Out of respect for people without all the time in the world to listen, we are making an attempt to shorten the time of this episode. If you happen to have all of the time in the world, then please let us know if you prefer either the longer format or our lean fighting weight version.  

If you have never heard of Aokigahara, don't feel bad. If you have never heard of Japan's so-called Suicide Forest, we won't judge you about that either. The forest near Mount Fuji is a beautiful place, but is also known for the unfortunate decisions that some individuals make there. Official numbers are no longer available, but in 2003 there were 105 bodies discovered there. Why does this happen, and do magnetic anomalies in the area have anything to do with this site's reputation? Steve helps us find out!

The 1970's brought us a presidential resignation, pet rocks, and Star Wars. Also lots of bent spoons. Self-proclaimed psychic Uri Geller appeared everywhere, ruining utensils and fixing watches. So what? He claimed to do it with the power of his mind! Close inspection of the acts, as well as later admissions cast doubt on his true abilities. But why did a magazine cover cause a stir and make 300 people claim that they experienced strange effects from it? Mike takes a look at this event.
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Finally, Josiah bucks the new format and makes us wait for the next episode to hear more about the seemingly immortal Count St. Germain. The Count was fluent in many languages, well-versed in art and literature, and apparently avoided direct exposure to the sun as he appeared to never age and lived (by some accounts) decades or centuries longer than would be expected by a normal human. Josiah explores the mysteries of this amazing man, and makes us wonder if delaying the completion of this story is a plot in keeping with the Count's master plan... 

A solid shout-out to Malwarebytes who decided that it was time for me to close by browser while attempting to complete this update. Thanks! Full disclosure: Malwarebytes is not a sponsor of the show. For those who are keeping score at home, this post is over two weeks late. If you are new to the podcast after July 2020, then everything is fine and welcome to the party! Speaking of party, this week Mike really tries to be a killjoy with philosophical ramblings about "truth" and so forth. If you are a paranormal investigator, the musings might be worthwhile as we try to determine why we are really doing this, and what kind of goals we work for. 

Josiah reports on The Cage in England, a location where witches were detained and executed in a time when politics were more civil but people still had to draw the line somewhere!  This location has changed ownership recently, and a former owner is featured here as she experiences a morphing of her face during a seance! The place has a history of tragedy as well as paranormal events. 



Steve discusses Ghost Lab, a show that received a far shorter run than it deserved. You can still catch it on demand through the Discovery Go app, or through a couple of streaming services that may or may not charge you per episode. If you really want to see it, you will figure out a way to find it! Brad and Barry Klinge brought a new style of investigation to the small screen, introducing novel ideas and immediate analysis of evidence through the use of their portable laboratory, a sort of lab for ghosts if you will. We had the true pleasure of hosting an event featuring the brothers as well as having a chance to meet them several years ago. The brothers are genuine, and if you have not checked out the show, do yourself a favor and give it a binge!   

Better late than never applies to many things, you be the judge on this one! Although the podcast has been out for a few days, this guide is finally catching up. This episode is our longest yet, and hopefully you can stay awake until the end! We mentioned Bartel & Henson Paranormal's event on July 24th in Freeport, IL. You can get more information here, but don't wait too long as this will likely fill up soon! Also, can spirits affect you over the phone? We'd like to hear your thoughts! Comment below on on the P1 Facebook page. Additionally, if you enjoy what you hear, please subscribe, mark as a favorite, or recommend the podcast so that others may find it. If you don't like what you hear, please let us know that, as well!

After being cut short last week, Josiah shares a ton of information on arguably the first family of the paranormal, Ed and Lorraine Warren! He discusses their roots, experiences, and even a tricky way Ed would get into homes for investigations! Use that information with care!

​Steve reports on hidden tunnels under Death Valley, discovered in 1931. Discovered there were giant mummies, and well-preserved samples of animals that went extinct thousands of years ago. Steve discusses why we have not been back, and ties this find in with a Paiute legend. Will this be the new Oak Island? Also consider connections to other legends and stories.

Mike tries to explain EMF in a rambling quasi-scientific talk that goes on for too long. Kinda. Why do we look for it, what are we measuring, and how strong is the energy that we detect? The kitchen is a pretty active place for EMF, but sleeping next to a strong source can also be an issue. Listen in and see what he gets wrong!

Like it or not, we will be back soon with another episode if we can keep the equipment functioning and Josiah stays awake! Let us know what you think, and until next time, we will see you in the dark!
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The gift of gab is not lost this week. In fact, there was so much discussion early on that there was no time for Josiah to present his piece! Of course that means he needs to provide twice the impact for the next episode! This one starts off with discussion about making money from the paranormal. Historical tours? OK. Private home investigations? No Bueno! What about pay for training budding investigators? Listen and find out!

Mike continues with a discussion of psychic frauds, particularly spiritualist-era fakes who claimed to be able to apport or manifest objects. Some attempts were pretty laughable, but the smells coming from a baby's face and ectoplasm are entirely different! If you don't get it, then you haven't listened. Just beware the results that begin with the innocent image search for "baby foot face". It goes really bad really fast! 

Finally, Steve reports on the Antikythera mechanism, a device found at the bottom of the sea but appears to have been created to track astronomical events. The big beal is that the device is in the neighborhood of 2,200 years old,
and the technology in the device would not reappear for about another 1,00 years! Follow the link above for more information on the device... after listening to the show, of course!


Thanks again to Josiah for being such a trooper and holding off on his spectacular presentation until next week! Until then, we'll see you in the dark!   

We made it to number five, and it's a blast! This week, Josiah blows us away with his description of the wendigo (or windigo, if you prefer), a creature of Algonquin origins that carries the distinction of having the taste for human flesh! Even the scientifically acknowledged Wendigo Psychosis drives regular folk into flesh-craving lunatic cannibals!

Steve draws the equipment card for the second week in a row, and selects a tool nearly as far as he can from last week's high-tech instrument. He discusses divining rods, their history, types, and some of the beliefs of how they work. From water witching to spirit communication, their uses are as varied as their construction. Just be sure to keep a tight grip on your rod when entering a spooky place! 

Finally, Mike reviews the legendary Villisca Ax(e) Murder House! The grisly and tragic murders of 1912 are still unsolved, and the circumstances around the circumstances around the event are nearly as wild as the crime itself! A botched investigation, false accusations and confessions, as well as a currently active haunting add to the mystique of this location! Check out the official site for the virtual tour that provides a great feel for the intimacy of the place. Additionally, listen to the chilling and disturbing EVP captured by the American Paranormal Research Association. The home is open for day tours, as well as overnight investigations.

Please comment or send a message about the show, or if you have an idea for topics you'd like to see covered on another episode! Until next time, watch out for the wendigo, and we'll see you in the dark!    

One day, the mysteriously missing second episode may make an appearance. Until then, we'll keep plugging along pretending to count correctly! This episode attempts to introduce a "new normal" in P1's format. For this week, each of us presented a topic of our choosing. Mike introduced the elusive and perhaps mythological creature named the squonk. No, it has nothing to do with vaping. This squonk knows how miserably ugly he is, and dissolves into a pool of his own tears when captured! The legendary creature has influenced some pop culture works, and maybe even a certain hunting game played in the woods at night.   UPDATE: Apparently, snipe hunts existed in the 1840's, long before the first documented mention of the squonk, so there is likely no connection there. 

Josiah started a great discussion regarding the potential effect of the location of a person's passing on where a haunting takes place. This topic will certainly be revisited regularly, as it sparked ideas about the differences between spirits and ghosts, cemeteries as investigative grounds, and the transient nature of certain haunting entities. 

Steve discussed a piece of equipment that he and Josiah have used themselves, the GS2 Laser Grid System. This device is not priced as an entry-level device, but it adds a laser grid to a new device that tracks motion, distance, direction, temperature, size, and shape of objects in front of it. It is starting to appear on your favorite shows, and looks to be a great piece of tech!

Although we each picked out put own items for discussion this week, moving forward random topics will be selected. These will include:
-Equipment
-"Fresh" Locations
-Classic Hauntings
-Cryptids
-Worldwide Spooks
-TV Shows
-Skeptical Views / Controversy
-Ancient Mysteries
-Psychic Talents
-WTF?
-Famous Personalities
-Superstitions / Folklore

Hopefully we will have a better randomizing process in the future, but the table is set for the next episode! Check out this show, and please send us your feedback! We are trying to make improvements each week, and we depend on the listeners to let us know if we are on target or maybe need to make adjustments. Thanks, everyone, and we'll see you in the dark!  

Episode 3 is really Episode 4, but the second audio podcast after the videos so this might actually be the fifth show...? Additionally, this is now my third blog entry despite the fact that it is the only one you see; I'm counting the witty and insightful entry from last night that I accidentally deleted. Additionally, I purposefully deleted a second post that was spiteful and full of hate. Now you and I are left with a sloppy reconstruction, and a rambling opening sentence that is a mash-up of Traveling Wilburys and Star Wars. So here we sit with take three, a fitting continuation of the chaos that, to this point, has been Paranormal 1! 

In this show, we debut the new format that is not just me going on and on about whatever bypasses the filter between my creepy brain and my mouth. Now, you get to experience the pleasure of three people trying to filter out the creepy brain stuff. Abandoning my solo vision, I turned to Steve Bartel and Josiah Lee Henson to help keep me on track and requiring me to push out podcasts a bit more regularly!   

If you stayed with me this far, you have way too much time and your hands, but then too you might be overly-susceptible to the power of suggestion. Hopefully, you either have already or will listen to the podcast. If you have listened already, my apologies. I promise that future shows will have less "ME! ME! ME!", and more information about paranormal topics. Since you are still reading this, I'll do the work of providing Facebook and Contact Page links. You're welcome. Additionally, once my feeble old brain figures out what Instagram is and what it does, that will be another resource to connect with us. Since I have graciously provided means to contact us, please send along any thoughts about this show or suggestions about future topics. I promise the response will be far friendlier than what you are seeing now!