Welcome to our MONEY PIT 9 LEVELS OF QUESTIONS INTERVIEW: JOHN STEMMER.
This is a special 7th Anniversary edition for John. We want to thank him very much for agreeing to an interview with us on his special day. John is the founder and administrator of the “Quest of Oak Island“ Podcast, YouTube Channel, and Facebook Group. And without further ado, here is John Stemmer:
Q. When was the first time you heard of Oak Island and what did you think of it?
A. I was watching the History Channel and I saw a preview for “The Curse of Oak Island” and it piqued my interest about a lost treasure.
Q. How did you become involved with creating “Quest of Oak Island” and how did it all come about?
A. I created “Quest of Oak Island” in 2016 and it started as a Facebook group to show people screenshots and their YouTube shares about the show. I did this every Wednesday after the Tuesday night show on TV. I explained to members with screenshots what they were up to during discussion in chat or on the phone. To my surprise, thousands of members joined quickly. I only had my used HP laptop and one mic to start. So, with so many members, I felt I had to do more, and I started doing Facebook "live". Every Wednesday night I would go over the show from Tuesday night. Then I had my first guest, Joan McGinnis, on the phone only. After her, there were many more cast members but since my group is private there was no sharing of these Facebook live podcasts. Then onward to YouTube so all can be seen and shared. Now with over 1.5 million views on YouTube and over 5,000 subscribers, we are the go-to channel for Oak Island.
Q. Were you nervous the first time you conducted a podcast? Do you have any butterflies?
A. No, I was never nervous on a podcast, no butterflies. I just hope that the video/audio runs smoothly.
Q. Which episode of your podcast is the most memorable for you?
A. I would say that the best podcast was with Erin King and how she tied in the maps from Fred Nolan and Zena Halpern to show details. No one had ever done this before and she opened the door for others.
Q. If you could choose any person related to Oak Island, dead or alive, who would you like to interview on your podcast, who would it be and why?
A. Rick Lagina, by him coming on our show, it would establish that the QoOI channel is legit and connected to the show.
Q. How many hats have you given to people so far? What is the furthest you’ve sent one?
A. I’ve given out over 75 hats and the furthest one was to Portugal.
Q. Tell us about your hobbies and what you like to do in your spare time.
A. I like to build stuff, repair things, work in my garden, listen to music, cooking, charities, and to help people.
Q. When “The Curse of Oak Island” ends eventually, would you start another group regarding a specific mystery? What are your ideas of potential topics?
A. With the contacts I have up there, we will still give updates on the island if it is no longer on TV. I have no plans for another group.
Q. As you reflect on your 7 years of creating and administering “Quest of Oak Island”, what is your fondest memory of it?
A. As I reflect, up to now my fondest memory is the people I have met and helped. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would touch so many hearts from my studio to people all around the world that wait for my podcast and information to make them laugh and to make their day. This means the world to me there’s no greater feedback than that.
Q. What is your theory about what happened on Oak Island? Do you feel there’s still treasure located there?
A. Many things happened on Oak Island at different time periods. I believe a relic was brought over for safekeeping until the New World was established. This relic is no longer there, in my opinion. What is there are leftover tunnels and shafts from searchers and maybe depositors that they will find but as far as tons of gold and silver, no. I hope I am wrong from all this data overload for 11 seasons of the show and 228 years of looking, only time will tell.
Q. What do you say to critics who say you run too tight of a ship with your group?
A. Quest of Oak Island’s rules must be maintained to the letter so that everyone knows the facts of accepted behavior in the group. There are no exceptions, with close to 70,000 members for 7 years, we read every profile to be part of this group. The trolls and the impersonators can just go to another group if they don't like the rules. Quest of Oak Island is not just me; it is all the people that contribute with photos and research sharing with all and without them we have no group.
Q. If you could spend one day with one of the current or former members of the cast of “The Curse of Oak Island” who would it be, what would you do?
A. I would like to spend one day with them all, I just can't pick one. I would meet them in the war room then, of course, go to the restaurant for drinks and food.
Happy 7th Anniversary John and The Quest of Oak Island!
*The opinions expressed within this content are solely the guest's and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of this website or its affiliates.
