The Gray Area with Sean Illing

We need to talk about UFOs. Seriously.

Aug 2, 2021

Alexander Wendt, a political science professor at The Ohio State University and amateur ufologist, joins the conversation to unpack the political ramifications of UFOs. He discusses how the recent Pentagon UFO reports have reignited interest in extraterrestrial life, challenging longstanding taboos around its serious study. Wendt analyses what these unexplained phenomena could mean for humanity, the debate over their origins, and the profound impact potential alien contact might have on society, governance, and our understanding of existence.

01:02:57

Episode guests

Alexander Wendt

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

3min

Exploring the Resurgence of UFO Interest and Its Implications

1min

Exploring the Alien Question

12min

Analyzing the Military's UFO Report: A Cautious Acknowledgment

5min

Unraveling UFO Mysteries

20min

The Impact of Alien Contact on Human Society

3min

Alien Contact and Societal Structure

16min

Vox's Sean Illing talks with international politics professor and amateur ufologist Alex Wendt about why it's time to start thinking more seriously about the earth-shattering implications of discovering extraterrestrial life. They discuss the taboos against serious scientific inquiry into extraterrestrial existence, the US military's official UFO report and the inexplicable videos released by the Pentagon, and what the possible explanations might be for what's been seen.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), Interviews Writer, Vox

Guest: Alexander Wendt, Professor of International Security and Political Science, The Ohio State University

References:

"The Pentagon Released U.F.O. Videos. Don't Hold Your Breath for a Breakthrough" by Alan Yuhas (New York Times; June 3)
"Sovereignty and the UFO" by Alexander Wendt and Raymond Duvall (Political Theory; 2008)
"Wanted: A Science of UFOs" (TEDx Columbus; February 2020)
The Pentagon UFO Report: "Preliminary Assessment: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena" (June 25)
"Experts Weigh In on Pentagon UFO Report" by Leonard David (Scientific American; June 8)
"The Unexplained Phenomena of the U.F.O. Report" by Gideon Lewis-Kraus (The New Yorker; June 26)
"Those amazing Navy UFO videos may have down-to-earth explanations, skeptics contend" by Andrew Dyer (San Diego Union-Tribune; May 29)
Friedrich Nietzsche, Will to Power, Book One (1885-1886)

Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.

Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app.

Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts

This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Editor: Amy Drozdowska
VP, Vox Audio: Liz Kelly Nelson

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts

Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.