Exciting times for the Pursuit of the Paranormal Podcast as we welcome our first guest podcast to the network!

Steve Yarwood IS The Unconventional Ufologist, and now, after 40 years of researching and investigating the UFO topic, he is now launching his brand new podcast going deep into various aspects of the broad UAP spectrum.

Hear his origin story in his own words.

A captivating exploration of personal origins unveils the unlikely journey of a young boy from Moston, North Manchester, whose life was irrevocably altered by a serendipitous discovery. The narrative transports us to a time when the speaker, at the tender age of six, stumbled upon a hidden trove of UFO magazines nestled within a utility cupboard. This clandestine encounter, initially fraught with fear, particularly after glimpsing the ominous Flatwoods monster, swiftly transformed into an insatiable curiosity about the cosmos and the mysteries it harbors. The juxtaposition of childhood innocence and the eerie allure of the unknown is meticulously woven throughout the discourse, underscoring the profound impact of a singular moment in shaping one's destiny.

As the speaker recounts his evolution from terrified child to inquisitive ufologist, we are drawn into a world of exploration that transcends mere fascination. The narrative intricately details the myriad experiences that followed this pivotal discovery: attending conferences, engaging with fellow enthusiasts, and conducting personal investigations into the realm of extraterrestrial phenomena. Each anecdote is steeped in a sense of wonder and determination, illustrating not only the challenges encountered along the way but also the profound connections forged with diverse individuals who share a common quest for understanding.

In its essence, the episode serves as both a memoir and a broader reflection on the nature of curiosity itself. It posits that the drive to seek answers to life's most enigmatic questions is an intrinsic human trait that can lead to transformative experiences. The speaker's journey is a testament to the notion that even in a universe brimming with uncertainty, the pursuit of knowledge is a noble endeavor—one that compels us to look beyond the ordinary and aspire towards the extraordinary. Thus, listeners are encouraged to embrace their own curiosities and remain vigilant for the unexpected wonders that life may present.

It's been asked many times and now the story can be told of the secret origin of the unconventional ufologist.

In the grand bewildering scheme of the universe, where the improbable is commonplace and the commonplace is often downright suspicious, there exists a peculiar chapter in the life of one individual.

Me.

A chapter that began in a small under the stairs cupboard that involved a terrifying artist's impression of a monster, which led to a lifelong obsession with the unknown.

This is the story of our six year old boy from Moston, North Manchester, way up north of England, stumbled upon a world of flying saucers, silent black helicopters and things that go bump in the night.

And all thanks to a stash of UFO magazines hidden in a cubbyhole.

My tale begins in a moddy's two up, two down terraced house in Moston, a place where the walls were thin, the neighbours were nosy, and the living room contained a small utility cubbyhole and that would become the unlikely gateway to the cosmos.

This cubby, always a place of mystery and intrigue, housing me dad's tools, my mum's Hoover and as it turned out, a treasure trove of UFO magazines from the United States.

My dad was a long distance lorry driver for D.C. thompson, the company behind beloved British comics like the Dandy and the Beano.

And each week he would bring home stacks of these comics for me and my brother.

But while my brother was content with the antics of Desperate Dan and Dennis the Menace, I was an awkward sod who wanted Batman and Superman.

Little did I know that my dad's toolbox held something more intriguing than the adventures of the Caped Crusader and the man of Steel.

One fateful day, my dad asked me to fetch his hammer from the toolbox in the cubbyhole.

And as I rummaged through that toolbox, I stumbled upon a stack of magazines that would change my life forever.

These were not the usual DIY mags or car maintenance magazines that one might expect to find in a toolbox.

Nor were they other certain types of magazines that may have been squirrelled away from prying eyes.

No, these were UFO magazines filled with pictures of dish shaped objects, eyewitness accounts and stories of encounters with beings from other worlds.

I was captivated by the way I did eventually find those other magazines.

My mum, ever the voice of reason, had caught me reading one of these mags.

Not those mags, but the UFO mags at the table, and promptly declared that I was far too young to be looking at such rubbish.

Rubbish, pah.

To my six year Old mind.

These magazines were a portal to a world of wonder and mystery.

And so, like the world's greatest detective, or so I thought, I began sneaking into the cubbyhole whenever my parents were engrossed in the flickering glow of the black and white television, watching the likes of Coronation street and Danger Man.

There was me, reading by the faint light that seeped through the gap in the door.

It was during one of these clandestine reading sessions that I encountered something that would scare me senseless.

The image showed Kathleen May, a woman from Flatwoods, West Virginia, standing in a house next to an artist's impression of the Flatwoods monster.

Now, at six years old, I had no idea what an artist impression was.

To me, it looked like a monster.

A real live monster.

And it was standing in Kathleen May's house.

The creature was tall, with a spade shaped head, glowing eyes, and a body that seemed to defy all known laws of biology.

It was, in short, the stuff of nightmares.

I remember staring at that picture, my heart pounding, my breath coming in sharp panic gasps.

And then, like any other self respected 6 year old who just encountered a monster, I legged it out of the cubbyhole and into the living room, where my parents were blissfully unaware of the cosmic terror that had just unfolded in their humdrum tiny cupboard.

An argument ensued between me, mum and dad over the discovery of the magazine that I'd left open in my haste to hide under the bed sheets.

My dad was a bit pissed off that mum had sold him off and said he would make sure I wouldn't be able to see them again.

But my mum, perhaps sensing the spark of curiosity that had been ignited in me, was a little bit more lenient in suggesting that I should be introduced to these magazines when I was just a little bit older.

In the end, the magazines were moved to a new hiding place under the wardrobe, a location that, as it turned out, was not nearly as secure as my parents had hoped.

That initial encounter with the Flatwoods monster left me terrified, but it also sparked something deep within me.

A curiosity, a sense of wonder and a desire to understand the unknown.

Over time, the fear gave way to fascination and I found myself drawn to the world of UFOs, extraterrestrials.

And as I grew older, my interest in the subject only deepened.

I began to seek out more information, devouring books, articles and documentaries on UFOs and related phenomena.

I joined UFO groups, attended conferences, and even started conducting my own investigations.

And along the way, I met amazing people, witnesses, experiencers, abductees and investigators from all walks of life.

Each encounter added a new piece to the puzzle, a new thread in that tapestry of the unknown.

My journey into the world of ufology has been anything but straightforward.

It's been filled with frustrations, challenges, and moments of sheer bewilderment.

I've seen strange lights in the sky, structured craft that defied explanation, and flying triangles that moved in ways no human made aircraft should be able to do.

I've encountered silent black helicopters that seem to appear out of nowhere.

And I've listened to witness statements that have chilled me to the core.

To paraphrase Winston Zedemore from Ghostbusters, I've seen shit that'd turn your hair white.

And yet still, despite the frustrations and the challenges, I've loved every step of the way.

There's something uniquely thrilling about delving into the unknown, about seeking answers to questions that may never be fully answered.

It was a reminder of where it all began, of the cupboard, the Flatwoods monster, and the spark of curiosity that set me on this path.

Holding that magazine in my hands, I felt a sense of closure, a connection to the six year old boy who had first glimpsed the mysteries of the cosmos through the pages of a forbidden magazine.

I suppose that in the grand scheme of things, my story is a reminder that the universe is a strange, mysterious and sometimes dangerous place, full of wonders and terrors that defy explanation.

It's a story about curiosity, about the desire to understand the unknown, and about the enduring power of a single moment that can change a person's life.

So the next time you find yourself rummaging through a cupboard or a toolbox, take a moment to consider what you might find.

Because in a universe as vast and unpredictable as ours, you never know what you might stumble upon.

The next great cosmic mystery, or at the very least, something that plants a seed of curiosity within your mind.

As for me, I'm going to keep searching, keep investigating, and keep wondering.

Because the truth is definitely out there, somewhere, somewhen.

And I intend to keep being part of this great ufology movement to try and find it.

And it's all thanks to a cupboard, a magazine, and a six year old boy who dared to look beyond the stars.

Thanks for listening.