Loving the Alien: Three Days in the Mirror World of Modern UFOlogy (w/ Eric Benson)

Somewhere in the Skies

SpectreVision Radio

Unexplained, Unknown, Paranormal, Ufos, Government, Ufo, Social Sciences, History, Bigfoot, Aliens, Extraterrestrial, Documentary, Unsolved, Alien, Mystery, Uap, Science, Society & Culture

4.6 • 1.4K Ratings

🗓️ 24 August 2025

⏱️ 76 minutes

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Summary

We are joined by investigative reporter, writer, and podcast creator, Eric Benson. Benson is well-known for his hit podcasts, Project Unabom, Suspect, and Death County, PA. However, he recently dipped his toes into the murky waters of UFOlogy, having embedded himself in a UFO conference recently held at Rice University. In his fascinating long-form article for Baffler, titled, "Loving the Alien: Three Days in the Mirror World of UFOlogy, he describes his experiences at the "UFO and the Impossible" conference, where a diverse mix of scientists, experiencers, and spiritual seekers gathered to explore UFOs (or UAPs) through both empirical and mystical lenses. As Benson will discuss, he found the conference's blend of rigorous science, conspiratorial narratives, and deeply personal testimonies a bit unsettling, but nonetheless, compelling. This is no more apparent than when he meets Nancy, an artist who shared both skepticism and raw vulnerability. We break down the piece and where he stands today on the fascinating community we call "home."

Read the article: https://thebaffler.com/latest/loving-the-alien-benson

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Spectrevision Radio
0:03.3	Today we speak to reporter and journalist Eric Benson.
0:12.7	Eric Benson is the creator and host of the hit Apple original podcast,
0:17.7	Project Unabom about the American domestic terrorist Ted Kaczynski, better known as the
0:24.1	Unabomber. Benson is also the creator of the highly acclaimed podcast series Suspect and the
0:30.9	Wondery series, Death County, PA. But today, we're going to be talking about a piece he's written
0:37.2	for the online magazine, The Baffler,
0:40.2	in which he embedded himself for three days into a UFO conference held at Rice University in the U.S.
0:48.7	What did he learn from the experience?
0:51.9	Did his views change at all on UFOs
0:54.9	or the subculture that continues to grow and evolve around it?
1:00.2	This and so much more with Eric Benson
1:03.5	as we break down his article titled
1:06.4	Loving the Alien,
1:08.7	Three Days in the Mirror World of modern ephology.
1:16.6	While our government's official position is not to speculate on this subject, we can choose to let our minds explore other possibilities, to use our imaginations.
1:28.3	For if we consider that astro-scientists agree on one point,
1:32.3	that the possibility of life elsewhere is not only quite probable,
1:36.3	some feel that is there without a doubt.
1:39.3	Let us suppose them that these objects are real space vehicles,
1:43.3	extraterrestrial origin, and not an illusion of the mind.
2:00.0	I'm Ryan Spray, and you are now somewhere in the skies.
	...

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