The hosts of Good Mythical Morning discuss the concept of living alone for extended periods, inspired by the Chicago song "Everybody Needs a Little Time Away." They 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 from homes and camps. He was eventually caught in 2013 and served seven months in prison.
The second story is about a Vietnamese man named Ho Van Tay, who fled to the jungle with his 2-year-old son after his home was destroyed by a bomb during the Vietnam War. They lived in a treehouse for 40 years, eventually losing the ability to speak to each other, relying on hand signals for communication. They were discovered by locals and reintegrated into society.
The hosts also participate in a humorous segment, "It Was the Best of Times, It Was the Worst of Times," where one of them gets a massage while being fed sardines.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Christopher Thomas Knight, also known as the North Pond hermit, lived in the woods of Maine for 27 years.
2. Knight was 20 years old when he left his home in 1986 and did not contact anyone except one hiker during his 27-year isolation.
3. Knight stole supplies, including food and clothing, from homes, schools, and summer camps to survive.
4. He was caught by a game warden named Terry Hughes in 2013 after Hughes set up a camera and motion sensor at a summer camp.
5. Knight was sentenced to seven months in prison and is now on probation.
6. Hovan ten, a man from Vietnam, lived in the jungle with his son for 40 years after his home was destroyed by a bomb during the Vietnam War.
7. Ten and his son, who was two years old when they entered the jungle, stopped speaking to each other over time and only communicated through hand signals.
8. They were discovered by locals in 2014 and were given $1,900 to build a new home.
9. Ten and his son are now adapting to life back in civilization, with the son learning to use a cell phone and listen to music.
10. The Vietnam War occurred from 1955 to 1975, but Hovan ten and his son entered the jungle in 1974 and stayed there for 40 years.
11. The Chernobyl disaster occurred in 1986, which is how Christopher Thomas Knight remembers the year he left his home.