In this in-depth interview, host Martin Willis welcomes veteran UFO researcher Donald Schmitt, protégé of Dr. J. Allen Hynek, the famed astronomer behind Project Blue Book. Schmitt shares rare personal insights into Hynek’s life, his shift from skeptic to believer, and the behind-the-scenes struggles with government secrecy. They explore pivotal UFO cases including Socorro, Roswell, Pascagoula, Travis Walton, and reveal how Hynek quietly investigated Roswell before its public rediscovery. Schmitt reflects on Hynek’s legacy, his influence on modern UFO research, and what Hynek might think of later landmark encounters such as the Ariel School Incident. A moving conversation about mentorship, truth-seeking, and carrying forward Hynek’s mission to legitimize the scientific study of the UFO phenomenon.SHOW NOTES👉 Join us on Patreon — Get ad-free podcast episodes (for any media player) for as little as $2/month:https://www.patreon.com/MartinWillisPodcastUFO🛸Did you have a UFO/UAP Encounter? Leave Us a Voicemail: https://podcastufo.com/ufo-sightings/ufo-encounter-voicemail🧢 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📱 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
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AudioBlog: Semi-Ancient UFOs
By Charles Lear, read by AI (written before AudioBlogs) The history of UFO sightings and alien encounters as portrayed in the popular media is, mostly, separated into distinct periods: modern, from the late 1890’s airship flap followed by World War II “foo fighters” into post-1947 after the Kenneth Arnold report, and ancient interaction pieced together using “evidence” from the time of cave dwelling humans up to the time of the builders of cities and megalithic structures. UFOs depicted in Byzantine paintings (misinterpreted conventional symbols) the 1561 report from Nuremburg, Germany and the 1566 report from Basel, Switzerland are often thrown in during reviews of UFO history but what about the time in between then and the 1890’s? It turns out that there are quite a few reports from the period in question and they read like modern reports although they were written before the modern context of alien visitation. CONTINUE>
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705. Stacey Wright
In this episode, host Martin Willis interviews Stacey Wright, Director of Phoenix MUFON (Mutual UFO Network), about her journey into UFO research and leadership within one of the country’s most active chapters. Stacey shares what sparked her fascination with the phenomenon and offers insight into how MUFON investigates sightings, evaluates evidence, and promotes public understanding. Together, they explore what drives interest in UFOs and UAPs, highlight notable Arizona cases, and discuss the importance of curiosity, critical thinking, and open dialogue in the ongoing search for truth. 🔹 Recorded in: Sedona, Arizona.SHOW NOTES👉 Join us on Patreon — Get ad-free podcast episodes (for any media player) for as little as $2/month:https://www.patreon.com/MartinWillisPodcastUFO🛸Did you have a UFO/UAP Encounter? Leave Us a Voicemail: https://podcastufo.com/ufo-sightings/ufo-encounter-voicemail🧢 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📱 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
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704. Mitch Randall, UFO Detection
Host Martin Willis sits down with Mitch Randall, developer of the SkyWatch Passive Radar UFO Detector and Research Team member of Harvard’s Galileo Project. The SkyWatch system is designed to definitively answer one of humanity’s biggest questions: Are we alone? Unlike conventional approaches, SkyWatch is a decentralized network of citizen-deployed radar receivers working together to create a real-time nationwide map of UFO flight patterns. Mitch has already developed and deployed a proof-of-concept system in collaboration with the Galileo Project, and now the goal is to expand SkyWatch into a consumer product, enabling anyone to join the network and contribute valuable UFO data.🌌 In this interview, we’ll cover: How SkyWatch technology worksThe results of the proof-of-concept with the Galileo ProjectThe vision for a nationwide citizen radar networkWhy funding and public participation are essential to make this a reality👉 Don’t miss this fascinating discussion about technology, science, and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence!https://ascendantai.com/skywatch👉 Join us on Patreon — Get ad-free podcast episodes (for any media player) for as little as $2/month:https://www.patreon.com/MartinWillisPodcastUFO🛸Did you have a UFO/UAP Encounter? Leave Us a Voicemail: https://podcastufo.com/ufo-sightings/ufo-encounter-voicemail🧢 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📱 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
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AudioBlog: Dr. J. Allen Hynek and the International Center for UFO Research
by UFO History Buff & Author, Charles Lear In the late 1960s, Dr. J. Allen Hynek was a key figure in getting members of the scientific community to take flying saucers/UFOs seriously. He was a prominent astronomer who was involved in the mystery at the very beginning as a consultant for the Air Force’s investigation, which operated for most of its existence as Project Blue Book until its termination in 1969. He was born in Chicago in 1910 and worked and lived in Ohio from 1935 until he became chair of the astronomy department at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, in 1960. In 1973, he founded the Center for UFO Studies, which was based in Chicago. Then, in 1984, after spending his entire life in the Midwest, he rather suddenly moved with his family from Chicago to Scottsdale, Arizona. In this blog, we’ll explore what was going on behind the scenes. Read more →
Podcast UFO is your destination for compelling audio programs focused on UFOs, close encounters, and the people behind the phenomena. Hear firsthand accounts from eyewitnesses, insights from experts, and discussions on sightings, government secrecy, and more. Want to get involved? Visit our website to learn how to join the conversation. Starting September 2025, we’ll be streaming live on YouTube every Tuesday at 9:00 PM ET and Thursday at 8:00 PM ET. Tune in and be part of the journey!
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