What happens when magic meets murder? In this episode of Dairyland Frights, host John dives into a fascinating conversation with acclaimed mystery author John Gaspard, creator of the Eli Marks Mystery Series.

From sleight-of-hand illusions to real-world storytelling, this episode explores how magic, mystery, and the paranormal intersect, and why sometimes the scariest things aren’t supernatural at all.

John Gaspard joins the show to discuss:

• The origins of the Eli Marks mystery series

• How magicians think differently, and how that shapes storytelling

• Writing mysteries that are both clever and fair to the audience

• The blurred line between illusion, deception, and belief

• His thoughts on ghosts, the afterlife, and unexplained experiences

• Behind-the-scenes insights into indie filmmaking and writing

Plus… a real-life unexplained moment involving a disappearing cup of coffee that might just make skeptics think twice 👀

• Author of the Eli Marks Mystery Series (10 books strong)

• Creator of the Como Lake Players Mystery Series

• Host of Behind the Page: The Eli Marks Podcast

• Indie filmmaker with multiple low-budget features

• Expert in blending magic, mystery, and humor into compelling stories

His work dives into the psychology of deception, something magicians (and killers?) understand better than most.

• Why magicians make perfect detectives

• Using real magic techniques to solve fictional crimes

• Crafting mysteries where the audience has all the clues

• Do ghosts exist?

• What kind of evidence would actually prove it?

• The psychology behind paranormal experiences

• Outlining vs “discovery writing.”

• Avoiding writer’s block

• Building compelling villains without revealing too much

• The realities of indie filmmaking vs Hollywood

• Why storytelling should always come from passion, not profit

• A skeptic’s take on ghosts that will spark debate

• The concept of “fair mysteries,” where readers can solve them too

• A real story about a vanishing coffee cup in a New York hotel ☕

• Why magicians understand deception better than anyone

If you love:

• Paranormal podcasts

• Mystery & thriller storytelling

• True crime with a twist

• Writing and creative insights

👉 This episode is for you.

In this chilling episode of Dairyland Frights, host John dives deep into the paranormal with Loren Purcell, aka “The Mystic Chick” a psychic medium, energy empath, and paranormal investigator based in Illinois.

Loren shares her origin story, beginning with a near-death experience at just two years old that opened her connection to the spirit world. From there, she developed the ability to see, feel, and interpret energy, leading her to investigate haunted homes, historic mansions, cemeteries, and more.

This episode explores:

• The difference between ghosts, spirits, and negative entities

• How energy frequencies impact paranormal encounters

• Why some people experience hauntings—and others don’t

• Real-life investigations, including a 15,000 sq ft haunted mansion

• The terrifying truth about entities posing as spirits

• Why new homes can still have paranormal activity

If you’ve ever wondered what’s really lurking beyond our world… this one gets creepy.

Loren explains how being an energy empath allows her to:

• Sense emotional and physical pain

• Detect spirits and environmental energy

• Identify disturbances in homes and locations

Loren has investigated:

• Historic mansions

• Cemeteries across Illinois

• The Dole Mansion in Crystal Lake

• Abandoned and energy-charged sites

She reveals how location energy, trauma, and history create paranormal hotspots.

One of the most intense discussions of the episode:

• Ghosts = human spirits, often tied to trauma or unfinished business

• Negative entities (demons) = never human, feed on emotional pain

• Residual hauntings = energy loops replaying events

Loren warns that some entities can disguise themselves as innocent spirits to gain trust.

Loren explains how:

• Trauma, grief, and stress lower your “frequency.”

• Certain environments attract negative entities

• Vulnerability can lead to attachment or influence

She also reveals why buying a home during emotional turmoil can lead to dangerous outcomes.

A shocking case involving:

• A massive historic mansion

• Paranormal sightings throughout the home

• Emotional chaos between homeowners

• Hidden trauma embedded in the property

Loren uncovers both spiritual AND environmental causes, proving not all hauntings are what they seem.

Loren (with a background in psychology) discusses:

• When paranormal experiences may be mental health-related

• How to distinguish real hauntings from internal struggles

• The importance of approaching cases responsibly

• A ghost story involving a tragic death, seeking justice

• A terrifying case of a negative entity posing as a child spirit

• Why cemeteries aren’t always haunted—and homes sometimes are

• The truth about sleep paralysis and paranormal overlap

• Everything is energy, and your frequency matters

• Not all hauntings are ghosts

• Vulnerability can open doors to the unknown

• The paranormal world is far more complex than we think

• 🌐 Website: mysticchick.net

Dairyland Frights explores the darkest corners of the Midwest and beyond—featuring real ghost stories, haunted locations, cryptids, and paranormal investigations.

In this chilling episode of Dairyland Frights, we welcome paranormal researcher Keri from Unlocking the Paranormal for a deep dive into eerie encounters, haunted locations, and unexplained phenomena.

From childhood fascinations with the paranormal to real-life ghostly encounters, Keri shares what first pulled her into the mysterious world of the supernatural. Together, John and Keri explore everything from sleep paralysis experiences and mimic spirits to alien abduction stories and haunted locations across the Midwest.

The episode also investigates one of Iowa’s most intriguing haunted locations, the Mason House Inn, a historic bed-and-breakfast dating back to 1846 with a long history of ghost sightings, unexplained noises, and spirits that reportedly interact with guests.

If you love ghost stories, paranormal investigations, haunted history, and UFO mysteries, this episode is packed with spine-tingling conversations you won’t want to miss.

So dim the lights, grab your headphones, and prepare for another journey into the unexplained.

And remember…

Stay spooky.

👻 Keri’s lifelong fascination with the paranormal 👻 Childhood experiences that sparked her curiosity about ghosts 👻 Sleep paralysis and unexplained nighttime encounters 👻 A mysterious mimic voice phenomenon heard inside her home 👻 The dangers of bringing paranormal energy home after investigations 👻 The haunted Mason House Inn in Bentonsport, Iowa 👻 Spirits known to haunt the historic inn 👻 Stories of guests experiencing physical interactions with unseen forces 👻 The mysterious “floating head” apparition seen by visitors 👻 Haunted locations in Iowa that paranormal researchers want to investigate 👻 Why alien abduction stories continue to fascinate investigators 👻 Whether extraterrestrials are observing or studying humanity

Keri – Unlocking the Paranormal

Keri hosts the podcast Unlocking the Paranormal, where she explores mysterious cases involving:

• Alien abductions

• Paranormal encounters

• Ghost stories

• UFO sightings

• Unexplained phenomena

Her research dives deep into the stories behind paranormal events and the people who experience them.

Built in 1846, the Mason House Inn served as a lodging stop for steamboat travelers and later functioned as a hospital during the Civil War. Over the years, it has developed a reputation as one of the most haunted locations in Iowa.

Reported paranormal activity includes:

• Apparitions appearing in hallways and mirrors

• Unexplained footsteps in empty rooms

• Guests feel their clothing tugged while sleeping

• Objects moving on their own

• A ghost believed to rearrange décor when renovations occur

Visitors can still stay overnight and even participate in ghost hunts inside the inn.

Unlocking the paranormal

Ghost Encounters Sleep Paralysis Phenomena Mimic Spirits Alien Abduction Stories Haunted Locations in Iowa Paranormal Investigations Midwest Ghost Lore

• Ghost stories

• Haunted locations

• Paranormal investigations

• UFO encounters

• Alien abduction mysteries

• Midwest haunted history

• Supernatural podcasts

🎧 Podcast: Unlocking the Paranormal 📱 TikTok: Unlocking the Paranormal

Instagram: Unlocking the Paranormal