Episode ??: The Buoyancy Limits of the White Male Ego

Michael Rockefeller

At the age of 23 after growing up in one of the world's richest families Michael decided he wanted adventure and went to New Guinea to learn about the native tribes and their art for his families primitive art museum. Little did he know that he might have bitten off more than he could chew.

Dutch New Guinea

The area in Indonesia that Michael and the documentarian Robert Gardner went.

Robert Gardner

The documentarian that Michael worked with on looking at the Dani Tribe. The documentary is entitled Dead Birds (see below).

The Boat

Rockefeller and Wassing were warned that this boat made of two hand made canoes and a motor would not withstand the tides however they did not listen.

Rene Wassing

The documentarian who decided to explore that Asmat tribe with Rockefeller, a decision that would ultimately seal his fate. Rene was found 20 miles from shore in the boat they were warned about but Rockefeller was no where in sight.

Milt Machlin

Milt was a journalist who was known for coining the terms "the Bermuda Triangle" and "the abominable snowman". He retraced Rockefellers steps to try to find out what happened to him. He came to a very different conclusion than everyone else.

Asmat Tribe

A warring tribe in New Guinea with a cultural history of head hunting and cannibalism due to the belief that this practice helps them to absorb the energy of their slain enemies.

Dead Birds

Robert Gardner's documentary about the end of the tribal wars between the Dani tribe and other local tribes as a way of life. Made in the 1960's. There were concerns that the documentary team were influencing the tribes to fight wars so that they could film it.

Milt Machlin's Footage

15 Reels of 16 MM footage was found from Milt's exploration of New Guinea looking for Rockefeller and turned in the to film "The Search for Michael Rockefeller" named after the book that Milt wrote. You can watch the full movie on Tubi Here

Rockefeller Spotted?

A new conspiracy theory proposes that Rockefeller survived the swim and was living among the Asmat people after some state he was spotted in documentary film. He was declared legally dead in 1964.

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