Art Bell welcomes listeners to another episode of “Coast To Coast AM” broadcast on August 2, 2001, from the high desert. He greets new affiliates in Texas and Florida, noting the network’s growth close to 500 affiliates. Art introduces a story from Michigan where a listener named Rob recounts a strange incident. Rob and his wife, driving at night, hit a creature on a two-lane highway. Initially thinking it was a deer, they realize it was something else, possibly Bigfoot. Rob describes the creature as having long brown and gray hair, with a face resembling a bulldog or gorilla but with unique features. After the collision, they moved the creature into the woods, collected hair and blood samples, and returned the next day to find it still there.
Rob continues sharing his incredible story with Art, explaining that the creature’s body is currently in a fallout shelter they built for Y2K. Rob and his wife moved it there using a snowmobile trailer and covered it with a tarp. He describes the creature as smelling like rotten fish, prompting them to keep it in the fallout shelter. Rob’s wife is excited, thinking it could be Bigfoot, having seen similar creatures in books. Rob is scared, uncertain about what to do, and didn’t report it to the authorities for fear of not being believed or getting into trouble. He mentions they collected hair and blood samples from the creature. Rob also reveals he put a mirror to its nose and saw a little steam, indicating it might still be alive. He describes its large limbs and estimates it weighs around 700 pounds. Rob wants to get rid of the creature and suggests Art or an expert should come to see it, but Art feels an expert like Robert W. Morgan would be more suitable.
Rob continues discussing the creature, confirming it couldn’t be a bear due to the distinct smell and appearance. They haven’t shown it to anyone else to avoid spreading the news. Art suggests calling a vet to check if it’s still alive, as Rob mentions the creature almost brought their car to a standstill when they hit it. Rob’s car, a 1975 Chrysler Newport, was heavily damaged. His wife is also anxious to get rid of the creature to avoid being seen as crazy. They confirmed its potential life by seeing steam on a mirror held to its nose and describe its teeth as medium-sized and horse-like, suggesting it might be a vegetarian. Despite the lack of blood, Rob cut the creature to obtain a blood sample. Art advises Rob to contact a veterinarian confidentially and offers to connect him with Bigfoot researcher Robert W. Morgan. Rob agrees, and they plan to follow up on the situation.
Art transitions to open lines after replaying the story from August 2, 2001. He introduces Marilyn Schlitz, PhD, as an upcoming guest to discuss psi abilities. Art shares various stories, including a peculiar sea creature found in Newfoundland, described as a monster with long matted white fur, a skeletal structure, and no apparent head. Another story details a UFO sighting in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where over 200 locals reported seeing a hazy green light moving across the sky. Art encourages listeners to check his website for more details on these stories. The call-in segment begins with a listener questioning the logistics of Rob moving the Bigfoot-like creature into the fallout shelter, speculating about the use of a winch to manage the task.
Art continues to engage with callers, discussing various topics. A caller questions the logistics of moving a large creature into a fallout shelter, expressing skepticism. Another caller from Virginia shares a personal experience related to Sylvia Browne, discussing thoughts on reincarnation after a suicide attempt. A truck driver from Pennsylvania suggests contacting a local zoo veterinarian for advice on the Bigfoot-like creature. A caller from near Denver discusses the Bush energy plan, expressing concerns about its long-term implications and the need for alternative energy sources. Art emphasizes the importance of planning for future energy needs beyond oil and gas. The open lines continue with varied topics, reflecting the diverse interests of Art’s audience.
A caller named Reba from a small town describes seeing a UFO while walking her dog at 9:06 PM. The object was a large, white or yellow-white light traveling rapidly in a north-northeasterly direction, disappearing behind clouds. Art mentions an increase in UFO sightings, including a report from Stevens Point, Wisconsin, where 200 people saw a similar object. Reba’s description matches the size of a round pinhead, and she confirms no blinking lights were visible. Art suggests it could have been the International Space Station, but Reba doubts it due to the object’s size and behavior. Another caller discusses a previous guest, Sylvia Browne, and the concept of reincarnation following suicide attempts. Art shares a humorous exchange with a caller about his unlucky vacation history, emphasizing that something significant always happens when he’s away. Additional callers inquire about a man planning to launch a rocket and another involved with a time machine, with Art providing updates and speculations.
Art Bell introduces Dr. Marilyn Schlitz, director of research at the Institute of Noetic Sciences, as the upcoming guest. Dr. Schlitz has an extensive background, including a doctorate in anthropology, postdoctoral fellowship in psychology at Stanford, and numerous published articles on various topics such as psi research and consciousness studies. She has also conducted research in diverse field settings and taught at prominent institutions like Stanford and Harvard. Dr. Schlitz discusses her background, growing up in Detroit during a time of rebellion and challenging authority, which influenced her interest in revolutionary ideas and the changing models of reality. This led her to explore parapsychology and remote viewing, subjects she believes serious scientists study rigorously despite not fitting the dominant worldview. Art expresses his fascination with remote viewing, considering it a genuine human capacity, and shares his transition from a skeptic to a believer after interacting with many remote viewers and witnessing their abilities.
Art and Dr. Marilyn Schlitz continue their conversation on remote viewing. Dr. Schlitz discusses her involvement in the early SRI remote viewing program as both an experimenter and a viewer. She describes a significant experiment conducted in 1980 between Michigan and Rome, Italy. In this experiment, an outbound person visited randomly selected geographical locations while Dr. Schlitz, as the remote viewer, described her impressions of those locations. Their findings were evaluated by five independent judges who found six direct hits out of ten, with a probability of four times in a million. One notable example was her description of the Rome International Airport and surrounding details, which matched the actual location. This successful experiment was replicated and published, giving a boost to the SRI program. Dr. Schlitz emphasizes the impact such results have on skeptics and how witnessing these anomalies can challenge and change worldviews.
Art and Dr. Marilyn Schlitz discuss the potential mechanisms behind remote viewing and distant healing. Dr. Schlitz suggests that emerging scientific models involving complexity, self-organization, and quantum mechanics may offer insights into these phenomena. She recounts her work on distant healing, where experiments demonstrated that one person could influence another’s physiology from a distance, under double-blind conditions. These experiments showed significant differences in autonomic nervous system activity during periods of intended influence compared to control periods.
Dr. Schlitz then describes a study on AIDS patients, led by Dr. Elizabeth Haag, which tested whether distant healers could improve patient outcomes. Patients receiving standard medical care were divided into two groups, with one group also receiving distant healing intentions. The results showed that those in the distant healing group had better health outcomes, including fewer hospital days, doctor visits, and secondary infections, even though they didn’t know they were receiving distant healing. The discussion touches on whether the effect differs if termed prayer versus remote healing, with Dr. Schlitz noting that more empirical data is needed, and mentioning that healers from various traditions participated in the AIDS study.
Art and Dr. Marilyn Schlitz continue discussing the implications of distant healing and prayer. Dr. Schlitz highlights that various traditions, including Wiccans, fundamentalist Christians, and Buddhist monks, participated in their studies, suggesting that holding a compassionate intention for another’s well-being can transcend specific beliefs or names for God. This idea might challenge some people’s views, emphasizing the importance of positive intentions.
Art interjects with the fact that the Institute of Noetic Sciences, where Dr. Schlitz works, was founded by Apollo astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell. They further discuss the possibility that prayer and remote viewing might be accessing the same nonlocal force, which some may interpret as God. Dr. Schlitz mentions studies showing that prayer can positively affect health outcomes, such as a cardiology study in San Francisco where patients who were prayed for showed better health outcomes.
She also describes a study at Duke University involving various “noetic interventions” like therapeutic touch, guided imagery, and prayer, which showed better results than standard care alone, particularly for the prayed-for group. The discussion considers whether remote viewing and remote healing involve similar mechanisms, with Dr. Schlitz suggesting a combination of passive information gathering and active intention.
Art invites listeners to send positive thoughts for his back pain as a light-hearted experiment, while Dr. Schlitz acknowledges that these studies suggest healing can occur without the recipient being aware of the intention.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz explains how informed consent is always obtained in their studies, even though participants don’t know which condition they’ll be in. She shares the story of the Institute of Noetic Sciences’ founding by Dr. Edgar Mitchell, an Apollo astronaut. Dr. Mitchell experienced an epiphany while looking at Earth from space, leading him to explore consciousness beyond the physical world. This revelation deeply influenced Dr. Schlitz, leading her to her current work at the Institute.
Art and Dr. Schlitz discuss the profound changes many astronauts experience after seeing Earth from space, noting that it can be transformative but also challenging. Dr. Mitchell’s story highlights the “overview effect,” where viewing Earth from a great distance profoundly impacts one’s perspective. They also touch on the stress of returning to everyday life after such experiences.
Art brings up how Dr. Mitchell’s views might have prevented him from being selected for the Apollo mission had they been known beforehand. They discuss an experiment Dr. Mitchell conducted from the moon, which yielded statistically significant results, albeit with more misses than expected. This led to speculation about the potential inhibitory effects of long-distance attempts to send signals. The conversation shifts to the need for more systematic studies on the relationship between distance and signal strength in remote viewing and other nonlocal phenomena.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz and Art Bell continue their discussion, focusing on the Institute of Noetic Sciences’ ongoing experiments and how the public can participate. Dr. Schlitz mentions that the Institute’s website offers experiments designed by Dean Radin to explore telepathic and precognitive abilities, where participants can see their scores and compare them with millions of other trials. The results indicate that belief in psychic abilities correlates with better performance.
Dr. Schlitz describes upcoming experiments titled “Field of Dreams,” which aim to engage participants in a contemplative experience while measuring their ability to influence the physical world with their consciousness. Art inquires about high performers on these tests, and Dr. Schlitz explains that they monitor results and have a “Hall of Fame” for top scorers. These outstanding participants are sometimes invited to further studies at their 200-acre campus in Northern California, where they explore and develop capacities like intuition and extended perception.
Art raises the question of whether human abilities in this area are increasing, simply being more explored, or perhaps decreasing. Dr. Schlitz suggests that as technology advances, we may have more opportunities to expand our psychic capacities. However, she also acknowledges that past reliance on such abilities may have been greater due to fewer technological aids.
Art touches on a potentially darker aspect of these abilities, questioning if they could be used harmfully. Dr. Schlitz agrees that any ability can be used for both good and evil, a perspective she believes is important to consider.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz and Art Bell discuss the potential dangers and defenses against remote influencing. Dr. Schlitz acknowledges that while anything that can be used for good can also be used for evil, they have been exploring methods to shield against such influences. Informal experiments suggest that imagining a protective shield can help resist remote influence, while those instructed to be open to the influence tend to perform better in tests.
Art questions whether someone would be aware of being the target of a remote influencer, to which Dr. Schlitz responds that conscious guessing generally doesn’t work in their experiments. She begins to share her experiences at Stanford and Science Applications International Corporation but is interrupted for a break.
Returning from the break, Art encourages listeners to test their psychic abilities on the Institute of Noetic Sciences’ website. Dr. Schlitz and Art then delve into Art’s Shapechanger program, a random number generator test designed to measure one’s ability to influence digital noise to reveal specific images, such as Earth. Art explains how he and his wife extensively tested the program, noting a significant difference in scores when they actively tried to influence the images versus when they let the program run unattended.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz continues discussing her research on remote influencing and the relationship between intention and physiological responses. She explains experiments where participants’ autonomic nervous system activity, measured through electrodermal activity, is monitored while another person attempts to influence them remotely via closed-circuit television. The results showed significant differences in autonomic responses when participants were being stared at, even though they couldn’t consciously discern when it was happening.
Dr. Schlitz recounts a collaboration with Richard Wiseman, a skeptical magician and psychologist who had previously found no significant effects in similar experiments. They conducted a joint study under identical conditions, but with each working with separate groups. Dr. Schlitz’s group showed significant effects, replicating her original findings, while Wiseman’s group did not, replicating his previous results. This suggested that the experimenter’s intention might influence the results, challenging the fundamental assumption of objectivity in scientific studies. They repeated the experiment at the Institute of Noetic Sciences with similar outcomes, further supporting the idea that the experimenter’s influence plays a role.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz and Art Bell discuss the possible reasons for the differing results in experiments between her and Richard Wiseman. Dr. Schlitz hypothesizes that her ability to communicate openness to participants might be a factor, whereas Wiseman’s belief system might inhibit such openness. They explore the idea that subconscious suggestion could play a role, but Dr. Schlitz emphasizes that the experiments are designed to be double-blind, which complicates this explanation.
They also discuss experiments by Austrian parapsychologist Elmar Gruber, who found increased activity when people were being stared at on a street corner. Art ponders why mainstream news outlets haven’t covered these significant findings. Dr. Schlitz mentions an upcoming appearance on Good Morning America and 20/20, where they will discuss a remote staring experiment involving Deepak Chopra.
Art and Dr. Schlitz consider the social implications if people begin to accept these phenomena as real. Dr. Schlitz suggests that recognizing our interconnectedness could help address environmental and social issues. Art raises the topic of consciousness persisting after death, mentioning studies by Dr. Ian Stevenson on reincarnation, which document cases where people remember past lives, sometimes with physical markers corresponding to their previous deaths.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz discusses Dr. Ian Stevenson’s research on reincarnation, noting cases where children have birthmarks corresponding to wounds from past lives they remember. She acknowledges the challenge of separating personal beliefs from scientific work but emphasizes the importance of being open to questions about human potential. Art Bell asks if she has ever encountered a nonhuman entity during her experiments, to which she replies that she has not encountered any in formal experiments but shares a personal story of experiencing something unusual while walking through a cemetery.
Returning from a break, Art mentions an upcoming segment with Brendan Cook, who records voices in graveyards. Dr. Schlitz continues her cemetery story, recounting how she and friends saw a mysterious bright light leading them to a statue under the full moon. She ponders the nature of such experiences and the challenge of exploring them scientifically.
Dr. Schlitz expresses interest in the idea that consciousness might survive physical death, referencing intriguing studies by Dr. Gary Schwartz on mediumship. She suggests that if consciousness persists, it could be part of a nonlocal consciousness pool, linking to the broader themes of interconnectedness and the potential of human abilities.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz and Art Bell discuss the nature of consciousness, with Dr. Schlitz suggesting that it is not confined to the brain but may have transcendent, transpersonal qualities. Art asks for a definition of consciousness, and Dr. Schlitz describes it as a process of awareness and a sense of identity, emphasizing that consciousness could be a process that extends beyond physical limitations.
They discuss whether machines could eventually achieve consciousness, with Dr. Schlitz comparing the brain to a radio and consciousness to the waves it receives. She proposes that the brain is tuned to perceive certain frequencies, which exist independently of the brain.
Art shares his own experiences with mass mind experiments conducted on his radio show, where they successfully created rain and influenced weather patterns, sometimes with alarming results. He explains that these experiments made him cautious about further attempts due to the potential unintended consequences.
Dr. Schlitz agrees that the power of collective minds might be more significant than individual efforts. She mentions a planned study on wound healing to explore whether multiple healing interventions have a greater effect than a single one. However, funding remains a challenge, with most support coming from philanthropic sources rather than government grants.
She highlights the importance of philanthropy in advancing this field and mentions their ongoing efforts to secure a grant from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Schlitz remains hopeful that broader recognition and support will emerge to further explore these intriguing areas of human potential.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz discusses various potential experiments she would conduct if given unlimited funding. These would include studies on the nature of reality, the relationship between consciousness and the physical world, and the exploration of subtle energies involved in practices like Reiki, Qigong, and therapeutic touch. Art Bell suggests a mass experiment where millions of people concentrate on closing the ozone hole or addressing environmental issues, to which Dr. Schlitz responds positively, emphasizing the potential benefits of collective positive intentions.
Dr. Schlitz shares a study conducted at the Juilliard School involving students trained in music, dance, and drama. The study used sensory deprivation techniques, such as covering participants’ eyes with half ping pong balls, shining red light, and playing white noise, to induce a dream-like state conducive to ESP experiences. In one experiment, a sender watched a video clip while a participant in another room described the imagery they experienced. Remarkably, participants accurately described specific details from the video, such as a lizard or a hot air balloon, at statistically significant rates.
Art suggests that if individuals can transmit images in this manner, it might be possible to introduce ideas or concepts into the collective consciousness. Dr. Schlitz is intrigued by this idea, noting the potential to explore the conditions that facilitate these abilities and the impact of the creative or dramatic mind in such experiments.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz elaborates on the idea of collective consciousness, suggesting that individuals can contribute to a shared pool of ideas and dreams, potentially leading to widespread changes in perception and reality. She references research with the Ottowa Indians, who believe in dreaming for the collective rather than the individual, and discusses the cultural and sociological impact of creating positive thought forms. While Dr. Schlitz is optimistic about the potential for collective consciousness to effect change, she emphasizes the need for caution and empirical validation before attempting large-scale interventions.
Art Bell and Dr. Schlitz discuss the importance of grounding experiments in empirical data and suggest that small-scale studies are necessary before involving millions of people in such efforts. They consider the potential for training programs to enhance these abilities and the importance of proceeding with both openness and caution.
Art then opens the phone lines for listeners to ask Dr. Schlitz questions. The first caller, from Palm Springs, California, asks about her thoughts on alien abductions. Dr. Schlitz acknowledges that while alien abductions are not her primary field of study, consciousness can encompass a wide range of extraordinary experiences. She mentions the Institute of Noetic Sciences’ interest in the body’s healing response and how different personality states in multiple personality disorder can exhibit different physical symptoms, suggesting the power of the mind over the body. Art adds a follow-up question about the famous “scoop marks” reported by abductees, leading into further discussion.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz discusses the possibility of the mind causing physical marks or bruises, similar to stigmata, through the mind-body-emotion matrix. She emphasizes that the mind is powerful enough to create such physical manifestations if it believes they have occurred.
A caller from San Francisco asks about the limbic system and ESP in animals, referencing Rupert Sheldrake’s work on pets detecting their owners’ arrivals and a project on a “psychic parrot.” Dr. Schlitz explains that experiments are ongoing to correlate brain physiology with consciousness experiences. The discussion shifts to communication clarity when people focus on their speech, highlighting the importance of attention and intention, which could relate to psi abilities.
Art and Dr. Schlitz explore the idea that daydreaming or reverie might have psi elements. They discuss how imagery can change the immune system, showing the power of beliefs. This leads to a conversation about the potential for the mind to make a person sick or heal, noting that anything used for good can also cause harm. Dr. Schlitz mentions that people can stress themselves to illness, and Art adds that individuals can choose to die after a significant emotional loss, supported by the “Black Monday” phenomenon where more heart attacks occur early Monday morning due to stress.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz responds to the idea that the mind can influence physical states, such as through stigmata or hypnosis, highlighting the mind’s powerful capabilities.
A caller from Cedar Rapids, Iowa, asks two questions: the difference between psychic ability and remote viewing, and whether people who are paralyzed might be more in tune with psi phenomena. Dr. Schlitz explains that remote viewing is a methodology within the broader domain of psi phenomena, which includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition. Remote viewing uses specific protocols to study these abilities, while psychic ability encompasses various methods and disciplines.
Regarding psychokinesis, Dr. Schlitz mentions indirect indications in healing experiments but expresses skepticism about some claims, such as those from Russia. She clarifies that remote viewing is often considered a disciplined practice that minimizes the ego’s influence, contrasting with broader psi abilities.
The caller’s second question about paralyzed individuals is intriguing but largely unexplored in formal experiments. Dr. Schlitz encourages more research in this area, suggesting that motor deprivation might lead to compensatory psychic abilities.
Art Bell raises the hypothetical scenario of a person with genuine telekinesis and whether they should submit to scientific testing. Dr. Schlitz acknowledges the potential risks of public exposure but notes that research participation can be conducted discreetly, avoiding sensationalism and ensuring the individual’s privacy.
A caller from Northern California named Steve shares his experience attempting psychokinesis with no results and comments on the limits of psychic abilities, such as not being able to make a fallen tree stand back up. He suggests that gross physical changes are beyond the power of the mind. Dr. Schlitz agrees, noting that while some abilities may be subtle, they can still be significant.
Art Bell and Dr. Schlitz discuss remote healing, with Art inviting listeners to attempt healing his back but preferring not to discuss it on air. They return from a break with more calls.
Another caller, Lois from Temple, Texas, mentions issues accessing the psi tests on Dr. Schlitz’s website. Dr. Schlitz clarifies that users need to register to take the tests, which allows for tracking and potential follow-up with high-performing individuals.
Dr. Schlitz emphasizes that psi phenomena are subtle and need to be integrated into a broader understanding of consciousness that includes physical, psychological, and spiritual realms. Art mentions cloud busting as an example of a subtle phenomenon where concentration seems to affect the weather. They agree that while these phenomena are subtle, they can have significant implications, and the challenge is distinguishing between actual effects and the power of imagination.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz acknowledges that psi phenomena are subtle, often interacting with complex, noisy systems like human physiology. While she doesn’t rule out more dramatic abilities, she emphasizes the need for empirical data and careful methodology.
Art Bell asks if there are undisclosed psi experiments in private labs, to which Dr. Schlitz responds that most work is known within the small parapsychology community. If they discovered a super-psychic, they would first ensure the validity of their abilities and handle the situation with sensitivity and respect, likely avoiding public announcements unless the individual desired it.
A caller from San Diego, Ricardo, expresses concerns about the ethical implications of psi abilities, such as the potential for harm. Dr. Schlitz believes that true understanding of these energies would come with a recognition of the eternal nature of consciousness, reducing the likelihood of harm. She emphasizes the importance of developing wisdom alongside intellectual and technological advancements, suggesting that intelligence should include moral and qualitative aspects.
Art questions whether proficiency in psi abilities guarantees moral purity. Dr. Schlitz notes that while there’s no automatic guarantee, the development of such abilities should ideally be accompanied by moral and ethical training to ensure they are used wisely and beneficially.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz continues the conversation by acknowledging the inherent duality of light and dark in all things, drawing a parallel to the Human Genome Project and its mixed potential for good and harm. She emphasizes the importance of finding ways to heal and block harmful uses of psi abilities to advance the field responsibly.
She notes the small scale of parapsychology research compared to mainstream psychology, highlighting the need for more resources and researchers. A caller shares personal stories about her family using psi abilities to manifest desired outcomes, such as a rocking horse, and conducting telepathy experiments with her children. These stories illustrate the natural, often unnoticed occurrence of psi phenomena in everyday life.
Dr. Schlitz appreciates these anecdotes, pointing out the importance of recognizing and cultivating such abilities. She discusses the idea that certain mental capacities might have evolved for survival in early human societies and that modern culture may have lost some of these abilities. The conversation touches on the potential for everyone to develop unconscious foreknowledge and other psi abilities as we become more open to discussing and exploring them.
Dr. Marilyn Schlitz emphasizes the importance of cultivating inner wisdom and the ability to listen to ourselves. A caller from San Diego asks for advice but loses connection. Another caller, Greg, describes his experiences of predicting song endings and seemingly reading minds. He shares a story about thinking something bad should happen to a bully, and then a rock falls on the bully’s head, making him nicer afterward. Greg feels guilty, questioning whether his thoughts caused the event.
Dr. Schlitz addresses the complexities of such experiences, suggesting that it might have been a form of precognition rather than causation. She explains that while it could be mind over matter, it’s also possible that Greg perceived the event before it happened, rather than causing it directly.
As the show concludes, Art Bell thanks Dr. Schlitz for her participation and mentions the large number of people visiting her website to take the psi tests. He expresses interest in the results and encourages listeners to join the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Art notes that due to his back issues, he will be shortening the program for the next few nights.