29: Lost and Found pt.2: Money and a Gun

Nov 29, 20233 min read

Updated: Mar 21

Forget what you think you know about Patty Hearst. This week Maia launches us into Part 1 of the Patty Hearst story. From the headline grabbing antics to the violence the SLA was willing to (and did) commit. We meet a host of characters who are complex and controversial as we begin to dig into what happens when a young person has Money and a Gun.

How does a millionaire heiress end up robbing banks alongside her kidnappers—and what on earth do plumbing disasters and chaotic book clubs have to do with it? Join hosts Maia and Grant as they hilariously unravel the surreal, shocking saga of Patty Hearst and the radical, oddly theatrical Symbionese Liberation Army. From wild carjackings and infamous shootouts broadcast live on national TV, to unexpected detours about quirky pets, fantasy novels, and DIY home repair nightmares, this episode blends dark humor, personal anecdotes, and unbelievable historical twists into one unforgettable ride. Prepare yourself to laugh, cringe, and question everything you thought you knew about victimhood, radicalization, and the absurdity of revolutionary antics in 1970s America. If you thought history couldn't get weirdly funny—think again!

Chapters/Key Takeaways

00:00:00 Catch-Up
00:01:41 Fantasy & Book Clubs: Debating Miyazaki films and reading marathons
00:08:43 Home Front Chaos: Pet misadventures and DIY disasters
00:25:00 Story Starts - The 1970s Scene: Nixon, protests, and the birth of radical ideas
00:29:44 Cobra Branding: The SLA and their odd revolutionary marketing
01:08:06 Hearst Kidnapping: Abduction with military precision (sort of)
01:34:25 Billionaire Ransom: How charity demands shook the Hearst family
01:47:04 Revolutionary Training: A crash course in guns and groupthink
02:41:06 Bank Heist Mayhem: Cameras rolling on Patty’s robbery debut
03:05:39 Shootout Showdown: The live TV coverage of LAPD vs. SLA
03:19:06 To Be Continued: Motel hideouts and an uncertain fate

Photos/Videos

*Patty Hearst posing in front of the SLA Cobra - courtesy of Bettman/CORBIS*

Patricia Hearst and Steven Weed - courtesy of Hulton Archive/Getty	SLA Cobra - courtesy of PDB
Patty Hearst's first communique - Feb 12, 1974 - courtesy of ChrisPerson297 via YouTube	Patty Hearst's second communique - Feb 16, 1974 - courtesy of ChrisPerson297 via YouTube

*Security tape still of Patty Hearst at the Hibernia Bank Robbery - public domain*

Quotes:

They successfully get Patty. What are they gonna do next? Much like Nebraska football, once it gets the ball, what are we supposed to do with it? - Grant Thomas
They're just kids running around in California, committing serious crimes—like they're improvising on the fly. - Grant Thomas
She abandoned a life of luxury to fight the system. That’s the core of her story—becoming the people's princess. - Maia Warner
I am a soldier in the People’s Army. I did the crime. I am proudly guilty of it. - Maia Warner

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