Art introduces the program, highlighting that Linda Moulton Howe and Dr. Barry Taff will be featured guests. Dr. Taff is known for his involvement in the “Entity” case and is regarded as an expert on ghosts. The show is set to discuss ghostly phenomena, with listeners invited to call in. Art also mentions a new webcam software that provides enhanced detail for viewers. The broadcast is live on Broadcast.com, and Art encourages listeners to tune in to both the audio and visual aspects of the show.
Linda Moulton Howe joins the program, discussing the remarkable crop formations in Great Britain, which have been some of the most extraordinary to date. She also highlights the work being done by Johns Hopkins and Duke University on the effects of toxins released by the hysteria organism, which have been killing fish. Linda notes that these findings are finally being recognized by the mainstream press, despite her reporting on them for two years.
She then shifts to the alarming disappearance of amphibians around the world, particularly in the United States, where one-third of the toad, frog, and salamander population is now gone. This issue has prompted increased scientific monitoring, particularly in Yosemite National Park, where the amphibian population is in significant decline. Researchers are exploring potential causes, including water and air pollution, increased UVB radiation due to ozone layer depletion, and the resulting weakened immune systems in amphibians.
Linda also touches on a report from the US Geological Survey, which found unsafe levels of radium in wells in southern New Jersey, leading to concerns about cancer, particularly in children. This issue, linked to the use of fertilizers and lime, has gone largely unnoticed by health officials, who only learned about it through media reports.
Linda continues the discussion by addressing a troubling incident in New Jersey, where residents and health officials were not informed about radium contamination in their water until the media reported it. The US Geological Survey (USGS) apologized for the oversight, but the damage was already done, with many concerned about the potential health impacts, especially on children. Art and Linda express frustration over the lack of transparency and accountability from government officials regarding environmental hazards.
Shifting the topic, Linda recounts an interview with a minister and his mother from Los Alamos, Colorado, who witnessed an unusual orange light in the sky. This phenomenon is reminiscent of past reports dating back to the 1960s, particularly involving the mysterious death of a horse named Lady in 1967. The orange light, described as a molten, flowing object, repeatedly rose above a mesa, disappeared, and then reappeared multiple times. Through binoculars, the object appeared circular, with a surface resembling molten lava. The witnesses described it as a thick, brilliant light that struggled to stay airborne, eventually reaching an altitude where it looked like two stars wobbling together before finally disappearing.
The discussion continues with more accounts of strange orange lights in the sky and their connection to mysterious events. Linda mentions an auctioneer who had heard ranchers talk about these lights but was reluctant to share details, suggesting that there have been incidents along the Arkansas River. This secrecy reflects a broader unwillingness among witnesses to discuss such phenomena.
Linda also recalls an event from the 1970s in Trinidad, Colorado, where two law enforcement officials witnessed an orange light splitting into two spheres, which then rejoined before disappearing. This sighting coincided with a series of animal mutilation cases in the area. Linda urges listeners who have seen similar lights or know of new animal mutilations to contact her directly.
Art wraps up the conversation with Linda, who hints at the possibility of extraterrestrial involvement in these phenomena, though she acknowledges the complexity and uncertainty surrounding these events. Art then introduces the next guest, Dr. Barry Taff, who is set to discuss ghosts and paranormal activities, promising an intriguing interview.
Dr. Barry Taff joins the conversation, introduced as the principal investigator in the “Entity” case, a terrifying instance of paranormal manifestation. Dr. Taff, who has been a parapsychologist for 30 years, shares that he worked at UCLA’s now-closed parapsychology laboratory from 1969 to 1978. He has investigated over 3,500 cases involving ghosts, hauntings, poltergeists, and conducted extensive studies on telepathy, precognition, and remote viewing.
He explains that his interest in parapsychology began in childhood when he experienced numerous telepathic and out-of-body phenomena. Dr. Taff recounts a specific incident from when he was ten years old: he had a vivid mental image of a classmate with a colostomy bag, something he couldn’t have known about. When he innocently asked her about it, she panicked, leading to him being questioned by the school authorities. This event made him realize that his experiences were not typical, but it also sparked his lifelong interest in exploring the unknown.
Dr. Taff continues to share more about his early life experiences with telepathy and other psychic phenomena. He recounts another instance where, as a child, he was able to see an inflamed appendix scar on a person, which again surprised and unsettled the adults around him. These experiences led him to question why he seemed to have these abilities while others did not. He explains that these abilities seemed normal to him at the time, but as he grew older, he realized that they were not common.
Despite skepticism from others, Dr. Taff remained confident in his experiences, which only grew more frequent over time. By his early twenties, he was deeply interested in understanding the nature of these phenomena. He managed to connect with Dr. Thelma Moss at UCLA, a prominent figure in parapsychology, who recognized his abilities. After demonstrating his psychic insights to her, he was brought on as a research assistant and subject in her lab, leading to a formal study published in a medical journal.
Dr. Taff reflects that his personal experiences with psychic phenomena were the driving force behind his career in parapsychology. Despite being naturally skeptical and scientifically minded, these experiences convinced him that there was something beyond conventional understanding worth exploring.
Dr. Taff describes further experiences where his psychic abilities would manifest, often in situations that made those around him uncomfortable. He recalls how, as a research assistant, he was able to diagnose physical ailments in people without any prior knowledge, which sometimes led to awkward or unsettling moments.
One incident involved Dr. Taff sitting next to a stranger in a movie theater and suddenly feeling intense pain in his left kidney, which turned out to mirror the stranger’s actual condition. Another time, while driving with a friend, Dr. Taff had a premonition of an imminent car accident involving a specific make and model of car, down to the color and the appearance of the driver. Despite his warning, the accident happened exactly as he predicted, which ended his friendship with the driver due to the fear he caused.
Dr. Taff mentions how these experiences often led people to distance themselves from him, as they were unnerved by his abilities. He shares a story about a romantic relationship where he predicted a benign tumor in his girlfriend’s breast, which was later confirmed during a medical examination. These incidents highlight how his psychic abilities have impacted his relationships and the reactions of those around him.
Dr. Taff continues to discuss his unique ability to diagnose medical conditions in others, explaining that he sometimes experiences sensations in his own body that mirror the conditions of those around him. For example, he once diagnosed a friend with degenerative issues in her vertebrae, which was later confirmed by medical scans. He describes this process as seeing a sort of “color CAT scan” in his mind, as if he is viewing an anatomical cross-section of the person.
Despite these abilities, Dr. Taff notes that while they have been a significant part of his life, they have also caused difficulties in his relationships, as people are often uncomfortable around him. He reflects on his time at UCLA, where he was involved in studies on telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition, which suggested that these phenomena are interconnected aspects of the same ability, varying only by how and when they are perceived.
Dr. Barry Taff returns to the discussion, with Art Bell expressing surprise at learning so much new information about him despite having interviewed him multiple times. Dr. Taff explains that while he has done some diagnostic work for people, he keeps it private due to legal concerns, as he is not a medical doctor. He emphasizes that he only advises people to consult with their physicians to confirm any potential issues he senses.
The conversation then shifts to ghosts and the paranormal, where Dr. Taff discusses his view that various phenomena like ghosts, telepathy, poltergeists, UFOs, and remote viewing might be connected, possibly stemming from the same underlying force. He suggests that there could be forces at play in our universe that are not purely electromagnetic, gravitational, or nuclear, and these might be the basis for what we call paranormal activities.
Dr. Taff also discusses the challenges of maintaining scientific objectivity while using his abilities in investigations. He prefers to focus on physical documentation through technologies like thermal and optical imaging, rather than relying on subjective experiences or psychic impressions, as these do not provide concrete data that can be scientifically analyzed.
Dr. Taff and Art Bell delve into the profound question of whether we continue to exist after physical death and in what form. Dr. Taff admits that while his experiences and research suggest something beyond physical death, the evidence remains largely subjective and lacks hard, objective proof. He speculates that what makes us unique might have existed before our bodies and could continue after.
Art then introduces a report about a new, underground drug that claims to induce near-death experiences (NDEs) by causing clinical death and bringing the user back. Dr. Taff is particularly intrigued by the out-of-body experiences (OBEs) reported during NDEs, where individuals seem to perceive events happening at great distances from their physical bodies—something Dr. Taff himself has experienced.
Art shares his own recent OBE in Paris, describing the intense joy and ecstasy he felt during the experience. He contrasts this with flying dreams, emphasizing that his OBE felt distinctly real. Dr. Taff agrees, pondering what part of our consciousness, or perhaps something beyond it, enables such experiences. They both consider the possibility that this aspect of us could exist in another domain after death, but they also grapple with the unsettling idea that if nothing exists after death, life might seem meaningless.
Dr. Barry Taff continues the discussion by exploring the idea that our physical existence might just be one form of energy among many, potentially transitioning into different forms after death. He speculates that some part of our consciousness could linger after death, possibly explaining the existence of ghosts or apparitions. This leads into a discussion about ghosts as a primary area of investigation regarding the afterlife.
Dr. Taff categorizes ghostly phenomena into two main types: one that implies survival of consciousness after death, and another that suggests these experiences stem from the living human psyche, such as psychokinesis. He acknowledges that most ghostly phenomena might be manifestations of the living mind, but there remains a small percentage of cases that strongly suggest the survival of consciousness.
Art and Dr. Taff then delve into a specific case from 1976, known as the Hollymont case, which Dr. Taff considers one of his most spectacular investigations. The case involved a house in the Hollywood Hills where extraordinary events occurred, such as objects flying around, a kettle dumping water on someone, and even thousands of coins reportedly raining from the ceiling. Dr. Taff describes how this event, which involved no adolescents or emotionally disturbed adults in the house, led to the discovery of a body buried under the house, making the case all the more unusual and significant.
Dr. Taff recounts another case from 1970 in the Hyde Park district near Inglewood, Los Angeles, where the residents of a house had died in a car accident. However, neighbors reported seeing them continuing their daily routines, such as taking out the garbage and mowing the lawn. The relatives of the deceased contacted Dr. Taff, who, while investigating, witnessed furniture moving on its own and other unexplained phenomena. During a séance in the house, strange sounds were heard, adding to the eerie atmosphere. Just as Dr. Taff was about to reveal more details, the show cuts to a break, leaving listeners with a cliffhanger.
After the break, Art Bell reflects on the remarkable stories Dr. Taff has shared, particularly the one about pennies raining from the ceiling, which he describes as one of the most extraordinary stories he’s ever heard. He invites listeners to call in with their questions and continues with some promotional content before preparing to return to Dr. Taff’s ongoing story and the listener call segment.
Dr. Taff resumes his story about the investigation in the Hyde Park district of Inglewood, where he and his team conducted a séance in a house where strange occurrences had been reported. During the séance, a large man, who wasn’t part of their group, appeared suddenly and began attacking Dr. Taff, strangling him and throwing him into a bathtub. The other men in the group tried to fend off the attacker, only to see him dissolve and vanish, leaving behind the man who had originally brought them to the house. This man, a cadet at the police academy, had no memory of the attack, and when he retrieved a picture of his deceased grandfather, it matched the description of the attacker exactly.
Art Bell reacts with astonishment, admitting that such an experience would terrify him to the point of fleeing. Dr. Taff, however, compares the risk to his other hobbies, such as racing cars and flying jets, which he finds more life-threatening than investigating paranormal phenomena. He acknowledges that while these events might seem like “fringe reality” to most people, they’re not as frightening to him.
Art then poses a question about whether there’s more paranormal activity manifesting in 1998 compared to earlier decades. Dr. Taff suggests that with more people, media exposure, and societal stress, there might be more encounters or at least more awareness of them.
A caller from Milwaukee shares his fear about the possibility of a nuclear holocaust, which led him to turn off a previous show. He then asks Dr. Taff why there isn’t more hard empirical data proving the existence of ghosts or other paranormal phenomena, considering the many years of investigations.
Dr. Taff explains that the transient and elusive nature of these phenomena makes it difficult to capture hard evidence. He compares it to trying to record a plane crash—rarely is the camera in the right place at the right time. Additionally, until recently, the technology required to document such occurrences wasn’t widely available. Even now, with more people having access to video cameras, the phenomenon is still challenging to capture.
The caller suggests that ghosts might be interdimensional rather than the spirits of deceased people, to which Dr. Taff responds that this is one of many theories. He emphasizes that while there is some physical evidence, such as temperature changes and light anomalies, it’s not enough to conclusively prove the existence of ghosts in a court of law. He contrasts this with the evidence for UFOs, which is much more substantial and could potentially hold up in a legal setting.
Art Bell agrees, noting that if conclusive evidence of ghosts existed, it would likely be covered extensively by mainstream media. He also ponders the impact on human society if it were proven that there is no existence after death, a question Dr. Taff has also considered.
Dr. Taff and Art Bell continue discussing the profound implications of whether there is life after death. Dr. Taff speculates that if it were proven that nothing exists after death, it could severely undermine religious and spiritual beliefs. However, he doubts that definitive evidence will emerge in the near future. Art expresses his uncertainty, acknowledging that such experiences, like the pennies falling from the ceiling, would make him feel differently.
A caller from Cleveland, Ohio, shares a personal experience of witnessing his mother’s passing. He describes how, after she was taken off life support, he observed the electrical impulses on the monitor gradually diminishing, which led him to believe that her energy went somewhere after death. He interprets this as a powerful lesson that energy, as Dr. Taff mentioned earlier, cannot be destroyed but merely changes form.
The caller also recounts another story where a relative felt a person’s spirit pass through them at the moment of death, which profoundly impacted him. Dr. Taff confirms that he has heard similar accounts in various investigations and books.
The caller then shares a personal experience from 25 years ago, where he repeatedly heard voices while working late at night in his home by the lake. Despite checking multiple times, he could never find the source of the voices. Dr. Taff explains that such experiences are relatively common and suggests that the voices might be linked to telepathic phenomena, especially since the voices couldn’t be recorded despite being clearly heard by multiple people. He concludes that this might indicate an intelligent, evasive response from the phenomena, suggesting a haunting rather than a poltergeist.
The discussion returns to the challenge of capturing hard evidence of paranormal phenomena. Dr. Taff mentions that in one case, the evasive nature of the phenomena was particularly frustrating for investigators, as they attempted to record voices and other occurrences without success. However, the phenomena compensated by manifesting in more blatant and aggressive ways. He notes that collective experiences and independent corroboration lend more credibility to these events, but capturing them remains elusive.
Art Bell reflects on a conversation with Father Malachi Martin, a well-known exorcist, who was convinced that some of these phenomena were demonic in nature. Art plans to ask Dr. Taff whether he believes in demonic presences as well, but before that, they acknowledge the central question of whether there is life after death—a question that continues to haunt both the guests and listeners.
As the show progresses, Art interacts with the broadcast audience, expressing his own uncertainties about the afterlife. He admits that, while he hopes for something beyond death, he remains skeptical due to the lack of concrete evidence.
Art mentions his frequent guest, Father Malachi Martin, who firmly believed in the existence of heaven, hell, God, Satan, and demons. Art asks Dr. Taff how these concepts fit into his understanding or suspicions based on his research and investigations.
Dr. Taff explains that, as a researcher with a scientific orientation, his goal is to document and understand the nature of the phenomena, rather than to speculate on their religious or spiritual implications. He acknowledges that throughout history, many people have interpreted these phenomena as demonic based on religious teachings, but he compares this to the parable of the three blind men and the elephant—people’s interpretations vary based on their perceptions and experiences.
Dr. Taff emphasizes that the field is still largely speculative and that what one person might interpret as a demonic presence, another might see as something entirely different. He suggests that these interpretations are shaped by individual beliefs and backgrounds, which complicates the effort to reach a definitive understanding of the phenomena.
Dr. Taff continues the conversation with Art Bell, explaining why he prefers to avoid religious interpretations in his investigations, as they tend to complicate the already challenging task of establishing credible scientific evidence for paranormal phenomena. While he doesn’t dismiss the value of religious perspectives, he emphasizes that mixing them with scientific tools like magnetometers and camcorders only creates more confusion.
Returning to the earlier story about the pennies, Dr. Taff clarifies that the pennies were a mix of old, new, clean, and dirty ones, but they never determined where they came from. He also shares more details about the Hollymont case, where objects flew around the house, even chasing a news crew out of the building. For instance, a book flew down a stairwell, making sharp turns and landing at the feet of a newswoman who was fleeing in terror.
Dr. Taff notes that during these investigations, electronic equipment often fails, further complicating efforts to document the phenomena. He describes instances where objects would disappear and reappear in different locations, suggesting a type of paranormal activity known as “apports.”
A caller from Reno, Nevada, then shares his experience of seeing faces in bushes while on Native American land, which unsettled him deeply. He mentions consulting with Native American medicine men but found no clear answers. Dr. Taff responds that such experiences, especially on sacred Native American ground, are not uncommon and can involve apparitions or other unsettling phenomena. However, he acknowledges the difficulty in determining the nature of these experiences since they are often subjective and not easily documented.
Dr. Taff discusses the difficulty in determining whether certain paranormal experiences are the result of the environment affecting an individual or if there is some force within the environment attempting to communicate subtly. He expresses skepticism that the question of life after death will be conclusively answered in our lifetimes, suggesting that even if breakthroughs occur, the information might be withheld or slowly disseminated due to its potentially destabilizing impact on society.
A caller from New Jersey asks if Dr. Taff has ever encountered ghosts of animals or pets. Dr. Taff recounts his first investigation in 1968, where an elderly couple in Pasadena reported the presence of their deceased cat. During his interview with them, Dr. Taff felt an invisible presence jump onto his lap, mimicking the feeling of a cat kneading his hands. The couch even depressed as if something had jumped onto it, convincing him that something beyond imagination was occurring.
This experience suggests that animals might have the same opportunity for continued existence after death as humans, implying that they too might possess something akin to a soul. Dr. Taff, a cat lover himself, acknowledges that this idea resonates with him, even though the concept of animals having souls might be controversial in mainstream religious contexts.
He also notes that physical manifestations like this occur in about 5% of cases, highlighting how rare it is to witness such phenomena directly. Most of the time, investigators arrive after the fact, making it uncommon to experience the events firsthand.
Dr. Taff and Art Bell continue their discussion on the nature of life after death and the possibility of documenting out-of-body experiences. They talk about a historical experiment where people were weighed at the moment of death, revealing a loss of three-quarters of an ounce, which some have interpreted as the weight of the soul leaving the body. However, Dr. Taff points out that alternative explanations, such as changes in hydrostatic pressure or the release of gases, could also account for this weight loss.
Art shares a personal experience of an out-of-body experience (OBE) he had in Paris, where he felt an indescribable ecstasy. A guest once told him that this might be as close to death as one can get while still alive. Dr. Taff agrees, noting that OBEs could offer a conceptual analogy to what it might be like to exist without a body after death. He emphasizes that while OBEs are profound and can be documented through various means, the main difference between an OBE and death is that, in death, there is no body to return to.
As they wrap up the segment, Art asks Dr. Taff if he sees himself continuing in this field of study for the rest of his life. Dr. Taff confirms that he is fully committed to this area of research and has no intention of giving it up. Art then invites listeners, especially those with experiences or evidence related to life after death, to call in and share their stories. The conversation touches on the eternal nature of the inquiry into life after death, indicating that this will be a lifelong area of exploration for both Art and Dr. Taff.
Art Bell resumes the show by addressing a fax from a listener who shares their experience living in an old Victorian house in Alameda, California. The listener, Sandra, describes coexisting peacefully with several spirits, including a Maine Coon cat named Taylor, who had died in 1994. Despite Taylor’s death, Sandra continues to see his somewhat transparent form and even feels him rub against her leg, sometimes seeing her trouser leg move. She mentions that she loves her spirits, and they are very protective of her.
Art then shifts the conversation to electronic voice phenomena (EVP), asking Dr. Taff if he has any stories related to it. Dr. Taff admits that while he has read about EVP and knows people who work in that field, he hasn’t closely followed it himself. He recounts a case from a previous show where a man, allegedly possessed, emitted sounds that were analyzed and found to be pure sine waves—a characteristic impossible for humans or animals to produce, leading to speculation about the nature of the sounds.
Dr. Taff explains that he generally prefers to rely on data he has collected himself because auditory phenomena are prone to misinterpretation, and there are many variables that could affect the results. He also expresses skepticism about trusting external sources due to the ease with which images and sounds can be manipulated in the digital age. Art agrees, noting that he frequently receives doctored photographs of himself with aliens and ghosts, which are often more convincing than supposedly genuine paranormal photos.
Dr. Taff and Art Bell delve into the skepticism that surrounds paranormal phenomena, especially in the digital age where even authentic photographs and evidence are often dismissed as fakes due to the capabilities of photo editing software. Art shares his frustration, mentioning how even genuine photos he has taken are often scrutinized and dismissed by skeptics who claim to find evidence of tampering, even when none exists.
Dr. Taff echoes this sentiment, recalling a conversation with respected scientists from Caltech and JPL who, even if they witnessed a table flying across a room, would still rationalize it away as a hallucination or the result of hidden mechanisms like magnets or wires. This illustrates the deep-rooted skepticism that exists even in the face of seemingly undeniable evidence.
Art then shifts the focus to Dr. Taff’s new book, “Aliens Above, Ghosts Below: Explorations of the Unknown,” which is available for immediate download online. The book delves deeply into many of the cases they have discussed, including a detailed exploration of the “Entity” case, providing insights and perspectives that were not covered in previous publications or the movie adaptation.
Dr. Taff explains that his interest in the alien phenomenon grew out of the historical reports of odd aerial objects, which resemble modern UFOs, and the significant amount of evidence collected over the past half-century. He also notes that some of his cases started as poltergeist manifestations but ended up involving abductions or vice versa, blurring the lines between different types of paranormal phenomena.
Art then asks if Dr. Taff believes we will ever get answers about these phenomena in our lifetimes. Dr. Taff is skeptical that any revelations will come from the government, which he believes is more concerned with maintaining control over a governable population. He speculates that acknowledging the existence of extraterrestrial life or other paranormal realities could destabilize society, undermine government authority, and challenge religious institutions, leading to a profound shift in how people view the world and their place in it.
Dr. Taff and Art Bell continue discussing the possibilities of documenting paranormal phenomena, particularly ghostly apparitions of pets. A caller from Farmington Hills, Michigan, shares their experiences with what they believe are the ghosts of their deceased cats. The caller describes how the cats seem to behave as they did in life, jumping onto the bed or couch and even kneading behind the caller’s head. The caller asks if it’s possible to photograph these apparitions, especially using night vision or infrared technology.
Dr. Taff suggests starting with simple methods like using a Polaroid camera or a camcorder with night vision capabilities, which might capture something if the entity emits low-energy photons in the infrared or visible spectrum. He also mentions trying ultraviolet lenses, which could potentially capture images that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye.
Art adds that cats can see infrared light, which might be useful in such investigations. He recounts how his own cat would chase an infrared laser pointer that was invisible to him, suggesting that using an infrared-emitting device might help detect the presence of ghostly animals.
They also touch on the emotional impact of losing a pet and the common feeling that the pet’s presence is still around. Dr. Taff notes that these feelings could be a natural human response to loss, driven by a desire to maintain the bond with the deceased, whether or not there is an actual presence.
Dr. Taff and Art Bell discuss the nature of skepticism, particularly from those who staunchly disbelieve in paranormal phenomena. Dr. Taff explains that he doesn’t spend much time debating with hardcore skeptics or debunkers whose minds are already made up. He shares an encounter with a debunker who admitted that no matter what evidence was presented, he would never believe in the existence of paranormal phenomena. Dr. Taff highlights the flawed logic of such skepticism, noting that the very fact that these phenomena don’t happen consistently under controlled conditions is what makes them mysterious and worthy of study.
Art then raises the question of what would happen if society suddenly found definitive proof of an afterlife. Dr. Taff speculates that it might initially drive more people toward religion, but the impact would depend on what details about the afterlife were revealed. If we only received partial answers, knowing that something exists beyond death without fully understanding it, it could lead to a mix of increased religious devotion and continued curiosity about the nature of that existence.