Episode description

In this episode, we talk to Mick West, a passionate conspiracy debunker who, rather uniquely, proceeds with kindness and empathy as he unravels some of the key pseudoscience of our time. Of particular interest to us is the spate of relatively recent videos of UFOs/UAPs from the US Navy, among other sources. He's got a lot to say and took a deep dive into the phenomenon with us. Buckle up and share the weird and sometimes wacky world of "Not As They Seem!" with us!

Get "Escaping the Rabbit Hole" on Amazon (Affiliate Link): https://amzn.to/42HqpK1

Headlines:
• SpaceX's Dragon spacecraft to bring home astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams earlier than planned, swapping with the Axiom Space 4 mission's Endurance Dragon capsule
• Asteroid 2024 YR4's chances of impacting Earth in 2032 slightly increase to a 2.2% chance of hitting our planet on December 22, 2032, according to the European Space Agency. The risk assessment has increased from a chance of 1.2% over the last week due to new observations, but there is still a 97.7% chance it will miss our planet
• Putin replaces Roscosmos chief Yuri Borisov with 37-year-old Dmitry Bakunov, former deputy transport minister
• Astrolab's FLEX Lunar Innovation Platform (FLIP) rover to replace NASA's canceled VIPER rover, hitching a ride on Griffin's lander to the Moon
• The Trump administration's first weeks in office bring significant changes to NASA and the space industry, with acting administrator Janet Petro set to address the future of the agency

Main Topic - UFOs/UAPs, Conspiracy Theories, and Critical Thinking:
• Mick West's background in video game programming and his transition to debunking conspiracy theories
• The importance of contrail science and debunking the chemtrails conspiracy theory
• Psychological factors that lead people to believe in conspiracy theories, such as the need for uniqueness and the appeal of simple explanations
• The role of social media and non-expert influencers in shaping public opinion on UFOs and other fringe topics
• Analyzing recent UFO videos and the challenges of interpreting visual data without proper context or expertise
• The potential impact of the Trump administration on UFO disclosure and the appointment of a "UFO/UAP czar"
• Examining the claims of UFO whistleblowers like Luis Elizondo and David Grusch, and the lack of concrete evidence to support their assertions
• The shift towards a distrust of science and academia, and the potential return to a belief in supernatural explanations
• Debunking moon landing conspiracy theories and the importance of considering evidence from multiple sources
• The potential consequences of hidden technology and the allure of "free energy" conspiracy theories
• Mick West's book, "Escaping the Rabbit Hole: How to Debunk Conspiracy Theories Using Facts, Logic, and Respect," and its guidance on communicating with conspiracy theorists

Hosts: Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik

Guest: Mick West

Download or subscribe to This Week in Space at https://twit.tv/shows/this-week-in-space.

Join Club TWiT for Ad-Free Podcasts!
Support what you love and get ad-free shows, a members-only Discord, and behind-the-scenes access. Join today: https://twit.tv/clubtwit