With all the paranormal information that’s available and the growing accumulation of paranormal evidence, is there anything we can actually prove as fact? And if not, isn’t it entirely possible that we’re doing paranormal damage to the very people we purport to help? EVP research needs to continue vigorously, as do other paranormal studies, but perhaps the authority and confidence with which we disseminate our knowledge and theoretical analysis needs to be reconsidered. It is true that we “do good” in many cases, but we need to be careful that our involvement doesn’t become part of someone else’s problem.

For this episode, we interview BJ Moylan – a long time paranormal investigator and innovator within the field. BJ is also the founder of PHPRS (Perry Hall Paranormal Research Society), a Baltimore area based paranormal research team, but he has recently taken a sabbatical from investigation - he’ll tell us why. We will also explore his thoughts on the paranormal in general, the current state of the field, listen to some stories, and come away with the strong commitment to always take things to the next level.

The main objective of any paranormal investigation is always to accomplish spirit communication. We want to hear from them and see them, hopefully, but very little is actually within our control. However, spirits can become really curious, so when we invade an environment and set up all sorts of equipment, it should help to allow the location time to settle – without our presence. By letting a place breathe – alone, it seems logical to many of us that the entities involved will appreciate the opportunity to get more comfortable with an impending investigation on their own terms. Our chances of communication improve by increasing everyone’s comfort level.

There are many ways to skin an EVP. Truly different strokes for different investigators. Some specific situations and locations require different approaches as well. There are some constants, but this episode explores a few of these different methods and practices while providing some EVP examples.

This episode centers around a number of recurring email questions directed to the Podcast - beginning with Halloween. We use a number of stories from actual investigations and some current EVP to answer the questions and hopefully shed some light on possible methods and concepts.

Is it so easy to think of paranormal researchers as just crazy people who hear and see things that no one else hears or sees? Sometimes EVP evidence is obvious and all the researcher does is discover it, but our willingness not to accept becomes too overpowering. And sometimes, that same investigator misunderstands what he hears – makes assumptions he should not make; tries to create facts where there are none. It’s a strange field because so little is actually known, and facts are very few and far between. You almost have to be crazy to do this.

Fear of something paranormal is a fairly normal thing and nothing to be ashamed about. Some think it’s even a healthy response. Still, Investigators and researchers are forced to deal with their own fear quickly and decisively, and when that becomes impossible, must face the possibility that paranormal studies may not be for them. This episode deals with a fear of mine – something that showed up without warning and centered around the heart of a new sleep experiment. The episode also features a particularly strange occurrence during that experiment – something I refer to as “the 37-minute gap.”

Can we? We know human spirits have a lot in common with us, and we tend to filter the EVP we hear through our own experiences. But aren’t spirits radically different – sufficiently foreign to prevent adequate understanding on our part? We’re like the children they once were and common sense suggests that our ability to accurately relate is severely lacking. We see ourselves as the center of the universe – what is important and significant to us must surely be equally so to spirits. But isn’t that doubtful? Perhaps the time has come to change the paradigm and attempt to see them more accurately.

Over the years, and for a variety of reasons, I’ve developed an affinity with some of the EVP I’ve managed to capture. Whether it’s because they make me laugh, touch my heart, or just plain teach me something new, for some reason these voices have gained a spot on my most favorite list. Of course, the list is too large for just one episode, so this is only the first in a series I’ll be featuring every once in awhile. This episode deals primarily with those EVP with a very personal significance for me. Hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Sometimes it’s a good idea to step back and take stock of what we actually do in our search for EVP, and better analyze what we know. However, trying to put it all into perspective can be difficult, and often leaves us with the sad notion that what we know is actually almost nothing. That shouldn’t stop us. Likewise, this process shouldn’t lend credibility to the phenomena or remove it, but it certainly provides us with the opportunity to think things through a little better. It allows us to adjust our direction or solidify a successful and meaningful approach. What we know is never enough, but being certain it’s reasonably accurate is significant.