The Paranormal Podcast

What happens when neuroscience, psychology, and the paranormal meet? Dr. Melissa Maffeo, author of Science of the Supernatural: Critical Thinking for the Mind and Brain, joins Jim to explore how fear, expectation, sleep paralysis, infrasound, and the quirks of human memory can shape experiences that feel unmistakably supernatural. They also dig into near-death experiences, alien abductions, psychic readings, false memories, and the limits of paranormal investigation. Jim and Dr. Maffeo do not agree on everything, which makes for a lively and thoughtful conversation about skepticism, belief, and whether science can explain the unexplained without dismissing the people who experience it. You can find Dr. Maffeo's book at Amazon here: https://amzn.to/4ftXJsK Thanks Dr. Maffeo! VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠ EVENTSHope to see you soon at one of Jim’s live events: https://jimharold.com/events YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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! MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What would it mean to believe you had lived a past life connected to one of history’s darkest chapters? Author Benjamin Carraud shares the story behind Goodbye, Fields of Prokhorovka: Past Life Memories of a Waffen-SS Officer, including the spontaneous memories that began while he was living in China, his efforts to rule out conventional explanations, and the research that eventually led him to the family of the man he believes he once was. Benjamin discusses the emotional weight of those memories, how the experience changed his views on reincarnation, and why he does not consider himself the same person as the officer. Instead, he believes there may be a continuity of consciousness connecting the two lives. NOTE: This episode discusses an alleged past-life experience involving a Waffen-SS officer. Examination of an individual perpetrator’s psychology does not minimize the Waffen-SS’s participation in the Holocaust and other war crimes, nor diminish the suffering of its victims. Both the guest and I reject any glorification of the SS. This interview is simply the author’s account of what he believes to be memories of a past life. You can find Goodbye, Fields of Prokhorovka: Past Life Memories of a Waffen-SS Officer at Amazon: https://amzn.to/44qwomf Thank you Benjamin. --- This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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!MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Was Roswell really the first major American UFO crash story? Author Paul Blake Smith joins Jim to discuss a case he believes deserves far more attention than it gets: the reported 1941 crash near Cape Girardeau, Missouri. His book, The UFO Bombshell Before Roswell: Missouri’s 1941 Crash and Cover-Up, explores claims of a downed craft, strange bodies, military involvement, and a local minister allegedly called to the scene under extraordinary circumstances. Jim and Paul dig into the witness accounts, the historical setting of pre-war America, and why a case like this may have stayed buried for so long. Along the way, they discuss possible links to government secrecy, earlier European crash claims, recovered technology, and the larger question of whether the UFO story began long before most people think. It is a fascinating look at an overlooked case that challenges the usual timeline of UFO history. You can find Paul's new book at Amazon at https://amzn.to/4vVWDNm Thanks Paul! -- This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! --- VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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!MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Artificial intelligence is not a ghost, a UFO, or a cryptid, but it may be one of the strangest and most unsettling mysteries of our time. On this episode of The Paranormal Podcast, Jim talks with A. G. G. Liu, co-author of The Handy Artificial Intelligence Answer Book, about the rise of AI and the big questions it raises about consciousness, control, creativity, and what it means to be human. Could machines ever become truly aware? Are we building tools we can manage, or something that may eventually outthink us? Jim and A. G. G. dig into the promises and dangers of AI, from medicine and scientific breakthroughs to job disruption, cybersecurity threats, AI-generated art, energy demands, and even artificial companions. It is a fascinating, sometimes unnerving conversation about a technology that is no longer science fiction. Whether you use AI every day, avoid it completely, or still are not sure what to make of it, this episode will give you plenty to think about. You can find The Handy Artificial Intelligence Answer Book at Amazon: The Handy Artificial Intelligence Answer Book - https://amzn.to/3T9uy6y Thanks A.G.G. -- VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠ YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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! MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more!  BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before Amityville, before the Warrens, and long before famous hauntings became part of pop culture, there was the Wizard Clip haunting. Dr. Stan Williams joins Jim to dig into this strange and deeply historic case from the 1790s, where a farmer named Adam Livingston found himself at the center of unexplained poltergeist activity, mysterious fabrics cut into crescent shapes, and a haunting that shook an entire community. Dr. Williams, author of the Wizard Clip Haunting trilogy, shares how a possible film project turned into years of research through courthouse records, church archives, old accounts, and one surprising discovery about a key priest in the story. It is part ghost story, part historical mystery, and part spiritual battle, centered on what just might be America’s greatest haunting you’ve never heard of. You can find Dr. William's books on Wizard Clip at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gHmxPY Thanks Dr. Williams! This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! -- VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠ YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more!  BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rock and roll has always had a shadow side, and Richard Syrett joins Jim to explore some of its strangest stories from his new book, Tales from the Rock and Roll Twilight Zone. From the roots of blues folklore and Robert Johnson’s legendary crossroads tale to theories about the Beatles, “Paul is Dead,” and the eerie staying power of rock’s greatest mysteries, Richard looks at why music history seems to attract so many strange rumors, unsettling coincidences, and unanswered questions. Jim and Richard also dig into the 27 Club, the tragic plane crash that changed Lynyrd Skynyrd forever, the mysteries surrounding Elvis Presley’s final days, and the suspicious circumstances some have associated with the death of Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones. It is a wide-ranging conversation about fame, myth, tragedy, conspiracy, and the powerful hold these stories still have on music fans decades later. You can find Richard's book at Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Sb8okc Thanks Richard! --- VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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!MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can astrology help us better understand love, attraction, compatibility, and the patterns we keep repeating in relationships? On this episode of The Paranormal Podcast, Jim talks with Canadian astrologer, and author Tracy Quinlan about her book Charting Love with Astrology. Tracy explains how the birth chart can offer insight into romance, marriage, friendship, sexuality, timing, and the deeper dynamics that shape the way we connect with others. This is a fun and thoughtful conversation that goes beyond the usual “what’s your sign?” approach. Tracy discusses why astrology is more about tendencies than fixed fate, how opposites and so-called incompatible signs may actually work together, and what relationship houses can reveal about where love might show up in a person’s life. We also touch on soul connections, relationship patterns, the role of Venus and Mars, and Tracy’s fascinating work with sound. You can find Tracy's book, Charting Love with Astrology, at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4usuDzr Thanks Tracy! --- This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! --- VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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!MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

David Alderton joins Jim to explore the strange and enduring world of mysterious creatures, from unicorns and mermaids to Thunderbirds, dragons, werewolves, vampires and Sasquatch. Drawing from his book Mysterious Creatures: The Truth Behind the Legends, Alderton looks at how folklore, natural history, fear, misunderstanding and real animals may have combined to create some of the world’s most famous legends. This conversation digs into why these creatures still fascinate us, including the possible real-world roots behind ancient myths, the role of wolves and disease in werewolf lore, how vampires moved from superstition into pop culture, and why Bigfoot remains such a compelling mystery in an age when photos and video are harder than ever to trust. It is a fascinating look at the line between legend and reality, and why some stories refuse to die. You can find Mysterious Creatures at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4ejqFnL Thanks David! ---VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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!MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darnella Ford joins us to discuss her extraordinary journeys into the hereafter and the out-of-body experiences that changed the course of her life. After years of meditation, breathwork, and studying ideas connected to consciousness, neuroscience, and quantum theory, Darnella says she discovered that the physical world is only one small part of a much larger reality. She shares how these experiences began, where they have taken her, and why she believes grief, love, and the soul’s survival are deeply connected. We also talk about her book The Next Breath: Life After Loss and Journeys into the Hereafter, inspired in part by the tragic loss of a close friend, and the profound encounters she says followed. From otherworldly landscapes and unusual beings to emotional reunions beyond the veil, Darnella offers a deeply personal look at what she has experienced beyond the body, while also reflecting on how those journeys can help us live with more purpose, peace, and openness right now. VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠ YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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! MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran television producer and investigative journalist Miguel Sancho joins Jim for a fascinating deep dive into the unexplained through the lens of mainstream journalism. Drawing on his years at ABC’s 20/20 and CBS’s 48 Hours, Sancho explains how a skeptic found himself confronting cases that resisted easy debunking. From UFO whistleblowers and military footage to near-death experiences and strange encounters captured on camera, the conversation explores where rigorous investigation ends and genuine mystery begins. Jim and Miguel also venture into bigger philosophical territory, discussing whether science itself is evolving toward ideas once dismissed as impossible. They tackle simulation theory, quantum physics, the afterlife, and the growing tension between skepticism and belief in modern culture. Along the way, Miguel shares some of the most compelling cases he’s examined for The Proof Is Out There and explains why the unexplained may deserve more serious attention than many in the mainstream are willing to admit. You can find Evidence of The Extraordinary at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tJq6YQ This post contains Amazon affiliate links that benefit Jim Harold Media when you make a qualifying purchase. Thank you for your support! --- VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠ YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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! MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more!  BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What did the one of the first private astronauts really see during the dawn of commercial spaceflight? In this fascinating conversation, filmmaker Kevin Curran joins Jim to discuss Beyond Blue Sky: The Untold Story of the First Private Astronauts and the extraordinary experiences of astronaut Brian Binnie during the historic SpaceShipOne program. From high-risk experimental flights to mysterious glowing figures just days after a devastating crash, this is a story that blends aerospace history with one of the most compelling UFO encounters we’ve heard in years. Kevin shares the behind-the-scenes story of how the documentary came together, why Binnie chose to reveal his experience, and what other astronauts and test pilots may have encountered over the years. Along the way, Jim and Kevin explore the changing conversation around UAPs, disclosure, and what it all could mean for humanity’s place in the universe. Interestingly, this interview was recorded before the recent UAP file releases. During the conversation, Jim speculated that the Apollo astronauts may have witnessed things they never fully disclosed publicly, based on little breadcrumbs left over the years. Recent revelations appear to lend weight to those suspicions. No psychic powers required, Jim was just paying attention. A remarkable discussion that will leave you looking at the night sky a little differently. Beyond Blue Sky is currently available on Apple TV. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Najah Lightfoot joins us to explore the fascinating and often misunderstood world of dolls through the lens of her book The Spiritual Magic of Dolls. We dig into why dolls have such a powerful presence across cultures and history, and how they’ve gone from cherished companions to objects of fear in modern times. Najah shares her personal connection to dolls, how Hollywood has shaped our perceptions, and how can carry emotional and environmental imprints from the people and places they’ve been part of. It’s a conversation that challenges assumptions and opens up a much more nuanced view of these familiar figures. Along the way, we get into the big questions. Can dolls be haunted? Do they really move or communicate in subtle ways? And what does it actually mean to work with a doll in a magical or spiritual context? Whether you’re skeptical, curious, or already a believer, this episode delivers a compelling mix of folklore, personal experience, and practical insight that will leave you looking at dolls in a completely different way. You can find The Spiritual Magic of Dolls at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4tTFRgY Thanks Najah! VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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!MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more! BOOKSGet 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 astrologer, therapist, and author Carmen Turner-Schott to explore how astrology, past lives, and psychology may be more connected than we realize. Carmen shares the remarkable paranormal experience that first set her on this path, then breaks down how birth charts act as a “map of the soul,” revealing patterns that shape personality, relationships, and life direction. The conversation dives into the idea of astrology as energy, how planetary cycles may influence emotions and behavior, and why even skeptics can be surprised by the accuracy of a well-read chart. We also get into deeper territory, including karma and the possibility that our relationships are rooted in past-life connections. Carmen explains concepts like the North and South Nodes, how they point to lessons carried across lifetimes, and why certain struggles, especially with family or partners, seem to repeat until they are resolved. Along the way, she connects astrology with Carl Jung’s archetypes, Tarot symbolism, and even early medical practices, painting a picture of an ancient system that continues to evolve today. Whether you are a believer or just curious, this is a thought-provoking look at how astrology might offer insight into who we are and why we are here. You can find her book, Astrology's Zodiac Archetypes: Using Your Sixth Sense to Transform Past Life Patterns, at Amazon: https://amzn.to/4cEyzHN VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠ YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠ JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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! MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more!  BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

John J. Davis was clinically dead for SEVEN minutes and came back! He shares extraordinary account that began with a devastating accident and a medical emergency. What he describes is a vivid journey into what he believes is the afterlife, not darkness, but a place of purpose, connection, and overwhelming clarity. From the very start, his story challenges the idea that death is something to fear and instead offers a perspective that it may be a transition into something far greater. As Jim and John talk, they explore the most meaningful moments of that experience and what it revealed about life, growth, and what may await us beyond this world. Davis speaks about the lasting impact it’s had on how he lives and what he believes we’re all here to learn. It’s a compelling and hopeful conversation that invites you to consider that there is much more beyond this life, and that our time here may be just one part of a much bigger journey. https://johnjdavisnde.com/ Thanks John! --- VIRTUAL CAMPFIRE GROUPJoin our FREE online community at ⁠https://virtualcampfiregroup.com⁠ YOUTUBE CHANNELBe sure to subscribe to Jim’s YouTube channel at: ⁠https://youtube.com/jimharold⁠  JOIN JIM’S SPOOKY STUDIO PLUS CLUBYou 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! MERCHGo to ⁠https://jimharold.com/merch⁠ to get your Jim Harold T’s, sweatshirts, mugs, hats and more!  BOOKSGet all SIX of Jim’s Campfire books here: https://jimharold.com/campfirebooks/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices