The Micah Hanks Program

40 Episodes
Subscribe

By: Micah Hanks

The Micah Hanks Program is a weekly podcast that covers science and the mysteries of our universe. Taking a critically-minded approach to the study of our world, each week Micah presents commentary and discussions with guests on subjects that include mysteries of physics and astronomy, the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI), UFOs, myths and folklore, archaeology and ancient mysteries, artificial intelligence, futurism, cryptozoology, science fiction, and entertainment. Each week we journey to the boundaries of human knowledge, in search of the most unusual things our world has to offer.

Incident at Sandown: Solving an English UFO Urban Legend
Last Tuesday at 7:43 PM

In 1973, a bizarre encounter allegedly unfolded on the Isle of Wight, involving two children who claimed to meet an odd, clown-like humanoid figure near Sandown, England. Speaking in odd phrases and appearing to inhabit a strange, makeshift dwelling, the being called itself "All Colors Sam," and despite the obscure origins of the tale, it would eventually gain a cult following within the annals of UFO and high-strangeness lore, remembered today as the story of Sam "The Sandown Clown."

Joining us this week on The Micah Hanks Program to discuss this case from ufology's "Odd Files" is Ryan...


The Missing Scientists - Birth of a UFO Conspiracy Theory
04/20/2026

In recent weeks, a growing number of news outlets have picked up the mysterious story of missing scientists, contractors, and government officials associated with some of the United States' most secretive technologies who have vanished or died under unusual circumstances. As the web of incidents continues to expand, current theories claim that nearly a dozen scientists may be involved, all with possible links to UFO secrets. So what is really going on?

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we examine the latest UFO conspiracy theory to gain traction in the mainstream media, which has even led t...


The Lacatski Effect: Spies, Saucers, and Secrets of the DIA's UAP Program
04/14/2026

If all records and information related to UFOs that the U.S. government currently withholds were to be released, what would it disclose about the phenomenon? Would the undeniable reality of unidentified anomalous phenomena finally be laid bare, or would it only foment new questions about what aerial mysteries? 

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we analyze the ongoing riddle of the Defense Intelligence Program's (DIA) Advanced Aerospace Weapons Systems Application Program (AAWSAP) and its enigmatic former director, Dr. James Lacatski, whose recent statements have raised new questions about "disclosure," as well as information leaks and es...


Disinfo Wars: Fact, Fiction, and Confusion in the UFO Disclosure Era | MHP 04.07.26.
04/07/2026

What is the real truth about UFOs? Today, theories widely circulated online range from the controversial—and often questionable—including viral "alien mummy" discoveries in South America, to conspiracy-driven narratives about secret briefings, missing scientists, and even alleged "alien speeches" tied to political figures. Is it possible to make sense of the madness that often populates the modern UFO landscape, as represented by dialogue online?

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we wade into the madness and, drawing on firsthand experiences and widely reported cases, attempt to separate speculation from substantiated fact, and explore how easily misi...


The Adena Enigma: Serpent Mound, Curious Tablets, and the Mound Builder Mythos
03/31/2026

America's enigmatic Adena culture, which flourished in the Ohio Valley between roughly 1000 BCE and 200 BCE, is best known for its sophisticated burial practices and monumental earthworks. While much about the Adena is known to modern archaeologists, a number of questions linger about this mysterious ancient culture, the remarkable monuments they left to time, and the curious tablets that have been recovered from famous Adena sites.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we are joined by researcher Jason Pentrail to discuss his new two-volume book series Adena: Mound Builders of the Ohio Valley. From Ohio's mysterious Serpent...


Monte Verde: Rebirth of an Archaeological Controversy
03/23/2026

One of the greatest controversies in American archaeology involves the debate over when the first people arrived in the New World, and long at the center of the debate has been the South American site of Monte Verde, where research that began decades ago produced evidence of a human presence there as early as 14,500 years ago.

While marking the beginning of a major paradigm shift in the archaeological world, the site has remained at the heart of the debate over when the first Americans arrived, which has seen its latest challenge in a new paper published in...


The Disappearance of Maj. Gen. Neil McCasland
03/17/2026

This week, authorities in New Mexico are continuing their investigation into the disappearance of retired U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. William "Neil" McCasland, and as the investigation enters its third week, officials say there have been no confirmed sightings of McCasland and few significant leads regarding his whereabouts. McCasland, 68, is a former commander of the Air Force Research Laboratory whose career placed him at the center of some of the U.S. military's most sensitive science and technology programs.

However, it was the missing official's brief associations with the rock guitarist Tom DeLonge beginning in 2016 that...


Anomaly Over Illinois: The St. Clair Triangle UFO
03/10/2026

In the early morning hours of January 5, 2000, several law enforcement officers on duty in southern Illinois became witnesses to the uncanny. Shortly after 4:00 a.m., a local business owner reported seeing a "flying house" passing through the sky near Highland, Illinois, prompting several officers throughout the region to pursue what they described as a massive, slow-moving triangular UFO. 

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we delve into the story behind the St. Clair Triangle UFO Incident of 2000, and the remarkable circumstances involving one of recent history's most striking examples of unexplained aerial phenomena in our skies. 

...


UAP at the Pentagon: UFO Transparency and National Defense
03/04/2026

As an escalating conflict between the United States and Iran continues to test American forces across the Middle East, renewed attention has been placed on the Pentagon's handling of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP) and long-promised government disclosures. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently confirmed that officials are actively reviewing UFO-related records, noting that "our people are working on it right now," while Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson said the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) is coordinating aspects of the disclosure process.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we examine all of the latest UAP transparency developments, amid...


UFO Disclosure and the Trump Administration
02/24/2026

Last Thursday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a posting on his Truth Social website that he plans to "begin the process of identifying and releasing Government files related to alien and extraterrestrial life, unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP), and unidentified flying objects (UFOs)," and related information. Following the announcement, the internet has been buzzing with speculation about UFO disclosure and what such a historic release might potentially reveal.

In this week's installment of The Micah Hanks Program, we break down the events leading up to the President's announcement, what any formal release of UFO documents would...


Incident Over El Paso: Laser Weapons, Drones, & UAP Claims | MHP 02.17.26.
02/17/2026

This week, following an unusual situation that erupted in the skies over El Paso, Texas, last week that placed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on high alert, the U.S. Department of Defense revealed the recent testing of a new counter-drone laser weapon that was reportedly deployed to neutralize a security threat at the U.S. southern border. However, as further reporting has revealed, it seems there was more to this story... and of course, plenty of UAP speculation involving alleged sightings of aerial objects in American airspace. 

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we look at...


Shadows of the UFO Legacy Program
02/11/2026

On an April afternoon in 1964, a police officer's observation of an unusual, landed aircraft in New Mexico would become one of ufology's most baffling cold cases. Decades later, two women's unnerving encounter with a strange aircraft over a Texas highway would leave them suffering from health effects that led them to believe they had witnessed a U.S. government test gone awry. But could these two famous UFO cases have more in common than most would ever think? 

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, our examination of some of America's most controversial UFO cases leads us to...


The UAP Trail: Cold Case UFO Files Reopened
02/03/2026

An early morning high-speed police chase involving a UFO... a military helicopter crew's encounter with something from out of this world... these are just a few examples of some of history's best-known and most credible UFO cases, both of which occurred in Ohio during the height of the Cold War. What were the objects these trained professionals observed, and what do their presence in the skies mean for U.S. National Security?

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we cover a recent trip with the documentary team from "Small Town Monsters" into the heart of the...


Varginha: The Brazilian Roswell
01/28/2026

In January 1996, residents of the quiet Brazilian city of Varginha began reporting something unusual in the skies above their neighborhoods. Witnesses described a low-flying object—long, cylindrical, and trailing smoke—moving erratically over the city before disappearing from view. In the days that followed, the story took on a far stranger dimension, one that would transform a routine sighting into one of the most enduring and controversial UFO cases in modern history.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, following a recent press conference held in Washington, D.C., involving a UAP case with international significance, we exami...


Ancient Signals Decoded: Lost Languages, Archaeology, and Alien Contact
01/20/2026

Throughout history, scholars have sought ways to access the "lost knowledge" of the ancient world. In recent years, with the advent of artificial intelligence, major strides have been made toward decoding the mysteries kept within mysterious ancient texts like the famous "Voynich manuscript," which was composed centuries ago in a mysterious language that remains undeciphered. The challenges that such texts present to scholars also raise a question: would we be any more successful in decoding messages sent to Earth from space by intelligent aliens?

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we look at the efforts by...


Secret Arsenal: Sonic Weapons, Covert Aircraft, and 'Black Budget' Mysteries
01/13/2026

Is the United States in possession of a secretive new "sonic weapon," the existence of which has not yet been officially revealed to the public? This question has arisen recently amid rumors about a mysterious and devastating new U.S. capability, but what does science and available intelligence say about such futuristic warfare technologies? 

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we examine the recent sonic weapon claims, along with a look at other purported weapons and other capabilities comprising the alleged "secret arsenal" of the U.S. military. We also take a look further back in ti...


Lost Knowledge and Forgotten Technologies of the Past
01/07/2026

The fabled Library of Alexandria, one of the greatest centers of learning in the ancient world, was home to vast collections of scrolls from across the Mediterranean and beyond. Despite the wonders it contained, by late antiquity, the library's collections had disappeared, leaving questions about the depth of the ancient knowledge it once contained. But could such "lost knowledge" from the ancient past ever be recovered?

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we explore the enigma of lost information from antiquity, as well as several of the most curious surviving ancient technologies that point to the...


UAP in 2025: Sightings, Discoveries, and Controversies
12/30/2025

Throughout 2025, several new revelations have come to light involving the ever-controversial subject of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP). From new whistleblowers coming forward to sensational claims about alleged secret programs, the last twelve months were at no loss for excitement as far as claims involving aerial mysteries, but what have this year's major revelations taught us, and how much can be verified? 

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, take a look at some of the major developments from 2025 involving UAP, from sighting reports to new revelations, and also controversies that have erupted around the subject. 

Hav...


Ancient Mysteries Unearthed: Incredible Archaeology Discoveries in 2025
12/23/2025

Our fascination with ancient mysteries was rewarded in 2025 with a host of incredible discoveries that are shedding light on the past. Curious findings throughout the year have pushed back the timescales on the beginnings of ancient structures in Europe and other parts of the world, unusual artifacts found in odd places, and in some cases, discoveries that are bridging the gap between ancient history and mythology.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we look at some of the most fascinating and unusual archaeological discoveries of the last twelve months, from curiosities of the ancient world to...


All Will Be Disclosed: UFO Revelations and Deception in Popular Media
12/16/2025

Residents of New York and Los Angeles were recently treated to an eye-grabbing display, with the sudden appearance of mysterious promotional billboards advertising a new project by legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg. The eerie imagery was accompanied solely by the words "ALL WILL BE DISCLOSED," along with Spielberg's name and the presumed premiere date of the forthcoming film, the official title of which currently remains unknown.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, along with speculations about the film and whether it could feature "real aliens" and other theories that have proliferated online, we dive into the history...


Revelations: An Insider's Report on the DIA's UAP Investigations
12/10/2025

From out of the shadows of the U.S. intelligence community, Dr. James T. Lacatski, a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) career intelligence officer and scientist, has emerged to become best known as the program manager who initiated and oversaw the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications Program (AAWSAP). The program was, in short, the Pentagon's most comprehensive—and at times most controversial—known inquiry into unidentified anomalous phenomena, or UAP.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we take a look at Lacatski's contributions to the UAP research effort, as detailed in formerly classified files released through the...


UAPx: The University of Albany's New UAP Initiative
12/02/2025

In a major development for the future of UAP science, physicists at the University of Albany, New York, have announced a new research initiative—dubbed UAlbany Project X—that marks the beginning of a long-term scientific study of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP).

Joining us this week on The Micah Hanks Program to discuss the exciting news are two of the project's lead scientists, Dr. Kevin Knuth and Dr. Matthew Szydagis, who discuss the "rebirth" of the original UAPx initiative as a fully funded UAP investigation backed by the University of Albany. Where will the team's future studies of ano...


The Age of Disclosure
11/26/2025

For decades, the subject of UAP has hovered at the uneasy intersection of national security, scientific curiosity, and public trust. While bipartisan momentum in Washington has pushed for greater transparency, the federal government's fragmented responses and long-standing culture of classification have only deepened questions about what is known—and what might remain hidden.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, following the release of the new documentary film "The Age of Disclosure" by Director Dan Farah, we offer a complete analysis involving the film and main takeaways, as well as the media responses and intriguing details that ha...


Invaders: 3I/ATLAS Overload and the 'Alien Invasion' Archetype | MHP 11.18.25.
11/19/2025

Since the late 19th century, the concept of an "alien invasion" has been a recurring theme in literature, and also served as a kind of cultural pressure gauge—it reveals our fears about what might be lurking in the cosmos, as well as the everyday horrors of the human condition, forcing us to confront questions about our vulnerabilities, and our assumptions about intelligent life elsewhere in the universe.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we lead off with a bit of discussion about the persistent rumors about the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS, and whether its presence co...


Riddle of the Lost Labyrinth: An Ancient Enigma Unearthed
11/12/2025

Ancient Greek mythology tells of a daunting underground maze known as the labyrinth, which, according to legend, housed the fabled beast known as the minotaur. However, clues hidden in ancient writings through the centuries have suggested that there may be more to the tale than mere legend, and that there had in fact been more than one labyrinth that existed in the ancient world.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, a remarkable new discovery in Crete has reinvigorated debate over the origins behind one of ancient Greece's most enduring legends, and it marks only the beginning...


Unidentified in Earth's Oceans: The USO Controversy and 3I/ATLAS Update
11/04/2025

For centuries, strange phenomena associated with our seas have been reported by credible observers, which include several Cold War-era sightings by personnel with the U.S. and Soviet militaries. But what are these strange oceanic counterparts to the UAP mystery, which many refer to as "unidentified submerged objects," or USOs?

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, following an update on unusual behavior displayed by the interstellar comet 3I/ATLAS during its recent nearest approach to the Sun, we shift our attention to the USO mystery, what contemporary data says, and also how several historical examples describe...


Transients: Objects of Unknown Origin and the Nuclear Connection
10/29/2025

Recently, striking correlations between mysterious flashes of light captured on 1950s astronomical plates, reports of unidentified anomalous phenomena (UAP), and atmospheric nuclear weapons tests of the same era have been revealed in a pair of new peer-reviewed scientific papers. Analyzing more than 106,000 short-lived "transients" from the VASCO project archives, the team found that such flashes were 68% more likely to occur the day after a nuclear test, and increased further when UAP sightings were also reported. A companion study detected potential solar reflections from flat, highly reflective objects in orbit before the first human satellites launched, with one event coinciding...


Unknowns in Our Airspace: UAP & Aviation Safety Threats
10/21/2025

Recently, a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 8 en route from Denver to Los Angeles was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City after colliding with an unidentified object over Utah. The impact shattered the cockpit windshield, injuring one of the pilots and prompting the crew to announce that the aircraft had "collided with an object." Early investigations seem to rule out space debris or meteors, and while investigators continue working to resolve the situation, a potential break in this unusual case may have now revealed what actually happened.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program...


Incident at Area 51: A Crash Investigation Uncovers Material of 'Unknown Origin'
10/14/2025

In an odd turn of events, officials have revealed unusual new details about an aircraft crash that occurred near Area 51 in late September. The crash, initially described as minor and non-fatal, has since taken a strange turn after investigators reportedly discovered "tampering" at the site, which includes the discovery of objects that included an "inert training bomb body" and aircraft material of "unknown origin."

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we look at the latest news about the ongoing investigation, as well as the strange history involving several of the key players involved in the investigation...


3I/ATLAS: Arrival of an Interstellar Visitor
10/07/2025

On July 1, 2025, a mysterious object was detected within our solar system. Soon afterward, it was confirmed by NASA as the third known interstellar object ever observed by astronomers, and given a formal name: 3I/ATLAS. Since that time, the object's unusual trajectory, massive size, and anomalous behavior have captured the fascination of the scientific community, leading to questions about whether it is indeed simply an interstellar comet bearing unusual traits or whether it could be something more complex.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we delve into the curious story behind 3I/ATLAS and look at...


Unknown Down: An Area 51 Crash Retrieval and Mystery Drones Redux
10/01/2025

Recently, the legendary Area 51 has been making headlines again, after a mysterious incident involving an aircraft crash in the desert near the famous and secretive high-security facility. Elsewhere, sightings of "mystery drones" over NATO member countries in Europe are raising concerns among officials, as questions remain over who may be behind the mysterious incursions.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we delve into what is known about the unusual incident involving a crash retrieval at Area 51, as well as the statements made by European officials regarding concerning mystery drones that led to a shutdown at Copenhagen...


Lost Contact: The Mantell Incident and Post-War UFOs
09/24/2025

In January 1948, Kentucky Air National Guard pilot Captain Thomas Mantell died while pursuing an unidentified flying object near Fort Knox, after his P-51 Mustang went into a fatal climb. The U.S. Air Force later suggested he had been chasing a high-altitude Skyhook balloon, but many still regard the Mantell incident as one of the first major UFO cases of the modern era.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we are joined by filmmaker Seth Breedlove, whose forthcoming documentary Lost Contact: UFOs After Wartime revisits one of the earliest controversies in the study of UFOs, involving th...


The Task Force Hearing on UAP Transparency
09/17/2025

Last week, the Task Force on the Disclosure of Federal Secrets held a hearing entitled "Restoring Public Trust Through UAP Transparency and Whistleblower Protection," during which witnesses and members of Congress criticized government secrecy and dismissiveness around unidentified anomalous phenomena. With participation from military whistleblowers, some of whom expressed concerns over repercussions for speaking out, the hearing's participants argued that existing oversight bodies like AARO have failed to investigate reports adequately.

In this episode of The Micah Hanks Program, we analyze the key takeaways from the recent hearing, along with a new UAP video that was revealed...


UAP and Myths of the Space Age
09/05/2025

On an unassuming evening in March 1997, thousands of witnesses in Arizona and surrounding states observed strange lights in the sky. The famous incident, known today as "The Phoenix Lights," remains a staple of modern UFO studies... but is there a deeper story behind this classic "best evidence" encounter?

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we take a careful look at the Phoenix Lights mystery, as well as recent sightings of "mystery drones," and how biased viewpoints that treat the subject either skeptically or entirely credulously often lead to the creation of "myths of the space age,"...


The Alien Paradox: ET Contact, Signals from Space, and Cosmic Hitchhikers
09/02/2025

Since the dawn of the space age, scientists have been scouring the universe for evidence of alien life and possible attempts at communication by intelligent civilizations in the far reaches of the cosmos. While frustratingly little evidence has been found supporting the existence of intelligent life on other worlds, a handful of strange incidents from over the years point to a tantalizing possibility: that attempts at contact have already been made.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we examine the famous "Fermi Paradox," as well as possible cases involving messages sent toward Earth by extraterrestrial civilizations...


The Universal Engine: Cosmic Mysteries and Intelligence Beyond Earth
08/28/2025

For centuries, humans have wrestled with the mysteries of the cosmos, from the invisible dark matter and dark energy that shape the universe, to hidden dimensions, parallel universes, and the ultimate fate of all cosmic structures. Such questions force us to consider not only the physics of the universe, but the possibility that non-human intelligence—whether biological or artificial—could exist far beyond Earth, or perhaps also closer to home.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we look at some of the greatest modern mysteries of the cosmos, as well as the question of whether there is l...


Phantom Vessels: Ghost Ships, Missing Crews and Oddities of Sea and Sky | MHP 08.20.25.
08/20/2025

For centuries, sailors have shared baffling stories of phantom vessels found adrift with their crews missing. Such mysterious occurrences have helped give rise to famous legends like that of the "Flying Dutchman," a ghost ship said to have been observed during severe maritime storms since at least the eighteenth century.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, we explore several historical cases of ships at sea and aircraft whose crews went missing, like the famous Mary Celeste, the odd tale of the Orang Medan, a blimp whose crew vanished during WWII, and other eerie examples. However, could...


Agile Assault Over the Sea of Japan: a Classified Cold War UAP Confrontation | MHP 08.12.25.
08/13/2025

At 9:23 p.m. on April 14, 1953, the crew aboard a U.S. Navy patrol plane conducting a classified ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) operation during Korean War had an unsettling encounter with the unexplained. Moving silently through the air at nine thousand feet, the aircraft initially noticed a light in the distance that appeared to be signaling to them using Morse Code. Over the hour that followed, the crew found themselves in the middle of a strange series of engagements that could only be interpreted as an aggressive display toward their aircraft by objects of unknown origin. 

This week on Th...


Analyzing the Unidentified: AARO's Hunt for UAP and 'Tyson vs the Triangles'
08/06/2025

In a rare public interview, Jon Kosloski, Director of the Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) joined astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson on StarTalk Radio to pull back the curtain on the U.S. government's investigation into Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAPs). From law enforcement sightings of black triangles and glowing orbs to the challenges of AI-generated hoaxes and classified sensor tech, Kosloski offered a breakdown of AARO's scientific approach to UAP analysis.

This week on The Micah Hanks Program, following a "State of the UAP" address that looks at the current state of the phenomenon, the history behind...


Anomalous Atmospheric Phenomena: Plasmas, Strange Weather, and Climate Curiosities
07/30/2025

In 1996, a NASA space shuttle mission meant to study microgravity's effects on electromagnetism may have recorded one of the most puzzling and controversial encounters ever filmed in Earth orbit—dozens, and eventually hundreds, of luminous, pulsating objects seemingly reacting to high-voltage electromagnetic fields in space. What were the strange objects, and could they be related to mysterious plasmas that are believed to manifest in Earth's atmosphere, which are sometimes responsible for UAP sightings?

From bizarre luminous manifestations in our skies, to extreme weather events and meteorological oddities, this week on The Micah Hanks Program we explore cases in...