The Paranormal Podcast

Historian and author Tim Rayborn joins us for a deep look into the strange, frightening and often forgotten legends that live beneath the surface of the holiday season. From the rise of Krampus to centuries-old tales of winter demons, ghostly intruders and night-stalking creatures, Tim walks us through the darker side of Christmas tradition and what these stories reveal about survival, morality and the human imagination. We discuss how frightening folklore once served as teaching tools, why these tales flourished in cold, pre-industrial winters, and the surprising ritual of leaving food or clothing to avoid becoming a monster’s next target. We also explore how Victorian ghost stories became a firmly rooted seasonal tradition, why The Nutcracker was once much more unsettling than the ballet we know today, and how cultures outside Europe developed their own chilling winter rituals. Tim shares his favorite creatures, the most shocking tales he uncovered, and how modern culture has reshaped these old fears into festivals, parades and pop-culture icons. If you thought Christmas was all candles and comfort, this conversation may change the way you see December forever. You can find Tim's book, The Scary Book of Christmas Lore: 50 Terrifying Yuletide Tales from Around the World, at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rNjt8r --- HOLIDAY ORNAMENT CONTEST Get in on the holiday fun and maybe win a great prize with your own creation. Get all the details at ⁠⁠https://jimharold.com/holiday2025 This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support!⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Theresa Cheung returns to explore the powerful world of dreams. She talks about why she delved into world of fiction, how the story in her debut novel, NightBorn, weaves real dream-work principles into a fast-paced plot, and why readers are reporting unusually vivid dream recall just from seeing the cover. Theresa also breaks down how dreams function as symbolic messages, why nightmares can be useful, and how precognitive dreams show up in everyday life more often than people realize. Theresa explains how creative minds have long used the liminal dream state for problem-solving and imagination, then offers insight into Jim’s recurring “old boss” nightmare and what it might mean. It's a grounded, insightful conversation about the inner world we visit every night. You can find NightBorn at Amazon: https://amzn.to/49VQIzV Thanks Theresa! -- – This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! – HOLIDAY ORNAMENT CONTEST Get in on the holiday fun and maybe win a great prize with your own creation. Get all the details at ⁠https://jimharold.com/holiday2025⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why are we so fixated on ETs? Journalist Becky Ferreira has looked into it and reports back her findings on this week's edition of The Paranormal Podcast. Becky has a new book out on the subject, First Contact: The Story of Our Obsession with Aliens. You can find it at Amazon.com: https://amzn.to/4oKbwi2 Thanks Becky! - This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! - HOLIDAY ORNAMENT CONTEST Get in on the holiday fun and maybe win a great prize with your own creation. Get all the details at https://jimharold.com/holiday2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim welcomes Josh Golembeske of Cosmic Disclosure on Gaia to discuss the mysterious object known as the Buga Sphere, discovered in Colombia and now at the center of intense debate in UFO research circles. Josh explains how he came to hold the sphere himself and what he observed about its markings, composition, and rumored internal structure. The conversation broadens into theories of reverse-engineered craft, consciousness research, and crash-retrieval programs, along with recent claims by whistleblowers and researchers like Jaime Maussan and Dr. Steven Greer. Thought-provoking and fast-moving, this episode explores the tension between belief, evidence, and speculation in today’s disclosure movement. Cosmic Disclosure at Gaia: https://www.gaia.com/series/cosmic-disclosure Thanks Josh! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim talks with filmmaker Seth Breedlove of Small Town Monsters about his new documentary Lost Contact. The film explores the 1948 death of Captain Thomas Mantell, a decorated pilot who died while chasing a mysterious object over Kentucky. Seth shares what drew him to the story, why it remains an overlooked case in UFO history, and how it connects to the broader conversation about secrecy, heroism, and unexplained aerial encounters. Jim and Seth also discuss how different areas of the paranormal world often stay in their own lanes and whether they might share more common ground than people think. They touch on government explanations, the media’s treatment of Mantell, and the human side of the story that deserves to be remembered. Watch Lost Contact at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4nEk3BU You can find out more about all of Seth’s films at https://smalltownmonsters.com Thanks Seth! This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ouija expert Karen A. Dahlman joins Jim to explore the mysteries of the Ouija board. Karen shares the fascinating origins of the board, from its 19th-century spiritualist roots to its rise as a pop culture icon. She explains why she feels the Ouija itself isn’t dangerous, and discusses how she’s used it for decades as a tool for channeling and self-discovery. Karen also sheds light on the board’s misunderstood reputation, the story of William Fuld, and what she’s learned from years of communication with spirit guides and animals alike. Whether you view the Ouija as a game, a gateway, or something in between, this episode offers an informed and fascinating perspective. OCTOBER SPECIAL: Get a 14 DAY FREE TRIAL OF SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS ON APPLE PODCASTS ONLY! ⁠ https://apple.co/spooky Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author Tui Snyder joins Jim to explore some of the world’s most extraordinary burial sites and the stories they tell. From marble sculptures depicting a lover’s final farewell to wooden crosses painted with cheeky epitaphs in Romania, Tui reveals how art, humor, and faith intertwine in graveyards across the globe. Together they discuss the evolution of cemetery art — from the grand monuments of the Victorian era to today’s simpler markers — and what those changes reveal about how we view life and death. Tui also shares highlights from her travels to places like Milan’s Cimitero Monumentale, where thousands of life-size sculptures turn the cemetery into an open-air museum. It’s a moving, fascinating conversation about the beauty and meaning found in the world’s “amazing graves.” You can find Around The World In 80 Graves at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4oBoZsf Thanks Tui! --- OCTOBER SPECIAL: Get a 14 DAY FREE TRIAL OF SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS ON APPLE PODCASTS ONLY! ⁠ https://apple.co/spooky This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author, historian, and scholar of the occult Mitch Horowitz joins Jim to discuss his new book The Sixth Sense: Napoleon Hill’s Ultimate Step to Success. In this wide-ranging conversation, Mitch explores the enduring idea that thought can shape reality. They discuss how thinkers like Napoleon Hill linked imagination, emotion, and willpower to real-world outcomes, and how modern neuroscience echo those same principles today. Mitch and Jim also touch on consciousness, perception, and the intersection between spirituality and science. Later in the episode, Mitch reflects on how understanding “green lights” in life can help us recognize when we’re on the right path. Note: This conversation was recorded in August. Mitch Horowitz’s book The Sixth Sense: Napoleon Hill’s Ultimate Step to Success was released on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. You can find Mitch's new book at Amazon: https://amzn.to/46ZJqco Thanks Mitch! --- This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and investigator Richard Estep joins Jim to discuss two of his newest books and the strange cases behind them. From the enduring mystery of the Mothman legend to firsthand accounts of chilling hauntings, Richard shares what he has learned from decades spent researching the world’s most unnerving phenomena. OCTOBER SPECIAL: Get a 14 DAY FREE TRIAL OF SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS ON APPLE PODCASTS ONLY! ⁠https://apple.co/spooky They explore how folklore, eyewitness testimony, and field investigation collide in Mothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying Cryptid and Ghostly Encounters: Terrifyingly True Hauntings. Along the way, Richard recounts some of his most memorable cases, including haunted hospitals, spectral sightings, and the infamous Flight 401 story that inspired one of the creepiest ghost legends of all time. If you enjoy a mix of grounded research and spine-tingling tales, you won’t want to miss this conversation. You can find both of Richard's new books at Amazon: Mothman: Sightings and Investigations of the Iconic Flying Cryptid https://amzn.to/3W3GlBS Ghostly Encounters: Terrifyingly True Hauntings https://amzn.to/3W3wb45 Thanks Richard! -- This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Something strange stirs in the cold, dark waters of Lake Superior. Author and explorer Chad Lewis joins us to share tales from his new book Supernatural Lake Superior. From ghost ships that vanish into the mist to monstrous serpents seen from the shore, the world’s largest freshwater lake hides more mysteries than you might imagine. We also explore haunted lighthouses, eerie campgrounds, and legends that predate modern history. Chad takes us along the rugged shorelines and deep waters that have inspired centuries of folklore, blending history and the supernatural into a fascinating look at one of North America’s most haunted regions. You’ll think twice the next time you gaze across that endless water… wondering what might be looking back. You can find Chad's book at Amazon: https://www.chadlewisresearch.com/ Thanks Chad! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices