In this episode, Beth and Mark discuss:
- What MUFON is and Mark’s years as a “certified” field investigator for MUFON.
- Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Mark’s book The Close Encounters Man.
- The 1966 Michigan Swamp Gas Case, how it affected Hynek, the UFO community, and Hynek’s career.
- Close encounters of the first, second, and third kind.
- IGY, the global tracking network, and Sputnik.
Key Takeaways:
- Most people report their sightings because they want to know what it was and if anybody else has ever seen the same thing to connect with them.
- There was no one moment where Dr. Hynek changed his mind about UFOs.
- A good scientist just wants to find out more.
- “Ridicule is not part of the scientific method, and the American public should not be taught that it is.” -Dr. J. Allen Hynek.
The great thing about writing for Star Trek, is Star Trek is forever. — Mark O’Connell
Connect with Mark O’Connell:
Website: HighStrangenessUFO.com
Book: The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs
Blog: High Strangeness
Book Recommendation: The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry by J. Allen Hynek
About Beth Mund:
Beth’s love for space started as a Space Camp attendee at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where she would return years later as an instructor. After grad school, Beth worked as a journalist, a technical writer for Motorola, and then went on to serve as a Public Affairs Officer for the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In addition, Beth worked to support the International Space Station program as a communication specialist. In Chicago, Beth worked as a corporate communication advisor to Fortune 50 companies including Allstate and United Airlines. She’s worked as a college instructor, a political advisor, and public relations manager for her hometown city. Beth recently founded Stellar Communications, LLC and travels the country as a keynote speaker- inspiring audiences with her lessons learned from our nation’s space program. She’s the host of the Casual Space Podcast, and a self-proclaimed space geek.
Connect with Beth Mund:
Email: bethisbeth@me.com & askbeth@casualspacepodcast.com
Website: bethmund.com
Facebook: @BethMund
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