Out of the Box
Summary
Host Phoebe Judge interviews Reg Spears and his friend John McSorley about Reg’s 1964 stunt of shipping himself in a crate from London to Australia to save money. The episode details the risky journey, historical precedents for mailing humans, and Reg’s subsequent life as a drug smuggler. It highlights their enduring friendship and the unexpected fame that followed Reg’s successful, albeit illegal, arrival home.
Topics discussed
Sponsors: IM8 and Pepsi
Introduction: Reg Spears and his javelin career
Meeting John McSorley and Reg's injury
The idea to ship himself home in a box
Historical precedents for mailing humans
John builds the crate in secret
Designing the box and the fake shipping label
Packing supplies and getting into the box
The journey begins: London to Paris
The long flight to Mumbai
Transit in India and arrival in Australia
Sponsors: Mint Mobile and Pepsi
Escaping the customs shed and hitchhiking home
Media frenzy and legal aftermath
Reg's later life and enduring friendship with John
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