American Alchemy: UFOs, Skepticism, and the Evidence That Sparked a Heated Debate

A high-stakes UFO debate tests where skepticism ends and real evidence begins. In this condensed version of American Alchemy, host Jesse Michels challenges Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic Magazine, on military UFO reports, radar traces, nuclear site sightings, the Nimitz case, Roswell, and why extraordinary claims demand extraordinary proof. You’ll hear how Shermer weighs scientific skepticism, base-rate reasoning, memory contamination, sleep paralysis, and media literacy against Jesse’s case for a growing tapestry of evidence from trained witnesses and official records. The discussion also touches on MK Ultra, JFK, and the broader problem of deciding when uncertainty becomes science. Listen now to get the key ideas in minutes.