What Can Experiencers Teach Us? Phenomenology, Contact & the Trickster | Dr. Kimberly Engels (Ep. 20)

What Can Experiencers Teach Us? Phenomenology, Contact & the Trickster | Dr. Kimberly Engels (Ep. 20)

It’s been a while! We're delighted to be back with you, especially to bring you this outstanding conversation with a thoughtful and brilliant guest.  You can watch this episode ⁠here on our YouTube channel⁠ [https://youtu.be/MDrdI1ms48A] Examining some of what was shown in Steven Spielberg’s new movie Disclosure Day alongside the mainstream conversation around UFOs and contact experiences, if you've ever felt like something essential has been missing, this episode is for you. In the interview, we sit down with philosopher and UAP researcher Dr. Kimberly S. Engels (Associate Professor of Philosophy at Molloy University and Research Director of the John Mack Institute) for a conversation that genuinely moved us. Dr. Engels brings a unique and vital lens to anomalous phenomena. She shares her take on phenomenology, the philosophical study of lived experience as it actually appears to the person having it, before any attempt at explanation or categorization. This approach, she argues, isn't just academically interesting; it's also an ethical imperative for how we treat experiencers, whose credibility has been dismissed, pathologized, and flattened for far too long. In this episode, we talk about:  * Why experiencer accounts deserve to be taken on their own terms.  * What thousands of contact accounts reveal when you actually look.  * The Trickster, indigenous wisdom, and rethinking non-human intelligence.  About Dr. Kimberly S. Engels: Associate Professor of Philosophy at Molloy University and Research Director of the John Mack Institute. Her work sits at the intersection of existentialism, ethics, phenomenology, and UAP research, with a particular focus on the lived conscious experience of contact experiencers and the new frameworks their accounts demand. At Rice University, Dr. Engels and colleagues are using phenomenological coding and AI to analyze thousands of experiencer letters from the Whitley Strieber and John Mack collections;  the largest project of its kind. Her new book, Contact and Multidimensional Subjectivity: Towards a Phenomenology of Disclosure (College Publications, Marked States series), is the culmination of years of research, phenomenological study, and her own deepening engagement with the phenomenon.   Links & Resources on Dr. Engels and her work: 🔗 Dr. Engels' ⁠Academia.edu⁠ [https://kimberlyengels.academia.edu/⁠]: 📖 ⁠Contact and Multidimensional Subjectivity⁠ [https://www.amazon.com/Contact-Multidimensional-Subjectivity-Phenomenology-Disclosure/dp/1848905076⁠] (book — purchase) 🛸 ⁠Embodied Disclosure⁠ [https://embodied-disclosure.kit.com/3f445511ba⁠] — Join Dr. Engels' mailing list for salons, courses, and writings Thank you for being part of this community. These conversations are for all of us. Chapters 00:00 Introduction 05:10 Childhood Curiosities: The Spark of Interest in the Paranormal 06:51 Philosophical Foundations: The Journey into UAP Research 09:40 The Impact of COVID on Research & Perspectives 11:58 Exploring Experiencer Narratives: Authenticity & Patterns 13:39 Understanding Authenticity of Experiencer Accounts 18:19 Limitations of Traditional Scientific Frameworks 20:16 A New Approach: Phenomenology & Experience 23:57 Importance of Describing Experiences in Research 29:16 Shamanic Worldviews: Indigenous Perspectives on UAP 33:36 Intersubjectivity: A New Lens for Understanding Experiences 39:37 Ethics & Experiencers 47:55 The Trickster Archetype in the Paranormal 01:01:04 Humor & Playfulness in Anomalous Experiences 01:10:41 Exploring Multidimensional Beings & Intentions 01:13:15 Experiencer Perspectives on Violations & Transformations 01:15:34 Importance of Understanding Experiencer Stories 01:16:14 Humor in Anomalous Experiences 01:25:30 Metadata Project at The Center For The Impossible #UAP #UFO #Experiencers #NHI #Phenomenology #Consciousness #Alien #Disclosure #DisclosureDay #spirituality #paranormal #supernatural #telepathy #psychic #psi #abduction #philosophy #psychology #phenomenology Last but not least: If these conversations matter to you, please consider supporting us! 📲👍🏽🔔 Please rate, follow, and turn on alerts for our podcast to stay up to date with our releases, and we encourage you to ask questions and give us feedback and thoughts in the comments section! 🗣️ The Fire In The Cosmos can only be kindled through an open dialogue on all these topics, so we want this to be a space where YOUR voice can also be heard! To support us please join our ⁠Patreon⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/c/FireInTheCosmos] & follow us on our socials! ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@FireInTheCosmos] (To watch our episodes) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/fireinthecosmos] * 📩 Substack coming soon — stay tuned!

Two Souls, One Body? The Nature of Reality, NHI & Telepathy | Annika & Tristan (Ep. 19, Pt. 2)

Make sure to check out Part 1 of this interview [https://youtu.be/NjpAQ2eIUJ8] first (watching the video highly recommended)! Join our Patreon [https://www.patreon.com/c/fireinthecosmos/membership] to get access to exclusive announcements, community calls, and early-bird discounts on offerings like our soon-to-be-announced retreat! Guests Annika & Tristan Episode Description If you thought Part 1 raised questions… Part 2 goes much deeper. Annika & Tristan describe themselves as two souls sharing one physical body: a lived experience they call a “telepathic society of two.” But in this second part of our conversation, the focus shifts from how they exist… to why they exist, and what it might mean for all of us. They describe their experience as a glimpse into a form of consciousness where: * Thoughts and emotions are shared directly * Radical transparency replaces separation * Telepathy is not unusual, but natural According to them, this kind of connection requires something most humans struggle with: trust, vulnerability, and a deep capacity for love. We explore: * Why telepathy could transform human relationships, or destabilize them * The role of fear vs. love in shaping consciousness and society * Their experiences with non-human intelligence (NHI, or aliens) and anomalous phenomena * Encounters with research institutions and the Intelligence Community (CIA) * Whether others like them exist and why many remain hidden * Consciousness as frequency, and the possibility of multiple layers of reality They also speak candidly about their sense of purpose: to help people understand … and to move toward a more connected, less fear-driven way of being not just with fellow humans, but with the wider cosmos. This is not just about two amazing individuals; it’s also a conversation about: 👉 identity 👉 consciousness 👉 the future of humanity ********* Annika & Tristan’s story has drawn attention from Dr. Marina Weiler (whom we interviewed in Episode 18 [https://youtu.be/2jhLLXAN3xg?si=Z14zm7XCrlUlKgL6])! Check out Annika & Tristan’s seven-part series of interviews [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFE6EJXWqkRjlIXlmJRvI-giFZFv5lti3] with Dr. Jeffrey Mishlove on New Thinking Allowed. ********* #consciousness #telepathy #psychology #science #alien #neurodiversity #paranormal Last but not least: If these conversations matter to you, please consider supporting us! 📲👍🏽🔔 Please rate, follow, and turn on alerts for our podcast to stay up to date with our releases, and we encourage you to ask questions and give us feedback and thoughts in the comments section! 🗣️ The Fire In The Cosmos can only be kindled through an open dialogue on all these topics, so we want this to be a space where YOUR voice can also be heard! To support us please join our ⁠Patreon⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/c/FireInTheCosmos] & follow us on our socials! ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@FireInTheCosmos] (To watch our episodes) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/fireinthecosmos] * 📩 Substack coming soon — stay tuned!

Two Souls in One Body? Telepathy & Consciousness Research | Annika & Tristan (Ep. 19, Pt. 1)

Subscribe & turn on alerts for the release of Part 2 of this interview! Guests Annika & Tristan (You can watch the video version of this episode here [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjpAQ2eIUJ8&list=PL_dMmLWZSg8ZOP51xPROTqx4pNE56tH38&index=2]!) Episode Description If you’re curious about neurodiversity, telepathy, parapsychology, and the deeper mysteries of consciousness and “the self,” this is a conversation you won’t want to miss. Annika & Tristan are two souls sharing one physical body. While two distinct consciousnesses, they also share constant telepathy. Their story is not that of walk-in souls or DID (dissociative identity disorder). This episode of Fire In The Cosmos explores one of the most unusual cases discussed in modern parapsychology, which has drawn fascination from some of the most brilliant academic minds in the field.  Annika & Tristan’s lived experience — what they describe as a “telepathic society of two” — raises profound questions about identity, mind, and what it actually means to be human. They describe how their shared embodiment began, how it unfolded over many years, and how they navigate everyday life together now. We also get into how they feel their path here is propelled forward by a passionate, shared mission here to better our world. Watch through the end of this episode for a beautiful musical performance of an original song Annika & Tristan wrote together. This perfectly demonstrates their ability to share one instrument, one body, two streams of creative expression, and a deep, cosmic kind of love. Annika & Tristan’s story has drawn attention from Dr. Marina Weiler (whom we interviewed in Episode 18 [https://youtu.be/2jhLLXAN3xg?si=Z14zm7XCrlUlKgL6])! Check out Annika & Tristan’s seven-part series of interviews [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFE6EJXWqkRjlIXlmJRvI-giFZFv5lti3] with Dr. Jeffrey Mishlove on New Thinking Allowed. Last but not least: If these conversations matter to you, please consider supporting us! 📲👍🏽🔔 Please rate, follow, and turn on alerts for our podcast to stay up to date with our releases, and we encourage you to ask questions and give us feedback and thoughts in the comments section! 🗣️ The Fire In The Cosmos can only be kindled through an open dialogue on all these topics, so we want this to be a space where YOUR voice can also be heard! To support us please join our ⁠Patreon⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/c/FireInTheCosmos] & follow us on our socials! ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@FireInTheCosmos] (To watch our episodes) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/fireinthecosmos] * 📩 Substack coming soon — stay tuned!

Dr. Marina Weiler: Pioneering Neuroscientist on Consciousness Research & Out-of-Body Experiences (Ep. 18)

Guest:  Marina Weiler, PhD Assistant Prof. of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioral Sciences  University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies  (You can watch the video version of this episode ⁠here⁠ [https://youtu.be/2jhLLXAN3xg]!) ******** Dr. Weiler is a Brazilian-American neuroscientist and Assistant Professor at the University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS). She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Campinas (UNICAMP) in Brazil, with her doctoral research focused on fMRI biomarkers in Alzheimer's disease.  Using tools such as EEGs, psychophysiology, and phenomenological interviews, her current research at DOPS bridges neuroscience, psychology, and consciousness science, with a focus on out-of-body experiences (OBEs), mediumship, remote viewing, and telepathy.  In 2021, she was a runner-up award recipient in the Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Research (BICS) essay contest for the best evidence of an afterlife. Marina is also a regular contributor to Psychology Today, where she writes the column “⁠Beyond the Ordinary⁠ [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/beyond-the-ordinary].”  ******** Marina’s Take on Varginha UFO Incident & Witnesses! 🎥 After this recording, Marina joined us at James Fox’s 1/20/26 Washington, DC Press Event on the Varginha, Brazil UFO incident. We spoke with her on the sidelines to get her take on that, and featured her comments and others’ in ⁠Episode 17⁠ [https://youtu.be/Mh14MMN1T8I?si=bJN6e0RbsuaOzY8x⁠]! ******** Episode Description What if consciousness doesn’t end with the brain—and reality is bigger than we’ve been taught?  In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Marina Weiler, neuroscientist and researcher at the University of Virginia’s storied Division of Perceptual Studies, where science is exploring experiences most people are told can’t be real—many of which contain evidence supporting theories of non-locality in consciousness.  We dive into real cases, as well as current and future research on veridical OBEs, reincarnation research, anomalous consciousness, and mediumship.  The work being done by Marina and her colleagues isn’t pseudoscience, but careful, ethical scientific inquiry into the deepest mysteries of human experience.  We explore:  * Scientific research into experiences once dismissed as impossible  * Veridical OBEs and what they suggest about consciousness beyond the body  * The intersection of science, spirituality, and mental health  * Why consciousness research may be entering a true paradigm shift  This episode will challenge your worldview in the best way!  Last but not least: If these conversations matter to you, please consider supporting us! 📲👍🏽🔔 Please rate, follow, and turn on alerts for our podcast to stay up to date with our releases, and we encourage you to ask questions and give us feedback and thoughts in the comments section! 🗣️ The Fire In The Cosmos can only be kindled through an open dialogue on all these topics, so we want this to be a space where YOUR voice can also be heard! To support us please join our ⁠Patreon⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/c/FireInTheCosmos] & follow us on our socials! ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@FireInTheCosmos] (To watch our episodes) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/fireinthecosmos] * 📩 Substack coming soon — stay tuned!

Reactions From James Fox’s Washington, DC Press Conference on Varginha, Brazil UFO Incident (Ep. 17)

To watch the video version of this, which includes several of our photos and video interviews, check it out on YouTube [https://youtu.be/Mh14MMN1T8I]! Guest Interviews • Caren Gallaudet – Wife of Navy Rear Adm. (ret.) Tim Gallaudet • Sarah Gamm – Former Ep. 5 Guest, formerly supported UAP Task Force (Ep. 5, Pt. 1 [https://youtu.be/LF5-8HDTixE]) (Ep. 5, Pt. 2 [https://youtu.be/ufaWgUGoRAE]) • (Science) Bob McGwier -- Former Chief Scientist, Hume Center • Dr. Marina Weiler – Neuroscientist, University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies [A full interview about her work is airing on our channel in February 2026!] • Mike D’Ambrosio – Former military, seeker • John Von Blauch – Grand Prior of the US, Knights Templar Order of the Temple Event Moderator & Panelists o Karin Austin  o James Fox o Carlos De Sousa – Brazilian Witness o Dr. Italo Venturelli – Brazilian Neurosurgeon o Dr. Armando Fortunato – Brazilian Forensic Pathologist o Brazilian Senator Eduardo Girão o Kirk McConnell o Col. Fred Claussen  ********* We recorded our interviews in collaboration with Somewhere In The Skies! We will be going on their show for a livestream on Sunday, January 25 @ 5pm EST [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McqsRGI4Zxg] to discuss the James Fox Press Conference in more detail! Join us there and give them a follow (links below)! ********* 🔎 Episode Description In this episode, we discuss our time at the UFO / UAP Press Conference [https://www.anomalouscoalition.com/news/james-fox-hosts-uap-press-conference-in-washington-dc] in Washington, DC’s National Press Club, organized by James Fox—the filmmaker behind “Moment of Contact: New Revelations of Alien Encounters”—on January 20, 2026. We note a few bits of new information that came out of the event for those who have seen the film, and our feelings about how historic this all was for the experiencer community, showcased by the bravery of the Brazilian witnesses from the 1996 Varginha case! In the second half, we featured short interviews we conducted with the guests above, many of whom offered profound perspectives on the witness testimony! ⁠NewsNation full Livestream of press conference⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/live/99hRVeBzTzE?si=9DfHo2y7mONrwK7m] ******* Somewhere In The Skies Patreon [https://patreon.com/cw/SomewhereSkies] YouTube [https://youtube.com/@SomewhereintheSkies] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/SomewhereSkiesPod] X [https://x.com/SomewhereSkies] #Podcast #Paranormal #UFO #UFOs #NHI #Alien #Supernatural #uap #consciousness #telepathy #Brazil #varginha #congress #airforce #experiencer Last but not least: If these conversations matter to you, please consider supporting us! 📲👍🏽🔔 Please rate, follow, and turn on alerts for our podcast to stay up to date with our releases, and we encourage you to ask questions and give us feedback and thoughts in the comments section! 🗣️ The Fire In The Cosmos can only be kindled through an open dialogue on all these topics, so we want this to be a space where YOUR voice can also be heard! To support us please join our ⁠Patreon⁠ [https://www.patreon.com/c/FireInTheCosmos] & follow us on our socials! ⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@FireInTheCosmos] (To watch our episodes) ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠X/Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://x.com/fireinthecosmos] ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠ [https://www.facebook.com/fireinthecosmos] * 📩 Substack coming soon — stay tuned!