6-May-21
This podcast unravels the mysterious and often terrifying world of marijuana cultivation in California’s Emerald Triangle, through the lens of David Holthouse’s personal experience and investigation into a triple homicide. The podcast tackles provocative topics such as the war on drugs, cartel activity, environmental destruction, and the enduring mystery of Sasquatch. It delves into the complexities of a region where rugged individualism and a desire to escape the modern world collide with the allure of quick profits, resulting in violence, exploitation, and a culture of secrecy.
1. The Sasquatch Encounter That Sparked An Investigation:
In 1993, Holthouse witnessed two men recounting a harrowing encounter with a Sasquatch near a marijuana farm. The men claimed to have seen three bodies mutilated, leaving Holthouse with a chilling story that would stay with him for years. This initial encounter fueled his later investigation into the triple homicide, ultimately leading to the Hulu documentary “Sasquatch.”
2. The War on Drugs: A Catalyst for Violence and Exploitation:
Holthouse recounts the impact of the war on drugs on the Emerald Triangle, a region that once attracted those seeking a back-to-the-land lifestyle. The influx of DEA agents and paramilitary squads turned the area into a battleground, driving up the price of marijuana and attracting a hardened criminal element. This resulted in an increase in violence and exploitation, particularly of temporary workers, many of whom were migrants.
3. The Culture of Secrecy and Unsolved Murders:
Holthouse reveals the pervasiveness of violence and unsolved murders in the Emerald Triangle, fueled by the illegal drug trade and the region’s isolated nature. The high number of missing persons cases, coupled with the reluctance to report murders to law enforcement, creates a culture of fear and silence. This highlights the dangers faced by those involved in the marijuana industry, both growers and workers, and the difficulty in bringing perpetrators to justice.
4. The Impact of Legalization: A Complex Landscape:
Holthouse explores the complex consequences of marijuana legalization on the Emerald Triangle. While legal cultivation has brought a new wave of corporate involvement, it has also driven many small-scale growers back to the black market, intensifying competition and violence. The lucrative market for illegal marijuana in states where it remains prohibited creates a strong incentive for continued cartel activity, further complicating the landscape.
5. The Enduring Mystery of Sasquatch:
Holthouse delves into the enduring myth of Sasquatch, exploring its connection to the Emerald Triangle and the cultural significance for those who believe in its existence. The podcast acknowledges the possibility of misidentification, particularly in the dense Redwood forests, but also raises questions about the potential for staged Sasquatch encounters to intimidate workers or protect illegal operations. This adds another layer of complexity to the region’s already fraught landscape.
6. The Dangers of Undercover Reporting:
Holthouse recounts the risks he faced while investigating the triple homicide. His pursuit of truth led him to dangerous environments, where he encountered individuals involved in violence and the drug trade. He highlights the constant threat of danger, especially when exploring unsolved murders in a region notorious for its secrecy. The podcast underlines the courage and determination required for investigative journalism in such settings, and the line he had to tread between reporting and personal safety.
7. The Trauma of Childhood Sexual Assault and its Impact:
Holthouse shares his personal experience of childhood sexual assault and its enduring impact on his life. He discusses his decision to go public with his story, his subsequent arrest for stalking his abuser, and the complexities of confronting the trauma. He also examines the potential connection between his experience and his attraction to dark and dangerous stories, as well as the challenging path toward healing and forgiveness.
8. The Perils of Extremism and the Power of Belonging:
Holthouse recounts his experiences as an undercover journalist infiltrating neo-Nazi groups. He sheds light on the structure, ideology, and reach of these organizations, highlighting their well-funded nature, recruitment strategies, and increasingly mainstream influence. He underscores the allure of belonging to a tribe, even when that tribe espouses hateful ideologies. He contrasts the intoxicating feeling of acceptance with the dangers and consequences of extremism, highlighting the complex psychological factors that can drive individuals towards radicalization.
9. The Allure of Criminal Subcultures:
Holthouse reflects on his attraction to criminal subcultures, suggesting that it stems from his own experiences with trauma and the desire to understand the darker side of humanity. He discusses the dangers and allure of going undercover with groups such as skinheads and meth users, emphasizing the adrenaline rush and the blurring of lines between observer and participant. He acknowledges the potential for addiction to the dangerous world he inhabits, but also recognizes the valuable insights it provides into the human psyche.
10. The Impact of Drugs and the Search for Belonging:
Holthouse shares his personal experience with rave culture, exploring the intoxicating power of MDMA and the search for belonging in that scene. He details the transformation of the rave scene from a relatively harmless subculture to one infiltrated by organized crime, highlighting the dangers of illegal drug markets and the vulnerability of its participants. He also touches on the complex relationship between drugs and trauma, acknowledging the potential therapeutic benefits of MDMA but also the dangers of addiction and laced substances.
11. The World of Chess and its Connection to Mental Acuity:
Holthouse discusses his passion for chess, reflecting on its intellectual depth and the mental discipline it requires. He highlights the connection between chess mastery and high intelligence, and the potential for obsession with the game. He shares a fascinating anecdote about a no-board chess match between an ex-con and a teenage chess master, highlighting the sheer mental prowess required to play the game without a physical board.
12. The World of Jujitsu: Beyond Brute Strength:
Holthouse delves into the world of jujitsu, revealing its complexities beyond brute strength. He emphasizes the mental acuity, leverage, and positioning required for mastery. He describes the deep well of knowledge and strategy that separates casual practitioners from true masters, and the dedication it takes to excel in this challenging art form.
13. The Power of Storytelling and the Search for Truth:
Holthouse emphasizes the importance of storytelling and the search for truth, suggesting that his life’s work is a reflection of his own experiences and the desire to shed light on the darker aspects of the world. He discusses the challenges of navigating ethical considerations, balancing personal safety with journalistic integrity, and finding closure on unresolved stories. He recognizes the importance of giving a voice to victims, survivors, and those often marginalized by mainstream narratives.
5 Memorable Quotes:
- “I always thought it was people to kill people. Now, the question is, was somebody staged a murder scene to make it look like a Bigfoot did it? And that I think maybe happened.” – This quote captures the core mystery of the podcast, as Holthouse grapples with the possibility of a staged crime scene intended to throw investigators off track.
- “It’s one of the darkest things about this series that you put together. It’s really good, by the way. Thank you. Like, at the end of it also, like, fuck. I just I shut the TV off and I just sat in the couch for, like, 5 minutes, shake in my head.” – Joe Rogan’s reaction highlights the unsettling nature of the documentary, emphasizing its exploration of the dark consequences of the war on drugs.
- “You know, I’ve watched a lot of true crime sort of documentaries and, you know, they’re all creepy. But there’s something extra disturbing about this because it seemed like these these war on drug laws and the attitude that people had taken ruined like a whole culture. Like, it it changed everything about the way these people were living.” – Holthouse expresses his profound sense of sadness for the destruction of a once-utopian community in the Emerald Triangle, a consequence of misguided policies and the pervasive influence of the war on drugs.
- “Most adults are looking out for you. True. It’s just like, what is that? Like, how what what causes that? That what makes a monster? Like, what is that? because it’s common.” – This quote speaks to Holthouse’s deep curiosity and desire to understand the root causes of human evil, particularly in the context of child sexual abuse.
- “And, like, I would just, like, participant observer, but fully participating whatever I was reporting on. And so there was a there was a hate crimes investigating later for I probably shouldn’t name the organization. For a major, like, civil rights organization in the US, and she contacted the paper that I worked for she’d been she had this idea of, like, helping to train a reporter to go undercover as a skin head, and she hadn’t been getting any traction because she called at most publications and they were like, No. We don’t have anybody that wants to do that. But she called the Westward, the weekly paper in Denver I worked for. It ran this idea, and the other was like, yeah. We got a guy. You know? So they put me in touch with her, and she trained me on how to dress, walk, talk, you know, steep myself in the ideology and pass as a neo Nazi skinhead.” – This quote reveals Holthouse’s willingness to fully immerse himself in dangerous subcultures to expose the truth, highlighting his dedication to investigative journalism.