About this episode
The episode explores how UFO mythology has been manipulated by intelligence agencies, examining the implications for researchers and the broader UFO community.
In this episode, Bryce Zabel and Chrissy Newton dive into Mirage Men, a provocative and unsettling exploration of how UFO mythology has been manipulated and, at times, manufactured by intelligence agencies. The discussion centers on the book's central thesis — that much of what we think we know about UFOs may have been deliberately seeded by government operatives to cover up classified projects or sow disinformation. Names like Richard Doty and Paul Bennewitz are examined as case studies in psychological operations, raising questions about just how much of the UFO lore is organic versus orchestrated. Weaponized Myth or Truth in Disguise? The episode unpacks the troubling implications for researchers and experiencers alike. The book suggests that belief in non-human intelligence may have been stoked as part of long-running counterintelligence campaigns, leaving a trail of confusion and paranoia in their wake. The conversation also explores how this manipulation might have impacted the broader UFO community — creating divisions, muddying waters, and casting long shadows over genuine phenomena. The hosts balance skepticism with open-mindedness, probing whether Mirage Men reveals…
People in this episode
Host: Bryce Zabel
Guest: Chrissy Newton
Topics covered
- UFO mythology
- intelligence agencies
- disinformation
- psychological operations
- counterintelligence
- disclosure efforts
Keywords
- UFOs
- disinformation
- psychological operations
- counterintelligence
- Mirage Men
- Richard Doty
- Paul Bennewitz
- government operatives
- mythology
- disclosure
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Mirage Men
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