The Cryptic Files Podcast - Ghosts, Aliens and More with Richard Clements The History Alchemist

September 11, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The podcast opens with Andy and his longtime friend Richard Clements—who goes by “The History Alchemist”—reminiscing about how they first connected. It began when Andy stumbled upon a live paranormal radio show called Paranormal UK (part of the KTP network) years ago, where Richard often played the skeptical voice alongside the other hosts. Their friendship deepened through online correspondence and eventually led to in-person investigations, including a memorable early trip to Clappin Wood in Essex. There, the group experienced a classic “missing time” and disorientation effect: they walked past a key location repeatedly without seeing it until, suddenly, everything clicked into place. That night set the tone for a conversation that ranges widely over ghost encounters, UFO theory, the psychology of anomalous experiences, and Richard’s evolution from paranormal investigator to historical writer.

Ghosts as Personal, Not Group Phenomena

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What you'll learn

1 (01:24) **Introducing Richard Clements, The History Alchemist** - The host welcomes his long-time friend Richard, who is visiting the West Country for a few days of exploration.
2 (08:06) **Personal Encounters and the Nature of Anomalies** - Richard recounts a vivid, non-ethereal experience in Clappin Wood where he saw a woman in a ball gown and two men in tuxedos, with no plausible source nearby.
3 (13:12) **The Ultra-Phenomenon Hypothesis** - They explore the idea that non-corporeal beings may have no fixed identity, instead taking on forms that observers project onto them based on expectation.
4 (14:25) **UFOs: Physical Craft or Interdimensional Beings?** - The conversation shifts to the UFO phenomenon, questioning whether aliens are from other planets or other versions of Earth.
5 (18:59) **The Problem with Physics and Cultural Evolution of Aliens** - They discuss the Alcubierre drive as a theoretical solution for FTL travel, but note it requires "exotic matter" that doesn't exist as we know it.
6 (22:30) **Refining Belief: Ghosts Are Not Spirits of the Dead** - Richard states his conclusion that the ghost phenomenon is not about spirits of the dead, but something that takes on the form projected onto it by the observer.
7 (24:36) **The Best Evidence: An Unexplainable Shadow** - Richard describes his single best piece of footage, recorded in Edinburgh, which he keeps offline to avoid scrutiny.

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Show Notes

Join me as I sit down with Richard Clements, The History Alchemist, for a fascinating journey into the strange, mysterious and unexplained. From ghosts and hauntings to aliens, encounters and other unexplained phenomena, Richard and I delve into the stories, history and unanswered questions behind some of the most intriguing mysteries we've explored.

It's a thought-provoking and wide-ranging conversation that takes us beyond the familiar and into the darker, stranger corners of history and the paranormal. If you're fascinated by ghosts, UFOs, the unexplained and the hidden stories of our past, this is one conversation you won't want to miss.

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