Podcast UFO

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear On October 7, 1977, Prime Minister of Grenada Sir Eric Gairy gave a 90-minute speech during the 32nd session of the General Assembly of the United Nations urging the organization to create an agency that would monitor UFOs. This led to a presentation and panel discussion over one year later, organized and produced by Lee Speigel, that included Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Dr. Jacques Vallée, and Col. Gordon Cooper. While this was considered a high point at the time in terms of gaining respectability for the UFO Waldheim Meeting. Credit: ICUFON Archives subject (Grenada issued a set of stamps in 1978 commemorating Gairy’s efforts) and still is today, not everyone was happy about it, particularly the directors of the Scientific Bureau of Investigation, formed in January of 1979. Read more →

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear For many people growing up in the 1970s (of which this writer is one), seeing a UFO documentary was their first in-depth look into the subject. These films often came along with books tied in, and major publishers such as Bantam were getting onboard. More and more people were willing to accept the idea that UFOs were worthy of serious consideration, and this meant that more and more people were willing to spend money on movies and books covering the subject. What had formerly been mostly confined to a subculture of enthusiasts, was now becoming a somewhat profitable entertainment industry. Indeed, it may come as a surprise to some readers, but between the summer of the saucers in 1947, and 1968, there were only two documentaries made in the midst of all the science fiction saucer films that became popular starting in the 1950s.The beginning of the 1970s wave of UFO documentaries can be traced back to the 1968 book Erinnerungen an die Zukunft (Memories of the Future) by Erich von Däniken published by Econ-Verlag in West Germany. The book not only whetted the public’s appetite for UFOs and aliens (especially ancient ones), but opened up the doors for all things strange and mysterious, including Bigfoot, the Bermuda Triangle, ghosts, and lake monsters. Read more →

Bryce Zabel and Brent Friedman, creators of NBC’s Dark Skies, join Podcast UFO to discuss the strange real-life event that sparked their new investigative podcast, Sound, Light & Frequency. They share how their personal interest in UFOs began (including Bryce’s childhood discovery of the McMinnville “Trent Farm” photos, and Brent’s startling “aliens are real” disclosure from a Reagan-era family friend), plus Brent’s more recent UFO-style sighting during the Perseid meteor shower on Vancouver Island, tiny star-like lights moving erratically and seeming to drop into the ocean. The conversation turns to why witnesses stay silent, including stories Bryce heard from strangers after Dark Skies aired, schoolyard sightings with dozens of witnesses that never made the news, followed by families insisting: “don’t ever talk about it.” From there, Bryce and Brent explain the premise of Sound, Light & Frequency: an active investigation into whether Hollywood has been part of a long “chicken-and-egg” feedback loop with UFO culture, did filmmakers invent ideas that later entered ufology, or were real narratives quietly fed into film and TV? They preview their central claim: a mysterious “Man in Black”-type figure crashed their Dark Skies premiere party in the 1990s, claimed ties to the Office of Naval Intelligence, and allegedly offered a “deal” connected to a slow-drip disclosure program, truth inserted into fiction. They won’t fully reveal the details here (they insist listeners start with Episode 1), but they confirm follow-up meetings occurred and that the encounter never stopped haunting them. They also reveal how Dark Skies was sold with an elaborate “top secret” style series bible mapping a multi-season timeline, then the eerie twist: the exact “cover of fiction to tell truth” concept they pitched to networks later appeared to boomerang back on them in real life. The episode closes with their plan to examine iconic UFO films and series (Close Encounters, Contact, The Abyss, The X-Files, V, and more), vet tips from insiders, and look for patterns, without claiming they already have the answers.SHOW NOTESTHIS WEEK'S BLOG BY CHARLES LEAR: MR X

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear Brazil has a history of official UFO investigation almost as long as that of the United States. However, it has an official policy on disclosure that predates the U.S.’s by more than a decade. In 1954, the Brazilian Air Force started The First Confidential Inquiry into Unidentified Aerial Objects in response to the first major flap in that country. In 1969, the Sistema de Investigação de Objetos Aéreos Não Identificados (SIOANI) was established, and nearly 100 detailed case files were accumulated up until its termination in 1972. After this, in 1977, in response to reports of injuries and deaths as a result of UFO encounters in the area of Pará (mainly in Colores) Operação Prato was authorized by Colonel Protásio Lopes de Oliveira. This resulted in more than 2000 photos, 16 hours of film, and a 179-page report. The First Confidential Inquiry, SIOANI and Operação Prato files were classified for decades, but thanks to a freedom of information campaign begun in April of 2004 by the Brazilian UFOlogist and publisher of UFO Revista, Ademar José Gavaerd, many of the files were shown to him and other UFOlogists in 2005 as a prelude to releasing them to the general public. Then, in 2010, Brazil issued Ordinance 551/GC3, requiring every branch of the military and aviation sectors to collect and transfer all UFO reports to the Aerospace Defence Command in Brasilia along with any material proof by way of photos or video on a yearly basis. There, it is to be catalogued and made available to the public. Along with this, since 2012, the Air Force has periodically released declassified files through the Brazilian National Archives, and recently released 893 reports in May of this year. In this blog, we’ll look at the history of the Air Force investigation, the efforts of Gevaerd and other UFOlogists to gain access to the case files, and some of the most interesting (at least to us) cases (translated files can be found here) found within them. Read more →*Note: audioblogs are now a cloned AI version of Martin’s voice.

Did Barack Obama slip — and then walk it back? In a recent interview with political commentator Brian Tyler Cohen, Obama was asked point-blank: Are aliens real? His response: “They’re real… but I haven’t seen them.” He followed with laughter, referencing conspiracy theories about extraterrestrials being hidden at Area 51, suggesting such a secret would be impossible to conceal — even from a president. Later, he clarified that he framed part of his answer humorously. But was that clarification damage control? Tonight, Martin and UFO Jack go deeper. We revisit Obama’s earlier appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, where he was pressed on the same topic — and we review the exceptional breakdown by investigator Ben Hansen, who analyzed Obama’s phrasing, timing, increased respiration, and body language frame by frame. Are we witnessing: Political humor? Strategic ambiguity? Or a carefully managed narrative? Two interviews. Two different contexts. One unanswered question. We’ll compare tone, wording, micro-expressions, and consistency — and let you decide whether this was just a joke… or something more.During the show, and authentic post on social media was posted:Donald J. Trump@realDonaldTrump Based on the tremendous interest shown, I will be directing the Secretary of War, and other relevant Departments and Agencies, to begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs), and any and all other information connected to these highly complex, but extremely interesting and important, matters. GOD BLESS AMERICA!  LINK

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear The first feature-length UFO documentary was titled, appropriately, Unidentified Flying Objects with the subtitle, The True Story of Flying Saucers. It was produced by Clarence Greene and released in 1956. Researcher Robert Barrow devoted a blogspot.com site to it titled UFO: The True Story of Flying Saucers and posted from June 2008 until July 2025. In his June 12, 2008, post, “The Driving Force: Clarence Greene,” Barrow includes a statement “signed” by Greene, but he tells the reader that he found it on the web “uncredited.”According to Greene in his July 26, 1967, statement titled, “UFO: Why I Made Unidentified Flying Objects,” one night in August of 1952, a friend called his attention to something in the sky Greene describes as “a sphere of light.” They watched it for about five minutes as it moved, stopped, made turns, and then moved off over the horizon. He later learned that members of the Ground Observation Corps had also observed it. Read more →*Note: audioblogs are now a cloned AI version of Martin’s voice.

For fun, Martin has a direct conversation with Grok about UFOs, Elon Musk, and Starlink. We examine Musk’s claim that with thousands of Starlink satellites in orbit, none have ever had to dodge an alien craft — and whether that actually proves anything given the vastness of space.The discussion moves into some of the most compelling UFO cases on record, including the 2004 Nimitz encounter, the Phoenix Lights, and the 1994 Ariel School incident in Zimbabwe. Another great Grok opinion: "Maybe those kids got a backstage pass to something bigger!"We explore pilot testimony, mass sightings, centuries-old reports, and why certain cases continue to stand out decades later. The conversation also touches on government technology, drones, long-standing historical accounts, and whether humanity may simply be missing part of the bigger picture. A thoughtful, candid exchange blending AI analysis with research and opinions.

**NOTE: This show contains AUTHENTIC LEAKED ORIGINAL AUDIO of the Frederick Valentich incident. It may be disturbing to some. Australian UFO researcher George Simpson joins Martin Willis to discuss decades of frontline investigation into some of Australia’s most compelling UFO cases. George began his work in the late 1980s with the Victorian UFO Research Society and later became Victorian Director of the Australian UFO Research Network, organizing public conferences and hosting international figures including Steve Bassett. With more than 30 years immersed in field investigations, committee leadership, and case analysis, George brings a rare long-term perspective to the subject. He is the author of Nothing on Radar; The Valentich Mystery, a deep investigation into the 1978 disappearance of young pilot Frederick Valentich over Bass Strait, one of Australia’s most debated aviation and UFO cases. George shares insights not only into historic cases, but into the culture of UFO research in Australia—how investigations were conducted before the internet era, how witnesses were handled, and how narratives evolve over time.SHOW NOTES

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear | In the Volume 26, Number 6, March 1981 Flying Saucer Review, there is an article (page 7 of the pdf) by Russian UFO investigator Nikita A. Schnee headlined, “Contact Reported Near Pyrogovskoye Lake.” It tells the tale of an unnamed Red Army officer who said he was taken aboard a craft by “two men in dull-coloured cellophane like garments,” who told him they wanted to have a talk. In his introduction, Schnee explains that Soviet UFOlogists were of the belief that there were no Russian CE-3 cases. He cites Felix Y. Zigel, an assistant professor at the Moscow Institute of Aviation, who presented his opinion in the second issue of Observations of UFOs in the USSR that, in Schee’s words, “such reports are the fruits of sick minds, or obvious hoaxes with the aim of making money or obtaining publicity.” With that said, Schnee assures the reader that in his report, “all the events described actually (emphasis in the original) took place and are not products of the contactee’s imagination.” He says this “has been proved, quite convincingly” through examination of the witness and “the landing site of the UFO.” As the reader shall see, Russian UFOlogists had a unique style of landing site examination in those days. Read more →*Note: audioblogs are now a cloned AI version of Martin’s voice.

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear In 2019, U.S. Navy pilot Lt. Ryan Graves began speaking publicly about regular encounters by flight teams starting in 2013 with UFOs. On July 26, 2023, he testified before congress and said that on one occasion, two jets were forced to make evasive maneuvers to avoid a collision with an object he described as a clear sphere with a black cube inside. By the time of the hearing, the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office headed by Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick had looked into these types of reports, and in May of 2023, Kirkpatrick informed NASA’s UFO advisory council that AARO had about 800 instances of “metallic orb” UFOs. This is according to a January 24, 2024, Science Times article by Caleb White headlined “Cube in a Sphere UAP Could Be ‘Aliens’ or ‘Next Generation’ Spherical Drones, Pentagon Former UFO Chief Says.” Read more →*Note: audioblogs are now a cloned AI version of Martin’s voice. 

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear While June 24, 1947, marks the beginning of the modern-day UFO mystery, claims of earlier encounters and incidents, Maury Island for example, are found throughout the literature. One such case is that of Udo Wartena, a Dutch immigrant working as a miner for the Northwest Mining Syndicate in Broadwater County, Montana. Wartena claimed that in 1940, an alien invited him to go on board a huge flying saucer.The case came to light in the 1990s, and is based on the testimony of Wartena just before he died in 1989. Prior to this, he reportedly kept the story to himself, not even telling his wife. It was included in the 1993 book, Aliens and UFOs by James L. Thompson. Australian researcher Warren P. Aston looked into it after reading the book and presented his findings at the July 1997 Mutual UFO Network International Symposium in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read more →*Note: audioblogs are now a cloned AI version of Martin’s voice.

U.S. Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Fred Claussen joins Podcast UFO for an in-depth conversation following the January 20 UAP press conference in Washington, DC. At that event, he was among the military and intelligence professionals who came forward publicly to address unresolved questions surrounding Unidentified Aerial Phenomena, including observed capabilities, possible origins, and implications for national security and air safety. In the upcoming interview, Colonel Claussen expands on themes raised at the press conference and provides additional context drawn from his professional background and firsthand experience. He discusses a defining incident from his service, when he was scrambled to investigate an aerial disturbance over the North Sea. During the encounter, he describes observing a silent, golden, football-shaped object hovering with no visible means of propulsion, which then accelerates straight upward and vanishes. Claussen also addresses what followed the encounter, explaining that upon his return he was instructed by superiors to forget the incident, and that any images or recordings were confiscated. He speaks about remaining silent for decades, choosing to come forward publicly only as UAPs begin receiving serious attention from Congress and official government channels. The conversation avoids speculation and sensationalism, focusing instead on facts, process, and accountability. It offers listeners a clearer understanding of how UAP issues are being addressed at senior levels of government—and where the public narrative often diverges from operational reality.SHOW NOTES🧢 Podcast UFO Merch (Shirts, Hats & More): https://tinyurl.com/mrybmnwb📬 Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter — Get updates on upcoming guests, blog posts, and more:http://eepurl.com/LPHKD🌐 Our Website:https://podcastufo.com📺 Subscribe on YouTube (It’s Free!):https://www.youtube.com/user/PodcastUFO?sub_confirmation=1

by Albert WainIn 2015, while handling an inspection claim for damaged furniture in Buffalo, New York, I met with a client at his home. He was around eighty years old and wore a cast on one arm. As we walked through his condo inspecting the damaged pieces, he explained that he was battling bone cancer in his arm and that his wife of many years had recently passed away.At one point, he brought me into a room lined with photographs of various aircraft. He told me he was a retired Air Force officer who had flown many combat missions in Korea and Vietnam. This, he explained, was his room of memories. He spoke easily about his time in the military, and it was clear he was enjoying the conversation. When we finished the inspection, I asked if we might sit for a while and visit before I headed out. He smiled and said, “That sounds nice.”Read more →Albert Wain's UFO Encounter: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdH4zfVEyUI&t=240s*Note: audioblogs are now a cloned AI version of Martin’s voice.

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear | For many people growing up in the 1970s (of which this writer is one), seeing a UFO documentary was their first in-depth look into the subject. These films often came along with books tied in, and major publishers such as Bantam were getting onboard. More and more people were willing to accept the idea that UFOs were worthy of serious consideration, and this meant that more and more people were willing to spend money on movies and books covering the subject. What had formerly been mostly confined to a subculture of enthusiasts, was on its way to becoming the profitable entertainment industry it is today. What may may come as a surprise to some readers is that between the 1947 summer of the saucers and 1968, there were only two documentaries (if any readers know differently feel free to comment) made in the midst of all the science fiction saucer films that became popular starting in the 1950s.What is thought to be the first flying saucer/UFO documentary was released in 1950 as an approximately 9 ½ minute short titled The Flying Saucer Mystery. It was re-released in 1952 with added footage that brought it up to around 12 minutes. Both releases were produced by Telenews, which had a chain of 13 theatres in major cities throughout the U.S. that only showed newsreels. According to the December 20, 2019, post on The Science Fiction Encyclopedia website, the film (which release isn’t specified) was lost until the 1990s. The producer, director, and screenwriter are unnamed. Read more →🧢 Podcast UFO Merch (Shirts, Hats & More): https://tinyurl.com/mrybmnwb📬 Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter — Get updates on upcoming guests, blog posts, and more:http://eepurl.com/LPHKD🌐 Our Website:https://podcastufo.com📺 Subscribe on YouTube (It’s Free!):https://www.youtube.com/user/PodcastUFO?sub_confirmation=1

In this episode of Podcast UFO, we are joined by Dr. Robert McGwier, widely known as “Science Bob,” for a deep, technical discussion on UAP and USO detection through automated sensor data gathering. Dr. McGwier brings decades of experience in applied mathematics, signal processing, and national-security–level data analysis. This conversation moves beyond speculation and focuses squarely on how real-world sensor systems—such as radar, sonar, electro-optical/infrared platforms, acoustic sensors, and passive detection arrays—are used to identify, correlate, and evaluate anomalous objects operating in air and undersea environments. We explore how modern sensor fusion works, what automated detection pipelines can (and cannot) reliably tell us, how false positives arise, and what standards must be applied before data can be considered credible. The discussion also addresses the challenges of classification, data access, and the limitations inherent in current monitoring systems. This episode is essential viewing for anyone interested in a serious, data-driven approach to UAP and USO research—where engineering, physics, and analytics take precedence over anecdote. SHOW NOTES🧢 Podcast UFO Merch (Shirts, Hats & More): https://tinyurl.com/mrybmnwb📬 Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter — Get updates on upcoming guests, blog posts, and more:http://eepurl.com/LPHKD🌐 Our Website:https://podcastufo.com📺 Subscribe on YouTube (It’s Free!):https://www.youtube.com/user/PodcastUFO?sub_confirmation=1

by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear Throughout 1954 in France, there was a wave of humanoid reports that received national and international press coverage. That same year, Italy experienced a wave of its own that didn’t get nearly as much attention, although one particular case has since become a classic. A detailed account (page 12 of the pdf) of the case and a follow-up investigation 18 years later is presented in the Vol. 18, No. 5, Flying Saucer Review. Jacques Vallée included a brief account in his catalogue titled Une Siècle d’Atterisages” (a Century of Landings) published as a series in Lumières dans la Nuit starting with the April 1969 issue and ending with the February 1970 issue. However, according to editor Gordon Creighton, “so far as I am aware, no full description of it has ever appeared in English.”The account, by Sergio Conti, appears on page 11 (page 14 of the pdf) under the headline, “The Cennina Landing of 1954.” It was translated by Creighton from Il Giornale dei Misteri No.17, published in August of 1972. Read more →🧢 Podcast UFO Merch (Shirts, Hats & More): https://tinyurl.com/mrybmnwb📬 FREE Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter — Get updates on upcoming guests, blog posts, and more:http://eepurl.com/LPHKD🌐 Our Website:https://podcastufo.com📱 Follow us on Social Media:Twitter (X): https://x.com/PodcastUFOFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastUFO📺 Subscribe on YouTube (It’s Free!):https://www.youtube.com/user/PodcastUFO?sub_confirmation=1

Join attendees of the historic Washington, DC press conference organized by filmmaker James Fox, focused on the 1996 Varginha, Brazil UFO incident. In this roundtable discussion, Martin Willis is joined by fellow attendees Sarah Gamm & Anthony Miller, of Fire in the Cosmos to reflect on what it was like to be present at this landmark event held at the National Press Club. The group shares firsthand impressions of the atmosphere inside the room, the significance of the testimony presented, and the experience of meeting and speaking directly with Brazilian witnesses connected to the Varginha case. From emotional moments to broader implications for UFO/UAP disclosure, this conversation offers a rare, ground-level perspective on a press conference that many are calling a turning point in the public discussion of non-human intelligence. This episode provides listeners and viewers with insights you won’t get from headlines alone, what it felt like to be there, how the testimony was received in person, and why this event continues to resonate with those who attended.SHOW NOTES🧢 Podcast UFO Merch (Shirts, Hats & More): https://tinyurl.com/mrybmnwb📬 Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter — Get updates on upcoming guests, blog posts, and more:http://eepurl.com/LPHKD🌐 Our Website:https://podcastufo.com

Longtime UFO investigator Allan Lavigne joins Martin Willis for a deep-dive into the “boots-on-the-ground” era of UFO research—when cases were tracked by phone calls, paper files, and relentless field work. Allan recounts his time with APRO (Aerial Phenomena Research Organization), the pioneering civilian group founded by Jim and Coral Lorenzen, and explains how APRO’s investigations accelerated after Project Blue Book ended. Along the way, he shares what it was like working some of the most talked-about cases of the 1970s and beyond—abductions, crash-retrieval lore, and major sightings that still divide researchers today. Allan also provides a rare first-person account of being the first investigator to interview Travis Walton, why he considers the case legitimate, and what details from that original interview still matter. From there, the conversation shifts into controversial territory: the Billy Meier saga (and how APRO evaluated evidence in the pre-digital age), the Phoenix Lights, the “alien autopsy” film from the perspective of a professional effects artist and law-enforcement veteran, and what he considers credible versus clearly fabricated.SHOW NOTES🧢 Podcast UFO Merch (Shirts, Hats & More): https://tinyurl.com/mrybmnwb📬 Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter — Get updates on upcoming guests, blog posts, and more:http://eepurl.com/LPHKD🌐 Our Website:https://podcastufo.com

We apologize in advance for any audio issues during the livestream, as this is a live press event with multiple speakers. Please note that some witnesses are speaking in Portuguese, with English translation provided. (two sessions) Martin attended and livestreamed a historic press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, on January 20, 2026. For the first time publicly, Brazilian neurosurgeon Dr. Italo Venturelli described his 1996 hospital encounter with a living, non-human intelligent being connected to the Varginha incident. Organized by investigative journalist and filmmaker James Fox, the event featured Brazilian witnesses, medical and forensic testimony, and new evidence related to the reported crash, military involvement, and subsequent investigations, coinciding with the release of Moment of Contact: New Revelations of Alien Encounters. Martin and other attendees will host a recap show on Thursday, January 30 at 8:00 p.m. ET, which will also be released as an audio podcast discussing key highlights and including selected clips from the press conference. 🧢 Podcast UFO Merch (Shirts, Hats & More): https://tinyurl.com/mrybmnwb📬 Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter — Get updates on upcoming guests, blog posts, and more:http://eepurl.com/LPHKD🌐 Our Website:https://podcastufo.com

Journalist Leslie Kean joins Martin Willis at the National Press Club following the UAP/UFO press conference to share her candid reaction to the historic event. Kean reflects on the emotional testimony of witnesses, the extraordinary effort behind organizing the press conference, and why the case presented is one of the most important she has encountered. She emphasizes the credibility of the witnesses, the significance of international cooperation, and the urgent need for access to hard data such as photographs, videos, flight logs, and medical records that remain sequestered by authorities. In this conversation, Kean also discusses the alleged involvement of U.S. authorities following the incident, questions surrounding missing documentation, and why key evidence may now reside in the United States. She speaks movingly about the humanity of the witnesses—particularly the medical professionals involved—and the emotional weight of the testimony presented. The interview concludes with reflection on the lasting impact of the 2017 New York Times UAP reporting, marking a clear “before and after” moment in public awareness. A thoughtful, grounded discussion on transparency, accountability, and the future of serious UAP investigation.🧢 Podcast UFO Merch (Shirts, Hats & More): https://tinyurl.com/mrybmnwb📬 Sign Up for Our Weekly Newsletter — Get updates on upcoming guests, blog posts, and more:http://eepurl.com/LPHKD🌐 Our Website:https://podcastufo.com