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This episode of LIFE SPAN PODCAST delves into the bizarre journey of Uri Geller, a man who captivated the world in the 1970s with his claims of psychic abilities. The episode is titled “The Spoon-Bender Who Messed With Minds and Maybe the CIA” and focuses on Geller as “The Mind-Bending Enigma of the 20th Century”.

The testimonies describe Geller as a young Israeli man who appeared on television and seemingly bent spoons with his mind. Depending on who you believe, Geller was either a legitimate psychic used by intelligence agencies, a charismatic magician who fooled many, or someone with real psychic powers that skeptics couldn't accept. He managed to make millions believe in the unbelievable and may have even fooled or assisted governments.

The 1970s provided a fertile ground for Geller's rise, as the Cold War fueled paranoia, and the CIA was actively researching ESP and “psychic warriors” through Project Stargate. New Age spirituality was booming, and pop culture was fascinated by the paranormal. Geller emerged with a confident persona claiming to be able to bend spoons, read minds, and stop watches with his thoughts. People were captivated and tuned in to witness his feats.

Several theories surround Uri Geller's abilities:

* “He’s the Real Deal”: Believers argue that Geller's abilities were tested under scientific conditions, and declassified CIA files show he passed ESP tests at Stanford Research Institute in 1973. They question why intelligence agencies would invest time if he were a fake. While tests did yield unusual results, the rigor and potential for manipulation remain debated.

* “He’s a Magician Who Outsmarted Scientists”: Magician and skeptic James Randi claimed Geller's feats were basic sleight-of-hand performed without proper scientific controls. During a 1973 appearance on The Tonight Show where Randi helped prepare the props, Geller struggled and blamed “bad vibes”. Randi spent decades exposing psychics but never got Geller to admit to fakery, leading to a legendary feud.

* “He Was a Psy-Op Asset (Or Target)”: Some theories suggest Geller was a pawn in Cold War psychic experiments, possibly recruited by intelligence agencies like Mossad or the CIA. Others believe he was a distraction to discredit genuine psychic research, while some even claim he was closely watched by Soviet psychics. Notably, the testimonies confirm that Geller was indeed used in CIA-funded psychic experiments.

Geller became a household name for decades, appearing on international television. He has even been referenced in pop culture, such as Pokémon’s Kadabra, which he reportedly sued Nintendo over. Modern street magicians like David Blaine and Criss Angel acknowledge him as an influence. In recent years, Geller has continued to make headlines, claiming to have helped with Brexit negotiations through telepathy and opposing 5G towers. He currently lives in a unique mansion and has a spoon-covered statue.

The testimonies also include some bizarre trivia:

* In 1974, NASA astronaut Edgar Mitchell tested Geller's abilities.

* Geller once claimed to have stopped Big Ben with his mind, though many other clocks also stopped around that time.

* He used to perform “remote viewing” where some of his sketches reportedly resembled target images.

* Early in his career, he worked with parapsychologist Andrija Puharich, who believed Geller was an emissary of an alien intelligence called “Spectra”.

* The Mossad allegedly used him to “influence” foreign diplomats.

* During live television appearances in the UK, spoons bent and watches stopped in viewers' homes, leading to people mailing broken items to the BBC.

For those wanting to delve deeper, the testimonies mention several resources:

* Books: The Truth About Uri Geller by James Randi, Uri: A Journal of the Mystery of Uri Geller by Andrija Puharich, and Mind-Reach by Russell Targ & Harold Puthoff.

* Videos: BBC’s Horizon documentary (1974), Uri Geller on The Tonight Show (1973 Fail), and VICE’s mini-doc “The Spoon Bender vs. The Skeptic.”

* Online Resources: r/Paranormal and r/Conspiracy threads on Geller’s CIA files, James Randi Educational Foundation archives, and the declassified CIA’s Stargate Program Docs.

In conclusion, Uri Geller's life is a compelling example of the complex interplay between belief, power, charisma, and the blurry line between illusion and influence. Whether he was a fraud, a prophet, or a pawn in Cold War mind games remains a mystery, but he undeniably captured the world's attention.

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