Advertise on podcast: Rebelliously Curious with Chrissy Newton: UFOs, Science, Culture and Futurism

A recent study suggests Gen Z is the generation most likely to believe in UFOs, and they're also the generation growing up surrounded by UAP stories across news and social media. But what happens when the government starts releasing more and more information about UFOs? Does transparency build trust, or can it actually create more suspicion? Today, I'm joined by Yaniv Regev, political theorist and author of The Bulwark article, "Why the Trump Administration Is Telling Us So Much About UFOs." We're talking transparency, populism, Gen Z and UAPs, conspiracy theories, and whether the Trump administration is helping answer the UAP enigma or firehosing the topics to the public.  Join me as we get rebelliously curious. Watch the YouTube interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BROyyRLXeI8 Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

On June 30 of this year, the House Oversight Task Force on the Declassification of Federal Secrets held a congressional hearing examining one of the CIA's most controversial covert programs: Project MKUltra. More than 50 years after the program was exposed, lawmakers revisited questions about secret human experimentation, accountability, and whether the legacy of MKUltra still has implications today. Joining me is Stephen Kinzer, award-winning journalist, historian, former New York Times foreign correspondent, and author of Poisoner in Chief, the definitive book on the CIA MKUltra program.  In this conversation, we'll discuss what the hearing revealed, what history tells us about the program, whether the CIA's pursuit of mind control worked, and how advances in neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and brain-computer interfaces are reshaping the conversation around influence, manipulation, and human consciousness. Join me as we get rebelliously curious. Watch the YouTube interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BROyyRLXeI8 Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

I'm joined by Randy Bostick, PhD, a physicist and former Science Advisor for the U.S. Department of Defense's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, or AARO. Today we'll discuss Randy's time at AARO, the challenges facing UAP investigations within the government, how government and civilian scientists can work together, and so much more. Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Watch the YouTube interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFW4V8dhKbQ&t=12s Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

Today, we're joined by Bryce Zabel—award-winning television writer, producer, and journalist, and one of the most respected voices in the UFO and UAP conversation. From creating the cult-classic TV series Dark Skies to co-hosting the popular UFO podcast Need to Know and launching his new podcast Sound, Light, and Frequency, Bryce has spent decades exploring the intersection of media, mystery, and the unknown. In this conversation, we'll dive into the current state of disclosure and Hollywood's role in shaping public perception of the UFO and UAP phenomenon. We'll also discuss Steven Spielberg's film Disclosure Day and the long-standing claims that Spielberg may have been briefed on aspects of the phenomenon through government channels, despite his public statements to the contrary. Bryce also shares the fascinating story of how Spielberg's team reportedly attempted to stop the production Dark Skies during its original run. Finally, we discuss whistleblower David Grusch's first on-camera interview with NewsNation, the unreleased extended interview conducted by Ross Coulthart at Bryce's home, and why that full conversation has yet to air. We'll explore what may still be missing from the public record and what it could mean for the future of disclosure. Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Watch the YouTube interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQUIu1X47y8 Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

In 2016, the idea of a hidden planet lurking far beyond Neptune reignited one of astronomy's biggest mysteries. Since then, the search for "Planet Nine" has captured the imagination of scientists and the public alike—raising profound questions about how our solar system formed, and whether we've overlooked an entire world in our cosmic backyard. Today, I'm joined by Konstantin Batygin, professor of planetary science at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and one of the leading architects of the Planet Nine hypothesis. We discuss the evidence for the theory, the controversy surrounding it, and the new evidence that could be found this year supporting the idea that Planet Nine actually exists! We also discuss what its discovery would mean for astronomy and how it could reshape our understanding of the solar system. Finally, we explore the line between science and mythology—from cultural Mesopotamian legends like Nibiru and the Anunnaki to what Planet 8's discovery would mean for people who follow Anunnaki folklore. Does this mean Sumerians were right? Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Watch the YouTube interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nQUIu1X47y8 Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

Today's guest is Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, a retired integrative medical doctor, neuropsychiatrist, and psychotherapist whose work has spanned the intersections of mind, brain, and human development. In this conversation, we explore neurodiversity, autism, communication, and the evolving science behind non-speaking autistic individuals. We also examine controversial claims around telepathy, emerging research on cognition and consciousness, the ethical responsibilities of working with vulnerable populations, and how politics, genetics, and culture are shaping the future of autism research. This is a wide-ranging conversation that challenges assumptions and asks difficult questions about what we really understand — and what we may still be missing — about the human mind. Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

In this episode, we focus on China's rapidly evolving role in BCI development with guest Phoenix Peng, CEO and founder of Gestala, from Chinese communist government policy and healthcare integration to questions around data privacy, ethics, and large-scale deployment of BCI technology in schools, hospitals, and industry. We also explore how China's regulatory environment is shaping innovation, what's currently possible in clinical and consumer settings, and where the line sits between advancement, safety, and oversight in one of the most closely watched tech frontiers in the world. Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

Today's episode sits right at the intersection of mystery, media, and manipulation. We're diving into the strange, often unsettling world of UFOs—or what we now call UAPs—and asking a simple question: what's real, and what have we been led to believe? For decades, stories of unidentified craft, alien encounters, and government secrecy have shaped public imagination. But behind those headlines lies a deeper story—one involving Cold War paranoia, psychological operations, and, at times, deliberate disinformation. Our guest is Mark Pilkington, author of Mirage Men. Together, we will deconstruct the controversial role of Air Force investigator Richard Doty, and the case of Paul Bennewitz—one of the most troubling examples of how belief, secrecy, and state power can collide. Along the way, we'll look at how media, including major publications like Life magazine in the 40s and 50s, may have been influenced—subtly or otherwise—by intelligence agencies during a time when information itself was a battlefield.  So today, we're not just asking whether UFOs are real. We're asking: who's been shaping the story all along? Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

Today, we're diving into one of the most fascinating and rapidly evolving frontiers: brain-computer interfaces, or BCIs, but from a European perspective. Joining us is Dr. Martin Schüttler, Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer at CorTec, the first German company at the forefront of neural interface innovation. From restoring lost function to potentially redefining how we interact with machines—and even our own biology—BCIs are no longer science fiction. In this conversation, we'll explore Martin's journey into the BCI community, what sets Germany's approach apart on the global stage, and how neural technology could intersect with the complex human nervous system. We'll also tackle big-picture questions around privacy, policy, and power: Who owns brain data? Can global standards keep up with innovation? And what happens when this technology moves beyond the lab and into everyday life? Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

Today's episode explores one of the most disturbing intelligence programs of the Cold War: MKUltra. For decades, the Central Intelligence Agency ran secret experiments attempting to understand — and potentially control — the human mind. These programs tested everything from psychological manipulation to drugs like LSD, often without the consent of the people involved. While many people associate MKUltra with experiments in the United States, some of the most controversial cases actually happened in Canada — particularly at the Allan Memorial Institute in Montreal under Dr. Donald Ewen Cameron. His experiments, including techniques known as "depatterning" and "psychic driving," aimed to erase and rebuild aspects of a person's personality. Today, we're going to unpack the Canadian connection to MKUltra, the real victims of these experiments, and how some of these techniques influenced later psychological and military research. We'll also talk about related programs — from intelligence research into ESP, how MKUltra tactics have been used in Guantanamo Bay, to remote viewing projects like the Stargate, which included well‑known remote viewer Joe McMoneagle. And finally, we'll look at the bigger question: how ideas about mind influence, psychological warfare, and emerging technologies might shape the future. Join us as we get rebelliously curious!   Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

Today, we're exploring Indigenous experiences, history, and the ongoing journey toward truth and reconciliation. Our guest is Maeengan Linklater, Anishinaabe, from Lac Seul First Nation in Ontario, with more than 25 years of experience across the non-profit, government, and private sectors, and he is a father, community volunteer, and poet. In this episode, we'll discuss the painful legacy of residential schools, their lasting impact on Indigenous communities, and the work being done to uncover truths, honour survivors, and move toward reconciliation. We'll also touch on lesser-known aspects of this history, including unconventional psychic experiments on Indigenous children at residential schools. Today's conversation invites us to listen, reflect, and think critically about the path forward. Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

From the earliest days of rocketry, progress has always belonged to the scientist willing to think beyond the limits of their time. Long before rockets reached orbit, pioneers like Robert H. Goddard laid the mathematical and experimental foundations that proved spaceflight was even possible. And not long after, figures like Jack Parsons helped turn theory into raw, explosive reality—building the propulsion systems that would eventually carry humanity beyond Earth. Today, we stand at a similar inflection point. Chemical rockets took us to the Moon, but if humanity is going to reach the stars, we'll need ideas that once again sound impossible—until they aren't. In this episode, we're exploring one of the most fantastic frontiers in modern physics: warp drive theory. Our guest is Harold "Sonny" White, a mechanical and aerospace engineer, and applied physicist an Founder & CEO, Casimir.  Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

Today, we're talking with Gregg Bishop, author of Project Beta, a leading researcher into UAPs and one of the most infamous disinformation campaigns in UFO history. We'll cover his journey into UAP research, his investigations into Richard Doty and the Paul Bennewitz case, the fallout from the 1989 MUFON conference, and his thoughts on misinformation in today's UAP landscape. If you're curious about what's real and what's deliberately hidden in the UAP landscape, this episode is for you. Join us as we get rebelliously curious. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

Today, we're diving into one of the most fascinating topics, near-death experiences, and one of the deeply human questions of our time: What happens when we come close to death—and why does it change people forever? Joining me is Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova, Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and a leading researcher at the renowned Division of Perceptual Studies. Today, we explore what near-death experiences are, what people report during them, why these moments are so transformative, and how her research is shaping new approaches to care and support for those who've experienced them. We'll also take a look at how science is evolving to better understand these experiences—and where the field is headed next. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/

What happens when technology starts to read your mind — or even predict your thoughts before you have them? In this episode, we dive deep into the rapidly evolving frontier of brain–computer interfaces, or BCIs — a technology once confined to science fiction that's now redefining what it means to be human.  Joining me today is Florian Solzbacher, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Blackrock Neurotech, one of the world's leading companies in neural interface technology. We'll explore everything from invasive vs. non-invasive BCIs, privacy and "mind data," policy gaps, and the risks of unconscious influence, to the global implications of brain–computer interfaces — including China's growing leadership in the field and past and future funding from government agencies like DARPA. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/  X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton  Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast: https://podcasts.feedspot.com/canadian_science_podcasts/