1 00:00:04,580 --> 00:00:00,170 there 2 00:00:08,860 --> 00:00:08,630 [Applause] 3 00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:08,870 [Music] 4 00:00:30,980 --> 00:00:24,320 greetings citizens and welcome to 5 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:30,990 unknown I'm Jason McClellan thanks for 6 00:00:35,180 --> 00:00:33,210 hanging out with me journalist and 7 00:00:36,920 --> 00:00:35,190 author Mike Demonte recently announced 8 00:00:39,619 --> 00:00:36,930 that he's written a follow-up to his 9 00:00:42,020 --> 00:00:39,629 book punk rock and UFOs cryptozoology 10 00:00:46,100 --> 00:00:42,030 meets anarchy the new book is titled 11 00:00:47,600 --> 00:00:46,110 punk rock and UFOs true believers rogue 12 00:00:49,729 --> 00:00:47,610 planets Shane hurt and I recently 13 00:00:53,900 --> 00:00:49,739 chatted with Mike to learn more about 14 00:00:55,850 --> 00:00:53,910 this upcoming UFO book well Mike I want 15 00:00:57,680 --> 00:00:55,860 to jump into talking about your new book 16 00:01:00,200 --> 00:00:57,690 because I'm really excited about it but 17 00:01:03,709 --> 00:01:00,210 first I guess we'll we'll roll back a 18 00:01:06,380 --> 00:01:03,719 little bit and I'd like to know when did 19 00:01:09,230 --> 00:01:06,390 you make the decision to transition from 20 00:01:12,020 --> 00:01:09,240 a casual observer to someone who 21 00:01:16,279 --> 00:01:12,030 actively journalistically explores the 22 00:01:18,770 --> 00:01:16,289 UFO topic ooh good question so I think 23 00:01:20,029 --> 00:01:18,780 you know one of the things I mentioned 24 00:01:22,730 --> 00:01:20,039 in this book is there's a commonality 25 00:01:24,350 --> 00:01:22,740 between people who are into this stuff 26 00:01:26,240 --> 00:01:24,360 and researchers and usually starts with 27 00:01:28,820 --> 00:01:26,250 an experience whether it's a sighting or 28 00:01:32,090 --> 00:01:28,830 something something sparks that or 29 00:01:33,890 --> 00:01:32,100 ignites that flame in our heads and for 30 00:01:35,330 --> 00:01:33,900 me you know as a kid I was really into 31 00:01:38,899 --> 00:01:35,340 this stuff because my mom used to get me 32 00:01:40,130 --> 00:01:38,909 the the time-life books every there's 33 00:01:43,370 --> 00:01:40,140 like a book series every month there was 34 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:43,380 a new book and one month would be like 35 00:01:48,139 --> 00:01:45,570 mysterious creatures or the UFO 36 00:01:51,050 --> 00:01:48,149 phenomenon and all all the unknown stuff 37 00:01:53,600 --> 00:01:51,060 really interests me but my interest 38 00:01:55,999 --> 00:01:53,610 really didn't skyrocket until I first 39 00:01:57,800 --> 00:01:56,009 saw something you know I saw a very 40 00:01:59,990 --> 00:01:57,810 familiar side and I saw an orb in the 41 00:02:02,830 --> 00:02:00,000 sky then ever since then I just felt 42 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:02,840 were compelled to kind of dig deeper and 43 00:02:09,109 --> 00:02:05,610 after I wrote the first book the first 44 00:02:12,490 --> 00:02:09,119 book is very very driven this one I 45 00:02:14,479 --> 00:02:12,500 think it's it's a better more focused 46 00:02:15,920 --> 00:02:14,489 version of what I was going for because 47 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:15,930 there's more research involved and 48 00:02:20,740 --> 00:02:17,850 there's other people's inputs including 49 00:02:23,180 --> 00:02:20,750 yourself so thank you for your help 50 00:02:26,090 --> 00:02:23,190 absolutely Shane did you have that time 51 00:02:28,310 --> 00:02:26,100 life series book the the book series you 52 00:02:32,839 --> 00:02:28,320 know as a matter of fact yes I thought 53 00:02:37,099 --> 00:02:32,849 you believed it yeah 54 00:02:40,670 --> 00:02:37,109 pre-internet days yeah that's right oh 55 00:02:43,429 --> 00:02:40,680 absolutely well so after the release of 56 00:02:45,229 --> 00:02:43,439 your first book Mike did you experience 57 00:02:47,330 --> 00:02:45,239 any kind of I love asking people 58 00:02:49,819 --> 00:02:47,340 question this question people who get 59 00:02:51,500 --> 00:02:49,829 involved in UFO research and certainly 60 00:02:53,390 --> 00:02:51,510 people who release a book because when 61 00:02:55,940 --> 00:02:53,400 you release a book you know your friends 62 00:02:57,410 --> 00:02:55,950 and family like clearly see that you 63 00:02:59,240 --> 00:02:57,420 release this book because you're posting 64 00:03:00,890 --> 00:02:59,250 about it on on social media and stuff so 65 00:03:02,750 --> 00:03:00,900 after the release of your first book did 66 00:03:04,520 --> 00:03:02,760 you experience any kind of increased 67 00:03:10,190 --> 00:03:04,530 interest in the subject from friends and 68 00:03:12,289 --> 00:03:10,200 family more so from outsiders okay for 69 00:03:16,250 --> 00:03:12,299 people who I shared mutual friends with 70 00:03:17,330 --> 00:03:16,260 that I eventually met or for example I 71 00:03:19,789 --> 00:03:17,340 would have a friend who would share 72 00:03:22,129 --> 00:03:19,799 something about it and then and then it 73 00:03:24,619 --> 00:03:22,139 would kind of snowball from there but 74 00:03:26,300 --> 00:03:24,629 the the increased interest really came 75 00:03:27,890 --> 00:03:26,310 from I mean honestly I'm not just saying 76 00:03:30,530 --> 00:03:27,900 this really started with the first time 77 00:03:31,879 --> 00:03:30,540 I was on row planet okay about the first 78 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:31,889 podcast that we did you were the first 79 00:03:37,280 --> 00:03:34,650 one to really kind of discover me so the 80 00:03:39,469 --> 00:03:37,290 interest in the book and the brand I 81 00:03:41,659 --> 00:03:39,479 guess started with with you so I'm very 82 00:03:45,140 --> 00:03:41,669 thankful and grateful for that well I 83 00:03:47,599 --> 00:03:45,150 couldn't be not not be intrigued because 84 00:03:49,479 --> 00:03:47,609 you know punk rock and UFOs or two of my 85 00:03:53,409 --> 00:03:49,489 favorite things in the world so 86 00:03:56,270 --> 00:03:53,419 naturally it was a perfect fit yeah so 87 00:03:58,189 --> 00:03:56,280 no I appreciate that but it's where you 88 00:03:59,659 --> 00:03:58,199 know Targa's like that sometimes you try 89 00:04:01,159 --> 00:03:59,669 to have conversations with people even 90 00:04:02,599 --> 00:04:01,169 like your close friends and you know 91 00:04:05,330 --> 00:04:02,609 sometimes you're kind of dismissive and 92 00:04:07,339 --> 00:04:05,340 sometimes family's open-minded but it's 93 00:04:10,189 --> 00:04:07,349 still hard to really engage certain 94 00:04:11,300 --> 00:04:10,199 people actually a few weeks ago I was in 95 00:04:15,289 --> 00:04:11,310 Chicago I was there with my girlfriend 96 00:04:16,819 --> 00:04:15,299 and her friends and they saw something 97 00:04:18,379 --> 00:04:16,829 we actually they saw something when 98 00:04:22,279 --> 00:04:18,389 we're on a boat tour I didn't see 99 00:04:24,279 --> 00:04:22,289 exhaust too busy yeah actually I post 100 00:04:27,580 --> 00:04:24,289 about this on my blog they actually saw 101 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:27,590 orb in the sky that split up into 102 00:04:31,879 --> 00:04:30,570 various other orbs and it was like it 103 00:04:32,810 --> 00:04:31,889 wasn't just them yeah they weren't 104 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:32,820 playing a trick um I asked other people 105 00:04:36,469 --> 00:04:35,130 on the bow and they saw too so that and 106 00:04:37,610 --> 00:04:36,479 I afterwards you know we kind of had the 107 00:04:39,890 --> 00:04:37,620 conversation and they're asking me 108 00:04:42,649 --> 00:04:39,900 questions and they were very open-minded 109 00:04:45,439 --> 00:04:42,659 and fascinated and one of her friends 110 00:04:46,129 --> 00:04:45,449 brother was there and he's going to get 111 00:04:48,529 --> 00:04:46,139 his master 112 00:04:51,129 --> 00:04:48,539 in physics he's gonna be a physicist mhm 113 00:04:54,379 --> 00:04:51,139 and he was very open-minded and he says 114 00:04:57,469 --> 00:04:54,389 absolutely mathematically there's other 115 00:05:01,640 --> 00:04:57,479 life forms and universes in the universe 116 00:05:03,019 --> 00:05:01,650 just mathematically makes sense so it's 117 00:05:04,459 --> 00:05:03,029 always good to have those conversations 118 00:05:08,899 --> 00:05:04,469 or people open-minded to want to know 119 00:05:10,339 --> 00:05:08,909 more and yeah I'm sure after after the 120 00:05:12,019 --> 00:05:10,349 first book that those those 121 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:12,029 conversations happened a lot more I love 122 00:05:17,420 --> 00:05:14,810 that Shane what about you after you 123 00:05:20,809 --> 00:05:17,430 started working with MUFON as a field 124 00:05:22,760 --> 00:05:20,819 investigator did and people in your your 125 00:05:24,260 --> 00:05:22,770 closed circle found out about that did 126 00:05:27,890 --> 00:05:24,270 did more people start talking to you 127 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:27,900 about UFOs yeah surprisingly I was quite 128 00:05:32,959 --> 00:05:29,610 nervous about it I was kind of in the 129 00:05:35,300 --> 00:05:32,969 closet on it for quite some time but as 130 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:35,310 I you know kind of presented it to 131 00:05:41,179 --> 00:05:37,490 people especially from you know an 132 00:05:42,409 --> 00:05:41,189 investigative standpoint and and they 133 00:05:44,779 --> 00:05:42,419 were kind of shocked to hear that 134 00:05:47,300 --> 00:05:44,789 there's an organized effort and you know 135 00:05:50,149 --> 00:05:47,310 and it is taken seriously then you know 136 00:05:53,209 --> 00:05:50,159 it raised a few eyebrows they you know 137 00:05:55,219 --> 00:05:53,219 we're acceptive of it and you know I'm 138 00:05:56,779 --> 00:05:55,229 going good and strong right now and I 139 00:06:00,140 --> 00:05:56,789 get a lot of support from my family 140 00:06:02,450 --> 00:06:00,150 that's fantastic yeah now Mike your new 141 00:06:04,369 --> 00:06:02,460 book is a follow-up to your first book 142 00:06:06,260 --> 00:06:04,379 like you mentioned and you kind of 143 00:06:08,779 --> 00:06:06,270 already touched on this but asked you 144 00:06:10,999 --> 00:06:08,789 more directly so how does the focus of 145 00:06:15,670 --> 00:06:11,009 the new book differ from that of the 146 00:06:17,659 --> 00:06:15,680 first book it's more focused in general 147 00:06:19,610 --> 00:06:17,669 I'm try think the best way to describe 148 00:06:21,589 --> 00:06:19,620 it so basically it's you know it kind of 149 00:06:23,300 --> 00:06:21,599 plays off some of the the concepts that 150 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:23,310 I talked about in the first one you know 151 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:26,370 in terms of a process of belief and but 152 00:06:33,110 --> 00:06:29,490 this one more concentrates on two main 153 00:06:35,629 --> 00:06:33,120 goals why we should care about this how 154 00:06:37,339 --> 00:06:35,639 do we get there and also the 155 00:06:38,659 --> 00:06:37,349 commonalities between the people who 156 00:06:41,749 --> 00:06:38,669 research this stuff and the everyday 157 00:06:43,610 --> 00:06:41,759 people am I trying to so the book is 158 00:06:45,589 --> 00:06:43,620 basically written where as compelling 159 00:06:47,269 --> 00:06:45,599 enough for people who've been interested 160 00:06:49,159 --> 00:06:47,279 in this stuff for years to still find 161 00:06:52,850 --> 00:06:49,169 something new and interesting in it it's 162 00:06:54,170 --> 00:06:52,860 also written accessible enough for 163 00:06:55,730 --> 00:06:54,180 people who are not familiar with the 164 00:06:58,060 --> 00:06:55,740 topic to read it and learn something as 165 00:06:59,830 --> 00:06:58,070 well so that was the main goal 166 00:07:01,510 --> 00:06:59,840 of the book and it's really I always 167 00:07:04,420 --> 00:07:01,520 told people it's kind of a call to arms 168 00:07:05,800 --> 00:07:04,430 for try to try to get people to care you 169 00:07:08,070 --> 00:07:05,810 know to care about this stuff because we 170 00:07:09,880 --> 00:07:08,080 have a lot of barriers and a lot of 171 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:09,890 factors that kind of get in the way of 172 00:07:14,350 --> 00:07:12,290 that so that's the main goal of the book 173 00:07:17,130 --> 00:07:14,360 and I think the name true believers it 174 00:07:19,780 --> 00:07:17,140 all kind of goes together very well 175 00:07:21,250 --> 00:07:19,790 you mentioned barriers and obstacles we 176 00:07:22,600 --> 00:07:21,260 want to touch on that a little bit what 177 00:07:24,490 --> 00:07:22,610 what do you see is is some of the 178 00:07:27,100 --> 00:07:24,500 barriers and obstacles that we face when 179 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:27,110 trying to address this um so I mean 180 00:07:30,790 --> 00:07:28,730 there's multiple ones one of the things 181 00:07:32,260 --> 00:07:30,800 that I actually quoted you about is you 182 00:07:34,450 --> 00:07:32,270 know you do such a great job on your 183 00:07:35,950 --> 00:07:34,460 website of choosing articles to run and 184 00:07:37,660 --> 00:07:35,960 how you source those articles and how 185 00:07:40,510 --> 00:07:37,670 you're able to differentiate between 186 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:40,520 what's hoaxes and what's not obviously 187 00:07:44,470 --> 00:07:42,770 you know hopes videos and all those 188 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:44,480 things are barriers as well but I think 189 00:07:47,650 --> 00:07:46,250 the main thing is you know we kind of 190 00:07:50,830 --> 00:07:47,660 live in a world where this is just not a 191 00:07:52,300 --> 00:07:50,840 priority people the capacity which is 192 00:07:53,530 --> 00:07:52,310 the universe I mean I understand people 193 00:07:55,750 --> 00:07:53,540 have families they have you know 194 00:07:58,750 --> 00:07:55,760 finances you know things that that take 195 00:08:00,790 --> 00:07:58,760 presents I get that but you know I 196 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:00,800 mentioned that so much of a you know so 197 00:08:04,030 --> 00:08:01,970 many of us you know we just this is a 198 00:08:07,060 --> 00:08:04,040 hobby you know a lot of us don't do this 199 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:07,070 for a living yeah so you know we devote 200 00:08:13,300 --> 00:08:09,050 a lot of our free to free time and sit 201 00:08:14,950 --> 00:08:13,310 on the word free yeah you know looking 202 00:08:17,260 --> 00:08:14,960 into this stuff so I think the main 203 00:08:18,460 --> 00:08:17,270 barrier is getting people to care you 204 00:08:20,590 --> 00:08:18,470 know just a little bit just to kind of 205 00:08:23,220 --> 00:08:20,600 question things and just to you know 206 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:23,230 start looking at you know history and 207 00:08:27,250 --> 00:08:25,970 start looking at you know some puzzle 208 00:08:28,840 --> 00:08:27,260 pieces and try to put them together on 209 00:08:30,570 --> 00:08:28,850 their own and start doing some of their 210 00:08:33,190 --> 00:08:30,580 own research and just start reading more 211 00:08:35,980 --> 00:08:33,200 you know for things that they never read 212 00:08:38,350 --> 00:08:35,990 before in terms on the subject you know 213 00:08:41,159 --> 00:08:38,360 even back when I was working with open 214 00:08:46,720 --> 00:08:41,169 minds that was a big challenge back then 215 00:08:50,250 --> 00:08:46,730 just trying to dig into sources for 216 00:08:53,350 --> 00:08:50,260 particular stories and you know try to 217 00:08:56,820 --> 00:08:53,360 validate the the the news that was being 218 00:08:59,760 --> 00:08:56,830 delivered or or you know actually 219 00:09:02,830 --> 00:08:59,770 authenticate them as as valid sources 220 00:09:04,210 --> 00:09:02,840 because even if the publication that the 221 00:09:08,350 --> 00:09:04,220 media outlet that was reporting the 222 00:09:10,390 --> 00:09:08,360 story was a respected outlet you still 223 00:09:12,220 --> 00:09:10,400 have to look at 224 00:09:15,460 --> 00:09:12,230 where they're citing where that 225 00:09:17,890 --> 00:09:15,470 information is coming from and what to 226 00:09:19,540 --> 00:09:17,900 make of that you know it was a big 227 00:09:22,150 --> 00:09:19,550 challenge back then it's an even bigger 228 00:09:23,950 --> 00:09:22,160 challenge now I think because even if 229 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:23,960 you're looking at like a Google news 230 00:09:30,630 --> 00:09:27,530 feed you know for a site to get listed 231 00:09:34,120 --> 00:09:30,640 under Google News Google has 232 00:09:37,540 --> 00:09:34,130 requirements of a site to regularly 233 00:09:41,770 --> 00:09:37,550 publish stuff you know on a daily basis 234 00:09:43,420 --> 00:09:41,780 and essentially have some meat to the 235 00:09:46,930 --> 00:09:43,430 the content they're posting you can't 236 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:46,940 just be like a paragraph of reposted 237 00:09:52,530 --> 00:09:49,250 stuff from somewhere else so they have 238 00:09:55,600 --> 00:09:52,540 some requirements but at the same time 239 00:09:57,520 --> 00:09:55,610 not so much so as long as people are 240 00:10:00,460 --> 00:09:57,530 posting to sites regularly they can 241 00:10:02,470 --> 00:10:00,470 apply to be Google News sources to come 242 00:10:05,650 --> 00:10:02,480 up in Google news feeds and things like 243 00:10:07,570 --> 00:10:05,660 that and if you look now well if you've 244 00:10:11,200 --> 00:10:07,580 looked at all over the over the past few 245 00:10:13,480 --> 00:10:11,210 years it's just become filled with 246 00:10:17,320 --> 00:10:13,490 absolute garbage websites when it comes 247 00:10:19,630 --> 00:10:17,330 to sources for UFO news a lot of sites 248 00:10:22,180 --> 00:10:19,640 that have names that sound like 249 00:10:24,580 --> 00:10:22,190 legitimate media outlets but they're not 250 00:10:26,770 --> 00:10:24,590 they're just absolute garbage sites that 251 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:26,780 are that are somebody's blog trying to 252 00:10:31,990 --> 00:10:29,090 make money but they're posting the most 253 00:10:34,810 --> 00:10:32,000 absolutely ridiculous news stories with 254 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:34,820 no credibility behind them no sources to 255 00:10:39,730 --> 00:10:37,370 cite from just this most ridiculous 256 00:10:42,700 --> 00:10:39,740 information possible with UFOs and that 257 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:42,710 is the majority of the site's posting 258 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:46,010 UFO news now so as a journalist when I 259 00:10:51,820 --> 00:10:48,410 look at UF UFO stories now it's 260 00:10:53,560 --> 00:10:51,830 increasingly difficult to quickly 261 00:10:56,770 --> 00:10:53,570 without you know spending a lot of time 262 00:10:58,540 --> 00:10:56,780 again our free time diving in to a lot 263 00:11:01,300 --> 00:10:58,550 of these sources to determine what's 264 00:11:04,810 --> 00:11:01,310 legit and what's complete be us yeah 265 00:11:07,930 --> 00:11:04,820 exactly I think just the nature of the 266 00:11:09,430 --> 00:11:07,940 subject itself you know you always have 267 00:11:11,050 --> 00:11:09,440 to kind of look at it with a skeptical 268 00:11:14,320 --> 00:11:11,060 eye just because I said just the nature 269 00:11:16,660 --> 00:11:14,330 of the topic well let me ask you because 270 00:11:19,270 --> 00:11:16,670 as a journalist what's your opinion of 271 00:11:22,150 --> 00:11:19,280 how the media in general treats the UFO 272 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:22,160 topic I think I mean I think it's 273 00:11:25,870 --> 00:11:23,330 getting better 274 00:11:27,220 --> 00:11:25,880 in general you know one of things I had 275 00:11:28,990 --> 00:11:27,230 talked about in the first book was you 276 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:29,000 know there'd be a story but they usually 277 00:11:35,410 --> 00:11:30,730 wouldn't be too much follow up on it 278 00:11:36,580 --> 00:11:35,420 right I think now it is a so it's hard 279 00:11:38,170 --> 00:11:36,590 but you have to understand how you know 280 00:11:40,090 --> 00:11:38,180 the media works the media is very it's 281 00:11:43,450 --> 00:11:40,100 it's ratings driven it's it's clique 282 00:11:45,760 --> 00:11:43,460 driven so when this stuff runs in print 283 00:11:48,160 --> 00:11:45,770 or when it's given you know proper 284 00:11:50,350 --> 00:11:48,170 proper television time that means you 285 00:11:52,540 --> 00:11:50,360 know it's obviously getting interest 286 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:52,550 from people which is a good and I think 287 00:11:55,870 --> 00:11:54,530 it's getting more respected now so more 288 00:11:57,730 --> 00:11:55,880 than ever just because you know the 289 00:11:59,230 --> 00:11:57,740 pentagon UFO story and how mainstream 290 00:12:00,370 --> 00:11:59,240 outlets are covering it seriously 291 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:00,380 they're taking it seriously 292 00:12:06,130 --> 00:12:04,490 so so that's a positive it's just it's 293 00:12:07,630 --> 00:12:06,140 just keeping keeping those stories in 294 00:12:10,330 --> 00:12:07,640 the new cycle is really hard just 295 00:12:12,220 --> 00:12:10,340 because I mean I worked you know in the 296 00:12:14,560 --> 00:12:12,230 media for for seven years full time I 297 00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:14,570 understand how how hard it is to get 298 00:12:18,220 --> 00:12:16,610 stories to stay up you know even just 299 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:18,230 for a day for a couple of hours 300 00:12:23,110 --> 00:12:20,810 you know just short it's not clicking 301 00:12:26,170 --> 00:12:23,120 well on a website you know it gets moved 302 00:12:29,110 --> 00:12:26,180 it gets moved you know or buried or the 303 00:12:30,370 --> 00:12:29,120 same thing with broadcast as well yeah 304 00:12:33,220 --> 00:12:30,380 that's right and you know we talked 305 00:12:34,990 --> 00:12:33,230 about obstacles and I think you know 306 00:12:36,970 --> 00:12:35,000 there are plenty of internal obstacles 307 00:12:39,310 --> 00:12:36,980 too and I'd love to hear your thought on 308 00:12:41,560 --> 00:12:39,320 this but internal being inside the the 309 00:12:45,370 --> 00:12:41,570 UFO research community or the you know 310 00:12:47,440 --> 00:12:45,380 UFO community as we call it with just a 311 00:12:49,660 --> 00:12:47,450 lot of conspiracy driven stuff a lot of 312 00:12:53,170 --> 00:12:49,670 infighting things like that and also 313 00:12:55,420 --> 00:12:53,180 there's this idea of the media and it's 314 00:12:57,370 --> 00:12:55,430 on the same page as the government you 315 00:12:59,770 --> 00:12:57,380 know the government is this big singular 316 00:13:03,070 --> 00:12:59,780 thing people like to think of the media 317 00:13:05,350 --> 00:13:03,080 is this big singular thing just this one 318 00:13:09,490 --> 00:13:05,360 thing that's controlled by some evil 319 00:13:11,590 --> 00:13:09,500 force but it has some agenda and you 320 00:13:15,250 --> 00:13:11,600 know controls what what news gets 321 00:13:18,010 --> 00:13:15,260 released and as a journalist you know we 322 00:13:19,810 --> 00:13:18,020 we know that's not not the case you know 323 00:13:21,490 --> 00:13:19,820 and I like to point out many times that 324 00:13:24,160 --> 00:13:21,500 the editors the people who are choosing 325 00:13:28,540 --> 00:13:24,170 the stories to be published you know are 326 00:13:29,680 --> 00:13:28,550 often just young kids who have a number 327 00:13:31,449 --> 00:13:29,690 quoted of me 328 00:13:33,550 --> 00:13:31,459 they're just thirsty for content and 329 00:13:35,020 --> 00:13:33,560 they need more content they don't care 330 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:35,030 what it is they're gonna put it up on 331 00:13:39,670 --> 00:13:36,650 the site and see what works 332 00:13:41,380 --> 00:13:39,680 so you know what's your take on that do 333 00:13:44,140 --> 00:13:41,390 you think that you know for that you 334 00:13:45,910 --> 00:13:44,150 work for many big media outlets do you 335 00:13:48,970 --> 00:13:45,920 think there's some evil overlord 336 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:48,980 controlling what stories get published I 337 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:50,690 wouldn't say there's like a big evil 338 00:13:55,060 --> 00:13:53,450 over a roar that's trying to censor 339 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:55,070 stuff I don't think it's in that case I 340 00:13:59,170 --> 00:13:57,170 think in my experience is the the 341 00:14:04,090 --> 00:13:59,180 overlords were supervisors who were 342 00:14:07,330 --> 00:14:04,100 wanting kind of more salacious clickbait 343 00:14:10,960 --> 00:14:07,340 be celebrity bases it was a conspiracy 344 00:14:12,460 --> 00:14:10,970 to hide real news or their UFO story I 345 00:14:16,810 --> 00:14:12,470 don't think that was it at all it was 346 00:14:18,460 --> 00:14:16,820 just more of a vested interest in them 347 00:14:20,410 --> 00:14:18,470 to just kind of milk as many clicks as 348 00:14:23,260 --> 00:14:20,420 possible through you know write more 349 00:14:25,510 --> 00:14:23,270 tabloid stories yeah yeah that's 350 00:14:26,950 --> 00:14:25,520 certainly been my experience too and you 351 00:14:28,950 --> 00:14:26,960 know some of the the bigger outlets I've 352 00:14:31,660 --> 00:14:28,960 written for you know required a lot of 353 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:31,670 keyword research and and things to 354 00:14:36,010 --> 00:14:33,890 determine what stories were generating a 355 00:14:38,320 --> 00:14:36,020 lot of buzz at that time because you're 356 00:14:40,150 --> 00:14:38,330 right the focus is on the clicks it's on 357 00:14:42,580 --> 00:14:40,160 the attention it's on whatever is gonna 358 00:14:44,620 --> 00:14:42,590 make the biggest splash so and certainly 359 00:14:46,690 --> 00:14:44,630 UFOs do that so it's kind of 360 00:14:50,230 --> 00:14:46,700 counterproductive counterintuitive to 361 00:14:52,630 --> 00:14:50,240 say that people are sort of blocking or 362 00:14:56,490 --> 00:14:52,640 rejecting UFO stories because for some 363 00:14:59,440 --> 00:14:56,500 reason that information can't get out 364 00:15:01,390 --> 00:14:59,450 well you're a journalist you teach 365 00:15:03,340 --> 00:15:01,400 journalism and you've now authored two 366 00:15:05,680 --> 00:15:03,350 books writing is clearly something you 367 00:15:08,050 --> 00:15:05,690 enjoy but it seems like you focus on 368 00:15:10,480 --> 00:15:08,060 nonfiction is nonfiction writing what 369 00:15:14,100 --> 00:15:10,490 you prefer or do you also enjoy writing 370 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:14,110 fiction okay so really good question so 371 00:15:17,950 --> 00:15:16,250 growing up I was really into writing 372 00:15:20,170 --> 00:15:17,960 fiction as a kid I used to draw my own 373 00:15:22,810 --> 00:15:20,180 comic books I mean my heart was awful 374 00:15:25,180 --> 00:15:22,820 the storylines were they're nice to 375 00:15:26,770 --> 00:15:25,190 write moon-like horror fiction and then 376 00:15:29,020 --> 00:15:26,780 when I was in high school I discovered 377 00:15:30,850 --> 00:15:29,030 journalism so that was my first love of 378 00:15:32,980 --> 00:15:30,860 writing something that's nonfiction yeah 379 00:15:34,990 --> 00:15:32,990 and this is something that we've 380 00:15:38,050 --> 00:15:35,000 discussed I've courted you on the for 381 00:15:41,260 --> 00:15:38,060 that a lot of people in our in our 382 00:15:43,450 --> 00:15:41,270 industry especially authors are drawn to 383 00:15:45,420 --> 00:15:43,460 writing fiction as well yeah and I 384 00:15:47,650 --> 00:15:45,430 always question if the lines blur and 385 00:15:49,360 --> 00:15:47,660 that's something I talk about I go into 386 00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:49,370 detail and the book about as well 387 00:15:54,130 --> 00:15:52,730 about you know the dude do we blur the 388 00:15:55,990 --> 00:15:54,140 lines when we decided to write fiction 389 00:15:58,300 --> 00:15:56,000 and nonfiction especially on this topic 390 00:16:01,269 --> 00:15:58,310 because it comes to the point where it's 391 00:16:03,130 --> 00:16:01,279 hard to you know one of the points I 392 00:16:05,950 --> 00:16:03,140 make in the book is that uh it comes a 393 00:16:08,350 --> 00:16:05,960 point where everything kind of ties 394 00:16:10,360 --> 00:16:08,360 together whether it's mythology religion 395 00:16:11,950 --> 00:16:10,370 fiction and nonfiction they all come 396 00:16:14,950 --> 00:16:11,960 from something they're all influenced by 397 00:16:16,540 --> 00:16:14,960 something that possibly happened so in a 398 00:16:18,310 --> 00:16:16,550 weird way they all kind of come together 399 00:16:20,829 --> 00:16:18,320 I used to be really opposed to the idea 400 00:16:22,870 --> 00:16:20,839 of you know the lines being blurred but 401 00:16:25,390 --> 00:16:22,880 I kind of get it more now I see how they 402 00:16:27,010 --> 00:16:25,400 how just through history and time how a 403 00:16:28,750 --> 00:16:27,020 lot of these crazy fictional stories 404 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:28,760 that we read whether it's their comic 405 00:16:33,870 --> 00:16:30,770 books movies pop culture were influenced 406 00:16:37,300 --> 00:16:33,880 by true events you know you're also a 407 00:16:39,070 --> 00:16:37,310 big music fan or music journalist too so 408 00:16:41,829 --> 00:16:39,080 let me ask you this have you have you 409 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:41,839 thought at all about your opinion your 410 00:16:47,590 --> 00:16:44,810 thoughts on the possible connection or 411 00:16:51,070 --> 00:16:47,600 or why it is that so many musicians seem 412 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:51,080 to be drawn to the UFO topic that's a 413 00:16:55,120 --> 00:16:52,730 really good question I would just think 414 00:16:57,010 --> 00:16:55,130 because people who are easily drawn to 415 00:16:59,769 --> 00:16:57,020 the Arts or a bit more open-minded I 416 00:17:01,480 --> 00:16:59,779 guess so yeah I think that's probably 417 00:17:03,790 --> 00:17:01,490 the best way to answer that one yeah 418 00:17:05,199 --> 00:17:03,800 that's an opinion that a lot of people 419 00:17:07,049 --> 00:17:05,209 share I've heard that answer many times 420 00:17:10,090 --> 00:17:07,059 and I think that's probably right 421 00:17:12,280 --> 00:17:10,100 all right so name of your new book is 422 00:17:16,380 --> 00:17:12,290 punk rocks and UFOs true believers it's 423 00:17:19,120 --> 00:17:16,390 out July 31st where can people find it 424 00:17:23,500 --> 00:17:19,130 amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com and 425 00:17:25,809 --> 00:17:23,510 also you know with all digital assets 426 00:17:27,160 --> 00:17:25,819 like iTunes Kindle etc all right and 427 00:17:30,040 --> 00:17:27,170 talk a little bit about your your 428 00:17:32,290 --> 00:17:30,050 website because after your first book 429 00:17:36,220 --> 00:17:32,300 came out you launched a website and 430 00:17:39,610 --> 00:17:36,230 really have developed that into its own 431 00:17:41,860 --> 00:17:39,620 kind of awesome media destination so 432 00:17:43,600 --> 00:17:41,870 tell us about your website so I decided 433 00:17:46,330 --> 00:17:43,610 to start the website after the book just 434 00:17:48,040 --> 00:17:46,340 because you know the book I get got a 435 00:17:50,200 --> 00:17:48,050 good reception and I started getting a 436 00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:50,210 small following I just want to continue 437 00:17:55,150 --> 00:17:52,970 the research and I want to do things 438 00:17:57,330 --> 00:17:55,160 different there's plenty of sites out 439 00:18:02,070 --> 00:17:57,340 there that do a really good job of 440 00:18:04,769 --> 00:18:03,570 own content of easily coming up with 441 00:18:06,180 --> 00:18:04,779 their own contents I want to do 442 00:18:08,370 --> 00:18:06,190 something it was slightly different and 443 00:18:10,380 --> 00:18:08,380 also something that I wouldn't have to 444 00:18:13,649 --> 00:18:10,390 work on every day just because of time 445 00:18:15,570 --> 00:18:13,659 constraints right teaching full-time you 446 00:18:17,159 --> 00:18:15,580 know it takes up a lot a lot of the time 447 00:18:19,769 --> 00:18:17,169 so I want to come up with something that 448 00:18:23,070 --> 00:18:19,779 was a little bit more magazine II sure 449 00:18:25,259 --> 00:18:23,080 but the same time it's hard hard to 450 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:25,269 scribe I want to do something that kind 451 00:18:29,009 --> 00:18:26,890 of blended the ideas of you otology 452 00:18:32,250 --> 00:18:29,019 cryptozoology and culture together so I 453 00:18:33,960 --> 00:18:32,260 kind of want to I kind of aim to do 454 00:18:35,700 --> 00:18:33,970 something that was featured but at the 455 00:18:37,409 --> 00:18:35,710 same time still be to be able to break 456 00:18:39,419 --> 00:18:37,419 news when I was able to as well 457 00:18:41,490 --> 00:18:39,429 so one of the things I like to do I like 458 00:18:42,090 --> 00:18:41,500 to interview the researchers of people 459 00:18:43,860 --> 00:18:42,100 involved in it 460 00:18:45,480 --> 00:18:43,870 yeah I'm get your experiences get their 461 00:18:46,919 --> 00:18:45,490 opinions on stuff try to do different 462 00:18:49,830 --> 00:18:46,929 things like getting to know you things 463 00:18:53,039 --> 00:18:49,840 as well and also just you know going 464 00:18:55,049 --> 00:18:53,049 behind the scenes I think one of the 465 00:18:58,560 --> 00:18:55,059 bigger things I was proud of his when I 466 00:19:01,500 --> 00:18:58,570 interviewed Ralph Blumenthal who helped 467 00:19:03,600 --> 00:19:01,510 break the New York Times pentagon UFO 468 00:19:05,759 --> 00:19:03,610 story yeah and just to get his thoughts 469 00:19:06,750 --> 00:19:05,769 on kind of behind the scenes of the 470 00:19:08,279 --> 00:19:06,760 story and there wasn't anything 471 00:19:10,169 --> 00:19:08,289 earth-shattering in there but it was 472 00:19:13,529 --> 00:19:10,179 just something good for readers to see 473 00:19:14,789 --> 00:19:13,539 how he how they how did have a screen 474 00:19:17,009 --> 00:19:14,799 that story how do they came to the 475 00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:17,019 conclusion that yes this is credible yes 476 00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:19,210 this is neither newsworthy so I tried to 477 00:19:22,919 --> 00:19:20,730 be more serious stuff like that as well 478 00:19:25,230 --> 00:19:22,929 so yeah that's kind of the site's goal 479 00:19:26,850 --> 00:19:25,240 is just just be an extension of the book 480 00:19:29,490 --> 00:19:26,860 and the brand and I hate saying that 481 00:19:32,279 --> 00:19:29,500 word brand but yeah yeah I hear ya but I 482 00:19:33,930 --> 00:19:32,289 will say I I do that that is an element 483 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:33,940 or the element of your site that I 484 00:19:40,169 --> 00:19:36,970 really really enjoy is you showcasing 485 00:19:41,759 --> 00:19:40,179 your your strong interview chops you 486 00:19:43,590 --> 00:19:41,769 know that that's fun to see because 487 00:19:45,810 --> 00:19:43,600 that's that's something where you have 488 00:19:47,669 --> 00:19:45,820 tremendous skill it's where you have a 489 00:19:49,919 --> 00:19:47,679 lot of experience so showcasing that on 490 00:19:52,879 --> 00:19:49,929 the site in the articles that you you 491 00:19:57,750 --> 00:19:52,889 put out it's pretty badass I like it 492 00:20:01,500 --> 00:19:57,760 thank you so the site is punk rock and 493 00:20:04,350 --> 00:20:01,510 UFOs calm right right alright so aside 494 00:20:07,379 --> 00:20:04,360 from that how can people contact you or 495 00:20:11,730 --> 00:20:07,389 follow your work punk rock in your foes 496 00:20:13,919 --> 00:20:11,740 calm and at Twitter at Mike Demonte yeah 497 00:20:15,950 --> 00:20:13,929 those probably the best ways awesome 498 00:20:17,630 --> 00:20:15,960 well Mike I'm so excited for you can't 499 00:20:20,090 --> 00:20:17,640 for the book to come out make sure to 500 00:20:21,010 --> 00:20:20,100 get a copy to me soon because I'm dying 501 00:20:24,250 --> 00:20:21,020 to read it man 502 00:20:27,560 --> 00:20:24,260 awesome I think I see the PD opportunity 503 00:20:29,390 --> 00:20:27,570 sweet I'm gonna dive in Co but good luck 504 00:20:30,610 --> 00:20:29,400 with everything and keep us posted it 505 00:20:34,550 --> 00:20:30,620 can't wait to hear how the book does 506 00:20:37,100 --> 00:20:34,560 awesome thank you that's all for this 507 00:20:40,550 --> 00:20:37,110 episode of unknown this show is produced 508 00:20:43,010 --> 00:20:40,560 by rogue planets rogue planets TV is 509 00:20:45,440 --> 00:20:43,020 where we explore and celebrate all the 510 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:45,450 strange you can find rogue planet on 511 00:20:49,100 --> 00:20:47,610 Twitter and Instagram and you can join 512 00:20:51,890 --> 00:20:49,110 in the conversation in our Facebook 513 00:20:54,380 --> 00:20:51,900 group you can always email me at Jason 514 00:20:58,130 --> 00:20:54,390 at broke planet TV find me on Facebook 515 00:21:00,020 --> 00:20:58,140 and I'm on Twitter at Ace centric thanks 516 00:21:02,930 --> 00:21:00,030 again to Mike for taking the time to 517 00:21:05,450 --> 00:21:02,940 tell us about his new book and thank you 518 00:21:08,000 --> 00:21:05,460 for hanging out with me today I'm Jason