share something about you.”

Em: “What do you believe when it comes to like are there ghosts? Like let’s talk about that.”

Christine: “What did you dream about last night?”

Em: Yeah. “What’s your like secret recipe that I can have so I can try it at home?” Something nice.

Christine: Are you Plank– Are you Plankton in this hypothetical, Em?

Em: [laughs]

Christine: This feels like a big elaborate prank.

Em: “What is the Krabby Patty formula? This is just a flamingo, not me, Mr. Krabs.”

Christine: “Here are my stats. Wink.” [chuckles]

Em: [chuckles] “Give me your social security number right here. No one’s looking.”

Christine: Smooth. Wow.

Em: That was a really nice– That was a nice time we had. Um, what else? [chuckles]

Christine: Anyway, what’s next on the agenda? Okay. Uh, I would like to say real quick that the reason I drink this week– First of all, I drink a refillable cup of– a refillable Disney World mug from Art of Animation ’cause I went to Disney World, and it was awesome.

Em: I’m so proud of you. Did you– Was this your first time, one?

Christine: So I’m glad you asked because I’m a little conflicted about it. I went when I was four, but it was because my parents had a s– My dad had a steel convention in town. So they very briefly like–

Em: Love it.

Christine: –brought us to the park, and we did a couple rides. So like technically my second, but it was my first like real like, you know, visit, visit.

Em: I, I understand what you’re saying. I went when I was seven, um, and that was also the day my grandpa died. So, um, happiest place on earth.

Christine: Oh my god.

Em: So I think that’s why my parents sent me there. I think they were like, “Let’s put them in the happiest place on earth–“

Christine: Oh, he’s dying.

Em: “–’cause he’s dying.” We already knew it was happening. So I don’t– It’s– It wasn’t like, “Oh, big shock of the day.” Um–

Christine: They’re like, “Let’s get out of here.”

Em: We’re like, “Let’s put, let’s put you over here, and I’m gonna go to the, the hospital, and, and we’ll figure it out from there.” But so–

Christine: “Look! A pool.” Yeah.

Em: [chuckles] But so the last time I was there, I was like, “Oh, grandpa died.” Um, I–

Christine: They told you that there though?

Em: Yeah. But I– [sighs] I don’t know. My relationship with death has always been interesting. ’Cause I heard about it–

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: –and then I went, “Oh, okay,” and then I just kept, kept it moving.

Christine: That’s why I love this show. We’re like, “Oh, Disney World’s so cool. My relationship with death is actually really interesting. Thanks for reminding me.”

Em: You know, I feel bad. I feel like I, I, I, um, upstaged you by accident.

Christine: No, please don’t–

Em: I was trying to relate to like we’ve both been to Disney, but then it– I–

Christine: I’ll be honest, anything that happens at Disney World–

Em: It became a thing.

Christine: –is like amplified, I feel. It’s either amplified or it’s like dulled. And I bet your parents were hoping it would be kind of dulled or muddied, but I think over time that kind of like makes it almost worse ’cause you’re like, “Ooh, that feels like–“

Em: Yeah.

Christine: “–something bad happened in the midst of the magical time,” you know.

Em: Well, I felt– because– So Allison and I went to Universal for the day in Florida–

Christine: Mm.

Em: –and, um–

Christine: Never been there in Florida.

Em: I’m more of a Universal person. Well, over there they’ve got like a whole like Avengers thing going on, and they’ve had that since the ‘90s which is fun, so it’s like retro Marvel. It’s very fun. Um, but so I, I haven’t been to Disney though. So one, I want to note that it’s very precious that the last time you were there, um, you were Leona’s age.

Christine: Thi– I'm–

Em: Crazy.

Christine: I’m– Okay. This– That’s exactly what I was gonna say next because– I’m glad you said that. This is– I have goosebumps again. This is the craziest thing. We were sitting– Maybe it’s not, but to me it was really weird. We were sitting by the pool. I didn’t even, to be honest, know how old I was last time I went. I assumed like three, four, something like that. My mom– I said, “Can you go see if you can find any pictures this week of me at Disney? And we can like compare, you know, the Leona pictures.”

[Em and Christine blur into the background as a photo appears on top of their videos. It’s a photo of a young Christine at Disney. She is posing for a photo with her mom and a character actor dressed up as King Louie from The Jungle Book. Christine stands in front while her mom and King Louie stand behind her. King Louie has an arm around Christine’s mom, and her mom is looking down at Christine, who is holding onto her mom with both hands, looking at someone out of frame next to the camera.]

Christine: And she sends me a few photos like a half an hour later, and I’m looking through and I see the date at the bottom, and it’s like November 16, uh, 1995. And I was like, “Oh, okay. How cute. So I was four.” And so it turns out I was four – I’m gonna try to remember here. I might be wrong – 4 years, 5 months, 13 days, something like that.

Em: Okay.

Christine: And then this like weird nagging thought– I put my phone down, and I was like, “Check what– Check when Leona– Check Leona’s age.”

Em: Mm-hmm?

Christine: To the day–

Em: [gasps] No.

Christine: I googled– I don’t use– I don’t really try to use AI ever anymore, but I just got on a free one, and I said, “Can you calculate the date that Leona would be four years f–“ if– or I didn’t say Leona, but I said, “If someone was born this date, what day would they be 4 years, 5 months, 13 days?”

Em: What the fuck?

Christine: It was Wednesday when we were at Disney World.

Em: Yo.

Christine: I really f– Okay, thank you for saying that ’cause I was looking around like– And I told Blaise’s parents, and they’re like, “Oh, how weird,” and I was like, “Yo, I’m freaked out.” [laughs]

Em: I’d be tripping for the rest of the day. I’d be like, “This is–“ It’s like, it’s like you literally get to see both perspectives like of like what you saw then and what you see now.

Christine: It’s, it’s so weird because like I didn’t realize how much this kind of was like a healing thing for me. Because when I was little, we went, and I remember so vividly coming home and being like, “I want to go again but like for real. Like really go and like spend the day and–”

Em: Yeah.

Christine: I remember like really wanting to go back, and my parents always said, “Oh, like when you’re, when you’re eight, when you’re nine, when you’re ten,” and then they got divorced. Wah-wah.

Em: Wah-wah.

Christine: And the Disney thing never happened, and I remember, you know, kind of feeling sad about that. And then when we planned this trip, I thought, “Okay, well, this will be fun. I’ll get to kind of like relive, you know–“ And as I got closer, I got s– I had so much fun getting Leona ready, you know. She’s like really into the princesses, and I was like, “Let’s just go all in.” So we were doing like– We were like planning who– what we were gonna say to Elsa and Anna, you know, and so we had such a good time planning it. I was like, “I feel like I’m like healing myself a little bit ’cause I got to just totally–“ And I get it that– This is the big thesis statement is that I now– like fuck me, I get it. I understand the Disney thing, okay? I went. I was like–

Em: That’s great.

Christine: I kept saying to Blaise, “Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit. Oh, shit.” And he’s like, “Did they get you?” And I was like, “I think they got me. I get it.” I’m like tearing up, watching her like meet Minnie Mouse in her Minnie Mouse dress. And I’m like, “Oh no, it’s happening.”

Em: What was your favorite– Like what– Do you know what the thing was that ignited the feeling in you? Is that a stupid question?

Christine: No, not at all. I mean, I– There’s a photo of my mom and me on the teacup when we were little, and, um, we did that with Leona, Blaise and I did. And we got a photo, and I remember standing there and looking and going, “Wait a minute, this is where my dad stood when he took that photo of me and my mom.”

Em: Oh.

Christine: And so it was a little bit like, “Woah, this is so trippy.” And again, like on the same day as when she turned that age. It was just very weird. Anyway, um–

Em: That's amazing.

Christine: Yeah, it was cool, and I feel like, uh, it was a very healing event. It was one of the best trips ever. And I feel like I never thought I would say that about a trip, a family trip to Disney World. Not that I wouldn’t love to go, but like typically like that’s not necessarily my thing. But now I’m like, “Oh, hell yeah.” I was running around with my orange soda in my refillable cup, like beep-beeping my little like this pass and this pass, and I was like, “Oh, yeah, I’m getting it. I’m getting in the groove.”

Em: I love a theme park. I, I– It does something– I don’t– Like I told you before that when I first got into like building sets and props and everything, it came from–

Christine: Yes.

Em: –my love of like sets and amusement parks.

Christine: I thought about you a lot ’cause I was like, “Oh, I can understand–“ ’Cause we– Like in the Star Wars part too–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –where I was like, “Oh, I can see if this were like, like Avenger– or this were something like Em, you know, Em s– I can see how like much that would affect you or like be exciting or be cool.”

Em: They’re like– You’re literally plucked into like a world–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –that you’ve seen so many times on a flat screen. It’s like, “Oh, I’m literally–“

Christine: Yeah.

Em: “I get to feel like I’m here.” Yeah, it’s, it’s really– I love, um, like the magical worldbuilding element. Like it–

Christine: I do too.

Em: Um, I’m glad you have that feeling.

Christine: As of two days ago.

Em: That’s a really, really nice euphoric experience to have.

Christine: Yes, thank you. It was very like grounding and like fun and just– Like I just was like, “I’ll just go with the flow.” And can I tell you something too? The amount of weird synchronicities. I ran into like four listeners, I think, throughout the two or three days we were there, and all of them were just so– It was almost like every time I met someone it was like, “Oh, I felt like I needed to have this chat or this conversation.”

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: And if I did meet you there you know who you are ’cause we probably had quite– There were a couple people who did– I think one or two knew I was going to Disney ’cause I brought it up on Beach Too Sandy. Um, but there was– There were two people who were like, “I was staring at you like, ‘Is that Christine? Why is she in Florida?’” And then this one person– This one woman who was in front of us at my new favorite ride– Oh, wait, no, that was not her. That was at the Frozen ri– We met Anna and Elsa, and the woman in line with us was like–

Em: Did Elsa recognize you? [chuckles]

Christine: –“Mom, that’s Christine!” You what?

Em: What’d you say?

Christine: No, no, we were in line for Elsa, sorry.

Em: Oh.

Christine: And the woman in front of us, Lindsay, she turns, and she goes, “Mom, that’s Christine.” [chuckles]

Em: Aw.

Christine: And then I was like, “Hello.” And we ended up being in like the same little room, and my, and my mother-in-law was with us, and she– We just had the best time. And then Leona and her daughter were watching Dino Ranch on the phone while we waited in line.

Em: Aw.

Christine: And I was like, “This is so like wholesome.” And we got to chat and stuff and, um– And she was like, “Is Em here?” And I was like [laughs]–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: I think she was kidding. But I was like, “Honestly, I don’t know. Probably.” Um–

Em: I, I do move in silence. Yeah.

Christine: You do move, and you do like– love a theme park. So I was like, “Maybe."

Em: I do love a theme park.

Christine: Um, I said, “Maybe Em’s at the one in LA, and then we’d be like kind of parallel.”

Em: Ah!

Christine: But the–

Em: Cosmic.

Christine: –the wildest one, I think, to me, was that I– I have a new favorite ride – not that I had a first favorite ride. I have a favorite ride, and it’s the Runaway Railroad, Mickey’s Runaway Railroad.

Em: I’ve heard that’s a good one. I don’t know what you’re talking about. I–

Christine: I didn’t know what I was talking about either.

Em: Okay.

Christine: And I, I was like, “Whatever, we’ll just go on it.” My– The other part was my in-laws planned it. They’ve done Disney. They– H-his dad worked at ESPN, so they have like the discount. They handled the whole thing, which was great ’cause I just got to show up and be a kid again and be like, “Wee! I’m just here for the ride.” So I went on that railroad thing, and I was like, “This is my favorite ride.” It’s like vintage. They have all the vintage like Mickey, Minnie, and like– It’s just really fun to watch.

Em: Mm.

Christine: And then like with Daisy, you’re doing like the cha-cha, and Leona was like cracking up. We were just having a great time.

Em: Precious.

Christine: We get off, and this woman walks up and goes, “Christine–” She recognized me, and she goes, “Do you want to do it one more time?”

Em: Oh!

Christine: And I was like, “What?” And I was like, “Are you sure? Like, I don’t, I don’t–“ And I was just so stunned. And Leona goes, “Yes!” [laughs] And so–

Em: [laughs] Leona was like, “I don’t know how the two of you know each other, but get me on that goddamn ride.”

Christine: She’s like, “And by the way, I don’t care. So step aside.” And, uh–

Em: [laughs] She’s like, “Mom, you’ve got friends everywhere. This works out really well.”

Christine: Exactly. She was like, “Is that your podcast friend?” And I was like, “Yeah.”

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Uh, and I just want to say to– Oh my gosh, I met so many, so many kind people, but Katie at the Runaway Railroad who works there, thank you for your kindness. I hope I’m allowed to say this about you helping me get Leona on the ride. I don’t know. Hopefully, you’re not gonna get in trouble for that. Maybe–

Em: Shame Katie doesn’t work there anymore, right? Wink wink, hush hush.

Christine: Wink wink. It’s a shame that it was a totally different ride and a different park also. And it had no–

Em: And your name’s not Katie. You gave us a pseudonym. That’s insane.

Christine: I did use a fake name. And so then I got onto the thing again with Leona, and I tried to take a selfie with the employee and–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –but she didn’t realize it, and she was moving. So there’s this photo of me and then like this blur in the background–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: –and I’m like, “This is the worst like photo ever.” [laughs] But–

Em: I’m sure Katie’s stoked that you were trying to take a picture with, with Katie.

Christine: I, I don’t– I hope so. But I’m gonna say– I– If you’re– Katie, if you’re out there, uh, DM me. You pro– You might have already done. I haven’t checked. But, uh, I’ll send you that photo, and I’ll send it to– for the social media ’cause it’s very funny. But thank you. And you made– By the way, you made my day so much more magical. You made Leona’s. And we, uh, left, and I bought Runaway Railroad, my first ever ears, like my first ever ears.

Em: Fun.

Christine: And I thought, “I’ll see– I’ll know it when I see it.” And then I saw the railroad. And there– It’s a train. And I was like, “Oh my god, it’s a railroad-themed like–”

Em: That's very perfect for you.

Christine: Anyway, thank you, Katie. Anyway, that’s all to say I had a wonderful time. I’m so appreciative of everyone I met. And now Em’s turn to talk.

Em: Well, pe– people are gonna a– are probably gonna ask–

Christine: Oh, yeah.

Em: –’cause I think this is like a– Of my Disney adult friends, one of the first questions they always ask me is like, “What’s your favorite like world or town?”

Christine: Oh. Mm…

Em: Like, like they’ve got like– I know, I know I obviously am not a Disney adult ’cause I don’t even know what right word it is, but there’s like–

Christine: Have you been to Epcot? That was my first time at Epcot.

Em: Cool. Nice. I–

Christine: No, have you been though?

Em: Well, I– ’Cause I was gonna ask you about the worlds and then I remembered, um, that I did go to Disney with Allison back in October, um, for a day, and then we did Universal. But, um, uh, the Disney one, my favorite was Toontown where it’s like–

Christine: Oh, I didn’t s– I didn’t go to Toontown.

Em: Oh, you would’ve gone nuts ’cause it’s–

Christine: Where is Toontown?

Em: It’s, um– [chuckles] Girl, I don’t know. It’s in Disney World. Um– [chuckles]

Christine: Hey! Direct me to Toontown. Directions to Toontown please!

Em: [laughs] Get me Toontown. Well, because–

Christine: [laughs]

Em: –they– That’s where you like–

Christine: Get Toontown on the horn. Beep-beep!

Em: That– It’s– If you like set design stuff, it’s like so immersive–

Christine: Ohh.

Em: –and it’s like where you go to like Mickey’s house and Minnie’s house, and you can walk through and like– It literally looks like everything is like cartoonized.

Christine: I’m looking it up.

Em: It’s a real house but all cartoonized. It’s very crazy. Um–

Christine: Oh, it says it only– Oh, Toontown f– Well, there’s one in LA–

Em: Oh, fuck.

Christine: –but not in Disney.

Em: So you didn’t even have a chance. Well, next time if you ever take, uh, Leona to Disneyland–

Christine: Hell, yeah.

Em: –Toontown is the spot. Um, I’m very happy for you, Christine.

Christine: Thank you so much.

Em: I don’t want to– I, I don’t mean to like harp on this or anything, but I also– I– As someone who loves an amusement park, it’s very warming to hear you have that experience.

Christine: I feel like I’m really, uh, growing a lot as a person and just saying, “You know what? I’m just gonna go with the flow.”

Em: Did you–

Christine: And hey, I fucking love Disney now. I mean, I don’t love Disney, but I loved going to Disney World, you know, and it was awesome.

Em: And as someone who fears parenthood, I’m so impressed you had so much fun with a child.

Christine: Oh, it–

Em: Like I feel like that would be–

Christine: Do you know that that was the best part is I think that Leona, now that she’s four, there’s something about that age– [chuckles] four– sorry, specifically 4 years, 5 months, and 13 days.

Em: Right, right, right, right.

Christine: [chuckles] There’s something about the age where she’s like– she like gets it. So like if there’s a long line and I’m like, “Oh, the ride’s just delayed,” she’s like, “Oh, okay.” It’s not like, “What? Why?”

Em: Right, it’s like–

Christine: Like it’s like she has more reasoning.

Em: She’s sentient. [laughs]

Christine: Yes. Yeah. She’s like a, a kid, and it’s more like– Oh, we can– And we have s– We– Em, Leona and I–

Em: Tell me.

Christine: –now have like inside jokes and stuff.

Em: So really what you’re telling me is parenthood– the, the fears that I have and the, the, the burdens I’m scared of taking on are really only like three years ol– like three years long. And then it’s–

Christine: That’s literally how I felt, and then I was like–

Em: Okay.

Christine: –“That’s probably totally wrong.” But in my mind, like the first three years are beautiful in their own way, but they’re very hard. And it’s still hard, don’t get me wrong.

Em: Sure.

Christine: But there’s something about the independence of like the preschool age where she– Like we went to see Crush the turtle, and she– We sat her down in the front with the kids, and then like ten minutes in, she stood up, walked right to the front and sat down in front of– [laughs] She’s like, “There was a spot open, and I wanted a better view.” And we were like–

Em: Good for you, girl.

Christine: –“Fucking get it, girl. I don’t know.” So– And we went to the pool party at night, and she like made like– A little older girl was like helping her like guess the answers to the like “name that tune”–

Em: Aw.

Christine: –and just like watching her play, and I just got to kind of lay there and like listen to a podcast. And I was like, “This is the kind of parenthood I can handle a lot better.” Um–

Em: That does feel very lovely. That feels very wonderful.

Christine: It was, it was really– And we stayed up till like 10 p.m., and like, you know, she stayed up late, and we went to bed and slept in our Nemo-themed bed.

Em: That was probably the best week of her life.

Christine: It– I mean it was the best week of my life too. I think–

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: –I was re-parenting myself in the process, but it was a very lovely time. So I n– I’m going on so long. I’m so sorry. Um–

Em: That's okay. I mean, I, I encourage it. Also, I– If this is me upstaging you again– I’m really trying to work on like–

Christine: Pl– No, please don’t. I need to balance this out with you talking a little bit.

Em: No, I’m really– It’s– I know it’s like an ADHD like stereotype and I’m really trying to work on it, but I always think that I’m coming across as like relatable where I’m like, “Oh, I have an experience like that.”

Christine: No, I mean, that’s how I see it.

Em: But then it comes across as like, “Oh, I’m trying to like one up you,” and I don’t wanna do that.

Christine: No, I know many very, very active one-uppers, and I don’t consider you to be one of them, so.

Em: Thank you. That’s very nice. Well, I– Just because I haven’t gotten to send this to anybody before, when I was at Universal– Universal was like my– the most incredible thing to me when I was a little kid. Um, and I hadn’t been since I was a little kid. And when we were there in October, um, Allison helped me recreate like pictures from when I was a little kid there.

Christine: That’s cute.

Em: So I’m, I’m just gonna send you one. But it was–

Christine: Please, please, please.

Em: –uh– We can put it up if, if people care to see that. But it was just very fun to like walk around like have like memory lane, you know.

Christine: [gasps, looking at the picture on her phone]

Em: Ain’t that precious?

Christine: Okay, that’s so cute. And also like you can see the fa– like the resemblance in your face, like the facial expression.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: It’s like you still know how to make that same face. That’s crazy.

Em: Well, thank you.

Christine: Like– [Christine poses as if taking a picture, tilting her head to the side and sucking in her cheeks.]

Em: Well, I was going everywhere, and I was like, “Oh, I have a memory.” And I, I– Remember I digitized all my mom’s pictures, so I was like scrolling through like that one year.

Christine: Oh my god, yes.

Em: I was like, “Let’s take a picture here. Let’s take a picture here.” So it was the–

Christine: Oh, we got to– You know what? And we can post like my vintage Disney and your vi– not vintage. I mean, it’s like 30 years ago–

Em: Well, can–

Christine: –but yeah, we can post our vintage pictures.

Em: Can you post a picture of you and Leona next to each other like at the same age?

Christine: [gasps] Yes. Because like–

Em: Okay.

Christine: –we have photos of the same– Yeah, that is weird.

Em: It’s weird.

Christine: To the same day. Like that was weird. And I, I kept like having this nagging feeling, and I was like, “That would be too weird. Like that would be– It’s probably like a month off,” and then it was like to the day, and I went, “This can’t be right.”

Em: That’s literally like the most synchronicity thing I’ve ever heard of.

Christine: It was so crazy. Um, anyway– Oh my god, I love these photos, Em. I’m– I love the reenactment. I wish I had thought of that. Next time.

Em: Thank you. Yeah. No, I, uh– That was– I love a reenactment.

Christine: Me too.

Em: Anyway, okay. Also we– Is– I assume that’s why you drink. What do you drink?

Christine: Oh, that refillable Disney mug full of orange Fanta.

Em: Can we see the mug? Is it not available?

Christine: I don’t have it right now because I left it downstairs, and it’s not full of Fanta right now. Um–

Em: Oh, you big dirty liar. Okay, well, that’s fine.

Christine: I know, but that’s what I drank for about four days, and it’s probably still running through my bloodstream. So I think– [chuckles]

Em: [laughs] Fair enough. Fair enough.

Christine: Uh, and I will say I had a D. Peppy, and it was this big [holds her hands up to indicate around a typical can height], and I drank it all. So that’s [unintelligible].

Em: Good for you.

Christine: Thank you so much.

Em: Um, my drink is at the door, so–

Christine: [gasps]

Em: –I’ll be right back, and then we’re–

Christine: Go get it!

Em: –and then we’re going to tell spooky stories.

Christine: Let’s do it.

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Em’s Story – The Goldfield Hotel - Part 2/The Original 2004 Ghost Adventures Documentary

Em: Someone was a bad boy yesterday at the park.

Christine: No, it couldn’t be Hankies. It couldn’t be–

Em: It was.

Christine: Oh, a lot of people asked about Hank. [laughs]

Em: What’s that?

Christine: A lot of people asked about Hank ’cause I was like–

Em: Oh. [chuckles]

Christine: Like I would meet people, and they were like, “Oh, how’s Em? How’s Hank?” And I was like, “I haven’t even met Hank.” Mm.

Em: He’s a– I got a little loose– You see that, girl? A little–

[Em tilts their head from side to side as they watch a strand of hair standing straight up wiggle.]

Christine: Oh, I see her. She’s having a fucking dance party up there.

Em: She literally said, um–

Christine: She's like, “You can’t tame me.”

[Em fixes the strand of hair, tucking it down.]

Em: Okay. Um, to give everybody the update since I wasn’t there, Floridians. Um, Hank is good, but he has been a bad boy. And so, um–

Christine: [gasps] Couldn’t be.

Em: I don’t know what’s going on with him. He is having a little– He’s having a week. Um, and everyone at the dog park is very patient with him, but I have to remind him because we go to the small dog park, and he’s a big boy.

Christine: Mm.

Em: I think today we’re gonna take him to the big dog park and humble him a little bit and remind him–

Christine: Sometimes–

Em: –he’s a guest at the small dog park.

Christine: –you gotta say, “This is how it works. You got to be– treat others how you want to be treated.”

Em: He was being a little too rowdy. And usually he’s very good at gauging. And if like a dog like checks him on it, he’ll stop, but he has been–

Christine: A little rambunctious.

Em: –a little too much. He does the thing– Ugh, I feel like I’m like a parent who’s like defending horrible behavior and I’m not trying to, but j– for context, he thinks he’s playing, but he looks like he wants to fucking maul you. And like it’s–

Christine: Right. Right, right.

Em: And I’m like– I don’t know. I, I would love to know how to train that out of him, and I don’t know how. But he like lunge and like, like doesn’t actually physically bite them but like tries–

Christine: Oh, yeah. Gio does that too. Yeah.

Em: [Em mimics a small bite as they make the sound of a dog play-biting.] And he does that, but he’s also a fucking Rottweiler at a small dog park, you know.

Christine: And then they go like this– [Christine crouches in her seat with her hands in front of her like a dog in a play bow position.] Like kind of like his hunches are– Yeah. I know exactly.

Em: Yeah. So it looks–

Christine: He and Gio would probably just like go in circles like that.

Em: I hope– I would hope so. Like and his best friends there are like little dogs who like that. And so like those little dogs are like, “Ah, give it to me.” And they like fuck them up, and he, he eats it up. But then when those dogs aren’t there–

Christine: Oh–

Em: –and he tries to do–

Christine: –and the ones are like, “What the fuck are you doing?” Yeah.

Em: He tries to do it with the other dogs. And it’s like you can’t– you have to, you have to–

Christine: You have to ease everybody into it. Yeah.

Em: You have to pick and choose when you do that shit.

Christine: Right.

Em: And anyway, he’s, um, in timeout currently, so.

Christine: Aw, baby.

Em: Okay. This is arguably one of the best, um, topics we will ever cover. Do you–

Christine: [gasps]

Em: Well, do you remember what is supposed to happen today?

Christine: [chuckles] Not even a– Oh! Wait. [pause as Christine thinks] No.

Em: Okay. So if you recall in our last episode, we discussed the Goldfield Hotel.

Christine: Yes, I remember that.

Em: I have a recap for you because I know you don’t remember what happened. Um– With love.

Christine: It was a hotel, and it was called Goldfield, and that was in gold rush era.

Em: Well, shit.

Christine: I know. Can you believe that?

Em: It’s like I don’t even– It’s like I don’t have to be here. Um–

Christine: It’s like I got an A on the test.

Em: Well, I, I say there’s no way you remember because there was– I didn’t remember either. So I was like, “What the hell happened?” So I had to go back and look through my notes. And, um, just for other people who didn’t, uh–

Christine: Oh, there was a lady in white. No, I’m kidding. [chuckles]

Em: Well, there was a lady for sure. You know her as, um– Fuck, what’s her name? Elizabeth. Because remember the guy who owned this very luxurious gold town hotel–

Christine: [gasps] He chained her to a radiator.

Em: Yes. He got her pregnant, although he was married to somebody else, and so nobody would find out in town, he stole, stole her away in the night and hid her in one of his hotel rooms–

Christine: Terrible.

Em: –chained her to a radiator–

Christine: Through her pregnant– throughout her pregnancy and then– Oh.

Em: And then killed– And then when she gave birth to the baby, which you make a great point–

Christine: Which–

Em: –of like, “Why didn’t he just kill her immediately?”

Christine: Yeah.

Em: But through the pregnancy and then killed her and the baby and threw them down one of the mine shafts connected to the hotel.

Christine: My only guess now that we bring back up– [chuckles] throwing the baby down the– You know, now that we’re discussing it–

Em: Now that we’re unpacking that again.

Christine: Thank god. Uh, thanks for the reminder. Um, I wonder if it is one of those things where the baby’s born and he’s like, “It’s not a boy,” or, “It looks just like me–“

Em: Ohh. Good point.

Christine: “–and I don’t want everyone to know.” I mean, I don’t know. Maybe he was trying to find a way to be like, “We can make this work.”

Em: Maybe he found out that it wasn’t his.

Christine: Ohh.

Em: Maybe he went–

Christine: Oh, Em. Holy shit.

Em: Maybe that, that little baby had like some red hair or something, and he was like, “What is going on?”

Christine: Because like it’s not like he doesn’t have– It’s not like he has an anger problem or anything, changing– chaining her to a fucking bedroom or whatever.

Em: You see. You see.

Christine: I see. I understand.

Em: Um, at any rate, he allegedly killed them both – or at least hired somebody else to do it and handle it for him.

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Em: Where we left off and why this is so special and why you’re about to be so excited, Christine, is because the last thing I said was that, um, after the 1940s, the hotel was abandoned and neglected and then became very loved by the paranormal community.

Christine: That’s right.

Em: When–

Christine: [gasps and bounces up and down, clapping her hands on her legs in excitement and dancing in her seat]

Em: –a young man with a dream decided to film a documentary here in 2004, and that man ended up becoming the Zak Bagans. And this documentary was the very first iteration of what would become Ghost Adventures.

Christine: [singing] ♪ Let’s do it. Let’s do it. It’s party time. Oh, yeah! ♪♪

Em: So we’re going to start – 2004. It was a real year for us. We were in middle school. It was probably tough.

Christine: May– Oh, it was fucking miserable.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: I remember none of it. Uh, Em, do you happen to know what the topic is for you this– Like h-how did you phrase the topic this week?

Em: Sure. I– That’s a great thing ’cause I’m sure Megan will want that for our episodes list. Is that why you’re asking?

Christine: And I want it just for my heart, you know.

Em: Oh, I see. Okay. Well, I did title it as both Hotel– or, Goldfield Hotel – Part Two a-and as well, um, the original Ghost Adventures documentary.

Christine: Ahh!

Em: The 2004 Ghost Adventures documentary.

Christine: Okay. I just wanted to know like– I just wanted to feel that phrase in my bones for a moment. Okay.

Em: All right. This is the Goldfield Hotel – part two; aka the original 2004 Ghost Adventures documentary.

Christine: [groans excitedly] Bring it on.

Em: Alright. [sighs] 2004, and there is a–

Christine: I’ve never seen this, by the way, just to clarify.

Em: Well, it’s funny that you mention that.

Christine: At least I don’t believe I have. If I have, I certainly don’t remember watching i-it. I was about to say, have you seen it? [laughs]

Em: Have I seen it? Uh, yeah. I’ve scoured it a little bit and, uh–

Christine: Had you seen it before this episode?

Em: –and don’t– I had never seen it before.

Christine: Okay, okay.

Em: I actually didn’t know– I literally thought episode one of Ghost Adventures–

Christine: I did too.

Em: –was episode one of Ghost Adventures.

Christine: ’Cause we’ve watched episode one a million times, and we’re always– It just kind of jumps into it.

Em: But here’s where you’re gonna feel like the stupidest person on earth, as do I, and as will everyone else who’s ever only thought the first episode was the first of it. What does fucking Zak Bagans say every goddamn time? “I never believed in ghosts until I came face-to-face with one.” And that was before episode one, so something must have happened.

Christine: I thought– didn’t know it was on camera though. I just assumed he meant like when he was ten, like you and your grandpa.

Em: Well, please hold. You’re half right. Please hold. Also, don’t worry. I got you. There’s the link. Enjoy watching that tonight.

Christine: Yo, I’m ready.

Em: It’s only on Vimeo, folks. Uh, as far as I could find–

Christine: [laughs] Thank god.

Em: –if you’d like a free link.

Christine: Does he not like pro– Is he trying to find someone to like sell it to?

Em: I don’t, I don’t know what’s going on there.

Christine: Weird.

Em: Um, and I don’t know why he doesn’t talk about that documentary anymore.

Christine: That’s– Maybe there’s something up ’cause h– it– he would be able to get it off of all the streaming, you know. If anyone–

Em: 100%.

Christine: –could get it off the streaming– Uh, I’m gonna buy it on Blu-ray so he can never take it away from me. [chuckles]

Em: [laughs] Well, you know, you could just digitize anything you find on– It’s like a YouTube mp3–

Christine: It’s Napster.

Em: –converter at this point–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –you know. Um, no, I– For all I know, it is accessible elsewhere, but as soon as I typed it in–

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Em: And keep in mind, remember, I didn’t know this going into–

Christine: Right, right.

Em: –doing the research last week on the Goldfield Hotel until someone said, “Oh, yeah–“

Christine: It was like served up to you on a beautiful silver platter.

Em: I gotta– I hate Reddit. I gotta thank Reddit though, because some random post was like, “Oh, yeah. And that was like the, the topic of his like documentary in 2004.”

Christine: [groans] Bless you.

Em: And I went, “What the fuck are you saying to me?” And that’s how we got here. So thank you to that Reddit–

Christine: Bless you.

Em: –person. The butterfly effect is crazy.

Christine: Seriously.

Em: So okay. 2004, a spring chicken of a 27-year-old man– He is now 48, by the way.

Christine: 48. Okay.

Em: He’s been doing this a long time.

Christine: He was 27.

Em: He was 27. Um, I think he had frosted tips. I’m pretty sure he had frosted tips.

Christine: Oh, of course he did.

Em: He was lanky. He did not have his muscles yet.

Christine: Wow.

Em: And he wore blue instead of black.

Christine: That is so trippy.

Em: It was just like a random man on camera.

Christine: The blue is almost the most shocking part weirdly.

Em: I literally wrote in my notes like the most jarring thing in the world was that he was not in black.

Christine: I-it’s just the weirdest thing to picture. I, I can’t envision it.

Em: It– He just looks like a guy that came out of a, a Walgreens–

Christine: Eugh.

Em: –and now he’s ghosthunting.

Christine: Yeah, yeah.

Em: Um, he starts the documentary with his very first original introduction because it wasn’t the– his, his famous one. This was his–

Christine: I’m so delighted.

Em: It was, by the way, just as over the top. There were always signs he would be who he is.

Christine: And 2004 was like peak cringe. So I just–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Oh god.

Em: If it stayed in 2004 and then he made Ghost Adventures as the series and never did it again, I would think he was like, “I’m not doing that again. That was crazy.” But he clearly brought this vibe from the original documentary. So I–

Christine: [chuckles] Oh, yeah, yeah. Okay, okay.

Em: Of course, I quoted it here for you. This is the o-original intro to the original Ghost Adventures. And remember, he does not look like how he used– how he currently does.

Christine: [squeals in excitement]

Em: So it’s even sillier because he still sounds as intense and for no reason, and he– His fit isn’t matching.

Christine: Wait, so I love that the intensity is already there though, and he’s like, “I just haven’t f– I just haven’t like [unintelligible]–“

Em: He hasn’t struck gold yet.

Christine: Yeah. “My chrysalis hasn’t quite–“

Em: I–

Christine: “I haven’t emerged in the full form.”

Em: Yeah, exactly.

Christine: Wow.

Em: Exactly. That’s right. He was just the Eevee in his evolution.

Christine: Aw.

Em: You know what I’m saying? Th–

Christine: More like the ZB. [chuckles]

Em: [laughs] Shut the fuck up. [in a deep, dramatic voice, mimicking Zak Bagans] “Philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson–“

Christine: Alright, alright.

Em: “–said, ‘It is the secret of the world that all things subsist and do not die, but retire little from sight, and afterwards return again and again… Nothing is dead. People feign themselves dead and endure mock funerals and mournful obituaries. And there they stand, looking out the window, sounding well in some new disguise.’ This secret must be told to the world, and they must tell it because they are not dead. I know this, and I’ll prove it.” Why chills? Why did I get that? Why? [laughs]

Christine: Don’t you want to ki– Don’t you wanna, don’t you wanna just jump off a bridge? Don’t you wanna?

Em: I truly– I literally– It– Out of– I think out of total excitement for your reaction, I think.

Christine: I– You know, he really did have me at the beginning like with the–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: – like, “Ralph–“ [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Like okay, not at the beginning beginning, not with Ralph Waldo Emerson. That, I thought, was absolutely pure lunacy.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Like don’t be fucking ridiculous, you know.

Em: It was, um–

Christine: You’re starting off r– fucking insane. S– Like give it a rest. But then when the quote began, and I heard like– See? Here I go. I’m getting chills again. Here we go.

Em: [laughs] He would– Okay, the way that like he would love that we still can’t get enough of him–

Christine: But he knows–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: –and that’s what pisses me right off is like he knows people are like this about him–

Em: [sighs]

Christine: –and it makes me crazy mad. Okay, so–

Em: What was, what was the part, what was the part that got you?

Christine: When he said, you know, “Ralph Waldo Emerson–“ Whether he said it or not remains to be seen. I suppose we should google it before we claim it’s true, but, you know, the quote about like nothing ever dies. It like disappears and returns. And I was like, “What a ni– If that’s like a real quote, that’s– I like that.” That’s like a great like–

Em: I agree.

Christine: –tonally very cool. And then it just kinda kept going, and I didn’t know when the quote ended.

Em: Yeah, right. Right, right.

Christine: And so I was like, “Where–“

Em: Neither did I, by the way.

Christine: “Where’s Ralph and where’s ZB? Like I’m confused.”

Em: When typing it out, I had to go, “I think he’s done here.” [chuckles]

Christine: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Like, “Is this Zak now? ’Cause I feel like we’ve kind of shifted tonally once again.”

Em: Yeah. “People feign themselves dead and endure mock funerals and mournful obituaries” – I was like, “That’s a Zak line, not a Emerson quote.”

Christine: That– I was like, “That’s a little much, Ralph Waldo Emerson.” And then I thought, “Maybe that’s not Ralph Wa- Maybe that’s– now we’re back to Zak.” I don’t know.

Em: Yeah, he’s, um– And I will say as soon as I started watching– I mean, second one, that’s the first thing that comes out of his mouth–

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: –and I literally immediately had to pause it. I went, “Oh my god. We’re gonna do this? Okay.”

Christine: I mean– Okay, I was literally just thinking, “We’re going like line by line. We’re gonna be here for 16 hours, and we’re not gonna stop–“

Em: Yeah.

Christine: “–’cause we just can’t. It’s gonna be bad.”

Em: Well, no– I, I, I just, I just hearing his voice, but it was a different equally cringe thing. I was like–

Christine: You just gotta take a deep breath before continuing.

Em: I was like, “Now I gotta type that out. That’s gonna be so annoying.”

Christine: God. [sighs]

Em: So. Anyway, so there’s the, the opening line to the original documentary.

Christine: [chuckles] “and I’ll prove it.”

Em: And– “And I’ll prove it,” yeah. So he opens the documentary with him sharing–

Christine: [sighs]

Em: –his first paranormal experience–

Christine: [gasps]

Em: –the one where he didn’t believe in ghosts until he came face-to-face with one.

Christine: Okay, okay, okay. Great.

Em: And I do remember him mentioning it like once–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –quickly in an episode, but–

Christine: I think I’ve heard about it.

Em: But in this one, because it’s a documentary, I think he was like, “We have to start from the beginning.” And he literally goes to the apartment he lived in when this happened and like interviews the like super there.

Christine: It’s funny how anything can be a documentary nowadays. You know what I mean? [chuckles]

Em: [laughs] Okay, Dad.

Christine: [laughs] Just kidding. Um, okay. So he tells the– It’s a very serious documentary, so he has to tell us about his experience. Sure.

Em: He goes to his old apartment, and he says, while in the room– I mean, he’s in the room where he lived. And he says in 1999, he kept waking up to a female voice saying his name at 3 a.m., and eventually, it progressed where he would wake up to her floating in his room.

Christine: Mm.

Em: And one time he woke up to feeling her like sitting on his back, and he felt paralyzed, and then that was the night that he like fled his apartment and believed in ghosts.

Christine: [chuckles] Do you know why I know this, I think?

Em: Why?

Christine: I think I know this from, from Nick’s like book that he wrote or whatever the fuck.

Em: Oh, really?

Christine: I think I like was reading– I was like skimming it, and I saw that– It was like in a book– Or maybe it was that weird book we found on the internet that you bought me.

Em: Oh! God, that was a weird one.

Christine: That was a–

Em: I wish I even knew what that was.

Christine: And I think I started skimming through, and I think she told that story, that weird fangirl. Um–

Em: I think I thought it was probably like fanfiction or something. I don’t think I knew it would have been real.

Christine: Yeah. I’m, I’m not–

Em: Hm.

Christine: Maybe it was in the Nick story. Anyway, sorry, but I do remember. So the lady was showing up, and she was like materializing and stuff. Yeah.

Em: Yeah. And then in the documentary, the– his old landlord even says that someone once died in the apartment building and–

Christine: Ohh.

Em: –and so he now– now Zak thinks it was the woman from upstairs who’d died.

Christine: But so how old was he? He wasn’t a child though. He was an adult.

Em: Well, he was 22–

Christine: Okay, okay.

Em: –when he had the ghost experience.

Christine: Got it.

Em: And now he’s 27 in this, so it was only five years before. So it’s like us going to like Los Feliz or something.

Christine: Okay. [laughs]

Em: Or, or K-Town.

Christine: Right.

Em: It’s like us going to K-Town. Um, so anyway, that’s– He films that. Great. And then now he’s come face to face with one. And now we want answers.

Christine: Well, we do certainly.

Em: Answers, answers. So this documentary is him– He– It’s actually– I was gonna say this is him setting off on a three-week paranormal investigation throughout, uh, Nevada, but he even says in the intro, he’s like, “Um, so for the first two weeks, we couldn’t find anything. Um, so this is week three.” [laughs]

Christine: Oh my god. And then this motherfucker expects us to believe that every 20 seconds on his goddamn show, there’s another demon trying to enter his body. But–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: –oh, the first time he did it, it took two weeks. Okay.

Em: Yeah. And by the way, so it was Aaron, Nick, and him in the beginning. And there’s like little clips of Aaron, and he has a full head of hair, which is insane.

Christine: Wow.

Em: Um, but, uh, I guess by week two and nothing being there, Aaron fucking left. So the whole documentary is just him and Nick. [chuckles]

Christine: Oh, really?

Em: Yeah, like Aaron’s not there.

Christine: [chuckles] Aaron fucking bailed. Wait. Oh, do you think that’s why – I’m serious–

Em: I think so.

Christine: – Zak punishes him?

Em: I think Zak punishes him for like–

Christine: Subconsciously maybe?

Em: –“You once abandoned us at our, at our fir– at our very first scary experience,” you know.

Christine: I bet you he, he was like pissed off like, “You missed– like, “You missed this thing that we were gonna film and do and then you still got to be part of it and like” duh-duh-duh. I bet you he’s punishing him.

Em: Well, he punished him in a different way too where– I want you to know that if you were to have gotten chills at all–

Christine: Oh no.

Em: –when watching this, like real heartwarming chills because you’re like, “Oh, look how far they’ve come,” um, it would have happened here because after he says no– you know, “The first two weeks nothing happened until we got to the Goldfield Hotel,” and then it cuts to black, and then the credits on the screen read “4Reel Productions presents a Zak Bagans and Nick Groff film: Ghost Adventures.”

Christine: Stop.

Em: And part of me is like cringe city, but the other part of me is like, “Aw, that was– They thought that was gonna be it, and it was just the beginning.”

Christine: What was it called? Four?

Em: Well, it’s like their production compa– It wasn’t them. It was a different production company. But–

Christine: Oh!

Em: –“4Reel Productions presents a Zak Bagans and Nick Groff film: Ghost Adventures.”

Christine: Okay.

Em: Which I–

Christine: The fact–

Em: But–

Christine: –that they kicked Aaron out though – again–

Em: That’s what I was gonna say. I was like–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –because he wasn’t fucking there–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –they probably were like, “And you’re not invited to the, the executive producer role,” yeah.

Christine: Oh, and you know Aaron’s had FOMO ever since which is why he’s so clingy. And then like Zak–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: –I mean it’s so fucking ob– Like men, come on.

Em: Men, men, men, men.

Christine: Go to therapy.

Em: Well, [sighs] so the hotel investigation is only Zak and Nick, like I said. Um, and also in at least the first few seasons of Ghost Adventures, he does say in the intro, he’s like “with no fancy camera equipment,” or whatever.

Christine: Yeah. Oh, yeah.

Em: And it was very cute to not have that like voice in my head, while also watching the fact that this was in 2004 before ghost hunting was like a cool thing, before he was friends with that Bill Chappell guy. Like–

Christine: I was gonna say, and he had all the fancy– Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Em: There was nothing fancy.

Christine: Wow.

Em: He literally– It was just him and his buddy with a camera, a flashlight, a voice recorder–

Christine: And by the way, on–

Em: –and a dream.

Christine: [chuckles] And a dream. And by the way– [chuckles] And a grudge against Aaron. A–

Em: And a grudge. [chuckles]

Christine: And a really lame name for their production company or whoever–

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: –whoever’s production company. But, um, the other thing is that was also week three and they hadn’t had anything, so like they’re still doing this on week three with no footage so far is crazy to me.

Em: With, with like two– Well, also I, you know–

Christine: I would have kicked Aaron out too. Hang on. I– Fuck Aaron. I would have kicked Aaron out too now that I think about it. [laughs]

Em: Honestly, like I– You know what’s funny is because I so desperately want to like defend ghost hunting, I’m like, “Well, of course they didn’t get anything. They didn’t have any equipment.” But then I’m like, “Well, but maybe that means the equipment isn’t real.”

Christine: Yeah, I know. That’s hard.

Em: I don’t, I don’t–

Christine: That’s hard.

Em: I’ll never know. But, um, but yeah, they literally just had cameras and a flashlight, and then like one of them brought a recorder for EVPs.

Christine: Maybe that like the universe needed him to commit. You know, they were like, “If you make it past the first two weeks, you can prove that this is–“

Em: It’s almost more telling.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: It’s like, “Well, if you could only have one camera and that’s it and you got shit, then maybe, you know–“

Christine: I guess he worked for it. Yeah.

Em: Yeah. Um, so, okay. So now they do their very first walkthrough. Basically, they hear that there’s this, um, Old Western guy that people see walking through the halls. They get– People have heavy items thrown at them. One person’s been levitated and shoved into a wall.

Christine: Mm.

Em: Um, there was a camera crew that came in before them and like a– for a different segment, and I guess the camera got lifted out of the cameraman’s arms by itself.

Christine: Oh no.

Em: Horrifying.

Christine: Oh no.

Em: And s– one thing that– Again, maybe there were signs from the very beginning. Maybe we should be listening. But one thing that Ghost Adventures witnesses here that I saw nowhere else is possession.

Christine: [gasps]

Em: And on their first try with only a camera, a flashlight, and a dream. Um–

Christine: Okay. Okay, okay, okay. So now I’m shifting again because I’m down– I’m downshifting now ’cause I’m thinking– Hang on a second. So I was all, I was all proud of them for waiting two weeks to get any footage, but then I’m like, so then you jump from nothing–

Em: After two weeks, maybe they were just like, “I don’t know, man. Act fucking possessed.” I don’t know.

Christine: Exact– I just– I– Yeah, I, I– It– I mean, maybe it was just like so extreme and shocking that it like worked. I don’t know.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: I guess.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Do you believe it?

Em: Hm.

Christine: That’s a loaded question because it’s like–

Em: Mm.

Christine: –layered, but I– [sighs]

Em: I, I think in this– I don’t know. I don’t know. I– ’Cause it’s too, um– Let me put it this way. I’m gonna be talking about this documentary, and then you get like a bonus–

Christine: Okay.

Em: –bonus footage that I’m gonna talk about. Um, and I feel like at least one of these people was a phony, and it could have been either.

Christine: Mm.

Em: I wanna, I wanna believe that someone is telling the truth here.

Christine: Interesting. Oh, I thought Zak gets possessed.

Em: Please hold.

Christine: Oh, okay.

Em: So in this documentary, Zak and Nick, and they have a caretaker who shows them around, and they all decide they’re gonna try to do a seance here, of course.

Christine: Oh, of course.

Em: Immediately, they hear sounds upstairs, and they get freaked out, which I love finally seeing Zak freaked out because he was new to this still. He was–

Christine: In genuine, genuine fashion. That’s really refreshing.

Em: And after two weeks of nothing, he was probably like, “Oh my god. Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck.”

Christine: He’s probably like, “Wait, wait, wait, hold on.” Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Em: And the caretaker during the seance– And now sounds are happening upstairs as if they just stirred something up. Now the caretaker is acting a little possessed.

Christine: Oh, ew!

Em: She starts saying really odd things, none which were juicy enough for me to write down, but she started saying odd things and acting kind of out of character. And later on, they interview her, and she had no recollection of that, so she says.

Christine: Weird.

Em: She was also the caretaker who was levitated and shoved into a wall. So I don’t, I don’t know about her credibility, but–

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: –she, uh, she could be telling the tr– could be telling the truth. I don’t fucking know. But, um, then they do playback on their 2004 digital camera.

Christine: Oh my god.

Em: And they catch a shadow, and they’re able to somehow debunk that it’s not their shadow, so they think that might be like the Western guy that everyone sees. They hear sounds, and Zak is freaked out again, which, again, so refreshing. And, um, but also it’s because he didn’t have all of his muscles to protect him yet, remember.

Christine: True. And he wasn’t like ready to like punch the ghost right, right about now. He was probably more in f-flight rather than fight.

Em: He didn’t have all of his tattoos to, you know, to, uh–

Christine: To threaten everyone.

Em: –make him look really scary. Yeah.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: He didn’t have all the crosses tattooed on him, so he didn’t have a protection around him.

Christine: Oh my god. Finally, he has his amulets in his body.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: [laughs, blowing a raspberry]

Em: Like he’s fucking Iron Man.

Christine: [laughs]

Em: Okay. So I did write down his, um, uh, his, uh, his response when he got freaked out ’cause there were like really creepy sounds going on, and I’m going to assume that they weren’t faking it. I get–

Christine: I, I would genuinely believe that he was scared in this instance.

Em: I–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: He seems genuinely scared. Um, and also because like they didn’t have a series where like they had like, you know, to keep ratings high or anything–

Christine: Uh-huh.

Em: –and everyone– he has this persona know that– that, that everyone knows now and it’s kind of assumed that maybe not all of it’s real.

Christine: He might be like more just authentically reacting.

Em: I think, I think he was really hearing actual sounds and freaking out, and this is what he said. [chuckles] He said, “Okay, we hear you.”

Christine: [laughs]

Em: “We hear you, okay? And, and we don’t think you’re very nice–“

Christine: [laughs]

Em: “–but, but we have, we have no, we have no fear of you.” [laughs]

Christine: Wow. He’s like a little tiger cub. Like “rawr!”

Em: It was like Simba’s first roar.

Christine: Yes!

Em: Yes, exactly.

Christine: Oh my god, bud.

Em: “We hear you, okay?” [laughs]

Christine: “We hear you. And I’m not scared at all.” [laughs]

Em: [laughs] That was the day he hit the gym, by the way. Um–

Christine: Wow. Wow, wow. [laughs]

Em: So–

Christine: That was the day he hit the gym. Is that you said? [laughs]

Em: So–

Christine: He was like, “Something’s gotta change.”

Em: So the next thing that happens, um, is the thing that I think made this documentary very successful. Um, I am going to send you this.

Christine: I mean, not successful enough that it’s anywhere streamable, but okay. [laughs]

Em: Right. [laughs] Well, no, this, this was the thing that I think how– whoever saw it–

Christine: But it probably got him his show. Right.

Em: –whoever saw it at like a casting or some sort of production company–

Christine: Like submitted as a pitch or something.

Em: –it became, um– They were like, “Okay, w-we’re gonna give you a shot.”

Christine: “We’re gonna give it a shot.” Wow.

Em: So this is the clip. It’s– I want you to go to 20 seconds, and I want you to look at the bottom left corner during this clip. But I will, I will preface it by saying this is after he just heard all those sounds, and he’s super freaked out. And they go into this room that’s unfinished, and there’s a bunch of like abandoned like bricks and lumber, and it looks like kind of like a construction zone. It’s just like untouched basement stuff.

Christine: Okay. And you said to go to–

Em: 20 seconds.

Christine: So this is, uh– Look where the flashlight is showing you said?

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: Okay. 20 seconds. Here we go. And we’ll put the link to this in the show notes.

Em: Yes.

Zak Bagans: Is that you making all the noise?

Christine: [gasps]

Zak Bagans: Holy shit!

Christine: [laughs] That scared me. Was that a brick, Em?

Em: It was a brick.

Christine: [gasps]

Em: Yeah. So watch again, go watch it–

Christine: I was about to say, “Oh, it’s probably a bat or something.”

Em: [laughs] That would’ve been funny, but no.

Zak Bagans: Is that you making all the noise?

Christine: Holy [pauses] shit.

Zak Bagans: Oh my god. Holy–

Em: There are things in this world that we will never understand.

Christine: I–

Em: You want answers? He’s–

Christine: I’m so pissed off at Aaron right now.

Em: Literally– [laughs] You know that they were screaming– They called Aaron in the car later, and they’re like, “You fucking–“

Christine: You know they manifested, they manifested all this activity just to be like, “Fuck you, Aaron.”

Em: I– Literally, you know, that when Aaron saw that footage though, he went, “Fucking thank god I sensed that I need to get out of here.”

Christine: Yeah, yeah. Honestly though, and then he’s been punished ever since. You’re probably right. But–

Em: So–

Christine: Yeah, explai–

Em: –for those who don’t know–

Christine: It’s crazy.

Em: Um, for those who don’t know– We did– We are gonna post the link, but in case you are not, um– that’s not accessible to you, uh, basically, he’s in a room. He’s already freaked out. He’s saying, [in a shaky voice] “I’m not scared of you.”

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: And then a brick literally levitates like a, a foot off the ground and then flies at them.

Christine: Just like gets chucked from– But you see it. It’s like on the floor, and then it just like gets chucked toward them.

Em: It like– It looks like– It, it looks like a– Like it looks like it’s levitating and flying on its own. It’s crazy. It’s like–

Christine: It’s like someone threw it but like from the flo– That’s–

Em: [singing Elphaba’s riff from the end of “Defying Gravity” from Wicked] ♪ Ah ah-ah-ah ah! ♪♪

Christine: [laughs]

Em: It’s like full– It’s gone.

Christine: I mean, yeah. No, yeah, really. That’s what it looks like. That’s crazy.

Em: And so a, a– something threw a brick at them. It made a loud sound.

Christine: Oh, and they are scared. It’s not like they’re like doing any hijinks here. You can– There’s no hijinks here. You can tell.

Em: The screams from Zak are like never before, and Zak Bagans–

Christine: That's probably why he banned it from the internet.

Em: [laughs] Well, I was gonna say, Zak, I pray to god you never hear this episode, by the way, but if you were to, I motion for you to bring back screaming like a little girl because it made it so much more believable.

Christine: It’s authentic. Yes, totally believe–

Em: Be scared, man.

Christine: Totally.

Em: There’s no way you’re not scared. Just be scared. It’s okay.

Christine: I just envisioned us someday in a court like having to watch this on the TV with the jury watching–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: –’cause we’ve been sued by Zak Bagans and like–

Em: That's funny ’cause I see us in jail, uh, for sure. [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] Yeah, okay. Also watching Zak Bagans still.

Em: You know, in like the settlement, he’d be like, “They’re going to jail for the rest of our lives, and also you have to play this in the common room.”

Christine: “And also this is the only thing able to be played on movie night.” Yeah.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: I’m gonna watch this brick one more time.

Zak Bagans: Is that you making all the noise?

Em: Uh, what’d you say?

Christine: The weird thing is that it does cut right before it though.

Em: It does. It cuts?

Christine: Let me see.

Zak Bagans: Is that you making all the noise? Holy [beeped out]!

Christine: That’s pretty crazy.

Em: What if that was Aaron all along? And they were just like, “Oh, he went missing,” and he’s just throwing bricks in–

Christine: [chuckles] He’s just in the corner waiting, yeah.

Em: He was just the first person to like f-fake a, an event.

Christine: Then he probably does deserve the punishments he’s been getting.

Em: It’s karma for– a global karma.

Christine: That’s right.

Em: Um, so basically, they get freaked out, and they sprint away. Like I’ve never se– Like the camera– It’s 2004– It looks like The Blair Witch–

Christine: It’s like grainy.

Em: –like it’s just running down a hall.

Christine: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Em: And then he’s literally hiding. Zak is in– just hiding in a room and screaming. And you can hear–

Christine: It’s so obvious why he’s not letting this be played on the internet.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: It’s cracking me up to the extent of my b– This is beautiful.

Em: He’s horrified. Horrified. And I don’t blame him. I’d be horrified too. And it’s– You’re in a ghost town where there’s a population of like maybe 500 people. You just got a brick thrown at you in a basement, and like you’re, you’re by yourself in the pitch black.

Christine: You went there on purpose.

Em: The– Hello? We’ve, we’ve also done it on purpose and gotten scared for sure. Remember the Queen Mary? We were– We left before midnight. Let’s not act like we are any better.

Christine: [sighs] All right. All right. I’ll give him a break this one time.

Em: We– That Denny’s, by the way– I didn’t sign up for the fucking– that experience.

Christine: You’re right. And I do believe that we– I think we’ve kind of hinted to each other– We haven’t quite outright discussed it, maybe we have, that maybe something dark did sort of kind of come with us after that ’cause we had a few years of some bizarre–

Em: Bizarre stuff for sure.

Christine: –curse-worthy stuff. So, uh– Yeah.

Em: Well, we can relate to Zak then because I’m sure he thinks the Goldfield Hotel has put a, a curse on him in some way.

Christine: Okay. He thinks a lot of places have put a curse on him though. Um–

Em: This would be the beginning for sure.

Christine: He’d probably be right.

Em: This one was the first crack in the concrete.

Christine: Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Em: So he’s hiding and screaming, which defeats the purpose of hiding. But then, um–

Christine: [laughs] Okay, good point. We just needed to say that, not the other bit.

Em: [laughs] Um, and then Nick is in another room hiding, screaming. And so they’re both hiding in different rooms, but screaming across the hallway at each other. And, uh, they’re literally screaming, “I want to go home. I don’t want to be here. I wanna leave.”

Christine: Aww.

Em: And then they– You hear a door very loudly. It’s the room that Zak’s hiding in. The door moves by itself.

Christine: Ahh!

Em: You can hear the creek of it. Eugh. And Zak literally screams, and they leave immediately. And when I say leave, this was back in the day where they would literally get locked in the building so they could not leave. And they jumped out of the fire escape, the second floor fire escape.

Christine: No!

Em: They were gone. They were so scared.

Christine: Oh my god. They jumped out of a fucking fire escape to get out of there.

Em: Although, you know what I think is extra silly is, uh, that they like didn’t– [chuckles] for, for people who were running away, they did film themselves climbing out of the fire escape. I’m like, “You still had time to like set it up,” you know.

Christine: Oh, they set– [laughs]

Em: [laughs] And then they had to run back in to grab the camera probably. I don’t know. Um–

Christine: Okay. I can’t wait to watch this tonight. I’m gonna, I’m gonna have so much commentary, uh, in my own head. I don’t even know what I’m gonna do with it. Maybe I’ll bring it to our next Yappy Hour.

Em: Maybe– You should. You should. They, um, they also like– At the end of the– He doesn’t do this anymore, but they had experts, like AV experts, come in to check the footage to see like if that brick was like– what could it– where it–

Christine: Oh, cool.

Em: And the experts, paid or not, did say that it looked like the footage had not been tampered with.

Christine: Okay.

Em: Although it has been highly contended. And I have seen videos online of like guides going through and getting to that room and going, “Oh, and that’s where Zak faked the brick video.”

Christine: [gasps]

Em: It’s like, “Oh, okay.”

Christine: I see. I didn’t even know this was part of the lore. And I, I, I wonder–

Em: Well, that’s what made the hotel so famous.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: That’s why it’s known now as so– as spooky.

Christine: I can’t believe I like missed this whole chapter of his life. But I will say, uh–

Em: I thought we were close, yeah.

Christine: Yeah, you know, I’m familiar with all the other chapters, so it’s so weird. [chuckles] But, um, the, the one thing I’ll say is at least from where the timestamp was, there is a very strange cut like right before it. So I do–

Em: Interesting.

Christine: –I do just want to rewatch it like f– in full. And I don’t mean to say– ’Cause of course you have to cut in footage, and it’s– I’m not saying– But I, I want to just kind of watch it later and see like–

Em: Yeah. I have no opinion. I think it’s scary as fucking if it was–

Christine: It’s fucking terrifying.

Em: –if it was real.

Christine: And he acts terrif– I mean, he sounds terrified.

Em: I don’t think he could fake a scream like that. He seemed really, really scared.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: Um, so then his closing statements in this documentary, by the way – ’cause he had opening and closing statements–

Christine: [chuckles] Oh.

Em: –um, he goes–

Christine: Is it Ralph Waldo Emerson again?

Em: No, this i– this is all ZB.

Christine: It’s Thoreau? Oh.

Em: He goes, [mimicking Zak Bagans] “How close is too close?”

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: “I think we answered that. There are no– There are more answers of life after death trapped inside that hotel than can be imagined. And if you try to get too close in searching what lies beyond your last breath, you just may hit a brick wall. Or it may hit you.”

Christine: [slow claps]

Em: Okay, Zak. That one I like. That can stay.

Christine: Now, what happened between then and–

Em: The gym.

Christine: “I love roses.

Em: The gym.

Christine: “I love roses. You are a pink rose.”

Em: [laughs]

Christine: What the fuck?

Em: [singing] ♪ Roses, roses ♪♪ [laughs]

Christine: What the fuck happened, bud? Like, you really nailed it. That was beautiful. I mean, artful. And I’ll also say like pre-AI, you know, like–

Em: Yeah, I agree.

Christine: That is just like poignant from the soul.

Em: I–

Christine: “It just may hit you.” Oh, it’s good.

Em: You, you know what? You know, in the car he was already writing that down. He was like, “I’ve got it. I’ve got it.”

Christine: He’s like, “Aaron’s gonna fucking e– He’s gonna be– He’s gonna have such FOMO.”

Em: Well, so then get this. They even put this at the end of their segment too. They say like, “Oh, after our thing came out, um, other investigators started coming,” and they didn’t realize that they were like hi– they were ending up predicting that this is gonna be like a huge haunted location that everybody knows and loves. But other investigators saw that documentary, saw the brick thing–

Christine: Ah.

Em: –and decided to go to the hotel for a news segment. And the people in that group, some of the investiga– some of the investigators were Mark and Debbie Constantino. Have we talked about them?

Christine: Yeah, it’s familiar.

Em: Okay. I thought we did a whole episode on them, and we haven’t. So if you would like a topic, I suggest them. Um, but it was– For a long time, Zak would have–

Christine: Oh, for me to cover?

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Oh.

Em: So, so Zak regularly had this couple who were paranormal investigators.

Christine: Oh! Yes, of course, those two. Yes. I have not covered that.

Em: And then–

Christine: Have I?

Em: I thought you did.

Christine: I do too.

Em: But I looked it up in our episode guide, and it’s not there. So I don’t know what’s going on.

Christine: Maybe you and I watched like a series on it together or something ’cause I remember we talked about it a lot.

Em: Yeah, we’ve t– I think we have ’cause I– I’m like there’s– I didn’t see it in our episode guide.

Christine: Sorry, you can, you can explain. I like interrupted you. Sorry.

Em: No, no, no. So in a lot of the Ghost Adventures episodes, Zak would regularly have on these other investigators named the Constantinos. They were a married couple. Um, and he was really good friends with them in real life. And uh, he– They– Mark Constantino ended up um, killing his wife uh, in a murder suicide.

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Em: And it ended up becoming a big uh, I don’t know about s– I won’t say scandal, but it was big news in the paranormal world. And, uh, it was Zak’s like close friends and–

Christine: Yeah. And I–

Em: I mean, talk about between that and like now Aaron’s wife trying to kill him.

Christine: Oh, for sure.

Em: Like he’s surrounded–

Christine: There’s a lot of dark–

Em: It’s weird.

Christine: And, and I mean, I mean, not to be that guy, but like Zak does have half his museum dedicated to like serial killers and shit.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: And I’m like, “Get that energy out of there, man.” Like why do you have Charles Manson on a shrine in there? It’s just weird. But anyway, um–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: But the, the, the Aaron thing is crazy obviously. I’ve covered that ’cause I was like on the ground– Oh, I wore my blazer. That’s right.

Em: You wore your blazer, yep.

Christine: And then, uh– But the Constantinos. Yeah, we’ve discussed them briefly, but I don’t think we’ve ever done an episode. So yeah, I’ll do– I’ll look into that because– And I think there was a lot of– There was some scandal or whatever surrounding it because I think some people were trying to frame it as like, “He was possessed, and he killed her,” and it’s like–

Em: Right, probably.

Christine: –there was like also domestic violence in the past, and I think like there was also k–

Em: Right.

Christine: –uh, talk around that. Um, but yeah, I– Ooh, I’m gonna write that down. That’s a good topic suggestion, Em.

Em: Well, so I think this is how they actually met each other because–

Christine: Ohh.

Em: –18 months after the Ghost Adventures documentary, the Constantinos went and did this news segment. I think that’s how they got paired with each other.

Christine: Whoa. Okay. Jeez, butterfly effect is freaking me out today. I don’t know why this all just–

Em: I know.

Christine: –seeing this all laid out like 30 years, 20 years ago, I mean.

Em: I know.

Christine: Crazy.

Em: And so they had heard about– They, they actually– I appreciate that Zak did this because these days he seems to be very protective, like god forbid anybody else do any paranormal content that he’s willing to like–

Christine: Right.

Em: –share and promote.

Christine: Right, right.

Em: But, um, he, uh, put at the end of his documentary the news segment–

Christine: Ohh.

Em: –of the Constantinos going to talk about the brick because they saw the brick, and they wanted to go and do EVPs and ask about the brick. So they go, and the creepiest thing, which I hinted at in the last episode that we covered this–

Christine: Uh-huh.

Em: –um, but they go in there, and they ask about, you know, “Did the spirits throw the, the brick?” And they got an EVP of a voice that literally sounded like it was one of them. Like it just sounded like a person there.

Christine: [gasps]

Em: It did not sound like a, a whisper. It just sounded like an extra person that tagged along with them. And it was in an old-timey like Transatlantic voice. Eugh.

Christine: Mm-mmm.

Em: But so they said, “Did you throw the brick?” And then you can hear the voice say, “Thank you, but we’ve done it.”

Christine: What?

Em: Yeah. And then– It, it literally sounds so clear. It’s horrific.

Christine: In a Transat–

Em: And then–

Christine: Oh, forget– ’Cause I was like thinking it was going to be one word. I was like, “How do you know it’s Transatla–” But that’s like a sentence. What the fuck?

Em: Well, don’t you worry, Christine, because–

Christine: No!

Em: –if you put that video link–

Christine: No!

Em: –that I sent you–

Christine: Don't make me.

Em: It is at 1 hour, 26 minutes, 32 seconds.

Christine: Hey, that’s how old I was at Disney World. Just kidding.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] Sorry.

Em: Just do 1– 1:26:10.

Christine: Wait a minute. The link you sent me–

Em: Vimeo. Vimeo.

Christine: Oh, I’m sorry. Okay. I was like, “It’s four minutes long. I’m very confused.”

Em: [chuckles] No.

Christine: Okay.

Em: 1:26:10.

Christine: Oh, I thought you just sent me that for, um, tonight’s purposes. I didn’t realize that–

Em: I did. I forgot that I put timestamps here so you can listen to it live.

Christine: Fantastic.

Debbie Constantino: And if you guys did it–

Christine: Okay, watching now.

Debbie Constantino: –could you at least tell me in the recorder if you did it?

Recorder playback: [Debbie’s voice] Could you at least tell me in the recorder if you did it? [Other voice] Thanks, but we’ve done it.

Debbie Constantino: What was that? “Thank you, but we’ve done it?”

Christine: What the fuck?

Em: Isn’t that crazy?

Debbie Constantino: Did anybody say that? Nobody said that.

Other crew in video: No.

Em: “Thank you. But we’ve done it.”

Christine: What the fucking hell is that? I’m gonna listen one more time.

Em: They– Yeah.

Narrator: –just something.

Debbie Constantino: And if you guys did it, could you at least tell me in the recorder if you did it?

Recorder playback: [Debbie’s voice] Could you at least tell me in the recorder if you did it? [Other voice] Thanks, but we’ve done it.

Debbie Constantino: What was that? “Thank you, but we–“

Christine: Ew!

Em: It sounds old-timey, right?

Christine: It goes [in a sing-song voice] “thank you.” Yeah. Ew!

Em: [in a sing-song voice] “Thank you, but we’ve done it.”

Christine: [in a sing-song voice] “Thank you, but we’ve done it.”

Em: Yeah. They end up bringing it up again later, and they get an EVP of the exact same old-timey voice saying, “Didn’t mean to hurt anybody.”

Christine: [gasps]

Em: Eugh.

Christine: What?

Em: Horrifying.

Christine: These are like full sentences.

Em: I know. I know. And then this also, um, is similar to other things that people have experienced there. I told you in, in the last episode that people will get EVPs of a voice that sound exactly like as if the investigator continued speaking–

Christine: Oh, that freaks me out.

Em: –but it was mimicking them.

Christine: That’s like some audio doppelgänger mimic shit. No, no, no.

Em: ’Cause they’ll be like, “I didn’t f– Everyone saw me finish my sentence, right? Why am I still talking on this recorder?”

Christine: Uh-uh.

Em: Eugh.

Christine: Uh-uh.

Em: Gross. Um, I think that–

Christine: You did an episode on mimics, right?

Em: I did, yeah.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: I think so.

Christine: That was so creepy. You should look at– you– if you ever– I feel like, uh, you sh– I want to know if there are any places that have like– if that’s like their haunting, you know. Anyway–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: –that’s a totally different topic. Sorry.

Em: No, you’re good. But so after this, Ghost Adventures obviously blew up, and years later they actually ended up going back as specials.

Christine: Ohh.

Em: And, um, the Ghost Adventures crew went back to the hotel two different times: one in season four, one in season seven. But both of them featured the Constantinos, and so Zak has since removed them from streamers because–

Christine: Wow. Okay.

Em: –he didn’t want anything to do with that Mark guy.

Christine: Wow.

Em: Um, but they did have one episode that, um, that is still up, and it was one of their COVID 2021 specials because I guess they had nothing to do. So they’re like, “Let’s go back to where it all began.” [chuckles]

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Em: Um, and so it was a 90-minute special, and it was a three-night stay at the Goldfield Hotel.

Christine: Oh, wow.

Em: Um, did you– Do you want me to cover it next time?

Christine: Yes.

Em: Okay. ’cau– I was gonna do it right now, but I’m also aware that we’re like at an hour and a half.

Christine: Why am I obsessed with the Goldfield Hotel?

Em: It’s also Western and cowboy-ey, so.

Christine: I think so. I mean, I know, so I think that might be why. Um, oh, so–

Em: Well, I’ll, I’ll cover it next time then if you want.

Christine: Is that okay? I’m sorry. My fucking story–

Em: No.

Christine: –in the beginning went on for 18 hours.

Em: No, I mean, now I don’t have to do notes. Sick.

Christine: Hell yeah. Hell yeah, brother. I love that for you. You should do that more often.

Em: [chuckles] I know.

Christine: We should just stop talking more often and then go, “I’ll do it next time.”

Em: [laughs] I’ll call it “ZB’s Return to the Goldfield Hotel.”

Christine: [gasps] Oh my god. It’s like how he keeps returning. We’re doing that–

Em: We keep– [chuckles]

Christine: –like we’re making more content, you know, just coming back to it.

Em: He forces all of us to, to be just like him.

Christine: Yeah, he started it.

Em: Alright. Well, then hell, I guess that’s where I’ll end then. So that is, um, the original Zak– Zak Bagans’s Ghost Adventures documentary.

Christine: Remarkable. [applause]

Em: Thank you.

Christine: You know, and it’s so funny. I remember I had the, um, Catfish documentary on DVD when I was younger, like in high school–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –and I loved it. But yeah, I never knew about the Zak Bagans one.

Em: I, I think it’s funny that my two like favorite shows to binge watch–

Christine: Right?

Em: –started as random documentaries.

Christine: Which maybe that was a thing for a while, I guess. I don’t know.

Em: I think ’cause that was like when everyone got a digital camera, so everyone started like–

Christine: Oh, so it’s like the ea–

Em: –vlogging.

Christine: –early days of like nowadays you have YouTube or TikTok and that’s how you get a show or whatever.

Em: Yeah. I think it was very much just like that was the beginning of social media.

Christine: Right.

Em: So it’s like, “Well, if I film this thing–“

Christine: And it’s like a reel. You can pitch it. Yeah.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Wow. [sighs] Good job, Em. That was quite a doozy. Um–

Em: Thank you.

Christine: I’m gonna go get another D. Peppy real quick. Uh–

Em: Okay.

Christine: –and then would you like to do a Yappy Hour?

Em: Yes.

Christine: Okay.

Em: I will, I will also run to the bathroom.

Christine: I will see you shortly.

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Christine’s Story – The Harvey's Casino Bombing

Christine: Lovely. Let’s get into it. Um, I have a weird one today, which is like one of these rabbit holes I went down and decided to make into a story ’cause it is a true crime story, but–

Em: Perfect.

Christine: –it’s kind of off the beaten path, right? Like–

Em: I love it.

Christine: –to give you a hint and to give you a little bit of– not a hint, I guess. Maybe more of like a little bit of relief, uh, going into this story, nobody died.

Em: Oh! Well, I like what I hear.

Christine: How does that feel, right? Uh–

Em: That feels real good. It feels really good.

Christine: I thought it might feel good. So we are gonna get on it.

Em: I’m loving this episode so far. We’re–

Christine: [laughs] I know. It’s really like–

Em: Yeah, and everything’s nice.

Christine: Things are, things are flowing. Well, you know, Mercury has– It is Friday the 13th. Mercury has been in retrograde, but Jupiter just went out of Cancer– Okay, we’ll talk about it another time. I’m really into astrology right now, and–

Em: Sick. That’s awesome.

Christine: –I feel like next Yappy Hour, we gotta chat ’cause I have so much to say. Okay.

Em: I didn’t even know it was Friday– Ha-Happy Friday the 13th, so sorry.

Christine: Yeah, that’s two in a row. ’Cause we had one last month, and we– By the way, we recorded on Friday the 13th last month ’cause I remember–

Em: We are–

Christine: –thinking it.

Em: –so good.

Christine: We’re like whoa.

Em: We’re like really good at our job. Um–

Christine: Oh my god.

Em: –I feel like we should have celebrated, and we did not. So sorry.

Christine: Yeah. Well, shit. Now we had two chances in a row. We forgot.

Em: Yeah. We’re not actually that good at our jobs, it seems.

Christine: Mm.

Em: Um, okay. Well, on this Friday the 13th, take it away.

Christine: This is a story of the Harvey’s Casino Bombing in the Lake Tahoe area.

Em: Oh, um, okay.

Christine: Yeah. Good vibes already, huh?

Em: [chuckles] I was, you know, I was expecting to be in a different space five seconds ago.

Christine: Why aren’t you excited? [chuckles]

Em: [laughs]

Christine: So speaking of Coeur d’Alene, we’re going back to 1980. And we’re– [laughs]

Em: [laughs] Where everyone who enjoys it was bored.

Christine: Reagan was a sparkle in the American dream. No. Uh, okay. On August 27, 1980, a white Dodge delivery van bearing a small bumper sticker that read, “Do not disturb the–“ By the way, I had to go digging for this kind of information, okay? I listened–

Em: Thank you.

Christine: –to a lot of podcasts on this, and I, I was like, “There has to be more about the actual heist,” or whatever–

Em: Certainly.

Christine: –you want to call it. There has to be more detail. I can’t just have like, “They pulled up in a car.”

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: I want to know the details. And I found them. The van bore a small bumper sticker that read, quote, “Do not disturb the occupants of this vehicle when it is rocking.”

Em: Hm.

Christine: Which by the way, like there are catchier ways to say that.

Em: That’s– That feels like it wanted m– it wanted my brain to pause so I had to think about it longer.

Christine: Yeah, it feels like it’s a sign like, like, “It’s been zero days since someone got hurt,” but they tried to make it like sexy.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: And it’s like eh. “Do not disturb the occupants while the vehicle is rocking” is not quite as sexy as I think you’re trying to say.

Em: Does it, does it just mean that like they’re like headbanging and the van’s moving–

Christine: No, it means sexy time–

Em: Sex?

Christine: –I think.

Em: It’s like, if you– if the door– if the beds are rocking, don’t come a-knocking.

Christine: Yeah, yeah. That’s the catchy way. I think maybe in 1980 maybe they hadn’t come up with like the axiom yet, you know.

Em: [chuckles] It was in beta. They hadn’t really figured it out.

Christine: [chuckles] It was in beta. They were trying to be classy. I don’t know. So this van, very professional, right, drove from South Lake Tahoe into Stateline, Nevada, um–

Em: Hey, girl.

Christine: Hey, girl. Three men wearing blue worker’s coveralls parked the vehicle and got out.

Em: Mm.

Christine: They unloaded a massive desk-sized metal device that had been wrapped in a cloth featuring a crude hand-painted IBM logo on the side. [chuckles]

Em: God. So you can just tell that they like–

Christine: See? This is why I needed the details. Like, what the fuck?

Em: I c-can’t believe that’s not the headline.

Christine: Right?

Em: It’s like someone clearly faking the IBM logo–

Christine: Absurd.

Em: –with their weird graffiti.

Christine: In 1980? Like, please. You know, they just had Sharpies, and they were like, “This will–“ Or an Expo marker, and they’re like, “This’ll work.”

Em: I, I was gonna say an Expo marker or a Vis-à-Vis and–

Christine: Oh my god, a Vis-à-Vis. [chuckles]

Em: –Vis-à-Vis pens and like the– just this– the, the squiggles, like the white lines through it because you can’t ever color it in perfectly solid.

Christine: Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Em: Like the squeakies.

Christine: And it’s like– Yeah. And it’s– Ah! And then you got your fingerprint in it by accident. It’s like, “Shit!”

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: Um, 100%. And so these fucking guys wheel this device, which appeared to be a copy maker from the outside. They wheel this device through a side entrance of Harvey’s Resort Hotel, onto a service elevator, and then took it to the second floor. Now, let me tell you a little bit about Harvey’s Resort Hotel.

Em: Okay.

Christine: This is some info I found, uh, from a Lake Tahoe historian named David Atenu– Antonucci–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –who wrote a book about Lake Tahoe, and here’s what he had to say about Harvey’s Resort Hotel. He explained it as originally known as Harvey’s Wagon Wheel Saloon and Gambling Hall.

Em: Oh, sick. That sounds fun.

Christine: V-very cool.

Em: If that were in Boise, that’s where I would be heading.

Christine: Should have stuck with the original name. I agree. I think it’s way cooler. But anyway, Harvey’s Wagon Wheel Saloon and Gambling Hall. It was founded in 1944 by a man named Harvey Gross, and he was– I just kept this in because I thought it was weird. He was a wholesale meat butcher from Sacramento, California.

Em: Tight.

Christine: He was originally in the Lake Tah-Tahoe area just selling meat, just walking around selling meat.

Em: That feels like something a, a man named Harvey Gross does.

Christine: Doesn't it though? And just like out of the blue, he thought, “You know what would be really cool is opening a casino.” But it’s a risky move because it was the ‘40s. You don’t– I mean, I don’t know. You don’t know really what you’re doing. But he–

Em: I feel like that was kind of common though. I mean, think of like Bobby Mackey’s. It was a slaughterhouse, and it became like this like big–

Christine: That’s– Good point.

Em: –gambling hall bar.

Christine: What is that connection? That’s so weird.

Em: It just– It feels like it was like, “Well, this is just farmland.”

Christine: Yeah.

Em: “The only thing that’s ever died here are animals.”

Christine: “I just have property,” I guess. Yeah. And why not like make it a hotel? I don’t know.

Em: I don’t know.

Christine: Or a casino. Yeah. It’s just weird. So anyway, he started this casino as a simple one-room log cabin on Highway 50 in Stateline, Nevada, which is where our story takes place.

Em: Okay.

Christine: At the time, Gross and his competitor, William F. Harrah, who opened Harrah’s Casino across the street, which is pretty famous, I believe–

Em: Oh, yeah.

Christine: –were taking– They were taking a massive risk opening these businesses, um, betting that– ’Cause Lake Tahoe, especially back then, was like pretty out there, right? It’s like remote. Like you have to travel there. Um, and so they were kind of having to bet that the harsh weather and the remote location wouldn’t deter tourists and gamblers from visiting. But they nailed it because over the next few decades, Harvey’s and Harrah’s both grew into very successful businesses. Um, Harvey’s specifically grew from a roadside cabin into South Lake Tahoe’s first high-rise casino-hotel tower.

Em: Holy shit.

Christine: By the time of the 1980 bombing, it was a massive 11-story resort with nearly 200 hotel rooms, thousands of slot machines, and a huge array of table games.

Em: Cool.

Christine: So just to give you context of what this place is, in the year 1980, it is, it is bopping. Everyone’s in the casino, placing bets and drinking and smoking. These men wheel this copier in [chuckles] with the Expo IBM on the side.

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: They head upstairs, place the device on some wooden blocks in a small nook near the telephone equipment exchange room. And then one of the men took a bunch of wooden toothpicks and jammed the keyholes in the surrounding doors to lock them–

Em: Mm.

Christine: –which I’ve never heard of that.

Em: I think it’s just so that if you put the key in, there’s something–

Christine: Right.

Em: –in the way.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: Yeah, just to jam it.

Christine: That was a very specific– I was like, “What a creative thing to bring with you. Like a bunch of toothpicks.”

Em: I, I wonder– I mean, if they’re literally using random markers it seems–

Christine: [chuckles] Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Em: –to draw an IBM logo, I think he looked around his kitchen before they left and went, “Ah, toothpicks. That oughtta maybe be it.”

Christine: “Toothpick.” No, he probably had something in his tooth and was like, “Oh.” [laughs]

Em: “This works pretty good.” Yeah.

Christine: Uh, but yeah, so it’s a little bit random, but so he jammed the keyholes of the surrounding doors with wooden toothpicks and glue. And I’m like, “Alright.” Uh, sure.

Em: To keep them in. Sure.

Christine: Yeah, probably unnecessary. But, um–

Em: And, and is he locking– is– Are they also locking themselves in the room? Like is this gonna be like–

Christine: They are not.

Em: Okay.

Christine: They are creating an exit point for themselves. So I believe that they left one exit route open and jammed the other doors shut.

Em: Okay.

Christine: Next to the machine, they left a three-page typewritten envelope– well, three-page typewritten letter in an envelope addressed to “Harvey’s Management.” It was on the floor beside the machine. And then they got back in the service elevator, drove away in their sexy van.

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: At approximately 6:30 a.m.–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: And by the way, this was like sometime in the like early morning/late night hours, so we don’t– I, I think it was like 3-4 a.m. So at approximately 6:30 a.m., graveyard shift supervisor Bob Vinson noticed the slightly open door to the telephone room and discovered the device in there, and he also discovered the tampered locks. And so immediately, right, red flags.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: He contacted the casino security supervisor, Simon Caban, who had just so happened to have recently completed a letter bomb training course.

Em: Oh, did he?

Christine: [chuckles] Did he? A letter bomb– He actually did. He did just happen to, to complete a lett–

Em: What is a letter bomb training course?

Christine: Thank you so much for asking. Well, a letter bomb, sometimes called a package bomb or a parcel bomb, is just an explosive device that is, um, packaged in a parcel or an envelope and upon opening it, it’s meant to explode. And so it’s like a–

Em: Who is– Who’s teaching this class? Why is this class even an option?

Christine: That part I don’t–

Em: And where can I take it?

Christine: Right. [chuckles] And also more importantly, Em, do you have time in your schedule?

Em: Yeah. [chuckles]

Christine: I don’t think so. There is– I think it’s just because you’re head of security at, at a casino that you would–

Em: Oh!

Christine: –take a class like this maybe.

Em: That did not click for me. Okay, got it.

Christine: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Um, and it’s the ‘80s. I don’t know. I think it’s like we got anthrax coming up in a few hot years, and I– You know there’s, there’s probably just the newest like– I don’t know maybe after the Unabomber people started getting concerned. I’m not sure.

Em: That makes– No, that makes sense. I, I, I totally didn’t think security and like–

Christine: Right, right, right.

Em: –you would have to know about that stuff. Got it.

Christine: And the reason I brought that up is because he got there, the head of security, and he had just taken this like letter bomb course, and he sees this letter on the floor, right? And remember, it’s three pages in an envelope, and it says “Harvey’s Management,” and he’s like– [chuckles] He probably thought it was like a training exercise, honestly. ’Cause he’s like– He sees this like thick envelope on the floor, and he’s like, “Oh, shit. Like I think that’s a package bomb– or a letter bomb.” [chuckles]

Em: I, I mean, I would wonder too. I’d be like, “It’s kind of eerie that that’s happening right now.”

Christine: Like, “You guys, are you pranking me?” [laughs]

Em: I– Can you imagine that like I just finished my like first aid class and then all of a sudden the guy’s like bleeding out on the floor and I’m like–

Christine: I know, right? Someone just dies in front of you and you’re like, “Uh-oh.”

Em: “Are you an actor?” Yeah. [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] “Are you trick– Did my coach set you up to this?” Yeah.

Em: “Are you being tricky?” Did I tell you about my final cl–

Christine: No.

Em: –my, my, um– The– At the CPR first aid– I’m also doing a CPR basic life support, which I guess is different, but–

Christine: Oh?

Em: –whatever. I’m– Whatever. But at this class that I just finished, um, we had a final test at the end before we could get certified. And he literally said, “Okay, I’m just gonna like– I’ll– I’m gonna leave, and then I’ll come back, and I’ll pretend like something’s wrong. And you guys have to all work together and, and, and save me.” And he comes back h– This dude did not tell us that ten minutes away is Hollywood, and he apparently brought a gallon of fake blood.

Christine: [gasps]

Em: And he just walks in and looks like a full-blown victim of something. I– He ju–

Christine: Holy shit.

Em: He’s dripping– the whole floor everywhere. Like my notebook that I brought is like covered in like this like red syrup. Like it still looks like–

Christine: This is why, this is why LA– Like it’s a fucking–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: It’s like “Hollyweird” is very real. I’m sorry.

Em: Yeah, yeah.

Christine: These people are nutty. They’re like, “Let’s add some pizzazz.”

Em: He literally had it like on his forehead. It was dripping off of him. It was like in his, like in– like on his leg, and his shoe is dripping it. And I was like, “This guy fucking committed to the bit because he–“ And he really it really did catch us off guard, which is like what would happen in real life anyway.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: Um, but I was– [chuckles] As I’m looking him in the eyes and trying to like ask all the right questions and be like, you know, I’m also like giggling ’cause I’m like, “You can’t be fucking for real. Like this is so–“

Christine: Like, “Where did you go? Which costume store did you go to?”

Em: And like did– “Was there just a gallon of blood sitting right outside the door so you could do a quick change?”

Christine: He probably pre-ordered it. Yeah, he probably pre-ordered it. [chuckles]

Em: [laughs] I, I was very, um, impressed. Sorry. So I s– I– Sorry, I did the thing again.

Christine: No, I, I forgot I was even telling a story. I was very invested in that.

Em: [laughs] I know. That’s because of me. I’m sorry.

Christine: No, I just was really invested in the– all the fake blood. Okay, so let’s see. So, uh, a letter bomb. He’s looking at this. So Caban goes. He arrives. He spots the envelope on the carpet. He says, “Everyone out. This, uh– There’s one man for the job. It’s me. I took a letter bomb course. Okay? Everybody, step aside.”

Em: Mm-hmm. [chuckles] “Everyone, steer clear. I’m on it.”

Christine: “I’m on it.” Cabin and a responding sheriff’s deputy procured a pair of wooden broomsticks to poke the envelope from a safe distance.

Em: Okay. Is– That’s, that’s protocol? Give it a poke?

Christine: That’s what I was gonna say.

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: Wait a minute. Didn’t this guy just get fucking certified? And what? He takes a broom and starts poking it?

Em: I did that with the guy during my course too, started– [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] You got a broom and start– [laughs]

Em: “You good?” [laughs]

Christine: And he’s like, “You failed actually.” Um–

Em: Well, ’cause in every like, like Law and Order, cop, SWAT show where there’s like they’ve accidentally like, like a bomb has gone off and like– if they step their foot off the landmine, it’s–

Christine: Right.

Em: –you would think, “Let’s not jostle this thing around.”

Christine: Oh, Em, just– Oh, you’re so on it. Exactly. 100%.

Em: [chuckles] Watch a lot of SWAT shows.

Christine: You should have been, you should have been there. Okay? Caban and responding sheriff’s deputy procured a pair of wooden broomsticks to poke the envelope from a safe distance. When the envelope failed to explode after being prodded– I guess “safe distance,” so I guess they were like, “Oh, we’ll just poke it–“

Em: [laughs]

Christine: “–and if it explodes, we’ll be fine-ish?”

Em: “Or we’ll be so dead so fast we won’t even know if it didn’t work.”

Christine: Weird, right? Like I’m like, “How did you find this to be a safe thing?” Whatever.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Ma–

Em: What’s a safe distance? I would imagine a mile is a safe distance.

Christine: Well, it’s a broom distance. That’s the only like–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: How else could you say a safe distance if you’re poking it with a broom? And that’s not that far away in my humble opinion, but again, I’ve not taken this course, so maybe I don’t fucking know. So Caban pokes it with a broom. It doesn’t explode. He goes, “Oh, I guess it’s safe to open.” So he leans on the copier uh, and he reads the first page of the letter, hands the second page to the deputy. As they read the dex– text, the deputy, um, points at the box and said, “Hey, that thing that you’re leaning on is a bomb.”

Em: [nervously laughs] I like how he– Like– Okay, okay, okay. Imagine you’re me– I’m just gonna use like my phone. I’m just using my phone. And I’m reading the note.

Christine: It’s so good.

Em: I’m reading the note. Imagine– Then he goes– He’s reading. He’s reading, and he goes– [Em pretends to read off their phone before pausing, eyes widening dramatically in shock.]

Christine: [laughs] Yeah.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: And then when what do you do?

Em: He’s like, “I need you to–“

Christine: Because when you said the finger’s on the thing and the– It’s like how do you even know whether to move?

Em: And the fact that he’s like leaning on it, it’s like–

Christine: He’s leaning on it.

Em: – [in a strained voice] “You–“

Christine: I think his back– I think he was like reading it like this. [Christine pretends to hold a sheet of paper as she leans back against the back of her couch.]

Em: Oh no.

Christine: And then the guy goes, “Uh, that’s a bomb.” Not only that, Em. I mean, seriously–

Em: But like if he now gets off of it, he will have set it off?

Christine: [sighs] He got off of it safely.

Em: Okay.

Christine: Somehow, really somehow, um, by virtue of sheer luck I think, uh, because– They read this letter. Not only is this bomb, um– Not only is this fucking copymaker a bomb, but the letter instructed them that even if it gets tilted by 0.01– like moved by like 0.01 on the Richter scale–

[Em covers their mouth with their hands in shock before resting their hands on their forehead nervously.]

Christine: –this thing is gonna explode. And I want to say right now, this does not end up being a hoax. This is a very real bomb that is actually very strategically created to go off at the slightest tilt.

Em: I’m glad you said that because my first thought is like, “This is clearly a hoax–“

Christine: It sounds fake.

Em: “–since the guy leaned on it and then was able to get off of it.” So then my next thought is “Is this a faulty bomb?”

Christine: I think–

Em: “Did it happen to be a dud?”

Christine: I think perhaps the tilting was not quite as like sensitive, right, as like maybe just leaning on it.

Em: Okay.

Christine: But I think like if you were to like pick it up or like–

Em: If he like stubbed his toe on it and kicked it or something.

Christine: Yeah, yeah, if he like pushed it away or rolled it or something like that because [sighs] I’m gonna read you part of the letter. It’s a long-ass letter. Like I said, three pages. I’m not gonna read you the whole thing, but I’m gonna read you part of it. It said, “Stern warning to the management and bomb squad. Do not move–“ Okay. Th– Again, imagine, Em, you’re leaning on the copier.

Em: I c–

Christine: You just thought the letter was a bomb, and you’re so relieved that you’re just gonna lean back on this old copier and read the letter.

Em: I’m gonna throw up. Like I– This is–

Christine: It’s insane.

Em: –awful.

Christine: And like the fact that they thought this letter was the thing and they’re like, “Phew, just a letter.” And– Anyway.

Em: [sighs]

Christine: “Do not move or tilt this bomb, because the mechanism controlling the detonators in it will set it off at a movement of less than 0.01 of the open-end Richter scale. Don’t try to flood or gas the bomb. There is a float switch and an atmospheric pressure switch set at 26.00-33.00. Both are attached to deton– detonators. Do not try to take it apart.” So–

Em: So psych–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: First of all, ps– [chuckles] My turn. I don’t know why I did that. I’m so sorry.

Christine: [unintelligible]

Em: Psychologically, why are you warning people to not try things that will set the bomb off? Don’t you want the bomb to go off? Like, I don’t understand–

Christine: You do not want the bomb to go off. I’m glad you asked.

Em: Okay.

Christine: You do not want the bomb to go off–

Em: Well–

Christine: –because you want $3 million.

Em: Ohh. What? This is s– this is such a man’s way to solve a problem. Like I’ve–

Christine: [laughs]

Em: Like why– Okay. I don’t, I don’t understand the logic immediately. Like o– [chuckles] We could have just– Like they could– Okay, whatever. It doesn’t matter. Keep going.

Christine: Um, I’ll pass your notes along to the–

Em: Yeah, please.

Christine: –to the domestic terrorist that we have here. Um–

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: No, but for real, it, it’s pretty nutty. So “in other words, the bomb is so sensitive that the slightest movement either inside or outside will cause it to explode.” He went on to say– By the way, also added here, I don’t even know what the fuck this means, but it says, “The flathead screws are attached to triggers and as much as ¼ -¾ of a turn of the screw will trigger the bomb.”

Em: Yeah.

Christine: So I mean, everything on it is like wired.

Em: I th– Yeah. Yeah, that’s what I think about that too. I, um– [sighs] There had to be a simpler way to do this. Like the–

Christine: You'd think so.

Em: I mean, if you’re gonna rob me, like I appreciate the theatrics, but like this is–

Christine: But remember, it’s a casino–

Em: Oh.

Christine: –so this is like very like he-heisty.

Em: Yes.

Christine: So there–

Em: And also, a lot of people are there, which means like it’s much more threatening than like–

Christine: It’s a big–

Em: –you’re the only three people in this building that could get hurt. It’s like you could kill everyone.

Christine: And you need to take action like right now, you know?

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Exactly.

Em: And then– But then what do they think’s gonna happen? They’re going to get their $3 million and go, “Whew. Thanks, guys. Anyway, we’ll go diffuse that for you now.”

Christine: I’ll tell you.

Em: Like, no, you’re going to jail.

Christine: It’s a three-page letter, Em. They have very explicit instructions.

Em: [laughs] They thought it through somehow, even though it feels like they didn’t think this through.

Christine: They didn’t think it through. They thought it through– Exactly. They thought it through so thoroughly and so pointedly that they didn’t look outside and say, “Oh, wait. This isn’t gonna work.”

Em: I need you to hear me. I need you to hear me really clearly, and I need you to get close to the camera ’cause I need you to– I need to know that you’re hearing me.

[Christine leans in close.]

Em: I fucking love this episode.

Christine: Ah! [laughs]

Em: [laughs] This is such a good story. This is such a good story. Okay.

Christine: And I'm not even drinking. What’s happening? Okay.

Em: [sighs] Okay. Okay. I’ll shut the fuck up now.

Christine: No, no, no. You’re good. It’s a very short story anyway, so that’s, that’s the good story. That’s the good news, I mean. So they continued, “This bomb can never–“ This is the letter. They can– “This bomb can never be dismantled or disarmed without causing an explosion. Not even by the creator.”

Em: Oh. So– What? So now it just sits there on display for the rest of time?

Christine: “It is our advice to cordon off a minimum of 1,200 feet radius and remove all people from that area.” So first and for-foremost, first and foremost, authorities initiated a full evacuation before they even looked into this, like whether this was a hoax or not, because–

Em: I feel like you–

Christine: –of course.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: You have to.

Em: You read the first paragraph and you’re like, “Time to go.”

Christine: Yeah. There was a one woman who was like, “I was in the shower.” [laughs] I’m like, yeah, this is a nightmare.

Em: Mm.

Christine: But they basically evacuate approximately 600 hotel guests and employees into the streets of Lake Tahoe, and people– or of Stateline, Nevada, and people are out there like, “What’s going on?” You know, of course, now the news are like, “Ooh, what’s happening over there?”

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: And people are getting interested, and it’s becoming a, a spectacle. It turns out this bomb, as they looked into it– They, of course, got a bomb squad involved. The bomb was constructed from solid steel plates, contained nearly 1,000 pounds of stolen dynamite–

Em: Damn.

Christine: –and featured eight separate anti-tampering mechanisms, including a kinetic tilt sensor, an atmospheric pressure switch, and booby-trapped casing screws, like the ones we just mentioned.

Em: Crazy.

Christine: According to the FBI’s website, “After 39 years, it remains one of the most unique improvised explosive devices the Bureau has ever come across.”

Em: Wow. Okay. Well, then I guess hats off to these people for making a monster.

Christine: He's like a mastermind engineer. Let’s just give him that one credit. That one singular credit.

Em: Sure. An evil genius.

Christine: He’s also a Nazi, but you know.

Em: Oh, okay.

Christine: Yeah. He literally served in the Luftwaffe – allegedly, is what he tells people. Um, but we’ll get to it.

Em: Okay. Well, I could see, I could see why he was useful to them with his weird evil mastermind.

Christine: [chuckles] Very good point. Very good point. With his weird like attempt at a James Bond style heist.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: Trying to make Ocean’s Eleven real but for evil.

Christine: Yeah. But it’s just “Ocean’s Three,” and it doesn’t really kind of work, you know?

Em: [laughs]

Christine: It’s just kind of sad. So the extortion letter– Oh, and by the way, one of the toggles was a dummy switch meant to confuse investigators. Like they literally had rigged it so that like you couldn’t even remotely fuck with it without fear of setting it off.

Em: [sighs] Maybe too soon, but like imagine one day this being an escape room.

Christine: Oh, interesting.

Em: You know, like there’s gotta be an escape room where like you’re trying to defuse a bomb.

Christine: A ticking bomb? I think–

Em: But it’s like every single thing leads to a different puzzle.

Christine: I think I’ve done one of those where there’s like a bomb on-board or something? I don’t know. Maybe that’s a little too–

Em: I know. It’s a little like fucked up to even be– even be talking about–

Christine: It’s a little much for– Yeah, unfortunately.

Em: But still I’m like– I– Like if he used his power for good, he could have been an incredible magician or something.

Christine: For, for good being like an escape room. He wouldn’t have never made it– $3 million though, Em, so I don’t know about–

Em: Hear, hear.

Christine: It's sort of the path of virtue or like “let’s balls to the wall this.”

Em: He, he should have just used it for his art. That’s all I’m saying. [chuckles]

Christine: I agree. I mean, I agree, and I say the same thing about a lot of these, [chuckles] these really bad men, but–

Em: [chuckles] Yeah.

Christine: –you know, what can you do? So the extortion letter demanded $3 million in unmarked $100 bills, warning that the bomb could detonate with a movement of less than 0.01 on the Richter scale.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: The ransom instructions required a helicopter pilot to drop the money at a designated location, warning the pilot, “Do not try to be a hero. Arlington is full of them, and they can’t even smell the flowers.” I don’t think that’s a thing.

Em: What– Zak Bagans write this? I don’t–

Christine: Yeah, right. I, I– Okay, that’s the closest to any real explanation. ’Cause I googled it, and the internet was like, “Are you learning English? Stop and smell the roses is–“ And I was like, “I know that. Okay? I know that already.”

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Um, but smell– “They can’t even smell the flowers.” I don’t know what that means. Again, this guy was a Nazi, so probably–

Em: Well, maybe it was– I mean, not to be like so on the nose here, but maybe it was like broken English that he was translating from German and he thought–

Christine: Right. Like maybe it’s like a thing I don’t know in Ger– like an idiom in German or something. Yeah.

Em: Like smell the roses, smell the flowers, and it was just like just off and being mistranslated.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: I don’t know.

Christine: [sighs] So meanwhile, the mystery bomb makers drove up Highway 50 to wait for the helicopter at a drop site near Ice House Road. But guess what? These three fellas forgot to bring the battery for their strobe light that was supposed to alert the helicopter where to go.

Em: Good. Great.

Christine: They attempted to steal a car battery from a Volkswagen, and, uh, that didn’t work. So they went to a Shell station in Placerville and asked for a car battery, and the guy– This is another one of these like just you can’t make this shit up. The guy looks outside, sees their car, and goes, “Oh no. You’re actually going to want one of these.” And they’re like, “No, we want that battery.” And he’s like, “No, but I see your car right there. You’re actually gonna want one of these batteries.” And they were like–

Em: [sighs]

Christine: –“Give us the fucking battery.”

Em: [chuckles] He’s trying to be helpful, and it’s like–

Christine: He’s literally trying.

Em: “Listen, man.”

Christine: “Listen, man. You don’t know what we’re up to. We just– We really– We’re up to no good.” Uh, so finally, they convinced him to like sell them that battery, and the guy’s like, “Okay.”

Em: He’s like, “Fine, be stupid.”

Christine: “Be an idiot.”

Em: “You’re gonna be crawling back here.”

Christine: Uh, “Back in my day, you would have listened to your elders.” Yeah.

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: So they just get the different type of battery. But by the time they returned to the drop site, it was too late. The FBI pilot and his friend that he had in the back–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –had flown over a couple times. They saw no strobe light. They were gonna run out of gas, and they were like, “Well, fuck this guy. I guess he’s punking us.” Little did they know they were out buying a battery at a Shell station.

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Christine: Back in Stateline, uh, a carnival atmosphere emerged behind the police barricades because people were like drunk and on vacation–

Em: Of course.

Christine: –and a spectacle was to be had. And so, don’t you know it, people started placing bets on when the bomb would detonate, if it–

Em: Well, it happened in a goddamn casino, and all these people are–

Christine: Yes.

Em: Someone is addicted to gambling, and they’re like, “I’ll, I’ll bet.” It’s like Kevin during the fire in The Office.

Christine: Oh, yes. And guess what? Like, they’ve just been kicked out of the casino, so they gotta gamble somewhere. Might as well gamble on the–

Em: They gotta get their money back.

Christine: –on the streets and figure out when this bomb’s gonna go off. Um, now, this one is a little interactive for you ’cause I’d like you to help me. Uh, I’d like you to guess because this is kind of your forte. Local teenagers, including 18-year-old Greg Davis and 14-year-old Rocky Young, set up a stand and sold $9 novelty t-shirts. And I want you to guess–

Em: Okay.

Christine: –any of the phrases that could have been– It’s like Lake Tahoe-themed tourist t-shirts.

Em: Sure. I was scared there when you said my local in– my interest was local teenagers. [laughs] I was like–

Christine: Okay. And then I said it out loud, and I went, “Oh, two teenage boys.” And I said, “You’re good at this kind of thing, and like saying jokes like a teenager.” And I’m like, “That’s probably rude.” I didn’t mean it to be rude, but it’s like punny, you know?

Em: No, you’re– Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Christine: I was very into this part. Um–

Em: So, okay. So they started selling novelty t-shirts about the experience–

Christine: Yes.

Em: –and, and there’s like a catchphrase going. Mm.

Christine: Yeah, there are a couple. So you can kind of guess. Well, actually, and then– So they started it, and then a couple other people started selling shirts. [chuckles] Uh, just, you know, these like, uh– What do you call them? Uh, entrepreneurs. They’re– They see a problem. They see a gap in the market.

Em: Sure.

Christine: They're gonna jump in.

Em: It’s something like, um, uh, “I went to the casino, and all I lost was all my money,” or all– “I lost my luck at this casino,” or something like that. I don’t know. Something about gambling and–

Christine: Thi-think more about what’s, what’s in the building. What is the thing in the building?

Em: Oh!

Christine: ’Cause now they– Sorry, I wanna–

Em: “This place is the bomb!”

Christine: There– Okay, you’re getting there.

Em: Okay.

Christine: “I got bombed at Lake Tahoe.”

Em: Okay.

Christine: “I had a dynamite time.” [laughs]

Em: Now, that, now, that one I’d buy. That one I’d buy.

Christine: And then there was one more. Let me see. Oh–

Em: See, if they, if they– If escape rooms existed, then they would have profited. I–

Christine: Oh, and by the way, these shirts, uh, according to Stuff You Should Know, which I’ll never call “Things You Should Know” ever again, I promise. Stuff You Should Know did this– uh, an episode on this, and they, uh, said that these shirts cost like $150 on eBay now or something.

Em: Oh, they still exist.

Christine: They still exist.

Em: Don’t you tell me that now that–

Christine: Trust me–

Em: I– now that Rocket Money is on my side, and I have all this money in my bank account.

Christine: Ah! Trust me. They’re like, “We saved you $30.” And you’re like, “Perfect. It goes toward my new fund, my new savings account for my new t-shirt.”

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Um, yeah. “I got bombed at Lake Tahoe”; “I had a dynamite time at Lake Tahoe”; and then “I survived the bomb, Lake Tahoe, August 1980,” which I think I want that one. That one’s cool. Even though I wasn’t there and did–

Em: I like a date on a shirt.

Christine: I do too.

Em: It’s like, “You had to be there.” Yeah.

Christine: It feels really cool, especially if you’re buying it from eBay, you know.

Em: Especially.

Christine: So that’s the fun facts that I had to go find ’cause nobody wanted to talk about it.

Em: Honestly, you are doing–

Christine: I mean, Stuff You Should Know did, but.

Em: This is on-the-ground journalism.

Christine: Thank you so much, Em. Thank you.

Em: The fact– Okay, I’m not fucking kidding. The fact that you had to go searching for any interesting information– I mean, it’s already interesting because it’s a bomb and it’s, you know– but someone is going to listen to this and now have a– such a–

Christine: It’s like why is the–

Em: –so much more interesting of a thing to tell people.

Christine: Like, why is the FBI not talking about this?

Em: Also, who are the shitty journalists who aren’t adding in like all the best fun facts of something?

Christine: No, they are. That’s the sources I had to go find–

Em: Mm.

Christine: –’cause nobody else is like propagating the correct information. Like–

Em: I see. I see.

Christine: –I had to go find about Ricky–

Em: Okay, okay.

Christine: –and whatever his name is ’cause the journalist wrote about it that day– They’re like, “This is such an exciting day. It’s like the World’s Fair but for drunk idiots.” And then like–

Em: [sighs]

Christine: –instead the internet’s like, “And it was this type of bomb with this many screws,” and I was like, “Okay, like fine.”

Em: I miss–

Christine: “But I also want to know the t-shirt, the, the merch, the souvenirs.”

Em: I– 100%. I’ll let–

Christine: Right?

Em: Yes. Souvenirs are my– one of my main concerns always. Um–

Christine: Always.

Em: You know, and especially in true crime when like it’s usually like–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –not classy to actually have any souvenirs from anything.

Christine: That’s a rarity. Totally.

Em: This is a story that they were literally selling souvenirs. I’m allowed to be a little jazzed, a little bit jazzed.

Christine: Nobody died. Remember that, nobody died.

Em: Nobody died. You know what? We used to be a proper country when like–

Christine: [laughs]

Em: –there was a, a story like this that everyone heard about. And all the–

Christine: “Extra, extra!”

Em: –all the newspapers were talking about it. All the journalists were like, “And then this happened, and this, and then this, and this,” and nowadays, so many insane fucking things are happening minute by minute that like there’s just like not enough time–

Christine: You can’t– No.

Em: –to report the, the information.

Christine: And it’s not even as crazy anymore ’cause you’re like, “It’s all fake and made up in crazy town.” Like–

Em: Well, if there was, if there was a bomb at a casino, I’d be like, “[sighs] Okay.”

Christine: Yeah.

Em: Like, I wouldn’t even think about it ’cause it’s–

Christine: Like, “Oh, phew.”

Em: Yeah.

Christine: “At least it’s just a bomb at a casino, not in a fucking preschool.”

Em: [chuckles] Yes.

Christine: Like, what the fuck? You know, it’s like, you can’t win nowadays. You’re right. This, this–

Em: I– This is back when we, when we could all rally together, no matter where we lived, and all hear about that one crazy bomb in that copy printer in that casino over in Vegas. “Did you hear about that?” And everyone’s talking about it.

Christine: “Oh, Sandra got a t-shirt even though she wasn’t there, the lying bitch.”

Em: [laughs] “I saw the date. I know she was at the office.”

Christine: [laughs] Yeah. “I didn’t get her vacation signed off.” Okay.

Em: [sighs]

Christine: Here we go. So they’re selling t-shirts. Uh, people on the side of the road are just like drunk and disorderly. By the way, everyone’s like really upset about that and like– at the time, and I’m like, “Fucking let people just be whatever. People need an outlet." I don’t know. People were like, “It’s so disrespectful.” And I’m like, “Nobody died.”

Em: Nobody died. And even in the moments where everyone thought someone was gonna die and it should, it should have freaked everyone out, I can’t speak to this, but like people were hammered probably. Like p–

Christine: Oh, yeah.

Em: Like you’re in Vegas on vacation at a casino, like someone is not in their right mind in the moment. Like there’s–

Christine: And like a, a once in a-lifetime thing is unfolding, right? And you’re with–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: –presumably your friends or your whoever and you’re just like–

Em: You’re at least going to be gawking. I mean, let’s not forget, I–

Christine: For sure.

Em: –I think about it like once a month, the fucking Kentucky Mammoth Cave where someone was stuck in there, and everyone above ground–

Christine: I was just–

Em: – started throwing a watch party?

Christine: –thinking about that. And selling merch.

Em: And selling merch. So like–

Christine: And he died.

Em: And one person died, but that was still like– That one person underground was horrified, and everyone was just up there going, “Woo, hopefully we see you.” And like–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: So–

Christine: “I can’t wait to tell Aunt Margaret about this.” It’s like what the fuck? [unintelligible]

Em: [chuckles] Yeah. And then, and then he did die–

Christine: He died.

Em: –and then think like– and then the party a-at some point took a dark turn–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –where everyone was like, “Oh, shit.”

Christine: They were selling hot dogs.

Em: Yeah, it’s– This is like– Even if it’s a little, um, unethical, the, the people find ways to, uh, to gather, I suppose.

Christine: It’s a very human response, and that’s why I feel like we shouldn’t just like immediately be like, “How disrespectful.” It’s like, “Listen, they just got the shit scared out of them. They almost died, by the way. Like all their stuff is still in the hotel. Y– They’re here for a vacation. Now there’s a bomb, and like you’re probably slap happy and drunk and like, ‘What the fuck is going on? It’s 6:30 in the–‘“ Well, maybe you’re not drunk, but some people are drunk. 6:30 in the morning. As the day unfolds, people are getting drunker and selling t-shirts. I mean, I think of course that’s what happened. Um–

Em: Yeah. I would– I don’t know if I condone it, but I–

Christine: I don’t fault them for that.

Em: –I understand– I can see it.

Christine: Yeah, of course.

Em: I understand it. Yeah.

Christine: So after more than 30 hours of analyzing the device, experts heard an internal whirring sound in the machine.

Em: Oh, fuck. Was it on a timer and now it’s going off?

Christine: I don’t know. But they did determine at this point that they needed to do something. And they determined that manual defusal was impossible, like the letter said.

Em: Wow.

Christine: So what they decided to do– On August 27 at 3:46 p.m., the bo– With all these people on the streets drunk and watching, they decided, the bomb squad, they decided to attempt to render the device safe by– So what they did was they tried to detonate– you know what, it’s like a controlled explosion. Like they wanted to just sever the connection to the other dynamite.

Em: Sure.

Christine: And so they tried to just detonate a piece of it, like the– and, and sever the circuitry box so it wouldn’t set off the rest of the dynamite. Obviously, this is above my pay grade. But in other words, they tried to do like a smaller controlled detonation.

Em: Yeah. I imagine like put like, uh, Wile E. Coyote would take a piece of dynamite and like stick it under like a cardboard box and it would just explode in the box and then it like–

Christine: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And like, “Poof!” Yeah.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Exactly.

Em: They just wanted to cover it up and, and contain it. Yeah.

Christine: It didn’t work.

Em: Oh?

Christine: The bomb’s creator had anticipated that they would try to do this–

Em: Hm.

Christine: –and had actually hidden and packed additional dynamite into the top of the box–

Em: Sinister.

Christine: –which then triggered the detonation of the main payload and blew a five-story crater into the side of Harvey’s Casino.

Em: [sighs] Okay.

Christine: It destroyed the building, destroyed the casino floor, caused an estimated $18 million in damages in 1980.

Em: And what floor was this? Because not to like get super dark here, but I’m thinking about 911.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: And like did like the tower collapse or like was it–

Christine: No, it did not collapse. It went upstairs into– I believe it was one of the upper– ’Cause they did take a service elevator, but I don’t think it was like the way top of the building. I’m not sure. But it did only– I mean, “only.” It destroyed the casino floor. So I’m assuming– And then it also created like a crater of four stories.

Em: Whew.

Christine: So I’m assuming the casino floor plus the four stories above that.

Em: Okay.

Christine: So somewhere in that area.

Em: And somehow the foundation stage stuck around?

Christine: Yeah, yeah.

Em: Okay.

Christine: It didn’t like fully crumble to the ground like a wrecking ball, but it did, it did get pretty, pretty well destroyed. Um–

Em: Okay.

Christine: No one– Miraculously, no one was injured. Following–

Em: But imagine the drunk people buying their shirts outside–

Christine: Oh–

Em: –and they go, “Oh!”

Christine: No, everybody started cheering and screaming like it was like a party.

Em: Oh, they had to be drunk. There’s no way that that happens and everyone–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: The only way you’re not taking that seriously is if you’re drunk. [chuckles]

Christine: Okay, but no. So like I thought the same thing, but then I was like, “No, if I were there and the adrenaline is high and like a building just explodes and everyone starts swooping and screaming–“

Em: And you survived.

Christine: “–and we all survived and–“ I don’t know. I think I would just animalistically be like, “Woo-hoo!” I don’t know.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: I think it’s just like a primal instinct. Maybe I’m just a freak. I don’t know. But I’d be like–

Em: I think, I think there’s no right answer when you’re witnessing a bombing where you just were.

Christine: I mean, it’s not like, “Oh, yay. I’m so thrilled that I just watched–“

Em: Right.

Christine: “–this building get exploded.” But like–

Em: It’s like a “whew” cheering.

Christine: Yeah. And it’s like a, “What the fuck is going on? Life is crazy.” You know?

Em: Yeah.

Christine: More like that.

Em: Totally get it.

Christine: And, “Thank god they got us out of there.” right? Like jeez. So the explosion blew a five-story crater into the side of the building, uh, destroying the casino floor and causing an estimated $18 million in damages, though thankfully no one was injured. Following the explosion, investigators found a crucial clue when examining a June 1980 dynamite blast that destroyed a different part of the town. It was wooden-truss Dry Creek bridge in Fresno, California, and they determined that the similarities between that– The aftermath, they found like a bombed out area, and they recognized that that was probably the same type of bomb. And–

Em: Oh, wow.

Christine: –because it was so specific, they were like, “This must have been a test area where he was testing his bomb and then–“

Em: Interesting.

Christine: “–you know, created the new one.” Another major break came from Nancy De Minico, the owner of the Balahoe Motel, who had seen these three men at her hotel and– or mo– I don’t know– It’s a motel– had seen them at the motel and found them so suspicious that she actually recorded their license plate for future reference. So agents traced the van’s license plate to a man named John Birges Jr., uh, and it uncovered that there had been a speeding ticket that verified the presence of his vehicle and his presence in the area during the extortion timeline, which is–

Em: Wow.

Christine: –so fucking stupid that you got a speeding ticket to place you in the area on the day of your bomb.

Em: It, it’s not like the first, um, thi– the first time it’s ever happened, but I always love when it’s just like something so random that catches you.

Christine: And it’s so dumb.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: It’s like something you can prevent, right? Like you were speeding.

Em: And you– Yeah, and you would think if you’re on the lam currently–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –like you’re gonna be on your best behavior, like don’t fuck up.

Christine: And I know it’s probably adrenaline and you’re just like speeding and you’re just trying– So like I, I get that, but like yeah, it’s so stupid. You got to plan for that shit, man.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Like, you gotta be careful. [laughs] If you’re gonna escape the law, you got to be careful, folks.

Em: Yeah. And that’s– I’ve always said that.

Christine: I’ve a– You have always said that.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: So what a dumbass. But so they, they go to, um, John Birges Sr., um, and they– which is the father, who had been connected to this address as well, and ask him about it and he goes, “Oh, I don’t know. That’s my son’s car.” So like immediately throws his son under the bus.

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: Uh, and his son is the– is Jr., and he’s the one who got the speeding ticket. The FBI also tracked down hospital records for this guy’s girlfriend, Ella Joan Williams, who received treatment for a head wound she had sustained on the night of the botched ransom drop.

Em: Oh.

Christine: Despite placing the suspects under surveillance, they couldn’t really get enough evidence until that former girlfriend told her new boyfriend about the plot, and he called the FBI for the reward money and was like, “Hey, my girlfriend said her ex tried to bomb this casino. Now, can I have my reward money, please?”

Em: See, w-w– you can’t, you can’t go telling people stuff, you know.

Christine: You can’t go yapping.

Em: You– Come on.

Christine: It’s not gonna work. On August 14, 1981, federal agents brought in John Jr. and his brother, Jim, to interrogate them–

Em: Okay.

Christine: –knowing that their father was the one who kind of was the mastermind behind this whole plot.

Em: Sure.

Christine: The brothers confessed to the plot and identified their father, John Birges, Sr., a former millionaire– successful businessman. I believe he had inherited a business. I don’t totally remember. He was a restaurant owner, and he also had a gambling addiction.

Em: Whoopsies. Okay.

Christine: He had lost an estimated $800,000 at Harvey’s Casino alone.

Em: Yeah, that’ll do it. Okay. Well, that makes–

Christine: There was once– That– At least it like tracks with motive, right?

Em: 100%.

Christine: And there was one, um, anecdote that was told on Stuff You Should Know where this one woman, and I don’t know if it was the same girlfriend or a different girlfriend, but had described going to this hotel, and he was explaining like, “I’m such a high roller,” and like all this stuff. And, um, he was the type of gambler where he sat down and he just couldn’t stop, and like he would win, and then he would just keep playing until he was out. And his girlfriend, or whoever he took this lady at the time, um, he was so in the red that they kicked him out of the VIP suite they had put him in.

Em: Oh, wow. Okay.

Christine: And he was like–

Em: That's also embarrassing.

Christine: –humiliated, like humiliated.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: And so all these kind of triggers, and then like, hey, this guy was literally in the Luftwaffe and a, and an engineer, mechanical engineer–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –and had been held in like a Soviet war camp. I mean, you know, you layer all this shit.

Em: And on our own property what– got embarrassed by all– in front of all his friends that he was no longer a high-rolo– high-roller.

Christine: And a girl that he brought– a woman that he brought. Like–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: Exactly, like recipe for disaster. Of course, the sons tell the police, “This– Our father’s been abusive our whole lives. He’s, he’s very coercive. He makes us do things for him.” And then, of course, like turns around and says, “Oh, that’s my son’s car. I, I– Go talk to him,” you know.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Like he’s just a, a shitty person and a shitty dad. Um, they explain– They– Of course, the police look into this guy, and they’re like, “Oh my god, this guy– of course he has a vendetta against the casino. He is down– He lost $800 grand, and he used to be a millionaire. Now he’s like in debt, you know, and has a gambling addiction. It’s desperation.” The brothers detailed their father’s toxic and abusive behavior. They said he frequently physically abused his wife. Um, he used his sons as captive labor. He was the one who coerced them into stealing dynamite from a power plant. Uh–

Em: Jesus.

Christine: Yeah, it’s crazy. And he tried to– he– They went to trial. Of course, this guy, John Sr., um, represented himself in court. ’Cause why not?

Em: [laughs]

Christine: And–

Em: ’Cause they always do.

Christine: And when he did that, he actually cross-examined his own sons and–

Em: Oh god, that’s torture.

Christine: –it’s so dark, Em. It’s like, yeah, of course he’s abusive. He hits him. He’s w– a terribly abusive part– And then it’s like–

Em: The fear.

Christine: –he cross-examined them in court. Like that’s fucking low, you know? Like that’s low.

Em: The, the fear tactic of manip– Like ’cause you know that you’re going to terrify them into saying whatever you want or–

Christine: Like you’re just– uh, uh, he just really– He tried to put them on the spot for, for this.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: Thankfully, they were like, “No.” Uh–

Em: Oh, good. Okay, good.

Christine: Well, they were adults, by the way. Sorry, I should clarify that. They were not like children at this point, to be clear. They were like young adults, I think. So [chuckles] he tried to like shift the blame by cross-examining them on the stand and saying that they were the ones who plotted the bomb. And it’s like, “You’re the one who lost $800,000. Why would they be the one pl– creating a bomb?” Like, what the fuck?

Em: Yeah.

Christine: That doesn’t even make sense. Investigators also revealed at trial that between the failed Tahoe drop, the– that explosion, and his arrest, he had already started working on a second bomb.

Em: Girl, like, uh– You can’t take a break. And also like what– Like where was that one gonna go? Another casino?

Christine: I don’t know. I assume the same fucking place, but it’s like the building still exploded. So maybe– There was a Harrah’s across the street. Maybe he went there.

Em: I– You know, maybe.

Christine: A–

Em: But also like he– If he’s that, um, smart, you know, wouldn’t he think that once one bomb was out there–

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: –that he’d be kind of getting looked at or eventually someone would figure it out?

Christine: No, he did not think anyone would figure it out. I–

Em: He could just be like the serial bomber. Like–

Christine: Yeah, I guess like the Unabomber again. Maybe there’s something there in the Zeitgeist. I don’t know, man. But yeah, so he– Maybe he’s just that desperate. He’s like, “Well, at least the bomb worked, and the– and at least now they know that it works.”

Em: I mean, it does make sense that a gambling addict would be the one–

Christine: Well, true.

Em: –who did this because like he’s taking a gamble that the flatjacks–

Christine: –that he’s taking a fucking gamble. You’re right.

Em: That they’ll actually wire him the money.

Christine: He’s like pushed up against– between a rock and a hard place. It’s like, “What are you gonna do?” Like–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: –desperate times, right? And like of course he’s already a terrible person. So it’s not like a far leap to include your kids in this nonsense and then things get out of hand. But the fact that you’re building another bomb instead of laying low like weeks after or months after is just crazy to me. But whatever.

Em: Yeah, yeah.

Christine: Um, okay. So he had planned to carry out yet another extortion attempt. Thankfully, they stopped that. His son Jimmy cooperated with authorities and led the FBI to a dry creek bed where his father had stashed the new dynamite collection.

Em: Oh, good. I lo– I love Jimmy. Jimmy was just like, “Well–“

Christine: I know. Jimmy’s on top of it. He’s like–

Em: “–follow me this way.”

Christine: [chuckles] He’s like, “I’ve been waiting for someone to ask me about Daddy. Okay?”

Em: [laughs]

Christine: “I’m gonna show you.”

Em: He’s like, “I’ve been sitting here, biting my nails waiting for this opportunity.”

Christine: Yeah. “Please let me show you his stash.” And he showed him the dynamite stash. It was buried on a dry creek– in a dry creek bed. So John Birges Sr., ultimately was convicted of multiple federal charges on October 22, 1982. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole, and he died of liver cancer at the age of 74 in 1996, which happened to be exactly 16 years and 1 day after the bomb detonated at Harvey’s Resort Hotel.

Em: Wow.

Christine: The end.

Em: It’s a great story.

Christine: Yay. Wasn’t that wild?

Em: Yeah, that’s super wild. That– A-a-adrenaline spiking, something like that.

Christine: Yeah, like the, the ticking time bomb literally, you know. I mean, they hear a whirring mechanism and– Oh!

Em: Yeah. I, um–

Christine: Sounds like a Criminal Minds or a Law and Or– not– what i– what– CSI or something. I don’t know.

Em: Any of them. I mean, I could see any of them, um–

Christine: Mm.

Em: –doing the like leaning on a copier and then like Mariska is like, “Back up slowly.” You know?

Christine: Oh my god. Or like, “Don’t move.”

Em: “Don’t fucking move.”

Christine: Yeah.

Em: “Now you’re just stuck here.” Yeah. Oh my god.

Christine: That’s terrifying. That’s terrifying.

Em: I’ll call Mariska. She’ll, she’ll do it.

Christine: Do you remember that episode that haunts me for the rest of my life? I thi– It was either House or ER where like a thing went through these two people–

Em: Mm.

Christine: –a pole went through these two people.

Em: Christine.

Christine: I will literally never recover from that, and like it haunts me regularly all the time.

Em: Why, why would you do that?

Christine: I can’t help it. I’m sorry. It’s a–

Em: That was–

Christine: –it’s a trauma response.

Em: [chuckles] It’s a bad one.

Christine: To wrangle everyone else in the room into it is my tr– I’m like, “Hey, remember that?”

Em: Ugh. Oh my god, oh my god.

Christine: “Join me, won’t you?” [chuckles]

Em: The– As I get older, I sound more and more like my mother and her mother before her because when, when I hear something like, like I’m reminded of that visual, I just go, “Eugh! Eugh!”

Christine: Yeah. Oh, yeah. I do it all the time. And I’m like, “Oh, shoot! No.” And I’m like, “Oh no, I’m my dad. Oh, shoot!”

Em: [laughs] Um, before we go, um, I’d like to end on, I think a h– I hope a high note, but you, um, had something to say to me earlier about Olive Garden, and then we glazed over that.

Christine: Oh. Oh! Oh my god. You’re right. I totally did.

Em: Wh–

Christine: I went to Rainforest Cafe for the first time at Disney.

Em: And?

Christine: It was so fun.

Em: You’re welcome. I know.

Christine: Thank you.

Em: I know.

Christine: I had a great time.

Em: Welcome to the folds.

Christine: We had a great time. And like, oh my god. We– Leona and I wandered around, and I took a little video, and I went in the gift shop, and like it was raining, and I had some like fried shrimp.

Em: Were you not– And imagine it’s the ‘90s and you’re four. Like that–

Christine: Well, I did.

Em: Like–

Christine: ’Cause I did imagine that. ’Cause I was imagining that.

Em: Did you see the thunderstorm?

Christine: Hell yeah. And Leona like– We were like, “Don’t worry, it’s not real,” and then she plugged her ears, and then she took them off, and she’s like, “It’s not even that scary.”

Em: [gasps]

Christine: And we were like, “Yay!”

Em: Well, you know what? I think it’s because a bunch of four-year-olds were getting scared because–

Christine: I think they toned it way down.

Em: –it used to be like, like you couldn’t speak through it. Like it was loud–

Christine: I will say it–

Em: –and the lightning was everywhere.

Christine: Super dark. Like it was a little alarming ’cause the lights just all went out, and then it was like “flash!”, you know, and so–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: –it was like a little alarming, but, uh, she was very–

Em: No, it used to be horrifying. And it–

Christine: We also like talked both of the– her– sh– We talked to her and her cousin. We were like, “It’s just pretend. It’s gonna–“ And so they were like very prepared for the–

Em: Cool.

Christine: –for the monsoon. But yeah, we had a wonderful time, and it was–

Em: I’m so glad.

Christine: Yeah, it was great. Uh, it was great. And I– When you said Olive Garden, I was like, “Wait, I have a fast casual– or not fast casual– a family style casual, whatever the fuck you wanna to call it, uh, theme restaurant also that I went to.”

Em: Well–

Christine: But you went to Olive Garden, which–

Em: I did.

Christine: –is something I miss.

Em: We were talking about that, we were talking about that before we recorded that I– I said like, “Oh, I went– I have acid reflux from Olive Garden today.” And then you said, “I have to talk about it!” And I went, “Okay.”

Christine: I said, “I have to tell you something later when the camera’s on.”

Em: Did you see, did you see the bar stools that ha– look like animal butts with the tails?

Christine: Oh! Oh. Oh my god. If only–

Em: I can’t breathe.

Christine: –I had had the patience to wait for people to stand up so I could take pictures on those, but.

Em: And you know what really grinds my goddamn gears?

Christine: You tell me.

Em: I know I’ve told you this before, but there is– There’s only one Rainforest Cafe in the world that also is a water ride. You know about this?

Christine: No.

Em: No?

Christine: No.

Em: Oh, okay. So last time we had a show in Texas– Um, it’s in Grapevine, Texas–

Christine: [gasps]

Em: –I think. I think it’s– It’s, it’s somewhere that’s like not a city we went to. It was like an hour away.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: But as soon as I remembered it was there, I got in my rental car, and I flew.

Christine: [laughs]

Em: Like I was– Um, but it’s a Rainforest Cafe, and next to the bathrooms, there’s this like little tunnel, and you go down the tunnel, and all of a sudden, there’s a literal water like theme– like an amusement ride–

Christine: What?

Em: –like an attraction. And it– you– I have a video. I actually will post that too.

Christine: Do you mean like– It is like a log ride? Or is it like you have a bathing suit? Like–

Em: You’re sitting in li– You don’t get wet, but it’s–

Christine: Oh, okay.

Em: You’re in like a river ride where you’re sitting in one of those– It’s essentially like the log flume rides at the amusement park, but it’s a circle and like you’re all sitting in a circle together. Do you know what I’m talking about?

Christine: Oh my god, I love those.

Em: And you go through like– You see the giraffes and the monkeys and the elephants, and there’s music playing. And–

Christine: Wait, now that’s fun.

Em: Oh, I’m like, “Why is there only one of these?” The th–

Christine: No, that they have to do at all of them.

Em: The thing that grinds my fucking gears here– Listen closely, everybody, especially anyone at Rainforest Cafe Water Park specific corporate. Not a goddamn shirt.

Christine: [gasps]

Em: Not a pin. Not a button. Nothing that says–

Christine: Sorry, I woke Gio up. Oh no.

Em: Nothing that says, “I rode the world’s only Rainforest Cafe water ride.”

Christine: Hey, Em, I have one thing to say to you.

Em: Sick. Someone make it please.

Christine: Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Em: You! You have a Cricut machine and an Etsy account.

Christine: That’s right.

Em: I don’t know what we’re doing here.

Christine: But I didn’t survive the ride.

Em: [laughs] I really hope– I–

Christine: It’s called–

Em: But if someone makes me a shirt, it– I pray to god it doe–

Christine: It’s called stolen valor if I do it.

Em: “I survived. I survived.” Oh.

Christine: Okay, I’ll make you one. I’ll make you a shirt.

Em: I’ll look up the date that I did it so you can put a date on the shirt.

Christine: Oh my god. I’ll write like, “August 1980.”

Em: [laughs]

Christine: I’ll say, “I got bombed at the Rainforest Cafe.” Wait a minute. [laughs]

[Em and Christine’s faces blur out as a vertical video appears in the middle of the screen. It’s Em’s video of the water ride at the Rainforest Cafe. The video shows a dark set with green leaves, lighting, and rocky textures on the wall. Empty seats are across from Em as they sit in the floating ride, and the video shows a portion of the ride as it winds around the jungle-themed sets on the river track.]

Em: Um, I’ll put– I’ll find the video, and I’ll put it in, um, in our group chat, so that way we can put that out for everybody, ’cause of course I filmed it. And thank god I– Well, I think I’m the only person on earth who was jazzed about it because I went down there– I was the only person on the ride, by the way. And–

Christine: That’s crazy.

Em: And the person who like worked– was running the ride, she could tell I was like a little too excited about this, and she, she let me do the ride like five times.

Christine: Oh, hell yeah.

Em: And, and I didn’t see a single soul the entire time. It was just me and a rainforest and the river. And–

Christine: I mean, it’s like, it’s like great, but also like what the hell, people? They’re gonna close it if nobody’s doing it.

Em: I was like, “I– There are children in this restaurant. Why isn’t anyone doing this right now?” I–

Christine: ’Cause if you’re going to pay for that, it’s probably expensive to have that–

Em: It was like a dollar, dude.

Christine: No, I mean, but– Oh, yeah. So like to have this running like it’s an expense for the restaurant. Like, come on, people.

Em: Yeah. I don’t know what was going on. I was, I was, I– It had– The whole thing felt like a favorite dream. And then also if like– when I was riding it like one of, one of the times I looked up at the ceiling, which I should have not done ’cause then I just remembered I was like in a warehouse, I was like, “Eugh.”

Christine: [laughs] There’s just like dust hanging from those l– rafters.

Em: Everywhere.

Christine: Oh, can I tell you a secret ’cause my brother doesn’t listen to this podcast?

Em: Tell me.

Christine: So um, don’t tell him, everybody, but there is a ride at Kings Island that I’m sure I’ve talked about called Boo Blasters growing up, and it was like, uh–

Em: Yes, the Scooby-Doo one?

Christine: Yeah, the Scooby-Doo one because we both had Paramount or– Right? We both have Paramount–

Em: You had Kings Island. I had Kings Dominion.

Christine: That’s right.

Em: Yeah, they were both Paramount.

Christine: Yeah, yeah, yeah. And so there was a– And it was our favorite ride. We loved it. Um, and it’s– They just closed it, and they’re auctioning off all the pieces.

Em: [gasps] You have to get something.

Christine: I’m getting my brother– Well, I’m hoping to, but I’m gonna– I have like a timer on and everything. And they have like a hundred different items on there of just like random shit. Like they have the scoreboard. They have, um–

Em: Oh, shut up.

Christine: –the– all the like coffin– the glow-in-the-dark like, um, like heads that pop out of stuff. I mean, I’ll send you the link ’cause it’s crazy.

Em: Please send me the link.

Christine: I will.

Em: Just to, just to pe-peruse. Oh my god.

Christine: And the auction starts in a few days, so I’m like I have a timer set. But, um, there’s one that’s like– because a lot of them are huge, and I’m like my brother cannot fit like this giant coffin in his apartment, and I don’t expect him to.

Em: Oh my god.

Christine: But they had one small one which is called– um, it’s called “A Friend in the Kitchen,” or something, and it’s a little rat.

Em: [gasps]

Christine: And he’s like crawling [chuckles] into like a thing, and he has like the little target where you’re supposed to shoot at him.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: And he’s like kind of hissing, and I’m like, “I want to get him that little rat guy, uh, from the auction.” I don’t know how much these things kind of auction for. I have no clue. I have no clue.

Em: Either shockingly high or shockingly low.

Christine: That’s exactly what I’m expecting, so.

Em: If there’s a Kings Dominion for some reason– Ours shut down a long time ago, but if something happens to be Kings Dominion on there, please let– send me the link.

Christine: I’m gonna send you the link ’cause I don’t know that– ’cause it’s for the whole s– uh–

Em: The whole like–

Christine: –King– whatever overarching thing that is.

Em: Ohh.

Christine: And they have– I think like they might have other auctions on there too. So yeah.

Em: Oh, that’s so fun.

Christine: So let me send you that. But anyway, so that’s the fun fact about–

Em: I’ll go find my, um, uh, my Rainforest Cafe ride, uh, ’cause obviously I filmed it for everybody.

Christine: Yes, yes, yes, yes.

Em: And we can post that. Um, and I’m not kidding. I really need a shirt. Um, if anybody can handle that for me, that would be so– super great.

Christine: I– Yeah, yeah.

Em: Um–

Christine: Yeah, yeah.

Em: It’s called the River Adventure. That’s what it’s called: The Rainforest Cafe River Adventure.

Christine: The River Adventure. Okay.

Em: “I survived the Rainforest Cafe River Adventure.”

Christine: Okay. This says, “Boo Blasters. Everything must ghoul.”

Em: [gasps]

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: I can’t breathe.

Christine: I know. I know. I know.

Em: Oh, I’m simply just so joyous today.

Christine: Okay.

Em: And on a Friday the 13th. It’s a good day.

Christine: It is a good day. But folks, don’t go out there and ruin my time trying to get this rat please. Don’t–

Em: Yeah, no.

Christine: Don’t jack up the prices please.

Em: E-everybody rally together.

Christine: Please, let’s rally together.

Em: It’s gonna be a–

Christine: [laughs] As if everyone wants to just bid on these random dusty ass things from Kings Island–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: –like, “Wow, I know everyone’s gonna be scrambling to get–“

Em: Well, you– You know what’d be precious though is if someone else bought it just to send Xandy so you didn’t have to do it. Now, that–

Christine: Yeah. See, I thought about that, but then I was like, “Then we’d both be driving the price higher and higher.”

Em: Yeah.

Christine: And it’s like, who needs that? Nobody needs it.

Em: There was a Kardashians episode like that where both of them were betting on the same dress, and then like they were– It was very expensive. Um–

Christine: Oh, because they were– Oh my god.

Em: They didn’t realize they were both–

Christine: Oh my god.

Em: ’Cause one of them was trying to get it because it was like their dream dress, and the other person was trying to get it for–

Christine: And the producers are like, “Tee-hee,” and it’s like, “Ahh!”

Em: Well, they were trying to do a nice thing ’cause one of the sisters was doing it like for the other sister because she knew she would love it.

Christine: Yes. See, that’s–

Em: And the other one was just like, “This other bitch won’t stop taking my dress.”

Christine: “This bi–“ [chuckles] That’s actually a very good like conceit for a show. Yeah.

Em: Yeah, yeah.

Christine: Um, I’m sending you one specific one that’s like so funny, but like they’re, they’re just wild. And they’re so janky ’cause they’re just like– They said, “We’re selling them as-is. We just cut all the cl– all the cables and put them in a warehouse.”

Em: [gasps] Oh, wow. Oh, I’m so excited to look through this. Okay, cool. Thank you.

Christine: And they have the signs like “exit” and like “no beverages on this attraction,” and–

Em: I mean, that little log– that like– the lot 21 with–

Christine: Isn’t he cute?

Em: That little log– I mean, that could be my flamingo scroll.

Christine: [gasps]

Em: It could just be the ghosts just telling everybody what, what’s going on over here.

Christine: OMG. Well, if you want anything, I’m gonna pick– I’m hopefully gonna pick up my “Little Friend in the Kitchen,” my little rat.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: And so, if you want anything, I’ll pick yours up, too.

Em: I appreciate. Thank you.

Christine: But look, they have these like portraits, like the creepy like portraits of the people you’re supposed to–

[Christine shows her phone to the camera, showing small photographs of gold-framed portraits on the auction site.]

Em: Oh, I love this.

Christine: And they all have like names, which like you wouldn’t know when you do the ride, but they all have like v– like hyper-specific names. Oh, here’s K– Oh, his name’s Kitchen Visitor.

Em: Kitchen Visitor.

Christine: And he’s like a little rat.

[Christine holds her phone, showing a bright picture of a small yellow and brown object, but it’s hard to make out.]

Em: You simply must.

Christine: I know, right? And he has like a little target, and he’s like– Oh, he’s so cute. So I’m gonna try to get him anyway.

Em: I can’t wait. Okay. Well, good luck on–

Christine: Thank you!

Em: –on your auctions.

Christine: It opens in four days.

Em: Ahh!

Christine: Ahh!

Em: Well, okay. I will see you– and, uh, everyone, thank you for listening to this very long episode, but, um, happy Friday 13th.

Christine: Happy Friday.

Em: Belated.

Christine: Belated.

Em: And–

Christine: That’s–

Em: Why–

Christine: We–

Em: Drink.

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