Paranormal Lens - A Crossroads Of Curiosities, LLC Production

In this episode, Ben Goldman, Brienna Shear, and Angela Wingard sit down for a candid conversation about skepticism in the paranormal, and how it’s increasingly being overshadowed by sensationalism. From viral videos on TikTok to trending paranormal YouTube clips, the hosts explore how the focus on click-driven storytelling often sidelines critical thinking and evidence-based investigation.

They discuss the pressures that content creators face in a culture obsessed with views and likes, and how even passionate investigators can feel pulled between curiosity and performance. Drawing on their personal experiences in both filmmaking and paranormal research, Ben, Brienna, and Angela reflect on why healthy skepticism is essential, how it has evolved in the digital age, and why maintaining a thoughtful, measured approach matters when exploring the unexplained.

In this episode of Paranormal Lens, we dive into the fascinating intersection of folklore, internet culture, and paranormal phenomena. From the iconic legend of Bloody Mary to the viral mystique of Zozo, we explore how social media can create modern-day egregores (entities created by collective belief).

Join hosts Ben Goldman, Brienna Shear, and Angela Wingard as they discuss: viral paranormal trends on platforms like TikTok and their real-world implications,

Whether you’re a paranormal enthusiast, folklore fan, or fascinated by the power of collective belief, this episode is a deep dive into how legends evolve and spread in the digital age.

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the shadowy world of curses, exploring the roles of intent, belief, and perception in paranormal phenomena. Can a curse really affect someone who doesn’t believe in it? Does the act of cursing serve more to empower the curser than the cursed? Our hosts unpack these questions with lighthearted humor and curiosity.

Along the way, they share personal experiences, ponder psychological versus supernatural effects, and reflect on how negativity and positivity shape our approach to the unknown. Wrapping up on a note of hope and thoughtful insight, this episode is for anyone fascinated by the paranormal and the human psyche.

We highly recommend watching Liam Le Guillou's new documentary A Cursed Man, available to rent on Amazon Prime and Apple TV.

Welcome to our podcast, where we take deep dives looking at various topics through a Paranormal Lens.

On this Monday Bonus episode: we explain why if your "orb" evidence was seen only through a camera lens, it's nothing strange and likely caused by lens flares or backscattering.

Audio of this episode was previously released in May on our old RSS Feed. The video version (with the complete slideshow) is posted on YouTube for the first time.

Sources from the original presentation:

1. Heinemann, Klaus (2007). The Orb Project. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 23.

2. Hill, Annette (2010). Paranormal Media: Audiences, Spirits and Magic in Popular Culture. USA and Canada: Routledge. p. 45.

3. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/photo-booth/photographer-who-claimed-to-capture-abraham-lincoln-ghost

4. http://blogs.getty.edu/iris/the-man-who-photographed-ghosts/

5. https://web.archive.org/web/20050727000507/http://home.fujifilm.com/products/digital/shooting/flash.html

6. Grimm, Tom; Grimm, Michelle (1997). The Basic Book of Photography. Plume (original from Pennsylvania State University). p. 509.

7. https://archive.org/details/crimescenephotog0000robi_03ed/page/558/mode/2up

8. https://www.fujifilm.com/news/n200331.html

9. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:House_Dust_Orbs.jpg

10. https://support.simplisafe.com/hc/en-us/articles/360042967411-Why-do-I-see-orbs-bubbles-when-my-camera-is-in-night-mode-

11. https://www.thoughtco.com/history-of-photography-and-the-camera-1992331

12. https://www.liveabout.com/enough-with-the-orbs-already-2594045

13. https://www.uwphotographyguide.com/backscatter-underwater

14. iPhone 8 Plus horrible lens flare and reflections | MacRumors Forums

15. White, round glare spots or orbs sometimes appear in a ...https://www.sony.co.uk › electronics › support › articles

16. https://web.archive.org/web/20110807234205/http://www.theorbzone.com/explanation.htm

17. https://photographylife.com/what-is-ghosting-and-flare

In this episode of Paranormal Lens, we explore the concept of retiring haunted locations: how investigators, historians, and property owners might balance respecting the supernatural while sharing these spaces with the world.

The team also dives into cemeteries as liminal spaces, discussing why certain graves become legendary, how repeating stories can unintentionally cause damage, and the surprising role residual energy plays in hauntings. We share firsthand experiences with overwhelming energy, examine how the living leave emotional imprints, and consider the various frameworks for understanding spirits, demons, and angels.

Join us for a mix of theory, experience, and conversation as we uncover the unseen energy lingering in places most of us walk past every day.

Follow @spooky.scoundrel on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spooky.scoundrel

Is the paranormal industry dead, or just evolving? In this debut episode of Paranormal Lens, hosts Ben Goldman, Angela Wingard, and Brienna Shear kick things off with a candid conversation about ghosts, shadow figures, and what it really means to investigate the unknown. With a combined 18 years of paranormal investigation experience, the team dives into one of the most debated questions: What is a ghost?

From shadow people that defy physics, to disembodied voices coming through spirit boxes, to uncanny parallels between podcasts and paranormal dimensions, this episode explores how investigators define (and question) the supernatural.

You’ll also hear about future topics coming to the podcast, from curses and vampires to the blurred line between entertainment and genuine unexplained phenomena. Plus, the team reacts to a headline-making post from renowned psychic medium Chip Coffey, tying current events into the wider paranormal conversation.

If you’re fascinated by ghosts, hauntings, shadow figures, paranormal investigation, and supernatural phenomena, this is the perfect introduction to the Paranormal Lens podcast.

(This episode is NOT sponsored by The Soundwave Booth)