Relic: The Lost Treasure Podcast: Recent Episodes
Maxwell
The Three Brothers was the most coveted jewel of the Renaissance. It vanished during the most dire days of the English Civil War, and nobody has seen it since. — Music: Tavern Loop by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Music: Adventure by Alexander Nakarada (www.serpentsoundstudios.com) Licensed under Creative … Continue reading Episode 55 – The Brethren’s Tale →
The Vikings were once the terror of northern Europe, with a civilization that extended from Russia to Iceland. Among their sagas of warrior gods, berserkers, and conquests, stands out a Viking sorcerer who became a folk hero in his native Iceland. How credible are the tales of Egill Skallagrímsson’s adventures, and is his lost hoard of … Continue reading Episode 54 – The Sorcerer and His Silver →
For over 2,000 years, treasure hunters the world over have searched for the legendary gold mines of the Biblical King Solomon. Leads were few and far between, until an adventure novel spawned a renewed interest in the missing mines, with a focus on several possible locations in Ethiopia. Is there any basis to the story … Continue reading Episode 53 – The Dreams of Solomon →
ARGHH! Courtney and Max discuss what scares them, their own spooky encounters, as well as curses, curses, and more curses! Cursed mummies! Cursed Pompeii Cursed witch symbols! And more!
Because the world isn’t scary enough, Relic celebrates Halloween 2020 with a look into some horror movies that were almost lost, and some influential titles. We’re joined by special guest, Shane Anderson, filmmaker and host of the Mighty Motion Picture Rangers Podcast. We discuss how one of the most influential … Continue reading The Relic Halloween Special 2020: Scary Movies with Filmmaker Shane Anderson →
In 1973, President Richard Nixon is accused of spying on his political opponents and undermining the constitution of the United States of America. His secret recordings are handed over to the authorities, but a mysterious eighteen-and-a-half minute gap remained… New project announcement! While Relic will release intermittently until next year, you can check out my … Continue reading Tales From The Reliquary – Episode 3: Tape 342 →
The most iconic prop in Hollywood history…stolen! The weird saga behind the heist of the Ruby Slippers.
Surprise! Formerly a Relic Patron exclusive, this minisode focuses on the very lost (and very big) bell of a Burmese king. Stay tuned for a few more releases, fresh from the Patreon.
Special guest: author and podcaster Moxie LaBouche, host of “Your Brain on Facts“. In this episode, we tackle two great literary losses: The Library of Alexandria and The Library of Ivan The Terrible. Check out Moxie’s book here!
Part 2/2 If Atlantis really existed, then where might it be located today? Separating legend from plausibility, this is the question archaeologists and scientists have asked themselves. Was Atlantis a misidentified civilization destroyed by disaster? Or did the lost empire precede written history? Music by Derek Fiechter and Purple Planet
“In a single day and night of misfortune…the island of Atlantis disappeared into the depths of the sea.” It is perhaps one of the most famous lines of dialogue attributed to a lost treasure, but the stories behind the Lost City of Atlantis are as vast as the ocean where it presumably lies. In celebration … Continue reading Episode 50 – The Lost Empire →
As thanks for the generous donations on Patreon this past month, I wanted to express my gratitude with another Faberge Egg story. Oh, and until June 2020, all Patreon episodes are free. Check them out at Patreon.com/Relic
Firstly, thank you to all who donated to the Relic Patreon over the course of the last month. It was a huge help during this period of uncertainty! I will be releasing a bonus episode this upcoming week that will include a shout-out. The Faberge Eggs are pinnacles of luxury. Jewel encrusted and carved from … Continue reading Episode 49 – Easter Egg Hunt →
Matzo ball soap. Swimming pool cakes. Cafe Bustelo. Time is meaningless. Also… Mammoth facts, and creepy places made out of Mammoth Bones. An unearthed trading port with an interesting commodity (and irritating infrastructure) Weird swords in ancient monasteries, and the secrets they hold. And the oldest substance in the solar system discovered in the middle … Continue reading The Trove – Episode 7: March 36th, 2020 →
A Relic “Whodunnit?” Erica Morini was considered the greatest violinist of the 20th century, thanks in part due to her mastery of the priceless Stradivarius violin. By the end of her life, Morini was a former shell of herself, and the violin she once played remained unsecured in her increasingly disheveled apartment. In 1995, her … Continue reading Episode 48 – The Poison Violin →
In this episode of the Trove: – Zombie viruses – A dead (important) French guy – Let’s bring back the Woolly Mammoth – Connecticut: Still Revolutionary (and full of skeletons) Patreon.com/Relic
Joined by Rob Kristofferson of the Our Strange Skies podcast, we pick apart the bane of every archaeologist’s existence: ancient astronaut / ancient alien theories. Famously popularized by The History Channel, the sensational belief that early man was not only visited by extraterrestrials, but helped us build ancient monuments, has become a phenomena both deeply … Continue reading Episode 47 – “Ancient Astronaut theorists say…” →
Skinflaps on fingers and lost viking ships. Gold bars in soil and art thieving tips. Haunted doll islands and anchors in coves. These are a few of my favorite troves. Patreon.com/Relic @Losttreasurepod https://www.facebook.com/LostTreasurePod
During World War II, an Englishman named T.E. Lawrence fought in the Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire. While travelling, “Lawrence of Arabia” learned of a majestic city that he dubbed “The Atlantis of the Sands”, a kingdom that been buried under the dunes of the Empty Quarter. But this lost city was well known … Continue reading Episode 46 – Beneath the Sands →
Our first episode of the decade takes a trip back to the 1990s to revisit a children’s game show called Legends of the Hidden Temple. Animator and hobby cartoon archivist, Brett Wilson, joins me as we discuss the veracity of the treasures featured on the show, dream about putting together the shrine of the silver … Continue reading Episode 45 – It Belongs in a Museum! Legends of the Hidden Temple →
The definition of treasure is sometimes broad. In this episode we examine three lost “treasures”, three musicians who were not recognized in their time, and tragically vanished into the night. What happened to Connie Converse, Richey Edwards, and Q Lazzarus? Out of respect for the artists involved in this story, no ambient music will appear … Continue reading Episode 44 – How Sad, How Lovely →
In this episode of the Trove: – First-time metal detector enthusiasts experience the best beginner’s luck ever. – A mysterious wall – A look inside the (formerly) lost Arctic exploration vessel,The Terror – Good news: more Nazca lines! @losttreasurepod Patreon.com/Relic
During the Age of Exploration (Colonization), the Spanish invaded the “New World”, in search of gold and spices. But the conquest was also driven by more outlandish desires: for hundreds of years, legends told of a mysterious spring of eternal life that always existed just outside the margins of the known world. And in the … Continue reading Episode 43 – A Cure for Death →
We’re back after our post Halloween fatigue with a new episode of The Trove! In this episode: – Courtney and Max’s favorite Pokemon – A lost Cambodian city, now less lost – The tragic and important work of discovering sunken slave ships – The logistic of transporting ghosts in Myanmar @losttreasurepod Check out Patreon.com/Relic for … Continue reading The Trove Episode 3: Relic: Sword / Relic: Shield →
Happy Halloween! In this abbreviated, seasonal special: Three stories of civil war gold, two of which involve ghosts. SPOOKY! Patreon.com/Relic @Losttreasurepod Music by by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
In this spooky, Halloween edition of the Trove, Max and Courtney talk about a lot of dead people being done wrong. Plus: Everything you thought you knew about the burning of the Library of Alexandria is wrong (still gone though…) How the most expensive paint in the world was found in a set of teeth … Continue reading The Trove – Episode 2: LGBTQ Skeleton / You Are the Viking Queen →
The “cursed jewel” is a pop cultural trope with a very complicated history–the The Hope Diamond being the most famous example. Some of these dark gems have also gone missing. Was the Florentine Diamond’s disappearance due to bad luck and greed, or did it, The Hope, and Black Orlov curse their owners into misfortune and … Continue reading Episode 42 – Facets of Evil →
Need your Relic fix every week? Introducing “The Trove” a half-hour, round table style talk that discusses weird archaeology and strange historical discoveries in the news. In this inaugural episode of “The Trove,” historian Courtney Misich talks about doing starving puritan cosplay, and Max declares a pumpkin spice war on the nation of Australia. Also: … Continue reading The Trove – Episode 1: Night of the Living Bread / Poison Your Husbands →
Dutch Schultz was one of the most ruthless mobsters of Prohibition Era New York, and had his fair share of enemies. Legend has is that paranoia drove Schultz to hoarding his loot and concealing it within a safe, that he and his team buried in the Catskill Mountains. Many believe Dutch Schultz revealed a code … Continue reading Episode 41 – Gangsters Glory →
Rennes-le-Château was just another quiet village in the shadow of the Pyrenees, until one day when a mysterious priest showed up in town with a seemingly endless surplus of cash. Vanishing just as quickly as he arrived, Father Saunier left his parishioners with only suspicion and questions. When a failed writer moved into his crumbling … Continue reading Episode 40 – The Curious Village →
During the 1800s, the rising tide of revolt in South America forced the Viceroy of Lima to move thousands upon thousands of dollars worth of treasure and religious iconography to Mexico. Only, it didn’t make the journey, being stolen during a mutiny and hidden somewhere on Cocos Island, the purported inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s … Continue reading Episode 39 – Treasure Island →
Since the early 2000s, a number of high stakes diamond heists have taken the world’s wealthiest cities by storm. At first, the only evidence connecting the robberies was the extravagant, theatrical, and meticulously planned heists that often saw the perpetrators eluding international authorities. Yet slowly but surely, a pattern began to emerge, pointing to the … Continue reading Episode 38 – To Catch a Panther →
In 1922, the Carver expedition went to Egypt and discovered King Tutankhamen’s tomb, sending the world into an Egyptology frenzy. Haunting the publicity were rumors that a curse had been unleashed as well. What are the origins of the Curse of the Pharaoh’s and are more Pharaohs waiting to be unearthed? Like what you hear? … Continue reading Episode 37 – A Feast for Anubis →
When the first manned mission to the moon camp back to Earth, they brought back samples of the lunar geology. President Richard Nixon ordered a few of these samples to be segmented, encased in lucite, and gifted to the nations of the world. Through a series of strange circumstances involving assassination, government collapse, and a … Continue reading Episode 36 – Stealing The Moon →
Some updates on the rest of the season. Including the announcement that the Relic Patreon is now hosting ongoing episodes of Tales of the Reliquary! You can also now here me on Sydney’s own 2ser 107.3. https://www.patreon.com/Relic
We’re back, folks! Sarah from Good Nightmare joins me on the first of several mid-season episodes on Australian mysteries. Strange lights in the outback have been reported since before the arrival of white settlers. Are the Min Min Lights a natural phenomena, or something paranormal? While you wait for Relic to come back, you can … Continue reading Episode 35 – Relic Down Under: The Mystery of the Min Min Lights →
Relic explores treasures that have been lost due to human error and greed, but what if a treasure was lost on purpose? This episode covers four infamous–and very real-treasure hunts: Forrest Fenn’s treasure, Masquerade, The Secret, and the Golden Owl. Music by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ Music by Kevin Fiechter … Continue reading Episode 34 – A Hint of Riches →
A little Christmas stocking stuffer of an episode! The Three Wise Men are common fixtures of most Nativity scenes, but the The Bible actually offers very little information on who they were and where they came from…
Genghis Khan ushered in the 13th century of a tidal wave of carnage and conquest. Yet for all of the horrors attributed to the Mongol ruler, history paints a much more nuanced portrait of a rational, progressive, and open minded leader. Yet for someone who had garnered such notoriety, Genghis Khan’s death and subsequent burial … Continue reading Episode 33 – Silk and Slaughter →
The Superstition Mountains of Arizona have inspired many tall tales of the American Southwest, but none more intricate and longlasting the Lost Dutchman’s Mine. Wrapped up in a tangled web of greed, colonization, and mysterious deaths, the missing mine may have multiple origins. But one thing is for certain: those who go looking for the … Continue reading Episode 32 – Legend of the Lost Dutchman’s Mine →
Kate from Ignorance Was Bliss joins the Relic dinnertable for a six-course-meal of mystery! In this episode we dig into a few unsolved topics concerning food, such as: – Did bad bread lead to the Salem Witch Trials? – Does artificial banana flavoring taste like how real bananas used to taste like? – What the … Continue reading Episode 31 – It Belongs in a Museum! A Banquet of Mysteries →
James Mellaart took the archaeological world by storm when he discovered one of the oldest Neolithic sites in the world. Then, a chance encounter with a mysterious stranger on a train promised Mellaart an even more earthshaking find: the treasures of a bygone culture that neighbored the once-thought legendary city of Troy. However, what happened … Continue reading Episode 30 – The Woman on the Train, or The Dorak Affair →
Good evening boys and ghouls and non-binary demonic entities! In this extra long, extra spooky episode of Relic, just in time for Halloween, I have invited 5 podcasts over for a feast of archaeological and historical frights! Spoop Hour talks about a haunted pirate treasure off the coast of Connecticut, Cocktail Party Massacre spins a … Continue reading Episode 29 – Tales from the Reliquary: A Very Relic Halloween →
For hundreds of years, County Offaly in Ireland has stood in the shadow of Leap Castle, a place with a wicked and bloody past. One of its violent residents was said to have buried a treasure somewhere on the castle grounds. But going to look for this treasure might be more trouble than it’s worth, … Continue reading Episode 28 – Ghosts of Leap Castle →
In 1990, two individuals dressed as police officers entered the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston and altered the course of the art world forever. One of the most audacious crimes ever committed kicks off Relic’s Season 2, the arc of which will focus on heists, deception, the paranormal, and the occult. All music from … Continue reading Episode 27 – Empty Frames →
This season on Relic, we’re taking a look into the darker, dangerous side of treasure hunting: true crime capers, and cursed artifacts that may be better left undiscovered! This preview contains the prologue to our first episode of the season, and one of the most bizarre unsolved art crimes ever committed: the Isabella Stewart Gardner … Continue reading Season 2 Preview – “Empty Frames” →
Ok, so that was a letdown. Fortunately, there’s another other weird, mystery thing in South Korea that people are wanting to open up now! Probably less cursed, but definitely more controversial!
Ok, so they found something weird in Egypt, you guys! Could be big, could be less big. Find out what’s going on with the “Black Sarcophagus,” and who might be buried inside (or not). Also, I reveal the theme for Season 2! More Info here: https://www.sciencealert.com/huge-mystery-sarcophagus-unearthed-in-egypt-alexandria Music–to cover over the noises made by our new podcast … Continue reading Special Report: WHAT’S IN THE BOX??? →
While Relic takes some well-deserved time off, my friend Tom and I are producing an “off season” humor podcast on one of our favorite video game series. You can listen to part 1 of our pilot episode here, and be sure to check out (and subscribe) to the official channel on iTunes: “Everything is Crystals”, … Continue reading Bonus Preview: Everything is Crystals! Episode 1 →
The adventure comes to a conclusion with Relic’s season finale. No other lost treasure has captivated the minds of artists and treasure hunters alike than the Holy Grail. Said to have been the goblet that Jesus drank from at the Last Supper, it is an object of alleged immense power, rivaled only by its companion … Continue reading Episode 26 – Season Finale Part 2: Blood of the Grail →
Hear what happens when I hang out with my Podcast friends! This is a sample of some more “off the beaten path,” exclusive content you can expect when you donate $5 to the Relic Patreon at Patreon.com/Relic In this half hour minisode, myself and 4 other True Crime podcasters discuss the aftermath of the Golden … Continue reading Minisode – Who Gets Solved Next? A Talk With 5 True Crime Podcasts →
The first part of Relic’s season finale! If you’ve watched any science fiction or adventure movie in the last 20 years, you may be aware of a certain fantasy/sci fi trope: Nazis channeling the forces of the paranormal to help satisfy their goals. The truth behind the lore is, as they say, stranger than fiction. In … Continue reading Episode 25 – Season Finale Part 1: Brood of the Gods →
During World War II, the Japanese amassed their hoard of stolen wealth primarily on the Philippine island of Luzon. After the war, rumors began to emerge that a general by the name of Tomoyuki Yamashita had buried most of the loot in unspecified locations. For many years, this was nothing more than an urban legend…until … Continue reading Episode 24 – Yamashita’s Gold →
Joined by Courtney of The Cult of Domesticity podcast, we examine the exciting lives of three of history’s most awesome (but sadly not always recognized) adventuresses: Bessie Coleman, the first African American and American Indian aviatrix; Lady Hesther Stanhope, the first female archaeologist; and Nelly Bly, who tried to beat Jules Verne at his own … Continue reading Episode 23 – Adventurous Women →
Content Warning: A short, non-descriptive mention of a sexual assault in a historical context. Because of the efforts of scribes and scholars, we are still able to take a look into the past and know where we came from. But for all of the books that changed history, there are countless others that held knowledge … Continue reading Episode 22 – It Belongs in a Museum! The Pages of History →
Due to some scheduling conflicts, we had to switch some things up a bit for this episode. But never fear! You (and by that I mean the audience) got to vote on a shorter episode for this week. And you all chose…the mysteries behind the dead bodies left behind on Mount Everest? Oh boy… Since … Continue reading Episode 21 – The Highest Grave →
Legend has it, that when the Jews of Prague were threatened by anti-Semitic violence, a great Rabbi, possessing the knowledge of alchemy and the Kabbalah, conjured up a golem to defend the city. For decades, most believed this was nothing more than a tall tale, until one night in 1938, when the Nazis marched into … Continue reading Episode 20 – Truth to Dust →
The ancient chronicles of Japan speak of a sword called Kusanagi, an enchanted blade wielded by the gods and handed down to their descendants. Allegedly hidden in a shrine and only called upon during the Emperor’s coronation, its authenticity remains a topic of debate. Joining it in legendary status is the Honjo Masamune, often called … Continue reading Episode 19 – A Tale of Two Swords →
Warning: This episodes does not contain actual werewolves. A lake. A train. A tragedy at sea. A message in a music score. This episode examines four mysteries surrounding the Nazi’s final ploy: the secreting of billions of assets, mostly in gold bullion and ingots, to fund a Nazi insurgency long after the war had ended. … Continue reading Episode 18 – Werewolf →
Relic will be back in February 2018 with the last half of season 1! Until then, here’s a quick dive into our first season and its thematic arc. This will also serve as a first look towards our final stretch: the lost artifacts of World War II, and Hitler’s schemes to hoard all of the … Continue reading Treasures and Tyrants →
The second holiday special! Saint Nicholas is one of Catholicism’s most honored Saints, a figure who would go on to inspire the folkloric character known as Santa Claus. But this Saint did not enjoy a peaceful rest in death. In 1087, an ambitious cabal of Italian sailors decided to rob his tomb in a get-rich-quick … Continue reading Episode 17 – The Italians Who Stole Christmas →
The first of Relic’s two holiday specials! The menorah is a nine-pronged candle holder, ceremonially lit during the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. It is modeled after a human-sized, gilded lamp that once sat in the sacred Temple of Jerusalem. Created after a brutal rebellion to take back the city, the original menorah remained in the … Continue reading Episode 16 – A Light in the Temple; or Menorah, Menorah, I’m Lookin’ For Ya →
In this last episode of our mid-season “It Belongs in a Museum!” series, we are joined by Kate Shaw of Strange Animals Podcast. An animal species is considered extinct when it hasn’t been identified in the wild after 50 years. What happens when eyewitness testimony, and photographic evidence, challenges what we once thought about certain … Continue reading Episode 15 – It Belongs in a Museum! Back From Extinction →
Welcome to the mid-season! In this installment of Relic’s “It Belongs in a Museum” series…we get weird. Comedian and anthropologist Jake Sully tells us all about the Peking Man– the fossilized remains of an ancient, common ancestor to homo sapiens. Who was the Peking Man and where did he end up? Also, Max looks into … Continue reading Episode 14 – It Belongs in a Museum! Are You My Mummy? →
It’s our Halloween special! Joined by special guests, Jerry and Tracy of Hillbilly Horror Podcast, we take Relic to a dark place…and try to get to the bottom of a few cursed artifacts. Are they real? Can they kill you? Maybe! Music by Kevin MacLeod
Since the Spanish age of conquest, the inhabitants near the Llanganates region of Ecuador have feared the stories surrounding a massive cache of priceless artifacts hidden somewhere in the mountains. The treasure of the last Incan King carries an especially deadly curse, and those who go looking for it end up vanishing into the jungle … Continue reading Episode 12 – Curse of the Inca →
There were several holy sites in ancient Greece where one could receive prophecies, the most famous of these oracles being the Pythia at Delphi. Not as widely known is the Oracle of Trophonius, a daemon or god said to dwell within a dark cavern. The rituals and encounters involving this oracle were said to be … Continue reading Episode 11 – Dark Oracle →
For all of the lore surrounding history’s legendary pirates, not much is known about their lives on land. According to the same book that first introduced the world to pirate mythology, a chance encounter at sea led to the establishment of a democratic pirate republic in a hidden cove off the Madagascar coast. When a … Continue reading Episode 10 – City of Black Sails →
English history is full of notorious monarchs, but few are as hotly debated as King John, a man remembered as both the villain of Robin Hood and signer of Magna Carta. Lesser known is the treasure that King John lost at the end of his reign, a bounty that included the original crown jewels. With … Continue reading Episode 9 – Crown and Sea →
Joined by special guest, Robert Jenner of The Fan Film Boyz podcast, this episode is something a little different. We take a look at the weird and wild history of lost film, covering everything from a movie so terrible that Jerry Lewis took it to his grave, to that time Batman fought Dracula, and maybe … Continue reading Episode 8 – It Belongs in a Museum! Lost Films →
The Ghent Altarpiece, or the Adoration of the Mystic Lamb, is one of the most important pieces of Renaissance art–which is probably why it’s also known as the most frequently stolen painting of all time. In 1931 the most beguiling portion of it went missing for good, and what followed was an eighty-year caper involving … Continue reading Episode 7 – The Lamb, The Thief, and The Judges →
India’s Padmanabhaswamy Temple is the wealthiest religious institution in the world, with chambers of riches worth trillions. The temple is also known for its secrecy, most of which surrounds the sealed vault in the inner sanctum. The means of opening the vault are lost, and any attempts to force entry are prophesied to bring cataclysm … Continue reading Episode 6 – Beyond Balram’s Door →
In 1931, a gentleman named Harold Bell Lasseter informed the Australian Worker’s union that he’d discovered a seven-miles-long vein of gold in the outback. An expedition was mounted to survey what was possibly one of the largest gold finds in history. But after the quest ended in disaster, the truth behind Lasseter’s Reef remains questionable. … Continue reading Episode 5 – The Ballad of Lasseter’s Gold →
The Rain Queens were the last women-ruled monarchy in all of Africa, and were said to wield the power over the weather. Since the 1800s, they presided over their territory in South Africa, until their last queen, Mokobo Constance Modjadji VI, died under mysterious circumstances. What befell Modjadji VI? And will the title of The Rain … Continue reading Episode 4 – The Rule of the Rain Queens →
Two minutes of cut content from “Million Dollar Decoy” that didn’t really fit into the narration anymore. A quick origin story for the British colony of Bermuda, graveyard of ships.
Imagine finding a lost treasure…only to lose it again. Such was the case in the 1960s, when a diver named Teddy Tucker discovered a golden, emerald-studded cross in a 15th century shipwreck, and donated the relic to Bermuda’s national aquarium. When it came time to move the cross to a new exhibit, Tucker went to … Continue reading Episode 3 – Million Dollar Decoy →
For over a thousand years, whoever held the Heirloom Seal of the Realm, held the power over the nation of China. The dynastic Emperors used the jade seal to enact the laws that would shape Chinese history for generations–and many died by its decree. Did the Imperial Seal vanish with the dynasties? Was it stolen … Continue reading Episode 2 – Mandate of Heaven →
The Amber Room was considered the eighth wonder of the world, and a symbol of peace between two of Europe’s most powerful nations. A priceless chamber of wall-to-wall amber mosaics, furniture, and ornaments, it adorned a Russian palace for 300 years until it was stolen by the Nazis. Is it still out there, waiting to … Continue reading Episode 1 – Shattered Amber →
New York City, 2017 – An effeminate but courageous adventurer sets off to produce a daring podcast chronicling the lost treasures of history. This 10 minute prologue is the “why” of Relic. If you want to get to the real meat of the show, skippers can jump to Episode 1. I won’t judge you.