Need To Know
by Bryce Zabel
Need to Know is a smart, serious, and accessible podcast about the reality of UFOs/UAP and what the phenomenon may mean for all of us. Produced by Stellar Productions, the show is hosted by award-winning writer/producer and former CNN correspondent Bryce Zabel, who continues the signature UFO/UAP conversation format he helped pioneer: informed, evidence-driven, open-minded, and focused on what the public has a right to know.Today, Need to Know features Bryce in conversation with historian Richard Dolan, one of the field's most respected researchers and authors. Together, they examine breaking news, government disclosures, historic cases, credible witnesses, official documents, and the shifting landscape of Disclosure. The show also includes expanded formats such as Project Book Club with Chrissy Newton, Need to Know Xtra with Tyler Stevens, and other special episodes that explore the mystery from fresh angles.From 2021 to 2025, Bryce co-hosted Need to Know with investigative journali
Episodes
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Midterm Election Shock: What Happens to UFO Disclosure? | Ben Schreckinger
In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel sits down with journalist Ben Schreckinger, Publisher of Paradigm.News, to examine the latest developments in UFO disclosure and the changing political landscape in Washington. With new reporting, shifting congressional priorities, and growing debate...
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UFO Secrets or UFO Spin? | Ben Schreckinger
In this episode of Need to Know Interviews, Bryce Zabel sits down with journalist Ben Schreckinger to explore the growing battle over UFO secrecy, government transparency, and the conflicting narratives surrounding the phenomenon. From Lockheed Martin's alleged connection to secret UFO technology...
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Jay Stratton Steps Out of the Shadows
In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan take a deep dive into Jay Stratton's new book, Out of the Shadows: Revealing the Truth About Non-Human Intelligent Life. As one of the most senior U.S. intelligence officials involved in investigating UFOs and UAP, Stratton offers a...
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Can the Phenomenon Be Both Hardware & Consciousness?
In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan break down the sixth government UAP file release, including the newly released videos, historical documents, and 37 AAWSAP research papers exploring subjects like warp drives, traversable wormholes, advanced propulsion, and other...
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What Should We Tell The Children?
How should we talk to children about UFOs, unexplained phenomena, and other sensitive subjects? In this episode of Need To Know, Bryce Zabel and special guest Ben Hansen explore how parents, teachers, and trusted adults can approach these conversations with honesty, care, and age-appropriate...
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Whose Narrative Is It Anyway?
In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan examine the recent Ross Coulthart–UAP Gerb interview and the accusations directed at Lue Elizondo, asking who is shaping the narrative—and what evidence supports the competing claims. Bryce also recounts his appearance on Dr. Phil and...
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Is the Tic Tac Really Lockheed Martin Technology?
In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan revisit one of the most debated claims in modern ufology: Ross Coulthart's statement that the famous Nimitz "Tic Tac" UFO was Lockheed Martin technology. They carefully examine what was actually said, why the claim generated so much...
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Does Spielberg Land Disclosure Day?
In this episode, Bryce Zabel offers his perspective on Disclosure Day not simply as a movie, but as a cultural milestone in the UFO conversation. He examines how Steven Spielberg approaches the subject, what the film gets right, where it takes creative liberties, and whether it succeeds as a...
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Desert Storm - Need to Know Xtra
In this special Need to Know episode, producer Tyler Stevens returns from Contact in the Desert 2026 with a firsthand look at the biggest UFO conference in the world. Tyler and Bryce Zabel explore the atmosphere of the event, the excitement surrounding the recent UFO file releases, the reaction…
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The Day After Disclosure Day
In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan tackle one of the most important questions in the UFO conversation: what do we actually mean when we say "disclosure"? With Steven Spielberg's upcoming film Disclosure Day reigniting public interest in the topic, Bryce and Rich…
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Neil deGrasse Tyson's Alien Pivot — Commentary
Neil deGrasse Tyson seems to be pivoting on UFOs. After years of mocking the subject, he's now saying that military witnesses, whistleblowers, and congressional testimony have elevated the conversation. But as Bryce Zabel points out, Tyson still can't resist stereotyping earlier witnesses as...
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Show Me The Saucers — Commentary
The Trump administration's first major UFO/UAP document release has triggered a worldwide media firestorm — with newly declassified files, Apollo-era astronaut reports, military encounters, intelligence documents, and unexplained aerial incidents dominating headlines across cable news…
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UFO Disclosure Plot Twist
In this special Need to Know episode, Bryce Zabel, Richard Dolan, and producer Tyler Stevens react in real time to the Trump administration's first major UFO/UAP file release. The discussion covers the massive batch of documents, military ISR videos, NASA transcripts, Cold War intelligence…
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UFO Hail Mary
In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan talk about Project Hail Mary, the disappearance of General McCasland, Brent Friedman's story about former Secretary of Energy John Herrington, Roswell in the movies, and even a fond memory of Stanton Friedman. The deep dive explore…
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JC & Herrington (Sound, Light & Frequency)
Bryce Zabel and Brent Friedman dive deeper into two core stories that have sparked major interest: the mysterious "party crasher" at the Dark Skies premiere and Brent Friedman's earlier encounter with Reagan-era official John Herrington. The hosts revisit the night an alleged intelligence insider...
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Crash
In this Need to Know episode, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan take a deep, methodical look at the reality of UFO crash retrievals, treating the subject not as speculation but as a serious historical and structural question. Dolan draws on decades of research, particularly the work of Leonard...
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Turn The Page To 2026
In this Need to Know year-end special, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan look back at 2025 as a year defined less by breakthroughs and more by normalization, confusion, and institutional digestion of the UAP issue. They revisit major moments including congressional hearings, the drone wave that…
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Spielberg's Disclosure Day
In this special Need to Know episode, Bryce Zabel is joined by longtime collaborator Brent Friedman for a deep dive into the newly released trailer for Disclosure Day, Steven Spielberg's upcoming UFO themed film set for release in 2026. The conversation frames the trailer as a cultural moment,...
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Age of Disclosure?
In this episode of Need to Know, Richard Dolan and Bryce Zabel break down the newly released documentary Age of Disclosure. They frame it as one of the strongest insider-driven treatments yet, highlighting its focus on government officials, intelligence veterans, scientists, and military figures...
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Mirage Men (Project Book Club)
In this episode, Bryce Zabel and Chrissy Newton dive into Mirage Men, a provocative and unsettling exploration of how UFO mythology has been manipulated and, at times, manufactured by intelligence agencies. The discussion centers on the book's central thesis — that much of what we think we know...
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Beyond The Sea
In this Need to Know episode, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan dive deep—literally—into the realm of USOs (Unidentified Submerged Objects), as Dolan previews his upcoming second volume in a three-part book series on the subject. Focusing on the 1970s and 80s, Dolan reveals that the 1970s were an...
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Above Black - (Project Book Club)
In this episode of Project Book Club, Bryce Zabel and Chrissy Newton dive headfirst into Above Black, a gripping memoir by Dan Sherman that claims to reveal a classified U.S. government program involving alien communication. The conversation explores Sherman's military background, his alleged...
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What You Need to Know Now
In this episode of Need to Know, Bryce Zabel and Richard Dolan take the pulse of a UFO world that feels ready to blow wide open. The pace of developments is accelerating, and so are the contradictions. As official channels downplay, deny, or deflect, Bryce and Richard reveal a far more complex —...
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Sekret Machines: War (Project Book Club w/ Chrissy Newton)
In this episode of Project Book Club, Bryce Zabel and Chrissy Newton dive into Sekret Machines: Gods, Man & War by Tom DeLonge and Peter Levenda. The discussion unpacks how the book blends history, mythology, and modern-day accounts to explore humanity's long and complex relationship with…
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Changes
In this episode, Need to Know enters a new chapter, bringing listeners an in-depth conversation on the evolving landscape of UFO and UAP discourse. The hosts take a measured look at recent developments in both politics and the media, analyzing how official statements are shaping — and sometimes...
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Encounters - (Project Book Club)
In this episode of Project Book Club, Bryce Zabel and Chrissy Newton explore Encounters, the follow-up to Dr. Diana Walsh Pasulka's American Cosmic. The conversation centers on the evolving relationship between technology, belief, and non-human intelligence, with Bryce and Chrissy examining the...
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Need To Know SCIF - The Tic Tac
In this special Need to Know SCIF debut episode, award-winning journalist and series co-creator Bryce Zabel hosts a powerful roundtable with three leading voices in the UAP community: Jason Guillemette (UAP Studies Podcast), Ryan Robbins (Post Disclosure World), and Need to Know producer Tyler...
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Whose Tech Is It?
In this powerful episode of Need to Know, Ross Coulthart and Bryce Zabel regroup following their in-person appearance at Contact in the Desert, where they spoke to a packed audience and connected with key voices in the UFO/UAP field. The conversation kicks off with a major revelation from Ross...
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Imminent - (Project Book Club)
In this episode, Bryce Zabel and Chrissy Newton take a deep dive into Imminent, the highly anticipated memoir by Lue Elizondo. From his unusual upbringing and military background to his insider perspective on AATIP and UAP disclosure, the book covers a wide range of bold and fascinating topics.…
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Live From CITD
In this special live edition of Need to Know, recorded at Contact in the Desert, Ross Coulthart and Bryce Zabel sit down in front of a packed audience to reflect on their personal origin stories with the UFO/UAP mystery. From Ross's early investigative journalism to Bryce's work in Hollywood and...
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The Believer - (Project Book Club)
Welcome to the first episode of Project Book Club, where hosts Bryce Zabel and Chrissy Newton launch a fresh kind of conversation around the books that shape the UFO and consciousness landscape. This isn't your typical late-night podcast. It's a morning-show-style book club made for readers who...
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Immaculate Revelations
In this revealing episode, Ross Coulthart and Bryce Zabel tackle a wave of breaking developments in the UFO/UAP landscape. They begin with the extraordinary final testimony of Dr. Harold Malmgren, a former U.S. official who, shortly before his death, disclosed direct knowledge of downed non-human...
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Watch the Skies
In this wide-ranging episode of Need to Know, Ross Coulthart and Bryce Zabel explore some of the most urgent and complex developments in the UAP world, politics, and history. They begin with a take on the recent Signal security scandal in the U.S. government, comparing it to their own use of...
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Gimme Some Truth
In this episode of Need to Know, Ross Coulthart and Bryce Zabel discuss the latest developments in the UAP conversation, particularly the lack of action from the new U.S. administration despite previous campaign promises. They highlight the role of key figures like John Ratcliffe, the new CIA...
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Roswell Revealed - (N2K Extra)
In this episode of Need to Know: Extra, Bryce Zabel dives deep into the enduring mystery of Roswell, emphasizing its significance in the broader UAP discussion. He explores recent congressional interest in crash wreckage, particularly Rep. Ana Paulina Luna's investigative efforts and Ross...
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Age of Disclosure?
Bryce Zabel and Ross Coulthart return to discuss major UAP developments, whistleblower revelations, and shifting government narratives. Bryce shares his recent wildfire evacuation experience, drawing parallels to the unpredictable nature of disclosure. Ross delves into whistleblower Jake Barber's...
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Jingle Drones
This episode of Need to Know delves into recent global UFO sightings, including mysterious drone activity over sensitive military installations, and the lack of governmental clarity in addressing these phenomena. Ross Coulthart shares updates on anomalous aerial phenomena worldwide and recounts…
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The Disclosure President?
This episode of Need to Know dives deep into a series of captivating topics, including upcoming congressional hearings on UAPs and the cast of witnesses set to testify, such as Lou Elizondo, Rear Admiral Timothy Gallaudet, and former NASA official Michael Gold. Ross shares his perspective on the...
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Dolan's New USO Shockers
In this episode of Need to Know, Richard Dolan joins the conversation to explore the fascinating subject of Unidentified Submerged Objects (USOs) and their historical significance. The discussion covers various aspects of USOs, including the vast number of sightings and incidents reported over...
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Elizondo Unplugged
In this episode of Need to Know, Lue Elizondo joins Ross Coulthart and Bryce Zabel to discuss major developments in the UAP space, particularly following the release of his new book, Imminent. Elizondo sheds light on the ongoing disclosure process, touching on the frustrations with government...
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Imminent
In this episode, the discussion centers on the escalating developments in the UAP field, highlighted by Lue Elizondo's upcoming book, Imminent. The hosts delve into Elizondo's experiences and revelations, emphasizing his role as a pivotal figure in the ongoing disclosure movement. They touch on…
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History Repeats
In this episode of "Need to Know," Bryce Zabel and Ross Coulthart delve into the history of UFO phenomena, marking significant anniversaries from 1944 to the present day. The hosts discuss notable sightings and events, emphasizing that UFO encounters are not recent phenomena but part of a...
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Zero Doubt
In this episode, Ross Coulthart reports from an undisclosed location in the U.S., sharing insights from the SCU conference in Huntsville, which concentrated on scientific approaches to UAPs. He reflects on a recent interview with Colonel Karl Nell, discussing Nell's remarks about long-standing...
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Swagger and Secrets
In this episode, hosts Bryce Zabel and Ross Coulthart delve into the complexities of UAP investigations, spotlighting the AARO's dubious reporting and the Pentagon's evasion in acknowledging UAP incidents. They explore the recent Eglin Air Force Base encounter and the broader implications of…
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UAP Burnout
It's an issue that's touched many in the UAP community, and worthy of a long discussion: fatigue from covering UAP, interacting with the community, fending off the flamers and trying to stay grounded. Bryce shares the tale of his ten-year hiatus while Ross commends Curt Jaimungal's recent…
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More UFO Lies & Coverup
Ross and Bryce take turns teeing off on the Defense Department's report that was supposed to chronicle the US government's history of dealing with the UFO/UAP issue. Among their conclusions about the reports "conclusions:" It's more Pentagon obfuscation to deter public attention; a kneejerk…
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Adios, Voldemort
"Voldemort," in this podcast, is Bryce's new name for Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick, the now-former head of AARO, the Defense Department's "All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office." Bryce and Ross rip Kirkpatrick's exit statements, including his assertion that a soon to be released Pentagon report will say...
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Is This the Year?
Bryce and Ross begin 2024 with a quick look back at the big events of last year: David Grusch's revelations and the gutting of the Schumer Amendment to the Defense bill. Then they look ahead to this year and an upcoming House Oversight Committee hearing, Lue Elizondo's book and Grusch's op-ed…
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UFO Gatekeepers Strike Back
Disappointment and some disagreements in this episode, as Ross and Bryce review the amended version of Sen. Chuck Schumer's disclosure language in the new Defense bill. Ross blames "lickspittle Congressmen" in the pockets of the aerospace companies for turning Schumer's disclosure proposals into…
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JFK and UFOs?
Approaching the 60th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Bryce and Ross examine the similarities between the efforts to conceal the truth about the President's death and concealing the truth about UFO/UAP. Also: as predicted in the last episode, Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick is,...
About this show
Need to Know is a smart, serious, and accessible podcast about the reality of UFOs/UAP and what the phenomenon may mean for all of us. Produced by Stellar Productions, the show is hosted by award-winning writer/producer and former CNN correspondent Bryce Zabel, who continues the signature UFO/UAP conversation format he helped pioneer: informed, evidence-driven, open-minded, and focused on what the public has a right to know.Today, Need to Know features Bryce in conversation with historian Richard Dolan, one of the field's most respected researchers and authors. Together, they examine breaking news, government disclosures, historic cases, credible witnesses, official documents, and the shifting landscape of Disclosure. The show also includes expanded formats such as Project Book Club with Chrissy Newton, Need to Know Xtra with Tyler Stevens, and other special episodes that explore the mystery from fresh angles.From 2021 to 2025, Bryce co-hosted Need to Know with investigative journali
Hosted by
Bryce Zabel