12: Mark O'Connell – The Close Encounters Man and Writing for Star Trek

In this episode, Beth and Mark discuss:

• What MUFON is and Mark's years as a "certified" field investigator for MUFON.
• Dr. J. Allen Hynek and Mark's book The Close Encounters Man.
• The 1966 Michigan Swamp Gas Case, how it affected Hynek, the UFO community, and Hynek's career.
• Close encounters of the first, second, and third kind.
• IGY, the global tracking network, and Sputnik.

Key Takeaways:

• Most people report their sightings because they want to know what it was and if anybody else has ever seen the same thing to connect with them.
• There was no one moment where Dr. Hynek changed his mind about UFOs.
• A good scientist just wants to find out more.
• "Ridicule is not part of the scientific method, and the American public should not be taught that it is." -Dr. J. Allen Hynek.

The great thing about writing for Star Trek, is Star Trek is forever. — Mark O'Connell

Connect with Mark O'Connell:

Website: HighStrangenessUFO.com

Book: The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs

Blog: High Strangeness

Book Recommendation: The UFO Experience: A Scientific Inquiry by J. Allen Hynek

About Beth Mund:

Beth's love for space started as a Space Camp attendee at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, where she would return years later as an instructor. After grad school, Beth worked as a journalist, a technical writer for Motorola, and then went on to serve as a Public Affairs Officer for the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. In addition, Beth worked to support the International Space Station program as a communication specialist. In Chicago, Beth worked as a corporate communication advisor to Fortune 50 companies including Allstate and United Airlines. She's worked as a college instructor, a political advisor, and public relations manager for her hometown city. Beth recently founded Stellar Communications, LLC and travels the country as a keynote speaker- inspiring audiences with her lessons learned from our nation's space program. She's the host of the Casual Space Podcast, and a self-proclaimed space geek.

Connect with Beth Mund:

Email: bethisbeth@me.com & askbeth@casualspacepodcast.com

Website: bethmund.com

Facebook: @BethMund

Show notes by show producer/podcastologist: Chelsea Taylor-Sturkie