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In this episode of Paranormal Underground Radio, we talk with Ben Hansen, team lead of Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files. Ben set up the Fact of Faked investigation team to learn the truth about the paranormal. Early in his youth, Ben developed a fascination with UFOs and secret government projects. Ben has been looking for the real-life X-Files since he was a child and decided he would dedicate his career to investigations. After obtaining a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Utah in Sociology and Criminology, he went to work for the State of Utah on a county SVU task force. His training and skills later brought him to work as a criminal investigator for the FBI. Although he never found the X-Files, his time serving at the state and federal levels gave him over 6 years of formal experience in investigating a wide range of crimes and national security details. He works as a Systems Analyst for a non-profit group when he’s not investigating cases.

Also joining Ben is Ernie Alonzo. Since the age of 12, Ernie has been interested in ghosts and the paranormal. He has traveled to various haunted locations throughout California and the U.S. as a paranormal enthusiast. Convinced that the local history in his hometown would provide the foundation for a great ghost walk, in 2009 Ernie founded Haunted Orange, a paranormal tour and events company based in Orange, CA. Originally a walking tour company and a Website, Haunted Orange has expanded to Haunted Orange County and now offers paranormal bus tours, walking tours, paranormal meet ups and investigation opportunities, dinners & lectures with well known personalities in the field. In 2011 Ernie partnered with Ramiro Ramirez of the paranormal reality series "From Beyond" to bring the investigation side of events to Haunted OC. Currently Ernie is working with Ben Hansen of SyFy's Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files on a variety of events including a series of UFO lectures & Skywatches. 2013 will be a pivotal year for Haunted OC. He is determined to expand into all facets of the paranormal and provide a wide range of experiences for patrons.

During the second hour of the show, we also talk with the UPIO, including Natalie Poole and Heather Allynn. Based in Southern California, The Unexplained Phenomena Investigation Organization (UPIO) is a science-based research team dedicated to examining the relations between the physical world and the inexplicable. The group’s mission is to evaluate and theorize the scientific connections within the paranormal and astrophysical realms, as well as the unknown, curious, extraordinary and bizarre. UPIO “encourages the collaboration among the inquisitive, truth seekers, and skeptics by means of open forums, evidence review, and sociable dialogue to test theories and techniques to ultimately answer the universal question that drives us all … ‘why?’” The UPIO team includes the following members: Chris Shimaoka, Natalie Poole, Adele Pulice, Steven Ortiz, Michelle Jakway, Chris Sabo, Brigid Anderson, Michael Drouin, and Heather Allynn.

Air Date: August 16, 2012

Topic: Paranormal Experiences, Paranormal Theory, Paranormal Investigation

Guest: Ben Hansen, Ernie Alonzo, Natalie Poole, and Michelle Jakway

Hosts: Rick Hale and Jeff Grunow

Producer: Cheryl Knight