If humans were to encounter extraterrestrial life, how would we begin to understand it?

In this episode of Beyond the Human, we explore xenoanthropology—a theoretical extension of anthropology concerned with understanding non-human intelligences, their social systems, and their possible cultures. Rather than asking whether extraterrestrial life exists, we ask what it might be like if it does—and how humans could attempt to learn about it.

Anthropology teaches us that even among humans, ideas about communication, embodiment, medicine, gender, privacy, and social organization vary widely. Xenoanthropology pushes this insight further, asking how radically different biology, environments, and evolutionary histories might shape extraterrestrial societies in ways that challenge human expectations.

As part of this exploration, we examine contact and abductee narratives as accounts of encounters that describe recurring types of non-human beings—such as Greys, insectoids, reptilians, and so-called Nordics. These narratives are treated not simply as symbolism, but as descriptive claims that offer examples of what extraterrestrial cultures, hierarchies, technologies, and modes of interaction might look like, if such encounters are occurring. Patterns within these accounts—such as differentiated roles, apparent social stratification, telepathic communication, or collective intelligence—are used to think through how non-human societies could plausibly be organized.

Finally, we confront the ethical stakes of extraterrestrial ethnography. Anthropology’s history—including its entanglement with colonialism and military power—raises serious questions about who would study whom, for what purpose, and with what consequences. Xenoanthropology forces us to reckon with human assumptions: that we would recognize extraterrestrial intelligence, survive contact, be worthy of attention, or even be capable of understanding what we encounter.

Rather than offering answers, this episode uses xenoanthropology to open a space for more careful, less human-centered thinking about extraterrestrial life—and about what our assumptions reveal about ourselves.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠.

Topics discussed in this episode:

(3:06) - What is xenoanthropology?

(26:14) - Would we be able to understand ETs?

(34:14) - What alien cultures might exist?

(1:05:52) - What are the ethics of extraterrestrial ethnography?

(1:16:04) - What do we assume about extraterrestrial life?

Resources for additional research:

Can Anthropologists Propel Astronauts Toward Mars?

How to Host an Extraterrestrial

Extraterrestrial Species Almanac

David Michael Jacobs Wesbite

John Mack Institute

Human Terrain: War Becomes Academic

Pluribus

Campfire ambience: “Campfire at night soundscape (louder fire, quieter animals)” by SilverIllusionist, via Freesound (CC BY 4.0).

Music: “Backwoods BBQ” by Chris Haugen, via the YouTube Audio Library.

Today on Headlines from the Beyond:

The world of the unexplained loses one of its most influential figures. We remember the life and legacy of Erich von Däniken, the author who popularized ancient astronaut theory and challenged generations of readers to rethink humanity’s past. From Chariots of the Gods? to decades of public debate, we look at why his work mattered—regardless of where you stand on his conclusions.

Then: A CIA response to a recent FOIA request about the interstellar object 3I/ATLAS raises new questions. Why would the possible existence of records about a supposedly natural comet be classified? We break down the “neither confirm nor deny” response, Avi Loeb’s interpretation, and what this might suggest about government concern over rare “black swan” events as 3I/ATLAS continues its journey through the solar system.

Finally: Pennsylvania finds itself at the center of two disturbing cases involving the illegal collection of human remains. From a multi-state body parts trafficking network to the shocking discovery of nearly 100 sets of human bones taken from a historic cemetery, we examine what investigators know so far—and what remains deeply unclear.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

Official (German) Erich von Däniken obituary

Jason Martell’s von Däniken memorial post

Black Vault CIA FOIA Response Tweet

Avi Loeb’s Medium post - If 3I/ATLAS is a Comet, Why Would the CIA “Neither Deny, Nor Confirm” the Existence of Records on It?

PA man who sold stolen human remains appeals 6-year sentence

Dealers of the Dead documentary

100 skulls and mummified body parts found in a Pennsylvania grave robbery case, police say

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).

Today on Headlines from the Beyond:

Big news from Capitol Hill and beyond: the U.S. federal government has launched a probe into Cold War-era biological research involving ticks and tick-borne diseases. Signed into law as part of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act, the amendment directs the Government Accountability Office to review Department of Defense projects from 1945–1972 to determine whether ticks were ever studied or weaponized, whether research ventured outside military facilities, and whether relevant documents were destroyed—raising questions for people impacted by Lyme disease and Morgellons alike.

Then: A group of Peruvian shamans gathered at the end of last year to make predictions for 2026. Some were ambitious—calling for a change of leadership in Venezuela and an end to the war in Ukraine—and while not all have come to pass, a few early forecasts are already prompting conversation about cultural prophecy, indigenous worldviews, and how traditional spiritual authorities engage with global events.

Finally: Newly unsealed British Ministry of Defence files reveal that in the 1990s the UK military tasked intelligence officers with investigating unidentified aerial phenomena and actively considering whether to acquire unidentified technology reported in sightings. The files show that reports of unusual craft, including cases like the Rendlesham Forest incident, were taken seriously enough to prompt strategic discussion about defense implications—offering a fresh archival angle on government interest in UAPs and the long path toward disclosure.

And as a New Year's bonus, an update on our ongoing Anomalies research project.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

Tick Weaponization to be Investigated

Peru shamans foretell illness for Trump, Maduro's exile in 2026

MoD ordered officers to find UFO technology, secret files reveal

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).

In Episode 6 of Beyond the Human, we trace the long and strange history of winged humanoids—from Paleolithic cave art and ancient mythologies to modern cryptid encounters—through the lens of the most famous example of all: Mothman.

Beginning with prehistoric depictions of winged human figures across Europe, Asia, and North America, this episode explores how beings resembling Mothman appear repeatedly in folklore, religion, and myth—from Assyrian winged genies and Greek harpies to Abrahamic angels.

We then turn to the 1966–1967 sightings in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, examining eyewitness accounts, the TNT Area encounters, and the sudden end of sightings following the tragic collapse of the Silver Bridge. Drawing on the work of journalist and ufologist John Keel, we explore how Mothman became entangled with UFO encounters, Men in Black reports, and what Keel termed high strangeness.

The episode also looks beyond Point Pleasant to lesser-known cases like the Van Meter Visitor, post-disaster sightings at Chernobyl and Fukushima, and contemporary reports around Chicago and Lake Michigan. Finally, we examine competing explanations—from misidentification and altered states of consciousness to cryptids and Keel’s ultraterrestrial hypothesis—asking what these recurring winged humanoid encounters might reveal about perception, mythology, and the limits of human understanding.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠.

Topics discussed in this episode:

(1:31) - Pre/History of Winged Humanoids

(13:53) - The Mothman of Point Pleasant

(46:19) - The Van Meter Visitor

(58:54) - How do we explain this?

Resources for additional research:

Wayland, Tobias. “A Timeline of the Lake Michigan Mothman Sightings So Far.” The Singular Fortean Society. 2017.

Beyond the Human. “Cryptid Compendium: Mothman.” 2025.

Campfire ambience: “Campfire at night soundscape (louder fire, quieter animals)” by SilverIllusionist, via Freesound (CC BY 4.0).

Music: “Backwoods BBQ” by Chris Haugen, via the YouTube Audio Library.

Today on Headlines from the Beyond:

Interstellar object 3I/ATLAS made its closest approach to Earth last week—so what did we actually learn from its visit, and what happens next? We break down the latest observations, including new imagery, the still-prominent anti-tail, and why the object’s behavior continues to raise questions while remaining more likely natural than artificial. We also discuss Avi Loeb’s recent comments, the public reaction to scientific uncertainty, and what 3I/ATLAS reveals about how both scientists and the public engage with anomalies. From its billion-year journey through the Milky Way to its upcoming close pass by Jupiter, we explore why this interstellar visitor matters—even if it ultimately ignores us completely.

Then: A major development at one of America’s most infamous haunted locations. Plans to restrict a proposed data center at the Pennhurst State School and Hospital site have been shelved, allowing the project to move forward to a conditional use hearing. We examine what this means for Pennhurst’s future as a historic site, a paranormal tourism destination, and a cultural landmark—alongside ongoing public opposition, petitions, and the site’s continued role in haunted attractions and paranormal events.

Finally: The Pentagon has reopened a FOIA search related to the mysterious “Yankee Blue” memo, a document tied to allegations of a U.S. Air Force UFO disinformation and hazing program. We unpack what Yankee Blue was alleged to be, why the Department of Defense reportedly moved to end the practice, and what the renewed FOIA effort could reveal about how UFO narratives have been managed within the military.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes

The Humans by Matt Haig

East Vincent Township shelves proposed data center ordinance after community concerns

Protect Pennhurst from Data Center Development Petition

Pentagon Reopens Search for Alleged “Yankee Blue” Memo After Initial Denial

The Pentagon Disinformation That Fueled America’s UFO Mythology

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).

Today on Headlines from the Beyond:

As interstellar object 3I/ATLAS makes its closest approach to Earth, we break down the latest updates—and ask what might happen if it turned out to be more than a comet. From new images showing unusual jets and a pronounced anti-tail to the mysterious loss of contact with NASA’s MAVEN spacecraft during its Mars flyby, we explore what scientists know so far and what remains unexplained. Then we turn to the bigger question: how would humanity actually react if 3I/ATLAS were confirmed as extraterrestrial intelligence? Drawing on past anomalies, contactee narratives, anthropology, and science fiction, we consider everything from mass hysteria and economic upheaval to surprisingly muted responses where life simply goes on.

Then: The teaser trailer for Steven Spielberg’s upcoming film Disclosure Day dropped this week, igniting speculation and debate. With little revealed about the plot but a star-studded cast and heavy disclosure themes, we ask whether Hollywood is riding the current wave of extraterrestrial anxiety—and whether Disclosure Day could shape public discourse the way E.T. and Close Encounters of the Third Kind once did.

Finally: New reporting suggests that requests for exorcisms are on the rise across the United States. Drawing on recent CNN coverage and responses from Catholic dioceses nationwide, we examine what’s driving the increase, what counts as possession versus distress, and what this trend may reveal about fear, belief, and uncertainty in an age of disclosure.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

UFO Religions Explained - Religion for Breakfast

Would Alien “First Contact” Destroy Religion - Religion for Breakfast

Cooper, Keith “New SETI Protocols: How Will Scientists Announce the Discovery of Alien Life?” Supercluster, 2025

Zasky, Jason “If ET Calls, Who Answers” Failure Magazine, 2012

Magee, Tamlin “The Missing PLan for Alien First Contact” BBC, 2022

Carter, Justin “The Next Steven Spielberg Movie Has a Poster to Disclose.” Gizmodo, 2025.

Disclosure Day teaser trailer

CNN Discovers Exorcism Inquiries are on the Rise

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).

Today on Headlines from the Beyond:

Avi Loeb’s search for extraterrestrial intelligence doesn’t stop with 3I/ATLAS. We examine how other astrophysicists and astrobiologists view the search for life beyond Earth, from mainstream approaches focused on biosignatures to ongoing debates over technosignatures, interstellar objects, and what anomalies like ’Oumuamua and 3I/ATLAS really mean. Along the way, we break down key concepts like X-ray emissions from comets, the Drake Equation, the Fermi Paradox, and why Loeb insists that unexplained data deserves serious scientific attention.

Then: A mysterious fire erupts at Hangar 84 at the Roswell Air Center. The hangar has long been rumored to house debris and bodies recovered from the 1947 Roswell crash, and while the cause of the blaze remains unknown, its location has reignited speculation about what—if anything—may have been destroyed.

Finally: We share some major news of our own. Headlines from the Beyond is officially under contract with Routledge, one of the world’s leading academic publishers, to publish a forthcoming book on Morgellons disease and medical dismissal slated for release in spring 2027.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠⁠Substack⁠⁠.

Show Notes:

Mysterious fire erupts at UFO crash-linked ‘Hanger 84’ in Roswell where conspiracy claims ‘alien bodies were stashed’

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).

Today on Headlines from the Beyond:

Avi Loeb’s search for extraterrestrial intelligence doesn’t stop with 3I/ATLAS. We look at the broader scientific philosophy behind his work—why he argues we must treat anomalies seriously, and what that means for the study of interstellar visitors.

Then: The Conjuring House saga gets even stranger. Between a YouTuber purchasing the property’s bank note, Jason Hawes’ ongoing fundraising efforts, and a newly filed lawsuit alleging an illegal sale, the story around one of America’s most famous haunted homes has become its own paranormal drama.

Finally: SUNY Albany launches ProjectX, a major new academic initiative dedicated to rigorous scientific research on UFOs and UAPs—led by physicist Dr. Kevin Knuth and backed by a fresh endowment.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on ⁠Instagram⁠ and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on ⁠Substack⁠.

Show Notes:

TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd95LBhuSOk

Galileo Project:

https://galileo.hsites.harvard.edu/

On the Possibility of an Artificial Origin for Oumuamua:

https://lweb.cfa.harvard.edu/~loeb/Loeb_Astrobiology.pdf

Extraterrestrial:

https://www.harpercollins.com/products/extraterrestrial-avi-loeb?variant=39935330418722

IM1 Spherules from the Pacific Ocean:

https://avi-loeb.medium.com/the-im1-spherules-from-the-pacific-ocean-have-extrasolar-composition-f025cb03dec6

UAlbany ProjectX: https://thedebrief.org/ualbany-project-x-how-a-team-of-new-york-physicists-is-launching-a-cutting-edge-investigation-into-aerial-mysteries/

Lawsuit filed against Jason Hawes is the latest development in the sale of The Conjuring House: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/suit-filed-over-sale-conjuring-172610048.html

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).