The Paracast -- The Gold Standard of Paranormal Radio

Open Minds' Alejandro Rojas joins us for a recap of the UFO field in 2014 and a preview of the 2015 International UFO Congress and Film Festival. He'll also talk about UFO abductions, disclosure and other subjects. The outspoken co-host of the popular webcast Spacing Out, Alejandro is Director of Operations for Open Minds Production, the host for Open Minds UFO Radio, editor and contributing writer for OpenMinds.tv, and emcee for the the Congress. He is also a blogger for the Huffington Post. Listener questions will also be answered during the course of this episode.

Ron James, longtime "conscious media" producer will return to the Paracast to address a wide-range of subjects that will include, the Paracast+ video channel, The Disclosure Initiative, the future of multimedia education and coverage of paranormal subjects in the 21st Century, evolving understanding of human consciousness, emerging investigative approaches to "haunted sites," and much much more. We'll also ask your questions of our guest.

Gene and Chris present one of our most prolific and knowledgeable forum posters, a gentleman who calls himself "Burnt State." As he describes himself, Burnt State is a "self described paranormal aficionado who has grown increasingly skeptical over the years in my quest to try to understand some specific personal experiences. In the process I have been immersed in various aspects of the history of paranormal inquiry to better understand its origin. Trying to separate the actual experience from the effects of paranormal events on human culture are a personal fascination. Specifically I feel that the CE3 experience offers us a way of better understanding its effect on us and could be an indicator of its point of origin." He'll talk about his experiences and answer listener questions.

Gene and Chris introduce David Marler, author of "Triangular UFOs: An Estimate of the Situation," a thorough study into some amazing sightings. His book has received great reviews, including a Five-Star review from none other than Ray Stanford. This discussion begins with David, who is certified in hypnotherapy, discussing UFO abductions and the alarm bells that go off in studying some of these cases. He'll also cover his sharp focus on the consistent presence of triangular UFOs and how they might relate to the ongoing reports of strange craft in the sky.

It's all about out of the box thinking this week when Gene and Chris present one of our favorite guests, UFO researcher Greg Bishop, host of the unique "Radio Misterioso" radio show, who returns to the Paracast to engage in a freewheeling recap of 2014's top "paranormal" news stories and pontificate toward what may happen in 2015. This episode is being driven by events, where we talk about UFOs, the possibility of disclosure, whether traditional explanations, such as UFOs being spaceships, hold water, new science, Native American legends of sky people, and the impact of all these strange events on our modern culture.

Gene and Chris present David Stinnett. David is a biomedical engineer and a 30-year veteran of UFO field work and archival research. He is director of the longest running UFO conference on the east coast, the New Jersey UFO Conference, continuously running for 28 years. Stinnett has been a guest on numerous radio shows and was co-host for the Researchers Live Radio program. He is very active in worldwide UFO research and anomoly research. His research interests include ancient texts, biblical and extra canonical texts, ancient civilizations, astronomy, physics, archaeology and a host of other topics that coincide with the UFO phenomenon.

Do you recall the "Heaven's Gate" UFO cult that committed mass-suicide in 1997 as a way to ascend to the Hale-Bop comet's companion craft? So does this week's guest, Dr. Benjamin Zeller. His new book "Heaven's Gate: America's UFO Religion," examines Marshall Applewhite ("Bo") and his group of doomed believers and the emergence of new religion in the 21st Century. His book is an insightful, sobering examination into a darker side of UFO belief, and Ben is this week's guest on the Paracast. Dr. Zeller is a researcher and teacher of religion in America. He focuses on religious currents that are new or alternative, including new religions, the religious engagement with science, and the quasi-religious relationship people have with food.

As a fitting end to 2014, Gene and Chris present paranormal researcher and broadcaster Paul Eno, co-host of the popular WOON Rhode Island radio show Behind the Paranormal. Paul is a paranormal investigator, author, award-winning journalist, seminary graduate and visionary. His interests include ghosts, UFOs, unexplained creatures, psychics and mediums, the nature of heaven and hell, human origins, and the relationship of the paranormal to history, science and religion. This episode focuses on compelling cases and outspoken commentary about many of the subjects. One thing is certain, and that is that Eno, along with your friendly Paracast crew, are not inclined to accept the usual explanations for these compelling mysteries.

Gene and Chris present Dr. Ardy Sixkiller Clarke. who returns to the Paracast to talk about her new book, "Sky People: Untold Stories of Alien Encounters in Mesoamerica." According to the publisher's notes, Ardy vowed as a teenager to follow in the footsteps of two 19th-century explorers, John L. Stephens and Frederick Catherwood, who were among the first to bring the ancient Maya cities to the world's attention. She finally set out on her seven-year adventure in 2003 and traveled through Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico, collecting stories of encounters, sky gods, giants, little people, and aliens among the indigenous Maya. She drove more than 12,000 miles, visiting 89 archaeological sites and conducted nearly 100 individual interviews. We'll present some of the most fascinating tales during this episode.

Gene and Chris present cutting-edge theorist George Hansen, author of a trendsetting work, “The Trickster and the Paranormal,” a book that was instrumental in influencing Chris O'Brien's research and thinking process for his 2009 book "Stalking the Tricksters: Shapeshifters, Skinwalkers, Dark Adepts and 2012." Hansen has been a longtime paranormal researcher in academia, science and elsewhere. As he states at his site, "The paranormal encompasses everything from levitating monks to ESP, from spirits to cattle mutilations—an incredible and unsavory hodgepodge. The mix seems incoherent. But the trickster makes sense of it."

Gene and Chris present long-time UFO researcher and author Peter Robbins, author of a free seven-part eBook, "Deliberate Deception: A Case of Disinformation in the UFO Research Community," published by Phenomena Magazine. The book reportedly "has huge implications, not only for the Rendlesham Forest incident, but for Ufology in general." In short, Robbins is accusing Nick Pope, lead author of "Encounter in Rendlesham Forest," of engaging in disinformation in his book. You can download a free copy of Robbins' book here: "Deliberate Deception." In addition to his ongoing research into the 1980 Rendlesham Forest episode, Robbins has extensive experience exploring UFO abductions and the work of Wilhelm Reich.

Gene and Chris present UFO investigator and optical scientist Dr. Bruce Maccabee to talk about his newest book entitled, "The FBI-CIA-UFO Connection." This is a provocative look at what these agencies know about the UFO phenomenon, and what the author claims are their efforts to conceal the truth from the public. What the government may or may not know about UFOs has long been a subject of speculation. Getting a handle on what evidence they might have has been a goal of researchers for decades, and we are all curious to see just what evidence Dr. Maccabee has delivered.

Gene and Chris present William J. Hall, author of 'The World's Most Haunted House: The True Story of the Bridgeport Poltergeist on Lindley Street." According to the publisher of Hall's book, ""What may be the most notorious and most terrifying poltergeist haunting of recent decades, the Bridgeport poltergeist was seen and heard by thousands of people on one unforgettable day in 1974. One of the local youngsters, William J. Hall, remembers every detail. Hall grew up to become a magician and a well-known investigator of the paranormal and the unexplained, writing a syndicated column on those subjects for many years in Connecticut newspapers. Now Hall returns to his past to share never-before reported interviews of the first responders and other witnesses, and previously unrevealed documents and reports…" This episode will also feature an actual recording of an eyewitness interview.

Gene and Chris present the one and only and always Don Ecker, host of the real "Dark Matters" radio show (accept no substitutes!) to talk about the death of "UFO Magazine," the state of UFO research, lunar mysteries, possible conspiracies, the almost complete lack of traditional investigative reporting and a whole lot more. You'll also hear Don's answers to questions from our listeners.

Gene and Chris present Larry Holcombe, long time student of the UFO mystery, author of "Presidents and UFOs: A Secret History from FDR to Obama." Just what do they know about the UFO mystery? Are they read in to the truth, or, as temporary residents of government service, not considered to have a "need to know"? Larry's book features a forward by Stanton T. Friedman. You'll be especially interested in these comments from Larry's blog, "I continue to believe that Roswell, and the bungling of crash retrieval events, was the defining moment in the development of the United States policy towards the UFO issue. My writing and speaking efforts now center on bringing light to bear on media indifference to the UFO issue, and the continued United States denial and cover-up of UFO issues while other countries around the world open their files and acknowledge the existence of UFO’s."