"Miracles may potentially occur when large crowds of people who share a similar worldview come together. Their combined faith and emotion may somehow become linked to the world around them. Miracles may be the result." –Miracles by D. Scott Rogo


In the final episode of Season 1, journey with Richard as he navigates the tumultuous landscape of his career and personal life, all while finding solace and purpose in the pages of both of his Miracles. As Richard grapples with the ups and downs of life, including the slow opening of The Mothman Prophecies and the heartache of divorce, Miracles emerges as his creative sanctuary.

But just when it seems like Miracles might be the answer to his prayers, Richard faces a devastating blow when execs seemingly reject the pilot, leaving him reeling. What will be the fate of Miracles?

This episode serves as a culmination of themes explored throughout our season – the power of belief, the comfort of books, and the ability to turn to creativity amidst personal turmoil. Through Richard's journey, we're reminded of the tension between being a believer and skeptic in our own lives and the strength found in embracing the unknown.

Join Richard as he shares the highs and lows of his journey, from the depths of despair to the heights of hope, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, miracles can still happen. Tune in now for the part 3 of 3 of the Miracles series.

“The exact same phenomenon can be investigated very differently depending on whether the investigator is a clergyman -- or a parapsychologist.” –Miracles by D. Scott Rogo

By September 13th, 2001 the world was changing hourly. Richard gets a call that the execs at Touchstone want to "re-approach" the original outline that he had toiled over for weeks. This is the kind of news that could undo a writer. But, the world was changing. Why shouldn't Miracles?

And it is in this moment, dear listener, where Richard finally remembers his unwanted book, Miracles by D. Scott Rogo. Although he had never read a word of it, now he was hungry for some inspiration to help him get through the rewrite. He learns that Rogo's approach in the book was to examine various infamous paranormal cases from levitation to bilocation, as a parapsychologist and not a priest.

As Richard was skimming (and let's be honest skipping) through the pages he realized that the disconnect he felt to the religion-heavy content was a solution to the problem he was having in the pilot. What if instead of a believer and a skeptic, of things being at odds...we had two believers. The same phenomenon is investigated differently depending on the investigator. This opened up endless opportunities for Miracles, from UFOs to haunted houses. All the things Richard loves. All the things we've explored this season.

As Richard navigates the rewrite, he confronts his work against the backdrop of genuine fear and a life boiling over with change. Join him on a journey through uncertainty, discovery, and the quest for understanding in this gripping Part 2 of 3 of the Miracle Series.

“Go inside the mind of one of television and movies’ wildest storytellers…”  Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf is a podcast that feels like discovering a secret diary.  Every episode unravels the mysteries of a book from Richard's bookshelf and a story from Richard’s life, weaving together the excitement of the supernatural and the warmth of personal storytelling.

“It is my hope to show in this book that the evidence authenticating the existence of miracles is indeed so strong that its collective falsehood would be, quite literally, miraculous." –Miracles by D. Scott Rogo

All book people know this to be true: sometimes you find the book; sometimes the book finds you. And sometimes the book that you wanted to find got sold to someone in Delaware. The book that Richard Hatem found was Miracles by D. Scott Rogo. But the book Richard was actually looking for was Phone Calls From The Dead ” by D. Scott Rogo & Raymond Bayless. Right author, wrong title, and the bookstore (all the way in Dela-WHERE) had already sold the hard-to-find title.
This mishap felt like another unlucky blow in a continual, mortal kombat-level series of unlucky blows. But, Richard didn’t want to read it. Even when another Miracle came his way–this one a job offer to rewrite a movie script, Miracles, into a TV show. As the book version of Miracles lays forgotten somewhere in his house, he hurriedly tries to make the script he was given work for television. To be something that execs will love, will help his family, and maybe solidify his career.

In Part 1 of 3 of the Miracles series, Richard reflects on the curious twists of fate that led him to these kismet encounters with "Miracles," reminding us all that sometimes, the universe has a way of guiding us to exactly where we need to be.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/

“I decide to do some investigating of my own. I don’t know it yet, but I’m about to begin one of the most complex investigations of my career.” –The Amityville Horror Conspiracy by Stephen Kaplan and Roxanne Salch Kaplan

Can you imagine if Richard Hatem wrote the remake of the Amityville Horror? Well, stop imagining it now because it would have deeply offended Stephen Kaplan, the co-author of one of Richard Hatem’s favorite books of ALL time: The Amityville Horror Conspiracy by Stephen Kaplan and Roxanne Salch Kaplan. 

In 2004, Richard's agent pitched him an Amityville Horror remake. But here's the twist: Richard's not exactly jumping at the opportunity. He's still reeling from the cancellation of his show "Miracles," but he takes his agent’s reading list anyway because he is Richard Hatem, after all. One of the books he reads while in between shows is The Amityville Horror Conspiracy. If you’ve listened to the rest of season 1 so far, you may be confused as to why one of Richard’s favorite books is about debunking. And, while the book may be a masterclass on debunking, it’s also beautifully human, achingly real, and absolutely heart-breaking. Kaplan believes in ghosts but can’t stomach the hoax that he believes Amityville to be.

Join Richard as he navigates the choppy waters of Hollywood, from the heartache of canceled projects to the challenges of carving out his niche in someone else's production. In this episode of Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf, truth is stranger than fiction...and Hollywood is stranger than them both. 

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

"The tragic history of 112 Ocean Avenue didn't matter to George, Kathy, or their three children. This was still the home they had always wanted." –The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

You’ve probably heard of Love in the Time of Cholera…but what about love in the time of The Amityville Horror? In this episode, we're packing our lunch boxes and heading to Brightwood Elementary School in 1978. Join Richard as he devours his favorite Christmas present yet, The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson, while a girl named Kim devours all his time.

As Richard reads and re-reads the Lutz family's ordeal, he feels intimately connected to their struggles. George's brooding demeanor, Kathy's escalating fear, and the children's confusion resonate with Richard, who identifies with their sense of impending doom. Because, well, he’s in love.

Experience Richard's journey through young love, loss, confusion, and the eerie allure of "The Amityville Horror". By the end of it, maybe you'll agree that falling in love and living in a haunted house are pretty similar.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

"At first, he couldn't believe what was happening. A shape was beginning to form. He could clearly see the head and face of a man. O'Neil was gripped in fear. 'My God, who are you?' Bill said. He was more than surprised when the figure answered: 'They call me Doc Nick'." – from The Ghost of 29 Megacycles by John G. Fuller.

Close your eyes and picture this: it's the winter of 1984. Karma Chameleon is on the radio, Ronald Reagan just announced his candidacy for a second presidential term, and a young Richard was returning home late on a Saturday night when his brother, John, caught him in the hallway and made him listen to the scariest thing they'd ever heard.

In this episode, Richard explores The Ghost of 29 Megacycles by John G. Fuller. This book chronicles the development and use of the Spiricom device, an invention claiming to facilitate two-way communication between the living and the dead. As Richard immerses himself in the pages of The Ghost of 29 Megacycles, which he found in 1997, he can’t help but see himself reflected in the pages. You see, he was holed up in the Heathman Hotel in Portland, Oregon, working on The Mothman Prophecies. Through Meek's unwavering belief in the impossible, Richard finds inspiration to embrace his own sense of limitless belief, propelling him to finish the screenplay and truly bet on himself.

Join Richard as he uncovers the mysteries of the Spiricom and reflects on the power of belief, in both yourself…and the paranormal. 

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

“Someone else knew about the circles! My breath jammed in my throat, and in a storm of terror I hurled the book across the room and fled from the house, too frightened to even say goodbye.”  – Dancing Past the Dark by Nancy Evans Bush

Look, no one wants to think about dying, but it’s inevitable, right? So if we can’t talk about it, maybe reading a book about it will be better. Enter: Dancing Past the Dark by Nancy Evans Bush, a book about Near Death Experiences (NDEs). This book serves as a catalyst for profound introspection and existential dread of the eternal question–what happens? And, let’s just say the first read-through of this text was so utterly demoralizing that Richard put the book down. Seriously. Initially disheartened by the unsettling revelations about life and near-death presented in the book, Richard can’t continue reading it. As he picks up and puts the book back down over the years, he grapples with the ebbs and flows of creative endeavors, celebrating the wins while feeling a tension with the unknown ahead. As the inevitability of his aging father's death looms closer, he thinks about NDEs again, compelled to confront the profound questions unearthed by Bush. And, when he finally finishes the book, well, he’s come to a much different conclusion. How? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out. Join us as we navigate the complexities of belief and disbelief, life and death, creativity and constraint, as Richard finally finishes the book he put down so many times.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/

Richard delves into challenging misconceptions held by both skeptics and believers through the lens of Jule Eisenbud's "The World of Ted Serios," which underscores the significance of caution in scientific inquiry while also exploring the debilitating doubt often encountered in paranormal exploration.

“Certainly an attitude of caution and skepticism should be expected of anyone undertaking to test a hypothesis according to conventional cannons of scientific inquiry. But not the kind of gnawing, festering doubt that took possession of me." –The World of Ted Serios by Jule Eisenbud

In this episode of Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf, we’re exploring The World of Ted Serios by Jule Eisenbud. And we’re taking on one of the longest-standing feuds in the world of paranormal exploration: skeptics vs. believers.

In the 1960s, Theodore Judd Serios, a Chicago bellhop, gained fame for producing "thoughtographs.” Ted, it seems,  could think images onto film. Polaroid film to be exact. Parapsychologist Jule Eisenbud arranges to meet with him, and over the next three years of wild experiments, Jule goes down a rabbit hole from which he never completely emerged.

As Richard immerses himself in Eisenbud's narrative, he grapples with the dichotomy between skeptics and believers, challenging misconceptions that often plague serious paranormal inquiry. Through insightful commentary, Richard sheds light on the rational pursuit of knowledge among individuals intrigued by the unexplained, contrasting it with the hasty conclusions drawn by both skeptics and true believers. 

Richard reflects on his complicated courtship with his wife Susan Lambert, while taking us on guided tour through Farah Yurdozu's book of David Huggin's eerie paintings: Love In An Alien Purgatory.

“Crescent’s night visits became a routine part of David’s life. She would visit him twice or three times a week. What David experienced with Crescent was much more than a “normal” sex dream. But he still didn’t know whether Crescent was a dream – or a real woman.”  – Love In An Alien Purgatory by Farah Yurdozu.”

Join us for a journey through space, love, and Santa Barbara in this episode of Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf.  In this episode, Richard explores the complexities of relationships and the fear, joy, wonder, and confusion of commitment as he shares his personal reflections on love, marriage, and aliens. 

Love in an Alien Purgatory – The Life and Fantastic Art of David Huggins by Farah Yurdozu explores David Huggins and his relationship with Crescent, his alien lover. David Huggins’ encounters with alien visitors began in the 1950s, spanned decades – and led to the birth of over sixty hybrid children. Paired with his vivid and sometimes unsettling full-color paintings, his story offers a glimpse into a world between two dimensions—a purgatory of hope, sex, fear, and ultimately, love.

From alien encounters to existential crises, each perspective within this episode, the relationship of Richard & Susan and David and his alien lover, Crescent, offers a glimpse into the human psyche and the mysteries that lie beyond our understanding. Join us as we navigate the blurred boundaries between reality and the paranormal, guided by Richard Hatem's introspective commentary and Farah Yurdozu's retelling of David Huggins’ experience & art.

“Whether you believe in ghosts or not—these stories are true.” –Ghosts & Specters by Bruce and Nancy Roberts

Being a kid can be scary.  In the premiere episode of Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf, Richard takes us on a nostalgic journey back to his childhood discovery of the book that changed everything. 
Travel back to 1974 as he recounts the pivotal moment when Aunt Sally gifted him Ghosts & Specters by Bruce and Nancy Roberts. This slim hardback, filled with haunting tales and eerie photographs, ignited Richard's fear and imagination and sparked a complicated lifelong fascination with the strange and unexplained that would later fuel his screenwriting career.

While Ghosts & Specters by Bruce and Nancy Roberts may seem unlikely to inspire an entire life, to Richard, it is anything but. It started him on a journey into the unknown, and he’s never looked back. Published by Doubleday, this collection of 10 stories describes ghostly apparitions and happenings paired with ghoulish photographs that seem to creep right out of the pages and into reality. Each tale within these pages transports readers to a world where the inexplicable becomes possible, and fear gives way to fascination (and then moves back to fear again). Maybe YOU have a book just like this on your shelf. It terrified you so completely that you couldn't put it down. Or, even stranger, maybe this is the same book that brought you to this podcast.

Join Richard as he reflects on the power of books that act as a beacon into the unknown and the transformative journey that book lovers and librarians can have in our lives. 

Richard & Susan drop in with some important upcoming dates and announcements about all things RHPB, including a couple of SPECIAL UPCOMING EPISODES you’ll want to know about right away… Enjoy!

Join special guests, Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess from “Astonishing Legends” for Richard Hatem’s first-ever AMA!

“As we sat there, watching, she transformed into this huge beastly creature, similar to what people might call a wolf. Right there in the middle of our church. It stood on hind legs and rode a roar that would’ve made a lion cower.”—Monsters Among Us by Linda Godfrey

Are you the kind of person who thinks ‘roughing it’ means staying at a hotel without Wi-Fi? Then pour some champagne to get through this episode set, mostly in the great(ish) outdoors. Let’s just say Monsters Among Us by Linda Godfrey has Richard rethinking that ‘quaint’ cabin in the woods Susan’s been pushing him to visit.

In this episode, you’ll join Richard as he dives into Linda’s lifelong research and colorful universe, exploring a world where camping might mean becoming some creature’s midnight snack and not even the suburbs can keep you safe. During his trek, Richard uncovers the camaraderie and pancakes that fuel the paranormal community and the joy of exploring the weirdness of the world, together.

Ready to venture off the beaten path? Grab a flashlight, say goodbye to room service, and join Richard for a rollicking deep dive into one of his wildest reads yet.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

“The Saucers don’t interest me anymore. When Barker asked is that because you found out they were too ordinary to be interesting? Or because what you discovered about them is too painful for you to think about?”—They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers by Gray Barker

Richard picked up They Knew Too Much About Flying Saucers while trying to crack the adaptation of The Mothman Prophecies during a three-week trip to New Mexico. He bought the book in the morning, started reading that afternoon, and by nightfall, the nightmares had begun.

Richard found the book at a time when he had one year to write The Mothman Prophecies screenplay—no deadlines, no structure, just finish the damn thing. Sounds like a dream, right? But that lack of accountability became its own prison, as Richard wrestled with the kind of creative pressure that can make even a family vacation feel like a ticking time bomb. Barker’s book echoed that same unsettling tension. It’s not about resolutions; it’s steeped in gnawing speculation, pulling you into a world where the only thing scarier than what’s inside a flying saucer are the shadowy figures working to keep the truth hidden

Beam yourself up into the saucer and explore UFO lore through the lens of the occult, government conspiracies, and the tortured relationships that shaped the field of ufology. And maybe, by the end of this episode, you’ll have your own answer to Barker’s question: are the saucers too ordinary to be interesting? Or is what you’ve learned about them too painful to even think about?

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

“Our first instinct was just sheer disbelief. We were trying to tell ourselves that it couldn't be real. It couldn't be happening. But it was.”—The Mammoth Mountain Poltergeist by Jenny Ashford and Tom Ross

In this episode, Richard dives into The Mammoth Mountain Poltergeist by Jenny Ashford and Tom Ross—a book that’s part childhood memoir, part full-throttle paranormal nightmare, and less than 150 pages. But don’t let its length fool you, it may be the most important poltergeist story ever written. Tom Ross, who’s around Richard's age, recounts the terrifying winter vacation where his family faced supernatural phenomena that just wouldn't stop. Imagine the worst, most upsetting family trip of your life and multiply it by…a poltergeist.

Richard first read this book in 2017, holed up in a condo in Mammoth during a ski vacation he’d rather forget. Fear has been a strange, and near constant companion, in Richard’s life. Yet, as he has discovered, confronting fear head-on can lead to unexpected revelations and personal growth. In this episode, he reflects on his own complicated relationship with fear, exploring how it can be both a barrier, a catalyst for change, and sometimes something you don’t have to take on.

Join Richard as he faces down the paranormal once more, revisiting a story about fear, transformation, and how the darkness finds us all eventually, even if we’re not looking. Buckle up, it’s about to get weirder.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

What do screenwriting, first dates, and electronic voice phenomena (EVP) have in common? For a teenaged Richard Hatem in December of 1982, it was the book: Voices of the Dead? By Susy Smith. Richard discovered something mind-blowing: you didn’t have to go anywhere to find a ghost. You just need a tape recorder, fresh batteries, and some time.

With this knowledge, the idea of ghost-hunting went from a distant dream to an unnervingly close reality. Personal proof of the paranormal was right within Richard’s reach, finally. If only he was brave enough to seize it. But, like most teenagers, Richard’s attention was divided. He was also thinking about girls, first dates, and what to do with the rest of his life.

Richard’s restless energy propelled him into these three pursuits that, while seemingly unrelated, all held the promise of discovery and validation. He was fueled by the need for answers and for understanding something beyond himself—whether it was voices from the beyond, the thrill of first loves, or how to eke out his creative identity. 

As Richard shares his story, remember: the ghosts are already listening. You just need the courage to press record.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

Losing your virginity, bargain-bin paperbacks, and phone calls from beyond the grave—just another summer in the life of Richard Hatem.

This week, Richard dusts off one of his strangest books, Phone Calls From the Dead by D. Scott Rogo and Raymond Bayless. But before he cracks the spine, we a detour back to the summer of 1983—a tale of his teenage years, his friend Larry, his girlfriend Michelle,  and the he-didn’t-even-know-it-was-life-changing moment when he unearthed this book in a record store.

It wasn’t just the title that grabbed him (although, let’s be honest, who wouldn’t pick up)—it was the creeping realization that these weren't your average ghost stories. Unlike EVP, where you call the other side, Phone Calls From the Dead flips the script. What happens when the dead pick up the receiver and call you? Only the 80s landline era could provide that level of existential dread.

So, put your phone on Do Not Disturb, settle in, and get ready for a journey through life’s firsts: rejection, loss, heartbreak, success, the first taste of adulthood. And hey—if your phone rings halfway through? Answer at your own risk.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

This isn’t your typical Christmas story—but it is a Christmas story: one that delves into second chances, goodwill towards humanity, ghosts, and hope. And it’s true.

Tonight, Richard Hatem brings you one of the strangest and most captivating tales he’s ever heard in Surgeon from Another World by George Chapman and Roy Stemman. It begins with a father’s devastating loss: at 25, George Chapman’s four-week-old daughter died. Struggling with grief and anger, he turned to spiritualism—hoping to connect with the beyond using whatever means necessary.

What he found was unexpected: his mother, who had passed away when he was just five years old, reached out with messages of comfort and clarity. But that was just the beginning. George Chapman’s journey into the spiritual realm quickly deepened, leading him to encounter Dr. Lang—a once-living surgeon now communicating from beyond the grave. Even those who had known Dr. Lang—friends, patients, family—were absolutely convinced they were truly in contact with him through George. Every response and question from Dr. Lang shattered any lingering doubt, leaving listeners captivated and questioning the very possibility of life after death.

For over 30 years, George’s interactions with these spirits defied skepticism and reshaped beliefs. This episode delves into how George Chapman’s experiences urge us to approach the inexplicable with an open mind and a spirit of curiosity.

Subscribe now for more stories from Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf, and visit richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com for more information on this episode and more.

As a special treat, Richard shares with you a sample of what's happening on his Patreon feed —an interview with Turkish ufologist Farah Yurdozu.  If you recognize the name, it's because she is the author of Love In An Alien Purgatory — The Life and Fantastic Art of David Huggins, which was featured on Episode 2 of Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf.   In this wide-ranging conversation, Richard and Farah talk about: Farah's grandfather's terrifying encounter with Reptilian entities in Baghdad; Göbekli Tepe; the theories of Jacques Vallee; the difference in alien abductions from America to Istanbul — and the very real possibility of alien/human hybrids.  Join us for a one-of-a-kind discussion — and find out what's happening on Richard Hatem's Paranormal PATREON!"

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

“I had heard of poltergeists – the spirit of a dead person causing some sort of disturbance in the house where the person resided before dying. For the first time I faced the real possibility that the source of all that had been happening could be my son – dead, but still living.”

In this episode, travel with Richard Hatem to – “The Other Side” by Bishop James A. Pike, with Diane Kennedy. This book recounts the chilling experiences of Bishop Pike, an Episcopal leader who, in the wake of his son’s suicide, found himself crossing into a realm few are willing to acknowledge.

In his search for an explanation, Pike turns to various mediums, paranormal experts, and eventually concludes that his son’s personality had somehow survived death. The haunting events that unfolded during these months left Pike—and those around him—questioning the very nature of life, death, and what might lie beyond the veil.

But this episode isn’t just about Pike’s journey. It’s also about Richard’s own other side. When his girlfriend’s dad handed him The Other Side, Richard left it gathering dust on his desk for weeks. Why? Because he was stuck in his own emotional quicksand—trying to survive a long-distance relationship and all the teenage drama that came with it. Richard talks about his own experiences with love, loss, and how he found comfort in friends who managed to make him laugh when he felt like his world was falling apart.  Along the way, listeners will learn how grief, love, and the supernatural can unexpectedly collide, pushing us to rethink everything we thought we knew about the other side. Feeling more desperate by the hour, Richard finally decides to take a “big swing” to save himself – but will it work?  We’ll find out in The Other Side – Part Two…

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

It's a SPECIAL RHPB BONUS EPISODE! Grab a drink, sit down by the fireplace and join Richard as he answers the questions you've been asking him since the show began!  From favorite authors to TV show plot twists; from Bible classes to the Sex Pistols; from cocktails to cats-and-dogs to cursing — he covers it all! And find out just how and when he'll be coming to YOUR city — LIVE.  Relax, get cozy — it's time to "create your own culture" with RHPB!

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

"The Other Side" by Bishop James A. Pike, with Diane Kennedy Part 2

We’re back on The Other Side, diving deeper into Bishop James A. Pike’s gripping search for a connection with his late son – and Richard Hatem’s high-stakes hijinks as a burgeoning writer chasing his dream. While Pike wrestles with the profound—and sometimes unsettling—realities of life, death, and faith, Richard takes a big swing of his own, trying to break into the world of television by breaking his way into the office of legendary TV creator Stephen J. Cannell.

For Pike, the stakes couldn’t be higher as he navigated the fine line between faith and fraud. Did he uncover genuine evidence of his son’s spirit, or was he simply a grieving father, too willing to believe? The stakes also couldn’t have been higher for Richard, a teenager desperate to be seen—not just by his hero, but by the world as a writer. 

As tensions mount in Pike’s spiritual quest and Richard’s personal life, each faces the uncomfortable collision of doubt, hope, and the pursuit of something greater. Join us to explore ambition, belief, and the light that emerges when we step into the unknown.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

On July 27, 2011, Richard Hatem came home from work to find a book waiting for him—Glimpses of Eternity by Raymond Moody. He remembers the date well, because it was also the day he got fired. And if you’ve ever been fired, you know the feeling: shock, relief, maybe  a strange sense of joy. It also ushered in a phase of creative revival and exploration, reminding us that the most unexpected transitions can open a door. 

Raymod Moody knew a thing or two about that. At just 30, he became famous for introducing the world to Near-Death Experiences (NDEs), and eventually Shared Death Experiences (SDEs). SDEs occur when a healthy person gets pulled into someone else’s final moments, glimpsing the other side without ever dying themselves. As the kids might say, you bogart someone else’s death trip.

Of all the supernatural experiences out there, Richard Hatem has only ever wanted this one. Because what if you didn’t have to be the one dying to get a glimpse of the other side? These moments blur the line between joy and heartbreak, where loss and hope mingle.

Sometimes, the only way to find the light is by going through the dark—and if you’re lucky, you just might emerge on the other side with a new understanding of what it means to live.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at: www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com 

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Investigating Mediums by Julie Beischel, PhD.

In this episode, join Richard Hatem as he cracks open Investigating Mediums by Dr. Julie Beischel. In her book, Dr. Beischel attempts a scientific exploration into the world of psychic mediums. What began as an academic pursuit for Dr. Beischel evolved into years of testing and research—none of which have brought her a dime. If that doesn’t convince you of her sincerity, maybe nothing will.

But Richard’s own experience with mediums adds another layer to this book. Having undergone multiple private readings with mediums, it’s his first two we’re exploring tonight. The first reading left him with insights into his creative process and a sense of validation about his approach thanks to his spirit guides. But the second? It left him questioning everything.

As Richard navigates the tangled threads of grief, creativity, and scientific inquiry, he invites listeners to reconsider what they think they know about mediums. So, mix up your favorite spirit, dim the lights, and prepare for a session exploring the world of mediums and their messages. After all, when it comes to the supernatural, sometimes the only thing more mysterious than the messages... is the messenger.

Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/ 

It’s our First Anniversary!  Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf debuted one year ago today, and to celebrate we’re re-broadcasting the very first episode where Richard receives the book that changes his life -- and gets introduced to his very first paranormal bookshelf.  Join Richard and everyone here at RHPB as we celebrate the episode that started it all -- and Richard shares some exciting news about an upcoming live event!  

What does it actually feel like to be a psychic medium? What is it like to have ghosts be a constant part of your otherwise normal life? Cindy Valenzuela and Colleen McKinnie can tell you -- because they are both in touch with the spirit world every day. They are both wives and mothers, they have professional careers -- and they can communicate with those who have passed on. In our conversation, we’ll find out the scariest part of being a medium, what to do when your kid starts demonstrating psychic abilities, how these talents affect your belief in life after death -- and ultimately, what is it like to die?
Cindy Valenzuela is a school psychologist in Los Angeles County, who works testing and counseling special needs students. She and her husband also write, produce and star in the YouTube supernatural travel series Ghost Tourist. Colleen McKinnie is a fashion tech entrepreneur and a full-time mom. Colleen now also works as an intuitive guide and psychic medium.

LINKS:
Book an appointment with Colleen McKinnie here:
https://calendly.com/intuitivesessions

NEW RHPB SEASON 3 PREMIERE DATE -- FRIDAY JUNE 13TH! 

In this Special Bonus Episode, Richard catches up with good friend and writer Mark O’Connell, author of the modern UFO classic The Close Encounters Man: How One Man Made the World Believe in UFOs -- the wildly entertaining story of J. Allen Hynek, the astronomer who invented the concept of "Close Encounters" with alien life, inspired Steven Spielberg’s classic film and made an entire nation want to believe in UFOs.  Mark’s new book, The Year Science Changed Everything: 1957's International Geophysical Year and the Future of Our Planet is out now.

Richard and Mark talk about everything from Steven Spielberg to Carl Sagan; from skeptics to believers; from the Abominable Snowman to Jurassic Park; and from Donald Fagen to dancing aliens! Plus -- a Jacques Valleé bombshell you won’t believe! 

Links:

Buy The Close Encounters Man here: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/the-close-encounters-man-mark-oconnell?variant=32207515811874

Buy The Year Science Changed Everything here: https://www.prometheusbooks.com/9781493084906/the-year-science-changed-everything/

Watch The Lost Monster Files here: https://go.discovery.com/show/lost-monster-files-discovery-atve-us 

Season 3 of RHPB starts in 2 weeks -- June 13th!

Join Richard and his extra special guest, his wife Susan Lambert -- creator and cohost of the podcast 80’s TV Ladies -- as they tease Season 3 episodes, share DATES OF UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS -- and explore a very weird dream Richard had that might mean one of them is psychic!

If you have location ideas for LIVE RHPB SHOWS, contact us at richard@richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com

“It appeared that in a single day Janet had levitated, traveled out of her physical body, made a book go through the wall from one room to another and caused a heavy cushion to travel from a closed room onto the roof. It did not sound possible, but five different people were certain it had all happened.” – Guy Lyon Playfair, This House Is Haunted
 
How can a thing be true and false at the same time?  Frightening and funny?  Scary and dull?   Real and unreal?  How can something be itself -- and its own opposite?  Easy: it’s a poltergeist.
 
For over two years the Hodgson family in Enfield, England were plagued with a poltergeist that simultaneously played by – and broke – all the rules of poltergeistery.  As usual, there were cries of fraud from the very beginning.  And as usual, there were dozens of witnesses to phenomena that could have no earthly explanation.  Psychic investigators Guy Lyon Playfair and Maurice Grosse spent hundreds of hours living with the Hodgson’s and documented everything that went on in their house.  But what happens when an avalanche of evidence breeds nothing but more skepticism?  And what do you do when the very word “poltergeist” seems suddenly too small to describe a display of supernatural effects so vast that the case has been called the greatest haunting in history?
 
In 2009, Richard, his wife Susan, and their three children moved into a house in Pasadena, California that promises to be the culmination of all of Richard’s dreams.  But that’s not exactly how it works out.  They say haunted houses are fueled by the stress and anxiety of the families who live inside them.  But if that’s true, isn’t every house a haunted house?  For Richard, beyond the dark charm of the bookshelf lined office, the eternal glow of the private wet-bar – and the strange melancholy allure of the swimming pool hidden behind the black, vine-covered fence… lies the truth of every house, every family and every dream that stays hauntingly just out of reach.

Buy This House Is Haunted By Guy Lyon Playfair from Bookshop.org HERE.

Support RHPB on Patreon HERE!

Celebrate 2026 with 26% off all RHPB merch with offer code RHPB26! CLICK HERE and the discount is pre-applied!

Need help with your personal writing projects?  Richard is here to help!  Get 20% off when you mention RHPB!  https://www.richardhatem.com/

The Cumin Club – delicious, easy, authentic Indian cuisine delivered right to your door.  Use offer code RHPB to get 30% off on EVERY ORDER! https://www.thecuminclub.com/

“This is not going to be edited.  It's just me and a microphone talking about my journey with this (UFO) topic and where I'm at. There are many of you who have asked: ‘When's the show coming back?’ I just kind of want this to be the end of it all. This podcast is never coming back.”  –- Rob Kristoffersen, on the final episode of “Our Strange Skies”

On February 28th, 2026, UFO expert Rob Kristoffersen abruptly ended his extremely popular podcast “Our Strange Skies.”  In a candid, intimate and largely improvised 21-minute monologue, he explains why.  When I heard it, I was so blown away I knew I had to talk to him – and then I decided to bring all of you in on the conversation.

Most podcasts don’t end – they just stop. But Rob decided to address his reasons for leaving podcasting by talking frankly about the rarely discussed challenges and demands of the medium. For anyone who has ever tried podcasting, you’ll hear your own story here. For those of you who are podcast fans, you’ll get a rare and surprising look behind the curtain at what makes podcasting so alluring –– and so heartbreaking.

In our conversation, Rob and I discuss “paranormal fatigue”; how COVID changed podcasting for the better -- and worse; the end of the “little guy podcast” and the rise of celebrity-casts; paranormal “comfort food” podcasts – and the biggest question facing podcasters: are we all just “Patreon whores”? Finally, Rob gives us a peek at what he’s up to now and what’s next for him in terms of exploring even newer avenues for creative expression.

NOTES & LINKS

Follow rob on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/yerguyrob/

Check out Rob’s Substack “Foolology” here
https://foolology.substack.com/

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Celebrate 2026 with 26% off all RHPB merch with offer code RHPB26! CLICK HERE and the discount is pre-applied!https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/promo/RHPB26

Need help with your personal writing projects? Richard is here to help! Get 20% off when you mention RHPB!  https://www.richardhatem.com/

The Cumin Club – delicious, easy, authentic Indian cuisine delivered right to your door. Use offer code RHPB to get 30% off on EVERY ORDER!
https://promocode.to/the-cumin-club/rhpb-92t

“SOMETHING is making those goddamn footprints and I’m going to find out what it is!” – René Dahinden, Sasquatch

The 1970’s were prime “flesh-and-blood” Sasquatch years.  It seemed like everyone who was looking for Bigfoot was sure they were gonna find him (or her) any minute now.  Don Hunter and René Dahinden were no different.  After all, if something exists in the real world, it’s just a matter of time before you’re holding it in your arms – right?

In 1977 Richard was in search of a girl he barely knew.  She drifted through his school, his neighborhood, his dreams – always glimpsed in motion, in the corner of his eye -- but when would she become real?  As Don Hunter and René Dahinden scour the Pacific Northwest in their search for Sasquatch, will Richard’s hunt bring him any closer to his mystery girl?

Links:

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Celebrate 2026 with 26% off all RHPB merch with offer code RHPB26! CLICK HERE and the discount is pre-applied! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/promo/RHPB26

Need help with your personal writing projects?  Richard is here to help!  Get 20% off when you mention RHPB!  https://www.richardhatem.com/

Buy Sasquatch by Don Hunter and René Dahinden here https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=don%20hunter&ch_sort=t&cm_sp=sort-_-SRP-_-Results&ds=30&dym=on&rollup=on&sortby=1&tn=sasquatch

Buy Joshua Cutchins and Timothy Renner’s book Where The Footprints End, Volumes 1 & 2  here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/where-the-footprints-end-high-strangeness-and-the-bigfoot-phenomenon-volume-i-folklore-joshua-cutchin/09962a8798ca581c?ean=9798634992617&next=t

Today I am thrilled to bring you an episode of an all-new podcast by RHPB guest, fan and my good friend Dan Zetterstrom!  PATREON members will remember him from the episode where he shared his experience visiting spirit healer Michael Chapman – the son of George Chapman who was featured in the RHPB episode “Surgeon From Another World”.  Dan is a kind, intelligent and relentlessly curious guy and his show “What It Means To Be Human” dives deep into the mysteries of consciousness, humanity and the anomalous.  This episode features a fascinating conversation with comedian, actor and writer Michael Ian Black (Reno 911!, Wet Hot American Summer).  Their talk touches on everything from John Keel to orb sightings to near death experiences to the collective unconscious – to Michael’s growing discomfort with the politics and personalities orbiting “official disclosure”.  This is a fun and fast-moving interview that I think you guys will love.

You can find “What It Means To Be Human” on Spotify, Apple podcasts, YouTube and everywhere you get your Podcasts

Follow “What It Means to Be Human” here: https://www.tobehumanshow.com/

“A flight attendant was in the lower galley when she happened to glance into the glass window of one of the meal heating units. There was the face of Don Repo, the flight engineer who died in the Everglades crash. He said, “Watch out for fire on this airplane.” – from The Ghost of Flight 401

We’ve all heard of haunted houses -- but a haunted jumbo jet?  For over two years, author and journalist John G. Fuller investigated claims that the ghosts of Captain Bob Loft and Flight Engineer Don Repo were appearing to Eastern Airlines flight crews and warning them of mechanical problems on their L-1011s.  But how do you prove a story when the airline's top executive’s close ranks -- and employees are threatened with termination for even talking about the supernatural sightings?

Richard never had a problem with airplanes until a particularly terrifying flight on the night of July 12th, 2002.  Just when his life should have been opening up, this new crippling fear of flying was shutting it down.  How do you overcome fear when you’ve spent a lifetime holding it deep inside?  And how does Richard navigate a landscape of paranoia, anger, desire and rebellion when everything in his life seems to be changing all at once – and way too fast?

Links:

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Celebrate 2026 with 26% off all RHPB merch with offer code RHPB26! CLICK HERE and the discount is pre-applied! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/promo/RHPB26

Need help with your personal writing projects?  Richard is here to help!  Get 20% off when you mention RHPB!  https://www.richardhatem.com/

Buy The Ghost of Flight 401 by John G. Fuller here: https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=fuller&ch_sort=t&cm_sp=sort-_-SRP-_-Results&ds=30&dym=on&rollup=on&sortby=2&tn=ghost%20of%20flight%20401

“Nothing in my formal training prepared me for the events described in this book.  What I discovered defied everything I knew about treating patients suffering from grief and trauma, and it took me into an unfamiliar realm of human experience.  I and about 200 other trained psychotherapists have induced thousands of after death communications.  It appears to work with nearly everyone, nearly all of the time.” – Dr. Allan L. Botkin, author of Induced After Death Communication

What if communication with the dead was no longer a spontaneous occurrence but rather something anyone could access any time they liked?  In 1995, Dr. Allan Botkin chanced upon a treatment for grief and loss that appeared to deliver exactly that.  Botkin’s method is called “Induced After Death Communication” – and it is currently being practiced all over the world.  But is it true communication with the spirits of the dead -- or something else entirely?

Richard grapples with this question as he reads Dr. Botkin’s book in the aftermath of his mother’s death.  How does one process grief when the relationship being grieved is “complicated” at best?  And how can you trust a supernatural event that can be accessed as easily as a visit to a therapist’s office?

Links:

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Celebrate 2026 with 26% off all RHPB merch with offer code RHPB26! CLICK HERE and the discount is pre-applied! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/promo/RHPB26

Need help with your personal writing projects?  Richard is here to help!  Get 20% off when you mention RHPB!  https://www.richardhatem.com/

Buy Dr. Allan Botkin’s Induced After Death Communication here https://bookshop.org/p/books/induced-after-death-communication-a-miraculous-therapy-for-grief-and-loss-allan-l-botkin-psyd/7d367a8ec38ec68c?ean=9781571747129&next=t

“It was Christmas time.  It was supposed to be a time of happiness, but we had funerals in town.  We couldn’t put off the funerals until after Christmas.  They said later, they found a hairline crack in an eyebolt, and once one part went down, the whole bridge went down.” – from the book Bridging The Tragedy by Bill & Jaci Kousoulas

When the Silver Bridge collapsed on December 15, 1967, the tragedy touched the lives of everyone in Point Pleasant, West Virginia.  In the months leading up to the disaster, hundreds of people in the Ohio River Valley reported UFO sightings, psychic events, poltergeist activity, Men in Black and encounters with a flying humanoid that became known as Mothman.  What happens to a community that undergoes this kind of trauma?  Bill & Jaci Kousoulas decided to find out.

Richard was fortunate enough to meet Bill & Jaci at the 2025 Mothman Festival in Point Pleasant.  In this interview, Richard talks with them about their initial interest in the case (sparked by the movie The Mothman Prophecies), their paranormal investigations, the concept of “Post Traumatic Growth”, and the people they met in Point Pleasant – many of them first-hand witnesses to the bridge collapse and the Mothman himself – all of which led to the publication of their book Bridging the Tragedy -- Silver Linings In The Mysterious Ohio River Valley.     

LINKS:  

Buy Bill & Jaci’s book “Bridging the Tragedy” here https://www.amazon.com/Bridging-Tragedy-Silver-Linings-Mysterious/dp/B0CGKK5KTC/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2UISTYHW9O71R&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.JGFkN_m1TGe7bsB-M4g1NV0X-SsmyxkAfqfydVAkI4z6qQIdI1EhVVj1HxqXLrXm.elAVktCytqkj6YX87VPcYvE9F4C_LnqmyBHd4r6AhBI&dib_tag=se&keywords=bridging+the+tragedy&qid=1769029017&s=books&sprefix=bridging+the+tragedy%2Cstripbooks%2C168&sr=1-1

“He was seen with this guy… Two days later a neighbor said his lawn sprinkler had been running continuously. They called the police.  A lieutenant was sent out – they found the back door ajar.  So he went through and discovered Scott -- slain in a pool of blood.”  -- parapsychologist Dr. Callum Cooper on the death of D. Scott Rogo.

Today I’m thrilled to be talking with Dr. Callum Cooper about his personal research into the life and tragic death of fellow parapsychologist D. Scott Rogo.  Rogo was the driving force behind one of the strangest and most fascinating books ever written – Phone Calls From The Dead.  Cooper followed up on this research and published his own book 30 years later: Telephone Calls From The Dead.

In our conversation, Cooper discusses his investigation into the murder of D. Scott Rogo, his role in getting Phone Calls From The Dead republished in a new affordable volume – and his ongoing fascination with electronic communication with the dead.

LINKS:
Learn more about Dr. Callum Cooper and purchase his books at his personal website https://www.callumecooper.com/

Buy a brand new – and affordable! – copy of D. Scott Rogo and Raymond Bayless’s classic book Phone Calls From The Dead here https://bookshop.org/p/books/phone-calls-from-the-dead-the-results-of-a-two-year-investigation-into-an-incredible-phenomenon-d-scott-rogo/27684604309b6445?ean=9781786772725&next=t

Watch this amazing vintage theatrical promo trailer for the movie Poltergeist -- featuring D. Scott Rogo himself!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIQDw3mJlAg

“I became a journalist because of Carl Kolchak. He was my idea of what a journalist was and should be, and he remains that to this day.” -- Mark Dawidziak, author of The Night Stalker Companion

Today’s episode is a Christmas gift to myself: a visit with my friend Mark Dawidziak, who just happens to be the world’s leading authority on Carl Kolchak and all things Night Stalker – the movies, the TV series, the original novel by Jeff Rice and the many sequel novels, one of which was written by Mark himself!

The Night Stalker, a TV-movie starring Darren McGavin, Simon Oakland and Barry Atwater, was about an intrepid reporter named Carl Kolchak covering a series of bizarre murders in Las Vegas – murders he becomes increasingly convinced are being committed by an actual, real-life vampire.  It premiered on January 11, 1972 to blockbuster ratings and for decades was the highest rated TV-movie of all time.  It led to a sequel, The Night Strangler, and eventually to a 20-episode TV series that premiered on September 13, 1974. It’s the TV show that most people my age remember – a weekly trip into horror that at the time had no equal. Chris Carter often cites his love for The Night Stalker as the inspiration for creating his hit series The X-Files. And of course, listeners of this podcast know about my affection for the show and how formative it was for me as a young kid.


Join Mark and me as we talk about Darren McGavin, Dan Curtis, David Chase, our favorite Night Stalker episodes, the history of the American vampire, the 3rd (unproduced) Night Stalker movie, how Darren McGavin finally gave up on the show (but not the character) – and the upcoming 2026 release of the all-new, definitive edition of The Night Stalker Companion!

Mark Dawidziak is the author or editor of 25 books, including three acclaimed studies of landmark television series: The Columbo Phile, The Night Stalker Companion and Everything I Need to Know I Learned in The Twilight Zone. He also is an internationally recognized Mark Twain scholar, and five of his books are about the iconic American writer. His most recent book,  A Mystery of Mysteries: The Death and Life of Edgar Allan Poe, was published by St. Martin’s Press in February 2023.

Keep up with Mark Dawidziak and buy his books at his personal website here https://www.markdawidziak.com/

Buy The Night Stalker TV series on DVD here https://kinolorber.com/product/kolchak-the-night-stalker-the-complete-series-blu-ray?gad_campaignid=21604535012

Buy the novel The Night Stalker here https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?an=jeff%20rice&ref_=search_f_hp&sts=t&tn=night%20stalker

“It was ten feet away, slick dark-brown hair. And it’s going up this ridge. The cop in me kicks in and I decide I’m going to follow it. I just wanted to see it again. In retrospect it’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever done in my life. It was totally unsafe. I do not recommend it to anybody who’s listening.” – Bigfoot researcher Brian King-Sharp

What is it like to come face-to-furry-face with Bigfoot?  Today you’ll find out.  My friend Brian King-Sharp, host of the popular Sasquatch Odyssey podcast has been on the trail of Bigfoot for forty years.  And he’s here to answer our questions -- and spill his secrets: Why haven’t we ever found a Bigfoot body?  Is the Patterson-Gimlin film a hoax?  Why do hunters never seem to shoot a Bigfoot?  What is the best evidence we have that Bigfoot exists?  And what does it feel like to finally encounter one up close?  
LINKS & NOTES

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Get RHPB merch here!
https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/? 

Listen to Brian King-Sharps podcast Sasquatch Odyssey here:  https://pod.link/1552990311 

Buy all of Brian’s books here:
https://paranormalworldproductions.com/store

Find out more about Sasquatch Research at the Olympic Project here: https://www.olympicproject.com/

"Get your tickets to 'Merry Queerness' -- the cabaret show Susan's producing -- here!
https://lalgbtcenter.org/event/merry-queerness-a-wildly-inappropriate-holiday-show/

Today I’m excited to bring you an episode of the brilliant new podcast Gods, Ghosts & UFOs – with their special guest, ME!  You’ll recognize co-host Tom Maxwell from his appearances on Astonishing Legends Episodes 291 & 292, “American Bloodfalls”.  (You might also know him as the frontman for the 90s band Squirrel Nut Zippers. He wrote their hit song “Hell”).  

On Gods, Ghosts & UFOs, Tom – along with co-hosts J.E. Peterson and Mallory Everton – does a weekly round-up of weird and obscure paranormal news stories.  Their conversations are hilarious, probing, provocative – and refreshingly intelligent.  If you’re a fan of RHPB, Astonishing Legends and Scared All The Time, you’ll love this too. So enjoy this episode where they welcomed me as their guest – and we talk about haunted Las Vegas Casinos, the Fresno Night Crawlers and a YouTube UFO mystery that might already have been solved… 

LINKS: 

Listen to “Gods, Ghosts & UFOs” here: https://www.tommaxwell.com/gods-ghosts-ufos  

“I feel that it hates me sometimes. It can move objects. I heard it speak once, or try to speak. It sounded like somebody underneath the water. It’s never really touched me and I don’t want to see what it actually looks like. I was afraid it was going to look like a corpse.”  -- Tom Ross, poltergeist experiencer. 

Have you ever heard someone describe what it’s really like to live with a poltergeist?  Today you will.  When Tom Ross was thirteen, he spent four terrifying days in what seemed to be a haunted condo in the Mammoth Ski Valley.  Years later, he and author Jenny Ashford met, fell in love – and ended up writing about his experiences in a book I covered in Season 2 of RHPB – The Mammoth Mountain Poltergeist.  

In this fascinating interview, Tom Ross and Jenny Ashford share stories from the front lines of the boundary between this world and the next.  We talk about everything from how Tom and Jenny met, to The Shining, to Tom’s poltergeist theory, to Ed & Lorraine Warren, to The Enfield Poltergeist, to flying remote controls, to Mad Max: Fury Road, to “Case Managers from the Afterlife” and finally: what do you do with a poltergeist with unlimited strength -- that wants to kill you?

Notes & Links:

Go to Jenny Ashford’s website to buy The Mammoth Mountain Poltergeist and all her books: http://www.jennyashford.com/books.html 

Check out Jenny’s Amazon Author Page here: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Jenny-Ashford/author/B003WN5M32?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=537b3ef0-a46b-436d-bfa3-f61ee4bcd411 

Visit Tom & Jenny’s Youtube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@13OClockPodcast 

“This huge thing was standing in the road. It had to be at least seven or 8 feet tall, and the arms were so long they were down to its knees.  You couldn’t see the face because there was hair all over it. It was actually running toward our car. It was awful.” – from Terrifying Encounters by Lyle Blackburn

No one knows more about the strange creatures that lurk the backroads, swamps and forests of America than Lyle Blackburn. You probably know him from his appearances on “Astonishing Legends”, “Finding Bigfoot” and “The UnXplained with William Shatner”. Ever since seeing The Legend of Boggy Creek as a small child, Lyle has been obsessed with unknown creatures -- and he grew up to be the world’s foremost expert on the Fouke Monster, the beast featured in the movie.

Lyle has written numerous books about monsters in America and “Terrifying Encounters” is his latest. It’s the first in a series and it features fascinating and truly terrifying first-hand accounts of encounters with creatures that shouldn’t exist -- but somehow do.

Our conversation covers everything from Dogmen to Goatmen, to the differences between a Devil Monkey and an Anomalous Ape, to his own terrifying encounter in the backwoods of Arkansas -- to whether Bigfoot will ever finally be captured.

Notes & Links:

Buy Terrifying Encounters and all of Lyle Blackburn’s books here http://www.lyleblackburn.com/bio.htm

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink

Celebrate 2026 with 26% off all RHPB merch with offer code RHPB26! CLICK HERE and the discount is pre-applied!https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/promo/RHPB26

Need help with your personal writing projects? Richard is here to help! Get 20% off when you mention RHPB!  https://www.richardhatem.com/

The Cumin Club – delicious, easy, authentic Indian cuisine delivered right to your door. Use offer code RHPB to get 30% off on EVERY ORDER!

1. https://promocode.to/the-cumin-club/rhpb-92t

“When I was six years old, on Christmas Eve, I had an encounter with a little gnome that walked into my bedroom. I don’t recall any fear.  But after that, I don’t remember anything.” – Rob Kristoffersen

Rob Kristoffersen is not only an expert on UFOs and UFO cases and host of the Our Strange Skies podcast – he’s also one of my best friends.  In this wide-ranging interview we get progressively weirder and wilder, touching on everything from Bigfoot to elves to ghosts to crop circles to UFO cults to alien abductions – and all the way to the mysterious creature Rob saw on his neighbor’s lawn that completely changed his life.

Links:

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/? 

Check out Rob’s podcast Our Strange Skies here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/our-strange-skies-ufos-throughout-history/id1546735571 

“They’re demons.  You’re talking to demons.  And I don’t like the sound of it one bit.” -- The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts

Joe Fisher falls further into darkness as he attempts to prove the earthly existences of his spirit guides.  But once he realizes that his otherworldly lover Filipa has lied to him, all bets are off.  A late-night meeting with a friend who warns Joe about “the other side of the spirit guides” puts the communications he’s been receiving in a new -- and terrifying -- light.  The only remaining question is: can Joe get out in time to save himself?

Meanwhile, Richard makes some discoveries of his own about his best friend Michael Principato.  Can a friendship survive betrayal?  And can you ever really go back to high school, reclaim the past, and fix something that seems forever broken? Something that you yourself broke?  

Links:  

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/? 

Buy The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-siren-call-of-hungry-ghosts-a-riveting-investigation-into-channeling-and-spirit-guides-joe-fisher/1cb4282a7d49b9fc?ean=9781944529505&next=t

“Here, in an ordinary suburban living room in Toronto, a cynical, 42-year-old mother of three was giving voice to disembodied humans who were testifying to the fact that we do not die. And that we are never truly alone.” -- Joe Fisher, The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts

On July 20th, 1984, journalist and paranormal researcher Joe Fisher witnesses the phenomenon of channeling for the first time -- and his life changes forever.  What if spirit guides really do exist?  What if we all have people on the other side who watch us, love us and silently guide us in ways we cannot even begin to imagine?  Joe sets out to prove this very thing.  But as he embarks on this strange journey, his objectivity falters when his own personal spirit guide introduces herself: her name is Filipa -- and 300 years ago in Greece, the two of them were lovers.  But as his obsession with her grows, Joe begins to suspect she might not be exactly who -- or what -- she says she is.

Richard’s life changes forever, too -- on his first day of high school.  That’s when he meets the legendary Michael Principato.  Michael is everything Richard wants to be: popular, talented, funny -- and effortlessly creative.  Richard and Michael soon become best friends and for one magical year it’s a relationship like nothing Richard’s ever experienced before.  But something happens that first summer after freshman year and suddenly Richard finds himself wondering: do I really know Michael Principato at all? 

Links:  

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/? 

Buy The Siren Call of Hungry Ghosts https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-siren-call-of-hungry-ghosts-a-riveting-investigation-into-channeling-and-spirit-guides-joe-fisher/1cb4282a7d49b9fc?ean=9781944529505&next=t

Richard & Susan’s adventure continues as they make their way from Point Pleasant, WV to Washington, DC -- where they meet up with fellow RHPB super-stars Scott Philbrook, Tess Pfeifle and Kayla Lord!  Then it's on to New York City and a visit with “Uh,Dad?” (Owen Gerber-Hatem) -- and finally, an absolutely legendary show at the home of Haunted Hallways creators Janice & Leo Bartoldus! Join us for more stories, more fan love, more pancakes -- and more french fries!

Links:  

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/? 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE PLACES RICHARD & SUSAN WENT AND THE PEOPLE THEY MET BELOW!

The Tabard Inn https://www.tabardinn.com/ 

Kramer’s Books https://www.kramers.com/ 

Hart Bar https://www.hartbarnyc.com/ 

Learn about all the Cool stuff Cullen Gallagher does here!  https://www.cullengallagher.com/ 

Enjoy the truly amazing magic of Henry Bartoldus!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNfkaNrmkbc

Susan's Show! (80's TV Ladies!)
https://www.80stvladies.com/

Ten Days. Five Shows. Four Cities. One Mothman. No Regrets.  Join Richard and his featured guest Susan Lambert for all the behind-the-scenes stories of the first leg of the RHPB “Light In The Dark Tour”.  When did Richard freak-out?  When did Susan freak-out?  Which shows went the best?  What’s a Fuzzy Duck?  And what’s the deal with all those French fries?  Find out all this and more -- PLUS -- when will the tour resume and will it come to a city near you?

Links:  

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/

CHECK OUT THE PLACES RICHARD & SUSAN VISITED BELOW!

The Bourbon on Main Restaurant in Frankfort, KY http://www.bourbononmain.com/ 

The Main Street Diner in Frankfort, KY  https://www.facebook.com/MainStreetDinerLLC/ 

The Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, KY  https://www.buffalotracedistillery.com/ 

 Fat Patty’s in Morehead, KY  https://fatpattys.com/ 

The Coffee Tree Bookstore & Fuzzy Duck in Morehead, KY  https://www.coffeetreebooks.com/

The Mothman Museum in Point Pleasant, WV https://www.mothmanmuseum.com/ 

The Colony Restaurant in Gallipolis, OH  https://visitgallia.com/the-colony/ 

 We met author Bryna Butler! Check out her books here: https://brynabutler.com/ 
We met actor and author Joey Madia -- check him out here: https://www.facebook.com/joeymadiacreative/ 

Bill & Jacqueline Kousoulas have written “Bridging The Tragedy”, a fascinating book about post-traumatic growth in the aftermath of Point Pleasant’s Silver Bridge collapse: https://www.facebook.com/bill.kousoulas.7 

“Haunted events are beyond our logic and occur in ways that challenge our perception of reality. But whether a place is haunted by ghosts, flying saucers, angels, demons, or some strange energy can be a matter of some debate...” -- Dennis William Hauck, The National Directory of Haunted Places.

Richard prepares for the biggest, most important and most personal pitch of his life.  It’s the one that could change everything -- if he doesn’t screw it up. And The National Directory of Haunted Places never leaves his side.  Richard scans the country, looking for something to believe in -- and even visits a haunted house in Michigan that just happens to be for sale!  Just when it seems like the spirits are on his side, reality throws a curve ball: it looks like his son Owen might be born prematurely.  Is there a middle ground between magic and the mundane? Is it possible to live with one foot in each?  And where do you turn when real life threatens to tear hope away completely?  

Links:  

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/? 

Buy The National Directory of Haunted Places https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=national+directory+of+haunted+places&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313

Visit Case Vega -- but look out for those dark green margaritas! https://www.casavega.com/ 

“In almost every town in America, there are places where strange things happen...” -- Dennis William Hauck, The National Directory of Haunted Places.

When Richard found The National Directory of Haunted Places at a small bookstore in Taos, New Mexico, it was like finding an enchanted treasure map.  It seemed to promise a world filled with magic, all yours for the asking -- if you could find it.  Right now, Richard needs magic more than ever.  Under Siege 2: Dark Territory has come out -- but he still hasn’t sold anything on his own.  His options are fading fast -- and now there’s a baby on the way.  Maybe it’s time to grow up and leave childish things behind.  As Richard obsessively tears through The National Directory of Haunted Places, searching the country for ghosts, UFOs, Bigfoot -- and hope -- the walls start to close in on him.  Will cold, hard reality have the final word? Or will Richard somehow find the unmarked turn-off that leads to the shadowy land of dreams? 

Links:  

See Richard Hatem LIVE! The “Light in the Dark Tour” tickets and news are all right here! https://www.eventbrite.com/o/richard-hatems-paranormal-bookshelf-podcast-90573788253 

And here! https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/events 

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/? 

Buy The National Directory of Haunted Places https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=national+directory+of+haunted+places&_sacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313

Visit Santacafe https://www.santacafe.com/?y_source=1_MzI3NjAxMTktNzE1LWxvY2F0aW9uLndlYnNpdGU%3D 

Visit L’Auberge Chez Francois https://www.laubergechezfrancois.com/ 

Astonishing Legends own Scott Philbrook joins Richard to find out everything you need to know about the upcoming RHPB “Light in the Dark Tour”!  Rich and Scott break it down for you: the cities, the shows -- everything you need to know.  PLUS -- Scott will be joining Richard live onstage in Washington, DC at Kramer’s Books!  Along the way Rich and Scott talk about Halloween, Haunted Houses, Happy Hour, heart attacks, how to pronounce “Long Island” -- and the Rocky Horror Picture Show’s “Time Warp” dance!  

THEN: Richard talks with Leo and Janice Bartoldus, the RHPB fans who are generously hosting the final RHPB live show in Centereach, Long Island at their very own annual Halloween Haunted House!  They’ll fill us in on all the thrills and chills -- and cocktails! -- you can expect when you arrive at this very special event!  

Links:  
See Richard Hatem LIVE! The “Light in the Dark Tour” tickets and news are all right here! https://www.eventbrite.com/o/richard-hatems-paranormal-bookshelf-podcast-90573788253 

And here! https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/events 

Support RHPB on Patreon here! https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Get RHPB merch here! https://richardhatem-shop.fourthwall.com/