The season finale of BoA : Audio, Season Two promises to be a landmark episode, as we welcome a true icon in the world of esoterica, the venerable Brad Steiger. In this lengthy and in-depth conversation, we'll be discussing what it was like for Brad to break into esoteric studies, over 50 years ago, at the young age of twenty years old. We talk about the lessons he's learned from all these years studying the paranormal, the evolution of his journey as a researcher, the explosion of esoterica from niche market to veritable cottage industry, his thoughts on the lack of cohesion in esoterica, the role of the media in covering the unknown, the hopefulness of the 1960's, the problem with today's newcomers to esoterica, and tons and tons more. It's truly the culmination of many of the big picture themes from Season Two, posed to a bonafide first ballot esoteric Hall of Famer, Brad Steiger.
Full Preview : In leui of the usual "bio / background" opening question, we begin this interview by finding out the event or series of events that initially sparked Brad's interest in the esoteric. We talk about his early interest in the esoteric and what it was like breaking into the field at 20 in 1956. He talks about his grandmother's frightening advice on his interest in the esoteric, his near death experience at 11, and the stunning, ephemeral, revelation he received and the reaction upon his return from near-death. He find out about some of Brad's early influences and the people who helped paved the road for his entry to esoterica.
We find out if Brad's early entry into esoterica was the exception to the rule or if it was more acceptable for young people to have an interest in the esoteric in the '50's. We get some advice from Brad for newcomers to esoterica and expresses his disappointment with some aspects of today's esoteric newcomers. He shares some of the lessons he learned from his early days of esoterica and his thoughts on what the ghost phenomenon may be all about.
We look at the evolution of Brad's work, through the various genres of the esoteric, and what shaped that evolution, leading him to different areas of research. He tells us how his UFO research started, the "beginner's luck" he had with regards to his book "Strangers from the Sky", and his how his initial reaction to the UFO phenomenon changed shortly after he'd started looking into it.
The next topic of discussion is the lack of cohesion in esoterica. We find out if it has was that way when Brad first got into studying the paranormal, which genre has the worst lack of cohesion, which fields are better for working together, and which field essentially tried to force him out of studying the genre. We discuss how and if this lack of cohesion can be changed.
We discuss the paradox of today's esoterica, in that it is hugely popular, but still marginalized by the mainstream. Brad shares an amazing recounting of what it was like when he first started doing radio interviews with skeptical hosts. We find out if the "giggle factor" existed all along, if if was better or worse back in Brad's early years in esoterica, and if we can ever overcome it. We also discuss the paradoxical problem of the esoteric desperately needing quality control over the researchers, without seeming to be censors.
Brad reflects on the hopefulness of the 1960's, the strange transition during that period that saw a newfound interest in the esoteric, his interractions with the "movers and shakers" of the time, like Timothy Leary and Ken Kesey, and Brad tells us what consistent study of the esoteric requires. We find out if Brad is frustrated with the overall lack of answers, so far, in esoterica and how he deals with that frustration factor.
This leads to a discussion on the role of the media in esoterica and if Brad is surprised by the inactivy and failure of the media to properly cover the esoteric and help to get to some answers. We get Brad's thoughts on conspiracy in general and how pervasive he thinks conspriracy runs. We also get Brad's take on the science v. politics debate within Ufology. We find out what Brad thinks the government knows about UFOs.
Next, Brad answers a question from Tina Sena regarding whether or not Brad ever feels unstimulated by the esoteric and how he cultivates interest in the genre. He then answers a question from Regan Lee regarding Brad's thoughts on paranormal Bigfoot. Brad speculates on the future and whether the human race is heading towards a crescendo.
Wrapping it all up, we find out what's next for Brad Steiger, including a new book coming this Fall, "Real Angels, Guiding Spirits, and Benevolent Beings", and the re-issue of his classic book "Shadow World" from Anomalist Books.
Brad Steiger Bio
Brad Steiger is the author/coauthor of 162 books with over 17 million copies in print.
Steiger's first published articles on the unexplained appeared in 1956, and he has now written more than 2,000 articles with paranormal themes. From 1970-'73, his weekly newspaper column, The Strange World of Brad Steiger, was carried domestically in over 80 newspapers and overseas from Bombay to Tokyo.
He was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on February 19,1936. He is married to Sherry Hansen Steiger, a licensed and ordained minister, herself the author or coauthor of over 22 books. He has two sons, three daughters, and six grandchildren.
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