In the first half, author and podcaster Mike Browne discussed his work compiling stories of the strange, spooky, and supernatural, as well as true crime accounts. He recounted his journey into true crime, sparked by a terrifying childhood incident where he narrowly escaped an abduction. This experience, coupled with the notorious case of Canadian serial killer Clifford Olson, ignited his fascination with the darker aspects of humanity. Browne delved into the mysterious disappearance of Granger Taylor, who left a note claiming he was embarking on a 42-month interstellar voyage aboard an alien ship. "He left behind all his possessions... that was the last anybody heard from him," Browne recalled.
He described the fascinating "Philip Experiment," where a parapsychology group in Toronto created a spirit from their collective imagination, demonstrating how belief can influence paranormal phenomena. Browne, who hosts two different podcasts, "Dark Poutine" (on Canadian crime) and "Supernatural Circumstances," shared the eerie tale of Jerome, a legless man found on the shores of Nova Scotia in 1863. The man spoke an unrecognizable language, and lived in obscurity for nearly 40 years after being rescued. Another case from the 1800s, known as the Van Meter Visitor, concerned a strange winged creature seen by multiple witnesses in Iowa over successive nights. The witnesses, who followed the flying entity to an abandoned mine, said it emitted a mysterious light from a horn on its head.
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In the latter half, director Adam Nimoy reflected on his complex relationship with his father, the late Leonard Nimoy, best known for his iconic role Spock in "Star Trek." Adam described his father as a very versatile actor, Renaissance man, and true artist. And yet, he had a challenging upbringing as the son of Ukrainian immigrants. "My dad was hustling to earn money at a very young age... he had to grow up pretty fast," he shared. Their relationship was often strained, Adam said, but in later years, their bond improved significantly, particularly through their mutual involvement in recovery programs. "We finally found tools that we could use to try to be loving and accepting of one another," Adam noted. Reflecting on Leonard's career, Adam expressed pride in his father's achievements in addition to "Star Trek," including work in "Mission Impossible" and as host of "In Search of...," which explored mysterious phenomena and unsolved mysteries.
The conversation touched on the enduring legacy of Star Trek, which Adam believes is due to its optimistic vision of the future, powerful visuals and storytelling, and great cast. He also reflected on the character Spock, known worldwide: "He really represents the outsider," which resonates with many fans, including himself. The original Star Trek only ran for three seasons in the 1960s, and it wasn't until the Star Trek conventions in the 1970s that Leonard started to realize that the show had become a phenomenon. Beyond acting, Leonard Nimoy had a wide range of interests including flying a private plane, sailing, horticulture, and fine art photography. In addition to his new memoir, "The Most Human," Adam Nimoy directed a documentary about his father in 2016, For the Love of Spock (Tubi).
News segment guest: Jeff Nelken