This Haunted Life

In this episode, Adam Berry explores how superstitions—whether lighthearted, cultural, or deeply personal—affect the way we move through life and approach the unknown. From ancient fears to ghost hunting techniques, each act reveals a different facet of how belief and ritual shape our reality.

ACT 1 – Magical Thinking

• Explores how small rituals and habits are often rooted in superstition.
• Discusses the cultural history behind common beliefs: broken mirrors, lucky numbers, black cats, and ladders.
• Looks at how superstitions function as protective charms or mental coping mechanisms.
• Includes theatrical traditions like “break a leg,” ghost lights, and the legendary fear of Macbeth.

ACT 2 – To Trap a Ghost

• Examines how superstition plays a role in real-world paranormal investigations.
• Introduces a case where traditional protective objects were used to influence spiritual behavior.
• Considers how folklore, belief, and intention can be used to set boundaries with the unknown.
• Reflects on the connection between ritual action and energetic response in haunted spaces.

ACT 3 – Our Superstitions, Our Selves

• Connects superstition to psychology, stress, and the human need for control.
• Cites research from scholars like Stuart Vyse and Jane Risen.
• Explores the concept of intention and manifestation as a form of emotional self-regulation.
• Includes references to popular media like The Secret and the use of vision boards.

ACT 4 – Real Fans, Real Superstitions

• Shares real listener-submitted superstitions from a wide range of backgrounds.
• Highlights occupational beliefs from medical, emergency, and military professionals.
• Showcases cultural and familial traditions passed through generations.
• Touches on rituals related to driving, coins, omens, and unusual personal rules.

ACT 5 – Very Superstitious

• Reflects on the nature of belief and the value of ritual, even when it isn’t logical.
• Challenges the idea that superstition is harmful or silly.
• Suggests that belief—when used with intention—can offer grounding, protection, or even healing.
• Leaves listeners with a final thought: if it helps you, why not do it?

This episode explores the fascinating intersection between thrill-seeking, hauntings, and the unseen spirits that may be lingering at major American theme parks. From Disney’s Haunted Mansion to Knott’s Berry Farm’s real-life ghost town, Adam dives into tales from employees, researchers, and first-hand investigations that suggest some guests never really leave.

Main Segments & Topics
Intro – The Haunted Fun of Theme Parks

• Walt Disney's vision for Disneyland included embracing fear as entertainment (Haunted Mansion opened in 1969).
• Theme parks provide "safe scares" — a psychological release of fear-driven chemicals.
• Universal Orlando’s new Dark Universe horror-themed land shows our continued fascination with monsters and fright.

Act 1: The Guests Who Never Leave

• Speculation around Walt Disney’s ghost
• Cast member reports: shadow figures, phantom music, voices, ghostly guest named Mr. One-Way on Space Mountain.
• Theory: Happy energy from theme parks draws spirits like a beacon; emotional imprinting from visitors fuels residual hauntings.

Act 2: Kings Island & The Girl in the Blue Dress

• Adam and Amy Bruni investigate Kings Island in Ohio during the off-season.
• Encountered signs of the spirit “Missouri Jane,” a young girl believed to be linked to an on-site cemetery.
• Paranormal experience inside the abandoned haunted house attraction — footsteps, leading energy, and atmospheric chills.

Act 3: The Real Ghosts of Calico Ghost Town at Knott’s Berry Farm

• Origins of Knott’s Berry Farm, Calico Ghost Town, and use of real historic buildings.
• Park founder Walter Knott recreated the Old West, sometimes with actual 19th-century structures, possibly bringing spirits with them.
• Stories from employees include:
• Miss Hazel, an early staff member upset by the commercialization of the park
• George and Harold, ghosts haunting the Timber Mountain Log Ride
• Cordelia Knott, believed to still observe from her beloved Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

Act 4: Listener Spotlight – Christie’s Wild Ride

• Origins of Knott’s Berry Farm, Calico Ghost Town, and use of real historic buildings.
• Park founder Walter Knott recreated the Old West, sometimes with actual 19th-century structures, possibly bringing spirits with them.
• Stories from employees include:
• Miss Hazel, an early staff member upset by the commercialization of the park
• George and Harold, ghosts haunting the Timber Mountain Log Ride
• Cordelia Knott, believed to still observe from her beloved Chicken Dinner Restaurant.

 Interview with Christie Drolet, a long-time Knott’s employee.

• Firsthand accounts:
• Items moving on their own.
• Hair being pulled until she directly addressed the spirit.
• Apparitions in restaurants, theaters, and ghost town attractions.
• Disembodied voices from spirits named Harold (grumpy) and George (playful).
• Ghosts seen walking stages and saloons, seemingly reliving their time in the park.
• Does Walter and Cordelia Knott still walk the grounds?

Act 5: Thrill of a Lifetime — And Beyond

• Reflection: If you could choose to haunt anywhere, wouldn’t a theme park be ideal?
• Ghosts as eternal park guests: always welcome, surrounded by joy and magic, and even allowed to scare.
• Final thought: Theme parks are made for the living, but they may just be paradise for the dearly departed, too.

In the debut episode of This Haunted Life, paranormal investigator Adam Berry takes us deep underground — both literally and emotionally. What begins with personal stories from his haunted childhood home evolves into something much larger: a chilling paranormal case involving possible human remains, and a real-life listener story that will stay with you long after the episode ends. From unexplained footsteps to recurring dreams that blur the line between reality and nightmare, this episode explores what happens when the basement becomes a true crime drama for the unknown.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

• Adam’s first brushes with the paranormal in his childhood basement
• The symbolic, psychological, and spiritual weight of basements in horror
• A real investigation involving a ghostly EVP, a cadaver dog, and ground-penetrating radar
• A terrifying listener story from North Dakota with dreams so intense they left a man forever changed
• The recurring theme of entrapment — physical, emotional, and supernatural
• Why the scariest part of the house might be the part we least want to explore

Key Segments:

Act 1: It All Started in the Basement
Adam’s earliest memories of fear — and curiosity — unfold in the Bluff Street basement, a space that seemed to call to him even as a child.

Act 2: Fear Below the Surface
A dive into why basements stir such primal fear. From horror movie tropes to buried trauma, we unpack the layers of dread.

Act 3: The Real Ghosts in the Basement
A haunted antique shop, a ghost whispering “I was left down here,” and real-world evidence of buried human remains— Adam recounts one of the most shocking cases of his career.

Act 4: A Listener’s Real — and Really Terrifying — Haunted Basement Experience
Listener Grady Hughes shares a horrifying ordeal: uneasiness, shadowy figures, and a recurring nightmare featuring a entity that was part Hollywood horror and part worst fear. Grady was trapped in more ways than one — until he escaped. Then… well, you will have to take a listen.

Act 5: The Basement as the End… and the Beginning
A return to Bluff Street. Adam recounts one final chilling memory — being locked in the basement. Or was he? Fear and imagination meet… and that's where horror begins.

Adam Berry Unveils New Paranormal Podcast This Haunted Life — Debut Episode MAY 13 2025 

Acclaimed paranormal investigator and television host Adam Berry is making waves in the podcasting world with the launch of This Haunted Life, a gripping new series that blends personal stories, real investigations, and listener-submitted hauntings. The debut episode, It All Started in the Basement, is available now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and anywhere you get your podcasts.

In this chilling first installment, Berry revisits the haunted basement of his childhood home and connects it to one of the most unnerving cases of his career. The episode also highlights a terrifying listener story involving shadowy figures and nightmares so vivid they cross into waking life.
“This podcast is about digging deeper—both into haunted spaces and the personal experiences that shape our fears,” says Berry. “In this episode, we confront why basements so often symbolize entrapment and dread, backed by real investigations and firsthand accounts.” 

Berry’s blend of storytelling, investigation, and listener engagement makes This Haunted Life a must-listen for fans of paranormal podcasts and horror culture alike. With sharp production and a compelling format, the show is primed to become a standout in the genre. 

About This Haunted Life: This Haunted Life is a bi-weekly podcast exploring true paranormal stories, psychological deep-dives, and firsthand encounters with the unexplained. Hosted by Adam Berry, the show is a meeting place for skeptics and believers alike, offering both thrills and thoughtful analysis.

Production Credits: Host/Producer/Writer: Adam Berry;  Co-Producer/Music: Chad Rossi and Provincetown Records; Co-Poducer/Writer: Julie Tremaine; Artwork/Media: Laura Lineberry