The hosts of Good Mythical Morning discuss the concept of living alone for 30 years, referencing the song "Everybody Needs a Little Time Away" by Chicago. They then share two stories of hermits who lived in isolation for decades. The first story is about Christopher Thomas Knight, who lived in the woods of Maine for 27 years, surviving by stealing supplies and never lighting a fire. He was eventually caught and served seven months in prison.
The second story is about Ho Van Thanh, a Vietnamese man who lived in a treehouse with his son for 40 years after their home was destroyed in the Vietnam War. They communicated through hand signals and survived by farming and smoking tobacco. They were eventually discovered and reintegrated into society, with the son learning to speak and use a cell phone.
The hosts also participate in a segment called "It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times," where they try an unusual experience, in this case, getting a massage while being fed sardines. The segment is meant to be a humorous take on the concept of hermitism and the challenges of living in isolation.
Here are the extracted facts:
1. Christopher Thomas Knight, also known as the North Pond Hermit, lived in the woods in central Maine for 27 years.
2. He went to the woods in 1986 at the age of 20.
3. Knight had no contact with anyone except one hiker who stumbled upon his campsite and exchanged a brief greeting.
4. He survived by stealing supplies from homes, schools, and summer camps, committing over 1,000 robberies during his time in the woods.
5. Knight was caught in 2013 by a game warden named Terry Hughes who had been tracking him.
6. He was arrested and served only 7 months in prison, which he claimed did more damage to him than his 27 years in the wilderness.
7. Ho Van Thanh, a Vietnamese man, lived in a treehouse in the jungle with his 2-year-old son for 40 years.
8. They survived by farming and hunting, and the father used bomb shrapnel to make tools.
9. The son, who grew up in complete isolation, knew only a few words and communicated mostly through hand signals.
10. The authorities discovered them in 2013, and they were reintegrated into society, with the son learning to speak and use modern technology.
11. The father, however, struggled with communication and was only able to speak a few words.