Paranoid Planet

Paranoid Planet

PARANOID PLANET is a podcast about conspiracy theories, paradigm shifts, and critical thinking that offers serious and lighthearted conversations with people who believe in conspiracy theories, and with the skeptics who critique them. We also explore historical, philosophical, artistic, psychological, and scientific themes related to conspiracies and the study of knowledge. Whether you are an avid conspiracy follower or a hardened skeptic, our aim is to help you become a better critical thinker and a proponent of healthy public discourse.

Episodes

August 28, 2025 139 mins

The one where we conduct a full investigation of the Travis Walton (a.k.a.: "Fire In the Sky") UFO abduction and discuss the methods, ideas, and demise of UFO abduction therapists Budd Hopkins, David Jacobs, and John Mack, with the help of author, journalist, and podcaster Toby Ball.

Brought to you by a fashionable new line of gastrointestinal accoutrements.

Click here to listen to Toby Ball's Strange Arrivals podcast....

Mark as Played

The one where we lay the groundwork for the UFO abduction phenomenon with guest co-host Matthew Newland and contrast the UFO abduction memories of Betty and Barney Hill with the help of author, journalist, and podcaster Toby Ball.

Brought to you by a fashionable new line of gastrointestinal accoutrements.

Click here to listen to Toby Ball's Strange Arrivals podcast. 

Click here to listen to Toby Ball's  Rip Current podcast.

C...

Mark as Played

The one where we diagnose the UFO abduction claims of Betty and Barney Hill, Whitley Strieber, and Travis Walton, and evaluate the research methods of self-appointed alien abduction therapists Budd Hopkins, David Jacobs, and John Mack with the help of author, journalist, and podcaster Toby Ball.

Brought to you by a fashionable new line of gastrointestinal accoutrements.

Click here to listen to Toby Ball's Strange Arrivals podcas...

Mark as Played

The one where we shoot down some unidentified objects with a cross section of American East coasters, dig up the remains of the infamous 1947 Roswell crashed "flying disc", and discuss the ideas and influence of Ufologists J. Allen Hynek, Jacques Vallée, Leslie Kean, and Avi Loeb, with Science writer and veteran UFO debunker, Robert Sheaffer.   

(This episode was NOT funded by the South Carolina Department of Tourism--thou...

Mark as Played

The one in which we assemble another panel of armchair experts aboard the starship USS Swampgass to explore, assess, quarantine, and if necessary obliterate, the 2023 National Geographic series UFOs: Investigating the Unknown, featuring Leslie Kean, Luis Elizondo, Allen Hynek, and Avi Loeb, with a little help from our friends Matthew Newland and Rémi Poirier.     

Click here for light-speed access to our episode blog page...

Mark as Played

The one where we investigate the latest UAP craze and its many proponents, discuss the psychology of ufology, excavate the 1947 Roswell "crashed saucer" story, ruminate over the life and mind of “Close Encounters Man” J. Allen Hynek, and gawk at a plethora of funny lights in the sky with veteran UFO Skeptics Michael Shermer and Robert Sheaffer.

Brought to you by a little blue pill that will keep you from having ...

Mark as Played

The one where we investigate the latest UAP craze and its many proponents, discuss the psychology of ufology, excavate the 1947 Roswell "crashed saucer" story, ruminate over the life and mind of “Close Encounters Man” J. Allen Hynek, and gawk at a plethora of funny lights in the sky with veteran UFO Skeptics Michael Shermer and Robert Sheaffer

Brought to you by a little blue pill that will keep you from having ...

Mark as Played

The one where we investigate the 1980 Rendlesham Forest UFO story (and other tales of strange things in the sky) with former British Ministry of Defence UFO analyst Nick Pope, science writer and UFO sceptic Ian Ridpath, and returning guest co-host Matthew Marc. (Part 3 of 3).

Brought to you by a popular 1980s electronic memory game that might also have served as a powerful mind-control weapon...     

Time Stamps:
0:00:00  Introdu...

Mark as Played

The one where we investigate the 1980 Rendlesham Forest UFO story (and other tales of strange things in the sky) with former British Ministry of Defence UFO analyst Nick Pope, science writer and UFO sceptic Ian Ridpath, and returning guest co-host Matthew Marc. (Part 2 of 3).

Brought to you by a popular 1980s electronic memory game that might also have served as a powerful mind-control weapon...     

Time Stamps:
0:00:00  Introdu...

Mark as Played

The one where we investigate the 1980 Rendlesham Forest UFO story (and other tales of strange things in the sky) with former British Ministry of Defence UFO analyst Nick Pope, science writer and UFO sceptic Ian Ridpath, and returning guest co-host Matthew Marc. (Part 1 of 3).

Brought to you by a popular 1980s electronic memory game that might also have served as a powerful mind-control weapon...     

Time Stamps:<...

Mark as Played

The one where we investigate the 1980 Rendlesham Forest UFO story (and other tales of strange things in the sky) with former British Ministry of Defence UFO analyst Nick Pope, science writer and UFO sceptic Ian Ridpath, and returning guest co-host Matthew Marc.

Brought to you by a popular 1980s electronic memory game that might also have served as a powerful mind-control weapon...     

Click here to access Nick Po...

Mark as Played

The one where we deconstruct the 1997 "Phoenix Lights" UFO sightings, chide sensationalist journalists, debunk UFO junk science, rebuke New Age space gurus, and  learn a few things about telescopes, comet Hale-Bopp, and where in the world is Shelley Miscavige, with cult-busting journalist, editor, author, and amateur astronomer, Tony Ortega.

Click here to read "The Great UFO Cover-up", Tony's orig...

Mark as Played

The one where we track the evolution of the modern UFO saga with science historian Greg Eghigian, reflect on what Kenneth Arnold flew past in the Washington skies back in 1947, and find out what college freshmen believe about space aliens.  Brought to you by a kind little alien visitor with a big heart and even bigger stomach.

Check out Greg Eghigian's book After the Flying Saucers Came here.

TIMESTAMPS:

Mark as Played

The one where we track the evolution of the modern UFO saga with science historian Greg Eghigian, reflect on what Kenneth Arnold flew past in the Washington skies back in 1947, and find out what college freshmen believe about space aliens.  Brought to you by a kind little alien visitor with a big heart and even bigger stomach.

Check out Greg Eghigian's book After the Flying Saucers Came here.    

Question Jar (send us ...

Mark as Played

The one where we kick off our third season by chewing the alien fat with our favorite interdimensional oracle and space traveler, religious studies scholar James Jervis, and review Steven Spielberg's classic sci-fi-horror-fairy-tale Close Encounters of the Third Kind with the help of philosophy professor Matthew Newland.    Brought to you by a stellar dining experience fit for a galactic overlord.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:0...

Mark as Played

The one where we kick off our third season by chewing the alien fat with our favorite interdimensional oracle and space traveler, religious studies scholar James Jervis, and review Steven Spielberg's classic sci-fi-horror-fairy-tale Close Encounters of the Third Kind with the help of philosophy professor Matthew Newland.    Brought to you by a stellar dining experience fit for a galactic overlord.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:0...

Mark as Played

The one where we kick off our third season by chewing the alien fat with our favorite interdimensional oracle and space traveler, religious studies scholar James Jervis, and review Steven Spielberg's classic sci-fi-horror-fairy-tale Close Encounters of the Third Kind with the help of philosophy professor Matthew Newland.    Brought to you by a stellar dining experience fit for a galactic overlord.

Question Jar (send us a text m...

Mark as Played

The one where we discuss Canadian history, historical theory, historical films, a couple conspiracies, and why everyone hates Toronto, with Canadian historian and podcaster Greg Koabel.

Click here to visit Greg's Nations of Canada Podcast homepage.   

Click here to read illustrated transcripts of Nations of Canada on Quillette.

Click here to visit Greg's Early Stuart England podcast homepage.  <...

Mark as Played

The one where we assess the credibility of the Dallas Police Dictabelt recordings that led the 1979 House Select Committee on Assassinations to conclude that President Kennedy was killed by “a probable conspiracy”.

WARNING: This episode contains a brief bucketful of bad words, courtesy of actor Joe Pesci.

Click here to visit Michael O'Dell's website.

Click here to visit our blog page, with an illustrated ...

Mark as Played

The one where we foreshadow our study of the JFK assassination's acoustic evidence with a review of Brian DePalma’s 1981 neo-noir conspiracy thriller Blow Out, starring John Travolta. 

Brought to you by a somewhat healthier way to fall sleep than binging on alcohol, Rohypnol, or opium.

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00:00 Opening Credits and Intro
00:11:02 Chapter 1: Blow Out Review
01:04:09 A Word From Our Spons...

Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Gregg Rosenthal and a rotating crew of elite NFL Media co-hosts, including Patrick Claybon, Colleen Wolfe, Steve Wyche, Nick Shook and Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic get you caught up daily on all the NFL news and analysis you need to be smarter and funnier than your friends.

    On Purpose with Jay Shetty

    I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    New Heights with Jason & Travis Kelce

    Football’s funniest family duo — Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles and Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs — team up to provide next-level access to life in the league as it unfolds. The two brothers and Super Bowl champions drop weekly insights about the weekly slate of games and share their INSIDE perspectives on trending NFL news and sports headlines. They also endlessly rag on each other as brothers do, chat the latest in pop culture and welcome some very popular and well-known friends to chat with them. Check out new episodes every Wednesday. Follow New Heights on the Wondery App, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to new episodes early and ad-free, and get exclusive content on Wondery+. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. And join our new membership for a unique fan experience by going to the New Heights YouTube channel now!

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.