Ep 298: The Long Strange Trip of the Tromp Family

 
 
“I thought getting out was the best idea at the time. But here, in hindsight, I probably should’ve stayed with them and tried to help.”
— Mitchell Tromp, the middle adult child of the family, to Sky News in September of 2016.
 

Description:

We all know family road trips can be fun, bonding experiences that generate fond memories, but they can also be filled with tension and frayed nerves—although perhaps not to the degree experienced by the Tromp family of Silvan, Australia. In August 2016, Mark and Jacoba Tromp and their adult children Riana, Mitchell, and Ella embarked on a perplexing journey of around 1000 miles that captivated the country. They abruptly left their home, abandoning their phones and credit cards. What followed was a five-day saga of mystery and confusion. The family’s erratic behavior, including apparent paranoia and separation, led to a nationwide search. The incident, dubbed the “Tech-Free Family Road Trip,” sparked widespread speculation about mental health, shared psychosis, and the pressures of modern life on their successful farm. During this family travel season, we work to dissect what happened and why. Was this bizarre odyssey a contagious emotional meltdown, or was there an actual threat to their safety as the parents initially thought?

 

Reference Links:

 
 

Location:

Silvan, Victoria, Australia; the town where the Tromp family farm is located.

 

Suggested Listening:

The Why Files: Operation Podcast

Like many podcasts, the Why Files covers conspiracies, aliens, time travel, and ancient civilizations. Some people are very serious about this stuff. They believe every detail, even if the details don't quite add up. Others tear the stories apart. What fun is that? The Why Files is different. First, they explore the mystery, and then together, we separate fact from fiction and see what's left. Some legends can't be debunked. And those are their favorites. The Why Files is available on Spotify or anywhere you get your podcasts. The X Files said the truth is out there, but the Why Files says the truth is right here. 

 

Suggested Merch:

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Donate to the middleway conservancy!

Click HERE to donate and help keep the historic village that is the home of the wizard clip alive!

 

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CREDITS:

Episode 298: The Long Strange Trip of the Tromp Family. Produced by Scott Philbrook & Forrest Burgess. Audio Editing by Sarah Vorhees Wendel of VW Sound. Music and Sound Design by Allen Carrescia. Tess Pfeifle, Producer and Lead Researcher. Ed Voccola, Technical Producer. Research Support from The Astonishing Research Corps, or "A.R.C." for short. Copyright 2024 Astonishing Legends Productions, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

VanishedForrest Burgess2024, 298, Tromp family, Australia, Silvan, Mark, Jacoba, Riana, Matthew, Ella, Road Trip, 2016, folie à deuxComment