Our Strange Skies: UFOs Throughout History

Latest Episodes:

121: The Swerve, Vol. 1: The San Pedro Haunting with Richard Hatem Oct 03, 2022

Show notes

CW: domestic abuse

A couple of months ago, patrons of Our Strange Skies voted on a non-UFO topic that we would cover. Among the choices of "Haunted Objects, "Gef, the Talking Mongoose" and "The Beast of Boggy Creek," the topic that won, with 38% of the vote was The San Pedro Haunting.

The San Pedro Haunting, otherwise know as the Jackie Hernandez Poltergeist case, is a uniquely violent case. Jackie, along with other eyewitnesses and investigators were terrorized by a group of alleged ghosts who were out for revenge, including the spirit of a man who had been murdered in San Pedro harbor.

A group of videographers, including Barry Conrad and Jeff Wheatcraft, under the guidance of parapsychologist, Dr. Barry Taff, documented the strange phenomenon that occurred in a small bungalow in San Pedro, which included mysterious substances oozing from the walls, strange light anomalies and orbs, large thudding sounds coming from the attic, which played a central role in the haunting, and much more.

Richard Hatem stops by to discuss the case, provides his own unique rating system, *sigh*, and the elements that make this such a unique case. So, tune in and let the poltergeist throw bingo cards at you!

Sources:

An Unknown Encounter - Documentary by Barry Conrad

An Unknown Encounter (Book) by Barry Conrad

Blithe Spirits: A History of Poltergeists by S.D. Tucker

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

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T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

Check out ourstrangeskies.com for all things related to the podcast!

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120: The Sunderland Family Mysteries with Sam & Sage Sep 26, 2022

Show notes

On episode 96, we briefly touched upon the story of the Sunderland family, who'd had a series of encounters with UFOs and aliens in a field near their home. The accounts of Gaynor and Darren Sunderland were very similar; they included strange flying saucers, wobbly walking aliens, and sci-fi ray guns.

Their story first made headlines in 1978 and soon after, investigators began to document continued contacts between these human-like beings, Gaynor and Darren. These contacts included trips to alien worlds, repelling sentient alien planets, and would expand to include "psychic questing," or the act of using chaos magick in the search for historical artifacts and locations.

Sam and Sage from Your Brain on Weird join me to discuss slow moving ray guns, aliens that look like deranged Homer Simpsons, and the quest for the Green Stone!

Sources:

“The Sunderland Family Encounter - Pt 1” by Jenny Randles & Paul Whetnall, Flying Saucer Review 1979V 25 N 3

“The Sunderland Family Encounter - Pt 2” by Jenny Randles & Paul Whetnall, Flying Saucer Review 1979 V 25 N 4

“Alien Friends” by Jenny Randles UFO Brigantia V 8

Alien Contact by Jenny Randles & Paul Whetnall

“What Is Meonia? Its History and Role in Modern Psychic Questing” by Andrew Collins

“The Sad Death of Marion Sunderland and the Green Stone Sale - A Response from Andrew Collins

“Overlooked or Overcooked: The Case for Psychic Questing in Western Esotericism” by Simon Nugent

“The Depths of Credibility” by Jenny Randles BUFORA Bulletin July 1986 N 22

“What Price Credibility?” by Marion Sunderland BUFORA Bulletin January 1987 N 27

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

The website is back! Check out ourstrangeskies.com for all things related to the podcast!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

119: UFOs During Wartime with Spencer Wirth-Davis Sep 19, 2022

Show notes

On September 13, 2022, Vice Motherboard rand published an articled called "Ukraine’s Astronomers Say There Are Tons of UFOs Over Kyiv." Astronomers at the main observatory in Kiev described black, extremely fast moving objects, that absorbed radiation. These objects were so fast, that they had to design a system involving two observatories, 60 miles a part, just to detect them.

The paper cited by Vice Motherboard didn't specifically mention the war, but in the past, UFOs have made their appearance over war zones. From the Foo Fighters of the 40s, to an account investigated by NICAP during the Vietnam war in 1966, soldiers, pilots, and officials have reported strange things in the skies.

Spencer Wirth Davis (The Layers Lair & Dang! That's Weird) joins me to discuss "smoke balls" and "swarms of bees" over Europe, a comforting UFO story in Algeria, and the Batwoman of Vietnam.

Sources:

“Ukraine’s Astronomers Say There Are Tons of UFOs Over Kyiv” by Matthew Gault Vice Motherboard

Unidentified aerial phenomena I. Observations of events by B.E. Zhilyaev, V.N. Petukhov and V.M. Reshetnyk Cornell University

UFOs Before Roswell: European Foo-Fighters 1940-1945 by Graeme Rendall

UFOs in Wartime: What They Didn't Want You To Know by Mack Maloney

Week of June 12–18, 2022: The Tragedy and Mystery of PCF-19, June 16, 1968

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

The website is back! Check out ourstrangeskies.com for all things related to the podcast!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

118: The Alien Encore Sep 12, 2022

Show notes

CW: misogyny, fat phobia

Back in April I did an impromptu live stream. The theme of this live stream was music. One thing I love doing is live reacting to things I've never read before and this episode captures it well. In the first story, I recount a UFO encounter that the Moody Blues had while returning home from a show in 1967. The second story involves a Canadian man named Jack and his lifelong alien abduction experiences.

Sources:

Love and Saucers - Vinegar Syndrome Release

Missing Time by Budd Hopkins

Communion by Whitley Strieber

Intruders by Budd Hopkins

Extraordinary Contact: Life Beyond Intruders by Debra Jordan-Kauble

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

Check out my links here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

117: The Valley of the Old Women and Brazil's Strange Humanoids with Rus Ryan Sep 05, 2022

Show notes

Journalist Bob Pratt made several trips to Brazil, collecting stories from villagers of UFO encounters. Many of them proved to be random, violent encounters which he published in UFO Danger Zone. Often these attacks would come after the witnesses had lit up a cigarette.

The area known as "The Valley of the Old Women" produced many accounts over the decades. To quote Pratt, “The valley encompasses 10,750 square miles of cattle ranches and farmland in low mountains and rolling hills in the center of the state of Minas Gerais. The river has many smaller streams feeding it.

“The system originates near the city of Ouro Preto, southeast of the state capital, Belo Horizonte, and meanders north-northwest about five hundred kilometers before emptying into the Rio Sao Francisco, one of Brazil’s largest rivers.”

On this episode, Rus Ryan, the co-host of The Unbelievers and Zona del Silencio podcasts joins me to discuss these strange encounters.

Sources:

“The ‘One-Eyed Entities’ of Belo Horizonte” by Gordon Creighton Flying Saucer Review Special Issue N 3

“The Humanoids in Latin America” by Gordon Creighton Flying Saucer Review Special Issue N 1

“Brazil Still a UFO Hot Spot” by Bob Pratt and Cynthia Newby Luce MUFON UFO Journal N 285 January 1992

UFOs still haunting Brazil’s Valley of the Old Women by Bob Pratt MUFON UFO Journal N 430 February 2004

“The Pirassununga Landing by Nigel Rimes Flying Saucer Review Special Issue N 3

“Extraterrestrial Dwarves Attack Farm Worker” by Dr. Walter Buhler Flying Saucer Review 1982 V 28 N 1

Itaperuna 1970-1971 by Dr. Walter Buhler Flying Saucer Review Special Issue N 5

The Paulo Caetano Case

“Canary Islands Landing: Occupants Reported” by JM Sanchez Flying Saucer Review 1977 V 23 N 3

“World Round-Up - Canary Islands/Onion Phobia?” Flying Saucer Review 1976 V 22 N 4

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

Check out my links here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

116: The Humanoids of Puerto Rico with Todd Purse Aug 29, 2022

Show notes

In UFO circles, Puerto Rico's reputation has largely been built upon that red eyed goat sucker known as El Chupacabras. In reality, their UFO and humanoid history is much more varied than that.

Magdalena del Amo-Freixedo, the wife of investigator Salvador Freixedo, put it best: “Long ago, long before the arrival of Christopher Columbus, the god Yuquiyú was wont to appear to the natives of the Island, the Taino Indians. And, as the centuries have passed, Puerto Rico has been the scene of all the most controversial and diverse sorts of paranormal phenomena, such as ‘encounters with fairies,’ apparitions of ‘yetis,’ of strange animals, of UFO sightings, of ‘dwarfs with big heads,’ etc., etc.”

On this episode I'm joined by artist Todd Purse to talk about El Chupacabras, the weird beings that have been seen in El Yunque, and many others!

Sources:

“Current Happenings on Puerto Rico” by Magdalena del Amo-Freixedo, Flying Saucer Review 1991 V 36 N 4

“Seven Year of Unidentified Flying Objects in Puerto Rico and The Dominican Republic” by Sebastián Robiou Lamarche Stendek Year 2 N 6 September 1971

“Green Blood and Alien Situations in Puerto Rico” by Jorge Martín

“Encounter with a Little Entity in Puerto Rico” by Jorge Martín, Flying Saucer Review 1998 V 43 N 1

“Puerto Rico: An Area of Extraterrestrial Experimentation?” by Magdalena Del Amo-Freixedo, Flying Saucer Review 1994 V 39 N 1

Multiple articles by Jorge Martín, Flying Saucer Review 1998 V 43 N 2

“Entities in the Headlights” by Jorge Martín, Flying Saucer Review 2000 V 45 N 2

“What are the Creatures Seen Recently in Puerto Rico” by Jorge Martín, Flying Saucer Review 2000 V 45 N 1

“Vampire ‘Chupa-Chupas’ in Puerto Rico” by Gordon Creighton, Flying Saucer Review,1996 V 41 N 1

“Vampire ‘Chupa-Chupas’ in Puerto Rico (1995): Part II” by Gordon Creighton, Flying Saucer Review 1996 V 41 N 3

“Chupacabras Widespread: The Enigma Grows” by Jorge Martín, Flying Saucer Review 2002 V 47 N 4

“UFOs and Mysterious Deaths of Animals, Part I: The Animal Deaths in Puerto Rico” by Sebastion Robiou Lamarche, Flying Saucer Review 1976 V 22 N 5

“UFOs and Mysterious Deaths of Animals, Part II: UFO Sightings in Puerto Rico” by Sebastion Robiou Lamarche, Flying Saucer Review 1976 V 22 N 6

“More Mysterious Deaths of Animals” by Sebastion Robiou Lamarche, Flying Saucer Review 1979 V 25 N 3

Jorge Martín - UFOs and the Chupacabras in Puerto Rico - YouTube Clip

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

Check out my links here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

115: The Unspeakable Secret Aug 22, 2022

Show notes

Am I phoning it in again? Yes, but I really like this episode and for those who haven't subscribed to the Patreon, this is what you can expect.

While I was perusing Patrick Hughye's Field Guide to Extraterrestrials I found an entry concerning a mantis being. To me, this mantis looks like it's getting down to "Cotton Eye Joe." I tracked the story featured in it to an article written by Gary Smith for The Washington Post entitled "The Unspeakable Secret." In it, he details an experience oddly similar to one featured in Budd Hopkins first book, Missing Time.

If you do read the Post article, I must include a trigger warning for transphobia, which I skipped over while doing this episode, cuz fuck that bullshit.

Theme Song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

Check out my links here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

114: The UFO Window Aug 15, 2022

Show notes

In UFO research we have lots of strange terms for things. For instance, a flap is defined as a large cluster of sightings over a period of time. A great example of a flap is our series on the 1973 Year of the Humanoids, or the 1954 flap in France where witnesses saw UFOs and occupants that wore “diving suits.” Beyond the scope of flaps, there are certain areas of the world that have distinct paranormal flavors and identities. John Keel called them “Window Areas” or “Thin Places.”

The most notable area you know by name is the Skinwalker Ranch in Utah. But it’s not the only one. Dozens of stories featuring Bigfoot associated with UFO activity have been documented on Chestnut Ridge in Pennsylvania... In southern Missouri Ted Philips and a crew of researchers have been documenting strange occurrences in and around the location known only as Marley Woods. In New York, the famed Hudson Valley falls in the category of a Window Area.

In 1978, The A.P.R.O. Bulletin would carry a story over seven issues. A story that would rival Terry and Gwen’s time on their Ranch in Utah. It’s the story of “Clearview,” Colorado otherwise known as the Rocky Mountain Ranch.

Special thanks to Spencer Wirth-Davis (The What If? Podcast& Finding Quantum Quest), Willow Truman (The Nonsense Bazaar) and Brian Hastie (Double Density) for lending their voices to this episode.

Sources:

“Anatomy of a UFO Window” by P. Wayne LaPorte The A.P.R.O. Bulletin 1980 V 28 N 10

“Anatomy of a UFO Window” by P. Wayne LaPorte The A.P.R.O. Bulletin 1980 V 28 N 11

“Multiple Phenomena on Colorado Ranch, Pt. 1” by John S. Derr and R. Leo Sprinkle The A.P.R.O. Bulletin 1978 V 27 N 1

“Multiple Phenomena on Colorado Ranch, Pt. 2” by John S. Derr and R. Leo Sprinkle The A.P.R.O. Bulletin 1978 V 27 N 2

“Multiple Phenomena on Colorado Ranch, Pt. 3” by John S. Derr and R. Leo Sprinkle The A.P.R.O. Bulletin 1978 V 27 N 3

“Multiple Phenomena on Colorado Ranch, Pt. 4” by John S. Derr and R. Leo Sprinkle The A.P.R.O. Bulletin 1978 V 27 N 4

“Multiple Phenomena on Colorado Ranch, Pt. 5” by John S. Derr and R. Leo Sprinkle The A.P.R.O. Bulletin 1978 V 27 N 5

“Multiple Phenomena on Colorado Ranch, Pt. 6” by John S. Derr and R. Leo Sprinkle The A.P.R.O. Bulletin 1978 V 27 N 6

“Multiple Phenomena on Colorado Ranch, Pt. 7” by John S. Derr and R. Leo Sprinkle The A.P.R.O. Bulletin 1979 V 27 N 7

“Why a Colorado ranch became a paranormal hotspot” by George Knapp Mystery Wire

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

Check out my links here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

113: Bigfoot and the Half Cat Mystery with Spencer Wirth-Davis Aug 08, 2022

Show notes

CW: Animal death and mutilation

This week Spencer Wirth Davis of Finding Quantum Quest and The What If? Podcast steps in to tell ME a story.

Sometimes, a sentence is so unhinged and delivered in a normal fashion that it's unforgettable. In 2018 Spencer and his co-host on The What If? Podcast, Ryan Kopperud, went to the Mile High Mystery Conference. While there, Ryan was yelled at by David Paulides and Linda Multon Howe uttered a sentence that has stuck with him for over four years.

On this episode, Spencer dives deep into the implication of that sentence, looking into the connection between Bigfoot and cats... You won't want to miss this buck wild episode.

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

Check out my links here.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

112: Flying Solo, Vol. 1: From the Pages of the A.P.R.O. Bulletin Aug 01, 2022

Show notes

After nearly 8 hours of content over the span of three episodes, I feel like we could use a bit of a breather. Okay, maybe I need the breather, but I'm not gonna leave you hanging. I'm flying solo this week, and I've culled a few articles from The A.P.R.O. Bulletin to read for you. If you feel like I'm phoning it in, don't worry, I do too, but I needed a bit of a break. We'll conclude our series on the 65-67 flap next episode with a look at key cases from other countries.

Sources:

“Multiple Witness Case in California” The A.P.R.O. Bulletin March-April 1972

“1972 Iowa Landing Case” The A.P.R.O. Bulletin May-June 1974

“New Mexico Occupant Case” The A.P.R.O. Bulletin V 24 N 6 December 1975

“Strange Aerial Sounds in South Africa” The A.P.R.O. Bulletin V 22 N 1 July-August 1973

“UFOs in Southern Wisconsin By Richard Heiden” The A.P.R.O. Bulletin V 22 N 1 July-August 1973

“Occupants Sighted in Australia” The A.P.R.O. Bulletin V 21 N 1 July-August 1972

“Follow-Ups” The A.P.R.O. Bulletin V 21 N 4 January-February 1973

“Those Iowa Craters” The A.P.R.O. Bulletin V 21 N 1 July-August 1972

“1886 Venezuelan Incident Studied” The A.P.R.O. Bulletin V 21 N 1 July-August 1972

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify