About this episode
Peter Davenport , director of the National UFO Reporting Center and former biotech company president, discusses the current state of UFO investigation and his frustrations with the field's progress after decades of collecting witness reports. With over 27,000 cases documented on his website and 200,000 daily visitors, Davenport questions whether endless report collection truly advances our understanding of the phenomenon. He shares his journey from childhood witness to serious investigator, describing his first sighting over St. Louis Municipal Airport in 1954 and subsequent encounters throughout his life. The conversation explores systemic issues preventing breakthrough discoveries, including potential government suppression, media disinterest, and the challenge of moving beyond anecdotal evidence. Davenport discusses alleged connections between UFO sightings and unusual military activities, referencing his reports of UFO presence during aircraft intercepts in 1998. He expresses concern about the intellectual stagnation within ufology and advocates for new approaches to achieve scientific recognition. The discussion touches on the relationship between UFO phenomena and religious beliefs, examining how various faith traditions might respond to confirmed extraterrestrial contact. Despite his growing weariness with report-taking, Davenport remains committed to documenting these experiences while seeking more productive paths toward understanding.