162: The Great UFO Conspiracy, Part 2: The Rise of the Mutes, 1973-1979

162: The Great UFO Conspiracy, Part 2: The Rise of the Mutes, 1973-1979

Author: Rob Kristoffersen July 31, 2023 Duration: 1:08:55

“Is it saucers, satanists or CIA?” wrote Tom Adams in Stigmata, the only zine dedicated to the cattle mutilation phenomenon of the 1970s and 80s, and by the end of the decade, researchers and investigators were no closer to finding the culprit.

The road to the greatest UFO conspiracy of all time is a windy one, laced with paranoia, shady figures, and a carcass count in the tens of thousands. The mute phenomenon was a slow moving one that gradually gained momentum until it led to ranchers arming themselves against mystery helicopters and out-of-town strangers.

Still, there were a number of oddities during this time period. In Montana, Cascade County accounted for nearly every type of phenomenon associated with their mute cases, including the discovery of a “cult” site and the appearance of that big hairy guy that likes to hang out in the Pacific Northwest, Bigfoot. In Colorado, cases reached an epidemic proportion, and the culprits were brave enough to leave one carcass at NORAD’s front gate. And on Manuel Gomez’s ranch in Dulce, New Mexico, the perpetrators planted evidence to make it seem like the government was definitely involved.

Regardless, the mute phenomenon reached epidemic proportions, leading one U.S. Senator to convene the first conference on the topic. A conference that would lead to the greatest UFO conspiracy of all time.

Special thanks to Brennan Storr (The Ghost Story Guys), Philip Keating (Botched Podcast, Imaginary Nomad on Twitch), Emily Louise (Weird Reads with Emily Louise), Ash, Ryan Sprague (Somewhere in the Skies) and David Riedel.

Sources:

“The Enduring Panic About Cow Mutilations” by Rachel Monroe, The New Yorker, May 8, 2023

Stalking the Herd: Unraveling the Cattle Mutilation Mystery by Christopher O’Brien

“Mind Blowing Soul-Suckers??” by Staff Writer, Stigmata, No 5

“Ordeal in Arkansas” by Staff Writer, Stigmata, No 4

The Night Mutilators by Gene Duplantier

Dulce Base The Truth and Evidence From the Case Files of Gabe Valdez by Greg Valdez

“Wave of Mutilation: The Cattle Mutilation Phenomenon of the 1970s” by Michael J. Goleman, The Agricultural History Society, 2011

Theme song:

"Ufo" by Floats, available on Soundcloud, iTunes and Spotify

Logo designed by Megan Lagerberg

T-Shirt Designs by The Great Desdymona

Welcome UFO People Prints Are Now Available! 

Check out ourstrangeskies.com for all things related to the podcast!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices


There's a long, winding story written across our collective past that doesn't always make it into the official records. Our Strange Skies: UFOs Throughout History follows that thread, tracing the phenomenon from ancient accounts to modern-day encounters. Host Rob Kristoffersen approaches these tales not just as mysteries, but as integral parts of our cultural and historical fabric, examining how they reflect the anxieties and imaginations of their times. Each episode focuses on a specific case, era, or theme, blending documented reports with the broader lore that has grown around them. You'll hear detailed breakdowns of famous sightings, deep dives into lesser-known incidents, and thoughtful discussions on topics ranging from reported abductions to the cryptic creatures often associated with these skies. Rob's conversations with a rotating cast of researchers, historians, and fellow experts add layers of context, ensuring the narrative is grounded even when the subject matter is decidedly ungrounded. This isn't about sensationalism; it's a careful, curious exploration of why these stories persist and what they tell us about ourselves. Tune into this podcast for a thoughtful journey through the archives of the unexplained, where history meets mystery head-on.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Our Strange Skies: UFOs Throughout History
Podcast Episodes
167: UFO Abduction at Mirassol (The Final Episode) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:04
This episode contains depictions of sexual assault. In our final episode we examine the case of Antônio Carlos Ferreira, a Brazilian security guard/stonemason who was involved in a series of UFO abductions that would lea…
165: The Spooks and Kooks of Ufology with Adam Gorightly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:33:54
We're going to be taking a break from the Great UFO Conspiracy series, but before we do, I wanted y'all to hear this episode I recorded with Adam Gorightly (Historia Discordia), the author of Saucers, Spooks, and Kooks:…
164: Paranoid Skepticism with Emily Louise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52:42
Emily Louise from Weird Reads with Emily Louise joins the pod to unleash a torrent of paranoid skepticism. This episode contains a fair amount of shit talking about David Paulides, Leo Sprinkle, Rick Doty, and Bill Moore…
An Interview with David Riedel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:00
Here is our uncut interview with David Riedel, son of Pat McGuire and author of "My Dad Was A Famous Alien Abductee. I Thought He Was A Joke — Now I'm Not So Sure." David talks about his time growing up in an abusive cul…
163: The Miracle Well of Wyoming and the Cult They Pulled Up From It [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:17
Ten miles from Bosler, Wyoming sits a ranch with a rather unusual feature. A well over 350 feet deep. A miracle well whose builder was told that he would never strike water. And yet, he did. Pat McGuire's well is an endu…
161: The Great UFO Conspiracy, Part 1: Snippy the Mute [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:53
CW: Animal Death On June 5, 2023, The Debrief published an article titled “Intelligence Officials Say U.S. Has Retrieved Craft of Non Human Origins.” Written by Leslie Kean and Ralph Blumenthal, the article details claim…
160: Putting Jaws in a Headlock with Jessica Knapik [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:36
In the final palette cleanser episode before we dive deep into serious UFO conspiracy territory, Jessica Knapik from What's Up Weirdo joins me to talk about the weird vibe of her post office, haunted workplaces, misconce…
159: Bookwrecking with Steve Berg [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:47:40
This week, my good friend Steve Berg (Host of the wonderful podcast, Hi, Strangeness) returns to the pod to talk about Nebraska weirdness, the old guard and their old ways, making friends in paranormal circles, and we re…