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The Paranoid Strain

Fearful Jesuit
Ufos
Roswell Incident
Area 51
Conspiracy Theories
Ancient Aliens
Alien Abduction
UFO
Philip K. Dick
Marvell James Fletcher
Whitley Strieber
Zecharia Sitchin
Aliens
Anunnaki
Hypnosis
Cognitive Dissonance
UFO Sightings
Soviet Union
Prophecy
Interracial Marriage
Betty and Barney Hill

The podcast that explains why so many people believe ridiculous conspiracy theories.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes209Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureHistory

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Artwork for The Paranoid Strain

Latest Episodes

Vallee is an interesting guy, and he has one of the most fascinating takes I've heard on what UFOs might actually represent. I mean, I don't buy it, exactly, but it's at least semi-coherent, and unquestionably interesting. Enjoy!

Hosted on Acast. Se... more

We're finished with the mirage men, and now we'll spend a few episodes considering what it all means, you know? And by "it all", I mean "UFOs". We'll start with one of the first books published about UFOs by a major cultural figure. Carl Jung's Flyin... more

Thanks to our interviewee Tanner Boyle, we wrap up the story of the fascinating Mr. Nedelcovic and the CIA mission that may have turned into the first modern alien abduction story. Next time, we get philosophical.

DON'T MISS: I was a guest on this ex... more

For this episode and the next, we're covering a story I thought we were going to skip. But then, I found out that a very mysterious figure may, way back in the 1970s, have explained this even older story in a way that can shed light on the full exten... more

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Recent Guests

Mark Pilkington
Author of Mirage Men
Author / Journalist
Episode: New! Unidentified--UFOs as Jungian archetype
Tanner Boyle
writer focused on ufology, fortiana, and the paranormal
Independent researcher/Writer
Episode: New! Unidentified--The CIA, the Translator, and the first modern abduction
Richard Doty
Former AFOSI agent and disinformation operative
Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI)
Episode: New! Unidentified--The Air Force invents a UFO conspiracy
John Lundberg
Director of the Mirage Men film
Mirage Men (film)
Episode: New! Unidentified--The Air Force invents a UFO conspiracy
Linda Moulton Howe
Investigative journalist known for A Strange Harvest and cattle mutilation coverage
Independent journalist
Episode: New! Unidentified--Why do these ETs keep cutting up our cows?
Bob Lazar
Contemporary figure associated with Area 51 lore and anti-gravity claims
Self-described researcher/whistleblower
Episode: New! Unidentified--Why do these ETs keep cutting up our cows?
Stan Dayo
Interviewee discussing Teller connections and anti-gravity claims
Australian ufology circles
Episode: New! Unidentified--Why do these ETs keep cutting up our cows?
Drexel Lawson
Entrepreneur associated with a dead cow removal service
Episode: New! Unidentified--Why do these ETs keep cutting up our cows?
Tex Graves
Sheriff associated with early cattle mutilation cases
Law enforcement
Episode: New! Unidentified--Why do these ETs keep cutting up our cows?

Host

Dana Gould
Co-host providing analytical context and narrative framing on conspiracy topics.

Reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars from 423 ratings
  • Fun ideas, rough execution

    I’ve been diving into conspiracy theories lately just to have some fun and this podcast does a good job of covering popular conspiracy theories as well as debunking them. However it has an irritating “I am very smart” tone that becomes hard to listen to over time.

    Less time name calling and talking down on people and more time debunking on its own merit would help this show a good bit

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Snowglob3
    United Statesa year ago
  • Best Paranoid Podcast Ever

    Updated Oct 2024 - this has got to be the best podcast for giving the details on conspiracy theories! Not only the what, but the who, when, why, and where!

    The 40 Year Old Boy told me to listen, so I did listen to the first one. I fell in love with Mr Fearful Jesuit's podcast. So now I listen whether Mike tells me to or not. But continue to pay Mike to pimp your show so he quits begging me for money!

    Anyway, The Paranoid Strain is a really fun podcast with real information about the various... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Best Show Ever Fan
    United States2 years ago
  • Informative

    Entertaining and informative, the best part is that they give references for their assertions not just say go do your on research. You can do your own research but look for references and collaborations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Matt Bluth
    United States2 years ago
  • Great concept, poor execution

    The meat & bones of the podcast are great in concept but holy cow, listening to it is ROUGH. I got halfway through one episode and had to stop bc it was just way too painful to listen to. The wooden, “I’m obviously reading from a script.” Then add the super long, bizarre sound effects, and the whole thing becomes an assault on the eardrums. Honestly they should pay everyone compensation for the mess.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Keisha Parker
    United States2 years ago
  • Love this crazy world

    Delightful and remarkable what kind of nonsense people believe. Love this show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bilas Peles
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

The show balances humor with serious analysis, which helps make dense histories accessible.
Guests and research are consistently strong, though production pacing can be uneven at times.
Strong value for fans of ufology and media-literacy discussions.
Listeners appreciate well-sourced references and deep-dacts, but some note a script-heavy delivery can feel dry.
Feedback often highlights the origin stories around conspiracy narratives as a strength.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

This American Life
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Behind the Bastards
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The Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & Mindset
The Determined Society with Shawn French | Adversity & MindsetDetermined Society Podcast | Overcoming Adversity & Mindset
Modern Wisdom
Modern WisdomChris Williamson

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

New! Unidentified--Troy McClure and the Close Encounters Man
Q: So what's the deal with this guy?
Hynek was a Chicago boy, born to Czech immigrant parents and educated at the University of Chicago; he became a key figure in the UFO phenomenon.
New! Unidentified--The Harvard psychiatrist who believed in abductions
Q: Dr. Mack, what does this all mean?
Mack explained that the experiences of abduction are real and not psychiatric disturbances, suggesting a significant phenomenon often ridiculed in contemporary culture.
New! Unidentified--What Barney and Betty Hill actually saw (it wasn't a UFO)
Q: Well, then if it wasn't aliens, what did they see?
The answer is uncertain, but there have been various suggestions proposed over the years, including the possibility they saw Jupiter or a beacon light from an observation tower.
New! Unidentified--Barney, Betty, and the UFO they saw
Q: What intrigued you to write about the story of Betty and Barney Hill?
Dr. Bowman highlights his discovery of the Hills' personal documents that provided a rich narrative, motivating him to explore their story in depth.
New! Unidentified, Episode 9: Nibiru needs gold--and sperm, for some reason
Q: What is the significance of the Anunnaki in historical contexts?
The Anunnaki are often portrayed as gods within ancient Mesopotamian mythology, with various interpretations linking them to modern conspiracy theories.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

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Frequently Asked Questions About The Paranoid Strain

What is The Paranoid Strain about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A show that investigates why conspiracy narratives persist, often blending meticulous historical research with skeptical analysis and sharp humor. Recent episodes thread together Cold War-era intelligence operations, disinformation campaigns, and high-profile ufology stories to reveal how myths form, endure, and influence public perception. The tone balances rigorous sourcing with entertaining commentary, making it a go-to for listeners who want context, references, and thoughtful critique around controversial claims.

Noteworthy angles include archival deconstructions of government secrecy, the psychology of belief, and the way media and influencers shape conspiracy ecosystems. A recurring strength is linking complex histories to present-d... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Paranoid Strain?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Paranoid Strain:

1. Historical Blindness
2. Stuff They Don't Want You To Know
3. Behind the Bastards
4. Conspiracy Theories
5. Criminal

How many episodes of The Paranoid Strain are there?

The Paranoid Strain launched 9 years ago and published 209 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on The Paranoid Strain?

Recent guests on The Paranoid Strain include:

1. Mark Pilkington
2. Tanner Boyle
3. Richard Doty
4. John Lundberg
5. Linda Moulton Howe
6. Bob Lazar
7. Stan Dayo
8. Drexel Lawson

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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