Our Strange Skies: UFOs Throughout History

Latest Episodes:

72: The Tujunga Canyon Contacts with Rich Hatem Mar 14, 2021

Show notes

There is a place in Southern California that feels as alien as the surface of the planet Mars would. The Tujunga Canyons was first inhabited by the Tongva people, the Native tribes of the Los Angeles basin. The name, Tujunga, is believed to mean “old woman’s place,” a reference to mother earth.

In 1953 the area that comprises the Tujunga Canyon region was much less developed today, home to a smattering of homes. It was in one of those homes, on March 22, 1953 that two women, Sara Shaw and Jan Whitley, had a harrowing experience in the bedroom they shared. It started with a light and soon developed into a case of missing time.

The event remained with the witnesses for a number of years, until Sara reached out to investigator Ann Druffel. Over the course of five years, the investigation would expand to include three additional witnesses.

What follows is one of the most unique series of abduction events on record, involving women who were all part of the LGBTQIA community, but otherwise not related, shattering a common myth about abductions: they run in the family, and the ability to fight off the beings from taking them.

For additional analysis of this case, check out this blog post from Professor WHAM!

I’m joined by Rich Hatem to break down the Tujunga Canyon Contacts case.

Don’t forget to check out Titans on HBO Max!

“Rainy Day Drone” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

Theme song by Big Cats

Logo by The Great Desdymona

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71: The Imjärvi Elf Feb 22, 2021

Show notes

WARNING: THIS EPISODE IS NSFW

On this, the second collaborative episode between Our Strange Skies and the Cryptonaut Podcast, Rob, Marc and Rob explore the curious and dramatic encounter that a pair of cross-country skiers, Arno Heinonen and Esko Viljo, had in the forests of Imjärvi, Finland in the winter of 1970. The trio then tries to unravel the continued encounters experienced by Arno throughout 1972 and beyond.

Help Cancer Tiger (Dave Storrs) Kick Out Cancer Cryptonaut Podcast Patreon Cryptonaut Podcast Merch Cryptonaut Twitter Cryptonaut Facebook Cryptonaut Instagram

The first appearance of the case in the May/June 1970 issue of Flying Saucer Review’s World Round-up section.

The case gets its first feature length article in the July/August 1970 edition of Flying Saucer Review

The case made the cover of the September/October 1970 edition of the Review.

In the final issue of that year, the last remaining details of the case are presented.

A decade later, in Vol. 26, issue 3 of FSR for 1980, Arno Heinenonen’s continued encounters with ufonauts is documented.

Their story is concluded two issues later.

The story of Liberato Anibal Quintero, and his escapades with a female alien

The graphic novel about Herbert Schimer’s abduction on Comixology

Simonton: Knobby Tires on Wet Pavement by John E.L. Tenney

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70: The South Middleton Humanoids with Marc and Rob from the Cryptonaut Podcast Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

For every UFO sighting reported, how many many go unreported? Even more, how many of them become classic cases that are mentioned and written about for time immemorial? This case is one that has lived in obscurity since it was first written about.

I stumbled upon it while perusing old issues of Flying Saucer Review, and I felt like I couldn’t cover it alone… so I asked my buddies, Marc Storrs and Rob Morphy from the Cryptonaut podcast to give me a hand.

In the late 70s, one family from South Middleton, Massachusetts went through a series of experiences involving strange “prowlers” creeping around their property, a UFO that sat on their property for a few days, grey-like aliens, and poltergeist activity.

Sources: “Humanoids of South Middleton - Part 1” by David F. Webb Flying Saucer Review Vol. 27, No. 1, 1981

“Humanoids of South Middleton - Part 2” by David F. Webb Flying Saucer Review Vo. 27, No. 2, 1981

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69: Charlie Red Star with Amber & Andrew from Into the Portal Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

In 1975, over the skies of southern Manitoba, a quaint UFO would begin to make regular appearances that would last for nearly two years. Some would camp out and watch the strange red objects fly over their skies and down into Minnesota. The residents would name this UFO, Charlie Red Star, and would characterize the UFO as one that made "beer runs."

Many of Manitoba's residents would claim to see Charlie numerous times. He would have encounters with pilots, with RCMP officers. He would be chased by the average citizen, and there is one dramatic encounter witnessed by some teenagers at a dam. I'm joined by Amber & Andrew from the Into the Portal podcast to discuss one of the least talked about UFO flaps of all time, Charlie Red Star!

Sources:

"Grant Cameron talks 'Charlie Red Star' book, his Tom Delonge Comments"

The Charlie Red Star Flap - Educating Humanity

YouTube Video - The Charlie Red Star Flap

Charlie Red Star: True Reports of One of North America's Biggest UFO Sightings by Grant Cameron

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68: The Betty and Barney Hill Roundtable Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

For this special round table edition of the Our Strange Skies podcast, I'm joined by Chris Cogswell of the Mad Scientist podcast, Deana Marie from the Twisted Philly podcast, Jennifer Taylor from the In Defense of Liberty & Vanished podcasts, as well as writer R. Scott Whitley to discuss the ins-and-outs of the Betty and Barney Hill case. The group discusses the physical evidence, the roll of hypnosis in the case, how our realities can be deceived and where we all land on this case at the end of the day.

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67: On the Trail of UFOs with Seth Breedlove Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

On this week's episode, Seth Breedlove from Small Town Monsters stops by to talk about the origins of Small Town Monsters, the odd creature sightings that the 70s offered up, and his newest project out in March, On the Trail of… UFOs.

Theme song by Big Cats Artwork and web design by the Great Desdymona

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65: Movie Review: Fire in the Sky with Brian Hastie Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

On this bonus episode, I'm joined by my good friend Brian Hastie to discuss the film adaptation of Travis Walton's story, Fire in the Sky.

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66: The 'Boys' Who Never Came Home (Yuba County Five) Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

In February of 1978 the news in northern California was consumed by Ted Bundy’s arrest, coverage of the East Area Rapist, and Roman Polanski’s escape to France following charges of rape. There was one story, however, that took up a lot of page space in The Sacramento Bee, from February to June of that year. It’s the story of five men that went to a basketball game in Chico and never came home.

The mystery of the Yuba County Five, or the boys as their parents called them: Tim Weiher, Jack Madruga, Bill Sterling, Jackie Hewitt and Gary Mathias was forgotten about for nearly 40 years, until the story was posted on Reddit in 2017 on the Unresolved Mysteries subreddit. From there, the story became an internet sensation. Podcasts far and wide have covered the topic ever since, and there has even been new information to emerge 40 years later.

But the heart of the mystery still remains where it has always been: in the questions that still need answering. This week, The Our Strange Skies Podcast veers away from UFOs to discuss the ill fated journey of five men, who never came home. What led them to a rural mountain road to ultimately walk to their deaths in the frigid Sierra Nevada mountains.

Sources:

Ep. #36 – What If You Never Came Home? – The American Dyatlov Pass - The What If Podcast

“5 ‘Boys’ Who Never Came Home by Cynthia Gorney - Washington Post

“Cold Case: Why Did Five Northern California Men Disappear in 1978?” by Benjy Egel - The Sacramento Bee

“Out in the Cold: Were 4 mentally disabled men set up to die in the California woods?” by Benjy Egel - The Sacramento Bee

The remaining sources were culled from 30+ newspaper articles from The Sacramento Bee and other publications clipped from newspapers.com. Available upon request. Email ourstrangeskies@gmail.com for more details.

If you would like to contribute to the Native American Community Response Fund you can do so here!

Music:

“Szaree” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“Toothless Slope” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“Last Lights” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“Thread of Clouds” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“Game Hens” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“A Minor Etude” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“Gilroy Solo” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“Pieces” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“Chain Link” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“Snowmelt” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“SuzyB” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

“OneEightFour” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)

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64: The Travis Walton Incident Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

As above, so below. It’s a phrase that traces itself to the founding of Hermeticism. Those words can be found on the Emerald Tablet, a document that purportedly reveals the secrets of how to make the philosopher’s stone. As above, so below is a phrase that has carried on through generations. It’s found in the Bible, it’s an element in the hit series, Hellier, and in 1975 terror would come from both places.
During the Summer, people would fear the water due to the theatrical release of the first ever Summer Blockbuster, Jaws. But in November of that year, 22 year old Travis Walton would encounter a UFO near a slash pile in the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in Arizona. The craft emitted a blue beam of light that lifted Travis off the ground and threw him back about ten feet. That was the last time his coworkers would see him for the next five days. What ensued was a large manhunt, and one of the best investigated UFO cases of all time.
In this episode we delve into the timeline of the Travis Walton abduction, his experiences on the ship, the sightings that occurred in the area after he returned, and new evidence that would emerge decades later. In short, we delve into an incident that could be described as being “bigger than a Wal-Mart.”
Sources:

Fire in the Sky by Travis Walton

The UFO Encyclopedia, 3rd Edition by Jerome Clark

Ultimate Encounter by Bill Barry

Travis: The True Story of Travis Walton - documentary

Paranormal Witness - The Abduction

Minisode Six - Taken in Kentucky: The Abductions of Lee Parish and the Stanford Three

You Were Gone But You Never Really Left - They Had Mushroom Shaped Heads and White Eyes: The Abduction of David Stephens and the Men in Black Encounter of Herbert Hopkins

Travis Walton’s First Interview After His Encounter in 1975

Guest Podcast Appearances:

“Ep. 173: The Fortean Buzzkils and Rich - Roundtable 1” - Astonishing Legends

“Project Blue Book with Rob Kristoffersen” - Based on a True Story

“Episode 47 - “Ancient Astronaut Theorists Say…” - Relic: The Lost Treasure Podcast

“76) ALIENS: Most Credible Close Encounters in Modern History - 10ish Podcast

11: Rob Kristoffersen - Me & My Friends Podcast

Music:

“The Telling” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Headlights/Mountain Road” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Snowcrop” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Dawn Line Approaching” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Cold and Hard” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Gaddy” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Cover Letter” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Alliston Night Owl” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Gilroy” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Low Slopes” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Vengeful” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“Where It All Happened (Darkstar Version)” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
“OneEightFour” by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue)
Theme song composed by Big Cats Logo and Web Design by the Great Desdymona

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63: The North Canol Road Abduction with Rich Hatem Dec 29, 2020

Show notes

The Yukon is one of the most remote places in the world. Its untouched wilderness is beautiful to behold, and it offers up some of the best hunting and fishing in the world. In September of 1987, a man using the pseudonym "Kevin" set out for the woods on a three day hunting and fishing trip. On the second day into the trip, he would have a remarkable on a dirt road with a pair of alien beings. I'm joined by Rich Hatem to discuss the baffling North Canol Road abduction.

Sources: The North Canal Road Abduction - Aliens in the Yukon

Abduction on North Canol Road

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