Cosmic Sponge
86 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago - ★★★★★ - 12 ratingsCosmic Sponge explores the bizarre landscape of UFOs, cryptids, and fringe science. Join both Jim and Steven on a hysterical journey as we dive headlong down the rabbit hole of the unexplained!
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Episodes
AI Revisited
June 30, 2023 15:00 - 1 hour - 42 MBIn this episode of Cosmic Sponge we take another look at the recent advances of artificial intelligence. What are the potential dangers to mankind? What are the potential benefits? One thing is certain, the world will never be the same. Join us as we take a deep dive into AI. Support the show
Weird Wonders Bonus Episode One
April 30, 2023 02:00 - 22 minutes - 15.6 MBWhile Cosmic Sponge is on Spring Break we hope you enjoy this bonus episode of Weird Wonders News and Stories. Support the show
Maritime Mysteries
April 15, 2023 13:00 - 55 minutes - 38.3 MBOn this episode of Cosmic Sponge we delve into the fascinating world of maritime mysteries. Join us as we take you on a journey across the world's oceans, sharing stories of ships that vanished without a trace, crews that were never found, and the chilling mysteries that still haunt the seas today. Climb aboard as we set sail on a voyage of discovery into the unknown depths of the sea. Support the show
The Future of Space Travel
January 31, 2023 03:00 - 58 minutes - 40.3 MBIn this episode of Cosmic Sponge we explore breakthroughs in space travel including new possibilities involving faster than light speeds. From warp drive to wormholes, we dive into the research and experiments that provide methods for traversing the galaxy! Support the show
The Vastness of Space
January 22, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 52.7 MBIn this episode of Cosmic Sponge, scientist tackle poop vaults and insect happy meals while we try to figure out how to keep humans alive on a trip to Proxima Centauri and back. Whether its eating bugs or bathing in cosmic rays, the future isn't for the faint of heart! Support the show
Life Beyond Earth
January 08, 2023 23:00 - 1 hour - 50.6 MBDoes life exist beyond the confines of our planet? In 1950, Enrico Fermi conducted a thought experiment where he estimated the number of habitable planets in our galaxy and concluded that the galaxy should be teaming with life. However, no sign of life had been observed despite our search for it. This became known as the Fermi Paradox. In this episode we discuss possible solutions to the Fermi Paradox as the first of several steps on our journey to search for new life in the universe an...
The Nebra Sky Disc
December 25, 2022 18:00 - 58 minutes - 40.5 MBIllegally unearthed by treasure hunters in 1999, the Nebra Sky Disc upended archeological text books requiring a second look at ancient man's understanding of the heavens and the reach of trade and technology throughout prehistoric Europe to 3,600 B.C. Support the show
Necronomicon Unearthed
December 18, 2022 17:00 - 59 minutes - 41.2 MBH.P. Lovecraft invented the Necronomicon for his otherworldly cosmic horror universe. It has been featured in various movies and novels, terrifying audiences for decades. Is it possible that a real Necronomicon exist? Some claim it was intentionally passed on to Lovecraft in his dreams by other worldly beings while others claim it is based on actual works from antiquity. Jason Ruehl of the Esoteric Book Club podcast joins in to help us get to the bottom of this horror-laden mystery. Sup...
The Varginha UFO incident
December 13, 2022 01:00 - 1 hour - 46.6 MBIn this episode of Cosmic Sponge we travel to a small Brazilian town and examine the evidence of a suspected UFO crash and alien recovery by by both the US and Brazilian military. Support the show
Egyptians, Wormholes, and Weird Wonder Gifting
November 27, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 52.3 MBRecent archeological digs in Egypt reveal a new crypt containing 300 mummies and an unknown queen along with a tunnel leading to what some say is the tomb of Cleopatra. Scientist detect a possible wormhole in nature while elsewhere a popular star in the night sky is on the verge of going supernova. The FBI and Air Force OSI team up to raid the home of a UFO researcher. Then we bring you are gift ideas for fans of UFOs, cryptids and the paranormal! Support the show
Atlantis - The Lost Continent
November 20, 2022 15:00 - 56 minutes - 39.1 MBThe only historical reference to the lost continent of Atlantis is found in the final dialogs written by the Greek philosopher Plato. In the first of three intended dialogs, Timaeus lays out creation of the universe and establishes the foundations of government detailed in Plato's early work: Republic. The second dialog, Critias, discusses a possible historical account of the distant nation of Atlantis including some description of its might and of its destruction. The end of Critias has...
The Sleeping Prophet
November 13, 2022 13:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBIn this episode of cosmic sponge, we explore the life and predictions of the clairvoyant psychic, Edgar Cayce. With additional discussions of the recent UAP Government document release and posted bigfoot warnings in Pennsylvanian parks. Tune in to see what the future has in store for us according to the sleeping prophet! Support the show
The Greenbrier Ghost
October 30, 2022 21:00 - 54 minutes - 37.6 MBGhost have been with us for at least as long as we have been recording our stories, both in written works and oral histories. They poke their heads into our dreams and lurk on the periphery. In this episode of cosmic sponge, one ghost steps into the limelight and testifies in a court of law, convicting a murderer and securing justice from beyond the grave. Support the show
Behind the Monster's Curtain
October 24, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 42.2 MBIn this episode of Cosmic Sponge, we explore how the classic monsters arrived on the silver screen including Dracula, Frankenstein's monster, The Wolfman, and the Mummy. Support the show
An Ancient Ice Age Extinction Mystery
October 16, 2022 05:00 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBMegafauna including the impressive mastodon, wooly mammoth, saber toothed cat, massive ground sloth and short faced bear suddenly and mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth. Scientists are still trying to discover what happened with five theories vying for the winning explanation to an ice aged enigma. Tune in to see where we place our bets on Kill, Chill, Rill, or Grill when it comes to lights out for these magnificent beast! Support the show
Ancient Ice Age Extinction Mystery
October 16, 2022 05:00 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBMegafauna including the impressive mastodon, wooly mammoth, saber toothed cat, massive ground sloth and short faced bear suddenly and mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth. Scientists are still trying to discover what happened with five theories vying for the winning explanation to an ice aged enigma. Tune in to see where we place our bets on Kill, Chill, Rill, or Grill when it comes to lights out for these magnificent beast! Support the show
The O'Hara International Airport UFO
October 09, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 54.9 MBIn 2006, a UFO was seen over gate C17 at O'Hare International Airport. The event was witnessed by ground crew, pilots, passengers and individuals on the adjacent access roads. When it abruptly left, it punched a hole in the cloud cover, leaving the witnesses stunned. While some photographs and video footage has surfaced, none has been verified to our knowledge. If you were a witness to this event, we would love to hear from you! Support the show
Mysterious Disappearance of Flight MH370
October 02, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 46.5 MBIn 2014, flight MH370 disappeared after a series of erratic manuvers leading to the most expensive multinational search effort in history. To date, the flight has never been recovered and as more information is brought to bear on the bizarre circumstances surrounding the missing flight the more questions we have. In this episode we explore the timeline of the flight given the latest data as well as the theories which try to make sense of this tragic aviation event. Support the show
NASA Coverup Uncovered
September 11, 2022 15:00 - 1 hour - 51.2 MBAs mankind ventured into the vast unknown landscape of space, conspiracies would arise to challenge the moon landing, claim alien bases exist on the moon, and expose the existence of UFOs seen by the astronauts as they travelled to the moon and back. In this episode, we look at claims made and the evidence to support or discredit them as we uncover the Apollo coverups. Support the show
Planet X
September 04, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 44.7 MBIs there a large undiscovered planet, beyond the orbit of Neptune, lurking on the edge of our solar system? Many scientists seem to think so. Beyond the science which supports this idea is a host of other colorful characters predicting this unseen nemesis is on a collision course with Earth! Join us this episode as we explore the mystery of Planet X. Support the show
Ancient Extinction Events
August 21, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 42.3 MBThis week we look into five mass extinction events, their causes and impacts on our collective history. Then, we explore the possibility of a sixth mass extinction event which may be going on right under our noses. Also in this episode, we discuss the Calvine UFO photograph, recently released after being suppressed by the government of the United Kingdom for over 30 years and a new whistleblower program for government employees working on UFO black projects. Support the show
Psychic Spies
August 08, 2022 02:00 - 56 minutes - 38.7 MBIt was the cold war with both the Soviet Union and the United States looking to gain the upper hand in a game of cat and mouse. It started in Moscow, with the creation of a program to train psychics in warfare on a different battlefield. Once discovered, the U.S. government wasted no time with a project of their own. Over the decades, the CIA would fund a covert study into the field of remote viewing lasting several decades, culminating in what would become known as Project Stargate. Supp...
The Mandela Effect
July 23, 2022 01:00 - 1 hour - 47.1 MBNelson Mandela died in prison in the late 1980s, or did he? As it turns out, Mandela died in 2013. The fact that many people remember the incorrect version of history begs the question, why? Various people have suggested everything from "we all live in a version of the matrix" to "we live in one of many multiverses which bleed into one another". In this episode, we explore many different possibilities for mass false memories which has become known as the Mandela Effect. Support the ...
Majestic 12 Revealed
July 14, 2022 04:00 - 1 hour - 49.9 MBIn 1984 a package containing a roll of 35 millimeter film arrived at the home of Jamie Shandera, a filmmaker researching UFO sightings. The film contained images of what appeared to be official government documents detailing the creation of a secret government program tasked with managing alien contact, crashed alien craft, and research into the UFO phenomenon. The files caused a public outcry for answers, an investigation by the FBI and Airforce, and produced a split in the UFO community a...
The Mansfield Coyne UFO Incident
July 04, 2022 14:00 - 1 hour - 42.1 MBConsidered one of the most credible UFO sightings of the 20th century, the Mansfield UFO incident of 1973 involved a near collision of a military helicopter and an unknown craft. The incident experienced by the crew of the helicopter was also witnessed by individuals on the ground. The four crew members on the helicopter would report the incident both to their commanders in a flight incident report and to the news media. Captain Coyne, the commander of the crew would be invited to share hi...
A Matter of Time Travel
June 19, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBIs time travel possible? In this episode we discuss the reality of time travel including proven methods for traveling to the future and theoretical methods for traveling to the past. We even take time to see which time travelling movies get the physics right and which movies (delightfully) use phone booths and hot tubs. Support the show
A Matter of Time Travel
June 19, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 54.4 MBIs time travel possible? In this episode we discuss the reality of time travel including proven methods for traveling to the future and theoretical methods for traveling to the past. We even take time to see which time travelling movies get the physics right and which movies (delightfully) use phone booths and hot tubs. Support the show
The Great Kentucky Meat Downpour of 1876
June 14, 2022 11:00 - 18 minutes - 12.7 MBImagine you are minding your own business, making soap and whistling a tune when out of nowhere it starts raining chunks of meat. This is where one woman found herself in March of 1876 under a clear blue sky. Hunters, scientist and even the New York Times weighed in on the bizarre phenomena with explanations as far reaching as outer space. Support the show
The Ancient Mystery of the Dogon People
June 05, 2022 16:00 - 58 minutes - 40.2 MBThousands of years ago, the Dogon people were visited by the Nommos, an alien species which shared knowledge of the heavens only recently verified using modern science. In this episode, we explore the knowledge known by the Dogon and how they came by it. Is it possible an alien race visited them at the dawn of mankind or is there another more prosaic answer to the beginnings of this extraordinary knowledge handed down through the centuries? Support the show
Nikola Tesla's Death Ray
May 23, 2022 04:00 - 1 hour - 56.6 MBIt is said he was born at the stroke of midnight during a thunderstorm. His mother exclaimed he would be a child of light. In his lifetime, Tesla would produce nearly 300 patents including an AC induction motor that would drive mankind toward the modern power grid. He would go on to explore wireless energy, receive a message from outer space, and develop a death ray, earthquake machine, and force field generator. Upon his death, it is said the FBI looted his designs and notes, hiding the...
Ariel School Mass UFO Sighting
May 15, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 45.9 MBIn September of 1994, 62 school children at a private primary school outside of Haware, Zimbabwe observed the landing of a UFO just beyond their playground. Some of the children witnessed the occupants of the craft and even received telepathic communications from them warning of ecological disasters. Over 20 years later, they still maintain what they experienced. Was this the case of overactive imaginations and mass hysteria or did a craft of telepathic beings land by this primary school a...
Secrets of Ancient Builders
May 01, 2022 20:00 - 1 hour - 45.6 MBThis episode of Cosmic Sponge delves into the building techniques of ancient civilizations then explores the how they may have been achieved. Support the show
The Flannan Isles Lighthouse
April 24, 2022 16:00 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MBIn 1900, the the newly Flannan isle lighthouse was staffed by three lightkeepers. In December of that year a passing ship noticed the light was out at the light house and shortly after reporting the issue, a supply ship was sent to investigate. When they approached the island, everything was quiet with no sign of life. The mystery would only grow once they landed on the island and entered the lighthouse. Support the show
Retrospective: A Long Look Back
April 17, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 42.9 MBThis week we take a look back to discuss our first year on Cosmic Sponge including our favorite moments, funniest news stories and how our views have changed after a year of researching various UFO, cryptid and paranormal cases. Support the show
The Roswell Cover-Up Uncovered Part 2
April 10, 2022 19:00 - 1 hour - 65.3 MBIn the second part of our two part exploration into the Roswell crash of 1947, we uncover details of the original testimonies and then explore testimonies over the years leading to our final conclusion of what crashed in the desert near the towns of Corona and Roswell, New Mexico. Support the show
The Roswell Cover-Up Uncovered
April 05, 2022 04:00 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBIn July of 1947 the front papers all across the west coast reported the US military had recovered a crashed flying saucer only to recant, owing the crashed material to nothing more than a weather balloon. The story would remain dormant for 40 years until UFO researchers discovered the event, revisited it, and unearthed a treasure trove of eye-witness account to perhaps the biggest coverup off all time. The truth becomes muddled with contradictory accounts and witnesses testimony that can't...
The Roswell Cover-Up Uncovered Part 1
April 05, 2022 04:00 - 1 hour - 70.1 MBIn July of 1947 the front papers all across the west coast reported the US military had recovered a crashed flying saucer only to recant, owing the crashed material to nothing more than a weather balloon. The story would remain dormant for 40 years until UFO researchers discovered the event, revisited it, and unearthed a treasure trove of eye-witness account to perhaps the biggest coverup off all time. The truth becomes muddled with contradictory accounts and witnesses testimony that can't...
I'm On Fire! Spontaneous Human Combustion
March 21, 2022 14:00 - 53 minutes - 36.5 MBIn this episode we explore the phenomenon of spontaneous human combustion or when grandma turns into a big pile of ashes. Support the show
Lost In The Bermuda Triangle
March 13, 2022 16:00 - 1 hour - 50.2 MBSince the discovery of the new world by Europeans in the 15th century, ships and eventually planes would begin to disappear in large numbers, covering an area from Florida to Puerto Rico to Bermuda. Labeled the Bermuda Triangle by some and the Devils Triangle by others, this area of the Atlantic Ocean would become the water grave for over 2000 ship and over 200 planes. What could possibly cause this level of destruction and loss? Is it due to ancient sea monsters, lost Atlantean technology,...
The Armando Valdes Story - Missing Time and UFOs
March 06, 2022 17:00 - 54 minutes - 37.6 MBCorporal Valdes gathered his men and readied them for combat as the UFO drew closer. Suddenly, the UFO stopped and moments later Valdes would disappear while his men frantically searched for him. Fifteen minutes later, he would reappear, shockingly with a full beard where he moments before he had been clean shaven. Additionally, his wristwatch indicated he had been gone for five days instead of the 15 minutes witnessed by his men. New details would emerge leading to wild speculation a...
Flying Saucer Mayhem
February 27, 2022 17:00 - 53 minutes - 36.7 MBThis week on Cosmic Sponge we look into physical harm caused by close contact with UFOs, including a CIA program to examine MRIs of government personnel operating in close proximity to UAPs, a family exposed to radiation from an unknown craft, and a military operation attacked by a beam from an indestructible flying saucer. All this and more in the latest episode of Cosmic Sponge! Support the show
Mysterious Disappearances
February 20, 2022 18:00 - 1 hour - 49.1 MBWith just a little over half a million open missing person cases in the US in 2020, it is no wonder that when you look back over the past 100 years you will find some cases that defy explanation. In this first release of mysterious disappearances, we will look at cases involving a UFO, a mass disappearance of an entire village, a missing hunter with some unusual circumstances, and a fishing boat found 10 years after it disappeared next to a grave of one of it’s crew. Support the show
Cannibals Attack!
February 13, 2022 23:00 - 1 hour - 56 MBWarning: this episode of cosmic sponge discusses Cannibalism and contains scenes that some listeners may find disturbing. View discretion is advised. Cannibalisms has been with mankind from the beginning, persisting into the modern era. You might even be surprised to find that Europeans, for a time, normalized cannibalisms as a means to treat various ailments. Stories from Scotland recount a family of bandits which killed and ate their victims in sea cave of horrors. Did cases of surviv...
Giants Of The Ancient World
February 07, 2022 01:00 - 1 hour - 48.2 MBGiants have been with us since the beginning of recorded history and their stories can be are told in every culture across the globe. Were these just stories or did they actually exist? In this episode of Cosmic Sponge we look at the evidence and stories in search of real proof for these larger than life figures from our early history to the modern era. Support the show
Frederick Valentich and the Alien Jerks
January 31, 2022 02:00 - 1 hour - 49.4 MBIn October of 1978, Frederick Valentich took off from Moorabbin Airport on a round trip flight in a single engine Cessna to Kings Island. Not long after he turn to start flying over the ocean he contacted Melbourne Air Traffic control and began an unusual series of observations, describing what seemed to be a UFO. Communications ended abruptly, initiating a search and rescue operation but to no avail. Frederick would go down in history as another possible encounter with a UFO which ended ...
Hellier, Yeah!
January 28, 2022 03:00 - 1 hour - 61.7 MBWe welcome back Jason Reuhl to help us review the hit documentary Hellier. Join us as we explore two season of a wild ride through rural America with the interesting cast of characters that keep you on the edge of your seat, mostly...mostly. Support the show
Thunderbirds
January 16, 2022 20:00 - 50 minutes - 34.4 MBThey once existed, enormous birds of prey which dwarfed any known flying species living today. Teratorns, lived as recently as 12,000 years ago in the Americas. These large birds may have been the basis for the Native American legends of Thunderbirds. Large birds that meet the criteria of those supposed mythical beast have been seen from Alaska to Argentinian in modern times. Could it be that these sightings are merely a case of mistaken identity or is it possible that a small populat...
Kenneth Arnold and Pastries
January 09, 2022 20:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBThe UFO sighting that coined the phrase "Flying Saucers" and kicked off the modern UFO phenomenon is more than just one man's tale of an incredible event. The craft seen by Kenneth Arnold in 1947 preceded the Roswell crash by only a few weeks, but he wasn't alone when he observed those strange objects in the sky as we discovered when researching this case. Kenneth was an above average observer, taking time to clock the speed, size, shape, and flight characteristics of the unknown crafts. ...
Mississippi Churning: The Pascagoula Abduction
January 02, 2022 05:00 - 42 minutes - 29.1 MBThe tape recorder was hidden in a drawer of a desk before the two men were left alone in the interrogation room of the Pascagoula police station. When the officers played back the recording, the men's story only became more compelling. With over 50 reports of strange lights in the sky and other witness testimony supporting the incident, the Pascagoula abduction became one of the most convincing UFO encounters in modern history. Support the show
El Chupacabra
December 24, 2021 20:00 - 56 minutes - 39 MBIt was 1995 and Puerto Rico was suffering significant livestock losses from an unknown predator. Then, a few months after the first deaths were reported, a woman witnessed a horrific beast undoubtedly the culprit of the slayings. First the local paper picked it up, then a popular daytime talk show, and from there the story spread like wildfire and the Chupacabra was born. Is it a modern myth in the making or are the many sightings of some new threat lurking in the dark. Support the show