Radio Misterioso

This interview was recorded on July 7th, 1994 at the Mutual UFO Network national convention in Austin, Texas. Karla Turner had recently published her second book, Taken: Inside the Human-Alien Abduction Agenda. In all three of her published works on abductions, she pulled no punches and left no details unreported, whether describing her own experiences or those of others who came to her with their own stories. My favorite quote from Karla that day, and one I have come back to many times in the 17 years since, was "The truth to me more likely is going to lie in the anomalous details." After our talk, we kept in touch by phone and Karla kept me supplied with leads and contacts for my own research as well as any help I could provide to her. I came to consider her a friend and was shocked and saddened when she died of cancer in 1996. Most of the text was published in The Excluded Middle, and is available in the book Wake Up Down There! Wes Nations from Crash Collusion magazine asked a few questions as well. This was perhaps the third or fourth interview I conducted, and it shows. I should also apologize for the quality of the recording, which was digitized from a mini-cassette. Over at UFOmystic, I wrote about Karla and her influence on my thinking. The photo above was taken just after the interview.

For the connoisseur of strange sounds and outsider music,  Music For Maniacs is a treasure trove of the best. This is something like the fifth time Mr. Fab has appeared on the show, and it's probably the strangest collection of musical oddness to which he's treated us so far. We started with one-of-a-kind recording from "EJH," which stands for "Electronic Jew's Harp," played through all sorts of flangers and other electronic gadgetry usually reserved for guitar heroes. Top-notch stuff. There were also recordings of Daffy Duck singing classical tunes and warning us of the dangers of illegal drugs, a Thai recording of the 1975 song "Black Superman" about Muhammad Ali, several selections from a 1963 musical entitled "Space Is So Startling," and a new recording of William Shatner's cover of "Rocket Man." As always, amazing stuff from our friend Mr.Fab. Enjoy!

What's going to happen in 2012? Should we care? Veteran paranormal podcast host Tim Binnall joined me again for our first program of the new year. Our unprepared conversation (i.e. I didn't have any notes) ranged all over the map, but seemed to focus a great deal on looking forward to the new year and a just a little backwards. The small, evil "Well, it could happen" voice seems to be whispering more loudly in Tim's ear than mine, and we discussed our almost purely emotional reasons why. We also went over some of the Binnall of America shows from this past year. I was particularly intrigued with the "meat-eating horses" episode. Tim's show has matured into one of the most wide-ranging and thought-provoking programs in paranormal podcasting, so we also talked shop about producing our respective programs and what motivates and interests us. Happy New Year and keep listening!

I recently uncovered a rare interview in my cassette tape archives and present it here as a sort of bizarre Christmas/ Holiday present. The circumstances surrounding this audio file are strange and perhaps a little disturbing. Peter Jordan appeared on Robert Larson's old Cartoon Pleroma show July 30, 1998 to talk about his 20-year investigation into the cattle mutilation phenomenon centering around Dulce, New Mexico. Robert and I felt it was important to get Jordan's story out on a commercial radio station and not the pirate station I was broadcasting from at the time. In 1997, I read reprints of Jordan's article from a 1982 Fortean Times which revealed his research using remote viewers in a study of mutilations. Just as many police departments have quietly used psychics to solve some cases, Jordan enlisted the help of four unnamed individuals to reveal helpful hints about the probable non-"alien" nature of unexplained cattle deaths. He (and other noted mutilation researchers such as the late Gabe Valdez) suspected long ago that some answers could probably be found in the world of biological warfare and surprisingly, the beef industry. Both involved possible coverups of pathogens which may have been accidentally released into the environment sometime in the early- to mid-1970s. There were also tributaries leading to drug companies and land grabs. The disturbing part of this interview is that Jordan promised and wanted to come back on he show to discuss things further, but he called me a few days before his next appearance and said that he didn't want to speak on the subject any more. He never answered any of my emails or phone calls again. This interview remains one of the few instances where Peter Jordan shared his research so openly in a public forum. There is a great deal of information here that you will hear nowhere else. More info about Jordan and other sources that I published at the time can be seen at the Excluded Middle site. For more on the non-ET aspects of this subject, see the National Institute For Discovery Science findings on mutilations. The audio quality starts off fair, but improves throughout the program. Sorry, but all of the contact info given out on this show is now defunct. Robert's current show is Out The Rabbit Hole on Irvine (CA)'s station KUCI on Thursdays from 4-5PM PST. Image: Fortean Times #38, 1982 with cover story by Peter Jordan.

Marla James is a parnanormal investigator in the Orange County (CA) area. she appeared on the show in late 2007 to discuss her research and opinions on and theories of apparent ghost activity. Walter Bosley actually conducted about half of the interview, since he was working with James on his book Latitiude 33. We started off with a discussion of the tools of the trade. James and her husband actually use a Playskool audio recorder to try and capture so-called eletro-voice phenomena. James says that they work just as well as their more expensive equipment, especially for picking up voices of what appear to be children. She also uses visible and infrared cameras, which she claims have recorded identical phenomena, including the ubiquitous "orbs." She described a poltergeist case in Fountain Valley, CA where hot water was seen shooting out of walls where there were no water pipes. She also described serious physical attacks by apparent entities, which are apparently very rare. We discussed cursed places and possible reasons for supposed "portals" of bad fortune. James also says that there are (or were) satanic cults operating in the small tourist town of Jerome Arizona, which is also known as a haunting hotspot. We finish with a few ideas about how lab parapsychology may inform paranormal field research.

No guest last Sunday, so we present a gem from the archives. Many of you may be aware of my old show called The Hungry Ghost, which aired on pirate FM radio station KBLT from 1997 to 1999. On July 1st of 1998, I talked to hispanic researcher Scott Corrales, who had just published his book Chupacabras And Other Mysteries. Scott also wrote a few articles for my old magazine, so at that time I had already known him for a few years. We talked about the history of the chupacabras, and how sightings had spread in an almost rumorlike way throughout Latin American countries. Scott spoke on the history of strangeness in Puerto Rico, including a thing called the "Moca Vampire," which terrorized the countryside in the 1970s. We also discussed various theories about these goings-on and how the human mind might be connected to the paranormal. Graduating from a print 'zine in 2005, Scott now maintains the excellent site Inexplicata: The Journal of Hispanic Ufology. The recording begins with the show in progress. I had to convert the interview from a cassette tape and it is unfortunately not complete, but 99% of the show is here. At the pirate station, the interviews were often an hour or less. Listeners must also excuse the audio levels throughout the program, as I was both inexperienced as an engineer and using jerry-rigged equipment to boot.

Dr. Taff is best known for his study of the "Entity" case of 1974, which was subsequently made into a 1982 feature film. Dr. Taff earned his doctorate in psychophysiology with a minor in biomedical engineering from UCLA. He also worked in the parapsychology lab at UCLA from 1969 through 1978 as a research associate where he studied precognition, ESP, and investigated reports of poltergeists and hauntings, and has continued over the last 40 years to log over 4000 cases. He also holds five medical patents. A couple of months ago listener Ward suggested Dr. Taff as a guest which reminded me that I have wanted to talk to him for years. We started off with a history of the UCLA lab and Dr. Taff's work there, including a study of his own apparent psychic abilities. We also covered remote viewing, some of Taff's more edgy ghost investigations and  various theories about the paranormal and ended with his history of UFO studies and experiences with early (1970s) abductions. Dr, Taff has recently been stricken with severe cataracts and a fund has been set up to help him cover the considerable medical costs. If you want to help out, you can donate here.

Richard Senate has been chasing ghosts and hauntings for 23 years. In that time, he has witnessed a laundry list of paranormal phenomena and developed a small list of theories about what might be causing the activity. We began the interview with a short discussion of his adventure fiction. His newest collection of short stories is entitled, Thrilling Adventure Tales In The Age of Steam. We spent the next two hours in deep discussion about his countless ghost cases. From the poltergeist that manifested a dancing clown in a hallway to a phantom wound on a psychic that bled profusely but very quickly healed, a talk with Richard Senate is always full of strange and unsettling stories. Throughout the conversation, we kept coming back to possible theories that would make sense of some of the phenomena. Mr. Senate also busted a few myths about ghosts and related phenomena. We ended with Mr. Senate's plea for cooperation amongst paranormal researchers in order to advance what is seen as a hobby for amateurs into more of a scientific pursuit. His newest ghost book is Silver Ghosts: Haunted Places and Phantom Encounters In Northern Nevada.

Richard Senate had to postpone his appearance until next week, and I'm out of town, so here is a long-promised "lost" interview (from almost exactly six years ago) featuring Bill Moore and his co-authors discussing their 2005 book Who Really Wrote the Book of Mormon?: The Spalding Enigma. Cowdrey is actually a descendant of one of the founders of the Mormon Church, and the book was a expanded edition of a 1977 book by Vanick and Cowdrey. Based on years of research (which was occasionally thwarted by persons unknown) the authors believe that the creation myth of the Mormon Church was based largely on an 1812 book called A Manuscript Found by an American Revolutionary War veteran named Solomon Spalding. They contend that church co-founder Sidney Rigdon borrowed or stole the manuscript from a printer in Pittsburgh after Spalding's death. It contained the basic story of what Joseph Smith later claimed to have channeled for the Book Of Mormon. In the book, the authors claim that they are not out to gut the Mormon Church; they were only interested in getting to the bottom of a story that had almost been forgotten, and found literally reams of documentary evidence to support it. Cowdrey himself says in the interview, "We care for the Mormon people, but we think that they're living under a delusion." P.S. Bill Moore is not actually listed as an author, and he explained in the program that this was because he acted as editor and research associate. WARNING: UFOs were not mentioned in this program!

Richard was live in the studio for the second time on November 6th. We share a lot of history and a lot of it came out in the course of the show. He is one of those people in the background of UFO studies that keeps a low profile and has a lot of sharp insights. We started with a discussion about our spiritual paths, or at least how it has affected how he look at the anomalous. This led into a discourse about how we may be co-creating our reality and more relevant to this program, how we may be more creative in our experiences with the paranormal than we think. There was also a long reminisce about our late friend and abduction researcher Karla Turner. Richard and I have also shared some of the same experiences with intelligence people from various government agencies (or claiming to be) and this shaped our opinions about what may be going on with the UFO subject and how the conversation about it is controlled. The people who talked to us cautioned us to be careful about what we accepted as truth, but to listen to everything. Instead of frightening us into catatonia, this advice seemed liberating. We also bought up moon anomalies and possible censorship of photos. This was a rare show with many insights that haven't come out in other interviews. I must apologize for all the times I interrupted Richard as he jogged my memory and imagination, but he's good at that.

Surprise! There wasn't supposed to be a show this Sunday (and there won't be, at least not a live one) but I went into the station and put together a Halloween music program to post for my favorite holiday. Listen and enjoy. Image above from the independent release "bu!" by the Stealing Orchestra.

Some of Mac Tonnies' best friends and people who continue to be influenced by him got together on the show on October 23rd to reminisce about his life, personality and work. Mac died in his sleep two years ago on the night of October 18th. He was well-known in the UFO community as a reluctant iconoclast and advanced thinker and theorist. He was  well-regarded as a fortean and transhumanist. He was also my friend. Aaron Gulyas, Tony Morrill, Nick Redfern, Paul Kimball and Mike Clelland joined me for over two hours as we discussed how we met and/or were influenced by Mac and what his legacy might be. We all still miss him terribly and our thoughts go out to his family and other friends. For more about Mac Tonnies, visit his archived blog, Posthuman Blues, or tribute sites Post Mac Blues and Macbots. His two most well-known books are After the Martian Apocalypse (out of print) and The Cryptoterrestrials. Our interview from July of 2009 can be heard here. Paul and Mac were live in the studio in May of 2006.

This week's guest called in sick at the last minute, so I asked blogger and Radio Misterioso fan Tony Morrill if he would like to appear a week early. He will also be on the 23rd of October, along with A.J. Gulyas, Paul Kimball and Nick Redfern to talk about the legacy of our late friend Mac Tonnies. Walter was here as well. We opened tonight's show with a discussion of the favorite food of Bigfoot, which is apparently blueberry bagels, according to a recent report out of Michigan. Also discussed: The seminal book The Rebirth Of Pan, the influence of John Keel and his maverick outlook on weirdness, a recent study that projects what humans will look like in a few thousand years, the Mike Judge film Idiocracy, our first forays into fortean and UFO literature, paranormal TV shows, what types of paranormal experiences we would like to have and the nature of Bigfoot (paranormal or biological?) Halfway through the show, outsider musician David Liebe Hart showed up unexpected-like and had me play two of his compositions. He must be psychic, or the synchronicity streams were flowing our way that night.

As mentioned in the preview post, Nick Redfern was in town this weekend. Walter Bosley showed up at the studio, and we got Paul Kimball working on the skype.  First off, we launched into a recap of recent UFO researcher deaths. We talked about British publisher and conference organizer Stuart Miller, and his even-handed and inquisitive attitude. Gabe Valdez was a friend and pioneering cattle mutilation researcher who passed on last month, and we spent a few minutes recalling his valuable contributions. We then moved on to reminisce about the late cantankerous UFO bookseller Bob Girard and his efforts to dissuade people from buying various books he had for sale. There was some contention about the legacy of the work of the late Budd Hopkins. Paul believes that he was a belief-driven researcher whose work was dangerous to the mental health of some of the abductees he worked with. Nick and I differed on just how damaging he was, but we were all in agreement that the subject appears far too complicated to be reduced to supposed aliens taking people's DNA and breeding hybrid children. Near the end of the show, Walter brought up crop circles and we talked about the "hoaxers" who consider their work in the crops as art and sometimes feel that there are non-human forces at work while they make their patterns in the plants. We ended with a song requested by Paul as a show of solidarity with the recent anti-greed protests in New York and other cities. We forgot to mention the death of Charles Hickson of the Pascagoula abduction. I will post an essay about him soon. Photos: Nick deep underneath the Devil's Gate dam in Pasadena, 10/2/11, Paul and I at a minor league baseball game last June.

Grant Cameron has been looking for answers since his own dramatic sighting in 1975. After years of searching through documents in Presidential libraries, he only recently gave up. "You would think that they'd never heard of UFOs" he says. This week, he sent me an untitled work in progress. The paper examines the genesis of the Area 51 story and concludes that the reason for the so-called "leaks" from the secret base in the early 1990s was that a group in the U.S. intelligence community was trying to get the truth of alien contact and ET technology into the public discussion. By selectively releasing stories ranging from nearly benign to totally paranoid, Cameron thinks that there is a plan to both frighten and desensitize the public so that when the reality of an alien presence is revealed, the dominant emotion will be relief that the wildest rumors were only that. Grant and I have been in contact for many years, and have communicated with many of the same government people. During the program, we debated many of the finer points of evidence for government knowledge of the UFO subject. He has concluded that, based on the public statements of current and former intel personnel, that the U.S. Government is dealing with a non-human race which has arrived on Earth in "nuts and bolts" craft. I am not quite ready to make that leap, and I hope that our back-and-forth over the course of the show is enlightening. It was for me, even though I remain unconvinced of anything, especially when it involves the statements of spies and others tasked with keeping national secrets. A fun and lively interview.