From the writer of the #1 Podcast OUTLIERS and the new psychological thriller Podcast, GREETINGS FROM SALTON SEA. In 1961, at the height of the Cold War, an enigmatic CIA operative investigates the source of a mysterious shortwave signal—generated either by Russian double agents/spies and their handlers or originating from extraterrestrial aliens/UFOs, or both—and systematically tracks the source in order to disrupt the possible activation of a thermonuclear “dead man’s switch.” At the same time, a plucky young woman fights to rescue her younger brother—who has the ability to see alien “insect people”—from the clutches of ill-intentioned “government doctors,” while a dogged radio host in Dayton, Ohio uses his UFO-focused show to expose ongoing government-sanctioned conspiracies to hide the fact that extraterrestrial aliens not only exist, but are already living amongst us. Created by Cassandra Wells & Charley Randazzo Written by Cassandra Wells Produced by Fred Greenhalgh and Marco Palmieri Executive Producers: Cassandra Wells, Daniel Kaemon, Molly Barton, and Julian Yap Directed by Charley Randazzo Post-Production Producer: Daniel Kaemon Production Manager: Devin Shepherd Production Coordinator: Angela Yih Sound Design & Editing: Charley Randazzo Music by Quiet on the Set Additional cover art by Heather Mason Executive in charge for Realm: Mary Assadullahi Starring Daniel Kaemon as Swan Perry King as Colonel Sobek Marta Cross as Becky Adam J. Smith as Phillips and Michaels Tracy Winters as Rosemary and Matron and Dr. Elsa Time Winters as Professor Vanyushin and Farmer Harry Gwillim as Timmy Tom Beyer as Dr. Neely and Attendant Jeff Blumberg as Evan Bell Mark Irvingsen as Norman Thorne and Uncle Cole Jaxon Gwillim as Dr. Foley Jennifer Taub as Nurse and Female Voice and Operator
Last refreshed: ⓘ
Follow this podcast in the Metacast mobile app to refresh it and see new episodes.
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
This week, we would like to introduce you to Greetings from Salton Sea, another podcast from the writers and creators of The Signal. Kellan tells Dr. Lubich about what triggered his breakdown and recalls his strange encounter with the Coroner’s Clerk upon his return to his hometown of Salton Sea after some bones are identified as belonging to Kellan’s long lost twin brother. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Swan, Becky, Phillips, and Timmy journey to Lebanon, Kansas, to find the signal's origin, encountering a hidden radio tower. A deep dive into alien subterfuge unfolds as Swan confronts Rosemary, both revealing their true forms and species' intentions for Earth. The episode culminates in a shocking revelation about disposed bodies and Swan's critical role as 'The Signal,' with the power to destroy the planet, leading to a tense stalemate and new personal paths for the survivors.
The episode features a radio debate on alien abductions, with a UFO historian presenting cases and a psychiatrist arguing for psychological explanations and even controversial treatments. Separately, four individuals on a road trip encounter a UFO that disables their vehicle and lifts it from the ground. As they attempt a desperate escape, philosophical discussions about belief, God, and personal realities unfold, culminating in a dramatic cliffhanger during the alien encounter.
Rosemary and Colonel Sobeck engage in a high-stakes liaison, discussing UFO conspiracies tied to U-2 reconnaissance flights before Sobeck reveals a deeper espionage plot. Meanwhile, Phillips shares his profound heartbreak and the tragic loss of his brothers in the war to Becky. Later, Swan aggressively quizzes Timmy about his fears and ability to see "insect people," then starkly educates him on nuclear warfare, ultimately striking a deal for Timmy's unusual talents.
The episode interweaves a Cold War-era "Duck and Cover" PSA and President Kennedy's stark warnings about nuclear war with a thrilling narrative. Swan abducts Timmy, prompting Becky and Phillips to pursue him, uncovering his secretive past. Concurrently, a UFO historian discusses historical extraterrestrial encounters, all building to Swan's revelation of using Timmy to unmask aliens and save the world.
Becky infiltrates Ward 6, trying to locate her brother, and encounters a chilling Matron who reveals the hospital's secret: lobotomies performed as a "permanent solution" on patients, echoing wartime atrocities. Meanwhile, Swan interrogates Dr. Foley about the mysterious "Frey effect" and its connection to patients with auditory hallucinations, uncovering a disturbing research program. The episode culminates in a high-stakes escape as Becky attempts to free her brother, leading to an unexpected and fragile alliance with Swan.
Swan intensely interrogates a Russian defector, Professor Van Nushin, about the existence and mechanics of the "dead hand" nuclear retaliation system, uncovering its history and the professor's critical role in its creation and the American counterpart. Simultaneously, Becky infiltrates a government psychiatric hospital to find Timmy amidst an unfolding crisis. The episode explores themes of espionage, global destruction, and moral ambiguity, culminating in a chilling conclusion for the professor.
Dayton, Ohio radio talk show host Evan Bell—of UFOs Tonight—interviews an astrophysicist regarding the origin of the bizarre recorded signals being broadcast around the globe; Swan’s crafty handler, Rosemary, attempts to turn Colonel Sobek into an agency asset. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Becky, a gutsy Kansas farm girl, unable to stop her young brother’s abduction by government men, goes in pursuit while Swan plays potentially lethal mind games with his newly assigned driver, Phillips, a WWII army vet and sniper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Swan, an enigmatic spook from a mysterious intelligence agency, pays a visit to Colonel Sobek at his Air Force base office—which is the beating heart of the U.S. government’s secret UFO project—to probe for Classified information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
