The Paranormal Podcast

Fiona Dodwell joins us from the UK to explore one of the most unsettling corners of the paranormal: haunted dolls. Drawing from her book A Cursed Collection of Haunted Dolls, Fiona shares how a research project turned personal when she adopted a clown doll said to carry its own energy!

We discuss famous cases like Robert the Doll and Peggy, but also dig into lesser-known stories that are just as disturbing. Along the way, Fiona explains why dolls, with their human likeness and emotional resonance, may be uniquely suited to becoming vessels for unexplained phenomena.

From a Japanese doll whose hair reportedly continued to grow after its young owner’s death, to firsthand accounts from collectors who actively seek out haunted objects, this conversation examines whether spirits can truly attach themselves to physical items. Fiona also reflects on whether our own energy can imprint onto cherished belongings, blurring the line between memory and manifestation. Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, this episode invites you to reconsider the objects sitting quietly on your shelves and what they might be holding onto.

You can find Fiona's book at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rCcG0P

Thanks Fiona!

This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support!

NEWSLETTER
Get Jim’s weekly free newsletter and a free Campfire ebook at the same time. Go here: https://jim-harold.kit.com/campfire-ebook

VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUP
Join our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠

EVENTS
Hope to see you soon at one of Jim’s live events: https://jimharold.com/events

YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Be sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠

JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUB
You can get access to Jim’s entire back catalog of Campfire and a TON of exclusive content with the Spooky Studio Plus Club. Go to https://⁠jimharold.com/plus⁠ and signup to support the show and get access to our MASSIVE library of content!

MERCH
Go to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! 

BOOKS
Get all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can your hands really say something meaningful about who you are?

This week, Jim welcomes hand-reading expert Christopher Jones, author of The Palmistry of Fingerprints: The Secret Patterns Hidden in Your Fingers and Palms. Rather than fortune telling, Jones argues that the hands reflect personality, tendencies, and even how we process the world.

He explains why fingerprints matter more than the lines most people focus on, how those lines actually change during your life, and why hand reading may be less mystical than many assume.

We also explore the history of palmistry, its surprising connections to medical research, and what your hands might reveal about temperament, motivation, and life direction.

You can find Christopher's book at Amazon, The Palmistry of Fingerprints: https://amzn.to/46LtFFj

Thanks Christopher!

---

NEWSLETTER
Get Jim’s weekly free newsletter and a free Campfire ebook at the same time. Go here: https://jim-harold.kit.com/campfire-ebook
VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUP
Join our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠
EVENTS
Hope to see you soon at one of Jim’s live events: https://jimharold.com/events
YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Be sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ 
JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUB
You can get access to Jim’s entire back catalog of Campfire and a TON of exclusive content with the Spooky Studio Plus Club. Go to https://⁠jimharold.com/plus⁠ and signup to support the show and get access to our MASSIVE library of content!
MERCH
Go to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! 
BOOKS
Get all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The true origin of Cupid, a story that makes Romeo and Juliet look like a happy ending, and the St. Valentine's Day Massacre. These are just some of the creepy stories that author Tim Rayborn shares with us on this special Valentine's edition of The Paranormal Podcast.

You can find his book, The Scary Book of Valentine's Day Lore: 50 Terrifying Tales of Romance from Around the World, on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Zwyu1n

--

This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support!

--
NEWSLETTER
Get Jim’s weekly free newsletter and a free Campfire ebook at the same time. Go here: https://jim-harold.kit.com/campfire-ebook

VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUP
Join our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠

EVENTS
Hope to see you soon at one of Jim’s live events: https://jimharold.com/events

YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Be sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠

JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUB
You can get access to Jim’s entire back catalog of Campfire and a TON of exclusive content with the Spooky Studio Plus Club. Go to https://⁠jimharold.com/plus⁠ and signup to support the show and get access to our MASSIVE library of content!

MERCH
Go to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more!

BOOKS
Get all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do our loved ones really leave us when they pass, or do they continue to help from the other side? On this episode of The Paranormal Podcast, Jim is joined once again by psychic medium Jodi Livon to explore how deceased relatives may still guide, comfort, and support us in everyday life.

You can find Jodi's website at https://theintuitivecoach.com/

Thanks Jodi!

---

NEWSLETTER

Get Jim’s weekly free newsletter and a free Campfire ebook at the same time. Go here: https://jim-harold.kit.com/campfire-ebook

VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUP

Join our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠

EVENTS

Hope to see you soon at one of Jim’s live events: https://jimharold.com/events

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

Be sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠

JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUB

You can get access to Jim’s entire back catalog of Campfire and a TON of exclusive content with the Spooky Studio Plus Club. Go to https://⁠jimharold.com/plus⁠ and signup to support the show and get access to our MASSIVE library of content!

MERCH

Go to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more!

BOOKS

Get all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kevin O’Shea, host of Supernatural Japan, joins us for a fascinating look at how the paranormal is woven into everyday life in Japanese culture.

Note: If you are watching the video version, you may notice some brief video glitches on our guest’s side at the very beginning of this interview. His audio is clear throughout, and the video stabilizes eventually. Thanks for sticking with us.

Kevin shares how his journey from folklore-loving Canadian to longtime resident of Japan opened his eyes to a worldview where spirits, ancestors, and unseen forces are not fringe ideas but part of the social fabric.

From Shinto beliefs and nature spirits to seasonal traditions surrounding the dead, this conversation explores how a technologically advanced society has held onto deeply rooted supernatural traditions.

Thanks Kevin!

--

NEWSLETTER
Get Jim’s weekly free newsletter and a free Campfire ebook at the same time. Go here: https://jim-harold.kit.com/campfire-ebook

VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUP
Join our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠

EVENTS
Jim has TWO live events, both FREE, in February. Hope to see you soon. Get the info here: https://jimharold.com/events

YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Be sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ 

JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUB
You can get access to Jim’s entire back catalog of Campfire and a TON of exclusive content with the Spooky Studio Plus Club. Go to https://⁠jimharold.com/plus⁠ and signup to support the show and get access to our MASSIVE library of content!

MERCH
Go to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! 

BOOKS
Get all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim sits down with Steven Intermill, the manager of the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft in Cleveland, Ohio. Steven shares the unlikely path that led him from museum work of a very different kind to becoming the public steward of one of the most important collections of modern witchcraft artifacts in the United States. Along the way, we explore the legacy of Raymond Buckland, often called the father of American witchcraft, and how Buckland's personal collection evolved into a living museum that attracts visitors from around the world.

The conversation moves from history to the deeply human side of belief, touching on ritual objects, folklore, and the stories people bring with them when they walk through the museum doors. Steven reflects on misconceptions surrounding witchcraft, the museum’s role as a place of education and welcome, and why certain artifacts carry such emotional weight.

There are also lighter, surprising moments involving Ouija boards, haunted objects, and why curiosity, not fear, is often the real gateway into the unknown. This is a thoughtful, behind-the-scenes look at a museum that preserves more than objects. It preserves stories, experiences, and a living spiritual tradition.

You can find more information at https://bucklandmuseum.org/

Thanks Steven!

---

YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Be sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ 

NEWSLETTER
Get Jim’s weekly free newsletter and a free Campfire ebook at the same time. Go here: https://jim-harold.kit.com/campfire-ebook

VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUP
Join our free community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠

YOUTUBE CHANNEL
Be sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ 

JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUB
You can get access to Jim’s entire back catalog of Campfire and a TON of exclusive content with the Spooky Studio Plus Club. Go to https://⁠jimharold.com/plus⁠ and signup to support the show and get access to our MASSIVE library of content!

MERCH
Go to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! 

BOOKS
Get all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim talks with Julie McFadden, RN, known to millions as Hospice Nurse Julie, about death in a honest, open, and surprisingly comforting chat. Drawing on her years in hospice care, Julie shares what people experience at end of life, why talking openly about dying can actually bring relief, and how acknowledging our mortality can help us live with more clarity and purpose.

Her insights come from being at the bedside with patients and families during their most vulnerable moments, and they carry the calm assurance of someone who has seen this up close many times.

The conversation also moves into compelling paranormal territory, touching on "visioning," deathbed experiences, and moments that don’t fit neatly into medical explanations. Julie recounts stories of patients seeing deceased loved ones and feeling a sense of comfort or presence near the end, including one experience that continues she'll never forget.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are joined by Graham Nicholls, a leading researcher and experiencer of out-of-body experiences, to explore what really happens when consciousness seems to separate from the physical body.

Graham shares his own early, spontaneous OBEs and how they led him down a path that blends firsthand experience with serious scientific inquiry. We discuss what defines an out-of-body experience, how common they may be, and how they relate to near-death experiences, illness, and altered states of consciousness.

The conversation goes deeper into the science, touching on parapsychology, controlled experiments, and how concepts from quantum physics might help explain non-local consciousness. Graham also addresses skepticism head-on, discusses fear and safety concerns surrounding OBEs, and explains why intentional experiences can be transformative rather than dangerous.

Along the way, we explore precognitive experiences, time perception, and practical first steps for those curious about exploring consciousness beyond the body. A thoughtful, grounded discussion that challenges assumptions while staying rooted in careful research and lived experience.

You can find Graham's book, Navigating the Out-of-Body Experience, at Amazon: https://amzn.to/450s9hQ

Thanks Graham!

--

This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support!

---
SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUB
Get access to the entire backcatalog of Jim Harold’s Campfire, The Paranormal Podcast & exclusive Plus ONLY shows. That’s over 2,700 episodes.
Your membership helps keep our shows going! Thanks to all of our current members!
Join today here: ⁠⁠https://jimharold.com/plus

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of The Paranormal Podcast, Jim is joined by journalist and author Ben Machell. His book Chasing the Dark explores more than a century of investigations by the Society for Psychical Research. Ben brings listeners inside a largely forgotten world of serious inquiry into the paranormal, long before ghost hunting became entertainment.

We talk about why the subject attracted some of the sharpest scientific and literary minds of the last 140 years, and how careful documentation, patience, and intellectual humility shaped an approach that still feels surprisingly modern today.

At the heart of the conversation is the remarkable life and work of SPR investigator Tony Cornell, a man who spent decades quietly examining real-world paranormal cases without chasing fame, certainty, or easy answers. Ben shares how Cornell balanced skepticism with open-mindedness, why some cases stubbornly resisted explanation, and what these investigations reveal about human psychology, belief, and the limits of materialist thinking. This is a thoughtful, wide-ranging discussion about mystery, method, and what it really means to confront the unknown.

You can find Ben's book at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3MY2rEE

Thanks Ben!

---

This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Author and researcher J.M. DeBord returns to discuss his book The Science of the Paranormal and the question at the heart of it all: can paranormal experiences be studied in a serious, scientific way? The conversation spans telepathy, psychokinesis, reincarnation, remote viewing, and precognitive dreams, drawing on real experiments, documented cases, and decades of research that suggest these phenomena may be far more than imagination or coincidence.

You can find his book, The Science of the Paranormal: The Truth Behind Telepathy, ESP, Reincarnation, and More Mysterious Phenomena, at Amazon: https://amzn.to/490Ys1i

--

This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices