December 14, 2022 • 51 mins
A desert theme that's hardly dry! Two clever contestants go head to head to talk about how space influenced the artist Georgia O'Keefe and the goings on at Area 51! Impractical Jokers star James Murray stops by to talk about his book series, AREA 51 INTERNS!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hi, Elliott, if that's your real name, I be what
are you talking about? What am? I? Okay? You may
not realize this quote Elliott unquote, but today we're learning
about Area fifty one, right, the highly classified government based
for conspiracy theorists think the government is hiding evidence of
extraterrestrial life. Words exactly? How are you so calm about this? Well,
(00:24):
we're also learning about artists Georgia O'Keefe today, and I
find her paintings very calming. She's in on it to
another name from my big conspiracy board. Maybe you should
look at more of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. B, and calm down.
I can't calm down. Aren't you at all concerned about
what they're hiding at Area fifty one? I don't know, B.
(00:45):
I don't really think Area fifty one has aliens extraterrestrials. No,
I'm talking about experimental snacks, Elliott. Think of the snacks.
They probably have flavored wallpaper, everlasting candy that doesn't lose
its flavor, gum that has all the flavors of a
three course meal. How far does this confectionery conspiracy go? B?
(01:10):
I believe you're thinking of Willy Wonka's splendiferous chocolate factory,
not Area fifty one. I might be Yeah, I thought so. Eric,
Please play the theme song you Go. What do you
think you know about the grates from this story? The
game is on to get some energy and buckle up
(01:33):
your brain because it's signed to play the worst podcast
because it's Sounded Flavors Who fl from Top the Land
or so called so Hell Los Angeles? Welcome to Who Was?
The History plus show that gives contestants the chance to
win mega prizes and podcast glory. I'm Beat your announcer
(01:55):
and author of Chicken Soup for the co host Soul.
Now here's your home, the man who learned everything he
knows about basketball from space Jam. It's Ellie Helen, Thank
you be and I love that sport with its monsters
and cartoon rabbits. And welcome everyone to the Who Was? Podcast.
This show is like Jeopardy, only with surprise guests, silly games,
(02:16):
and our own franchise system. That's right, you two can
be a regional Elliott and B. Applications are at the door.
Our contestants were sent Who Was? Works about two great
figures from history. Now they're here to show off their
knowledge and the hopes of winning Fantastic Prizes prize. Today,
we're discussing Area fifty one and Georgia o'keeath to Desert
(02:41):
Beauties on one stage. But before we get to know them,
let's get to know our contestants. All right, First up,
we have Delaney. Delaney, please introduce yourself. D name is
Delaney and my funk back? Are I sank enter for
local Theater? Oh my goodness, that is so wonderful to hear.
(03:02):
So are you in anything currently, Delaney? No, but I
will be auditioning for high school musical? Okay, what is
the high school musical? High school music? Which? Which musical
are you going to be performing into high school? Is
the musical you're gonna performing in auditioning for a high
school musical? It's high school the musical like the Muses,
but you're in middle school. But it's a high school musical.
(03:22):
So it's a stage musical of the movie high school
musical and you're a middle schooler. Yeah. And what other
shows have you been at? Rustical the musical? I've been
in Cinderella, Lion King, Frozen Jr. That's all I can
really think this is a lot of credits. We've got
a lot of credits already. This is a very impressive resume. Wow. Um, well,
(03:44):
thank you for making the time to be on the show. Um.
We may ask you to sing your audition song if
we have time a little bit later, because I'm very
curious about what one sings to audition to be in
high school the musical. And also we're kind of a
lot of people to know this. We're kind of auditioning
for a new co host. B just hasn't been working out,
(04:05):
So if you want to audition later for that role,
all right, Thank you so much, Delaney, And with us
today we also have Maxwell Maxwell. Please introduce yourself game this, Max,
and my fact is that I know the name of
all nice stuff animals, all of your stuffed animals. How
many stuffed animals do you have? My mom says I
(04:28):
have hundreds, okay hundreds, and you know all of their names.
If they don't know their names, then I just make
up a new one, you know what, Max. That's how
I handle introductions in real life. So that's a very
good skill to have. But now the big question is
do your stuffed animals know your name? I don't allow that.
(04:50):
You don't love that kind of of casual guy, non
professional relationship. Yeah, you're not that familiar with them. Oh
my good? Is there? Now? You don't worry. Your stuffed
animals are never going to hear this. Do you have
a favorite? Do you feel comfortable sharing the name of
your favorite stuffed animal with us? They're free of them.
They're all like the same that you're They're all the
(05:12):
different colors. Oh wow, what are what are their names?
Dinda one? Then or two? Dio? And so are they rabbits?
You're all right? What can I say? All right? Well,
thank you both so much for being here today. Yes,
thank you both, and thank you to Eric, our musician,
(05:32):
for providing that lovely Meet the contestants music and all
the music on the show today. So that's who is.
Now let's find out what is Area fifty one with
four fast facts prospects areas if you want is built
on Groom Lake, Nevada. It has been a base for
the Central Intelligence Agency, and more recently, the United States
(05:53):
Air Force. Air Force acknowledged that Area fifty one existed,
even though it had been in use since nineteen Conspiracy
theorists or people who believe that an event or situation
is the result of a secret plan made by powerful
people are often associated with Area fifty one. The CIA
formally acknowledged the existence of their base at Area fifty
(06:15):
one and made many documents public in two thousands. All right,
so now we have to ask both of you, because
you've read the Area fifty one book and you understand
a lot of people are like, oh, there are extraterrestrials,
uh being hidden at Area fifty one. What do you
(06:36):
to think about extraterrestrials? Do you think there's life on
other planets? I think they're possibly, could be, I'm not positive. Okay,
so you haven't met any is what you're saying. Max,
What about you? Do you think there are aliens out there?
Or are we alone in the universe? Which would be
so sad since they're definitely out there, and have you
met any? Now? Okay, there's nothing I want more in
(06:59):
my life than for them to discover aliens somewhere and
for the aliens to be on TV and me to
get to see what they look like. That's the thing
I want more than anything else in my life. Really, Yes,
you want that more than um? Like a really good
pastrami sandwich. You know what I hadn't thought about that? Okay,
number two Aliens number one, that pastrami sandwich, because you
(07:20):
really can't be the good popastrami sandwich. It can't beat
a good Hops found sandwich. The only thing I can
think of that's maybe a little bit better than a
hopis Draamy sandwich. Is our first game. It's called true
or false? True or false? Is a true and false?
Is a false? Or is a true? It's a true
that it is false? Is it false that it was true?
Or true? True? Horror false? I agree, Elliott, Let's get
(07:43):
right into it. WHOA James Murray, writer of the Areas
that You Went in Turns book series. Yes, also one
of the stars of the hilarious TV show in Practical Jokers.
That is me. I was reading my favorite trade magazine,
Sketch Comedy History Quiz podcast based on popular kids book
series Monthly It's a Mouthful, and I saw that you
(08:06):
guys are doing an entire episode on Eric fifty one.
I could not miss that. WHOA? Did you come here
via the Who? Was it? No? No, no, no, Actually
I came here through something totally different. Was the who?
Is app. It's like an app that connects people that
are still alive. So like a telephone do you even
(08:27):
know jus just an app. It's got a jingle and everything. Eric,
wonder it's so in the present edry. Wow, technology is incredible.
We were just about to do our true or false game?
(08:48):
How would you like to read the questions? Are you kidnedy?
I would be honored. Let's do it, Eric, True or false?
Just a tru false, it's a false? Is a true?
It's a true? Little as false? Is it false that
it was true? Or true? True? Horror? Fault? Mirror is
really a natural at telling Eric to play music? Which
have you read in front of the kids? Caleb, keep
(09:10):
it together. Okay, here's how this game works. Being will
read a statement about Area fifty one, and you'll tell
us if it's true or full false. And since it's
our first game, each question is worth one point and
just a disclaimer. There are a lot of stories about
Area fifty one that can't be proved true or false.
For this game, we're sticking to the facts that you
can be proved true or fault. We'll get to all
(09:32):
the rumors and speculation about Area fifty one later in
the show Incredible disclaiming be Delaney. Here is your first question. Okay, guys,
here we go. True or false. The name Area fifty
one refers to its location on the map. I believe
that's true. You're right, the answer is true. Area fifty
(09:53):
one is located in the southern corner of Nevada in
the Mojave Deserts of the western United States. The area
was used by the US r ME for bomb testing,
as the government felt the wide open and unpopulated spaces
were safest for these tests and also for the privacy
necessary for these top secret projects. The number fifty one
in Area fifty one is believed to refer to the
(10:13):
parcel of land, as it was named on a surveyors
map created in the nineteen fifties. Max. This next one
is for you, so cool. Okay, next question, guys. True
or false? Area fifty one was originally a lead and
silver mine. I'm sorry, the answer is true. Originally a
(10:35):
lead and silver mine. The land that became Area fifty
one was acquired by the U. S. Air Force from
the Atomic Energy Commission in nineteen fifty five. Maybe they
should have called it Area fifty five because it was
nineteen fifty five. I just throwing the ideas out there.
The CIA and the Air Force don't have to take them.
It was going to be used for flight testing, mostly
by the Central Intelligence Agency commonly known as the c I. A. Delaney,
(10:57):
Let's go the next ones for you, alright, Delaney? True
or false? At area fifty one, the CIA worked with
the Soviet Union because they were all bored with the
Cold War. Correct, the answer is false. At area fifty one,
the CIA worked hard to outsmart the Soviet Union, which
is a group of countries that at the time was
(11:18):
led by Russia. When people talk about the Cold War,
they're referring to the tense relationship between the United States
and the Soviet Union. From the end of World War
Two and until the fall of the Berlin Wall in nine.
American leaders were afraid of Russia spreading communism across the world.
Both governments increased their surveillance, threats, and propaganda against each
(11:38):
other for years. It was a huge waste of time
and resources. Lots of better things they could have been
doing instead of just being mad at each other. Max,
here's the last true or false. It's for you, okay, Max?
Read true or false. At first, Area fifty one was
called Paradise Ranch to attract employees. I'm sorry the answer
(12:01):
is true and a little bit false, since Paradise Ranch
was hardly a paradise and definitely not a ranch, but
they did call it that. Area fifty one developed a
lot of cutting edge technologies, and the CIA wanted to
be absolutely certain that everyone working at the site could
be trusted. They were worried about Russian spies stealing us information,
so the CIA conducted extensive background checks on anyone wanting
(12:23):
to work there. I should have done more background checks
for this show. Maybe then the peanut butter sandwiches I
bring for lunch wouldn't disappear for free Day. Oh sure,
a coincidence? Likely story, Geraldine, there's peanut butter all over
your trunk and that's true or false? True? True? True, true,
horror fault. That was such a fun round. Thank you
(12:43):
so much for helping us out. Are you kidding me?
Is my honor anytime? Guys, These contestants really know their
Area fifty on trivia. In fact, I would like to
interview today's winner see if they've got what it takes
to be an Area fifty one intern Hello, that sounds
good to me. Wow, this is amazing. I'm going to
take a moment to process this. It's a good time
(13:06):
for us to take a break. We'll be right back
for our second game. Okay, Eric, would you play some
secret government based music? Please? Old Herd, this joke's classified.
(13:27):
Welcome back to Who Was podcast? Today we're learning what
is area fifty one and who was Georgia o'keee. Now
back to your host Elliott Galen, Thank you. The Let's
go to our producer producer Jane with the scores be
and Elliott. I want to tell you that so far
it's all Delaney with two points and Max zero, and
(13:49):
that could be a conspiracy. I'm glad that Jane is
asking the questions that need to be asked. But this
is just the beginning of the game. It's still very
close and could be anyone's game. But first, let's find
out who was Georgia O'Keeffe with four fast facts prospects.
(14:10):
Georgia O'Keeffe was born in eighteen eighty seven and died
in ninety six. Georgia O'Keeffe was a pioneering painter who
incorporated shapes from nature like flowers and cow skulls into
her work. In ninety six, at age fifty eight, Georgia
O'Keeffe was the first female artist to have a solo
exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
(14:30):
George's influence can be seen not just in what she created,
but in how she lived. She helped pave the way
for other female artists to be seen as professionals and
not amateurs prospects. So we want to ask you, guys, So,
one of the things that's really um special about Georgia
(14:52):
O'Keeffe's work is that she found the beauty in everyday
objects um that maybe other people wouldn't have noticed a scene.
Do you feel like there's something that you see beauty
in that maybe other people take for granted? Max, Is
there anything in your life that you think is that
you see that you think is particularly beautiful, Something where
you look at it and you're like that, I like that,
(15:13):
that's special or that makes me feel good. Google Google
eyes go, It's it's hard to look at a pair
of Google eyes and not not smile. That's yeah, there's
still something not feel something, even if it's just trying
to figure out who they're looking at and why they
keep moving around? Uh? And Delaney, would have you got
about you? What's something that you see in your life
(15:33):
that we're like this is special animals, any particular kind
of animals or just any animals. Dog? Do you have
a dog? I have three dogs? So every night at
your house is a three dog night. That's a joke
for old people. And what are the names of your dogs? Maverick,
Subine and Willow. I am excited about the idea of
(15:53):
you incorporating those dogs into work of art because you
find them beautiful. But to be honest, I really can't
get over the idea that, if actuated some art, he
puts some googly eyes in it. I think that's fantastic.
I gotta see I gotta see this art when it's created.
I feel like we've got to see a dog's tail
with google eyes on either side of it. Wow. Yeah,
finally it's time to get the tail's point of view
(16:14):
on things. We've seen the dogs game of view. Let's
get the tails point of view. All right? Well, thank
you both so much for sharing. Yes, those are fantastic answers,
but now it's time for more answers with our next game,
Backpack from the Past, from the Baby. We have a
backpack that contains some of Georgia O'Keeffe's personal objects. We'll
(16:37):
describe those objects for you are contestants, and also for
the listeners at home. Contestants, you will choose which multiple
choice answer best describes it. Listeners you can choose to
but you're not playing this game, so we won't hear you.
Since this is our second game, each question is worth
two points max. This first object is for you. Oh wow,
(16:59):
it's a jug? Is this in Georgia O'Keefe backpack because
A her family bought cereal in bulk or be her
family lived on a dairy farm. That's right, The answer
is be. The O'Keefe's farm was a dairy farm. They
had many cows, but also grew corn, oats and hey.
Georgia was the second of seven children. Her mother knew
(17:21):
was very important for her daughters to be educated and
curious about the world, so she enrolled them in art
classes from a young age. Young Georgia loved to walk
through her family's land, drawing everything she saw, and enjoyed
the solitude that came with drawing and painting. From that
young age, Delaney, This next object is for you. It's
(17:42):
a simple black wolf coat. It's quite nice. I might
try it on after the show. Is this in Georgia
o'keeps backpack because A she liked to wear all black,
or B she liked to dress as a nineteen forties detective.
Sometimes the answer is a. Georgia and her husband and
Alfred became famous round New York City, and whenever they
(18:03):
went out, they almost always wore all black clothing. Alfred
liked to wear a dramatic black cape, and Georgia often
wore us white silk blouse under a black woolf coat
that she buttoned up to her chin. Alfred liked the
attention he received from the way he dressed, but Georgia
wanted her simple black clothes to make her less noticeable,
and also to let people know that she wanted to
(18:24):
be taken seriously artists. All right, all right, let's see
what the backpack has for Max on this next question.
Let's see here, it's an apple core and an orange rhyme. Oh,
is this a backpack or a garbage bag? All right? Anyway,
(18:45):
Is this in Georgia o'keep's backpack because A she would
eat the fruit from still life paintings in art school.
Or B she just loved composting. That's right. The answer
is a. After studying at the Art Constitutor Chicago, George
and went to study at the Art Students League in
New York City. She and her classmates would do a
lot of portraits and still life, which are paintings of
(19:06):
an object, such as a vase or an apple. Georgia
was a dedicated student, but she still had a mischievous streak.
She would often eat the fruit that was used for
still life compositions. She would also sometimes bring in street
musicians and get her classmates to dance in the studios. Delaney,
let's wrap it up with the last object. It's a drawing,
(19:27):
makes sense, she was an artist. Seems to be an
advertisement actually for cleaning supplies, Okay, Elliott I swear if
this is another hint that we should have a studio
chore wheel, it's not. And I still say that's a
great idea. We'll talk about it after the show, now, Delane,
Why would this advertisement be in Georgia O'Keeffe's backpack. Is
it because a Georgia was a very neat person or be.
(19:51):
Georgia worked as an illustrator for advertising agencies. The answer
is b. Georgia lived in Chicago and took a job
as a commerce shill artists. She worked for advertising agencies
as a freelance illustrator. Being on tight deadlines means Georgia
had to learn to work quickly, something she incorporated into
her work later in life. One of Georgia's pieces, the
(20:12):
little Dutch girl symbol for old Dutch cleanser, is still
sometimes used today. And that, my friends, is backpack from
the past, from the best. And that's the end of
that exceptionally groovy game. Let's dash on over to Jane
with the scores. HELLI n b uh Matt has come
(20:35):
from behind and it is now four to six Delaney
still in the lead. All right, very exciting, Thank you Jane.
And now it's time we had a nice long chat
with Georgia O'Keefe. Whoa Georgia O'Keefe. How did you get
here by using that impressive app that connects you to
the past? Who was up? Who was wandered? So more? First,
(21:08):
I was reading my favorite trade magazine, Sketch Comedy and
History quiz podcast based on popular kids series monthly, and
I thought it was such a funny coincidence that you
were discussing Area fifty one. Well for a niche magazine,
they sure have a decent circulation. Wait, Georgia, what do
you mean coincidence? Oh, just that I spent a lot
(21:29):
of time at Area fifty one. I'm sorry. You've been
to Area fifty one absolutely hundreds of times. We always
think of you as an artist. In fact, one of
my favorite paintings yours, his Tent Door at Night. I
just find it such a soothing piece of art. Many banks,
I was lucky enough to study with some amazing teachers.
(21:51):
That painting is based on a method I learned, where
you compose a picture with basic forms and shapes. That
was a revolutionary artistic idea when I was young. You'll
notice that tent door at Night is almost entirely made
up of triangles, creating a tent door at night. Yes,
I'm surprised and experimental artists visited Area fifty one. Did
(22:13):
you design experimental planes? Nothing like that. It's just you
don't have a lot of close neighbors in the desert.
So I traveled over to Area fifty one from my
place in New Mexico to say hi, and the rest
is history. The rest is very much not history. We've
never heard that. I don't think anyone's ever heard that. No,
(22:35):
a few people have. I'm pretty close with FRIEDA. Carlo,
and let me tell you she is sick and tired
of my Area fifty one stories. Well you're not. Feel
free to bore us with every detail about Area fifty one.
I hate to disappoint, but it isn't nearly as exciting
as people think. I mean, when has the government ever
(22:55):
done anything exciting? So you didn't find any spaceships or
anything like that, Oh my goodness, No, nothing like that.
But I did find some fantastic bleached animal bones on
my truck over there. Those are hard to come by,
not as hard to come by as a Martian b.
(23:16):
Georgia is our guest. Okay, since you really want to know,
there was a security guard at Area fifty one named
Hank Okay, and he was from Venus. What tell us everything?
What was he like? He was a pretty nice guy,
mellow on the quiet side. What how did he get
(23:39):
to Earth? You know, we never got into that. He
was more interested in hearing my stories from when I
lived in New York. You know, he was a Yankees
fan that tracks. He really loved all the skyscraper paintings
I did when I was living there, said he could
experience the energy of the city when he looked at
the canvas. Oh, I'm here and there he'd read our minds,
(24:03):
you know, if we got sick of playing cards or whatever. Whatever.
You knew a telepathic alien and you think that's not interesting.
It's fine, I guess, but getting to know an extraterrestrial
isn't as life changing as getting to know a flower.
Have you ever just sat and looked closely at nature,
(24:25):
whether it be a plant, a cow skull, or the
sky reflected in a lake at sunset, discovering the beauty
and everyday objects. To me, that's out of this world. Wow,
wise words, Georgia. Yeah, but seriously, how many eyes did
hate have? Oh? Bee? Trying to reach you was like
(24:47):
trying to reach a cactus. Now, if you'll excuse me,
I must be going. My favorite PROGRAMA is on, and
by program I mean the shifting colors and shapes of
the setting sun over deserts adds. Thanks a guy and
Elliott and b and thank you who was out who
(25:08):
that was truly amazing. B. What are you doing? I'm
trying to read your mind. I've always suspected I was
part Venusian and you're thinking we've got to take a break. Wow,
you're right, but don't go anywhere because we'll be back
with our final game. Eric plays some dancing in the
art studio music. Please. I knew you were going to
(25:30):
say that. Oh, B, I want to dance in the studio. Hey,
who was? Hers exciting news Who Was has been nominated
(25:50):
for a Signal Award for Best Kids Podcast. We love
your vote, had to Signal Award dot com. It's s
I G N A l A w A r d
dot com. For more information on how you and your
favorite grown up can cast your ballot for the Who Was? Podcast.
Voting is open until December. We thank you and Geraldine
(26:11):
thanks you to thank them. Geraldine, welcome back to the
Who Was? Podcast. Today we're learning what is Areas Hope one?
And who was? Georgia O'Keefe and now back to your host,
Elliot Kalen. Thanks b and without further ado, let's get
going with our final game. It's called sound effects Safari
(26:34):
Sound Safari sound effective in this game We'll play a
sound effect inspired by something important from Area fifty one
or the life of Georgia O'Keefe, and our contestants will
tell us what the sound represents. Since this is the
third round, each question will be worth three enormous points. Delaney,
here's the first sound. Wow. Okay, that plane sounded fast.
(27:04):
But what does it have to do with Area fifty one?
Is it A it was really a spaceship that's totally
being hidden in Area fifty one. Or be it was
one of the spy planes that got tested at Area
fifty one. B. That's right, The answer is B. In
the late nineteen fifties and early nineteen sixties, the United
States government developed the YouTube and the A twelve spy
(27:27):
planes and tested them in Area fifty one. The YouTube
could carry up to seven hundred pounds of photographic equipment.
He was designed to spy on the Soviet Union by
taking pictures from a very high altitude. The Age twelve
was a plane that could fly faster than a bullet
at an altitude of ninety thou feet to avoid being
spotted from the ground. Max, here's your sound. That is
(27:50):
the sound of someone writing on paper. What does that
have to do with Georgia O'Keeffe's life. Is it A
she invented a new kind of cursive or be she
was an art and penmanship teacher for a few years. B.
That's correct. The answer is B. Georgia took a job
as drawing supervisor for the Amarillo, Texas Public Schools to
(28:12):
grow her teaching experience. Georgia was responsible for supervising drawing
in penmanship for hundreds of students. Most importantly, Georgia became
captivated by the wide open spaces and the size of
the sky in Texas. She sounds like a way more
fun penmanship teacher than the one that I had. She
never let us look at the sky. Delaney, This next
sound is for you. That is the sound of a
(28:37):
satellite being rocketed into space. What does that have to
do with Area fifty one? Is it A? Area fifty
one is the one place on Earth sky Lab space
station was instructed not to take photos of or be
new satellites were developed at Area fifty one. Okay, correct?
The answer is A. Nineteen seventy four the sky Lab
(28:59):
as or not to pictures at Area fifty one, even
though they were given instructions not to do this. When Skylab,
a laboratory orbiting the Earth, was launched, Area fifty one
didn't even officially exist. Although it did exist, just not officially.
Even pilots who had flown there wouldn't refer to it
by name, instead calling it only the Box. This fueled
more conspiracy theorists to wonder about what was really going
(29:21):
on at Area fifty one. Maybe they had those snacks
that he was talking about earlier. This last sound is
for you. That is a camera flash. What does that
have to do with Georgia O'Keeffe's light. Is it a
she took close up photos of a deconstructed camera? Very meta?
(29:41):
Or be her husband and artistic partner was also a photographer.
H that's right. The answer is be Alfred Steedlitz, Georgie's husband,
was an important figure in American modern art, not only
because his art galleries supported influential artists like Georgia, but
also because he was an early photographer who helped photography
become accepted as an art form. Some of his most
(30:03):
famous pictures are of Georgia. In addition to being his muse,
she was also his artistic partner. And that wraps up
sound effects Safari. I always wonder why we took a
baby on that Safari. Great job both of you. The
end of that game means it's just about the end
of the show, while Jane talies the score. I'd love
(30:24):
to hear from you, our contestants. What was something you
were surprised to learn about either Area fifty one or
Georgia O'Keefe Delaney, What surprised you when you read about
these two. I was surprised for the Area fifty one,
where one guy just decided to leak everything about it
and they came really popular. It shows you how silly
(30:46):
it is sometimes to try to keep secrets, because it
does takes one person to tell everything, and then it's like,
well that used to be a secret, Now it's not
a secret anymore. It also needs to be wonder like,
if something is a secret, you just want to know
what it is, even if it's boring. So if it
was just all out there, um, you know from the beginning,
people probably wouldn't be as interested. You know, it's a
real conundrum, a real Schroedeger's the box. I think you're
(31:10):
using those words correctly. And Max, what was something that
surprised you about either Georgia o'key for that Georgi o'key
had a shed with the bunch of dead animal bone.
When you say it out of context, it sounds a
little creepy, um if you didn't know anything about her paintings.
But um, she was able to like we were saying earlier.
And I think sort of what you've discovered with Google
(31:32):
Eyes is take something that other people maybe wouldn't give
too much attention to and really see the beauty within it. Yeah.
That's one of the amazing things about art is how
it transforms something strange or ordinary into something that is
beautiful and magical. And it also shows you there's kind
of a thin line between creeping and artistic. If you've
(31:53):
ever met an artist, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Boy,
I try to walk that line every day and do
I said, Yeah, it's it's you're very creepy. Thank you
both though, for those amazing revelations. Now it's time for
the big moment. Jane, please announced our winner for today. Oh,
William B. I have to tell you that Max made
(32:15):
a great comeback with ten points, but Delaney wins the
game with twelve. What I'm late today amazing. You should
both be very proud about how you did. Delaney, you
have ten seconds as our winner to give to your shoutouts.
You can neither say them or sing them as you prefer.
Go for it. Who would you like to thank for
getting you here today? I would like to shout out
(32:36):
my mom, my dad, my brother, and my three doctor awesome,
our winner and their library of choice. We're receiving a
selection of Who Was books and I'm going to give
a shout out to intern Zach, Jane, Eric, Eric Allies
for being our George O'Keefe and to be and a
big thank you to both of our contestants who played
a fantastic game together. And as our winner today, de
(32:56):
Lany will be interviewing with me to be an area
that the one term we'll have that right after this
short break, so don't go anywhere. Welcome back to the
(33:16):
HULAS podcast. As the winner of our what is Area
fifty one and Who Was Georgia O'Keefe episode, de Lady
is about to interview with James Murray, author of the
Area fifty one Interns book series, to see if she
has what it takes to become an Area fifty one
intern herself. Take it away. Murray. Oo, lady, my name
(33:39):
is James Murray. Everyone an area if you want, calls
me Murra. I'm the head of human resources there and
very exciting. We have a summer internship coming up at
the base and we think you might have what it
takes to be an intern at Area fifty one. But
I have to go through with your questions. If you
don't mind, please answer honestly with whatever experience you have,
(34:00):
and hopefully you get the job at the end of
the this interview. Sound good? Okay, So first question, Delany, Okay,
how did you hear about the internship program at Area
fifty one? Was it a recommendation from a friend? Did
you see him read about us on on the internet?
Tell us how you heard about Eric fe one internship program.
I learned about you guys from the who Has podcast. Okay,
(34:24):
that's an excellent podcast. They promote all our internship all
the time. We've hired a number of interns from the podcast.
So very good answer. Okay, Now this is an important one.
It's not necessary to have this experience, but if you do,
even better, what is your experience so far in your
life with extraterrestrials if any, have you seen them, have
(34:45):
you interacted with them? Just tell us about your et experience.
I'm pretty sure my brother might be an extraterrestial. Okay, Okay.
We have a lot of interns at every one that
have extra terrestrial siblings, so that puts you in the
top tier of candidates we're looking for. Okay, Now, let's
say you do land an internship at areas from two one.
(35:07):
What do you think is the best lunch you could
possibly have on your first day of the job. What
do you have in the in the area? If you
do one cafeteria, maybe a sandwich, Internet Apple a very
good choice. That's a good choice. We have a lot
of weird suggestions. That's exactly what I have every day.
I do like a Grenny Smith Apple and a nice
(35:28):
ham and cheese sandwich. And that's pretty much all you
need at areas you want. So, very good answer. I
like that one. Okay. Next question, this is a tougher one, Okay,
but I think you can do it. What would you
most like to ask an extraterrestrial. Let's say if you've
got to meet one at the area fIF to one base,
what is singing like they're like, what songs do they have? Okay,
(35:50):
So you want to know about pop culture on alien worlds?
What's who's there? Taylor Swift? Who's there? You? What have you?
You want to know who's the alien? T Swift? Right? Okay?
I like that answer. So you want to get to
know the aliens and their culture. That's an excellent answer,
Like what you did there? Okay? So, de lady, let's
say you did land the summer internship at eric Q one.
(36:11):
What do you think you would wear to the first
day at the job? Like? What what? What would you do?
What do you think you'd dress like? I would like
casual clothes and a lab coat. Very good answer, because
you know everything and anything can and does happen at
eric one. You need to be mobile, be able to
move around, just in case to eight extraterresionals break free
or the cryptids break free. You never know what's gonna happen.
(36:33):
So smart answer. Casual for sure, but lab coat because
you're gonna be doing some top secret scientific work at
every one. I like your answer so far, you're like
eight out of eight or seven out of seven. I'm
unsure how many questions I've asked you at this point,
but so far you do fantastic. Okay, now this is
an important one. Let's say you do land the summer
(36:54):
internship at eric ft one. How would you best describe yourself?
What's your character like? Are you most like Viv? Viv,
of course is the leader of our friend group. She's
awesomeate mass, she's super smart, she's got killer science skills.
She also also might be a little bit extra tresural herself.
So there's Viv. Would you be somebody like Charlotte, who's
(37:17):
from She's from Australia. She's like a super cool musician,
she's a visionary, she's a little bit like act first,
I think later. Would you be like Ray, he's our
comedic side relief. He's a little bit of the goof
all of the group. Would you be like Elijah, who's
the natural born leader of the group. He's ambitious, fun,
outgo and get venturous. Who do you think you are?
(37:39):
Which character best describes you? I think Charlotte describes Charlotte,
so the natural leader of the group, she's like super smart.
I like your answer, and she has part alien DNA.
And since your brother might be an extra tresural you
might be as well. Good answer. I like that a lot. Okay, now, Delaney,
(37:59):
finish this sentence for me. Let's say I find myself.
You find yourself stuck in a beam of light, being
pulled up into the air by your ufho. Okay, how
would you handle that situation? I think I would probably
play dead. You're smart, so you'd act just like you
would if like a grizzly bearer coming at you in
(38:21):
the woods. Right, there's no grizzly bears in the areas
with you one to basic, you have nothing to worry
about it. Where Nevada, grizzly bears are much further north. So,
but you would apply the same skills. You'd play dead,
hoping that the aliens would say, ah, let's find a
living one. That's your answer the final question, and I
think we're ready then to tell you whether you get
the job or not. The final question is what would
(38:45):
you say is the reason you'd like to start your
career at Area fifty one? Is it a to finally
prove to the world that aliens do in fact exist,
be to get some quality time in the desert. I mean,
we're in Nevada, it's very hot. It's an ice dry heat.
But be careful the vat X. It can get very
high in the summertime. See would you like to just
(39:06):
surround yourself with the most brilliant scientific minds on the planet?
Was your answer, d other, Why do you want your
summer internship at arahif you want? Hey, you want to
prove to the whole world that aliens finally exist. That
is an excellent answer, Delany. I am. I don't normally
do this during an interview, but I am confident enough
(39:27):
to tell you that you just successfully landed a summer
internship at Area fifty one. Well done, murder. I was
hoping and B was hoping too, that you'd be able
to stick around and answer some questions for us about
writing a real book series. Of course, I would love
to if that would be amazing. We just got to
note what first interested you about Area fifty one. Oh,
(39:49):
my gosh, so much. When I was a kid, I
was obsessed with Area fifty one and all things science
fiction and technology. When I was a kid, my favorite
movies were like et to Watch Aliens. I love like
science fiction movies and TV shows. I used to watch
The Incredible Hulk. I used to watch Spider Man. I
love those things. So I've been obsessed with Eric one
(40:12):
my entire life, and so it was just absolutely natural
for me to eventually write with my co writer Carson Smith,
to write an Area fifty one interns book. What do
you think are like the top two biggest secrets that
they're hiding in Areas fifty one? The top secrets I
think there might be at Eric fift you one? First,
(40:33):
I think there are aliens for sure. I think we
recovered aliens in the nineties at Roswell in New Mexico,
and we're actually retro fitting uh and deconstructing alien technology. Second,
I think we have cracked faster than light travel, right
do I do? What makes you think that? Because the
(40:57):
speed of light is a hundred and eighties six thousands
per second, it's really fast, a lot faster that they
can drive on the highway. You haven't seen the way
that my dad drives. Well, yeah, your dad might break
the speed of light a little bit on the highway.
We'll see. But I think that it's the number one
thing scientists are actually secretly working on because it's such
an arbitrary number. The why is the speed of light
(41:20):
that exact number. It makes no sense. And when you
look at the entire universe, there's no real scientific reason
that that exact number is the speed of light, but
it is, so if we could figure it away, and
I think Einstein was about to crack this if he
was alive today, I think he would have cracked fast
in the light travel, because there's no reason when you
(41:41):
look at light. I bet you if you bend space
time enough, you can get around the speed of light
mile per hour limit. And I think they've done it
at a third. I think they're working on time travel
at Air fifty one. I really do well. I hope
you're right because I have some things I need to
go back. I have some haircuts that I regret. The
only way to solve it is to go back in time.
(42:03):
I'm gonna go into the future and solve Baldin. I
love it and I have a hair fut I was
supposed to be at fifteen minutes ago, and it would
be great if I could use time travel to not
miss that appointment, because I mean that they're going to
make me pay for it anyway. So if you can
get Area fifty one to send me back, that'd be fantastic.
I'll tell you what. If they have correct time travel
at Air fifty one, I would also go back in
(42:25):
time and not let the guys from Impractical Jokers shave
off my eyebrows and make me get a new driver's
license photo with no eye. For the listeners at home,
Mrs showing us his driver's license photo in which he
has no hair on his face at all anywhere, not
even eyebrows, and you look like then the goodness is
you could use that to sneak into Area fifty one
(42:46):
because he say, look, I'm an alien, I don't have
i brows. I would go up to Area Do you
want to say Hi, I'm Lex Luthor. I'd like to
enter the base squeeze and they said it's all green lights. Yeah.
Can you tell us a little bit about what it's
like to take something based in reality? Because Area fifty one,
as our listeners now know, is a real place and writing.
(43:09):
What's it like to take that and write a fiction
story about it, a not true story about a true place.
Did you research it or did you decide to secret
place nobody knows anything about. I'll just make it up.
How how close is the book to the real Area
fifty one as much as you can tell us. I
wish I knew the answer to that. I don't yet,
but we just talked about this like two weeks ago.
Like imagine if you will, like tomorrow, you wake up
(43:31):
and everyone on Earth is gone. It's you're the only
person left on the planet. But everything is still working.
Finally my dream comes true. Cars are working, electricity is
still working, ice cream machines, you can get as many
chicken nuggets as you want. Everything still works right, but
you're the only person left on Earth. What would you do?
And my answer was I would immediately get in the
(43:52):
car and drive straight to Area from one in Nevada
and walk in and see what's actually going on now
that I can get system the base. So I think
what we did was, yeah, we um. We researched a
lot about er fic To one, so like the things
like the silver and gold mine, we knew that kind
of stuff going into it. And that's part of the
backstory of eric One. Vivs family has been working at
(44:14):
eric fic To one in Nevada for generations. Her great
grandparents were Comba were gold and silver miners in the book.
So we did our research and that kind of stuff.
That the great thing about some place like eric fic
to one is anything and everything could and can and
does and might happen. So we created this whole universe
(44:36):
that secretly exists under this camouflaged terror dome in the
middle of the desert, and you can't even see with
your satellites or by driving up to the edge of
the fence in the air field of aerone one, you
can't even see what's actually beyond that what you see
in the desert. And that's the cool thing about writing
a book loosely based on a real place is that
(44:57):
we can do anything and everything our imagination see fit.
It's so much fun to write. How would it feel
if everyone disappears and you drive to area fifty one
and you get there and it's exactly like you wrote
about in the book. Well, here's here's what I said.
I'd be like, nailed it. NA, Yeah, I believe the
(45:18):
kids call that manifesting. That's it. I'm manifesting motor reality.
This would be become the greatest nonfiction book of all time.
You'd have to drive to every bookstore and library in
the world and change where it's sitting on the shelves
from fiction. That's so first, I got to do one. Second,
I will go to every bookstore on the planet and
move it to the nonfiction second, but I'm the only buyer.
(45:45):
So what words of inspiration do you have for some
of our listeners that may want to write from a
history perspective? Oh my gosh, what a cool question. So okay,
the first book I wrote years ago. It took me
a year to write it. I did tons of research.
Is based is like a thriller based on the subways
of New York City. And I literally interviewed tons of
(46:05):
like empt A employees in New York City. I got
their manuals. I did all sorts of research on the
history of the subways and how they are built, and
how they are built and how they operate. And it
took me in a year to write this book. Here's
my advice. It then took me fifteen years to get
it published and that and then once I got it published,
(46:26):
then everything opened up and then I have like everything
you want. Interns is my seventh, eighth, and ninth books.
So that the advice is this, do your research, work
hard at it, never stop, get better and better at
what you do and know that it takes time to
achieve success. And if you love something, never stopped doing it,
(46:47):
and never let other people tell you, know or limit
or define your success. You define your own life. Wow,
that's very inspirational. I feel like I needed to hear
that this morning. No, So, are there any other fun
facts about Area fifty one that didn't make it into
the book that you could share with us? I would
(47:07):
love to tell you the answer that question, but it's
top secret information. I need you, guys to raise your
hands and swear to me that you'll never reveal the
secret I'm about to tell you to anyone ever, never,
ever ever, no one will ever, no one will ever
repeat this. Okay, Gay, So here's this top secret info
(47:30):
about Area FicT to one you've never heard, and I'll
never if you put it out in public, I'll deny it.
But Area, if you one, has the best uros on
the planet. I knew it. That's what I said at
the very beginning of the show. I said, snacks. Yeah,
b has been obsessed with the idea that they have
the best snacks, and they're working on new snacks. They do.
(47:50):
There's a sure stand and Eric to one that is
to die for. Literally people have died trying to get one.
That's how amazing. Men all Oh wow, okay, Elliott, you
can out your hand down now. I think the I
think I take it. I take my oaths very seriously.
I'll keep that. I'm gonna keep it up the rest
of the day, just in case, just so that the
world knows that I'm serious about it. Uh, You've been
(48:11):
so fantastic. We have one more question for you, so
listeners may remember. At some point, I think I mentioned
that my favorite person in history is Abraham Lincoln. Who
is your favorite person from history? Good question, Um, I
would have to say Albert Einstein. Yeah, you've mentioned him earlier.
I did, And gosh, he literally changed the universe right
(48:36):
and still to this day changes science and technology and
everything we think about the world and the universe we
live in. Still to this day, we're trying to unravel
the secrets of the universe that he himself understood and
unraveled for the first time. And I wish I can
invent a time machine using his principles, go back in
time and bring him into modern error right now to
(49:00):
thousand twenties, and have him solved so many top scientific
problems we're facing right now. Wouldn't it be great? And
also I'd love to take him out to lunch. What
we would do is I know this great churro standard
that I would love to take Albert I send too,
And I feel like with that was churros, he could
solve all the rest of the secrets of the universe. Amazing.
(49:23):
I love that idea. Um, I love I love anything
that any sort of lunch that ends in a turo,
that's that's. Any kind of story that ends in a curo,
that's a good story for me, especially if it unravels
the secrets of the universe. Mostly. Yeah, Well, thank you
so much for being with us today, and thank you
so much for sharing so much about Area fifty one.
(49:45):
It's a really wonderful book series and I hope everybody
checks it out. Thank you guys, thanks for having me.
I appreciate it. Thanks Murrh good buy. Everybody got a
question for any of our famous figures? Where do you
want to be a contestant? Send us a voicemail mo
at who Was Podcast at gmail dot com it or
you might just end up on the show. The Who
(50:06):
Was Podcast is produced by Radio point I Heart Media
and Penguin Workshop, and is based on the best selling
Who h Q series published by Penguin. This episode was
hosted by Elliott Klin with co host Megan O'Neill as
b It also starred Jane Baker as Jane, Eric Shackney
as Eric, Erica Lies as Georgia O'Keefe, and James Murray
as himself. Our executive producers are Richard Corson, Alex Bach,
(50:30):
Elliott Klin, Megan O'Neil, Daniel Powell, and Houston Snyder. Our
executive producer for Penguin Workshop is Francesco Sedita. Our executive
producer for iHeart Media is Lindsay Hoffman. This episode was
written by Megan O'Neil, Elliott Kylin and Devin Coleman. It
was produced by Bernie Kaminsky and Taylor Kowalski. Our talent
producer is Jamie. Our theme song and music are composed
(50:51):
and performed by Eric Shackney. We were edited and mixed
by Kate molten Hower. We were recorded by Alison Worth
and we were giving special thanks do Actsen Charlotte DeAnda,
Daniel Goodman and Michael Lewis Howard. The Who was podcast
was recorded at the I Heart Studios in Los Angeles, California.
Sound services were provided by Gate City Post. That's the
(51:12):
News podcast because it's standard flavors
Hi, Elliott, if that's your real name, I be what
are you talking about? What am? I? Okay? You may
not realize this quote Elliott unquote, but today we're learning
about Area fifty one, right, the highly classified government based
for conspiracy theorists think the government is hiding evidence of
extraterrestrial life. Words exactly? How are you so calm about this? Well,
(00:24):
we're also learning about artists Georgia O'Keefe today, and I
find her paintings very calming. She's in on it to
another name from my big conspiracy board. Maybe you should
look at more of Georgia O'Keeffe's paintings. B, and calm down.
I can't calm down. Aren't you at all concerned about
what they're hiding at Area fifty one? I don't know, B.
(00:45):
I don't really think Area fifty one has aliens extraterrestrials. No,
I'm talking about experimental snacks, Elliott. Think of the snacks.
They probably have flavored wallpaper, everlasting candy that doesn't lose
its flavor, gum that has all the flavors of a
three course meal. How far does this confectionery conspiracy go? B?
(01:10):
I believe you're thinking of Willy Wonka's splendiferous chocolate factory,
not Area fifty one. I might be Yeah, I thought so. Eric,
Please play the theme song you Go. What do you
think you know about the grates from this story? The
game is on to get some energy and buckle up
(01:33):
your brain because it's signed to play the worst podcast
because it's Sounded Flavors Who fl from Top the Land
or so called so Hell Los Angeles? Welcome to Who Was?
The History plus show that gives contestants the chance to
win mega prizes and podcast glory. I'm Beat your announcer
(01:55):
and author of Chicken Soup for the co host Soul.
Now here's your home, the man who learned everything he
knows about basketball from space Jam. It's Ellie Helen, Thank
you be and I love that sport with its monsters
and cartoon rabbits. And welcome everyone to the Who Was? Podcast.
This show is like Jeopardy, only with surprise guests, silly games,
(02:16):
and our own franchise system. That's right, you two can
be a regional Elliott and B. Applications are at the door.
Our contestants were sent Who Was? Works about two great
figures from history. Now they're here to show off their
knowledge and the hopes of winning Fantastic Prizes prize. Today,
we're discussing Area fifty one and Georgia o'keeath to Desert
(02:41):
Beauties on one stage. But before we get to know them,
let's get to know our contestants. All right, First up,
we have Delaney. Delaney, please introduce yourself. D name is
Delaney and my funk back? Are I sank enter for
local Theater? Oh my goodness, that is so wonderful to hear.
(03:02):
So are you in anything currently, Delaney? No, but I
will be auditioning for high school musical? Okay, what is
the high school musical? High school music? Which? Which musical
are you going to be performing into high school? Is
the musical you're gonna performing in auditioning for a high
school musical? It's high school the musical like the Muses,
but you're in middle school. But it's a high school musical.
(03:22):
So it's a stage musical of the movie high school
musical and you're a middle schooler. Yeah. And what other
shows have you been at? Rustical the musical? I've been
in Cinderella, Lion King, Frozen Jr. That's all I can
really think this is a lot of credits. We've got
a lot of credits already. This is a very impressive resume. Wow. Um, well,
(03:44):
thank you for making the time to be on the show. Um.
We may ask you to sing your audition song if
we have time a little bit later, because I'm very
curious about what one sings to audition to be in
high school the musical. And also we're kind of a
lot of people to know this. We're kind of auditioning
for a new co host. B just hasn't been working out,
(04:05):
So if you want to audition later for that role,
all right, Thank you so much, Delaney, And with us
today we also have Maxwell Maxwell. Please introduce yourself game this, Max,
and my fact is that I know the name of
all nice stuff animals, all of your stuffed animals. How
many stuffed animals do you have? My mom says I
(04:28):
have hundreds, okay hundreds, and you know all of their names.
If they don't know their names, then I just make
up a new one, you know what, Max. That's how
I handle introductions in real life. So that's a very
good skill to have. But now the big question is
do your stuffed animals know your name? I don't allow that.
(04:50):
You don't love that kind of of casual guy, non
professional relationship. Yeah, you're not that familiar with them. Oh
my good? Is there? Now? You don't worry. Your stuffed
animals are never going to hear this. Do you have
a favorite? Do you feel comfortable sharing the name of
your favorite stuffed animal with us? They're free of them.
They're all like the same that you're They're all the
(05:12):
different colors. Oh wow, what are what are their names?
Dinda one? Then or two? Dio? And so are they rabbits?
You're all right? What can I say? All right? Well,
thank you both so much for being here today. Yes,
thank you both, and thank you to Eric, our musician,
(05:32):
for providing that lovely Meet the contestants music and all
the music on the show today. So that's who is.
Now let's find out what is Area fifty one with
four fast facts prospects areas if you want is built
on Groom Lake, Nevada. It has been a base for
the Central Intelligence Agency, and more recently, the United States
(05:53):
Air Force. Air Force acknowledged that Area fifty one existed,
even though it had been in use since nineteen Conspiracy
theorists or people who believe that an event or situation
is the result of a secret plan made by powerful
people are often associated with Area fifty one. The CIA
formally acknowledged the existence of their base at Area fifty
(06:15):
one and made many documents public in two thousands. All right,
so now we have to ask both of you, because
you've read the Area fifty one book and you understand
a lot of people are like, oh, there are extraterrestrials,
uh being hidden at Area fifty one. What do you
(06:36):
to think about extraterrestrials? Do you think there's life on
other planets? I think they're possibly, could be, I'm not positive. Okay,
so you haven't met any is what you're saying. Max,
What about you? Do you think there are aliens out there?
Or are we alone in the universe? Which would be
so sad since they're definitely out there, and have you
met any? Now? Okay, there's nothing I want more in
(06:59):
my life than for them to discover aliens somewhere and
for the aliens to be on TV and me to
get to see what they look like. That's the thing
I want more than anything else in my life. Really, Yes,
you want that more than um? Like a really good
pastrami sandwich. You know what I hadn't thought about that? Okay,
number two Aliens number one, that pastrami sandwich, because you
(07:20):
really can't be the good popastrami sandwich. It can't beat
a good Hops found sandwich. The only thing I can
think of that's maybe a little bit better than a
hopis Draamy sandwich. Is our first game. It's called true
or false? True or false? Is a true and false?
Is a false? Or is a true? It's a true
that it is false? Is it false that it was true?
Or true? True? Horror false? I agree, Elliott, Let's get
(07:43):
right into it. WHOA James Murray, writer of the Areas
that You Went in Turns book series. Yes, also one
of the stars of the hilarious TV show in Practical Jokers.
That is me. I was reading my favorite trade magazine,
Sketch Comedy History Quiz podcast based on popular kids book
series Monthly It's a Mouthful, and I saw that you
(08:06):
guys are doing an entire episode on Eric fifty one.
I could not miss that. WHOA? Did you come here
via the Who? Was it? No? No, no, no, Actually
I came here through something totally different. Was the who?
Is app. It's like an app that connects people that
are still alive. So like a telephone do you even
(08:27):
know jus just an app. It's got a jingle and everything. Eric,
wonder it's so in the present edry. Wow, technology is incredible.
We were just about to do our true or false game?
(08:48):
How would you like to read the questions? Are you kidnedy?
I would be honored. Let's do it, Eric, True or false?
Just a tru false, it's a false? Is a true?
It's a true? Little as false? Is it false that
it was true? Or true? True? Horror? Fault? Mirror is
really a natural at telling Eric to play music? Which
have you read in front of the kids? Caleb, keep
(09:10):
it together. Okay, here's how this game works. Being will
read a statement about Area fifty one, and you'll tell
us if it's true or full false. And since it's
our first game, each question is worth one point and
just a disclaimer. There are a lot of stories about
Area fifty one that can't be proved true or false.
For this game, we're sticking to the facts that you
can be proved true or fault. We'll get to all
(09:32):
the rumors and speculation about Area fifty one later in
the show Incredible disclaiming be Delaney. Here is your first question. Okay, guys,
here we go. True or false. The name Area fifty
one refers to its location on the map. I believe
that's true. You're right, the answer is true. Area fifty
(09:53):
one is located in the southern corner of Nevada in
the Mojave Deserts of the western United States. The area
was used by the US r ME for bomb testing,
as the government felt the wide open and unpopulated spaces
were safest for these tests and also for the privacy
necessary for these top secret projects. The number fifty one
in Area fifty one is believed to refer to the
(10:13):
parcel of land, as it was named on a surveyors
map created in the nineteen fifties. Max. This next one
is for you, so cool. Okay, next question, guys. True
or false? Area fifty one was originally a lead and
silver mine. I'm sorry, the answer is true. Originally a
(10:35):
lead and silver mine. The land that became Area fifty
one was acquired by the U. S. Air Force from
the Atomic Energy Commission in nineteen fifty five. Maybe they
should have called it Area fifty five because it was
nineteen fifty five. I just throwing the ideas out there.
The CIA and the Air Force don't have to take them.
It was going to be used for flight testing, mostly
by the Central Intelligence Agency commonly known as the c I. A. Delaney,
(10:57):
Let's go the next ones for you, alright, Delaney? True
or false? At area fifty one, the CIA worked with
the Soviet Union because they were all bored with the
Cold War. Correct, the answer is false. At area fifty one,
the CIA worked hard to outsmart the Soviet Union, which
is a group of countries that at the time was
(11:18):
led by Russia. When people talk about the Cold War,
they're referring to the tense relationship between the United States
and the Soviet Union. From the end of World War
Two and until the fall of the Berlin Wall in nine.
American leaders were afraid of Russia spreading communism across the world.
Both governments increased their surveillance, threats, and propaganda against each
(11:38):
other for years. It was a huge waste of time
and resources. Lots of better things they could have been
doing instead of just being mad at each other. Max,
here's the last true or false. It's for you, okay, Max?
Read true or false. At first, Area fifty one was
called Paradise Ranch to attract employees. I'm sorry the answer
(12:01):
is true and a little bit false, since Paradise Ranch
was hardly a paradise and definitely not a ranch, but
they did call it that. Area fifty one developed a
lot of cutting edge technologies, and the CIA wanted to
be absolutely certain that everyone working at the site could
be trusted. They were worried about Russian spies stealing us information,
so the CIA conducted extensive background checks on anyone wanting
(12:23):
to work there. I should have done more background checks
for this show. Maybe then the peanut butter sandwiches I
bring for lunch wouldn't disappear for free Day. Oh sure,
a coincidence? Likely story, Geraldine, there's peanut butter all over
your trunk and that's true or false? True? True? True, true,
horror fault. That was such a fun round. Thank you
(12:43):
so much for helping us out. Are you kidding me?
Is my honor anytime? Guys, These contestants really know their
Area fifty on trivia. In fact, I would like to
interview today's winner see if they've got what it takes
to be an Area fifty one intern Hello, that sounds
good to me. Wow, this is amazing. I'm going to
take a moment to process this. It's a good time
(13:06):
for us to take a break. We'll be right back
for our second game. Okay, Eric, would you play some
secret government based music? Please? Old Herd, this joke's classified.
(13:27):
Welcome back to Who Was podcast? Today we're learning what
is area fifty one and who was Georgia o'keee. Now
back to your host Elliott Galen, Thank you. The Let's
go to our producer producer Jane with the scores be
and Elliott. I want to tell you that so far
it's all Delaney with two points and Max zero, and
(13:49):
that could be a conspiracy. I'm glad that Jane is
asking the questions that need to be asked. But this
is just the beginning of the game. It's still very
close and could be anyone's game. But first, let's find
out who was Georgia O'Keeffe with four fast facts prospects.
(14:10):
Georgia O'Keeffe was born in eighteen eighty seven and died
in ninety six. Georgia O'Keeffe was a pioneering painter who
incorporated shapes from nature like flowers and cow skulls into
her work. In ninety six, at age fifty eight, Georgia
O'Keeffe was the first female artist to have a solo
exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
(14:30):
George's influence can be seen not just in what she created,
but in how she lived. She helped pave the way
for other female artists to be seen as professionals and
not amateurs prospects. So we want to ask you, guys, So,
one of the things that's really um special about Georgia
(14:52):
O'Keeffe's work is that she found the beauty in everyday
objects um that maybe other people wouldn't have noticed a scene.
Do you feel like there's something that you see beauty
in that maybe other people take for granted? Max, Is
there anything in your life that you think is that
you see that you think is particularly beautiful, Something where
you look at it and you're like that, I like that,
(15:13):
that's special or that makes me feel good. Google Google
eyes go, It's it's hard to look at a pair
of Google eyes and not not smile. That's yeah, there's
still something not feel something, even if it's just trying
to figure out who they're looking at and why they
keep moving around? Uh? And Delaney, would have you got
about you? What's something that you see in your life
(15:33):
that we're like this is special animals, any particular kind
of animals or just any animals. Dog? Do you have
a dog? I have three dogs? So every night at
your house is a three dog night. That's a joke
for old people. And what are the names of your dogs? Maverick,
Subine and Willow. I am excited about the idea of
(15:53):
you incorporating those dogs into work of art because you
find them beautiful. But to be honest, I really can't
get over the idea that, if actuated some art, he
puts some googly eyes in it. I think that's fantastic.
I gotta see I gotta see this art when it's created.
I feel like we've got to see a dog's tail
with google eyes on either side of it. Wow. Yeah,
finally it's time to get the tail's point of view
(16:14):
on things. We've seen the dogs game of view. Let's
get the tails point of view. All right? Well, thank
you both so much for sharing. Yes, those are fantastic answers,
but now it's time for more answers with our next game,
Backpack from the Past, from the Baby. We have a
backpack that contains some of Georgia O'Keeffe's personal objects. We'll
(16:37):
describe those objects for you are contestants, and also for
the listeners at home. Contestants, you will choose which multiple
choice answer best describes it. Listeners you can choose to
but you're not playing this game, so we won't hear you.
Since this is our second game, each question is worth
two points max. This first object is for you. Oh wow,
(16:59):
it's a jug? Is this in Georgia O'Keefe backpack because
A her family bought cereal in bulk or be her
family lived on a dairy farm. That's right, The answer
is be. The O'Keefe's farm was a dairy farm. They
had many cows, but also grew corn, oats and hey.
Georgia was the second of seven children. Her mother knew
(17:21):
was very important for her daughters to be educated and
curious about the world, so she enrolled them in art
classes from a young age. Young Georgia loved to walk
through her family's land, drawing everything she saw, and enjoyed
the solitude that came with drawing and painting. From that
young age, Delaney, This next object is for you. It's
(17:42):
a simple black wolf coat. It's quite nice. I might
try it on after the show. Is this in Georgia
o'keeps backpack because A she liked to wear all black,
or B she liked to dress as a nineteen forties detective.
Sometimes the answer is a. Georgia and her husband and
Alfred became famous round New York City, and whenever they
(18:03):
went out, they almost always wore all black clothing. Alfred
liked to wear a dramatic black cape, and Georgia often
wore us white silk blouse under a black woolf coat
that she buttoned up to her chin. Alfred liked the
attention he received from the way he dressed, but Georgia
wanted her simple black clothes to make her less noticeable,
and also to let people know that she wanted to
(18:24):
be taken seriously artists. All right, all right, let's see
what the backpack has for Max on this next question.
Let's see here, it's an apple core and an orange rhyme. Oh,
is this a backpack or a garbage bag? All right? Anyway,
(18:45):
Is this in Georgia o'keep's backpack because A she would
eat the fruit from still life paintings in art school.
Or B she just loved composting. That's right. The answer
is a. After studying at the Art Constitutor Chicago, George
and went to study at the Art Students League in
New York City. She and her classmates would do a
lot of portraits and still life, which are paintings of
(19:06):
an object, such as a vase or an apple. Georgia
was a dedicated student, but she still had a mischievous streak.
She would often eat the fruit that was used for
still life compositions. She would also sometimes bring in street
musicians and get her classmates to dance in the studios. Delaney,
let's wrap it up with the last object. It's a drawing,
(19:27):
makes sense, she was an artist. Seems to be an
advertisement actually for cleaning supplies, Okay, Elliott I swear if
this is another hint that we should have a studio
chore wheel, it's not. And I still say that's a
great idea. We'll talk about it after the show, now, Delane,
Why would this advertisement be in Georgia O'Keeffe's backpack. Is
it because a Georgia was a very neat person or be.
(19:51):
Georgia worked as an illustrator for advertising agencies. The answer
is b. Georgia lived in Chicago and took a job
as a commerce shill artists. She worked for advertising agencies
as a freelance illustrator. Being on tight deadlines means Georgia
had to learn to work quickly, something she incorporated into
her work later in life. One of Georgia's pieces, the
(20:12):
little Dutch girl symbol for old Dutch cleanser, is still
sometimes used today. And that, my friends, is backpack from
the past, from the best. And that's the end of
that exceptionally groovy game. Let's dash on over to Jane
with the scores. HELLI n b uh Matt has come
(20:35):
from behind and it is now four to six Delaney
still in the lead. All right, very exciting, Thank you Jane.
And now it's time we had a nice long chat
with Georgia O'Keefe. Whoa Georgia O'Keefe. How did you get
here by using that impressive app that connects you to
the past? Who was up? Who was wandered? So more? First,
(21:08):
I was reading my favorite trade magazine, Sketch Comedy and
History quiz podcast based on popular kids series monthly, and
I thought it was such a funny coincidence that you
were discussing Area fifty one. Well for a niche magazine,
they sure have a decent circulation. Wait, Georgia, what do
you mean coincidence? Oh, just that I spent a lot
(21:29):
of time at Area fifty one. I'm sorry. You've been
to Area fifty one absolutely hundreds of times. We always
think of you as an artist. In fact, one of
my favorite paintings yours, his Tent Door at Night. I
just find it such a soothing piece of art. Many banks,
I was lucky enough to study with some amazing teachers.
(21:51):
That painting is based on a method I learned, where
you compose a picture with basic forms and shapes. That
was a revolutionary artistic idea when I was young. You'll
notice that tent door at Night is almost entirely made
up of triangles, creating a tent door at night. Yes,
I'm surprised and experimental artists visited Area fifty one. Did
(22:13):
you design experimental planes? Nothing like that. It's just you
don't have a lot of close neighbors in the desert.
So I traveled over to Area fifty one from my
place in New Mexico to say hi, and the rest
is history. The rest is very much not history. We've
never heard that. I don't think anyone's ever heard that. No,
(22:35):
a few people have. I'm pretty close with FRIEDA. Carlo,
and let me tell you she is sick and tired
of my Area fifty one stories. Well you're not. Feel
free to bore us with every detail about Area fifty one.
I hate to disappoint, but it isn't nearly as exciting
as people think. I mean, when has the government ever
(22:55):
done anything exciting? So you didn't find any spaceships or
anything like that, Oh my goodness, No, nothing like that.
But I did find some fantastic bleached animal bones on
my truck over there. Those are hard to come by,
not as hard to come by as a Martian b.
(23:16):
Georgia is our guest. Okay, since you really want to know,
there was a security guard at Area fifty one named
Hank Okay, and he was from Venus. What tell us everything?
What was he like? He was a pretty nice guy,
mellow on the quiet side. What how did he get
(23:39):
to Earth? You know, we never got into that. He
was more interested in hearing my stories from when I
lived in New York. You know, he was a Yankees
fan that tracks. He really loved all the skyscraper paintings
I did when I was living there, said he could
experience the energy of the city when he looked at
the canvas. Oh, I'm here and there he'd read our minds,
(24:03):
you know, if we got sick of playing cards or whatever. Whatever.
You knew a telepathic alien and you think that's not interesting.
It's fine, I guess, but getting to know an extraterrestrial
isn't as life changing as getting to know a flower.
Have you ever just sat and looked closely at nature,
(24:25):
whether it be a plant, a cow skull, or the
sky reflected in a lake at sunset, discovering the beauty
and everyday objects. To me, that's out of this world. Wow,
wise words, Georgia. Yeah, but seriously, how many eyes did
hate have? Oh? Bee? Trying to reach you was like
(24:47):
trying to reach a cactus. Now, if you'll excuse me,
I must be going. My favorite PROGRAMA is on, and
by program I mean the shifting colors and shapes of
the setting sun over deserts adds. Thanks a guy and
Elliott and b and thank you who was out who
(25:08):
that was truly amazing. B. What are you doing? I'm
trying to read your mind. I've always suspected I was
part Venusian and you're thinking we've got to take a break. Wow,
you're right, but don't go anywhere because we'll be back
with our final game. Eric plays some dancing in the
art studio music. Please. I knew you were going to
(25:30):
say that. Oh, B, I want to dance in the studio. Hey,
who was? Hers exciting news Who Was has been nominated
(25:50):
for a Signal Award for Best Kids Podcast. We love
your vote, had to Signal Award dot com. It's s
I G N A l A w A r d
dot com. For more information on how you and your
favorite grown up can cast your ballot for the Who Was? Podcast.
Voting is open until December. We thank you and Geraldine
(26:11):
thanks you to thank them. Geraldine, welcome back to the
Who Was? Podcast. Today we're learning what is Areas Hope one?
And who was? Georgia O'Keefe and now back to your host,
Elliot Kalen. Thanks b and without further ado, let's get
going with our final game. It's called sound effects Safari
(26:34):
Sound Safari sound effective in this game We'll play a
sound effect inspired by something important from Area fifty one
or the life of Georgia O'Keefe, and our contestants will
tell us what the sound represents. Since this is the
third round, each question will be worth three enormous points. Delaney,
here's the first sound. Wow. Okay, that plane sounded fast.
(27:04):
But what does it have to do with Area fifty one?
Is it A it was really a spaceship that's totally
being hidden in Area fifty one. Or be it was
one of the spy planes that got tested at Area
fifty one. B. That's right, The answer is B. In
the late nineteen fifties and early nineteen sixties, the United
States government developed the YouTube and the A twelve spy
(27:27):
planes and tested them in Area fifty one. The YouTube
could carry up to seven hundred pounds of photographic equipment.
He was designed to spy on the Soviet Union by
taking pictures from a very high altitude. The Age twelve
was a plane that could fly faster than a bullet
at an altitude of ninety thou feet to avoid being
spotted from the ground. Max, here's your sound. That is
(27:50):
the sound of someone writing on paper. What does that
have to do with Georgia O'Keeffe's life. Is it A
she invented a new kind of cursive or be she
was an art and penmanship teacher for a few years. B.
That's correct. The answer is B. Georgia took a job
as drawing supervisor for the Amarillo, Texas Public Schools to
(28:12):
grow her teaching experience. Georgia was responsible for supervising drawing
in penmanship for hundreds of students. Most importantly, Georgia became
captivated by the wide open spaces and the size of
the sky in Texas. She sounds like a way more
fun penmanship teacher than the one that I had. She
never let us look at the sky. Delaney, This next
sound is for you. That is the sound of a
(28:37):
satellite being rocketed into space. What does that have to
do with Area fifty one? Is it A? Area fifty
one is the one place on Earth sky Lab space
station was instructed not to take photos of or be
new satellites were developed at Area fifty one. Okay, correct?
The answer is A. Nineteen seventy four the sky Lab
(28:59):
as or not to pictures at Area fifty one, even
though they were given instructions not to do this. When Skylab,
a laboratory orbiting the Earth, was launched, Area fifty one
didn't even officially exist. Although it did exist, just not officially.
Even pilots who had flown there wouldn't refer to it
by name, instead calling it only the Box. This fueled
more conspiracy theorists to wonder about what was really going
(29:21):
on at Area fifty one. Maybe they had those snacks
that he was talking about earlier. This last sound is
for you. That is a camera flash. What does that
have to do with Georgia O'Keeffe's light. Is it a
she took close up photos of a deconstructed camera? Very meta?
(29:41):
Or be her husband and artistic partner was also a photographer.
H that's right. The answer is be Alfred Steedlitz, Georgie's husband,
was an important figure in American modern art, not only
because his art galleries supported influential artists like Georgia, but
also because he was an early photographer who helped photography
become accepted as an art form. Some of his most
(30:03):
famous pictures are of Georgia. In addition to being his muse,
she was also his artistic partner. And that wraps up
sound effects Safari. I always wonder why we took a
baby on that Safari. Great job both of you. The
end of that game means it's just about the end
of the show, while Jane talies the score. I'd love
(30:24):
to hear from you, our contestants. What was something you
were surprised to learn about either Area fifty one or
Georgia O'Keefe Delaney, What surprised you when you read about
these two. I was surprised for the Area fifty one,
where one guy just decided to leak everything about it
and they came really popular. It shows you how silly
(30:46):
it is sometimes to try to keep secrets, because it
does takes one person to tell everything, and then it's like,
well that used to be a secret, Now it's not
a secret anymore. It also needs to be wonder like,
if something is a secret, you just want to know
what it is, even if it's boring. So if it
was just all out there, um, you know from the beginning,
people probably wouldn't be as interested. You know, it's a
real conundrum, a real Schroedeger's the box. I think you're
(31:10):
using those words correctly. And Max, what was something that
surprised you about either Georgia o'key for that Georgi o'key
had a shed with the bunch of dead animal bone.
When you say it out of context, it sounds a
little creepy, um if you didn't know anything about her paintings.
But um, she was able to like we were saying earlier.
And I think sort of what you've discovered with Google
(31:32):
Eyes is take something that other people maybe wouldn't give
too much attention to and really see the beauty within it. Yeah.
That's one of the amazing things about art is how
it transforms something strange or ordinary into something that is
beautiful and magical. And it also shows you there's kind
of a thin line between creeping and artistic. If you've
(31:53):
ever met an artist, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Boy,
I try to walk that line every day and do
I said, Yeah, it's it's you're very creepy. Thank you
both though, for those amazing revelations. Now it's time for
the big moment. Jane, please announced our winner for today. Oh,
William B. I have to tell you that Max made
(32:15):
a great comeback with ten points, but Delaney wins the
game with twelve. What I'm late today amazing. You should
both be very proud about how you did. Delaney, you
have ten seconds as our winner to give to your shoutouts.
You can neither say them or sing them as you prefer.
Go for it. Who would you like to thank for
getting you here today? I would like to shout out
(32:36):
my mom, my dad, my brother, and my three doctor awesome,
our winner and their library of choice. We're receiving a
selection of Who Was books and I'm going to give
a shout out to intern Zach, Jane, Eric, Eric Allies
for being our George O'Keefe and to be and a
big thank you to both of our contestants who played
a fantastic game together. And as our winner today, de
(32:56):
Lany will be interviewing with me to be an area
that the one term we'll have that right after this
short break, so don't go anywhere. Welcome back to the
(33:16):
HULAS podcast. As the winner of our what is Area
fifty one and Who Was Georgia O'Keefe episode, de Lady
is about to interview with James Murray, author of the
Area fifty one Interns book series, to see if she
has what it takes to become an Area fifty one
intern herself. Take it away. Murray. Oo, lady, my name
(33:39):
is James Murray. Everyone an area if you want, calls
me Murra. I'm the head of human resources there and
very exciting. We have a summer internship coming up at
the base and we think you might have what it
takes to be an intern at Area fifty one. But
I have to go through with your questions. If you
don't mind, please answer honestly with whatever experience you have,
(34:00):
and hopefully you get the job at the end of
the this interview. Sound good? Okay, So first question, Delany, Okay,
how did you hear about the internship program at Area
fifty one? Was it a recommendation from a friend? Did
you see him read about us on on the internet?
Tell us how you heard about Eric fe one internship program.
I learned about you guys from the who Has podcast. Okay,
(34:24):
that's an excellent podcast. They promote all our internship all
the time. We've hired a number of interns from the podcast.
So very good answer. Okay, Now this is an important one.
It's not necessary to have this experience, but if you do,
even better, what is your experience so far in your
life with extraterrestrials if any, have you seen them, have
(34:45):
you interacted with them? Just tell us about your et experience.
I'm pretty sure my brother might be an extraterrestial. Okay, Okay.
We have a lot of interns at every one that
have extra terrestrial siblings, so that puts you in the
top tier of candidates we're looking for. Okay, Now, let's
say you do land an internship at areas from two one.
(35:07):
What do you think is the best lunch you could
possibly have on your first day of the job. What
do you have in the in the area? If you
do one cafeteria, maybe a sandwich, Internet Apple a very
good choice. That's a good choice. We have a lot
of weird suggestions. That's exactly what I have every day.
I do like a Grenny Smith Apple and a nice
(35:28):
ham and cheese sandwich. And that's pretty much all you
need at areas you want. So, very good answer. I
like that one. Okay. Next question, this is a tougher one, Okay,
but I think you can do it. What would you
most like to ask an extraterrestrial. Let's say if you've
got to meet one at the area fIF to one base,
what is singing like they're like, what songs do they have? Okay,
(35:50):
So you want to know about pop culture on alien worlds?
What's who's there? Taylor Swift? Who's there? You? What have you?
You want to know who's the alien? T Swift? Right? Okay?
I like that answer. So you want to get to
know the aliens and their culture. That's an excellent answer,
Like what you did there? Okay? So, de lady, let's
say you did land the summer internship at eric Q one.
(36:11):
What do you think you would wear to the first
day at the job? Like? What what? What would you do?
What do you think you'd dress like? I would like
casual clothes and a lab coat. Very good answer, because
you know everything and anything can and does happen at
eric one. You need to be mobile, be able to
move around, just in case to eight extraterresionals break free
or the cryptids break free. You never know what's gonna happen.
(36:33):
So smart answer. Casual for sure, but lab coat because
you're gonna be doing some top secret scientific work at
every one. I like your answer so far, you're like
eight out of eight or seven out of seven. I'm
unsure how many questions I've asked you at this point,
but so far you do fantastic. Okay, now this is
an important one. Let's say you do land the summer
(36:54):
internship at eric ft one. How would you best describe yourself?
What's your character like? Are you most like Viv? Viv,
of course is the leader of our friend group. She's
awesomeate mass, she's super smart, she's got killer science skills.
She also also might be a little bit extra tresural herself.
So there's Viv. Would you be somebody like Charlotte, who's
(37:17):
from She's from Australia. She's like a super cool musician,
she's a visionary, she's a little bit like act first,
I think later. Would you be like Ray, he's our
comedic side relief. He's a little bit of the goof
all of the group. Would you be like Elijah, who's
the natural born leader of the group. He's ambitious, fun,
outgo and get venturous. Who do you think you are?
(37:39):
Which character best describes you? I think Charlotte describes Charlotte,
so the natural leader of the group, she's like super smart.
I like your answer, and she has part alien DNA.
And since your brother might be an extra tresural you
might be as well. Good answer. I like that a lot. Okay, now, Delaney,
(37:59):
finish this sentence for me. Let's say I find myself.
You find yourself stuck in a beam of light, being
pulled up into the air by your ufho. Okay, how
would you handle that situation? I think I would probably
play dead. You're smart, so you'd act just like you
would if like a grizzly bearer coming at you in
(38:21):
the woods. Right, there's no grizzly bears in the areas
with you one to basic, you have nothing to worry
about it. Where Nevada, grizzly bears are much further north. So,
but you would apply the same skills. You'd play dead,
hoping that the aliens would say, ah, let's find a
living one. That's your answer the final question, and I
think we're ready then to tell you whether you get
the job or not. The final question is what would
(38:45):
you say is the reason you'd like to start your
career at Area fifty one? Is it a to finally
prove to the world that aliens do in fact exist,
be to get some quality time in the desert. I mean,
we're in Nevada, it's very hot. It's an ice dry heat.
But be careful the vat X. It can get very
high in the summertime. See would you like to just
(39:06):
surround yourself with the most brilliant scientific minds on the planet?
Was your answer, d other, Why do you want your
summer internship at arahif you want? Hey, you want to
prove to the whole world that aliens finally exist. That
is an excellent answer, Delany. I am. I don't normally
do this during an interview, but I am confident enough
(39:27):
to tell you that you just successfully landed a summer
internship at Area fifty one. Well done, murder. I was
hoping and B was hoping too, that you'd be able
to stick around and answer some questions for us about
writing a real book series. Of course, I would love
to if that would be amazing. We just got to
note what first interested you about Area fifty one. Oh,
(39:49):
my gosh, so much. When I was a kid, I
was obsessed with Area fifty one and all things science
fiction and technology. When I was a kid, my favorite
movies were like et to Watch Aliens. I love like
science fiction movies and TV shows. I used to watch
The Incredible Hulk. I used to watch Spider Man. I
love those things. So I've been obsessed with Eric one
(40:12):
my entire life, and so it was just absolutely natural
for me to eventually write with my co writer Carson Smith,
to write an Area fifty one interns book. What do
you think are like the top two biggest secrets that
they're hiding in Areas fifty one? The top secrets I
think there might be at Eric fift you one? First,
(40:33):
I think there are aliens for sure. I think we
recovered aliens in the nineties at Roswell in New Mexico,
and we're actually retro fitting uh and deconstructing alien technology. Second,
I think we have cracked faster than light travel, right
do I do? What makes you think that? Because the
(40:57):
speed of light is a hundred and eighties six thousands
per second, it's really fast, a lot faster that they
can drive on the highway. You haven't seen the way
that my dad drives. Well, yeah, your dad might break
the speed of light a little bit on the highway.
We'll see. But I think that it's the number one
thing scientists are actually secretly working on because it's such
an arbitrary number. The why is the speed of light
(41:20):
that exact number. It makes no sense. And when you
look at the entire universe, there's no real scientific reason
that that exact number is the speed of light, but
it is, so if we could figure it away, and
I think Einstein was about to crack this if he
was alive today, I think he would have cracked fast
in the light travel, because there's no reason when you
(41:41):
look at light. I bet you if you bend space
time enough, you can get around the speed of light
mile per hour limit. And I think they've done it
at a third. I think they're working on time travel
at Air fifty one. I really do well. I hope
you're right because I have some things I need to
go back. I have some haircuts that I regret. The
only way to solve it is to go back in time.
(42:03):
I'm gonna go into the future and solve Baldin. I
love it and I have a hair fut I was
supposed to be at fifteen minutes ago, and it would
be great if I could use time travel to not
miss that appointment, because I mean that they're going to
make me pay for it anyway. So if you can
get Area fifty one to send me back, that'd be fantastic.
I'll tell you what. If they have correct time travel
at Air fifty one, I would also go back in
(42:25):
time and not let the guys from Impractical Jokers shave
off my eyebrows and make me get a new driver's
license photo with no eye. For the listeners at home,
Mrs showing us his driver's license photo in which he
has no hair on his face at all anywhere, not
even eyebrows, and you look like then the goodness is
you could use that to sneak into Area fifty one
(42:46):
because he say, look, I'm an alien, I don't have
i brows. I would go up to Area Do you
want to say Hi, I'm Lex Luthor. I'd like to
enter the base squeeze and they said it's all green lights. Yeah.
Can you tell us a little bit about what it's
like to take something based in reality? Because Area fifty one,
as our listeners now know, is a real place and writing.
(43:09):
What's it like to take that and write a fiction
story about it, a not true story about a true place.
Did you research it or did you decide to secret
place nobody knows anything about. I'll just make it up.
How how close is the book to the real Area
fifty one as much as you can tell us. I
wish I knew the answer to that. I don't yet,
but we just talked about this like two weeks ago.
Like imagine if you will, like tomorrow, you wake up
(43:31):
and everyone on Earth is gone. It's you're the only
person left on the planet. But everything is still working.
Finally my dream comes true. Cars are working, electricity is
still working, ice cream machines, you can get as many
chicken nuggets as you want. Everything still works right, but
you're the only person left on Earth. What would you do?
And my answer was I would immediately get in the
(43:52):
car and drive straight to Area from one in Nevada
and walk in and see what's actually going on now
that I can get system the base. So I think
what we did was, yeah, we um. We researched a
lot about er fic To one, so like the things
like the silver and gold mine, we knew that kind
of stuff going into it. And that's part of the
backstory of eric One. Vivs family has been working at
(44:14):
eric fic To one in Nevada for generations. Her great
grandparents were Comba were gold and silver miners in the book.
So we did our research and that kind of stuff.
That the great thing about some place like eric fic
to one is anything and everything could and can and
does and might happen. So we created this whole universe
(44:36):
that secretly exists under this camouflaged terror dome in the
middle of the desert, and you can't even see with
your satellites or by driving up to the edge of
the fence in the air field of aerone one, you
can't even see what's actually beyond that what you see
in the desert. And that's the cool thing about writing
a book loosely based on a real place is that
(44:57):
we can do anything and everything our imagination see fit.
It's so much fun to write. How would it feel
if everyone disappears and you drive to area fifty one
and you get there and it's exactly like you wrote
about in the book. Well, here's here's what I said.
I'd be like, nailed it. NA, Yeah, I believe the
(45:18):
kids call that manifesting. That's it. I'm manifesting motor reality.
This would be become the greatest nonfiction book of all time.
You'd have to drive to every bookstore and library in
the world and change where it's sitting on the shelves
from fiction. That's so first, I got to do one. Second,
I will go to every bookstore on the planet and
move it to the nonfiction second, but I'm the only buyer.
(45:45):
So what words of inspiration do you have for some
of our listeners that may want to write from a
history perspective? Oh my gosh, what a cool question. So okay,
the first book I wrote years ago. It took me
a year to write it. I did tons of research.
Is based is like a thriller based on the subways
of New York City. And I literally interviewed tons of
(46:05):
like empt A employees in New York City. I got
their manuals. I did all sorts of research on the
history of the subways and how they are built, and
how they are built and how they operate. And it
took me in a year to write this book. Here's
my advice. It then took me fifteen years to get
it published and that and then once I got it published,
(46:26):
then everything opened up and then I have like everything
you want. Interns is my seventh, eighth, and ninth books.
So that the advice is this, do your research, work
hard at it, never stop, get better and better at
what you do and know that it takes time to
achieve success. And if you love something, never stopped doing it,
(46:47):
and never let other people tell you, know or limit
or define your success. You define your own life. Wow,
that's very inspirational. I feel like I needed to hear
that this morning. No, So, are there any other fun
facts about Area fifty one that didn't make it into
the book that you could share with us? I would
(47:07):
love to tell you the answer that question, but it's
top secret information. I need you, guys to raise your
hands and swear to me that you'll never reveal the
secret I'm about to tell you to anyone ever, never,
ever ever, no one will ever, no one will ever
repeat this. Okay, Gay, So here's this top secret info
(47:30):
about Area FicT to one you've never heard, and I'll
never if you put it out in public, I'll deny it.
But Area, if you one, has the best uros on
the planet. I knew it. That's what I said at
the very beginning of the show. I said, snacks. Yeah,
b has been obsessed with the idea that they have
the best snacks, and they're working on new snacks. They do.
(47:50):
There's a sure stand and Eric to one that is
to die for. Literally people have died trying to get one.
That's how amazing. Men all Oh wow, okay, Elliott, you
can out your hand down now. I think the I
think I take it. I take my oaths very seriously.
I'll keep that. I'm gonna keep it up the rest
of the day, just in case, just so that the
world knows that I'm serious about it. Uh, You've been
(48:11):
so fantastic. We have one more question for you, so
listeners may remember. At some point, I think I mentioned
that my favorite person in history is Abraham Lincoln. Who
is your favorite person from history? Good question, Um, I
would have to say Albert Einstein. Yeah, you've mentioned him earlier.
I did, And gosh, he literally changed the universe right
(48:36):
and still to this day changes science and technology and
everything we think about the world and the universe we
live in. Still to this day, we're trying to unravel
the secrets of the universe that he himself understood and
unraveled for the first time. And I wish I can
invent a time machine using his principles, go back in
time and bring him into modern error right now to
(49:00):
thousand twenties, and have him solved so many top scientific
problems we're facing right now. Wouldn't it be great? And
also I'd love to take him out to lunch. What
we would do is I know this great churro standard
that I would love to take Albert I send too,
And I feel like with that was churros, he could
solve all the rest of the secrets of the universe. Amazing.
(49:23):
I love that idea. Um, I love I love anything
that any sort of lunch that ends in a turo,
that's that's. Any kind of story that ends in a curo,
that's a good story for me, especially if it unravels
the secrets of the universe. Mostly. Yeah, Well, thank you
so much for being with us today, and thank you
so much for sharing so much about Area fifty one.
(49:45):
It's a really wonderful book series and I hope everybody
checks it out. Thank you guys, thanks for having me.
I appreciate it. Thanks Murrh good buy. Everybody got a
question for any of our famous figures? Where do you
want to be a contestant? Send us a voicemail mo
at who Was Podcast at gmail dot com it or
you might just end up on the show. The Who
(50:06):
Was Podcast is produced by Radio point I Heart Media
and Penguin Workshop, and is based on the best selling
Who h Q series published by Penguin. This episode was
hosted by Elliott Klin with co host Megan O'Neill as
b It also starred Jane Baker as Jane, Eric Shackney
as Eric, Erica Lies as Georgia O'Keefe, and James Murray
as himself. Our executive producers are Richard Corson, Alex Bach,
(50:30):
Elliott Klin, Megan O'Neil, Daniel Powell, and Houston Snyder. Our
executive producer for Penguin Workshop is Francesco Sedita. Our executive
producer for iHeart Media is Lindsay Hoffman. This episode was
written by Megan O'Neil, Elliott Kylin and Devin Coleman. It
was produced by Bernie Kaminsky and Taylor Kowalski. Our talent
producer is Jamie. Our theme song and music are composed
(50:51):
and performed by Eric Shackney. We were edited and mixed
by Kate molten Hower. We were recorded by Alison Worth
and we were giving special thanks do Actsen Charlotte DeAnda,
Daniel Goodman and Michael Lewis Howard. The Who was podcast
was recorded at the I Heart Studios in Los Angeles, California.
Sound services were provided by Gate City Post. That's the
(51:12):
News podcast because it's standard flavors
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