What if the plants around you held ancient magic… and modern medicine is just catching up?

In this fascinating episode of Dairyland Frights, host John dives deep into the world of witchcraft, herbal magic, and the paranormal with acclaimed author Varla Ventura.

From growing up with a practicing witch mother to writing bestselling books on enchanted plants, folklore, and the supernatural, Varla shares incredible stories that blur the line between science, magic, and mystery.

• 🌿 The Power of Enchanted Plants
  • How plants like foxglove shaped modern medicine
  • The shocking connection between herbal folklore and real medical breakthroughs
• 🧙‍♀️ What Is a Green Witch?
  • Nature-based magic explained
  • How plants are used in rituals, healing, and intention-setting
• 🧠 Lucid Dreaming & Psychic Beginnings
  • Varla’s childhood experiences with dreams and spirits
  • How early exposure shaped her paranormal worldview
• 👻 Are Ghosts Real?
  • Why proof may never exist—and why that makes it more compelling
  • The difference between belief, experience, and evidence
• ⚖️ The Truth About Witchcraft
  • Breaking down myths from Salem to modern-day witches
  • The “Threefold Law” and different philosophies in witchcraft
• 🪦 Forgotten Death Rituals
  • Strange historical funeral traditions (yes… food over coffins)
  • How modern culture has disconnected from death and grief

• The paranormal may never be proven—but that’s what keeps it alive
• Ancient plant knowledge is influencing modern medicine more than ever
• Witchcraft is deeply personal, intuitive, and not one-size-fits-all
• Our relationship with death, nature, and the unknown is evolving

If you’re into:

• Paranormal stories 👻
• Witchcraft & occult knowledge 🔮
• Herbalism & natural medicine 🌿
• Deep philosophical discussions about reality

…this episode is going to hook you fast.

Despite some technical issues, this episode is packed with insane value, storytelling, and insight—and Varla will absolutely be back again.

“We may never prove the paranormal… but we’ll never stop chasing it.”

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

In this episode of Dairyland Frights, host John welcomes paranormal investigators Rachel and Keith from Liminal Shadows to explore the fascinating world of ghost hunting, EVP recordings, haunted locations, and paranormal investigation techniques. The couple shares their experiences investigating some of the most active haunted sites in the United States and explains how their investigative dynamic works, with Rachel approaching the paranormal as a believer while Keith brings a healthy dose of skepticism.

Liminal Shadows with Rachel. Together they discuss the evidence they've captured during investigations, including disembodied voices, unexplained whistles, mysterious EVPs, and strange activity caught on multiple recording devices. The investigators explain how reviewing audio evidence after an investigation often reveals voices or sounds that were not heard in the moment, making EVP recordings one of the most compelling forms of paranormal evidence.

Rachel and Keith also share stories from haunted locations, including Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary, Waverly Hills Sanatorium, and historic sites in Tennessee, where investigators have experienced strange energy, unexplained sounds, and even physical sensations believed to be paranormal encounters.

Throughout the conversation, they dive deep into ghost hunting equipment, discussing tools like EMF detectors, audio recorders, SLS cameras, and one of their favorite pieces of equipmen the “dead bell,” a modified hotel bell that responds to electromagnetic energy and may allow spirits to communicate through physical interaction.

The discussion also explores theories behind paranormal phenomena, including stone tape theory, environmental energy from storms or limestone structures, and whether spirits are residual echoes of past events or intelligent entities capable of communication.

To wrap up the episode, the investigators join John for a fun Paranormal Newlywed Game, where the couple answers questions about investigating together, surviving a zombie apocalypse, and what happens when ghost hunts get a little too serious—or a little too funny.

Whether you're a seasoned paranormal investigator or just curious about ghosts and haunted places, this episode offers a fascinating look at real ghost hunting experiences, paranormal research, and the mysteries that continue to haunt investigators across the Midwest and beyond.

• What it’s like investigating the paranormal as a couple

• Skeptic vs believer approaches to Ghost Hunting

• Capturing EVPs and disembodied voices during investigations

• Haunted locations include prisons, cabins, and historic buildings

• The paranormal investigation team Liminal Shadows

• Ghost hunting equipment like EMF meters, SLS cameras, and spirit communication tools

• Paranormal theories, including the stone tape theory and environmental energy

• The debate over demons vs negative spirits

• Can ghosts communicate through physical devices?

• The Paranormal Newlywed Game

• EVP Audio Recorders

• SLS / XLS Camera Systems

• EMF Detectors

• Cat Balls and Motion Devices

• Spirit Box Communication

• The Dead Bell Spirit Communication Device

Liminal Shadows is a paranormal investigation team led by Rachel and Keith, focusing on exploring haunted locations and collaborating with other investigative groups. Their approach combines open-minded curiosity with skeptical analysis to examine paranormal evidence objectively.

If you love ghost stories, haunted locations, paranormal investigations, cryptids, and unexplained mysteries, make sure to subscribe to Dairyland Frights for weekly episodes exploring the strange and supernatural.

In this chilling episode of Dairyland Frights, host John welcomes paranormal investigator Lara from Seance and Sensibility for a deep dive into real ghost investigations, Ouija board dangers, spiritual protection, and the mysteries that lurk beyond our understanding.

From childhood paranormal experiences to modern-day investigations with equipment such as ITC devices and EMF tools, Lara shares haunting stories that blur the line between curiosity and caution. Together, John and Lara explore how investigators set boundaries with spirits, protect themselves from attachments, and separate genuine paranormal evidence from coincidence.

This episode is packed with eerie firsthand encounters, including Ouija board warnings, shadow figures, intelligent spirit responses, and discussions about demons, haunted locations, and the emotional realities of paranormal work. If you’ve ever wondered what really happens during a paranormal investigation or why experienced investigators stress respect, boundaries, and protection — this is an episode you don’t want to miss.

• Lara’s origin story and how Seance and Sensibility began

• The dangers of Ouija boards and real investigation experiences

• Haunted locations, spirit communication, and paranormal tools

• How investigators debunk evidence vs. authentic encounters

• Spiritual protection rituals and closing investigations safely

• Emotional challenges of investigating the unknown

Paranormal investigation techniques • Ouija board safety • Ghost hunting equipment • Haunted hotels and asylums • Spirit attachments • Demon vs. human spirit encounters • EVP evidence • ITC communication • Paranormal boundaries and protection

Lara – Seance and Sensibility A paranormal investigator passionate about spiritual exploration, Lara shares her journey from childhood experiences with the supernatural to conducting modern investigations using advanced tools and intuitive awareness.

Hosted by John Radtke, Dairyland Frights explores ghosts, cryptids, haunted locations, and paranormal mysteries from the Midwest and beyond — blending storytelling, investigation, and real experiences from the world of the unknown.

If you enjoyed this episode: 👉 Rate & review Dairyland Frights 👉 Subscribe wherever you listen 👉 Stay spooky

Step into the strange side of the Midwest as host John welcomes Josh from Weird Wisconsin for a deep dive into haunted history, paranormal investigations, and bizarre UFO encounters across Wisconsin.

In this chilling episode of Dairyland Frights, you’ll hear firsthand stories of shadow figures, cursed farms, mysterious crop circles, alien encounters, and real paranormal investigations that shaped Josh’s journey into the supernatural. From haunted Waukesha legends to UFO festivals and eerie Midwest folklore, this conversation explores why Wisconsin may be one of America’s most underrated hotspots for paranormal activity.

Whether you believe in ghosts, extraterrestrials, or unexplained phenomena, this episode blends history, humor, and spine-tingling stories that will leave you questioning what’s really out there.

• How childhood encounters with shadow figures inspired Josh’s paranormal path

• The haunted history of Waukesha and Wisconsin ghost legends

• The chilling Hill Family Farm tragedy and cursed land theories

• Real paranormal investigation experiences — including being physically touched during a ghost hunt

• Theories behind Stone Tape energy and haunted objects

• Wisconsin UFO sightings, alien encounters, and strange crop circle events

• The bizarre “alien pancake” story and other Weird Wisconsin legends

• Why paranormal activity may happen just as often during the day as at night

Josh shares how researching Midwest hauntings revealed countless overlooked stories — proving the region is filled with cryptids, ghosts, and unexplained mysteries hiding in plain sight.

Josh is a paranormal researcher, storyteller, and ghost tour guide based in Waukesha. After early experiences with unexplained phenomena, he formed a paranormal investigation team and now documents Wisconsin’s strangest history through tours, social media, and his book exploring local hauntings.

Find Weird Wisconsin across all social platforms and explore more Midwest paranormal stories.

• Midwest Paranormal Stories

• Wisconsin Ghost Legends

• Haunted Farms & True Crime Mysteries

• UFO Sightings in Wisconsin

• Crop Circles & Alien Encounters

• Stone Tape Theory & Energy Imprints

• Paranormal Investigation Techniques

If you enjoyed this episode, rate and review Dairyland Frights and share it with your fellow spooky friends. Your support helps keep Midwest paranormal stories alive.

In this episode of Dairyland Frights, host John welcomes special guest Jeremy from The Common Historian, a creator dedicated to exploring the eerie intersection of history, haunted locations, cryptids, and supernatural folklore. Together, they dive deep into chilling true stories, strange historical mysteries, and unsettling paranormal legends from around the world. From haunted houses and phantom footsteps to cursed phone numbers and psychological warfare during wartime, this conversation blends dark history, paranormal encounters, and bizarre real-world events that will leave you questioning what’s real and what might be lurking just beyond our understanding.

🔎 Where History Meets the Supernatural Jeremy shares how his passion for history evolved into exploring haunted locations, paranormal investigations, and forgotten stories that live between fact and legend.

📞 The Deadly Phone Number Mystery Could a cursed cell phone number really be linked to multiple deaths? John breaks down a bizarre case involving superstition, crime, and coincidence.

⚡ The Tucker Telephone Torture Device A shocking historical deep dive into a controversial electric punishment device used in U.S. prisons and how dark history can still echo through the paranormal world.

🎧 Psychological Warfare & Ghost Voices Learn how eerie ghost recordings were used during the Vietnam War to manipulate enemy soldiers through fear and superstition.

🏨 Hotel del Salto – Colombia’s Haunted Cliffside Hotel A stunning location with a tragic history of deaths, paranormal sightings, and indigenous legends that may have cursed the land.

🌍 Bucket-List Haunted Destinations From Edinburgh’s dark past to Dracula’s Castle in Transylvania, John and Jeremy discuss the historical places every paranormal fan dreams of visiting.

• Haunted houses & intelligent vs. residual hauntings

• Dark historical events tied to paranormal legends

• Psychological fear tactics in warfare

• Haunted hotels and cursed locations

• Indigenous folklore and supernatural beliefs

• Forgotten Midwest history and paranormal exploration

Jeremy explores the crossroads of history and the supernatural, interviewing investigators, historians, and paranormal researchers while uncovering eerie stories hidden in real-world events.

📺 New episodes: Wednesdays & Saturdays 📍 Upcoming investigations and live events discussed in this episode!