Ryan and Jeff’s Most Excellent Ghost Adventure

Be Excellent to Ghosts

A Long-Awaited Update: Substack, Obscura Vox and Beyond

After 10 years of posting on PARAHOLICS via WordPress, I’ve decided it’s time to move the blog. Why? Well, WordPress has become cumbersome, and my frustration with the platform has only grown. I’ve recently developed a strong preference for Substack. It offers features and benefits that appeal to those who enjoy writing, and it connects you with an audience that genuinely enjoys reading. Over the next few months, I’ll be integrating old PARAHOLICS posts into Substack, so don’t worry—they’ll gradually appear.

I’ve also been steadily working through posts on Obscura Vox ITC (OVI). Are you following me there yet? You really should, especially if you want the inside scoop on PRISM. What’s PRISM, you ask? Oh, it’s only one of the most groundbreaking innovations in ITC ever! You’ll need to subscribe to OVI to find out more. And don’t forget to check out my work at ITCVoices.org (ITCV) for more fascinating ITC information!

Life Changes and Lingering Opinions 

Some things have changed, and others have not. For instance, over a year ago, I had a small stroke—that’s new (one star, do not recommend). My disdain for SLS cameras? That’s old hat. I also might have stumbled upon a Sasquatch print in Florida—that’s a plot twist! Oh, and my opinion on YouTube ghost-hunting videos hasn’t changed—the majority still portray painfully exaggerated reactions, false history, and demonic trite.

The disingenuous entertainment-centric approach to paranormal investigation is a slap in the face to the pioneers and researchers who paved the way for the field. This approach has accomplished nothing but impedes real progress by flooding the unexplainable with the unacceptable.

In contrast, why can’t the presentation of paranormal content be grounded in authenticity and emotional depth? Despite a few mistakes, I’ve tried throughout my career to focus on genuine experiences over sensationalism and to create a thoughtful dialogue around the phenomena we encounter. The honest mystery of the paranormal should be captivating and beautiful enough without the added tripe.

The Power of Emotion in Paranormal Investigation

As a spoken word artist, I understand how emotions can transform a space, making the air itself feel almost tangible. Emotions are the secret sauce for creating unforgettable experiences. I’m not saying I’m a fan of every type of extreme emotion, but if I’ve created something and presented it, and it doesn’t elicit a reaction from you—good or bad—then whatever I presented was probably a dud. A dismissive shoulder shrug is a dagger to the heart of any creative. But if there’s one emotion I’m addicted to, it’s happiness. There’s nothing like the sound of laughter, especially when it’s born out of chaos and absurdity.

My humor translates well to comedy and comedians. I genuinely love people who make me laugh. I feel fortunate that some of my great friends are professional stand-up comics. Yes, they get paid to be wildlings. As a bonus, not only are they funny, but they are also explorers of the paranormal. So, I had a thought—what happens when you bring comedians into a haunted location?

Not that they are in a haunted building performing bits per se, but comics are naturally observant, astute on the fly, and pack a powerful wit—great gifts to have on any investigation. But could comedians also serve as the ultimate ghost bait? Most people respond to honey, not vinegar, and if you’ve met my friends, you’re in for a treat. 

Yeah, I just wrote that. 

Laughter: The Ultimate Ghost Bait?

Just over a year ago, shortly after my fun stroke episode, I spent an entire day with Jeff Bodart and Ryan Singer—and let me tell you, it was a day I needed. I have a theory, and maybe it’s not entirely mine, but I believe that The Others, or whatever you’d like to refer to the phenomena we connect with in our investigations, are attracted to high states of emotion. I believe emotions can also be a catalyst for paranormal activity.

In heightened emotional states, we vibrate more intensely, offering a smorgasbord of energy for attracting entities. Maybe it makes dealing with us fleshy meat-suit wearers more tolerable—and possibly more delectable, depending on the entity you have enticed—I don’t know. But what better emotion to bring into a haunted location than the light and frequency of laughter from comics?

Haunted places retain a memory, a consciousness—these places have their moods. Just as our emotions can transform a space, haunted places can often alter our headspace. Sometimes, those moods are not the most hospitable, either. Then we mix in ourselves, the people. We enter these spaces with our expectations and hopes (it’s best to be clear of those). We want to see what we can experience and learn from these environments. 

What sort of approach do you think will yield the best results while engaging with someone who is depressed, lonely, angry, or sad? Those are feelings we often find when entering haunted locations—if not, the location probably wouldn’t be considered “haunted.” What manner would best benefit the exchange for a positive outcome for both parties? Do you think it’s best to bring anger to someone who’s already pissed? Or maybe there’s a gentler, kinder approach?

I have often said that the frequency of our intentions plays a considerable role in our success in instrumental trans-communication. Much like the golden rule, this principle applies to all interactions—it’s a universal law.

As an aside, as someone who had a brief brush with death myself—even though I didn’t die (much)—I can assure you that after you pass and if you get an opportunity to communicate with a stranger, the last thing you’d likely want to discuss is the one time you died (I’m betting it sucked swamp ass). Think about it—it’s not the most endearing topic.

Out of respect for the others, I disavow provoking with hate and anger. Why not be thought-provoking and engaging instead? Fear and darkness can be effective if you’re looking for clicks for your YouTubing ego—but I don’t recommend it. Let’s be honest; Hell does look great on some folks, and I’m not here to judge unless you use an SLS camera. But I digress.

A Commitment to Authenticity and Education

I couldn’t think of a better way to spend the day. Jeff, a brilliant comic and the creator of Tarbo Wands, is also a fantastic artist and intuitive. Then there’s Ryan Singer—a hilarious and genuine human being; he’s a seeker of the esoteric and host of the incredible podcast Me and Paranormal You. We headed into two of my all-time favorite local haunted hotspots, The Candlelight House and The Crump Theatre. Please watch the two accompanying videos to get a sense of how our sessions went.

The day ended with an exceptional comedy performance by Jeff and Ryan in the Viewpoint Books performance area. As I said, it was the perfect way to spend the day, and I’m thrilled to report that all spirits were lifted—especially mine.

Wrapping Up: Spirits Lifted and Lessons Learned

Thank you for joining me on this unique journey, regardless of the platform we’ve met on. I always want this to be a space where we explore the paranormal with authenticity, curiosity, and a sense of humor. Let’s engage in meaningful discussions and challenge the status quo of paranormal content. Together, we can uncover the deeper connections between laughter and the unexplained.

Be excellent to each other,

—Evel Ogilville

Videos:

Part 1: The Candlelight House

Part 2: The Crump Theatre

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Video Notes: 

Part 1 The Candlelight House:

For more information concerning the history and hauntings of The Candlelight House, please visit: 

The yes/no response device is called an Epoch Box. For more information, visit: https://www.ghostgeartech.com/https://www.ghostgeartech.com. 

The Phoenix is a phonetic device made by Katie Hultay of Hultay Paranormal. This device is void of any internet, radio, word banks, etc… It’s incredible. 

Part 2: The Crump Theatre 

For more information concerning the history and hauntings of the Crump Theatre, please visit:

The ITC app used is Echovox 3.0, truly one of the only credible apps on the market. 

We were joined by the legend himself, The Floatee Goatee, The Sage of Saluda, The Mangler of Madison, Mr. Geno 100% — the one and only Gene Caswell of The Jefferson County Paranormal Society. 

Gene broke out The Afterlight Box made by Martin Bellefeuille of eXtremeSenses Software in collaboration with Ant England of the United Kingdom. 

I realized years ago that the alias of Evel Ogilville was confusing in ITC sessions, especially if you get a response that said “evil.” This is pretty evident in both locations. Regardless, I have been called both versions in my time. 

The discussion about the Frank’s Box was amazing.  Psychic medium April Slaughter had been waiting for a message from the creator of the Frank’s Box, Frank Sumption, on whether or not to allow me to have her Frank’s Box #37. I think not only did we receive that message in the Crump. Please note that Mr. Sumption passed in 2014 and is known for coming through ITC sessions, and he often referred to himself as The Purple Princess.