Jeffrey Mishlove

Jeffrey Mishlove is a distinguished parapsychologist and consciousness researcher who holds the unique distinction of being the sole recipient of a Ph.D. in Parapsychology from an accredited American university—UC Berkeley (1980). A licensed clinical psychologist, he has spent over five decades investigating the intersection of consciousness, paranormal phenomena, and anomalous experiences, establishing himself as a pioneering voice in mainstream discourse about otherworldly phenomena.

Early Work and Television

Mishlove co-produced and hosted Thinking Allowed, a groundbreaking public television program (1986–2002) that brought discussions of parapsychology, consciousness studies, and anomalous phenomena into American living rooms at a time when such topics remained largely taboo in mainstream media. The show featured leading scientists, philosophers, and researchers exploring topics including UFOs, telepathy, remote viewing, and consciousness. This achievement alone cemented his role as a bridge-builder between fringe research and academic legitimacy.

Academic Credentials and Affiliations

Beyond his historic UC Berkeley doctorate, Mishlove serves as faculty at the California Institute for Human Science and the University of Philosophical Research in Los Angeles. He served briefly as Director of the Institute of Noetic Sciences (IONS) in 1994, the research organization founded by Apollo 14 astronaut Edgar Mitchell specifically to investigate consciousness and its relationship to anomalous phenomena. He is past-president of the Intuition Network and has received the Pathfinder Award from the Association for Humanistic Psychology.

In 2021–2022, Mishlove won the prestigious Bigelow Institute for Consciousness Studies essay competition for his work on evidence for postmortem survival of human consciousness—recognition from an institution dedicated to advancing consciousness research through rigorous inquiry and competition among scholars.

UFO and UAP Research

While best known for his parapsychology work, Mishlove has been an active participant in UFO and UAP research communities. He has directly addressed UAP topics in his authored works, including entries in the New Thinking Allowed Dialogues series such as "UFOs and UAP: Are We Really Alone?" His YouTube channel, New Thinking Allowed, features over 1,500 episodes exploring consciousness, spirituality, science, and the paranormal. Notably, the show has hosted conversations with UFO researchers, former government insiders involved in UAP investigations, and scientists investigating non-human intelligence.

Mishlove's approach to UFO phenomena is characteristic of his broader methodology: treating extraordinary claims with scientific rigor while remaining open to evidence that challenges materialist orthodoxy. He has interviewed figures across the spectrum of UAP research—from skeptics to contactees to government disclosure advocates—creating a comprehensive archive of contemporary thought on anomalous phenomena.

Published Works

Mishlove is the author of numerous foundational books in consciousness and parapsychology, including The Roots of Consciousness (a comprehensive survey of psi research), Psi Development Systems, and The PK Man: A True Story of Mind Over Matter. His prolific publishing record and editorial work position him as a synthesizer and documenter of anomalies research for both academic and general audiences.

Role in Anomalies Discourse

What distinguishes Mishlove's contribution is his willingness to legitimize unconventional research through institutional affiliation and media presence. In an era when parapsychology and UFO studies remain marginalized in mainstream academia, his television work and IONS connection provided credibility and visibility. His 1,500+ episodes of New Thinking Allowed represent one of the longest-running archives of interviews with consciousness researchers, UFO investigators, and fringe scientists available to the public.

Mishlove's insistence that consciousness, paranormal phenomena, and UAP merit serious scientific investigation—without requiring either blanket skepticism or uncritical acceptance—has positioned him as a thoughtful moderate voice in fields often polarized between true believers and debunkers.