Chameleon Recommends: We Came to the Forest

Summary

Podcast Summary: Chameleon Recommends – We Came to the Forest

Podcast: Chameleon
Host: audiochuck | Campside Media
Episode: Chameleon Recommends: We Came to the Forest
Date: February 3, 2025
Featured Show: We Came to the Forest
Produced by: Campside Media, Wondery, Tenderfoot TV

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Overview

This episode of Chameleon spotlights the new true-crime docuseries We Came to the Forest. The show dives into a deadly confrontation in Atlanta’s forests, unveiling conflicting testimonies, missing evidence, and the clash between environmental activists and law enforcement. A core theme is the examination of deception in modern society, activism, and the complex, often opaque boundaries between justice and authority.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to "We Came to the Forest"

• Matt Sher from Campside Media introduces the show, emphasizing its investigation into a deadly incident that “shook a community to its core.”

  “It peels back the layers of secrecy surrounding a deadly confrontation that shook a community to its core.” — Matt Sher [00:21]

• The show promises to challenge listeners' perceptions of truth, motive, and justice within contentious activism.

2. Setting the Scene: Life Before the Tragedy

• The narrative opens with Vienna Forrest, an Atlanta activist, sharing a quiet evening with her partner, nicknamed Tortuguita (“little turtle” in Spanish).
• Personal insights into their relationship and everyday struggles paint a vibrant portrait of the activists as real people, not just ideological stand-ins.

  “They were just really doing good.” — Vienna’s Partner, Tortuguita [01:44]

3. Moments of Levity Amidst Tension

• The group’s playful attempt to sneak into the Starlight drive-in under a blanket brings a moment of warmth and humor.

  “Me and Torte, to save on tickets, hid under a blanket and the person manning the gate caught us. They're like, next time tell your friends to hide their legs better because Torte's legs were sticking out from under the blanket.” — Friend with Vienna and Tortuguita [02:18]

4. Personal Reflections and Emotional Anchoring

• Vienna’s partner describes their security and comfort with Tortuguita, contrasting their calm demeanor with underlying tension.

  “They were always just like someone I felt comfortable with. They were... If I'm feeling bad, I can lay my head on their chest and they'd comfort me.” — Vienna’s Partner, Tortuguita [02:43]

• Even at the movies, a sense of foreboding lingers, with the partner remarking on Tortuguita’s resolve.

  “Watching them, they seem like they didn't have care in the world. Or at least they didn't show it. They had this sort of resolve about things... It seemed like they were just ready for whatever was to come.” — Vienna’s Partner, Tortuguita [03:13]

5. Escalation: Law Enforcement Action in the Forest

• The narrative jumps forward, describing a joint law enforcement task force mobilizing to clear activists from the forest.
• Officers deal with anxiety, rumors of booby traps, and attempt to mask their nerves with dark humor.

  “Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?” — Unidentified Law Enforcement Officer [04:24]

• Suddenly, the atmosphere shifts dramatically as gunfire erupts, creating panic and confusion among officers.

  “Is this target practice?” — Unidentified Law Enforcement Officer [04:38] “Somebody shooting at us.” — Law Enforcement Officer [05:22]

6. Tragedy Unfolds

• The action crescendos with the chilling radio call:

  “Man down.” — (radio transmission) [05:16-05:19]

• The events mark a violent turning point not only for Vienna but for the entire activist community.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “A web of conflicting testimonies and missing evidence.” — Matt Sher [00:23]
• “They seem like they didn't have care in the world... just ready for whatever was to come.” — Vienna’s Partner (Tortuguita) [03:13]
• “Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?” — Unidentified Law Enforcement Officer [04:24]
• “Is this target practice?” — Unidentified Law Enforcement Officer [04:38]
• “Man down.” — Radio Transmission [05:16-05:19]

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Important Timestamps

• 00:00–00:54 – Matt Sher introduces We Came to the Forest and sets the tone of deception and discovery.
• 01:19–03:31 – Narrated slice-of-life: Vienna and Tortuguita’s final date, emotional insights.
• 03:33–05:19 – The joint task force raid, officers’ tension and humor, eruption of chaos, and the first sign of violence.

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Tone & Style

• Storytelling is vivid, cinematic, and empathetic, balancing moments of emotional intimacy with scenes of tense escalation.
• Voices trade between somber reflection and raw, immediate anxiety as the events unfold.

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Conclusion

We Came to the Forest is introduced as a layered exploration of activism, law enforcement, and the unpredictable, often volatile intersections between them. The previewed segment teases a gripping true-crime story grounded in real human connection and moral ambiguity. Chameleon listeners who gravitate towards stories of deception, conflict, and complex motivations will find much to ponder here.

Transcript

[Matt Sher]

Hey Chameleon listeners, My name is Matt Sher and I'm one of the co founders at Campside Media, which created Chameleon with Sony Entertainment. I'm here to tell you about a new show that I think you might like. The show is called We Came to the Forest and it was produced by Campside Media, Wondery and Tenderfoot tv. It peels back the layers of secrecy surrounding a deadly confrontation that shook a community to its core. As we dig deeper, we uncover a web of conflicting testimonies and missing evidence. From the idealistic dreams of young environmentalists to the complex motivations of local officials, this story will challenge your understanding of justice, activism and the lengths people will go to protect what they believe in. What actually happened in the forest? I'm about to play you a clip from We Came to the Forest Follow We Came to the Forest on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. Binge all episodes of We Came to the Forest ad free on Wondery. Join Wondery in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.

[Unidentified Law Enforcement Officer]

Campsite Media.

[Narrator (Matthew Scherman)]

On a chilly evening in January, an activist named Vienna Forrest goes on a date with her partner in Atlanta. It's been a long, rough month for Vienna, the longest in some ways she can remember, and she spent much of it lying low, crashing on the floor at a friend's house. Her partner, who goes by Tortuguita, that's a little turtle in Spanish, has decided that it's time for her to get out of the house.

[Vienna's Partner (Tortuguita)]

And we went to get Vietnamese and Mexican food, just got a whole buffet it was and Tortequito's like at their peak. They're so happy they quit cigarettes. They were just really doing good.

[Narrator (Matthew Scherman)]

A couple hours later, Vienna and Torte pack into a sedan along with two other friends and drive across town to a movie theater called the Starlight. The Starlight's pretty famous in Atlanta. It's one of the last real drive ins in the country. Still has that old school neon sign out front.

[Friend with Vienna and Tortuguita]

Me and Torte, to save on tickets, hid under a blanket and the person manning the gate caught us. They're like, next time tell your friends to hide their legs better because Torte's legs were sticking out from under the blanket. But they let us go through the.

[Matt Sher]

Couple stays there together, curled up in.

[Narrator (Matthew Scherman)]

The backseat, hands laced together in the dark. Even as the movie gets underway, the.

[Vienna's Partner (Tortuguita)]

They were always just like someone I felt comfortable with. They were I'm feeling bad, I can lay my head on their chest and they'd comfort me.

[Narrator (Matthew Scherman)]

The film that night at the Starlight is Megan. The one about the overprotective, malignant doll.

[Vienna's Partner (Tortuguita)]

The modern day Chucky, if you will.

[Friend with Vienna and Tortuguita]

Took a while for me to remember.

[Vienna's Partner (Tortuguita)]

What the movie was because I wasn't paying attention to the movie so much, but yeah.

[Narrator (Matthew Scherman)]

As the movie winds down, Vienna turns to her partner.

[Vienna's Partner (Tortuguita)]

Watching them, they seem like they didn't have care in the world. Or at least they didn't show it. They had this sort of resolve about things and they just. It seemed like they were just ready for whatever was to come.

[Matt Sher]

About 36 hours after the date at.

[Law Enforcement Narrator]

The drive in, in an event that will permanently, violently alter the trajectory of Vienna's life, a joint task force of law enforcement officers sweeps through a forest.

[Narrator (Matthew Scherman)]

A few miles to the southeast.

[Law Enforcement Narrator]

This task force, made up of dozens of officers from several different agencies, has been assigned to clear the woods of activists who are camping there in an attempt to stop the construction of the largest police training facility in the country. These officers are nervous. They've been warned in a briefing about the possibility of booby traps and even improvised explosive devices. But they're doing their best not to let it show.

[Matt Sher]

As they press forward, hacking up vacant.

[Law Enforcement Narrator]

Tents with knives, they joke about what they'll say if they happen to find one occupied.

[Unidentified Law Enforcement Officer]

Sir, quick question. Can you get the fuck out, please?

[Law Enforcement Narrator]

There's some more laughter and then everything just kind of shatters open.

[Unidentified Law Enforcement Officer]

Oh, shit. Is this target practice?

[Law Enforcement Narrator]

Surprised, unnerved, the officers tense up, drop their hands to their sidearms.

[Law Enforcement Officer]

Real shop.

[Law Enforcement Narrator]

The mood now is adrenalized. Sharp edged, the squadron of cops begin to move towards the sound of the gunfire.

[Matt Sher]

A very faint transmission comes over the.

[Law Enforcement Narrator]

Radio from just across the forest.

[Matt Sher]

Man down.

[Vienna's Partner (Tortuguita)]

That sounded like suppressed gun lives or.

[Law Enforcement Officer]

Somebody shooting at us.

[Matt Sher]

From wondery Campside Media and Tenderfoot tv.

[Narrator (Matthew Scherman)]

I'm Matthew Scherman and this is We Came to the Forest. This is episode one, paradise foundation. It.