Favorite (or Most) Asked Questions - Updated July 15th 2012
This page is dedicated to answering popular questions
from fans about Josh Gates,
anything related to "Destination Truth"
or even the person who runs these fan pages!
Q: Why does the crew change over so much? (or) Where's Jael? (or) Why is Ryder back?
A: Filming patterns for "Destination Truth" are very sporadic, so sometimes, certain crew members are simply not available. The way "DT" works is that the seasons are filmed, edited and aired in halves, so while let's say Jael was available from January of 2009 through May of 2009 to film Season 3, she wasn't available from October 2009 through December 2009 for the (entire) duration of filming, so Ryder, who wasn't available to film Season 3 was invited back to film Season 3.5 - hope that answers it!
Q: Who answers all these questions? (or) Who runs the fan pages? (or) Who the hell is Amanda?!
A: My name is Amanda ("about me" page HERE) and I've been dubbed affectionately by producers Brad and Josh the "DT" Fan Ambassador. I started doing these fan activities in October of 2008 when I began to gather information for this very page you are visiting, which opened in November of 2008. Then came the Twitter account (which changed names from "JoshuaGatesFans" to "DTonSYFYfans"), the Facebook fan pages, the exclusive YouTube videos, and the radio program, which Josh and other cast/crew members have appeared on multiple times! I do not make any money doing this, but I've been invited to two Syfy events, met Josh at these events (and even got a few other "DT" fans to meet Josh at one of them), I get exclusives straight from the cast/crew/production company of the show, and I've made many friends, as well as acquiring over 10 thousand fans who follow my pages!
Q: How do I get on the show? (or) What does it take to be on the show? (or) Can you get me on the show?
A: No, I cannot get you on the show. As of April 2012, Josh has said that there will never be a contest or give away to get a fan of "DT" on the show due to legal reasons from NBC/Universal. However, if you have qualifications, there's no reason a "DT" fan couldn't be part of the staff AKA crew on the show. To be a part of Team Truth, you need to have documentary and/or field experience in camera operating, audio tech, technical maintenance, field production, paramedic/military medical services, or be educated in journalism and science. It also helps to have experience in rock climbing, SCUBA diving, repelling, being multi-lingual, and knowing how to drive on the opposite side of the car or in operating motorcycles/scooters/mopeds. It also goes without saying that you must be in good shape, not have health problems that prevent you from taking these long treks and having the mental capacity to handle one long filming trip. If you think you qualify, send your resume or a tape to Ping Pong Productions via the fan mail address. I also heard that if you send something to Mandt Brothers Productions, which created the show originally, they pass along things directly to Ping Pong if it's impressive enough to be considered.
Q: Will "DT" ever involve fans in either bringing them out on the road or some sort of special like "Ghost Hunters" had?
A: Question is pretty much answered above, but here's a longer reason why the answer is no. Even if someone were to sign a waiver in case they were injured, there would be the issue of how to present that on camera, or the PR issue if someone were to be injured and sued anyway, despite signing a waiver. One also must take into account that the person must be in enough physical and emotional shape so that they do not slow down production.
Q: To tackle all of the ridiculous/misc. questions about Josh - Is Josh single? Is he dating Jael/Ryder/whichever female Syfy personality made an appearance on the show? Is Josh gay? I heard rumors that Josh doesn't care about his fans - is this true?
A: I don't answer or touch on personal questions about the cast/crew, so I'll ignore those first two questions. No, Josh IS NOT gay, according to an answer he gave to that question on an on-camera interview on his first reality show "Beg Borrow & Deal" (ESPN, 2002). He states he's not, does not mind being associated as flamboyant because of his loud personality and pop culture interests, and is merely comfortable with himself. If you go to the fan stories and fan photos sections of this site, other than seeing all of the exclusives he's provided my site and the past radio specials he's done where he's answered fan questions, you will quickly be able to see that Josh LOVES his fans. He realizes that a TV show lives and dies by it's numbers, and when you treat the fans right, your show will "live" on :) He also loves book signings so he can meet more and more of his fans in person!
Q: Why doesn't Canada or (insert country name other than the United States) get the current episodes that are airing in America right now?
A: Licensing issues. The double edged sword about "DT" is that the show was originally just aimed at the American market, but it picked up int'l viewers along the way, which includes our neighbors to the north, Canada. While the cast/crew/production company of "DT" are very grateful to int'l fans, unfortunately the show is owned by NBC/Uni/Syfy primarily. Once a country's channel licenses the show, such as OLN for Canada, they get whole seasons which have already aired. Once the current season is done airing in America completely, then the country licensing the footage will then get to air it themselves, if they continue to license further seasons based on ratings.
Q: Are YOU, Amanda, dating/married to/screwing Josh Gates?
A: *smacks forehead* No. If I were involved with Josh on any sort of the levels mentioned, it would be a conflict of interest LOL I consider him to be a great acquaintance who I admire and have a lot of respect for, and it helps that he stays in touch to provide exclusives firsthand, as well as other "DT" cast/crew members and the production companies that have been involved with the show.
Q: Does Josh make out autographs to the fans and if so, how do I get one?
A: He sure does! Detailed info on how to request an autographed headshot is at Josh's site HERE, then click on the "Beacon" page. NOTE: he requests that you do not send personal items for him to sign, as he can't guarantee he can send them back right away, or at all, due to his travel schedule.
Q: Is there any merchandise available for "Destination Truth"?
A: Deja Vu - There sure is! Josh sells it on his website HERE and there's some through the NBC/Uni site HERE to buy merchandise for your favorite show. NOTE - merchandise is sold through NBC and not my site. I do not incur any profits from any sales of this merchandise.
Q: Whatever happened with the corpse in the Chilean mine the "DT" crew found? Is it an alien, chicken, a baby, or a hoax?
A: Josh and producer Brad talked about this issue on a past radio special with me during the first half of Season Three. Because the corpse was a biohazard, they did not take any part of it over international lines, fearing legal repercussions. They brought it to local authorities, who have not been cooperative in providing any further information. Because of this fact, and the fact that the experts on the episode used cannot figure it out, it looks like it will forever remain inconclusive. I made a video of the interview segment from when it was talked about on my radio show by Josh and producer Brad HERE
Q: How come some pieces of evidence are either glossed over or not mentioned at all in reveals?
A: Josh spoke about this in his third radio special with me. Every piece of evidence that the team collects is analyzed, but unfortunately because they are only allotted a certain package of episodes to put on the air, material has to be squeezed in. If a piece of evidence is not mentioned, or only briefly mentioned in a reveal, then there was nothing further to be said about it because it was inconclusive. And yes, one particular piece of evidence, the noise coming from the parabolic dish in the Chilean mine episode with the aliens/UFO's, was skipped over entirely in the reveal, but Josh (as well as producer Brad) said on the second radio special with me that the results were inconclusive.
Q: How come Josh doesn't just update the fan sites or interact with us as much as you do? Sounds like a cop-out.
A: Aside from the fact that he has an EXTREMELY busy schedule with "Destination Truth" (he not only hosts it, but does voice overs for it, helps to edit it, produces it, promotes it, and travels pretty much non stop on the shows behalf/survival, aside from unrelated gigs to the show), he also has a private life to maintain. I'm happy to do this for him, and the crew of the show, as a hobby. I get to interact with awesome people (you guys - fellow fans), go to events I never thought I'd get into and talk to amazing individuals on and off the show. He also just recently opened his official site HERE
Q: Why is it the season finale already?! It JUST started up!
A: The way that "DT" is aired, shot and edited is definitely a little odd. The seasons, after the initial first season, air in halves (EX: Season 1, Season 2, Season 2.5, Season 3, Season 3.5, etc). The crew goes out in one straight shot to film everything, which takes three or months at a time. Then, they come home to edit together footage into a package of approved episode numbers. Once they hit their deadline, they either wait to go back on the road, accounting for the hiatus between Season 2.5 and Season 3, or they go out right away, as they left to begin filming Season 4 even before Season 3.5 was done airing!
Q: When does Season 5 come out?
A: Came out on Syfy as of July 10th 2012 and will air through the summer!
Q: Is "DT" on DVD yet? How about BluRay?
A: Not sure about BluRay, but the only season currently available on DVD is Season One. There are no other announcements yet as to later seasons, since Season One came out not to long ago (March '10). Episodes also available for digital purchase on iTunes & Amazon.com.
Q: How come I am hearing about all these people receiving Josh autographs? He hasn't written ME back. WTH?!
A: Breathe! LOL Josh has a very busy schedule. A lot of people I've announced through the months of March '10 and April '10 who have received autographs have sent in fan letters with signature requests last December. It's taken over 3 months to get a reply back and Josh is (as of Oct 2010 through Dec 2010) filming Season 4.5 with his crew internationally - don't "write him off" so to speak, if you don't hear back right away ;)
Q: How come you, or Josh, tell us where the team is heading but you don't tell us in what part of whatever country they're going or what they are looking for? This especially goes for when they do American cases...
A: As you would see with similar reality shows on Syfy like "Ghost Hunters," the exact locations for filming can't be revealed, and since Team Truth looks for creatures that are pretty geographically specific, it could give away their filming location. Though the crew loves their fans and appreciates their viewership, if a group of their fans caught wind of where they were at the time, an impromptu meet and greet could hold up production. The crew is already on a very tight filming schedule, as their travel routes are pre-planned months in advance, and they don't want to be rude or appear like their ignoring their fans, but sacrifices have to be made so that the filming process is smooth. Also, when I share where they are going next, sometimes I don't even know their exact location/cases, but when I do, I don't divulge.
Q: Why does the crew use POV cameras?! We want to see what they're looking for, not the expression on their faces.
A:. Josh and producer Brad spoke about this on a radio special in Fall 2010. They use them to catch reactions of cast members so that the two camera operators can shoot the scenery around them. Also, my co-admin Aislynn suggests that perhaps a camera like that could not be able to focus on something well enough, but the explanation from Brad and Josh is a great point. "DT" is a smaller production so it's better to make use of the camera operators to focus on surroundings rather than to catch a reaction shot. It could also stem back from a show on MTV called "Fear" where they rigged competitors who completed dares in haunted locations with these devices since there were no camera crews with them (Jay and Grant of TAPS were consultants on this show, back in the day).
Q: Where is Josh from? (or) Does Josh have a college degree?
A: He's from Manchester-by-the-Sea MA and got a joint degree in drama/archaeology from Tufts U, which are both within a pretty close proximity to Boston MA. You can read up more about Josh's past in the bio I wrote about him under "About Josh Gates & Site Creator" or in his book "Memoirs of a Monster" available at his website HERE
Q: Other weird misc. Q's - Does Josh have a pet? Does Josh have any tattoos/piercings? What does Josh bring when he travels?
A: Josh does not have enough time to take care of a pet because he spends nearly half a year on the road, but he prefers dogs over cats. He *used* to have one tattoo - a tattoo he got on the bottom of his foot of the Boston Red Sox logo as one of his tasks on the reality show "Beg Borrow & Deal" (ESPN, 2002). The reason I say "used to" is because tattoos on the bottom of the feet and the palms of your hands wear off quickly because of friction and loss of dead skin. I am unaware if he has more, including any piercings, but I doubt it. If you would like to see what Josh brings with him when he travels, check out the main "Destination Truth" page on Syfy.com, where there is an interactive feature on what Josh carries in his backpack.
Q: Have you, Amanda, met Josh and the crew, or are you just acting like you know them for attention/to get more followers?
A: I actually answered this Q above, but I can answer in a little more depth here. I have met Josh many times and we have spoken via email, phone and radio interviews many times. He knows me and willingly stays in touch, most times him getting in touch with me first, which I believe makes me the opposite of a "stalker," as a small handful of people out of thousands have affectionately named me in the past. I have not formally met some of the cast members (except for Rex the medic, Jael, Ryder, and Brad), but I've talked to them either through cell phone conversations, email or Skype chats, and they also know that I am very respectful with keeping in touch and am only interested in talking about the show, not stupid gossip. I've also met/had interviews with cast members of "Ghost Hunters", "GHI", "Eureka", "Warehouse 13", and other Syfy shows.
Q: Hey, I have a great creature/place suggestion! Do I give it to you?
A: I unfortunately don't choose where the crew does/does not go. I would suggest going to Google, finding "Ping Pong Productions", check the contact page and sending suggestions via email or snail mail to Brad. Also, you can tweet the cast members and send fan mail.
Q: How come you seem short sometimes in your replies?
A: Yes, I do admit that I'm human and I sometimes read as a little snippy in my replies. More often than not, it is when I'm replying to pretty obvious questions (IE, I post a FB/Twitter status that says "I don't know the upcoming air date yet" and when a fellow fan posts a reply under this exact status asking me the question that I already admitted that I do not know the answer to) or a fan says something rude to me. I make it no secret via disclaimers out in the open for all to see that I am not only NOT a crew member/an employee of Syfy/Universal/NBC, but I'm also open that I do not get paid for doing any of this. When I do this in my free time, on top of a full time job and other things in between, my patience tends to get a little thin, so I rely on my co-admin to help me out with the workload a little. I am very grateful for all they do and wish I could do more for them, but when I don't get paid for this and we live in different places around the world, I can't exactly buy them a beer ;)
Q: Why was your Facebook "DT" page with over 20,000 people shut down on Facebook? Did Syfy do it?
A: Syfy doesn't have administrative access in shutting down a FB group unless it's one they made/have rights over or they contacted corporate requesting it be shut down if it will cause their show an issue. I was even contacted by people behind the scenes of "DT" and my contact at Syfy itself asking if I knew what was going on or if anyone could help verify that my group was valid and I was allowed to run it. Unfortunately, FB failed to give me a valid reason or explanation as to why it was shut down, especially since I broke no policies and I posted disclaimers all over my page. Facebook also has no direct contact to address complaints or disputes to.
Q: I've heard that "DT" doesn't even take fan suggestions for cases/locations. Is this true?
A: Not true ;) CLICK HERE
Q: Why haven't you been on "DT" yet, Amanda? I thought you were a huge fan?
A: I am and I would love to. I've had fans call me out on my live radio specials with both Josh and Jael saying I should be on the show, and I've asked in private myself, but it's a very hard thing to accomplish. There are the issues of costs, insurances, visas, waivers and making sure that myself, or anyone they would bring on the show, are healthy and stable enough to last through one of these grueling cases. I'm hoping Josh will consider me for his Destination Dinner give away though ;) That'd be nice.
A: Filming patterns for "Destination Truth" are very sporadic, so sometimes, certain crew members are simply not available. The way "DT" works is that the seasons are filmed, edited and aired in halves, so while let's say Jael was available from January of 2009 through May of 2009 to film Season 3, she wasn't available from October 2009 through December 2009 for the (entire) duration of filming, so Ryder, who wasn't available to film Season 3 was invited back to film Season 3.5 - hope that answers it!
Q: Who answers all these questions? (or) Who runs the fan pages? (or) Who the hell is Amanda?!
A: My name is Amanda ("about me" page HERE) and I've been dubbed affectionately by producers Brad and Josh the "DT" Fan Ambassador. I started doing these fan activities in October of 2008 when I began to gather information for this very page you are visiting, which opened in November of 2008. Then came the Twitter account (which changed names from "JoshuaGatesFans" to "DTonSYFYfans"), the Facebook fan pages, the exclusive YouTube videos, and the radio program, which Josh and other cast/crew members have appeared on multiple times! I do not make any money doing this, but I've been invited to two Syfy events, met Josh at these events (and even got a few other "DT" fans to meet Josh at one of them), I get exclusives straight from the cast/crew/production company of the show, and I've made many friends, as well as acquiring over 10 thousand fans who follow my pages!
Q: How do I get on the show? (or) What does it take to be on the show? (or) Can you get me on the show?
A: No, I cannot get you on the show. As of April 2012, Josh has said that there will never be a contest or give away to get a fan of "DT" on the show due to legal reasons from NBC/Universal. However, if you have qualifications, there's no reason a "DT" fan couldn't be part of the staff AKA crew on the show. To be a part of Team Truth, you need to have documentary and/or field experience in camera operating, audio tech, technical maintenance, field production, paramedic/military medical services, or be educated in journalism and science. It also helps to have experience in rock climbing, SCUBA diving, repelling, being multi-lingual, and knowing how to drive on the opposite side of the car or in operating motorcycles/scooters/mopeds. It also goes without saying that you must be in good shape, not have health problems that prevent you from taking these long treks and having the mental capacity to handle one long filming trip. If you think you qualify, send your resume or a tape to Ping Pong Productions via the fan mail address. I also heard that if you send something to Mandt Brothers Productions, which created the show originally, they pass along things directly to Ping Pong if it's impressive enough to be considered.
Q: Will "DT" ever involve fans in either bringing them out on the road or some sort of special like "Ghost Hunters" had?
A: Question is pretty much answered above, but here's a longer reason why the answer is no. Even if someone were to sign a waiver in case they were injured, there would be the issue of how to present that on camera, or the PR issue if someone were to be injured and sued anyway, despite signing a waiver. One also must take into account that the person must be in enough physical and emotional shape so that they do not slow down production.
Q: To tackle all of the ridiculous/misc. questions about Josh - Is Josh single? Is he dating Jael/Ryder/whichever female Syfy personality made an appearance on the show? Is Josh gay? I heard rumors that Josh doesn't care about his fans - is this true?
A: I don't answer or touch on personal questions about the cast/crew, so I'll ignore those first two questions. No, Josh IS NOT gay, according to an answer he gave to that question on an on-camera interview on his first reality show "Beg Borrow & Deal" (ESPN, 2002). He states he's not, does not mind being associated as flamboyant because of his loud personality and pop culture interests, and is merely comfortable with himself. If you go to the fan stories and fan photos sections of this site, other than seeing all of the exclusives he's provided my site and the past radio specials he's done where he's answered fan questions, you will quickly be able to see that Josh LOVES his fans. He realizes that a TV show lives and dies by it's numbers, and when you treat the fans right, your show will "live" on :) He also loves book signings so he can meet more and more of his fans in person!
Q: Why doesn't Canada or (insert country name other than the United States) get the current episodes that are airing in America right now?
A: Licensing issues. The double edged sword about "DT" is that the show was originally just aimed at the American market, but it picked up int'l viewers along the way, which includes our neighbors to the north, Canada. While the cast/crew/production company of "DT" are very grateful to int'l fans, unfortunately the show is owned by NBC/Uni/Syfy primarily. Once a country's channel licenses the show, such as OLN for Canada, they get whole seasons which have already aired. Once the current season is done airing in America completely, then the country licensing the footage will then get to air it themselves, if they continue to license further seasons based on ratings.
Q: Are YOU, Amanda, dating/married to/screwing Josh Gates?
A: *smacks forehead* No. If I were involved with Josh on any sort of the levels mentioned, it would be a conflict of interest LOL I consider him to be a great acquaintance who I admire and have a lot of respect for, and it helps that he stays in touch to provide exclusives firsthand, as well as other "DT" cast/crew members and the production companies that have been involved with the show.
Q: Does Josh make out autographs to the fans and if so, how do I get one?
A: He sure does! Detailed info on how to request an autographed headshot is at Josh's site HERE, then click on the "Beacon" page. NOTE: he requests that you do not send personal items for him to sign, as he can't guarantee he can send them back right away, or at all, due to his travel schedule.
Q: Is there any merchandise available for "Destination Truth"?
A: Deja Vu - There sure is! Josh sells it on his website HERE and there's some through the NBC/Uni site HERE to buy merchandise for your favorite show. NOTE - merchandise is sold through NBC and not my site. I do not incur any profits from any sales of this merchandise.
Q: Whatever happened with the corpse in the Chilean mine the "DT" crew found? Is it an alien, chicken, a baby, or a hoax?
A: Josh and producer Brad talked about this issue on a past radio special with me during the first half of Season Three. Because the corpse was a biohazard, they did not take any part of it over international lines, fearing legal repercussions. They brought it to local authorities, who have not been cooperative in providing any further information. Because of this fact, and the fact that the experts on the episode used cannot figure it out, it looks like it will forever remain inconclusive. I made a video of the interview segment from when it was talked about on my radio show by Josh and producer Brad HERE
Q: How come some pieces of evidence are either glossed over or not mentioned at all in reveals?
A: Josh spoke about this in his third radio special with me. Every piece of evidence that the team collects is analyzed, but unfortunately because they are only allotted a certain package of episodes to put on the air, material has to be squeezed in. If a piece of evidence is not mentioned, or only briefly mentioned in a reveal, then there was nothing further to be said about it because it was inconclusive. And yes, one particular piece of evidence, the noise coming from the parabolic dish in the Chilean mine episode with the aliens/UFO's, was skipped over entirely in the reveal, but Josh (as well as producer Brad) said on the second radio special with me that the results were inconclusive.
Q: How come Josh doesn't just update the fan sites or interact with us as much as you do? Sounds like a cop-out.
A: Aside from the fact that he has an EXTREMELY busy schedule with "Destination Truth" (he not only hosts it, but does voice overs for it, helps to edit it, produces it, promotes it, and travels pretty much non stop on the shows behalf/survival, aside from unrelated gigs to the show), he also has a private life to maintain. I'm happy to do this for him, and the crew of the show, as a hobby. I get to interact with awesome people (you guys - fellow fans), go to events I never thought I'd get into and talk to amazing individuals on and off the show. He also just recently opened his official site HERE
Q: Why is it the season finale already?! It JUST started up!
A: The way that "DT" is aired, shot and edited is definitely a little odd. The seasons, after the initial first season, air in halves (EX: Season 1, Season 2, Season 2.5, Season 3, Season 3.5, etc). The crew goes out in one straight shot to film everything, which takes three or months at a time. Then, they come home to edit together footage into a package of approved episode numbers. Once they hit their deadline, they either wait to go back on the road, accounting for the hiatus between Season 2.5 and Season 3, or they go out right away, as they left to begin filming Season 4 even before Season 3.5 was done airing!
Q: When does Season 5 come out?
A: Came out on Syfy as of July 10th 2012 and will air through the summer!
Q: Is "DT" on DVD yet? How about BluRay?
A: Not sure about BluRay, but the only season currently available on DVD is Season One. There are no other announcements yet as to later seasons, since Season One came out not to long ago (March '10). Episodes also available for digital purchase on iTunes & Amazon.com.
Q: How come I am hearing about all these people receiving Josh autographs? He hasn't written ME back. WTH?!
A: Breathe! LOL Josh has a very busy schedule. A lot of people I've announced through the months of March '10 and April '10 who have received autographs have sent in fan letters with signature requests last December. It's taken over 3 months to get a reply back and Josh is (as of Oct 2010 through Dec 2010) filming Season 4.5 with his crew internationally - don't "write him off" so to speak, if you don't hear back right away ;)
Q: How come you, or Josh, tell us where the team is heading but you don't tell us in what part of whatever country they're going or what they are looking for? This especially goes for when they do American cases...
A: As you would see with similar reality shows on Syfy like "Ghost Hunters," the exact locations for filming can't be revealed, and since Team Truth looks for creatures that are pretty geographically specific, it could give away their filming location. Though the crew loves their fans and appreciates their viewership, if a group of their fans caught wind of where they were at the time, an impromptu meet and greet could hold up production. The crew is already on a very tight filming schedule, as their travel routes are pre-planned months in advance, and they don't want to be rude or appear like their ignoring their fans, but sacrifices have to be made so that the filming process is smooth. Also, when I share where they are going next, sometimes I don't even know their exact location/cases, but when I do, I don't divulge.
Q: Why does the crew use POV cameras?! We want to see what they're looking for, not the expression on their faces.
A:. Josh and producer Brad spoke about this on a radio special in Fall 2010. They use them to catch reactions of cast members so that the two camera operators can shoot the scenery around them. Also, my co-admin Aislynn suggests that perhaps a camera like that could not be able to focus on something well enough, but the explanation from Brad and Josh is a great point. "DT" is a smaller production so it's better to make use of the camera operators to focus on surroundings rather than to catch a reaction shot. It could also stem back from a show on MTV called "Fear" where they rigged competitors who completed dares in haunted locations with these devices since there were no camera crews with them (Jay and Grant of TAPS were consultants on this show, back in the day).
Q: Where is Josh from? (or) Does Josh have a college degree?
A: He's from Manchester-by-the-Sea MA and got a joint degree in drama/archaeology from Tufts U, which are both within a pretty close proximity to Boston MA. You can read up more about Josh's past in the bio I wrote about him under "About Josh Gates & Site Creator" or in his book "Memoirs of a Monster" available at his website HERE
Q: Other weird misc. Q's - Does Josh have a pet? Does Josh have any tattoos/piercings? What does Josh bring when he travels?
A: Josh does not have enough time to take care of a pet because he spends nearly half a year on the road, but he prefers dogs over cats. He *used* to have one tattoo - a tattoo he got on the bottom of his foot of the Boston Red Sox logo as one of his tasks on the reality show "Beg Borrow & Deal" (ESPN, 2002). The reason I say "used to" is because tattoos on the bottom of the feet and the palms of your hands wear off quickly because of friction and loss of dead skin. I am unaware if he has more, including any piercings, but I doubt it. If you would like to see what Josh brings with him when he travels, check out the main "Destination Truth" page on Syfy.com, where there is an interactive feature on what Josh carries in his backpack.
Q: Have you, Amanda, met Josh and the crew, or are you just acting like you know them for attention/to get more followers?
A: I actually answered this Q above, but I can answer in a little more depth here. I have met Josh many times and we have spoken via email, phone and radio interviews many times. He knows me and willingly stays in touch, most times him getting in touch with me first, which I believe makes me the opposite of a "stalker," as a small handful of people out of thousands have affectionately named me in the past. I have not formally met some of the cast members (except for Rex the medic, Jael, Ryder, and Brad), but I've talked to them either through cell phone conversations, email or Skype chats, and they also know that I am very respectful with keeping in touch and am only interested in talking about the show, not stupid gossip. I've also met/had interviews with cast members of "Ghost Hunters", "GHI", "Eureka", "Warehouse 13", and other Syfy shows.
Q: Hey, I have a great creature/place suggestion! Do I give it to you?
A: I unfortunately don't choose where the crew does/does not go. I would suggest going to Google, finding "Ping Pong Productions", check the contact page and sending suggestions via email or snail mail to Brad. Also, you can tweet the cast members and send fan mail.
Q: How come you seem short sometimes in your replies?
A: Yes, I do admit that I'm human and I sometimes read as a little snippy in my replies. More often than not, it is when I'm replying to pretty obvious questions (IE, I post a FB/Twitter status that says "I don't know the upcoming air date yet" and when a fellow fan posts a reply under this exact status asking me the question that I already admitted that I do not know the answer to) or a fan says something rude to me. I make it no secret via disclaimers out in the open for all to see that I am not only NOT a crew member/an employee of Syfy/Universal/NBC, but I'm also open that I do not get paid for doing any of this. When I do this in my free time, on top of a full time job and other things in between, my patience tends to get a little thin, so I rely on my co-admin to help me out with the workload a little. I am very grateful for all they do and wish I could do more for them, but when I don't get paid for this and we live in different places around the world, I can't exactly buy them a beer ;)
Q: Why was your Facebook "DT" page with over 20,000 people shut down on Facebook? Did Syfy do it?
A: Syfy doesn't have administrative access in shutting down a FB group unless it's one they made/have rights over or they contacted corporate requesting it be shut down if it will cause their show an issue. I was even contacted by people behind the scenes of "DT" and my contact at Syfy itself asking if I knew what was going on or if anyone could help verify that my group was valid and I was allowed to run it. Unfortunately, FB failed to give me a valid reason or explanation as to why it was shut down, especially since I broke no policies and I posted disclaimers all over my page. Facebook also has no direct contact to address complaints or disputes to.
Q: I've heard that "DT" doesn't even take fan suggestions for cases/locations. Is this true?
A: Not true ;) CLICK HERE
Q: Why haven't you been on "DT" yet, Amanda? I thought you were a huge fan?
A: I am and I would love to. I've had fans call me out on my live radio specials with both Josh and Jael saying I should be on the show, and I've asked in private myself, but it's a very hard thing to accomplish. There are the issues of costs, insurances, visas, waivers and making sure that myself, or anyone they would bring on the show, are healthy and stable enough to last through one of these grueling cases. I'm hoping Josh will consider me for his Destination Dinner give away though ;) That'd be nice.
