Podcast Summary: The Globalization of Remote Viewing & IRVA: A Presidential Dialog with Luciano Arruda

New Thinking Allowed Audio Podcast
Date: January 15, 2026
Host: Dr. Debra Lynn Katz (outgoing IRVA President), Jeffrey Mishlove
Guest: Luciano Arruda (incoming IRVA President)

Episode Overview

This episode explores the future of the International Remote Viewing Association (IRVA) and the globalization of remote viewing as an applied consciousness practice. Outgoing IRVA President Dr. Debra Lynn Katz and host Jeffrey Mishlove welcome Luciano Arruda as IRVA’s newly elected President. The conversation delves deeply into IRVA’s evolution, challenges, international expansion, and Luciano’s vision for accessible, transparent, and globally integrated development of remote viewing. The discussion intertwines personal experiences with organizational development, ending on optimistic notes about diversity, education, and sustainable growth.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Context ([00:00]–[03:52])

• Debra Lynn Katz announces her retirement as IRVA President, reflecting on IRVA’s growth and her tenure.
• She introduces Luciano Arruda, explaining the value of his expertise in globalization and infrastructure, which is seen as critical as IRVA pivots to greater global outreach.

Notable Quote:
"We're growing in all directions and it's a fantastic time in the industry where we're all sort of reinventing ourselves. We're all having to calibrate our expectations of what's possible and think really big." — Luciano Arruda ([00:00])

2. Luciano Arruda’s Background & Path into Remote Viewing ([03:52]–[09:59])

• Luciano describes discovering remote viewing in 2022 after many years of meditation and clairvoyant training, particularly during COVID-19 isolation, which prompted him to seek deeper community.
• He shares early influences from the Berkeley Psychic Institute and notes the overlap and distinctions between clairvoyance and remote viewing, particularly the structure and objectivity protocols introduce.

Key Insight:
Remote viewing is framed as both a spiritual and scientific endeavor, with unique methodologies for validation and team-based learning, differentiating it from solo, emotionally-influenced psychic work.

Notable Quote:
"When you're looking at something clairvoyantly... you're kind of practicing remote viewing at that point in time. You're collecting non-local information about a situation, place, or anything that is not connected to time and space... Remote viewing provides a safe space because there's a protocol you can follow and always fall back on." — Luciano Arruda ([06:18])

3. Internationalization & Community Building ([13:15]–[17:30])

• Luciano emphasizes IRVA’s recent efforts to build Communities of Special Interest (CSI) with team leaders in Europe (Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Norway) and Latin America (Argentina, Chile, Brazil), highlighting the untapped potential for global awareness.
• They discuss strategies such as adjusting membership costs for local economies and incentivizing local-language meetings to lower barriers to participation.

Notable Quote:
"There are way more people who don't know about remote viewing than people who know about remote viewing... This is something that's reproducible, is teachable, and it can be validated..." — Luciano Arruda ([13:15])

4. Collaboration with Other Organizations & Conferences ([15:04]–[17:30])

• Luciano outlines plans for IRVA’s first European conference and an online Spanish-language conference in Latin America, collaborating with local parapsychology organizations.
• The importance of partnership, affiliate programs, and adaptation to local contexts is stressed for sustainable international expansion.

5. Education, Research & Next-Generation Outreach ([21:46]–[24:27])

• Luciano proposes outreach to educational institutions from universities to high schools, aiming to foster the next generation of remote viewers and teachers.
• He underscores the necessity of technology—particularly AI for translation and communication—in building IRVA’s global network.

Notable Quote:
"It is very important that we keep [history] nice and clear and that we go out and reach out to educational institutions to further research and also to explain to people that this is something that they can practice." — Luciano Arruda ([21:46])

6. Nonprofit vs. For-Profit Mindsets ([26:32]–[28:07])

• Luciano compares his Silicon Valley for-profit experience to the demands of nonprofit stewardship at IRVA.
• Focus shifts from revenue accumulation to resource redistribution, community reinvestment, and the goal of lowering costs or eventually offering free conferences and educational content.

Notable Quotes:

• "Instead of trying to grow IRVA so that we basically accumulate revenue, we want to make sure that we reapply that revenue that we create to grow the organization globally." — Luciano Arruda ([26:47])
• "If we're going to offer everything for free, then we are going to need a lot more money than that." — Debra Lynn Katz ([28:07])

7. Fundraising & Technology for Scale ([29:32]–[32:10])

• Discussion centers on membership scaling, use of AI for multilingual content, professional fundraising, and social media monetization.
• Appointing dedicated fundraisers and leveraging endowments and legacy donations is seen as crucial for financial sustainability.

Notable Quote:
"Technology is deflationary; the cost to deliver information is going down... To effectively reach a global audience... you can double, triple the amount of members you can have globally." — Luciano Arruda ([30:05])

8. In-Person vs. Online Engagement ([33:41]–[35:49])

• Hybrid models (regional in-person events and large-scale online conferences) are envisioned for both community-building and accessibility.
• Plans for the first European in-person conference and online Latin American events are in motion, with ideas for locally-sustained IRVA chapters.

9. Challenges of Globalization: History, Authenticity & Diversity ([35:49]–[45:56])

• Luciano addresses concerns about balancing U.S.-centric heritage with international expansion, maintaining inclusiveness and representation.
• IRVA is committed to preserving military and scientific origins of remote viewing, while supporting innovation and adaptation for varied applications and cultures.
• Discussion of the risk of local adaptation diluting core protocols; IRVA’s responsibility is to make accurate materials and curriculum available in multiple languages.

Notable Quote:
"Remote viewing is a human capability, right? This is, you can almost say that this is part of nature. The military use was just an application..." — Luciano Arruda ([40:31])

10. Governance, Ethics, and Internal Diplomacy ([45:56]–[62:09])

• Luciano shares the pitfalls of international expansion: local leaders sometimes modify or claim credit for techniques, creating copyright and authenticity issues.
• IRVA enforces a code of conduct, distinguishes individual business pursuits from official organizational activities, and leverages diplomacy and shared focus to mediate disputes among leaders and communities.

Notable Quote:
"There are way more people who don't know remote viewing. And there are so many different applications... when you fight for a small group of students, you're basically hurting right on the field." — Luciano Arruda ([52:49])

11. Organizational Structure, Volunteerism, & Board Dynamics ([64:03]–[66:38])

• As IRVA grows, Luciano stresses the need for distributed management (committees for research, education, CSI, etc.), mid-level volunteers, and robust succession planning.
• Diversity on the board—professional, cultural, and ideological—is championed to prevent groupthink and foster innovation.

12. New Website & Infrastructure Upgrades ([69:30]–[72:29])

• A major website overhaul integrates membership, education, professional listings, archives, global forums, and multilingual content under one platform, leveraging AI for efficiency and reach.

13. Looking Forward: Events & Leadership ([72:45]–[77:17])

• The next in-person U.S. conference is scheduled for October in Dayton, Ohio, chosen for its historical significance in military and intelligence remote viewing.
• Outgoing President Katz expresses confidence in Luciano and the board’s collective leadership, citing increased engagement, formalized procedures, and a harmonious, diverse environment as IRVA’s core strengths going forward.

Notable Moment:
"You manifested a friendly board and a very stable environment. We're lucky that we had you drive initiatives at IRVA in the past few years. We're really lucky. We're extremely well positioned, thanks to you." — Luciano Arruda ([77:17])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• "We're growing in all directions and it's a fantastic time...think really big." — Luciano Arruda ([00:00])
• "Remote viewing provides a safe space because there's a protocol... you can always fall back on." — Luciano Arruda ([06:18])
• "There are way more people who don't know about remote viewing than people who know...this is something that's reproducible, teachable, and can be validated." — Luciano Arruda ([13:15])
• "Technology is deflationary; the cost to deliver information is going down." — Luciano Arruda ([30:05])
• "Remote viewing is a human capability... the military use was an application." — Luciano Arruda ([40:31])
• "We cannot control what other people do... But what we can do is emphasize the original protocol and the actual information that has to do with how this was created and how this was developed, that has to be preserved." — Luciano Arruda ([48:46])
• "There are so many places where IRVA can contribute to the growth of the understanding of remote viewing, but also to the learning and to improve people's lives." — Luciano Arruda ([28:07])
• "The focus should be the opportunity to grow and how much more space we can gain by sharing information." — Luciano Arruda ([58:18])
• "There has to be an intent to improve the relationships... if we can find a way to create a win-win situation, that's where we want to begin." — Luciano Arruda ([62:09])
• "Middle managers are especially needed to scale volunteer efforts." — Debra Lynn Katz ([64:03])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Luciano’s Background: [04:17]–[09:59]
• Clairvoyance vs. Remote Viewing: [05:52]–[09:59]
• International Expansion, CSI Teams: [13:15]–[17:30]
• IRVA’s Vertical Structure & Future: [21:46]–[24:27]
• Business Experience vs. Nonprofit: [24:27]–[28:07]
• Fundraising Challenges: [29:32]–[32:10]
• Hybrid Conference Model: [33:41]–[35:49]
• Balancing US/Global Focus: [35:49]–[39:40]
• Historical Integrity vs. Adaptation: [39:40]–[45:56]
• Leadership, Diplomacy, & Conflict Resolution: [45:56]–[62:09]
• Volunteer Management & Board Structure: [64:03]–[66:38]
• Website & Infrastructure: [69:30]–[72:29]
• Conference Announcements, Leadership Reflections: [72:45]–[77:17]

Closing Thoughts

The episode provides a comprehensive look at the challenges and opportunities facing IRVA in an era of rapid globalization and technology-driven change. Through candid reflections and strategic discussions, Luciano Arruda and the departing leadership outline a vision for IRVA as a transparent, inclusive, forward-thinking platform—preserving legacy, ensuring quality, and opening doors worldwide.

For those interested in remote viewing, organizational leadership in consciousness research, or the evolution of global non-profits, this episode offers deep insights and practical ideas for scaling, sustaining, and innovating in a rapidly changing field.