Magical Mystery Radio: Conspiracy & Paranormal Review

What if a dream could kill you? We revisit Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984) and the real-life sleep phenomena that inspired it. We explore how Freddy Krueger emerged from Craven’s own childhood fears and reports of mysterious deaths among Hmong refugees. We also get into the strange science of sleep paralysis, the folklore of the “Old Hag,” the phenomenon of the Hat Man, and the viral mystery of This Man, a face reported in dreams around the world. Shownotes

Blade Runner is more than a sci-fi classic — it’s a meditation on memory, identity, and empathy. We explore Philip K. Dick’s 2-3-74 mystical VALIS experience, the meaning of the Voight-Kampff test, and why the film still resonates today as a cinematic awakening.  Shownotes

From vodou to viral spores, zombies have always evolved with us. In this week’s episode of Film on the Fringe, we uncover the real roots of the undead—myth, science, and metaphor. 

Dr. Atom takes you behind the scenes of JURASSIC PARK—literally. After a personal story of working alongside the filmmakers, we explore the science of cloning dinosaurs, the truth behind amber-trapped DNA, and modern de-extinction efforts using CRISPR and AI. Then we dig into the 19th-century Bone Wars, Victorian dinosaur mania, and Arthur Conan Doyle’s THE LOST WORLD. Along the way, we follow a strange fossil trail into the world of young Earth creationism, Cambodian stegosaurus carvings, and fire-breathing beasts from the Book of Job. It’s science, history, and myth—all tangled up in one prehistoric narrative. Shownotes  

Gremlins on the wing, goblins in the woods, and strange little beings at your window. From WWII aviation lore to Spielberg’s unmade alien siege story, this episode traces the evolution of mischievous trickster creatures through folklore, pop culture, and real-life encounters—including the night something came calling in Kentucky. Featured Films: Shadow in the Cloud (2020) Gremlins (1984) Poltergeist (1982) E.T. (1982) The Twilight Zone (Nightmare at 20,000 Feet) Amazing Stories (“The Mission”) Shownotes

Venture into the murky space between psychological manipulation and the supernatural. Today, we’re talking about The Quiet Ones (2014), a Hammer Films horror throwback inspired by one of the strangest real-world experiments ever attempted: the Philip Experiment. We’ll unpack how a group of researchers in 1970s Canada set out to create a ghost, explore Derren Brown’s Seance as a modern reinterpretation, and finally, discuss whether collective belief can actually influence physical reality.  Shownotes

Let's explore The War of the Worlds — the iconic novel by H.G. Wells and the countless interpretations, adaptations, and conspiracy theories it inspired. We discuss: The 2005 Spielberg movie and the 1953 George Pal version The long-forgotten SEQUEL published only a year after the original The 1938 Orson Welles "panic broadcast"  Wernher von Braun’s alleged warning of a staged alien invasion Project Blue Beam  And finally, we ask: What would a real alien invasion look like? The War of the Worlds continues to fascinate because it reminds us of the fragility of our dominion over this Earth. It humbles us with a creeping dread that the universe may be – almost certainly is – teeming with ancient, unknowable threats. Shownotes

Let's dissect The Conjuring 2 and the real-life case that inspired it—the infamous Enfield Poltergeist. Was it a genuine supernatural event or an elaborate hoax that spiraled out of control? Join me as I explore how this case became one of the most documented hauntings in history. Ed and Lorraine Warren: Paranormal Pioneers or Masters of Mythmaking? Before discussing the Enfield case, I take a brief detour to talk about the legendary (and controversial) ghost-hunting duo, Ed and Lorraine Warren—from their involvement in the Amityville Horror to a bizarre court case where they allegedly “proved” a haunting in a Connecticut home. I share my personal connection to this incident, which was dubbed the Hebron Horror by sensationalist media. The Conjuring 2 (2016) – Fact, Fiction, and Some Very Creative Embellishments James Wan’s The Conjuring 2 delivers a chilling take on the Enfield case, but just how accurate is it? The film portrays the Warrens as the central investigators, battling a demonic nun and confronting

Enter the eerie world of artificial intelligence—from the sleek and unsettling Ex Machina to real-life AI developments that feel ripped straight from science fiction. We’ll explore the rapid evolution of AI, the ethical dilemmas that come with it, and some unsettling cases of chatbots behaving… strangely. Are we on the verge of creating a sentient machine? And if we were, how would we know? Shownotes

Explore the wild world of werewolves, from the cult classic Ginger Snaps to real-life sightings of “dog men.” We’ll discover the folklore behind our moon-dappled friends, look at how pop culture molded them into the creatures we recognize today, and figure out what exactly makes a man-wolf tick. Shownotes

We discuss cancel culture, the masons, breakaway civilizations, secret moon colonies... and one fascinating, mythical "lost" film from the 80s that ties it all together!

We review the documentary CALLING ALL EARTHLINGS. And then we do it one better by actually covering the material that should have been in the movie. This is the story of George Van Tassel, eccentric, contactee, engineer... genius? Did Van Tassel channel messages from our alien brothers and sisters and use the information to construct a time machine?  Join us and find out!

Is an advanced race of tall, albino-like extraterrestrials from Arcturus living on the Nevada test range? Has our government struck a deal with the aliens to obtain advanced military technology? Take a deep dive with us as we chronicle this fascinating, seemingly implausible story from one man who claims it's all true! [aka Magical Mystery Radio]

We discuss several recent "documentaries" occupying the twilight zone between fantasy and reality. Are these films omens? Augurs of a dark future? Are we moving into a new dark age of superstition? Is the consensus reality of post-enlightenment reason vanishing in a post-modern haze of news and subjective reality? And why are the French f*cking with us? Oh, and John gets a visit from an owl. [aka Magical Mystery Radio]

Is it real - or not? It has become increasingly difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. We live in a time of "fake news" and "deepfakes", under a constant barrage of disinformation and propaganda. It's only natural that artists would reflect this blurring of the lines in their work. And there's no better place to practice this craft than in the conspiracy and paranormal genres.  Join us as we discuss a few current examples of this emerging phenomenon - and some infamous ones from the recent past - to showcase the Hypernormalization that has infected our culture. A sign of the times? A portent of things to come? Tune in and find out! And HAPPY HALLOWEEN! - John and Adam Oh, and... Adam is "officially" retired from politics. ;-) [aka Magical Mystery Radio]     

We return to our roots and do a feature-length takedown - er, review - of the new(ish) documentary BOB LAZAR: AREA 51 & FLYING SAUCERS.  Do we think there's life on other worlds? Almost definitely. Intelligent? Probably. That they've visited earth? Possibly. The they've visited earth sometime in the last century? Unlikely, but who knows? That Bob Lazar actually participated in a government effort to reverse engineer an alien spacecraft?  Listen and find out!  [aka Magical Mystery Radio]

We review the fascinating and disturbing documentary, HOLY HELL. The film chronicles the 22-year journey of former members who were trapped in the bizarre Buddhafield cult.   Through personal archive footage and interviews, the film chronicles the rise and fall, not only of the cult itself, but of its strangely charismatic leader, Michel Rostand (aka Andreas). This is one of those "cautionary tales" of how cult leaders use time-tested techniques to manipulate and coerce vulnerable and impressionable minds to do their bidding. Check it out.  [aka Magical Mystery Radio]

In tonight's podcast, we discuss a fascinating documentary on Netflix called JIM & ANDY: The Great Beyond, which chronicles the behind-the-scene antics of Jim Carrey playing Andy Kaufman - and his alter-ego Tony Clifton - on the set of Man on the Moon. At first glance this might not seem very paranormal, but the questions this documentary raises about the notion of the self, the other, etc., are nothing short of profound. JIM & ANDY is the extraordinary story of the meeting of the minds, both literally and figuratively, of two comedic geniuses who have pushed the boundaries of their art. And in what can only be described as "the method gone metaphysical", Jim not only portrays Andy, but may in fact have become him (at least in his own mind) during the making of the film. And really, is there any difference? What's real? What's not? What is truth? What is fantasy? Who are we? All of these questions, and many more, are raised for you to ponder, but without any easy answers. We also talk about some curre

We discuss DISCOVERING BIGFOOT, the new documentary by Todd Standing, a controversial figure in cryptid circles. Is Standing nuts? Is he sincere? Is he lying? Is he the target of an incredibly long and unlikely con? The movie is available on NETFLIX. Give it a watch. Let us know what you think. [aka Magical Mystery Radio]

"The mainstream media's agenda is clear. They want you to believe that conspiracies don't exist, the world is exactly like they say it is, and anyone who disagrees is to be marginalized, mocked and shamed." Filmmaker Adam Green compiles an effective archive of cases proving an orchestrated effort to weaponize the term "conspiracy theory." From JFK to Iraq to 9/11... to Iraq... somewhere along the line it became wrong or dangerous or unpatriotic to ask questions.  There are no wrong questions. Only wrong answers. [aka Magical Mystery Radio]