Big Seance: My Paranormal World

Celebrate the 10th Anniversary of BigSeance.com with this special episode of the podcast! We'll be looking back at the TOP 10 most popular episodes! Visit BigSeance.com/204 for more info!

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In this episode:

Intro :12

It's been 10 years since Patrick's very first blog post at BigSeance.com!

"In 2012, my small paranormal investigation team had been out and about for 2 years, I would soon be inspired by Sarah Estep to do my own EVP experiments at home, and I was about 3 years into my spiritual shift that you hear me talk about often. I had just taken a channeling class where I met my spirit guide, Merlin. And I was binging every book on paranormal and spiritual topics that I could get my hands on! I was also binging every episode of both The Ghost Whisperer and Ghost Hunters. I needed a place to share my thoughts on this new journey, and I had TONS of them! Blogging was all the rage, and so on February 5th 2012, I wrote my very first blog post at BigSeance.com. It was very short, but it was about spirit guides. And looking back at this post, you can tell that I had already been marinating in books about mediumship and the Other Side, referring to the Other Side as Home, and I capitalized 'Other Side' and 'Home'." :50

Patrick's first blog post on February 5th, 2012, was about Spirit Guides. 2:20

"That was 10 years ago today. In some ways, it feels like yesterday, but at the same time it kind of feels more like 30 years ago, especially when I read my thoughts from that time."

The all-time top blog post at BigSeance.com is a post about Being Able to Read in Your Dreams. To this day that post is visited by someone in the world almost every single day. The popularity of the post later inspired episode 66 of the podcast. 3:28

The all-time most popular search terms that people Googled before landing at BigSeance.com have something to do with Andrea Perron or the Perron family. The real life experiences of the Perron family inspired the Conjuring films. Andrea Perron was a guest on the Big Seance Podcast in episode 98. Another popular search term that led people here is, oddly enough, Thomas Edison or his invention, the phonograph. And as you'd expect, there are several variations of, "What does it mean if I can read in my dreams?" 3:50

"After blogging almost every single day for two years, I began producing and hosting the Big Seance Podcast. Over the past 10 years I've met so many fascinating people, and even some of you, my listeners! And there's no way to measure how much I've learned and grown." 4:28

In this special episode, Patrick channels his inner Casey Kasem to unveil the top ten most popular episodes of the Big Seance Podcast! A portion of each of those ten episodes is featured. 4:50

Let's start with Number 10! Episode 161 with Angel Medium Michael Terzi. 5:30

Number 9 is episode 159 with DeAnna Simpson, who was joined by Joni Mayhan who authored the book, The Hanover Haunting: The DeAnna Simpson Story. This story takes place in a home made popular by an episode of the Travel Channel's The Dead Files. "I will never forget the story of this one terrifying experience that I asked DeAnna to share in that episode." 10:07

Number 8 is episode 164, Ouija Paranormal and Beyond Part 1. This was one of many appearances by Karen A. Dahlman. This particular one was live streamed, and in this clip, Karen was answering a listener question. 15:45

Number 7. Episode 148. Everyday Intuition with Slade Roberson. In this clip, Slade told two stories from terrifying memories of one of his childhood homes. 17:39

Number 6 is The Horrors of Fox Hollow Farm with Richard Estep, Episode 150. Here's some backstory. Fox Hollow Farm is the beautiful Indiana home, complete with indoor pool, where Herb Baumeister allegedly murdered numerous men from the gay community in the 1990s. Chances are you've heard of this place, and Richard Estep knows it well. In this clip, Richard discusses a creepy video, from local TV news, that can still be found on YouTube. 26:37

Number 5 is episode 151 with Scott L. and Amber from the Ghostly Talk podcast. In this hilarious clip, Patrick, Scott L. and Amber were laughing about things that bugged them about the paranormal field. 29:16

Number 4. From episode 152, who doesn't love Michelle Belanger? 33:11

Number 3 is another great episode with Karen A. Dahlman, episode 146. "This was one of our infamous weekends together, this time staying overnight at the haunted Lemp Mansion in St. Louis. In this clip, I'll drop you right into the middle of a Ouija seance and spirit box session in the Lavender suite." 40:27

Number 2! The second most popular episode of the Big Seance Podcast is one of Patrick's favorites - Episode 147 with the late Barb Huyser, who passed only 8 months ago. She was one of the greatest story tellers. But she was also incredible at something she called, "Paranormal Social Work." This touching story had to do with putting the ghost of a little girl on a behavior plan. 48:12

So here we go… Number 1! The most popular episode of the Big Seance Podcast is Episode 149 - What the Dead are Dying to Teach Us. This was just one of the appearances by Medium Claire Broad. 55:49

Here's to another 10 years!

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 1:06:30

Outro 1:08:40

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

After most recently giving us the whopping "WTF" forecast for the Summer of 2020, our favorite astrologer Dena DeCastro prepares us for what every one of us wants to know - the astrology for 2022! Will the year bring relief? What do the planets have to say about the year ahead? Other topics include "The Great Resignation", Mercury/Venus/Mars Retrogrades, avoiding escapism, new beginnings, leaps of faith, the shadow, relationships, the economy, and the US Pluto Return! Visit BigSeance.com/203 for more info.

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In this episode:

Episode Teaser :00

Intro :38

Would you consider sharing an episode of the Big Seance with a friend? 1:19

Dena DeCastro's Bio 2:30

Forecast for 2016, Summer of 2016, 2018, 2019, and the "WTF" forecast for the Summer of 2020. 3:20

Something about the Venus Retrograde wants to follow us when Dena visits! 4:21

Dena took a "brave leap into the unknown" for this episode! 5:45

An "Astrological Traffic Jam in Capricorn." 2020 and 2021 were years with lots of astrological weather going on. Astrologers knew something major was going to happen, but no one could have predicted a worldwide pandemic. 7:14

2021 brought friction with themes of unrest, government structure, rules, and rebellion, leading us to January 6th, 2021 in the US, for example. 8:55

But what does astrology have to say about the year ahead? 10:03

The ripples in the pond. 10:30

Jupiter/Neptune Conjunction coming up in April. Work on empathy and compassion. 11:40

"We received a collective trauma in 2020. We're still having various levels of PTSD from it." 14:08

Avoid Escapism 15:57

A listener question about astrology and depression. 18:30

More on escapism and Patrick's addiction to food. 21:18

Jupiter, new beginnings, and taking risks or leaps of faith. 23:44

The shadow side of Aries. 26:23

Pisces, endings, and "The Great Resignation" 28:04

Right now is not exactly the time to launch your new thing, but planning for it is okay. 30:05

Uh oh! What happens if you just started a new job? 30:50

Mercury Retrogrades happening this year. Learn more at DenaDeCastro.com. 32:35

"Stop buying into all the hype." Some of us create our own static during Mercury Retrogrades. 35:28

Venus Retrograde, getting serious about finances, and reconnecting. 37:34

Some of us are introverts and have enjoyed the lockdown and slowing down. 40:04

Is this a good time for new relationships? 41:49

The United States Pluto Return and the economy. 43:20

Rest and Retreat. Mars Retrograde coming up at the end of the year. 48:00

A summary. 50:03

Check out The Inner Sky by Steven Forrest, Everyone Has What it Takes by William Kenower, and the podcast, This Jungian Life. 50:43

What's coming up on the Let's Get Real Astrology podcast? 53:15

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 55:29

Outro 57:40

For more on Dena DeCastro

DenaDeCastro.com

Dena's Blog Post: The Astrology of 2022

Let's Get Real Astrology Podcast

Facebook: Dena DeCastro Astrology

Twitter: @DenaDeCastro

Previous Big Seance Podcast episodes with Dena: 53, 61, 65, 112, 134, and 166.

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

Have you witnessed an armoire levitating and moving a distance of four feet before settling back down? Anthropologist and Psychic Medium Kenneth Joholske has! In this interview, Kenneth tells stories from paranormal investigations, his mediumship, and tales from his summers at Lily Dale, Western New York's historic home for mediumship and spiritual healing since 1879. Visit BigSeance.com/202 for more info!

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In this episode:

Episode Teaser :00

Intro :50

Happy New Year! And RIP Betty White. 1:30

Send in your predictions for 2022! Use SpeakPipe.com/BigSeance or email [email protected]. 2:26

Kenneth Joholske's Bio 3:23

Welcome to the parlor, Kenneth! 4:54

What is Cultural Anthropology? 5:34

Balancing being both a scientist and a medium. 6:12

Encountering poltergeist phenomena. 6:58

"And then all of the sudden, the armoire picks up off the floor and floats four feet to the right and then lays itself down. And I'm like, what?!" 8:37

Missed Moments and tech in paranormal investigation. 12:45

Kenneth had a terrifying experience of seeing a ghost at age seven. "I felt like Jamie Lee Curtis." 13:54

Learning about Spiritualism and mediumship. 16:00

"The Dame Edna of the spiritual world." 17:15

Seances at the French Embassy. A history of mediumship in Kenneth's family. 18:19

Guidance from Carol Gasber and experiences at Lily Dale, Western New York's historic home for mediumship and spiritual healing since 1879. 19:40

"Mediumship is like music." 22:25

"Angel Moments", and did Schubert tap on Kenneth's shoulder at the piano? 22:54

Rosemary Brown, the housewife who claimed to channel history's great composers. 25:13

Pearl Curran, the housewife who claimed to channel Patience Worth and wrote many novels using the Ouija Board. Check out The Mysterious Story of Patience Worth, episode 32 of the Big Seance Podcast. 28:00

More fascinating experiences at Lily Dale, the "City of Lights." 28:49

"Physical mediumship, by the way, is still alive and well. People still do trumpet. It's just not taught as well as mental mediumship is." 33:40

Materialization and Apports at the Church of Two Worlds. "And there was a pop of energy in the room, and it kind of jolted people. And when the lights came up, there were rose petals—hundreds of them—in the shape of a wing—a dove wing. And I actually saved some of them. They were hot to the touch." 36:24

Lily Dale during the pandemic 38:10

Does a seance require a medium? 40:19

Gadgets and tools in the paranormal. 42:21

A full-blown apparition at the Henryton Institute. 45:13

"You're never alone." Leaning on mediumship in those down times. 47:40

Phone calls from the Other Side. 50:06

How do Spirits speak audibly without vocal cords? 52:30

EMF and EVP may or may not be capturing phenomena, plus a story from Edwards Ferry in Maryland. 54:46

Kenneth's most treasured possessions. 59:24

Where to find Kenneth Joholske and the services he offers. 1:00:06

Kenneth recommends Mysteries: The Powerful Sequel to The Occult and Poltergeist: A Classic Study in Destructive Hauntings, both by Colin Wilson. 1:01:01

Final thoughts from Kenneth Joholske 1:03:21

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 1:04:59

Outro 1:07:15

For more Kenneth Joholske

Kenneth on Facebook

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

One of the benefits of being a Patreon supporter of the Big Seance Podcast is getting to attend monthly Patreon Paranerd Parties on Zoom! Whether you're into mediumship, the spirit box, or just fun ghost stories, we hope you'll enjoy this episode full of highlights and Patrick's favorite clips from recent parties! Visit BigSeance.com/201 for more info.

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In this episode:

Intro :00

Please enjoy these highlights from recent Patreon Paranerd Parties that are held monthly on Zoom for Patreon supporters! Interested in becoming a Patreon supporter? Visit patreon.com/BigSeance for more info! :58

Heads up! Spirit Box and "Estes Method" ahead! After recent feedback, it's clear that you're passionate about this topic! We're looking to cover this more in the future. 1:58

"What's this? A party?" 4:34

"You're drinking a bucket of what?" 5:39

Being called "Fat Cookie!" And does Patrick have more intuition than he thinks? 6:20

Learning to use the Ouija Board with Karen A. Dahlan is tiring! 7:49

Should Kermit the Frog start reading listener feedback? 9:52

The illusion of the parlor. What's it look like? 11:16

When your birthday falls on Halloween! 16:04

"Burn the dead." Misheard lyrics. 16:02

Channeling the great composers through A Musical Seance by Rosemary Brown. Check out the documentary: Music from the Beyond - the Mediumship of Rosemary Brown 19:47

Vinyl, 8-tracks, cassette tapes, double exposure in film, and old school sound engineering. 21:56

Why does Patrick no longer ask guests, "What would you like to drink?" 29:43

Coffee at night and putting butter in coffee! 31:03

Meeting Adam Berry and Amy Bruni. 32:26

Susan Davy, Anne and Renata, and paranormal experiences in Australia. 33:50

Show and tell! Kevin breeds designer snakes! 35:20

More stories from Susan Davy from Australia. 41:04

The "Murder Winds!" Jeff C. Carter joins the party! 43:20

More on Patrick's experience of being grabbed by a ghostly hand in the middle of the night! 45:41

The spooky legend of a burial ground in Florida at the St. Johns River Bridge on the US 17-92 Freeway. 51:57

The energy of New Orleans, Savannah, and the film, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. 53:40

Kevin's great experience and reading with Carole J. Obley. 57:31

Hope and her experiences with her daughter and growing up with psychic abilities. 1:01:07

Kevin's mom helping out from the Other Side. 1:05:55

Melissa asks Patrick if his thoughts or perspective has changed over the years after talking to so many people on the podcast. 1:11:50

Bruce's experiences as a psychic medium 1:12:55

"Here, baby!" Trying the Spirit Box as a group over Zoom. 1:17:44

See you at the next party! 1:32:15

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 1:32:36

Outro 1:34:58

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

In this special 200th episode, Patrick finally got to talk to UK parapsychologist, Dr. Callum E. Cooper. Topics include Parapsychology as a study and a career, Dr. Cooper's research and book on Telephone Calls from the Dead, three must-read books, bereavement and recovery, clearing up misinformation on the discovery of EVP, inducing After Death Communication, and the truth about the "Estes Method." Plus the second installment of the return of Tim Prasil's Spectral Edition. Visit BigSeance.com/200 for more info.

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In this episode:

Episode Teaser :00

Intro 1:49

It's the 200th episode, and we're also approaching the 10-year anniversary of BigSeance.com! 2:30

Dr. Callum E. Cooper's Bio 3:17

Callum is such a kind gentleman! 5:25

Dr. Cooper's Telephone Calls from the Dead and the work of Raymond Bayless and D. Scott Rogo. 7:11

Some background on Patrick's spiritual shift that began around twelve years ago around the time he discovered Callum's book, Telephone Calls from the Dead. 9:47

Discovering books and a love of reading on paranormal topics was a gateway to parapsychology for Callum. 11:53

Three must-read books recommended by Callum: Parapsychology: The Controversial Science by Richard S. Broughton Ph. D, Unbelievable: Investigations into Ghosts, Poltergeists, Telepathy, and Other Unseen Phenomena, from the Duke Parapsychology Laboratory by Stacy Horn, and Mediumship and Survival by Alan Gauld. 15:44

The field and study of parapsychology. 18:50

The struggle of funding parapsychology programs. 24:18

A voicemail from Charlotte on her experiences with receiving telephone calls from the dead. 26:45

Callum responds to Charlotte. 31:30

"I must confess that I am ninety-eight per cent sceptical when it comes to anything in the field of EVP." 33:05

Raymond Bayless, Jurgenson, Raudive, and clearing up misinformation about the discovery of Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP). 34:11

More stories from Callum's research into telephone calls from the dead. 37:57

Stop being fascinated by one-syllable "EVP"! 41:13

Uhoh! Patrick brought up the Estes Method. What does Dr. Cooper have to say about it? Spoiler Alert - It's the Ganzfeld or Noise Reduction Method. 42:30

The problem with TV portrayals of ghost hunting. 46:28

"Sometimes it's just really hard to get groups of ghost hunters to listen. They're not interested in someone being deemed a professional expert, because they believe there is no such thing." 50:16

What really is a skeptic? Where some movements of skepticism went wrong. 53:15

Callum's work with Bereavement and Recovery. 55:24

How has the pandemic affected work with bereavement and recovery? 1:02:20

Inducing an After Death Communication (ADC) through Scrying and the Psychomanteum. 1:04:53

Final thoughts, including more on skepticism, and where to find Dr. Callum E. Cooper. 1:08:22

Railroad EXTRA #2 – A brand NEW Spectral Edition with Tim Prasil! 1:11:28

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 1:21:09

Outro 1:23:21

For more on Callum E. Cooper

CallumECooper.com

Twitter: @CallumECooper

Callum's Amazon Author Page

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

Experiencing Halloween Withdrawal? Not exactly ready to quit celebrating your favorite holiday? Though it's November, enjoy this replay of Dallisa Hocking's Spooky Halloween YouTube Show! Both Patrick and Karen A. Dahlman were asked to be guests on this show, and it was a lot of fun! Thank you, Dallisa of SpiritandSpark.com! Visit BigSeance.com/199 for more info!

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In this episode:

Intro :00

It's November, but we're going to squeeze every last drop out of Halloween! Enjoy this replay of Dallisa Hocking's Halloween YouTube special that Patrick was invited to be a part of recently, as well as our friend Karen A. Dahlman. Be sure to check it out on YouTube if you want visuals! :55

The next episode will be #200!!! To celebrate that milestone, we'll chat with the lovely Dr. Callum E. Cooper, professor and parapsychologist from the UK. 2:30

The replay of Dallisa Hocking's Spirit and Spark Spooky Halloween Special! 3:19

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 1:15:55

Outro 1:18:10

For More on Dallisa Hocking

SpiritandSpark.com

YouTube: Spirit and Spark TV

Instagram: @PsychicDallisa

KarenADahlman.com

Twitter: @KarenADahlman

Karen on Facebook

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

Kaleb Higgins purchased a three-story 1889 Second Empire home in Saint Louis. It needed lots of love and many repairs, but has a spectacular mansard roof! It was originally built by Charles S. Brown, who co-owned the Hall and Brown Woodworking Machine Company. Kaleb started The 2nd Empire Strikes Back YouTube channel to document the whole restoration, and it has become incredibly popular! In this episode he shares his passion for the history of the home, learning about the original family who occupied it, and how you can help him bring the house back to life! And is it possible that a viewer discovered a ghost in the home? Plus, this episode marks the return of Tim Prasil with a brand NEW installment of Spectral Edition! Visit BigSeance.com/198 for more info.

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In this episode:

Episode Teaser :00

Intro :54

Remember our friend Tim Prasil and the Spectral Edition? Stay tuned after the interview for a brand new installment! 1:37

Some background on Kaleb Higgins and his popular YouTube channel, The Second Empire Strikes Back. 2:13

What drew Kaleb to purchasing this 1889 Second Empire house in the Saint Louis Place neighborhood? 6:11

The house's current condition and what goes into restoring it. 8:27

The Charles S. Brown family, the Hall and Brown Woodworking Machine Company, historic dog tags, and the history of the house. 10:50

Kaleb is truly bringing something back to life. A home that has a history, a history connected to humans who had their own lives and passions, and their own legacies. Kaleb is doing this with passion and empathy, and he's sharing it with the world by letting us hang out with him while he does his magic. 14:03

How do you balance time and work in the house with creating the content? 15:06

Getting feedback and support from viewers. 17:14

Finding and returning letters from World War II. 19:15

The search for Hall and Brown machinery and historic interior photos from the home. 20:51

"Good bones" and a great historic photo of the Brown family in front of the house! 24:40

The beauty and purpose of a mansard roof! 26:37

Making a connection with the past. 28:25

"It's always been more than a house." 32:04

Does a ghost reside in the home? 33:19

Kim's Second Empire Strikes Back Vlogs 38:11

Wallpaper, contractors, financing, and when will we get to see the finished product? 40:25

How can you support Kaleb and the Second Empire Strikes Back Project? 45:16

Kaleb Higgins the Artist 47:25

Kaleb's final thoughts and where to find Second Empire Strikes Back! 51:49

Railroad EXTRA #1 - A brand NEW Spectral Edition with Tim Prasil! 55:34

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 1:05:25

Outro 1:07:39

For more on The Second Empire Strikes Back

YouTube

Kim's YouTube

Patreon

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

Jeff C. Carter, author and lover of all things Halloween, returns to the show to once again nerd out about his favorite holiday, but also to show off his brand new book for middle grades and adults, Cold Spell: The Halloween Curse of Winterhill. This coming of age tale is a fun, fast-paced story of friendship and supernatural adventure that will appeal to fans of Hocus Pocus, Goosebumps, and anyone who believes there is magic just beyond the red and orange veiled woods. Visit BigSeance.com/197 for more info.

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In this episode:

Episode Teaser :00

Intro :55

Our upcoming Paranerd Patreon Party for October! Not a Patreon supporter? Do you want to be? Visit Patreon.com/BigSeance. 1:39

Jeff's previous appearances on the Big Seance were in episodes 173 and 177.

Jeff C. Carter's Bio 3:28

Book summary for Cold Spell: The Halloween Curse of Winterhill 5:02

Who is the book for? "A coming of age tale with some kids who are just up against the line of maybe being a little too old to trick-or-treat. And they've put so much energy into making this the best Halloween ever." 6:55

Jeff used himself as the inspiration for the character of Jim. "Jim and I are pretty much the same. With the first draft of this story I took a look at myself and played up some of my, maybe less charming characteristics. And then with the revision I went back, and I was like, alright, let's really crank up these qualities." 9:23

A very early memory of an impromptu home haunt. 11:05

A freak snow storm. "There's a story there." 12:10

Building a bridge. 14:01

HighWeens and LoWeens. Fun with portmanteaus and a spookabulary. 16:26

The Candy Club 20:56

The Rellek Club 23:30

The Candy Tax and the Lavender Market 24:48

The setting for the story is based on the Connecticut town Jeff grew up in. 26:04

Witch trials in New England and Iceland that pre-dated the Salem Witch Trials. 29:05

Growing up with the history of New England. 31:09

Gun powder 33:37

Where and how to find the book. 35:08

That one pure Halloween moment. Looking back at Halloween 2020. 36:35

Thumping pumpkins, Reeses Pieces pumpkins, and missing Rombachs Pumpkin Patch. 41:00

Supply chain shortages, staffing shortages, and department stores selling out of Halloween items. 44:49

Jeff's plans for Halloween 2021. 46:45

Upcoming projects and the Six Demon Bag Podcast. 53:34

More pumpkin stories! 55:42

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 59:17

Outro 1:01:24

JeffCCarter.com

Cold Spell: The Halloween Curse of Winterhill on Amazon

Instagram: @jeffc.carter

Twitter: @Carterwroteit

Facebook

Six Demon Bag Podcast

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

As a teen, actor and musician Larry Bagby played Ernie (aka "Ice") in the 1993 Disney film, Hocus Pocus. Since then he's starred in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the 2005 film Walk the Line, Saints and Soldiers from 2004, along with other television appearances. Larry shares behind-the-scenes stories from Hocus Pocus, his ongoing friendships with cast members, experiences with the paranormal, what it's like to play so many bullies and villains, and getting in trouble with Bette Midler! Plus a special LIVE performance of Larry's original song, Country by the Sea. Visit BigSeance.com/196 for more info.

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In this episode:

Episode Teaser :00

Intro 1:00

Did you catch the previous episode with David Kirschner? He's the Creator/Writer and Producer of Hocus Pocus. He's also the Executive Producer of the Upcoming Hocus Pocus 2! 1:40

Larry Bagby's Bio! 2:00

Welcome to the parlor, Larry! 5:05

Even though this episode focuses on the nerd fest that is Hocus Pocus, Larry's body of work is so much more than just Hocus Pocus. 5:55

The influence of Back to the Future, Star Wars, and The Beatles. 7:36

Appearing on Mr. Belvedere and working with Seth Green. 8:49

After filming Hocus Pocus, Larry went on a life-changing mission to Argentina. 9:46

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Larry's faith, experiencing the paranormal, and Halloween! 13:06

Goosebumps, a third harmony, and other signs of communication from Larry's father on the Other Side! 16:23

Larry's ongoing friendship with Tobias Jelinek, who played Jay, Ice's partner in crime in Hocus Pocus. 18:46

Oinker and a dead man's "chungs." 20:42

Larry and Tobias reenacting scenes for E! 22:45

Reflecting on David Kirschner's childlike passion from the previous episode. 23:55

Meeting fans and cast reunions. 24:49

Omri Katz 26:31

Kenny Ortega 28:23

Shaving "Ice" into the back of Larry's head. 29:16

Memories of Halloween 30:34

Deleted scenes in the bonus material of the Blu-Ray. 33:30

Jay and Ice almost got cut out of the film!! 34:11

A spinoff for Jay and Ice! 36:03

Playing bullies and villains. 37:44

The Great Scott! series, playing a choir geek, and working with Tobey Maguire. 40:23

Dwight in Shining Armor 42:49

Writing, comedy, old video footage, and staying creative. 44:10

Dreaming up a candy store. 48:10

Where to find Larry and his upcoming projects. 50:25

Getting in trouble with Bette Midler! 55:30

Larry performs his original song, Country by the Sea. 57:12

Patreon supporters will find bonus audio from this interview at Patreon.com/BigSeance. 1:02:40

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 1:03:03

Outro 1:05:06

For more on Larry Bagby

LarryBagby.com

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Twitter: @LarryBagby

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The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!

Hocus Pocus, the 1993 Disney film starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, is one of America's most popular family films to watch around Halloween. In this delightful interview, creator/writer and producer David Kirshner dishes on the inspiration for the story, behind-the-scenes talk, and what everyone wants to know about the upcoming sequel! Plus Patrick gets a tour of David's magical creative office space! Visit BigSeance.com/195 for more info.

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In this episode:

Episode Teaser :00

Intro :43

In 1993, Disney released a film called Hocus Pocus. Though it starred Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy, it was pretty much considered a flop at the time. Since then, many audiences have discovered the film, and it can be found on cable, playing pretty much non-stop in October. It truly is a cult favorite now! Partly filmed around Salem in New England, partly filmed on a sound stage, it was directed by Kenny Ortega. Our guest for this episode, David Kirschner, was one of the film's producers, but was also the creator and writer of the story. He pitched the whole idea. Wait till you hear how the whole thing came about. And the new sequel we're dying to hear about? He's executive producer. Even if you haven't seen Hocus Pocus, you know David's work, if you've seen a Chucky doll or seen Child's Play. He began his career working with Jim Henson's Muppets and Sesame Street. He wrote and illustrated the series of children's books known as Rose Petal Place. In 1986, Kirschner created and executive produced, with Steven Spielberg, the smash hit, An American Tail, which became one of the most successful animated films in history. 1:24

It all started as a bedtime story! 3:40

Bette Midler 7:13

The touching storyline of Max, played by Omri Katz, and his little sister Dani, played by Thora Birch. 8:32

That "E.T. kind of cry." The Ghost and Mrs. Muir and the inspiration for the final scene in Hocus Pocus. 9:45

The Halloween nostalgia and memories of David's childhood are the foundation of Hocus Pocus. 12:23

Ray Bradbury's The Halloween Tree. 13:48

"They were magical years. They were the kind of years that you could go out on your bike and be gone all day and not end up on the back of a milk carton." 15:01

Halloween in Los Angeles. 16:23

A billion dollar industry. 20:26

Working with Kenny Ortega. 21:39

Thackery Binx and Emily. 23:40

Billy Butcherson. 25:20

Book, the Black Flame Candle, and presenting the Hocus Pocus concept to Disney! 26:22

An American Tail. 28:40

Disney World's Hocus Pocus Villain Spelltacular. 31:30

Plans for Hocus Pocus to go to Broadway! 32:13

John Debney and the score for Hocus Pocus. 32:40

James Horner's Come Little Children. 33:10

"Twist the bones and bend the back." 35:33

Film locations, researching the occult, and Wiccans taking offense. 36:28

The joy that Hocus Pocus brings to the world, Symbolism, and Gary Marshall. 38:38

Support for a kid with magical thoughts! 41:37

Everything you need to know about the sequel! 45:12

Does David Kirschner believe in the paranormal? 47:02

If you were a witch and could cast one spell… 50:46

An upcoming Chucky series and Curious George. 51:48

A tour of the dreamy workspace in David's home. Visit the video highlights of this tour on YouTube. 54:20

The Black Flame Candle, Book, a Zompkin, a Don Knotts inspired Broom, a costume worn by Bette Midler, and a life-size Billy! 54:42

Other fascinating items, including a note from Steven Spielberg, a story about Michael Jackson, and an original sketch of Binx! 57:34

A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 1:02:10

Outro 1:04:16

For More on David Kirschner

David on IMDb

The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!