Ross and Carrie and the Cult Leader Talk: How to Start Your Own Cult Edition

Ross shares a talk he gave at SkeptiCamp LA 2024 looking at how practitioners of non-science wall themselves off from criticism. With examples from our prior investigations, Ross examines why an individual or organization might ignore its critics, fight back, vaguebook, flood the zone, cut ties, wall off itself and its members, or elect to positively engage. Plus, some very important and salient information about the communal behaviors of naked mole rats.We have social media: X! Facebook! You can add our RSS feed here.See Ross’s talk on YouTube.

Ross and Carrie examine the claims of Corey Goode, who rose through the ranks of UFO speakers and alleged abductees, ultimately landing himself a recurring gig on Gaia TV before being quietly ejected. Enter Jason Rice, a new Gaia talking head on the very same show, who claims that he – like Corey – was a member of the Secret Space Program, and is in contact with the Blue Avians (™) that Corey either met or (some might say) created. With Corey suing Gaia and others over his “intellectual property,” does that mean it’s… not real?We have social media: X! Facebook!

Carrie tells Ross about a presentation she attended at Contact in the Desert 2023, a Palm Springs UFO conference. Speaker Caroline Cory has, for twenty years, been bringing “as much science as possible” to the study of paranormal topics like extraterrestrial contact, telepathy, information downloads, and mental health. Ross and Carrie analyze this claim. Plus, roving reporter Drew Spears attends a UFO videography class taught by the mysterious Mr. M.We have social media: X! Facebook!

As MaxFunDrive 2024 comes to a close, join Ross and Carrie as they announce a new show goal, a live show happening TONIGHT, and preview a segment from Jordan, Jessie, Go! in which Carrie and Blaire Erskine flex their skills as religious goofballs. Support us at maximumfun.org/joinWe have social media: X! Facebook!

Ross tells Carrie about “The People’s Advocate,” Daniel Sheehan, a DC-based attorney who specializes in Constitutional law and UFO disclosure. Featured at Contact in the Desert, this Jesuit-turned-disclosure-evangelist reviews UFO history in America since 1945, government programs, and his role in bringing extraterrestrial contact out of the shadows. PLUS, updates about MaxFunDrive, all recorded live at Drew Spears Productions!We have social media: X! Facebook!

Ross and Carrie announce an exciting upcoming live event, then review Linda Moulton Howe’s “Strange Harvest”, a (local) EMMY WINNING documentary that put everyone’s favorite ufologist / investigative journalist on the map. As Linda walks through a field of literal bullshit, she describes twelve mutilation reports from ranchers and law enforcement, all suggesting that someone is out there, mutilating ranch animals. But who? Ross and Carrie have some ideas, but Linda sees too many strange contradictions.We have social media: X! Facebook! 

We’re kicking off the most exciting time of the year for the MaxFun Network with a trivia game show featuring hosts from tons of great podcasts.J. Keith van Straaten and Helen Hong from “Go Fact Yourself” are joined by:Teresa McElroy - “Shmanners” Ross Blocher - “Oh No, Ross and Carrie!” Ella Hubber & Tom Lum - “Let’s Learn Everything!” Jordan Morris - “Jordan, Jesse, Go!” and "Free With Ads"If you’d like to hear more hosts competing for trivia supremacy, visit Maximumfun.org for the full version of this show.

HOWE does she do it?! Carrie attends radio DJ Jimmy Church’s absurdly chummy “Disclosure Lunch,” where Jimmy lets you know JUST HOW GOOD OF FRIENDS he is with Linda Moulton Howe, Whitley Strieber, Danny Sheehan, and other UFO-whistleblower luminaries. While Carrie identifies the cheap pasta sauce, Jimmy obliquely hits on one speaker who claims she is an alien, then shakes each speaker down for a secret. Plus, somehow, Linda manages to bring Carrie to her knees with a single, passing question. Suddenly, Carrie is the one disclosing at the Disclosure Lunch. Pull up some Ragu and hear Ross hear this whole story for the first time.We have social media: X! Facebook!

Ross and Carrie read the 1987 UFO memoir Communion, by alleged abductee Whitley Strieber. What happened on the night of October 10, 1985? What could possibly explain the blue light that fills the family cabin in the middle of the night? Why did Whitley wake up suddenly, filled with dread? Why did his personality change from this moment on? And why didn’t he connect any of this to aliens until three months later? Our intrepid author will answer you in only 299 pages. PLUS, something surprising: Carrie and Ross don’t agree on a movie.We have social media: X! Facebook!

Ross and Carrie ponder new revelations in Whitley Strieber’s recent presentation, “Them,” which he calls “a deep dive into the nature of individual communication with ‘The Visitors.’” These alien beings come to Whitley (and others) from distant stars, to harvest our sperm and trade metals. Whitley compares his own experiences with those detailed in 36 years of fan mail.We have social media: X! Facebook!