Area 62, Episode 4 - Part 2: Scrappers, Range Runners, and Unsolved Mojave Murders - Area 62 Interviews Desert Journalist and Filmmaker, Michael DiGregorio

January 23, 2025

Area 62's Nayeli and JRod/Jeremy from Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree, continue their interview with desert journalist and filmmaker, Michael DiGregorio and talk about his experience reporting on the scrapper and range runner community down near Niland on the Salton Sea, as well as his journalistic background, his start with Larry Flynt and Hustler, and his latest project on unsolved murders of the Mojave Desert.

What We Discuss:

• 00:00:00 - Intro

• 00:03:39 - So who are The Outlaw survivalists who appear in ‘Bombs of Men’?

• 00:11:10 - When you said trauma, do you refer to something more like PTSD or is it something more childhood rooted trauma or everything?

• 00:12:29 - Did you get to closely know everyone that way?

• 00:16:28 - How would you define it? Was it thrilling or…?

• 00:17:08 - Can you describe to anybody who doesn’t know what wet work means?

• 00:18:25 - Do you know that most of the Scrappers are native to that area?

• 00:27:24 - Can you describe what lithium is in terms of why it means anything to us?

• 00:51:13 - Are they living off of welfare systems or what does daily life look like for them?

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