The Paranoid Strain

Mar 03 2025 172 ep. 53 mins 1k

The Paranoid Strain Podcast artwork

The podcast that explains why so many people believe ridiculous conspiracy theories.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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New! Unidentified--The aliens attempt to kidnap Darth Vader

Mar 03 2025 29 mins

This episode, we deep dive into a TV movie adaptation of the Barney and Betty Hill story, starring and produced by James Earl Jones. An interesting film, and well intended, we examine the ways that it compromised the Hills' own conclusions about their experience in favor of a story designed to normalize interracial couples for a mainstream 1970s US audience. Enjoy!theparanoidstrain

New! Unidentified--Interracial relationships and alien abduction in 1960s America

Feb 18 2025 32 mins

Barney and Betty's story goes public, and the US media decides they made up this alien story because of how hard it was to be an interracial couple in 1960s America. It's infuriating. Enjoy!theparanoidstrain.comfacebook.com/groups/theparanoidstrainpatreon.com/theparanoidstrain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New! Unidentified--Dreams, hypnosis, and the first American alien abduction

Feb 05 2025 28 mins

Barney and Betty Hill had a weird night on September 19, 1961. Of that there's no doubt. But in this episode we investigate how the mid-century embrace of hypnosis as a psychological tool may have helped to generate the abduction story that would set the stage for the abduction mania of future decades.theparanoidstrain.comfacebook.com/groups/theparanoidstrainpatreon.com/theparanoid

New! Unidentified--Barney, Betty, and the UFO they saw

Jan 21 2025 28 mins

We're ready to take on the story of Barney and Betty Hill, whose UFO encounter launched the abduction phenomenon, and whose personal story is even more fascinating. More on the Hills in two weeks.theparanoidstrain.comfacebook.com/groups/theparanoidstrainpatreon.com/theparanoidstrain Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New! Unidentified--No ETs for Christmas

Jan 07 2025 33 mins

We're back for 2025. This episode, we wrap up the story of The Seekers, the failure of their 1950s UFO prophecy, and the book that made them famous. We also dive into the ways cognitive dissonance theory interacts with other prophetic movements, including the early Christians. See you in two weeks.theparanoidstrain.comfacebook.com/groups/theparanoidstrainpatreon.com/theparanoidstra

Encore: Upon a Red Horse, Part V

Jan 03 2025 72 mins

The last part of our encore presentation. hope you enjoyed it--see you next week.In which Fletcher slowly loses what matters most to him, secures his legend, and goes down, senselessly, in a hail of bullets.Full lyrics, credits, and gorgeous fold-out album style artwork (it's a .zip file): https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zj0Mbk4JNrHajuAwHC3fOGzY8ZHeTDOg/view?usp=share_linktheparan

Encore: Upon a Red Horse, Part IV

Jan 02 2025 53 mins

Part IV of our re-post of the best thing we've done.In which Fletcher finally gets on the radio, tells us what 2001: A Space Odyssey is really about, and sees his life begin to fall apart.theparanoidstrain.comfacebook.com/groups/theparanoidstrainListen to the music as an album on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/paranoidstrainorchestra/sets/upon-a-red-horse-act-iv-five-minutes-to

Encore: Upon a Red Horse, Part III

Jan 01 2025 44 mins

In part 3, we discuss our hero's magnum opus.theparanoidstrain.comfacebook.com/groups/theparanoidstrainListen to the music as an album on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/paranoidstrainorchestra/sets/upon-a-red-horse-act-iii-the-red-horse-and-the-swordpatreon.com/theparanoidstrainLike it? Please do spread the word. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Encore: Upon a Red Horse, Part II

Dec 31 2024 54 mins

Part 2 of our repeat posting of Upon A Red Horse in honor of the New Year. Original liner notes followIn which Fletcher, our hero, becomes a big deal in the UFO world. And reveals what really happened to JFK.theparanoidstrain.comfacebook.com/groups/theparanoidstrainListen to the music as an album on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/paranoidstrainorchestra/sets/upon-a-red-horse-ac

Encore: Upon a Red Horse, Part I

Dec 30 2024 52 mins

Because it's the holidays, and because we know many of you haven't had the chance to hear it, we re-present the best thing we've ever done. Part 1 of 5. The original liner notes follow:In which we hear the origin story of Marvell James Fletcher.theparanoidstrain.comfacebook.com/groups/theparanoidstrainListen to the music as an album on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/paranoidstr