PRETEND

S407: The Psychic Spy (featuring Uri Geller)


Listen Later

In 2017, The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) released more than 12 million pages of declassified documents online. Some of these documents pertained to the self-proclaimed psychic spy Uri Geller. 


The documents revealed a CIA funded study at the Stanford Research Institute revolving around psychokinesis. Psychokinesis is the ability for someone to move objects with the power of their minds. Why in the world would the CIA, arguably the world’s most elite spy agency, want to study psychics?


I interviewed Uri Geller about his time at the Stanford Research Institute. We spoke about his childhood, discovering his supernatural abilities, his involvement with spy agencies like the Israeli Mossad, and many other unbelievable events.


You have to remember, this all took place in the 1970s. Governments were more open to exploring the supernatural. Even the Soviet Union reportedly hired psychics to spy on their enemies.


But not everyone was eager to seek the help of psychics. Johnny Carson invited Uri Geller on The Tonight Show and it was a total disaster. Uri Geller could not perform his most basic tricks. What happened? Uri Geller says it was a hit job. 


To learn more about Uri Geller, check out The Secret Life of Uri Geller. It's a fascinating documentary.



-------

Story idea?

If you have a story to share, email Javier a voice memo or short written description at [email protected].


For more episodes like this visit pretendradio.org.


To get early releases and bonus episodes go to pretendradio.org/donate




Theme music by The Chicken


Additional music by Podington Bear, Glad Rags, Blue Dot Sessions

Written and produced by Javier Leiva

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

PRETENDBy Creative Babble

  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7
  • 4.7

4.7

2,223 ratings


More shows like PRETEND

View all
Swindled by A Concerned Citizen

Swindled

9,740 Listeners

Sea of Lies from Uncover by CBC

Sea of Lies from Uncover

9,767 Listeners

True Crime Bullsh** by Studio BOTH/AND

True Crime Bullsh**

4,997 Listeners

Something Was Wrong by Broken Cycle Media | Wondery

Something Was Wrong

25,371 Listeners

Criminal Conduct by Creative Babble

Criminal Conduct

1,062 Listeners

The Binge Cases: Fatal Beauty by Sony Music Entertainment

The Binge Cases: Fatal Beauty

3,703 Listeners

Chameleon: Dr. Miracle by Sony Music Entertainment / Campside Media

Chameleon: Dr. Miracle

7,385 Listeners

The Opportunist by PodcastOne

The Opportunist

10,187 Listeners

The Binge Crimes: The Arsonist Next Door by Sony Music Entertainment

The Binge Crimes: The Arsonist Next Door

2,969 Listeners

Queen of the Con by iHeartPodcasts and AYR Media

Queen of the Con

3,531 Listeners

Nobody Should Believe Me by True Story Media

Nobody Should Believe Me

2,497 Listeners

Betrayal: Weekly by iHeartPodcasts and Glass Podcasts

Betrayal: Weekly

6,645 Listeners

Scamfluencers by Wondery

Scamfluencers

7,069 Listeners

Infamous by Campside Media / Sony Music Entertainment

Infamous

1,029 Listeners

The Con: Kaitlyn's Baby by CBC + BBC World Service

The Con: Kaitlyn's Baby

670 Listeners

The Ponzi Playbook by Neal McTighe and Javier Leiva

The Ponzi Playbook

91 Listeners

You Probably Think This Story’s About You by Brittani Ard

You Probably Think This Story’s About You

1,518 Listeners