Planet Tyrus – Episode Summary

Episode: Nick Pope Reveals UFO Truths & Secrets
Podcast: Planet Tyrus (with Host Tyrus, Outkick)
Date: November 20, 2025
Guest: Nick Pope, former UK Ministry of Defence UFO investigator

Episode Overview

This episode dives into the mystery and controversy surrounding UFOs (“unidentified flying objects”) with Nick Pope, one of the world’s most notable former government UFO investigators. Host Tyrus—comedian, Fox News contributor, and pro wrestling veteran—channels his signature wit and skepticism as he explores Nick Pope’s career in the UK Ministry of Defence, the evolution of public and government attitudes toward UFOs, and the enduring questions at the heart of the phenomenon. The discussion ranges from high-profile incidents and historic mysteries to the cultural and philosophical implications of alien contact.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Nick Pope’s Background and Role at the UK Ministry of Defence

• Nick Pope spent 21 years at the UK Ministry of Defence in various roles, including personnel policy, finance, counterterrorism, and, most famously, on the "UFO desk" during the early 1990s.
  • “I was a civilian employee at the British Ministry of Defence, which is essentially the UK equivalent of the DoD here in the United States…for much of the early 90s I was posted to the so-called UFO desk…” (02:34)
• His duties involved investigating UFO reports and assessing any potential defense, security, or air safety issues.

2. “UFO” vs. “UAP” and the Evolution of Terminology

• Tyrus jokes about the "new term" (UAP: Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) and insists on using "UFO," pointing out that renaming often signals uncertainty or rebranding by authorities.
  • “Whenever they change the name of something, that means they’re trying to figure it out, how to present it.” (04:48)

3. Public Perception and Institutional Secrecy

• Pope details the official stance on UFOs:
  • Government party line: “the phenomenon was of no defense significance”—a deliberate minimization, used to deflect not just public, but media and Parliamentary scrutiny. (06:09)
• Secrecy was partly due to embarrassment: “we didn’t want to admit that there might be things in our airspace…more capable than the cutting edge of our own aviation.” (07:49)
• Pope muses about societal readiness for disclosure:
  • “I used to think people could handle it. And then Covid made me wonder.” (08:52)
  • “If we can’t handle that…how could we handle something that might be literally beyond our comprehension?” (09:09)

4. Ancient Structures & Ancient Astronaut Theory

• Host and guest discuss cross-cultural similarities in megalithic structures and myth—pointing to the theories that ancient people misinterpreted alien visitors as gods.
  • Tyrus: “…pyramids and…buildings and cities with very similar out of this angled world construction.” (09:19)
• Pope references examples like Puma Punku, Sacsayhuaman, and Baalbek—emphasizing feats of construction still difficult to explain today. (11:05)

5. Shift from Skepticism to ‘Believer’

• Pope’s perspective evolved through firsthand investigation—particularly after the UK “triangular craft” sightings in 1993 over military bases, witnessed by many including police and military personnel. (06:09, 12:49)
• Physical evidence was what influenced Nick most:
  • Example: The Rendlesham Forest Incident (radioactivity measured at alleged landing site; corroborative pilot radar encounters).
    • “It was always that physical evidence that was most compelling to me…” (12:49)
• Modern sightings benefit from widespread smartphone cameras, making corroboration easier.

6. Government Response, Social Distraction, and Media Cycles

• UFO stories, even high-profile ones, rapidly drop out of news cycles and public attention due to the “24/7 content” saturation.
  • Tyrus: “…the UFOs disappear but their stories disappear faster. Do you think that’s still part of the design?” (20:06)
• UFO secrecy nowadays could also be linked to international espionage/technology concerns (Russia, China, etc.). (21:01)

7. Are ‘They’ Observing? The Nature of UFO Encounters

• Pope compares the apparent non-interference of UFOs to wildlife observation:
  • “It’s impossible…without saying Star Trek Prime Directive, but it does make a certain sort of sense…” (24:02)
  • Like scientists studying animals, alien visitors might prefer unobtrusive observation.

8. The Limits of Human Comprehension

• Both discuss the notion that our understanding of the UFO phenomenon is inevitably shaped by our biases, culture, and technology.
  • Pope: “When we say things like UFO or orb, those are just words…that may be a billion years ahead of our comprehension.” (26:53)

9. Films & Books that Portray the “Truthful” UFO Phenomenon

• Pope’s favorite sci-fi films that “get it right” about alien contact:
  • Contact and Arrival (27:56).
  • “What [Arrival] really does is it makes us think about ourselves…” (28:13)
• Host admires the speculation about technology gaps—what a billion-year-old civilization’s tech might mean for us.

10. The “Prison Planet” Theory & Human Readiness

• Notably, Pope discusses out-there theories like the “prison planet” hypothesis.
  • “Some of it’s almost spiritual…the idea that souls get reincarnated…The more physical version…is…the kids have found the matches…we don’t want this lot out in the wider universe. Keep an eye on them.” (30:18)

11. Nick Pope’s Writing & Continuing Work

• Authored two UFO-inspired science fiction novels (Operation Thunder Child, Operation Lightning Strike) and a non-paranormal thriller (Blood Brothers).
  • “Blood Brothers…nothing to do with UFOs, nothing paranormal. It’s just Special Forces…” (23:01)
• Current role: Media commentator, advisor, and source for congressional inquiries and investigations into UFOs. (33:17)

12. Most Memorable/Amusing Reports

• Pope shares a humorous case of a farmer witnessing “aliens” descending from a craft in the fog—actually the British SAS on a night exercise. (35:01)
  • “He was worried that this was the, like some sort of spearhead of an alien invasion…but in fact, it was the British SAS.” (36:06)

13. The Smoking Gun: Do We Have It?

• Despite classified films and photos, Pope never saw unambiguous “smoking gun” evidence of spacecraft or bodies.
  • “We never had what I would characterize…as a smoking gun.” (37:05)
  • Sometimes analysts would be unable to identify an object, but conclusive evidence was elusive.

14. The Pressing Questions

• Pope’s greatest lingering question:
  • “What’s the secret of viable interstellar travel that will take humanity to the stars?” (39:17)
• On his own belief evolution:
  • “I started as a skeptic, and now I would say I’m a believer that there’s something out there, but I don’t know what it is.” (40:21)
• Wishes people asked witnesses more about how UFO encounters feel; the human aspect is often missed. (41:37)

15. UFOs: Reporting & Public Involvement

• Advice on reporting sightings:
  • Military: Contact Pentagon’s AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office).
  • Civilians: Report to MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) and the media.
  • “If you see something, say something.” (54:20)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the government’s evasive language:

  • “We had this sound bite…that the phenomenon was of no defense significance. But that was a cop out…” — Nick Pope (06:09)

• On human readiness for alien contact:

  • “…I used to think that people could handle it. And then Covid made me wonder.” — Nick Pope (08:52)

• On ancient mysteries:

  • “…at Baalbek, for example, in Lebanon, there are…blocks…that weigh, I think, 750 metric tons…and you think we’d struggle to do that today…” — Nick Pope (11:05)

• On physical evidence and changing beliefs:

  • “It was always that physical evidence that was most compelling to me…radioactivity levels at the Rendlesham Forest landing site…pilot sightings…tracked on radar…” — Nick Pope (12:49)

• On social distraction:

  • “…is it that we’ve got too busy for UFOs? I know that sounds silly, but like has social media killed the UFO world?” — Tyrus (19:31)

• On public fascination and media cycles:

  • “The UFOs disappear but their stories disappear faster. Do you think that’s still part of the design?” — Tyrus (20:06)

• On the observational non-intervention:

  • “If they openly land on the White House lawn, they’re not seeing us at our natural state…like when we do a wildlife documentary…” — Nick Pope (24:31)

• On “prison planet” theory:

  • “Any extraterrestrials looking at planet Earth…might have said…‘the kids have found the matches’…we don’t want this lot out…” — Nick Pope (30:18)

• On his personal evolution:

  • “I started as a skeptic, and now I would say I’m a believer that there’s something out there, but I don’t know what it is.” — Nick Pope (40:21)

• On absolute certainty and skepticism:

  • “I’m very suspicious of anyone who sits there and says, ‘Hey, I know exactly what it is and I’ve got all the answers.’” — Nick Pope (40:46)

• On witness emotions:

  • “…we don’t consider the human side…Some people react with fear and panic, but others with awe and wonder…” — Nick Pope (41:37)

Important Timestamps

• 02:34-03:51: Nick Pope introduces his UK Ministry of Defence background and initial skepticism.
• 06:09-07:22: The UK government’s minimization tactics and the 1993 wave of “triangular craft” sightings.
• 09:19-11:56: Ancient astronaut theory, megalithic structures across cultures.
• 12:49-15:55: Physical evidence, the Rendlesham Forest Incident, pilot experiences.
• 18:49-21:01: The fleeting nature of UFO coverage in media, link to social media and national priorities.
• 24:02-26:53: “Observation only” theories, comparisons to wildlife documentaries.
• 27:56-28:47: Pope recommends “Contact” and “Arrival” for realistic depiction of contact.
• 30:18-30:58: "Prison planet" theory and why aliens might avoid us.
• 35:01-36:10: The farmer, the fog, and the SAS “alien invasion” story.
• 37:05-38:20: No ‘smoking gun’ evidence during Pope’s career.
• 40:21-40:53: Pope details his shift from skeptic to open-minded believer.
• 41:37-42:47: The need to probe the emotional impact on witnesses.
• 54:20-54:55: Advice on how and where to report UFO sightings.

Conclusion

This lively, wide-ranging conversation presents UFOs as not just a technical or government matter, but as a profound cultural and existential one, filled with scientific mystery, media hype, and human wonder. Nick Pope’s nuanced, pragmatic approach stands out against both fringe sensationalism and rigid skepticism. For those interested in UFOs—from technological mysteries and historic cases to philosophical “what ifs”—this episode provides a rare combination of insider expertise and open-minded speculation.

Resources & Further Information

• Nick Pope’s website: nickpope.net
• Twitter/X: @nickpopemod

If you see a UFO:

• Military: Report to AARO (All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office)
• Civilian: Contact MUFON (mufon.com) or share with trusted media outlets
• “If you see something, say something.” — Nick Pope (54:20)

This summary captures the full energy, skepticism, humor, and curiosity that defines Planet Tyrus, offering both a primer for the UFO curious and new insights for longtime followers.