George Noory celebrated the start of his 23rd year hosting Coast to Coast AM, welcoming John Kachuba to discuss his research into shapeshifters — people who can change themselves into another person, animal, or inanimate object. Kachuba differentiated between voluntary and involuntary transformations, with the former being controlled by the individual, as seen in werewolf legends, and the latter often occurring in myths where gods transform mortals against their will. He highlighted the cultural ubiquity of shapeshifting, tracing its origins to ancient cave paintings and folklore worldwide, where it ranges from myth to accounts of purportedly real transformations.
Kachuba elaborated on the shamanistic practices of shapeshifting, particularly in indigenous cultures like the Kalahari Bushmen. These rituals involve trance states induced by dance, percussion, or hallucinogens, enabling shamans to embody animals, seeing through their eyes and behaving as the creatures they represent. Such transformations, he explained, are integral to spiritual practices and storytelling across many traditions, blurring the line between physical and metaphysical changes. He introduced the concept of "internal" shapeshifting, where a person's outward appearance remains unchanged, but their nature or identity shifts dramatically, exemplified by figures like Ted Bundy.
Kachuba touched on historical and cultural accounts, such as the beast of Gévaudan in France and Japanese shapeshifting ghosts. He also examined religious and psychological interpretations, including biblical references to Jesus appearing differently to various people. His research draws from extensive travel and historical texts, weaving together folklore, mythology, and real-world phenomena. Kachuba's layered perspective underscores shapeshifting's enduring presence in human imagination and its intriguing blend of reality and myth.
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Open Lines followed in the latter half of the program. Matthew in Missouri shared a personal experience involving unexplained phenomena. He described witnessing a cup inexplicably fly across a room in his apartment, perhaps triggered by the noise of a Metro bus's air brakes outside. Later, Matthew learned from the property owner that a tragic accident had occurred at that location in 1981, where a woman was fatally struck by a bus. He suggested a link between his flying cup incident and this unfortunate backstory.
Louise, who believes she is the reincarnated Cleopatra, reflected on a lifetime of extraordinary personal experiences, spanning near-tragic accidents, professional achievements, and unique encounters. She recounted surviving a childhood train collision with minimal injuries and witnessing a car pass through another vehicle without harm years later. She also fondly remembered being Muhammad Ali's first girlfriend during their teenage years, describing how they met and her emotional reaction to seeing him box on television.
Mark in California shared various anecdotes, including hearing stories about Crazy Horse as a shapeshifter and an intriguing experience as a stagehand for a Cyndi Lauper concert. He speculated that Lauper might be a frequent caller to the Coast to Coast AM, as her voice closely resembled that of a regular caller, but Mark admitted he was too shy to confirm this with her directly.
The final half hour featured a replay from 12/5/2016 when author Elizabeth Greenwood talked about how and why people fake their own deaths.