Our Strange Skies

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 (https://cryptonautpodcast.com/) 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. 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 damn. I'm joined by Amber (https://twitter.com/AmberRae1992) & Andrew (https://twitter.com/AndrewMckay100) from the Into the Portal (https://www.intotheportal.com/) podcast to discuss one of the least talked about UFO flaps of all time, Charlie Red Star! 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. If you would like to contribute to the Native American Community Response Fund you can do so here (https://www.grapevine.org/c/3y6hD5/Liberated-Capital-A-Decolonizing-Wealth-Fund/home) ! Show notes (https://www.ourstrangeskies.com/the-boys-who-never-came-home-yuba-county-five)

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.” Show notes

Johnny Sands moved from Nashville to Las Vegas, Nevada in order to jump start his country music career. On the night of January 29, 1976, he was on his way home when he had a chance encounter with a pair of "enigmatic entities." (https://www.teepublic.com/t-shirt/6515140-enigmatic-entity-black-on-black?store_id=175678)   This encounter led to an even stranger encounter with a pair of men who may have been the infamous men in black. Grab your guitar and strum along to this fascinating tale of alien contact. Sources: Firelight (1964 Film) - Wikipedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firelight_(1964_film))   Kurt Vonnegut Museum & Library Store (https://squareup.com/market/kvml/)   “15 Things You May Not Know About Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63198/15-things-you-may-not-know-about-close-encounters-third-kind) By Sean Hutchinson - Mental Floss (https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/63198/15-things-you-may-not-know-about-close-encounters-third-kind) What are the contents of the Golden Record - JPL (https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/golden-record/whats-on-the-record/)   An Interview with Johnny Sands by Brent Raynes - Mysterious America (http://mysterious-america.com/johnnysands.html) "The Johnny Sands Case" - A.P.R.O. Bulletin - NUFOURS (http://www.noufors.com/sixty-foot_craft_lands_with_two_occupants.html)   Music: "Thoughtput" by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue (http://sessions.blue/) ) "On Early Light" by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue (http://sessions.blue/) )  "Cash Cow" by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue (http://sessions.blue/) ) "Lights Out" by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue (http://sessions.blue/) ) "OneEightFour" by Blue Dot Sessions (sessions.blue (http://sessions.blue/) )  "Blue Diamond Encounter by Johnny Sands  (https://music.apple.com/ne/album/blue-diamond-encounter/1228153924?i=1228155063) Theme Songs by Big Cats (http://bigcatsbeats.com/) Logo and Web Design by the Great Desdymona (http://desdymona.com/)