Podcast Summary: Dirtbag Climber – S34 EP5: Jesse James | Dirtbag Climber

Date: October 6, 2025 | Host: Stephen Chua (CBC)

Episode Overview

The finale of "Dirtbag Climber" confronts the enduring mystery of "Jesse James"—the last alias of Britt Greenbaum/Davis Wolfgang Hawk—a notorious spammer, chameleon-like con artist, and murdered Squamish, BC climber. Host Stephen Chua and contributing CBC reporters attempt to piece together the twisted strands of Hawk’s multiple identities and their possible connection to his unsolved homicide. The episode explores his personal motivations, the many theories about his violent death, and the impact he left on those around him.

Key Discussion Points

The Many Lives of Jesse James/Britt Greenbaum/Davis Hawk

• Family Ties & Early Days

  • Emails between Davis and his parents give an intimate look at his formative and criminal years ([00:36]).
  • Known to his parents as Britt, to others as Davis—and later, countless aliases—he was open about his illicit activities and ambitions to them.

• Turning to Outlaw Identity

  • Jesse’s fascination with legendary outlaws (Billy the Kid, Jesse James) foreshadowed his later life on the run and use of the “Jesse James” persona ([02:00]):

    "It was all of that—the nomadic nature of being on the run, surviving and thriving on the edges of society." —Stephen Chua

• Arrival in Squamish

  • No record of his crossing into Canada, but a 2009 Squamish forum post marks his presence—"Skill level is novice, just got into the sport last month" ([05:57]).

Hiding in Plain Sight and the Allure of Squamish

• The Place as Refuge

  • Chua describes Squamish's appeal for misfits and seekers of reinvention ([03:00]):

    “There's room for all sorts of beautiful weirdness. This place makes you feel like you're on an adventure.”

• Double Life in the Community

  • Built a reputation as a strong climber and smart man, yet rumors about wealth clashed with his dirtbag lifestyle ([04:10]).
  • His "outsider" status created both fascination and hostility.

Money, Crypto, and Motive

• From Spam Millions to Crypto Fortunes

  • Early 2000s: cashed in on spam, investing in gold and then moving into cryptocurrency ([08:00]).
  • Receipts for $350,000 in precious metals; suspected larger sums transferred to bitcoin after 2009.

• Cryptocurrency as a Motive

  • Theoretically a simple answer: someone could have killed Jesse for his bitcoin ([08:45], [09:16]).

    “Could have been somebody who was after his bitcoin.” —Hyman Greenbaum ([09:16])

  • His criminal evolution traced through the dark web, fake identities, and shell companies.

  • Claims of Jesse running large-scale laundering operations; up to $2.5 billion in Bitcoin may have passed through wallets linked to him ([15:32]).

• Enemies Made

  • Example: a radio announcer in California accused Jesse of stealing 125 bitcoins (~millions today) ([10:54]).
  • Fearful of both Russians and local grudges.

Who Killed Jesse James? Theories and Investigations

• Investigation Status

  • RCMP and homicide squad remain tight-lipped, no suspects named ([16:22]).

    “There are no suspects today.” —Yvette Brand ([17:30])

• Potential Motives Explored

  • International/Cybercrime: Retaliation from angry crypto investors or criminal associates (including the Russian mob).
  • Neo Nazi & Past Hate: Could his far-right past have caught up with him? Chua and interviewees find this unlikely, given Jesse’s ability to remain undetected for years ([20:50]–[21:32]).
  • Drug Trade: Brief speculation; denied by local friends ([21:41]).
  • Spam & Trolls: Possible revenge from those he harassed online, but considered unlikely to turn violent ([22:17]).
  • Plagiarism/Absurd Theories: Jesse allegedly plagiarized a Brazilian psychologist’s book; theory involves contract killings and a cover-up by Jeff Bezos ([23:14]). Treated as satirical and outlandish by participants.
  • Simple Local Grudge: Most recurring belief is a local, possibly from the climbing community, acted on animosity ([23:48], [24:24]).

    “I think that somebody who didn't like him, very likely a climber, took a gun out and shot him.” —Jackie, climbing friend ([23:48])

• Forensic Details

  • Chua and others walk through the scene and timeline:
    • Jesse seen at usual spot with partner Eva near Brome Creek on June 13, 2017.
    • Burnt remains found in his truck on June 14 ([28:30]).
    • Truck found in an unusual location; details about the murder weapon (possibly a rifle) are speculative ([30:04]).

• Alternative Theories

  • Some propose Jesse faked his death; friends and family largely dismiss this ([32:51]).

    “I think that if it was faked, he wouldn't be able to resist coming back out after a few years and saying, fuck you, suckers.” —Jackie ([33:42])

  • Another theory: a random robbery, as Jesse was known to carry cash ([34:05]).

The Legacy of Exploitation

• A Pattern Set Early

  • Chua charts Jesse’s life-long appetite for power and manipulation:
    • From chess champion to white supremacist leader to spamming millionaire to dirtbag climber

    “He was an influencer before social media ever became a thing.” —Stephen Chua ([25:57]) “All we can say for sure is that it was because of his recurring pattern of hubris, influence and exploitation.” —Stephen Chua ([27:54])

• Self-Image and Narcissism

  • Jesse’s own words on ego:

    “I'm also a megalomaniac, okay? I'm an egomaniac and a megalomaniac. So it's hard for me to want to emulate anybody or want to be like anybody because I just, I think I'm like almost God.” ([27:54])

• Aftermath: Loss, Grief, and Moral Ambiguity

  • Family still awaits justice; father deeply grieves but is honest about his son's choices ([36:03]).
  • Friends and partner Eva grapple with the Jekyll-Hyde duality of Jesse/Davis/Britt ([36:20]).

    “He was certainly a positive influence in my life. He's with me for life.” —Eva ([38:12]) “I'm the other half of him that they didn't kill. And I will, he will be with me for life.” —Eva, via Yvette Brand ([37:53])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jesse’s Introspective Narcissism ([39:08])

  “All I care about is myself. I'm highly narcissistic. So that's the answer. The answer is I'm a positivist and I'm an extreme narcissist. I only care about things that impact me.” —Jesse James/Britt Greenbaum

• On His Changing Ideologies ([20:06]–[20:50])

  “Do you regret what you did? The answer to that is no. So those are your answers. Now you want me to elaborate? ... I now have philosophical objections to that viewpoint because I'm a positivist.”

• On Local Theory for the Murder ([30:34])

  “That just screams local. That's a totally different thing than somebody coming up to whack somebody.” —Yvette Brand

• On the Difficulty of Finding the Killer ([31:00])

  “If somebody hired a hitman to find him, you wouldn't think they'd use a rifle?” —Hyman Greenbaum

Key Timestamps

• Early Family Correspondence: [00:36]–[02:00]
• Arrival in BC/Forum Post: [05:57]
• CBC Reporter Yvette Brand Investigation: [06:45]–[08:03]
• Crypto Motives and Transactions: [08:45]–[15:32]
• Police and Ongoing Investigation: [16:22]–[17:30]
• Theories Explored: [19:50]–[25:02]
• Personality and Psychological Analysis: [25:57]–[28:12]
• Layout of the Crime/Timeline: [28:30]–[29:44]
• Discussion of Gun/Weapon: [30:04]–[31:00]
• Faked Death Theories: [32:51]–[33:44]
• Aftermath for Family/Friends: [35:37]–[38:12]
• Jesse’s Final Reflection: [39:08]

Conclusion

The episode closes without closure, but with clarity about the man at the story's center: Jesse James/Britt Greenbaum/Davis Hawk’s murder remains unsolved, clouded by his complex life, criminal activity, and alienation of so many. The strongest theory is a local killer driven by personal grudge rather than far-fetched international intrigue. Those closest to him—family, friends, partner—are left reckoning not just with his death, but with the enigma of who he truly was.

For more information and related reporting, visit CBC Podcasts at cbc.ca/podcasts