National Treasure Hunt

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black calculate the environmental impact of National Treasure's various exploits. Have you ever considered how much carbon was stored in the Charlotte ship before it was blown to smithereens? Or how much fuel our heroes and villains used when traveling between various U.S. cities and the Arctic tundra? Or how Ian's henchmen left bullet casings scattered throughout O...

In this "National Treasure in Real Life" episode, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black review The Curse of Oak Island (Seasons 7 and 8) on the History Channel. When do treasure hunt finds begin to feel mundane? And if the nonfiction, many-years-long hunt on Oak Island consistently brings in repeat viewers, is it even remotely surprising that Nicolas Cage's fictional, fast-paced quest has maintain...

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black don their robes and grab their gavels to dole out a prison sentence for National Treasure villain Ian Howe. By breaking down each of Ian's criminal offenses, their analysis determines how much time Ian should have spent behind bars (if he had been convicted of all his illegal acts) and how much prison time he actually received following his arrest in Boston. I...

Jason Earles ("Thomas Gates") joins co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black to discuss his experience filming National Treasure's opening history sequence in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia. Listen to hear his vivid memories of learning to drive a horse-drawn carriage, acting opposite Terrence Currier ("Charles Carroll of Carrollton"), and getting acting advice at the hotel bar. Plus, why is Nati...

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black debate what makes National Treasure and National Treasure: Book of Secrets appealing to young and old audiences alike. Is it simply the action-packed nature of the treasure hunt, or is very careful writing (replete with external monologues, audience stand-in characters, and adult humor) the reason for the franchise's intergenerational success? • It's your last...

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black compare Netflix's Outer Banks series (seasons 1-3) to the National Treasure franchise, exploring parallels between Ben Gates's and John B.'s treasure hunts and family legacies. Plus, as a young adult-centric show, does Outer Banks exhibit the same downfalls as National Treasure: Edge of History? And why did Outer Banks experience more critical and popular succ...

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black identify and overview the history of each commemorative George Washington button in Dr. Abigail Chase's shadow box in her office at the National Archives. Their conversation clarifies the difference between campaign and inaugural buttons while case-studying the Pater Patriae button, affectionately known in National Treasure lore as the "1789 inaugural." • Get...

Welcome to National Treasure News! In this installment, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black break down the massive National Treasure franchise news that director Jon Turteltaub announced on their National Treasure Hunt stage in Philadelphia. In addition to recapping Jon's reveals about progress towards National Treasure 3, they share an estimated timeline for when the threequel could go into pro...

National Treasure Hunt co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black sit down with National Treasure director Jon Turteltaub for an in-person discussion about the franchise's legacy and his memories of filming in Philadelphia. | "You deserve to have the scoop: it's finally real." | During their conversation, Turteltaub EXCLUSIVELY reveals to National Treasure Hunt the news that fans have anticipated for n...

In this "National Treasure in Real Life" episode, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black review The Curse of Oak Island (Seasons 5 and 6) on the History Channel. Have the Lagina brothers and their team found proof that Europeans visited Oak Island before the time of Columbus? How might the plight of the Gates family in National Treasure foreshadow challenges between the Laginas and the respected hi...

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black pitch their "ABCs of National Treasure: Edge of History." In the process, they reflect on what they liked and disliked about the Disney Plus show, as well as which characters, scenes, locations, and clues they found most memorable. How did they justify their picks, and whose list resonates most closely with your impressions of Edge of History? • Join National...

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black conduct a close-watch of National Treasure scenes featuring Riley Poole's van to glean new backstory about Justin Bartha's fan-favorite character. Their analysis reveals a treasure hunt lead Ben and Riley pursued prior to the timeline of National Treasure and suggests that Riley was conducting research for his book, "The Templar Treasure and Other Myths That A...

Welcome to Season 13 of National Treasure Hunt! On the six-year anniversary of their show, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black refresh their recap and commentary on National Treasure (2004), revisiting the best revelations from their research, pointing out nuances they've somehow never clocked before, and identifying their remaining plot-related questions. Have you ever noticed how little Riley...

In their first-ever Fourth of July holiday special, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black review the Hallmark Channel original movie, "To Philly with Love" (2026). Does this treasure hunt-inspired romance film capture the magic of historic Philadelphia in the same way that National Treasure does? • Order our new book, "Riley Poole's Book of Secrets: History for National Treasure Hunters," from Tuc...

Jordan Rodrigues ("Ethan Chao") joins co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black to share memories of his time filming National Treasure: Edge of History for Disney Plus. Learn how Lisette Olivera ("Jess Valenzuela") helped him prepare for the role, how the musically talented cast entertained themselves on set, and what future seasons of the show might have meant for the Jess-Liam-Ethan love triangle....

On the Season 12 finale of National Treasure Hunt, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black are joined by Mike McKee, executive director of the Masonic Temple in Philadelphia, and Stephen Pierce, founder of America's Rising Son, to assess National Treasure's portrayal of Freemasonry. Do these brothers believe Ben Gates is a member of their fraternal organization? Is Agent Sadusky a good representatio...

Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black review both popular and niche conspiracy theories that Riley Poole may have written about in his book "The Templar Treasure and Other Myths That Are True." In the process, they consider why topics ranging from cryptids to covert government activities are universally appealing and how these legends have had a community-building effect throughout history. • Tick...

In this "National Treasure in Real Life" episode, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black review The Curse of Oak Island (Seasons 3 and 4) on the History Channel. Are the Lagina brothers and their team inching toward an understanding of what could be concealed on the Nova Scotia island? Will that understanding bring them closer to or push them further from National Treasure's Knights Templar lore? •...

National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets is filled with car chases, kidnappings, and fist fights, so how did the majority of the characters make it through their treasure hunt unscathed? Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black diagnose hero and villain injuries in the National Treasure sequel, ultimately concluding whether or not the characters could realistically participate in the rest of the movie. T...

Jake Austin Walker ("Liam Sadusky") joins co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black to reflect on his experience portraying Agent Sadusky's grandson in National Treasure: Edge of History. Learn about the role of music in the Disney+ show, how Liam and Myles nearly raided Billie's compound, and how a prop disaster threatened filming of the Graceland heist. Plus, how would Jess's relationships with Liam...

National Treasure: Edge of History ended after a ten-episode run, so what happened to Jess Valenzuela, Tasha Rivers, and their crew after they found the Pan-American treasure? Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black break down the characters' social media posts featured in the show's finale credits. Who achieved their career goals, who is stuck in the past, and which couples are still together? • It...

In this "National Treasure in Real Life" episode, co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black review The Curse of Oak Island (Seasons 1 and 2) on the History Channel. Does the show's proposed Templar connection to Oak Island in Nova Scotia make this docuseries mandatory viewing for National Treasure fans? Were National Treasure's screenwriters influenced by the "money pit" when imagining the pit beneath...

Attachment styles are all the rage when it comes to assessing how people engage in their relationships, so what happens if you apply attachment theory to popular film characters? Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black analyze the psychologies of the heroes and villains featured in the National Treasure movies and discover trends that add depth to the characters' interpersonal dynamics. Could Ben's...

Michael Singer, a longtime unit publicist for Jerry Bruckheimer, joins co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black to share memories of working on the National Treasure: Book of Secrets set. Which scene was interrupted by a U.S. president addressing the media, at which national landmark was production given exactly 13 minutes to film, and which Hollywood heavyweight was particularly impressed by Nationa...

National Treasure: Edge of History sets the scene of a major hero-villain showdown at the USS Kidd in Baton Rouge, a creative decision that served as a subtle yet intentional nod to the USS Intrepid's role in the first National Treasure film. Co-hosts Aubrey Paris and Emily Black tell the war-filled, pirate-adjacent tale of the USS Kidd and how it came to be a Louisiana memorial and tourist attrac...