By Tim Binnall
Dragons and dinosaurs, alien abductions, and Elvis' connections to the occult were among the fascinating topics explored this past week on Coast to Coast AM. Meanwhile, at the C2C website, we told you about the world's largest gathering of Smurfs, the recovery of a Jim Morrison bust stolen nearly 40 years ago, and a fresh take on the infamous Dyatlov Pass incident. Check out our round-up of highlights from the past week ... In Coast You Missed It.
Beyond being the King of Rock and Roll, could Elvis Presley also have been something of a shaman? This intriguing question was explored on Sunday night's program by author Miguel Conner, who argued that the iconic musician possessed supernatural gifts and metaphysical abilities. He shared several instances wherein Elvis was credited with healing friends and family with his touch, including an intriguing account from Priscilla Presley. Additionally, he recounted wild claims that Elvis could manipulate the weather. Conner also discussed the musician's interest in UFOs, including sightings he experienced at Graceland, as well as an eerie blue light that allegedly appeared when he was born.
The infamous Dyatlov Pass incident was back in the news this past week after a Russian professor offered a fresh take on the theory that the mysterious 1959 tragedy that took the lives of nine hikers in the Ural Mountains was the result of a rocket mishap. Dr. Petr Bartolomey, who was friends with the group leader and nearly participated in the doomed excursion himself, argued that the preserved footprints of the hikers across vast swaths of snow could only have been possible as a result of nitrogen-acid exposure. Such material, he posited, likely rained down upon the scene from a Russian rocket that malfunctioned shortly after launching a short distance away from the site where the bodies were later found.
While they may seem similar, dinosaurs and dragons are distinctly different creatures. On Thursday night's program, theologist and professor of zoology, Phillip Senter debunked the misconception he attributed to biblical scholars connecting the two, which subsequently warped scientific thinking and, in turn, pop culture. He stressed that the idea that dragons derived from human interaction with dinosaurs is impossible since the latter creatures went extinct 66 million years before humans entered the proverbial picture. Further separating the two creatures, he noted that dinosaurs were real animals that once inhabited the planet while dinosaurs are myths that emerged from depictions of snakes in ancient artwork.
After mysteriously vanishing from his grave in France nearly 40 years ago, a sizeable bust depicting Doors singer Jim Morrison reappeared this past week when police in Paris revealed that they had inadvertently recovered the stolen piece. Showcasing the find on social media, authorities explained that their Financial and Anti-Corruption Brigade stumbled upon the sculpture during an investigation into an alleged fraud case. While the whereabouts of the bust may have been resolved, a myriad of questions surrounding the lost piece remain, such as who stole it in the first place and where it has been for the last four decades.
The alien abduction phenomenon was revisited on Saturday night's program as UFO researcher Philip Kinsella offered insights from his experience that occurred in 1989. He recalled being taken through the walls and doors of his home, which led him to conclude that these incidents are somehow both physical and possibly interdimensional. Kinsella observed that, like so many others, the experience had a profound impact on his life, causing him to reevaluate the nature of the universe. He also criticized how the media portrays alien abductions, lamenting they tend to trivialize the life-altering phenomenon. During his appearance, Kinsella also speculated about what the proverbial alien agenda might be and the government's role in keeping it a secret from the public.
The weirdest story of the week came by way of France where a small town finally succeeded in their years-long quest to set the world record for largest gathering of people dressed as Smurfs. After missing out on the title due to a technicality in 2020 and failing to meet the mark due to torrential rain in 2023, the third time was the charm for the community of Landerneau. With the help of a whopping 180 volunteers enlisted to wrangle the revelers, organizers of the effort counted a staggering 3,076 Smurfs in attendance at the event. The total smashed the previous record of 2,762 set by a German town six years ago.
Coast Insiders can check out all this week's shows as well as the last seven years of C2C programs in our enormous archive. Not a Coast Insider yet? Sign up today.