In the first half, former FBI agent Mike Campi discussed his extensive career targeting organized crime, specifically the Genovese crime family in New York, the country's most secretive and powerful Mob organization. Campi's determination helped lead to the indictment of key figures within the Genovese administration. He shared the harrowing story of Michael 'Cookie' D'Urso, a Genovese associate who survived being shot in the head at a social club where his cousin was killed. Despite the dangers, D'Urso ultimately decided to cooperate with authorities, motivated by a desire for justice for his cousin's murder. Campi explained, "He wanted his story told... to discourage and talk about the hypocrisy of that life." D'Urso's cooperation with the FBI led to a significant investigation that uncovered deep connections within organized crime, including plans for violent confrontations with rival factions, a war with Albanian crime families, and the control of port unions.
Another Genovese mobster, George Barone, who worked the docks and waterfronts, eventually became a cooperating witness for the government, Campi reported. He traced the evolution of organized crime from Prohibition in the 1920s through pivotal events like the Appalachian meeting of 1957, which marked a significant shift in mob dynamics. He highlighted how figures like Lucky Luciano and Vito Genovese navigated a treacherous landscape of alliances and betrayals, explaining their ethos: "Your crime family is supposed to come before your blood family." Regarding Hollywood's portrayal of mobsters, he said it's often over the top, "painting them as sophisticated figures manipulating law enforcement," while the truth reveals a world steeped in betrayal and hypocrisy.

Robert Hastings, UFO researcher and author, has delved into declassified US government documents that confirm UFO incursions at nuclear weapons sites as early as 1945. In the first half, he shared his reactions to the recent congressional UAP hearing, as well as recounted various UFO cases. UFOs are craft from one or more other worlds, he believes, operated by entities other than us, and the continued secrecy surrounding this phenomenon is disturbing. Yet he conceded that in regards to UFOs' interference with nuclear systems, "If you start talking candidly about disc-shaped craft shutting down or even temporarily activating our nuclear missiles... that's quite anxiety-producing."
Reflecting on the US congressional hearings, he highlighted Luis Elizondo's testimony, who stated, "All of this was for the purpose of hiding the fact that we're not alone in the cosmos." Hastings thinks this acknowledgment is a significant step forward despite the challenges of revealing classified information. "I've never seen this kind of public interest and media interest," he commented, suggesting that the momentum is building towards eventual transparency.
He detailed several alarming incidents, particularly from the Northern Tier missile bases in the 1960s and 70s, where UFOs were observed hovering over missile silos, causing missile launch systems to activate. One striking account involved Captain David Schuur, who recounted a night in 1966 or '67 at Minot AFB when "luminous objects" were seen moving among missiles, triggering launch indicators. "They were terrified...Nothing like this had ever happened before," Hastings shared. He speculated on the motives behind these incidents, suggesting that non-human intelligences might be cautioning humanity about the dangers of nuclear weapons. Hastings also touched on how he and some of the military witnesses, such as Bob Jacobs, believe they are "experiencers," having undergone alien abductions.

Mindfulness expert Paul Sugar joined guest host Connie Willis (info) to discuss his journey with Kabbalah and his work in health and medicine. He defined mindfulness as the practice of keeping one's attention anchored in the present moment, using the body, breath, thoughts, and emotions as entry points. This practice allows individuals to connect with their "ground of being," facilitating a flow state or peak performance, he explained. Sugar underscored the significance of mindfulness in addressing the modern epidemic of chronic fear and anxiety, which is often rooted in the autonomic nervous system's "fight or flight" mode. Through mindfulness, individuals can reconnect with their bodies, reverse stress responses, and experience life more fully, he revealed.
Sugar reported on his pioneering research with first through third graders in the 1990s showing that children grasp mindfulness quickly, enabling them to cultivate present-moment awareness and manage stress effectively. Partnering with nonprofits, he has made mindfulness accessible to millions of children through scalable programs. He also commented on the field of epigenetics and how it may demonstrate how mindfulness can positively influence gene expression.
Sugar spoke about his introduction to Kabbalah as a transformative experience that helped him address existential fears and questions, particularly following a near-death experience. During this pivotal time in 1969, he joined a Kabbalah study group, which involved studying texts and practicing Kabbalistic meditation. This practice was paired with his involvement in yoga study groups, which provided spiritual frameworks to explore life’s deeper meanings. Sugar pointed out that Kabbalah, like mindfulness and other contemplative traditions, offers profound insights into self-awareness and a path to inner peace.

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.

In the first half, investigative reporter and C2C weekend host George Knapp discussed his new Netflix series Investigation Alien (view trailer), which aims to explore the complexities surrounding UFOs and non-human intelligence. As Knapp investigated dramatic UFO encounters all over the world, he emphasized the need to move beyond the question, "Are UFOs real?" to deeper inquiries about their purpose. The series, which took 14 months to produce, features six episodes that delve into various UFO encounters, including the Phoenix Lights witnessed by thousands, and the attacks on the Brazilian island, Colares. Knapp recounted how his journey into UFO investigations began with John Lear, who presented him with compelling documents that sparked public interest and led to his specialization in this field. Touching on the ongoing interest in UFO phenomena, Knapp noted, "I think the world is starting to catch up to us," as Congress holds hearings on the subject.
One particularly intriguing episode covered animal mutilations-- some 10,000 animals over decades have been found dead with organs removed with surgically precise cuts. Knapp noted, "There's no blood in the animal, no blood on the ground," raising questions about the strange, mysterious circumstances. The documentary features an account from a cattle rancher who witnessed a craft hovering over his pasture land and then grabbed his rifle to take a shot, but the craft had already vanished. In the 1977 Colares incident, locals reported that "UFOs started coming out of the sky and out of the river, attacking, shooting them with what the locals thought were like laser beams," Knapp explained, highlighting the bizarre injuries suffered by residents, some of whom are interviewed in the new series. He noted hundreds were affected, with some experiencing significant blood loss and flesh injuries. "The Brazilian Air Force came in and started an investigation," he said, but many records of these incidents mysteriously disappeared. Knapp conjectured that it may have been some kind of "sampling operation."
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In the latter half, British filmmaker David Rolfe discussed his deep exploration of the Shroud of Turin, a linen cloth that he believes was the authentic burial shroud of Jesus Christ. He elaborated on the controversy surrounding the Shroud's origin, particularly what he considers to be a flawed carbon dating conducted by the British Museum. The corner sample they cut and dated was a medieval repair, he suggested, and this error tarnished the Shroud's reputation as actually being from the time of Jesus. A recent study by Italian researchers confirmed that the burial cloth does date back some 2,000 years.
Rolfe believes the Shroud depicts the signs of a crucifixion and encodes three-dimensional information revealing that a miraculous event occurred at the moment of Jesus' resurrection. "The only thing that can explain the image is that at some point, there was an incredible burst of energy" that scorched the cloth, he asserted.
He also addressed the forensic details depicted on the Shroud related to the crucifixion, and how no one has ever been able to duplicate the effects on the cloth. The Shroud is highly unique, he said, positioning it as "the proof" of Christ's miraculous abilities. Rolfe explained the careful wrapping technique used for burial, which aligns with the Shroud's design, reinforcing its historical context. He also mentioned the blood type found on the Shroud, AB, as consistent with Palestinian blood, further supporting its authenticity.

In the first half, author Eldon Taylor, an expert in subliminal communication and hypnosis, discussed the vast potential of human consciousness, including psychic abilities and manifesting tangible outcomes. There is no limit to human potential, he remarked, as he shared fascinating stories of savants, including one individual who, after a traumatic brain injury, became a mathematical genius. He emphasized the importance of recognizing and training our mental abilities, suggesting that when "we work out at the gym, we train our body, but we don't train our mind." Regarding psychic experiences, he asserted that "more people have it and will admit to having it," but many suppress or dismiss these abilities due to fear or societal stigma. He added, "If you have that natural ability, I believe that we should all develop those gifts that are given."
Taylor explained the importance of self-assessment in personal growth, stating, "You need to have a serious self-assessment... listen to how you talk to yourself." He encouraged listeners to confront their inner dialogues, which often undermine their ambitions. He recalled a powerful exercise he conducts with audiences, asking them to silently affirm their goals, only to observe their negative reactions in how they talk to themselves. Taylor also warned against the dangers of consuming polarized media, explaining how it can manipulate emotions and rewire thought patterns. He called for a collective pause to reflect and recharge, advocating for gratitude and self-care in the face of overwhelming societal challenges.
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In the latter half, mind-body practitioner and author Bill Douglas spoke about the latest developments in the science of consciousness and meditation. Citing Dr. Herbert Benson's research, he reported that mind-body practices (such as meditation, Tai Chi, Qigong, yoga, and mindfulness) "can prevent or treat between 60 and 90% of the health issues that send us to the doctor." Pointing out the scientific basis of these techniques, he explained that when we engage in these meditative practices, we experience the alpha brainwave state, our awareness expands, and our immune system gets profoundly boosted. Further, there are compelling results from studies showing that communities with high levels of meditation practitioners were able to reduce the local crime rate.
Highlighting the transformative power of meditation and mindfulness, he noted that when we go into these states of coherence, it brings us into the present and in connection with everything. He recalled that over 50% of participants in a meditation study reported extraordinary consciousness experiences, ranging from spiritual events to synchronicities. Douglas also discussed Dr. Dean Radin's research on human consciousness, and Dr. Masaru Emoto's studies on water crystals, which demonstrated that thought could affect the shape of water crystals. Douglas encouraged listeners to embrace mindfulness techniques, such as guided visualization and breath control, to enhance their mental well-being. "Anytime our exhales are longer than our inhales, it slows down the heart, and then that slows down the brain," he explained, indicating that these practices create a fertile ground for healing.