So Supernatural: CONSPIRACY: Apollo 20 – Detailed Summary

Episode Release Date: January 31, 2025
Host/Author: audiochuck | Crime House
Podcast Description: Delving into true crime's most bizarre occurrences, uncovering explanations that range from the plausible to the supernatural.

1. Introduction to the Apollo 20 Conspiracy

The episode opens with host Ashley Flowers reminiscing about early conspiracy theories, particularly the skepticism surrounding the moon landings. She introduces a lesser-known theory suggesting that NASA continued its lunar missions beyond the publicly acknowledged Apollo 17, culminating in a secret Apollo 20 mission that allegedly uncovered evidence of an advanced alien civilization on the moon.

Ashley Flowers [00:07]:
“I think we've maybe been to the moon more times than NASA's actually let on.”

2. Overview of the Apollo Program

Yvette Gentile and co-host Racha Pecorero provide a comprehensive overview of the Apollo program, detailing its inception in 1961 under President Kennedy's administration. The program officially concluded with Apollo 17 in 1972, primarily due to budget constraints and waning public interest. However, the hosts highlight that unofficial operations may have continued beyond this point.

3. Emergence and Content of the Apollo 20 Video

In 2007, a YouTube user named Retired AFB published a video that reignited conspiracy theories about the Apollo program. This video purportedly revealed a top-secret Apollo 20 mission involving both American and Soviet astronauts who discovered alien technology on the moon's far side. The footage included visuals of an alien spacecraft and the body of a female alien, collectively referred to as the "alien Mona Lisa."

Yvette Gentile [14:16]:
“In 2007, a YouTube user named Retired AFB posted a video to his Channel One that flipped the story of the famous Apollo program completely on its head.”

The video showcases:

• A dual American-Soviet mission patch labeled Apollo 20 with crew names: William Rutledge, Leona Snyder, and Alexei Leonov.
• Footage of the Apollo 20 spacecraft approaching the moon's surface.
• An alien spacecraft with distinct structures.
• The discovery of a female alien with humanoid features but unique physiological traits.

4. Debunking the Apollo 20 Video as a Hoax

Skeptics quickly debunked the Apollo 20 video. French artist Thierry Speth admitted to creating the footage as part of a fictional sci-fi project. He revealed that he utilized existing NASA moon photographs, overlayed alien structures, and fashioned the alien Mona Lisa from wax, akin to a Madame Tussaud's sculpture.

Racha Pecorero [24:36]:
“Thierry Speth did an interview in 2017 that was posted on YouTube. It looks like he's in his home studio and he's explaining how he made everything.”

Additionally, discrepancies such as the reuse of Apollo 17 spacecraft and inconsistencies in the mission patch further fueled suspicions that the video was a fabricated hoax rather than genuine evidence of a secret Apollo 20 mission.

5. Counter Theories and Government Disinformation

Despite the debunking, alternative theories persisted. Journalist Luca Scantamborlo proposed that while the Apollo 20 video was fabricated, the mission itself was real and deliberately concealed by the U.S. government through a sophisticated disinformation campaign. He suggested that the government aimed to discredit UFO believers to mask the truth about extraterrestrial discoveries.

Racha Pecorero [27:10]:
“It's an excellent question, and Luca was armed and ready with an answer.”

The episode delves into the mysterious case of Carl Wolf, an Air Force sergeant who, after witnessing photographs of an alleged alien base on the moon during the Lunar Orbiter program, attempted to expose the findings. His untimely death in 2018 under suspicious circumstances—being struck by a tractor trailer with no subsequent charges—led to rampant speculation within the UFO community that the government sought to silence him.

Yvette Gentile [37:02]:
“In this case, the mystery surrounding Carl's death caused a stir in the UFO community.”

6. Civilian Involvement and Alternate Claims

The narrative broadens with accounts from civilians like Vito Sacchetti, who in 1976 demanded access to NASA's moon photographs after reading claims of extraterrestrial presence. Although he only identified what he described as machinery and tank tracks, the lack of definitive evidence left room for speculation about possible disinformation efforts by NASA to quell civilian inquiries.

Furthermore, former NASA contractor Donna Hare alleged that the agency intentionally edited out evidence of alien technology in lunar photographs, labeling it an "open secret" among NASA staff. Esteemed Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell also weighed in, asserting his belief in alien life on the moon's far side based on grainy photographs suggesting extraterrestrial installations.

Yvette Gentile [39:48]:
“Donna Said it was an open secret at NASA, something that people talked about when they were off the clock...”

7. Recent Congressional Hearings and UAP Developments

Advancing to more recent developments, the episode discusses the 2023 and 2024 U.S. Congressional hearings on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP). These hearings, striving to destigmatize UFO discussions, included testimonies from former Pentagon officials who claimed the government possesses extraterrestrial spacecraft and has engaged in disinformation campaigns to obscure these truths from the public.

Yvette Gentile [41:36]:
“A former member of the Pentagon's UFO task force actually said that the government is in possession of extraterrestrial spacecraft and that he knows exactly where these spacecraft are hidden.”

This governmental acknowledgment lends a new layer of credibility to long-standing conspiracy theories, suggesting that secret Apollo missions like Apollo 20 might have been genuine endeavors to interact with or conceal extraterrestrial discoveries.

8. Conclusion: The Quest for Transparency

The episode concludes with hosts Yvette and Racha reflecting on the tangled web of conspiracy theories, hoaxes, and potential government cover-ups surrounding the Apollo 20 mission. They express a yearning for greater transparency from the government regarding UFOs and extraterrestrial life, advocating for an end to disinformation campaigns that hinder public understanding and discussion.

Racha Pecorero [44:36]:
“Leona Snyder, too. But who knows, with the way things are going, maybe we'll even get to hear from them firsthand if they really do exist.”

The discussion underscores a broader societal desire for truth and openness, especially concerning phenomena that challenge existing paradigms about human exploration and extraterrestrial life.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ashley Flowers [00:07]:
  “I think we've maybe been to the moon more times than NASA's actually let on.”

• Yvette Gentile [14:16]:
  “In 2007, a YouTube user named Retired AFB posted a video to his Channel One that flipped the story of the famous Apollo program completely on its head.”

• Racha Pecorero [24:36]:
  “Thierry Speth did an interview in 2017 that was posted on YouTube. It looks like he's in his home studio and he's explaining how he made everything.”

• Yvette Gentile [37:02]:
  “In this case, the mystery surrounding Carl's death caused a stir in the UFO community.”

• Yvette Gentile [41:36]:
  “A former member of the Pentagon's UFO task force actually said that the government is in possession of extraterrestrial spacecraft and that he knows exactly where these spacecraft are hidden.”

Final Thoughts

The "CONSPIRACY: Apollo 20" episode of So Supernatural weaves a compelling narrative that bridges historical Apollo missions, modern-day conspiracy theories, and recent governmental acknowledgments of UAPs. By meticulously dissecting the Apollo 20 video controversy and exploring both debunking efforts and ongoing speculations, the episode invites listeners to question the boundaries of official narratives and consider the possibilities that lie beyond the known.