TODD BATES
Chances are you'll find him in abandoned home, walls yellow with age and doors teetering dangerously on their hinges. Maybe there was a murder in the home or perhaps a fire. Whatever the case, Todd Bates is intent on one thing: hearing the voices of the dead. Electronic Voice Phenomena, or EVP as it is known in the industry, is the collection of disembodied voices via digital or analog recording devices. For Todd, it is a way of life. After years of investigating this mysterious phenomenon, he decided to create a website dedicated to EVP research and education. HauntedVoices.com, now in its second year, has quickly grown to be one of the most successful paranormal websites on the Internet. This Palestine, Illinois native is dedicated to the exploration of EVP, and with the help of audio editing software, Todd has collected some of the most impressive samples of the phenomena available today.
Please Visit Todd Bates Haunted Voices Radio Here:
Haunted Voices Radio - Live Program Guests, Live Chat Disscussion, FREE Archives Members Forum and More!
Todd's radio experience has spanned out over a few different networks. His radio-hosting career began with Dr. Ed Craft of Magick Mind Radio and following that, he met up with and decided to co-host along Dr. Jimmy Lowery of APSR Radio. Todd was then given the opportunity to host his own show on the BBS Radio Network where he did an incredible job on touching on the subject of the paranormal prior to moving on to the world of podcasting. He began podcasting his pre-recorded information and shows before starting up and recording live, the Haunted Voices Radio. Since its creation only months ago, Haunted Voices Radio hauntedvoicesradio.com has grown exponentially by the day and the listener base continues to jump. Haunted Voices Radio is committed to providing the best, quality, 24/7 paranormal talk around. Haunted Voices Radio now has two networks, the Haunted Voices National Network and the Haunted Voices International Network, the first of it's kind to include both national and international shows. Currently, the network has one show out of Canada, one out of Scotland, and yet another beginning in London. The Haunted Voices National Network is currently hosting seven shows and is receiving interested applicants by the day.
ALSO
SEE: Paranormal Client Interview Process
TODD BATES 20 Questions
1. Where do you see ghost hunting and paranormal groups, web sites or Ghost information, tours, Books Paranormal Radio and Television in 10 years?
I see the paranormal field changing for both the good and the bad.
Right now it is a very “hot” item due to the exposure
wish is good. The bad part would be some of the bad shows, movies
and so on that makes us look bad. Some of them are strictly for entertainment
and it seems most want to just see the investigators “perform”
for them due to our free services. We have had several clients do
this as a “Friday night entertainment” for them. If we
all keep serious and work very hard at it, we can change some of the
bad to good with no problems.
2. What would you personally consider to be the definitive proof that
ghosts are real?
There are many factors that contribute to this. I once was VERY skeptical
of the entire field. I feel that personal experiences such as seeing
as well as hearing your own experiences contribute to this. A personal
experience can stay with you forever and it’s not our job to
prove this to anyone as it is something we all hold somewhere in ourselves
and is what keeps us productive in the field to find out why?
3. What is the most real evidence you personally have uncovered so
far?
I use to mainly focus on Electronic Voice Phenomena and left the field
due to being consumed by it and this severely cut into my personal
family life. I have both seen apparitions as well as communicated
with several intelligent as well as residual entities. I would have
to say my best capture was that of a residual murder that took place
with a mother and her two children that were tragically killed. This
will stay with me forever.
4. Are you skeptical of the claims others make of their findings?
Not at all anymore. I feel that everyone investigations as well as
captures their own evidence on a different level. Sure, there are
some claims that are faked, but this is something we have to and will
overcome in time. We seem to be on the right path regardless and all
of this will fade in time. I think the field is doing a great job
with the findings and we are beginning to make some great breakthroughs
for a change.
5. If you could investigate your "Dream Haunted Hot Spot"
where would it be?
I would really like to investigate the coveter’s prison in Scotland
with my dear friend Mark Turner. This area is very rich with evidence
as well as activity of a poltergeist and it has lain dormant for many
years and was “sparked” in 1998. Due to this upset of
the McKenzie poltergeist, this area has become one of my most interesting
studies and perhaps in time this can be possible.
6. Have you ever had what you would call a real paranormal encounter?
Yes, very much so. During one of my investigations at the “Sallie
House” I physically saw an apparition of a very small child
with coal black eyes (like an empty soulless child) appear before
me in full form. Her lips were moving as if trying to tell me something,
but I could not hear a word she was saying. It was very exciting as
well as terrifying and interesting at the same time. I still would
like to know how I was able to see this and what cause her appearance.
7. What scares you about Ghost Hunting or Paranormal Investigations?
There are many things to be afraid of in this field but to be honest,
I fear the living more than the dead. The dead seem to be very curious
and they are no different then you or I. I would have to say that
politics and personal drama are my biggest fears and not those that
simply wish to make themselves known to us as this is what keeps us
going with our research.
8. If you could work side by side with one of the Paranormal Investigator
greats, who would it be?
There are two that I would personally love to work with and learn
from. One would be Brad Steiger and Loyd Auerbach. I feel I could
learn a great deal from the two of them as well as absorb their knowledge
and experience like a sponge.
9. Read any good Paranormal Books lately other than your own?
Yes, I most certainly have! There a many great education books out
there and people are finally beginning to “come out of the woodwork”
and share the experiences. Some of my personal favorites are:
Real Ghosts, Restless spirits, and Haunted Places by Brad Steiger
The Encyclopedia of Ghost and spirits by Rosemary Ellen Guiley.
Voices to Eternity by Sarah Estep
Roads to Eternity by Sarah Estep
10. What Question do people ask you most when you tell them you’re
a paranormal investigator, Radio Personality?
I have received several thousand questions concerning Electronic Voice
Phenomenon. One of the most popular is the cleaning process I use
and how it is done. As far as being a Radio Personality, I would have
to say the most popular question is: What got you interested in broadcasting?
Most do not understand the transfer between the two but I will do
all that I can to share the education of others as well as myself
to as many as I can. I also do this to relax as it is very good therapy
for me.
11. In your opinion, where is the most Haunted city in America?
Very good question and I am sure you receive very many different answers
to it based on personal experience and not what you read in books
or see on television. My personal opinion would be the town of Atchison,
Kansas. This town appears to be very “off balance” as
well as active. There is far more activity in this town than the “Sallie
House” I feel as many researchers as possible should work together
to attempt to figure out these hauntings and why they occur.
12. Do you feel more people should get involved with Ghost hunting
or Paranormal Investigation?
Yes, I truly do. We need more serious researchers in the field and
not “fly by night thrill seekers” We need someone to pick
up where we left off as we are not going to live forever and the information
and experience we possess will not do us any good when we gone. I
strongly feel we should teach and guide as many as possible in this
field to become better researchers and not do this for the “fame
and fortune” aspect as there will ALWAYS be someone with more
knowledge. There are thousands of new minds out there now and ready
to learn all they can. I say TEACH THEM!
13. What does the future hold for you?
I have had to leave the field of research due to far too many hours
consumed into it. The paranormal field gave me a great insight as
to what is truly out there and it was one of the toughest decisions
I have ever had to make. The work I have created has now been passed
over and will carry on for many years to come! I will stay with paranormal
radio broadcasting as this helps me to understand it much better as
well as teach others what I have learned. I see myself staying with
this for a very long time.
14. Paranormal Conventions do you see them growing? And which ones
are the Must go to ones?
I feel these are very good for others to gather and share information.
I also feel these can provide false hope to the educator as well as
the student due to confusion and who is right and who is wrong. There
is no right or wrong in this field as well as no experts. I think
they should continue and have been on the speaking circuit for a time
and I must say I do not miss it. I have met some fantastic people
along the way but feel they are very overrated and need a bit of improvement.
15. What is your Paranormal Topic?
My topic of research use to be Electronic Voice Phenomenon and software
advancement. I beta test for Adobe and they are very cooperative in
providing tools that I write for them. We have several staff members
from Haunted Voices that are a part of this team as well and our job
is to make the process easier for everyone. Now my main paranormal
topic is learning from others as well as teaching them by using radio
broadcasting.
16. Tell us about your best moment in doing interviews?
I would have to say that interviews like this are my favorite. I also
enjoy phone interviews which to me are more private and one on one.
My most memorable experience was my interview for the Discover Channels
series “A Haunting”. The work involved in that took many
hours and educated me on the “behind the scenes” work
involved with a national interview. But I have to say that interviews
such as these are my best moments.
17. What is the hardest part about being a paranormal personality?
Well I do not consider myself that way, as I am no better than anyone
else in this field. I would to say that the best part is meeting such
great people as well as other veteran researchers that stay with you
forever. You really find out who your true friends and supporters
are in this field very quickly that way.
18. How do you feel about all the media coverage or attention Ghosts,
ufo's, and all that is strange in the media today is covered?
I feel most of it is covered very well these days. In the past it
was far to taboo to talk about and most reporters would simply disregard
it. Now they crave it which is both good and bad for us. I will say
we have the exposure now and it is all in how we use it that makes
it even better than before.
19. Have you ever taken a ghost Tour?
Yes, I sure have and as a matter of fact, that is what got me active
in this field. It is a very long story but is was the tour itself
where I captured my first communication with the other side and took
the “Skeptic” right out of me and this is something I
could never go back to. I thank my family for pushing me to attend
this tour and must give credit to the Crawford County Ghost Hunters
Society for opening my eyes in this field.
20. What in the field of ghost hunting and Paranormal Investigating
needs the most attention?
Teaching would be my answer to that question. We must pass this on
to others and not for financial gain but for knowledge itself. This
knowledge pass over is simply priceless! That is all the payment I
need. I do this full time and do not make a profit off of it but yes
I do make a living from it! The paranormal community is a very poor
one and times are very tough and I have NEVER turned down a lesson,
email or phone questions when someone wanted to learn and better themselves
in this field. To me, that is all the payment that I require.
