TFTRH #45: Brandon Fugal - The Owner of Skinwalker Ranch

Brandon Fugal is a prominent business leader based in Utah and is the current owner of the mysterious Skinwalker Ranch, which is the focus of a wide variety of reported strange phenomena, from supernatural visitors to cattle mutilations and UFOs. The ranch is now the subject of a History channel show: The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch.  I've been doing a little debunking of a few of the claims in the show. We talk about how he discovered the ranch, why he bought it, what he's been doing with it. We also discuss some of the issues with the show - is it science or showmanship? Maybe a little of both.

[bryanv]

"I used to be a skeptic, but when I saw that people believed in this, I learned that it was in my financial interest to propagate the belief in the supernatural"

[AshleyTodd]

Step 1: buy ranch that its prior owners made famous for “UFOs”.
Step 2: sell $1M in lease rights to History Channel to make a show about said UFOs.
Step 3: say you have tons of photos and video of UFOs, but you’re too busy with work to share them.
Step 4: sell tour packages to the ranch, to people who watched the show and have more money than brains.
Step 5: when you run out of suckers, sell ranch for purchase price.

[radicalxedward]

1:38:16 “it’s very difficult to trick a whole host of witnesses”
In my experience groups are way easier to trick because they refer to each other for what to think. Same reason people will ignore signs of a fire if the people around them are ignoring it.

[rameyzamora]

Tactfully done, Mick. A diplomat for reason.

[bobbyhill]

Doesn’t have time to ask his team to release the footage yet has time to do this interview!

[TheMoonlitGhost]

I am so glad to see Mick West showing interest in Skin Walker Ranch. I live a couple hours away from the Ranch and am very interested in the whole thing. I do think Brandon Fugal is sincere, though. But, yeah, the History Channel is not credible. It's entertainment if anything and I think it honestly does a disservice to any real strange phenomena that goes on by sensationalizing things. I'd like to eventually be in a position to do a real investigation of the Ranch for my channel.
1.) Please take Mr Fugal up on his offer to have you out to the Ranch and document the whole thing. That would be incredible to see.
2.) I love your idea to take a ton of iPhones and see how they react!
3.) Great job with the interview! And thank you for the work that you do!

[TheOmengod]

The number of ways to make oneself credible:
1) I was a skeptic
2) stories of skepticism
3) tales of groupthink
4) I'm not an experiencer

[dymonbak]

its amazing how mick keeps his composure without just straight out yelling BULLSHIT!!

[aonghusofaolain]

Describing himself as a "kindred spirit" = Con-man.

He wanted a TV show.

[radicalxedward]

41:45
- guy has mysterious black out
- guy turns out to have medical problem
- …
- UFOs!
😂

[radicalxedward]

I love Mick’s reactions. He’s better than Spock. “Mhmm. Yes. Very interesting. 😑”

[radicalxedward]

Mick has the patience and diplomacy of a saint. 😂

[Postdisclosureworld]

Is Mick West going to visit Skinwalker Ranch?

[PMosstalgic]

one of the best yet. Two good guys having a sensible conversation. Enjoyed it.

[lightningslim]

I can sum up the Skinwalker Ranch "Phenomenon" in one word, "Profit."

[paulowey]

Bravo Mick West - a curious mind, who’s not dismissive, but also has the technical ability to question and investigate what’s presented. 👍🏼😎

[gabriellambirth]

“….and then all of a sudden my phone died!!” - Brandon.
“-__-“ - Mick.

[zeeenno]

Fugal speaks exactly like a real estate developer selling a property.

[ztrussell]

Great discussion, Mick and Brandon. Thanks for letting us listen in.

[h.c.]

He looks like a guy that would hire a guy to fly a drone. Things you gotta do as a UFO hotel manager