Guest host Rich Berra (email) was joined by author Whitley Strieber in the first half of he program to discuss UFO-related topics. Strieber delved into the recent UAP hearing, emphasizing that the timing was deliberate—a signal from Congress to the incoming executive administration to end decades of secrecy, which dates back to the Truman administration. He highlighted the pervasive stonewalling across administrations, attributing the lack of media coverage to the dependency of mainstream outlets on the Pentagon for information. According to Strieber, the secrecy is so entrenched that even Freedom of Information Act requests are thwarted by the private sector offloading critical records, making them inaccessible to the public. He underscored the fragmented and undocumented nature of UFO-related research, referencing historical instances of concealed evidence and the sophisticated methods used to keep information hidden. Strieber stressed the importance of continued congressional and public pressure to uncover the truth.
Strieber also recounted a traumatic abduction on December 26, 1986, which radically altered his perspective on extraterrestrial phenomena. Initially dismissing the event as a nightmare, he later confronted physical evidence of an encounter, including injuries and memories of intrusive procedures conducted by non-human entities. These experiences led him to speculate that the visitors were involved in creating hybrids or performing experiments on humans, possibly tied to a larger agenda. Reflecting on his abduction and subsequent hypnosis sessions, Strieber expressed frustration over the ridicule he faced, particularly regarding the infamous "rectal probe" stereotype, while emphasizing the depth and seriousness of his ordeal. This, combined with observations of telepathic capabilities among hybrids and autistic individuals, suggested to him a transformative shift in human consciousness driven by these mysterious beings.

Jason Steffen is associate professor of physics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. A longtime science team member of NASA's Kepler mission, he has contributed to the discovery and characterization of thousands of exoplanets that orbit distant stars. In the first half, he shared insights into the journey of the Kepler mission and its groundbreaking discoveries. Launched in 2009, Kepler operated for about four years and then was repurposed in what was known as the K2 mission, providing an additional five years of data. He explained the distinctions between Kepler and the Hubble Space Telescope-- Kepler was designed to be very precise at making measurements of stars, which allowed it to identify over 2,700 new planets, while Hubble was more adept at taking stunning photos.
He noted that when Kepler launched, no planets were known outside of the solar system, and its mission was to find Earth-like worlds. The data revealed an unexpected diversity of planets. "The typical planet that Kepler found is about three to five times the mass of the Earth," he reported. Among Kepler's remarkable findings were "hot Earths," planets similar in size to Earth but orbiting their stars in just one day, leading to extreme conditions. "If you were on the surface of one of those planets, the sun...would fill half the sky...[and] you'd be swimming in a sea of molten rock," he marveled.
The conversation shifted to the possibility of intelligent life beyond Earth. Steffen shared insights from his colleague David Kipping, who posits that "if life formed really quickly on the Earth... then it's easy for life to get started." Recent fossil discoveries suggest life on Earth began much sooner than previously thought, making the existence of life elsewhere in the galaxy seem more plausible.

Sam Tripoli is an LA stand-up comic, former Joe Rogan guest, and host of the Tinfoil Hat podcast. He joined guest host Richard Syrett (Twitter) to discuss the comedy scene, the influence of podcasts, his belief in the unseen world, and personal experiences with the paranormal, which included seeing ghosts at the Comedy Store and experiencing "glitches in the Matrix."
Tripoli recounted his background as an early guest on The Joe Rogan Experience, noting how he was part of the podcasting scene's initial wave with the "Death Squad" network, which he believes significantly influenced the shift of content creation away from traditional Hollywood and legacy media. He highlighted how authentic voices like his friends Joe Rogan, Theo Vaughn, and Tim Dillon resonate with audiences seeking genuine content. Tripoli praised the freedom that podcasting offers, allowing people to connect and share ideas directly and providing a platform where free speech and diverse opinions can thrive.
Tripoli explained how his worldview shifted early on when he observed contradictions between what was portrayed in professional wrestling and the relationships between wrestlers off-stage, leading him to question the nature of authenticity and truth. This experience laid the foundation for his perspective as a conspiracy theorist, a mindset further reinforced by political observations and events he views as entirely theatrical. Tripoli said his approach to comedy and conspiracy explores the blurred lines between truth and performance.
Tripoli's comedy tackles issues like cancel culture and polarization, exploring how societal divisions often hinder open dialogue. He suggested that technology and algorithms reinforce echo chambers, creating alternate realities where people struggle to connect. His approach to comedy isn't about conventionally uniting people but rather breaking down societal taboos through humor, and fostering a space where audiences can confront difficult truths. He also touched on his belief in spiritual warfare, seeing the world embroiled in a great battle between good and evil forces.