EPISODE · Feb 5, 2026 · 1H 3M
The Truth Behind the Lost City of Z They Never Told You | David Grann
from Julian Dorey Daily · host Julian Dorey | Daylight Media
FULL EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO4A_Wqgco For over a century, the Lost City of Z has been treated like a romantic mystery — an obsession, a legend, a dream that swallowed explorers whole. DAVID'S LINKS: BUY "THE WAGER": https://www.amazon.com/Wager-Tale-Shipwreck-Mutiny-Murder/dp/0385534264/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Rb3PhH90mRH2YeRth5ANPtc85T8xJfFWfdQrF9Qa4yJjGmguFt_AvjcXUFATX68XkIJzyldTcdfqiB6MvgneDW60FEOhSRJ97scz1KbwAgOiDtnpuuBP6Ix9oVZXa88sVTKvc5oWsKxlTsyLfXH1l5xgbI0JEtio9PkcULfb5TVosuI1wx3j-f-Go5fE6iUgkoRGh-172mjOlZdPEm5dQGtas3yhPVDr1QOuL5J_dgc.rLmeUvfyTMHzEi2e-xBHao6JLWlMBTplBu1RBQOV_v8&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+wager&qid=1759763943&sr=8-1 BOOK/WEBSITE: https://www.davidgrann.com/books/ X: https://x.com/davidgrann But the real story is far darker. In this episode, David Grann, author of The Lost City of Z, breaks down what actually happened in the Amazon — and why much of the story was softened, ignored, or quietly left out. From Percy Fawcett’s final expedition to the brutal realities of the jungle, this isn’t just a tale of exploration. It’s a story about obsession, mythmaking, and how the West misunderstood the Amazon — and the people who lived there — for generations. What was framed as noble discovery often bordered on delusion. What was remembered as mystery often involved violence, disease, and cultural blindness. In this episode, we explore: • Why the Lost City of Z became an obsession • What Percy Fawcett was really chasing • The darker realities explorers faced — and caused • How myth overtook evidence • Why parts of this story were never emphasized • And what the Lost City of Z reveals about exploration itself This isn’t about debunking wonder. It’s about confronting reality. ***TIMESTAMPS*** 00:00 – What Happened to All the Money? Osage Nation Today & Regret Over Blood Money 10:56 – Firsthand Witnesses Describe Ernest Burkhart (as portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio) 15:36 – Percy Fawcett and the Legend of the Lost City of Z 23:48 – Journey to the Southern Base of the Amazon Rainforest 29:14 – Fawcett’s Obsession with El Dorado: Gold Cities, Layered Pyramids & Extreme Claims 44:04 – The Disappearance of Percy Fawcett and the Enduring Mystery And once you understand the full story, the legend of Z looks very different. @juliandoreyclips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
What this episode covers
FULL EPISODE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIO4A_Wqgco For over a century, the Lost City of Z has been treated like a romantic mystery — an obsession, a legend, a dream that swallowed explorers whole. DAVID'S LINKS: BUY "THE WAGER": https://www.amazon.com/Wager-Tale-Shipwreck-Mutiny-Murder/dp/0385534264/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Rb3PhH90mRH2YeRth5ANPtc85T8xJfFWfdQrF9Qa4yJjGmguFt_AvjcXUFATX68XkIJzyldTcdfqiB6MvgneDW60FEOhSRJ97scz1KbwAgOiDtnpuuBP6Ix9oVZXa88sVTKvc5oWsKxlTsyLfXH1l5xgbI0JEtio9PkcULfb5TVosuI1wx3j-f-Go5fE6iUgkoRGh-172mjOlZdPEm5dQGtas3yhPVDr1QOuL5J_dgc.rLmeUvfyTMHzEi2e-xBHao6JLWlMBTplBu1RBQOV_v8&dib_tag=se&keywords=the+wager&qid=1759763943&sr=8-1 BOOK/WEBSITE: https://www.davidgrann.com/books/ X: https://x.com/davidgrann But the real story is far darker. In this episode, David Grann, author of The Lost City of Z, breaks down what actually happened in the Amazon — and why much of the story was softened, ignored, or quietly left out. From Percy Fawcett’s final expedition to the brutal realities of the jungle, this isn’t just a tale of exploration. It’s a story about obsession, mythmaking, and how the West misunderstood the Amazon — and the people who lived there — for generations. What was framed as noble discovery often bordered on delusion. What was remembered as mystery often involved violence, disease, and cultural blindness. In this episode, we explore: • Why the Lost City of Z became an obsession • What Percy Fawcett was really chasing • The darker realities explorers faced — and caused • How myth overtook evidence • Why parts of this story were never emphasized • And what the Lost City of Z reveals about exploration itself This isn’t about debunking wonder. It’s about confronting reality. ***TIMESTAMPS*** 00:00 – What Happened to All the Money? Osage Nation Today & Regret Over Blood Money 10:56 – Firsthand Witnesses Describe Ernest Burkhart (as portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio) 15:36 – Percy Fawcett and the Legend of the Lost City of Z 23:48 – Journey to the Southern Base of the Amazon Rainforest 29:14 – Fawcett’s Obsession with El Dorado: Gold Cities, Layered Pyramids & Extreme Claims 44:04 – The Disappearance of Percy Fawcett and the Enduring Mystery And once you understand the full story, the legend of Z looks very different. @juliandoreyclips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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The Truth Behind the Lost City of Z They Never Told You | David Grann
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