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Need To Know — Science
Need To Know

Need to Know is a smart, serious, and accessible podcast about the reality of UFOs/UAP and what the phenomenon may mean for all of us. Produced by Stellar Productions, the show is hosted by award-winning writer/producer and former CNN correspondent Bryce Zabel, who continues the signature UFO/UAP conversation format he helped pioneer: informed, evidence-driven, open-minded, and focused on what the public has a right to know.

Today, Need to Know features Bryce in conversation with historian Richard Dolan, one of the field’s most respected researchers and authors. Together, they examine breaking news, government disclosures, historic cases, credible witnesses, official documents, and the shifting landscape of Disclosure. The show also includes expanded formats such as Project Book Club with Chrissy Newton, Need to Know Xtra with Tyler Stevens, and other special episodes that explore the mystery from fresh angles.

From 2021 to 2025, Bryce co-hosted Need to Know with investigative journalist Ross Coulthart. Their collaboration helped define the show’s distinctive mix of journalism, analysis, historical context, and plainspoken curiosity. In 2025, Ross moved on to host Reality Check for NewsNation, while Bryce continued the Need to Know mission and also agreed to produce Sound, Light & Frequency for iHeartPodcasts.

With exclusive interviews, breaking-news analysis, hidden history, and thoughtful commentary grounded in evidence, Need to Know guides listeners through the noise and toward understanding. The questions remain urgent: What is happening in our skies? What do governments know? Who — or what — may be behind the phenomenon? And what happens next?

Stellar Productions is the production company of Bryce and Jackie Zabel. Its work spans television, film, books, and podcasts, with credits including the NBC UFO series Dark Skies, the Syfy original film Official Denial, the Disney animated feature Atlantis: The Lost Empire, the WGA Award-winning limited series Pandemic, the UFO disclosure book A.D. After Disclosure, and the podcasts Need to Know and Sound, Light & Frequency.

Copyright: © 2021

Latest Episodes:

What Should We Tell The Children? Sep 06, 2026

Show notes

How should we talk to children about UFOs, unexplained phenomena, and other sensitive subjects? In this episode of Need To Know, Bryce Zabel and special guest Ben Hansen explore how parents, teachers, and trusted adults can approach these conversations with honesty, care, and age-appropriate language—without creating unnecessary fear or dismissing a child's natural curiosity.

They discuss the importance of separating confirmed facts from speculation, encouraging thoughtful questions, and helping young people feel safe when confronting uncertainty. Whether the subject involves UFOs, government secrecy, frightening news, or the possibility of life beyond Earth, the goal is not to provide every answer—it is to build trust, promote critical thinking, and remind children that it is okay not to know.

Whose Narrative Is It Anyway? Aug 02, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan examine the recent Ross Coulthart–UAP Gerb interview and the accusations directed at Lue Elizondo, asking who is shaping the narrative—and what evidence supports the competing claims. Bryce also recounts his appearance on Dr. Phil and considers whether Donald Trump may be positioning the television personality as a trusted public voice for Disclosure. Finally, Richard expands on his concept of a "breakaway civilization": a hidden, highly compartmentalized world with access to advanced knowledge and technology, operating beyond the awareness and perhaps the control of conventional government.

Is the Tic Tac Really Lockheed Martin Technology? Jul 05, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan revisit one of the most debated claims in modern ufology: Ross Coulthart's statement that the famous Nimitz "Tic Tac" UFO was Lockheed Martin technology. They carefully examine what was actually said, why the claim generated so much discussion, and whether the available evidence supports such a conclusion. Along the way, they explore the long history of Lockheed's connection to classified aerospace programs, the challenges of relying on anonymous intelligence sources, and the importance of separating speculation from verifiable evidence.

The conversation expands into the broader question of whether some UFO encounters could be explained by advanced human technology or whether the evidence continues to point toward a genuine non-human intelligence. Bryce and Richard discuss the implications of black-budget programs, reverse engineering, the role of private aerospace contractors, and why landmark cases like the 2004 Nimitz encounter remain some of the strongest evidence in the UAP debate. They also reflect on the current state of disclosure, recent developments in Washington, and why the search for answers is far from over.

The episode also features a lighthearted opening on the "GOAT" of ufology, where Bryce and Richard debate who deserves a place on the Mount Rushmore of UFO research, highlighting figures such as Jacques Vallée, J. Allen Hynek, Stanton Friedman, and George Knapp. Blending humor with thoughtful analysis, the discussion ultimately returns to the biggest question facing the field today: if disclosure is a process rather than a single event, how do we responsibly separate compelling evidence from extraordinary claims?

Does Spielberg Land Disclosure Day? Jun 10, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, Bryce Zabel offers his perspective on Disclosure Day not simply as a movie, but as a cultural milestone in the UFO conversation. He examines how Steven Spielberg approaches the subject, what the film gets right, where it takes creative liberties, and whether it succeeds as a meaningful disclosure story for a mainstream audience. More importantly, Bryce explores the larger question: if humanity were faced with undeniable evidence of a non-human presence, would our reaction resemble Spielberg's vision, or would the reality be far more complicated?

Desert Storm - Need to Know Xtra Jun 06, 2026

Show notes

In this special Need to Know episode, producer Tyler Stevens returns from Contact in the Desert 2026 with a firsthand look at the biggest UFO conference in the world. Tyler and Bryce Zabel explore the atmosphere of the event, the excitement surrounding the recent UFO file releases, the reaction to Disclosure Day, and the conversations happening among researchers, experiencers, content creators, and attendees from across the globe. The discussion also highlights major panels featuring Jacques Vallée, Eric Davis, Tim Gallaudet, Jeremy Corbell, George Knapp, and many of the leading voices currently shaping the UFO conversation.

The episode also dives into some of the stranger and more fascinating aspects of the conference. Tyler shares his experience attending a Chris Bledsoe Skywatch, discusses the growing connection between UFOs and consciousness research, and breaks down a remarkable demonstration involving a blind participant attempting to perceive information without sight. From remote viewing and psi phenomena to disclosure, science, and the future of UFO research, this episode offers a unique boots-on-the-ground perspective from one of the most talked-about events in the field.

The Day After Disclosure Day Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan tackle one of the most important questions in the UFO conversation: what do we actually mean when we say "disclosure"? With Steven Spielberg's upcoming film Disclosure Day reigniting public interest in the topic, Bryce and Rich explore the difference between government transparency, whistleblower revelations, leaked documents, and the true "big D" Disclosure: the official acknowledgment that humanity is interacting with a non-human intelligence. They revisit the ideas behind their book A.D. After Disclosure and examine how the world has changed since it was first written, from congressional hearings and Pentagon videos to AI, social media, and the modern information landscape.

The discussion dives deep into the concept of a breakaway civilization, the role of private aerospace and intelligence contractors, the limits of government authority, and whether disclosure would unite humanity or further divide an already fractured society. Bryce and Rich debate the significance of recent UFO file releases, the influence of figures like Steven Spielberg on the public narrative, and whether an official disclosure event is even possible in today's world. Along the way, they ask the big questions: Who really controls the UFO story? What happens when the truth becomes undeniable? And will either of them live to see a moment that fundamentally changes humanity's understanding of its place in the universe?

Neil deGrasse Tyson's Alien Pivot — Commentary May 21, 2026

Show notes

Neil deGrasse Tyson seems to be pivoting on UFOs. After years of mocking the subject, he's now saying that military witnesses, whistleblowers, and congressional testimony have elevated the conversation. But as Bryce Zabel points out, Tyson still can't resist stereotyping earlier witnesses as hayseeds and drunks — even though credible observers have been part of this story from the very beginning. In this sharp commentary, Bryce takes Tyson to task for treating ridicule like a scientific method. He explains why the issue was never just about "the back 40," why earlier witnesses deserve more respect, and why Tyson's current turn feels less like a revelation than a rebrand. Bryce also reflects on his past public challenge to Tyson, and on his very different parking lot debate years ago with Carl Sagan.

This is not a call for belief. It's a call for honesty, humility, and a little overdue accountability.

Can This Draft Be Deleted Now? May 17, 2026

Show notes

Please use this Draft for 05/17 - Libsyn Ads Ops

Show Me The Saucers — Commentary May 13, 2026

Show notes

The Trump administration's first major UFO/UAP document release has triggered a worldwide media firestorm — with newly declassified files, Apollo-era astronaut reports, military encounters, intelligence documents, and unexplained aerial incidents dominating headlines across cable news, newspapers, podcasts, and social media. The release, presented as the beginning of an ongoing "slow drip" disclosure process, includes references to astronaut sightings during the Apollo missions, unresolved military cases, and decades of government investigation into anomalous phenomena.

For many observers, the question is no longer whether something unexplained is happening — but how much the government actually knows, and how long it has known it. In this special stand-alone episode, Bryce Zabel responds personally and passionately to the release through the lens of a lifetime spent chasing the mystery — from co-creating NBC's Dark Skies and being approached by men claiming to be from the Office of Naval Intelligence, to writing A.D. After Disclosure with Richard Dolan and working alongside Ross Coulthart during the modern disclosure era. Bryce connects the newly released Apollo material to conversations he had nearly thirty years ago about the Moon and secrecy, reflects on why gradual disclosure may once have made sense, and ultimately asks the question he believes millions of people are now asking: if the government truly possesses definitive evidence — the photos, the videos, the craft — then why are we still being shown blurry dots in the sky? His conclusion is simple, as you'll see when you hear it.

UFO Disclosure Plot Twist May 10, 2026

Show notes

In this special Need to Know episode, Bryce Zabel, Richard Dolan, and producer Tyler Stevens react in real time to the Trump administration's first major UFO/UAP file release. The discussion covers the massive batch of documents, military ISR videos, NASA transcripts, Cold War intelligence reports, and historical FBI material that suddenly pushed the UFO topic back into mainstream headlines. While much of the material had already circulated through FOIA requests and archives like The Black Vault, the hosts argue that the significance lies in the government officially centralizing and publicly presenting the information in one place. They debate whether the release represents genuine progress toward disclosure or simply another controlled "slow drip" operation designed to manage public perception rather than resolve the mystery.

The episode also explores the growing tension between public expectations and institutional transparency. Dolan emphasizes that true disclosure would require undeniable evidence such as recovered craft or clear multisensor footage, while Tyler Stevens highlights frustration within the UFO community over selective releases, media coordination, and the continued gatekeeping of potentially stronger evidence. The conversation dives into UFO history, Apollo astronaut encounters, unexplained military footage, Spielberg's upcoming film Disclosure Day, and the cultural shift happening around the topic. Together, the hosts frame the current moment as part of a larger battle between secrecy and public demand, arguing that while the file release may not be "disclosure," it does show the UFO subject entering a new phase of visibility, political pressure, and mainstream relevance.

Need To Know producer - Tyler aka ASTRAL https://x.com/The_Astral_ https://www.youtube.com/@UCU2eS5pTsp_PP8Bn7F2QHyA

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