The Saucer Life

Episode Notes An absolute nostalgic delight, the Weekly World News entertained and...informed?...millions during its life from the late 70s into the 21st century. While you may remember Bat Boy, the WWN also--at least in in its early years, covered some fairly significant UFO stories. We'll see the progression from covering cases like Cash-Landrum and cattle mutilations to reporting that an alien had endorsed Bill Clinton for the 1992 Presidential election. We'll also look at some of the other great features in the paper, including Dear Dottie's advice column. feb4XRQHbfOxm3xTASqM Further Information Explore every issue from 1981 to 2007, thanks to Google Books! Curt Collins's piece on Bill English's role in the Cash-Landrum case, including some insight into the relationship between UFO organizations and tabloids. The Archives for the Unexplained has the 1981 issue of the UFO NewsClipping service which features the story on Baridiame, Senegal. Support The Saucer Life and get something cool in return! Pinecast Tip Jar PayPal Website: saucerlife.com Twitter: @saucerlife Instagram: saucerlife Facebook

On August 7, 2017, I began a project I wasn't sure would last two months. It's now lasted two years, give or take a day. In this episode we'll resist the urge to do a clip show, take a suggestion from a listener about how to celebrate, thank a whole lot of people, revisit a past topic. Sort of. Taunia Derenberger-Bowman's Beyond Lanulos: Our Fifty Years with Indrid Cold is on Amazon. WARNING: it's only 76 pages, so don't expect it to last your whole flight or whatever! Support The Saucer Life and get something cool in return! Website: saucerlife.com Twitter: @saucerlife Instagram: saucerlife Facebook

UPDATE: Something is weird with the feed–trying again! While we often get requests to cover this or that topics–Orfeo Angelucci’s contact experiences and writings may be the most often requested. His two books, The Secret of the Saucers and Son of the Sun are very much part of the Adamski-inspired tradition but with some interesting twists including […]

We’re continuing with a run of Contactees in this episode, where we’ll discuss George King and his Aetherius Society (which is still going strong today!). George King was an interesting guy–as were most of the Contactees–and his claims and experiences have some unique twists to them. The full BBC program in which King channeled Aetherius […]

Not a new episode, but a listener pointed out that the “echo effect indicating primary source” continued onto the narration in one section of Encounter 58, so here’s a corrected version!

WARNING! THIS EPISODE INCLUDES MILD CRINGE-INDUCING ROMANCE! Howard Menger, sometimes called the East Coast Adamski (for reasons I’ve never really understood) had one of the most unique contact stories–mostly because they involved a romance between he and Connie Weber that apparently began in a previous lifetime on another planet. Menger also released record albums of […]

Since I’m running around giving all sorts of talks in libraries (or, rather, giving the same basic talk in all sorts of libraries), I thought I’d give you a bit of a taste of what that’s like. This is my talk from Esotericon 2018 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Esotericon, produced by Paul Kimball, also featured […]

In this episode, we’re going to explore some of the earliest efforts by the American military establishment to investigate and understand UFOs. They started doing so just about as soon as Kenneth Arnold sighted the first modern UFO and they probably haven’t stopped since, you know, strange things in the sky might be concerning to […]

In this episode, we look at some interesting accounts from 1973: Year of the Humanoids, a report issued by the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). Their website is a treasure trove of information about cases you’ve heard of and cases that have slipped under the radar of most saucer fiends. You can download your own […]

UFO legend Stanton T. Friedman has passed away at age 84. These are just some thoughts I had this evening, reflecting on his work and influence. Obituary at Coast to Coast AM, by Tim Binnall Stanton T. Friedman is Real, a short film by Friedman’s nephew, Paul Kimball.

There’s a recent edition of Alternative 3 that had the participation of Leslie Watkins, so it’s probably as legit as you’ll get at an affordable price. It’s at Amazon, and linked above. A DVD of Alternative 3 is available, used, on Amazon. It’s also been put on Youtube. I heartily recommend Jim Keith’s Casebook on Alternative 3. There […]

Just some fun margin notes from my copy of Jim Keith’s Casebook on Alternative 3. Enjoy! Support The Saucer Life and get something cool in return! Website: saucerlife.com Twitter: @saucerlife Instagram: saucerlife Facebook

Michael X, AKA Michael X. Barton, is one of those contactees that often gets swept aside in the rush to talk about more colorful figures like Adamski, Van Tassel, and what have you. Join us today as we look upon his works and–if not despair–giggle a little. It’s good stuff and blends several different strands […]

The “Reverend” “Doctor” Frank E. Stranges, in the 1950s and 60s, gave us one of the greatest gifts ever. Valiant Thor–a space commander who met with government officials, giving them a message of love and peace. Any similarity to The Day The Earth Stood Still is purely, I assume, coincidental. In this episode we’re going to examine […]

We’ve added a Donation button on the site at saucerlife.com. I wanted to spend a few minutes talking about what’s in it for you (actual stuff, not just nice feelings), and so on. Enjoy my extreme discomfort at doing this! And thanks so much for listening. Nothing is changing, we’re not going away. This isn’t […]

Part 2 of our question and answer celebration. Enjoy! The paper mentioned by Greek Orthodox bishop Seraphim Rose is here. The article mentioned by David Halperin is here. Website: saucerlife.com Twitter: @saucerlife Instagram: saucerlife Facebook

Our first batch of listener questions! Hooray! And thanks for being around for 50 episodes. I can’t quite believe or understand it…

I had way too much fun doing this. That’s all. Remember, I’m taking questions for our upcoming “Listener Question Extravaganza,” so comment on the website or get in contact via the usual methods.

In this episode we’re looking at some of the best (and not so great) UFO documentaries out there. There will be more of these, so please hold your “WHERE WAS MIRAGE MEN?!” comments in abeyance! For Encounter 50, in a couple weeks, I’m entertaining any questions you wish to ask–submit them on Twitter, Instagram, or […]

Are aliens demons? Are demons aliens? Does it matter? Is Hell a planet? Come along as we look at how some have answered these questions, mainly though the very fun Round Trip to Hell in a Flying Saucer, a 1955 Contactee pamphlet by Cecil Michael. Round Trip To Hell In A Flying Saucer: UFO Parasites […]

We’re finishing up our look at The Mothman Prophecies with a glimpse of the weirdness that was Keel’s interaction with Mr. Apol (as it was spelled in the book). There’s so much more we could have talked about with this stuff. Be sure to check out the best source for all things John Keel, johnkeel.com.

We’re back! Sorry for the extended hiatus–non-serious-throat-affecting health issues intervened. Today, we’re beginning our look at The Mothman Prophecies in a way that, hopefully, doesn’t rehash our other two Mothman installments. Next time, We’ll be looking at the Mr. Apol encounters and examining a bit of what came afterward as far as Mothman lore goes.

We’re going to Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, and you won’t need a flying saucer. William Denton studied the use of “psychometry” allowed his colleagues (well, his son, wife, and sister) to travel to far off times and places. The 19th century was a spacier place than you might have thought! Read The Soul of Things, volume […]

In this Encounter we spend a little time with Woodrow Derenberger, Indrid Cold, and try to figure out how a Contactee book that belongs in 1957 managed to appear in 1971. Website: saucerlife.com Twitter: @saucerlife Instagram: saucerlife Facebook

We’re taking a deep-ish dive into Gray Barker’s account of the Point Pleasant events, 1970’s The Silver Bridge. Fact? Fiction? How much does it really matter? Reprint edition of The Silver Bridge on Amazon. Caveat Emptor: the print in this copy is not what you’d expect–like whoever repubbed it didn’t scan the original pages at a high […]

We’re beginning our look at the Mothman complex of events in the late 60s in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. To start off, we’re going to examine the story as it happened throughout 1966 and 1967, using newspaper reporting, personal correspondence, and other contemporaneous documents. This approach would not have been possible without the resources at […]

Sometimes, the stuff that gets left out of the episode actually got recorded and even edited. Here’s a selection of the most cogent deleted scenes. There’s a bit of information about real underground bases from Encounter 507, an announcement about Buck Nelson’s saucer convention from Encounter 601, and selection of material from our most recent episode, […]

A new thing–short (5 minutes or so) diversions when something cool comes up that has nothing to do with UFOs, but is still within the broad paranormal flavor of the show. Our pilot attempt: The King of the Wild Frontier Meets the King of the Forest. Bigfoot! Coonskin Caps! A Dire Prophecy!

We’re kicking off a series of stories about the intersections between flying saucers and…other stuff… a look at Bigfoot, Sasquatch, any variety of hairy creature. I can almost guarantee that you’ll hear Bigfoot stories, theories, and the like that you’ve not heard anywhere else. Some of the books and sites mentioned: The Eighth Tower by […]

For every episode of The Saucer Life, there are stories, comments, and ideas that I either am not able to fit into the show or (more often) I don’t think of until after it’s done. As a palate cleanser before finishing up our globetrotting with a trip to Asia, we’re going to revisit some of […]

Apologies for the cheesy episode title. I couldn’t resist. In this Encounter, we’re remaining in Africa looking at a figure I mentioned last time, Credo Mutwa. I think you’ll agree that even if he had never become involved in talking about extraterrestrials, abductions, or anything, else, he’s an interesting guy. The 6 HOUR interview between Mutwa and […]

The globe-trotting continues as we go to Africa and hear a story that has gotten little to no coverage in the UFO field (that I’m aware of), then take a brief detour to discuss Credo Mutwa, touching on the ways he serves as a link between traditional Zulu conceptions of otherworldly beings and “modern ufology.” […]

Thank you for one year of The Saucer Life. There’s more to come, so stay tuned! Website: saucerlife.com Twitter: @saucerlife Instagram: saucerlife Facebook

To Spain! And France a little, but mostly…to Spain! The Ummo Affair is, in my opinion, one of the most bizarre and intriguing events in saucer history. Contacteeism, physical evidence, hoaxing, the ultra-rare admission and explanation of the purpose of the hoax, credible skepticism about that explanation, and–of course–those who think it’s still real and say […]

Above, author Cedric Allingham (top) and the Martian he claimed to have seen I’m not sure I can call this a Contactee episode, but sure, why not. This one is fun, we hear from old pals Gray Barker and Coral Lorenzen, we go to the the UK, and we meet a science celebrity (probably). “Flying […]

We’re getting out of the US for the summer. In this Encounter, we’ll look at a very strange case from Brazil in which flying saucers are almost irrelevant in the face of the terrestrial weirdness going on . In coming episodes we’ll go to Africa, Europe, Asia, and finish it up with Australia and Antarctica. […]

It’s back to the 1950s this week with one of the most interesting Contactees of that period, Buck Nelson. Giant dogs, rants about canned pork and beans, the odd phenomenon of present day folks “revising” Contactee books, get-rich-quick schemes, the Queen of Atlantis, saucer conventions, entrepreneurial spirit, and re-working the Ten Commandments. It’s all here […]

We finish up our “90s Strike Back” series with The Hollow(ed) Earth, an examination of the explosion of “Underground Alien Base” tales that proliferated during the 1990s, specifically, the supposed base at Dulce, New Mexico. Battles between brave Americans and evil grays, shady suicides, confusing pseudonyms, it’s all here! After you’re finished listening, here’s […]

It’s 1997 today on the Saucer Life, as we look at three of the most important saucer-related stories of that year. Heaven’s Gate Exit Interviews on YouTube Roswell: Case Closed Website: saucerlife.com Twitter: @saucerlife Instagram: saucerlife Facebook

We’re taking a quick break from the 1990s to break our no guests rule and ask five great writers/ thinkers/podcasters/pals about their favorite flying saucer story. I was able to spend some time with Tim Binnall, Greg Bishop, Walter Bosley, Micah Hanks, and Ryan Sprague, and at Esotericon in Halifax recently and got their pick for […]

It’s been a while since we’ve done one of these, so in this Encounter, I’m going to tell you about four books from the 1990s and tell you why you should read them. Revelations: Alien Contact and Human Deception by Jacques Vallee Alien Agenda by Jim Marrs Saucers of the Illuminati by Jim Keith Aliens […]

You can’t talk about the Saucer Life in the 1990s without at least a nod in the direction of the “alien abduction” phenomenon. In this encounter we’re going to be looking at two very different interpretations of the meaning of these experiences from that decade. Note- I’m using some new equipment and haven’t quite got […]

Not to get all nostalgic, but that first season of The X-Files takes me back, I tell you what. From the not-quite-right recitations of UFO lore to the subtle jabs at the culture, we’re going to look at a few classic early episodes and examine not only what the show said, but what the saucer world […]

Welcome to Series 5: The 90s Strike Back! In this episode, we’ll examine the work of Bill Cooper, perhaps the key figure in the blending of UFO and political conspiracy culture in the 1990s. Hang on, this”ll be wild. It’s longer than usual, but I think you’ll find it’s pretty action-packed. Despite the length, we […]

Art Bell, pioneer paranormal radio host, died at his home in Pahrump, Nevada, April 13, 2018. These are just a few thoughts about the man and his work, and some suggestions of what you should listen to as some of his most entertaining work. Coast to Coast AM’s obituary of Art Bell Whitley Strieber on […]

We’re finishing off Series 4 by increasing the pace of releases from every two weeks to every ten days or so. We think this will be sustainable, so hang on! Weekly would be ideal but, alas, our production team have day jobs… This time we look at notions of the hollow earth and their connections […]

I’m in Chicago, briefly, for stuff, so I thought I’d bring you a very brief Chicago-related saucer story from 2006. Website: saucerlife.com Twitter: @saucerlife Instagram: saucerlife Facebook

In this Encounter, we’re looking at a few examples of what was out there on the earlier, pre-www Internet. From jokey posts clearly not meant to be taken seriously, to intriguing supposed revelations of “the truth,” Usenet, and specialty networks like the Paranet BBS, many of use who are now fairly elderly, started our Saucer […]

In this installment, we’re looking at the theory that Marilyn Monroe was murdered to prevent her from revealing the truth about the government flying saucer cover-up! We’ve got a book, a questionable CIA document, some unquestionable State Department documents, and some very, very strained logic. Hang on! UFOs and the Murder of Marilyn Monroe by […]

This is what happened next. Did the world end? Even a little? Follow the trail of Dorothy Martin, Charles Laughead, and the prophecy’s impact on the flying saucer community in this week’s installment of The Saucer Life. The picture above is of a very elderly Dorothy Martin, also known as Sister Thedra. Website: saucerlife.com Twitter: @saucerlife […]