Imagine being greeted in the dead of night by a small alien creature, running toward your bed.  This disturbing experience set author Whitley Strieber on a dark and devastating path that culminated in the publishing of 1987’s Communion.  Strieber’s life changed on the night of December 26, 1985 – and he has spent the last forty years trying to sort out exactly what happened.

When Richard Hatem first stumbled upon the book Communion, he refused to pick it up.  But after two years of post-USC Film School misery, he suddenly found dark solace within the story of Strieber and his strange encounters.  As Richard struggles to find his writing voice, the story of Strieber’s frightening journey begins to resonate in strange ways.  And when Richard and his best friend Matt Reeves start working on the script that will one day become the Steven Segal movie Under Siege 2: Dark Territory – he learns that sometimes, friendship, humor and terrifying books can be the key to everything.

 Join Richard as he navigates the rough waters of screenwriting, alien abduction – and tries to figure out how to make the great film Die Hard even greater (as if that were possible).

Sign up for Patreon at the “Obsessed Fan” level by June 30, you’ll receive a SIGNED AND INSCRIBED printed copy of your favorite RHPB episode!  Join here!

https://patreon.com/RichardHatem?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 

Buy Communion here!

https://bookshop.org/p/books/communion/18948208?ean=9798986205502&next=t

“Heidi’s Frogen Yozurt” was a real thing! (But sadly, not anymore -- they’ve all been sold and no locations exists, even in Los Angeles).    BUT -- check out this article on the company’s founder Heidi Miller.  She sounds like a great person!

https://www.donatelifefloat.org/si/participants/pages/2020-heidi-miller.html

“Blockbuster Video” was a real thing! (But sadly, not anymore -- they’ve all been sold and only ONE LOCATION STILL EXISTS!).  BUT -- check it out here and maybe go visit if you’re ever in Bend, Oregon! 

https://bendblockbuster.com/about/

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!

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 

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

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!  

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 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/ 

“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/