The Paracast — The Gold Standard of Paranormal Radio

Gene and very special guest cohost Don Ecker observed the May 6, 2018 passing of prolific author Brad Steiger, at the age of 82. They were joined by two author/researchers who knew Steiger well: Jerome Clark and Kevin D. Randle. The discussion began with guests remembering their first meetings and ongoing association with Steiger, and segued into the seldom-revealed limitations of writing books covering the UFO genre and similar subjects. There were also forthright discussions about the value of Steiger's research, pop culture, the world of sci-fi and other topics. As regular listeners to The Paracast know, Brad was a guest on our premiere episode on February 28, 2006, and was responsible for the show's name.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

In this very special episode, Gene and Chris observed the passing of Albert K. Bender, who died on March 29, 2016. Once a UFO researcher, Bender was instrumental in establishing the legend of the Men In Black in the early 1950s, a topic that has infused our popular culture and resulted in three blockbuster sci-fi films starring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. The guest panel included Nick Redfern, a prolific author of books on UFOs and the paranormal, some of which have focused on the MIB, and cutting-edge commentator Greg Bishop, of "Radio Misterioso," Greg's book of essays on all things paranormal, "It Defies Language," has a foreword from Nick and illustrations from blogger Red Pill Junkie.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

After The Paracast is an exclusive bonus feature of our subscription service, The Paracast+, which includes ad-free versions of this show and The Paracast. This episode is offered as a sample of what's available to paid subscribers; the shows members download have no ads. To learn more and to subscribe, please visit: https://www.theparacast.plus — This episode of After The Paracast explores a longstanding UFO myth: Did a flying Saucer really crash in Aztec, NM on March 25, 1948? In this exclusive interview, we talked to Monte Shriver, an Aztec, NM resident when the alleged flying saucer crash at Hart Canyon occurred. He never heard of the case until 52 years later, when he was visiting his mom and heard news of an Aztec symposium. And after an intensive year-long investigation of the details of the case, Shriver, a retired college professor and accountant, reveals what he uncovered about the Aztec legend. His findings are also described in a multipart post for Kevin D. Randle's blog, A Different Perspective. Here's the link: https://kevinrandle.blogspot.com/search?q=monte+shriverBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

Gene and cohost Tim Swartz present a return appearance from Charles Lear, author of “Crashed Saucers and Malevolent Aliens: The Emergence of the Popular Modern UFO Mythos in the Late 20th Century.” The book focuses on those responsible for — or guilty of — creating and perpetuating key events involving flying saucer lore, such as the Aztec, NM and Roswell, NM crashes, the MJ-12 documents, disinformation agents, and so on and so forth. Lear also identifies one person, actually an old friend of Gene's, who is, in part, responsible for three of those legends or myths. Lear has been writing about UFOs for several years and still finds the subject, and the stories of the people involved, fascinating. Besides his interest in all things Fortean, his pursuits include paleontology, geology, hiking, bad movies, and music. He has been a theatre person for most of his life. As a performer, he sticks to Shakespeare, and he makes his living as an I.A.T.S.E. Local One welder/carpenter in the construction shop of the Metropolitan Opera. His first saucer book was “The Flying Saucer Investigators."Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

Gene, Chris and guest cohost J. Randall Murphy present an exclusive interview with former Air Force intelligence agent Rick Doty, long regarded as one of the more controversial figures in UFO research. What about the claims that he was a government disinformation agent, that he may have been responsible for forging such documents as MJ-12? What about his efforts to feed fake information about alleged alien visitors to one Paul Bennewitz in the 1980s? This is a forthright interview that covers lots of topics and leaves you wanting more. Richard served his country in the US Air Force and was hired by the Air Force Office of Special Investigation after attending an intelligence course taught by the DIA and CIA. He served at Kirtland AFB as a counterintelligence officer and also saw duty at Nevada Test Site, Air Force Test Center, Detachment 3 and Groom Lake, Nevada.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

Jim Moseley once boasted he'd be here "til the last cup and saucer," and perhaps he came closer than we expected. In this classic episode, Gene and cohost Chris O'Brien remembered Jim, the UFO field's court jester and editor of "Saucer Smear," who died on November 16. 2012. His close friends joined us with their anecdotes about Jim's amazing life, including Tim Beckley (who left us in 2021), Jerome Clark, Allen Greenfield, Geneva Hagen, and Bob Zanotti.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

Now with better audio and fewer ads: On the evening of October 11, 1973, co-workers 42-year-old Charles Hickson and 19-year-old Calvin Parker told the Jackson County, Mississippi Sheriff's office they were fishing off a pier on the west bank of the Pascagoula River in Mississippi when they heard a whirring/whizzing sound, and saw two flashing blue lights and an oval shaped object 30–40 feet across and 8–10 feet high. Parker and Hickson claimed that they were "conscious but paralyzed" while three "creatures" took them aboard the object and subjected them to an examination before releasing them. Gene and Randall presented Calvin Parker to discuss this experience and another, 20 years later, as told in his book, "Pascagoula — The Closest Encounter: My Story." After fighting a long illness, Parker died on August 24, 2023 at the age of 68.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

Now with better audio and fewer ads: Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear as Gene and cohost Tim Swartz welcome back Brian Walker, the creator and webmaster of Brian’s Drive-In Theater, where he’s been keeping memories of drive-in films and their stars alive since February 1, 1998. On the agenda: low budget (B-movie) fare, particularly serials featuring super heroes and other popular characters. He also talks about the sad histories of some of the stars that never quite realized their full potential, and others, such as George Reeves (“Adventures of Superman”), whose lives ended tragically. Brian’s love of films began in childhood with his first Super 8mm projector given to him by his grandmother who also bought him his first film, a four-minute excerpt of a W.C. Fields comedy. Over the last 50 years, he has assembled a film collection from such genres as horror and science fiction, comedy, and action. Currently calling Morgantown, West Virginia home, Brian is fortunate to live in proximity of a number of still-operating drive-in theaters in the southwestern Pennsylvania area and loves taking his convertible to the drive-in during the warm summer months.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

Now with better audio and fewer ads: The late Stanton T. Friedman was world famous as a lecturer on the subject of UFOs. In this episode, he appeared with Kathleen Marden, both co-authors of “Captured!: The Betty and Barney Hill UFO Experience.” Ms. Marden is Betty Hill’s niece and has amassed a huge collection of documents about her aunt’s life and the incredible 1961 UFO abduction experience. She has since gone on to become a prominent researcher and therapist focusing on UFO abductions.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.

Now with better audio and fewer ads: Gene and Chris present "The Great Aztec Debate," featuring Scott Ramsey, co-author of "The Aztec Incident: Recovery at Hart Canyon" and long-time UFO researcher Kevin D. Randle. During this debate, Ramsey will argue in favor of reports of a UFO crash in Aztec, NM in March 1948. Randle is a long-time skeptic of the case who attributes the report to two alleged hoaxers who gave the story to the late gossip columnist Frank Scully, author of a 1950 book, "Behind The Flying Saucers." The book was updated in 2008 with additional material from several authors, including Ramsey.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paracast-the-gold-standard-of-paranormal-radio--6203433/support.