The informant arrived at Brand's door with a blue IKEA bag. Inside wasn't a painting at first glance — it was a pillowcase soaked in blood. The informant had cut his finger packing it. Beneath the pillow was the Van Gogh, recovered after more than three years.
Where this was said
At 24:25 · chapter starts 22:20
After the police arrest the thief in 2021, the painting itself remains missing for two more years. Then, in late summer 2023, Brand receives a mysterious text from an unknown number: 'Mr Brand, do you have the code of silence?' The sender says he wasn't involved in the heist but knows where the painting is and wants to be rid of it. [1] — Octave Durham "The informant who knew where the Van Gogh was hidden refused to trust Brand — a man known to work with police. Only when Durham sent a vide…" 22:20 Brand tries to respond, but the message doesn't go through — the informant has apparently blocked him. Realising this man will only trust someone from his own world, Brand asks Durham to send a short video endorsement on his behalf. Durham records a simple message: he doesn't know who this person is, but if they spoke to Arthur, he can guarantee no arrests and no police — just a recovery. The informant, who already knew Durham's reputation, finally responds. Days later, Brand and Durham are at a Dutch TV presenter's birthday party when Brand receives a text: 'I see you.' He looks around. 'Behind that tree.' The informant had been watching from the garden, checking for police. When Brand approached, the man explained: Brand's own reputation wasn't enough — but once he saw Durham's clip, he knew it was safe.
The informant who knew where the Van Gogh was hidden refused to trust Brand — a man known to work with police. Only when Durham sent a video vouching for Brand did the terrified informant agree to return the painting. A thief's word opened the door no detective could.
Brand and Durham were at a famous Dutch TV presenter's birthday party when Brand got a text: 'I see you.' The informant was hiding behind a tree in the garden, checking for police. Only Durham's video endorsement had brought him that far.
Steven Pressfield's insight: don't wait for the commitment to feel real before acting like a professional. Set up the studio. Make the schedule. Show up. Commitment doesn't precede action — it follows it. You act like a pro first, and your brain catches up with justifications after. The action is the commitment.
Robby Hoffman isn't fearless — she's terrified all the time. The difference is she does it anyway, because not doing it feels worse than the fear itself.
John Mulaney texted Robby Hoffman out of nowhere saying he'd been a fan for a while and wanted to make a Netflix special with her. Robby called it 'shocking, horrifying, anxiety-inducing, surreal and thrilling' — and said yes.
Mulaney is buttoned-up, suit-wearing, classy. Robby is gritty, raw, and undefined. Together they made the collab nobody expected. Batman and Robin. Eminem and Dido.
Music had Pope Gregory forcing notation. Comedy has had 'magical thinking' — he's just got funny bones. But jokes work through discoverable, teachable mechanics. Writing down the rules doesn't kill the magic; it gives more people access to it.
Howard Ashman had one insight nobody else had: animated Disney films should be Broadway musicals. The third song of every great musical is the character sitting alone explaining what they want. That's 'Part of Your World.' That structure — combined with Alan Menken's compositions — generated Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and The Lion King, and turned Disney Animation into the most profitable creative engine in entertainment history.
The Lion King musical has been running for 30 years across Broadway, London's West End, and global touring companies. It has grossed over $11 billion in total revenue — more than Avatar, more than Avengers: Endgame, more than any album, more than any video game. It generates an average of $350 million in revenue every single year. Disney owns it outright.
The anonymous French artist Invader has hidden 1,500 pixelated mosaic artworks across Paris alone, with thousands more scattered across 80+ cities — affixed to the Eiffel Tower, the Hollywood sign, and even sent to the International Space Station. He might be even busier than Banksy.
The Flash Invaders app turns city streets into a treasure hunt, letting players scan Invader's hidden mosaics for points. Players have collectively logged over 47 million flashes. Unlike most mobile games that glue you to a screen, this one forces you to look up and engage with your surroundings.
We use essential and analytics cookies to run Vuci. To understand how the site is used: Privacy Policy.
Install Vuci on your phone
Add it to your home screen for a faster, app-like experience.
Install Vuci on your phone
Tap the Share button, then “Add to Home Screen”.
A new version is available
Reload to get the latest Vuci.