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2009 CHICAGO GHOST CONFERENCE
What an AMAZING weekend! Really. It just could not have been better. The 2007 Ghost Conference was fun & interesting, but this year's 2009 conference surpassed it beyond my wildest dreams!
I can't tell you what a thrill it was to be among so many respected icons in the paranormal field!
Josh Warren was the coolest! Everything that comes out of that guys mouth is interesting. He is so personable & for one so intelligent he never talks down to anyone or over their head, always taking the time to explain things & answer questions. His research & work is so impressive! He is truly doing groundbreaking stuff for our field! I urge you to visit his website & see for yourself. Not only is he a nice guy, but very funny! He & his wife were just so friendly to all & we hung out quite a bit Friday & Saturday. It was really great getting to know him & his presentation was top notch! All of Josh Warren's books, including his brand new book "THE SECRET WISDOM OF KUKULKAN", are interesting reads & worthy of a visit to Barnes & Nobles...
www.JoshuaPWarren.com
Jeff Belanger is also a very smart & very funny guy! He is quite the jokester & is a lot of fun to be around! He MC'd the Speaker Panel on Friday night & was hilarious! Jeff could easily be a talk show host or stand up comedian if he wanted to - this guy knows how to work a room! On Saturday Jeff gave a presentation that was interesting as well as hysterical! Jeff has a tongue -n-cheek approach & playfully pokes fun at himself as a paranormal investigator as well as fills his talk with plenty of inside jokes only ghost hunters would get. It was a nice blend of serious & humorous. We even got a visit from Chicago's legendary Resurrection Mary during his presentation! (nice job Ursula!) And I have to say his "ONE WORD INTERVIEWS" were very clever... Jeff has written several great books & I highly recommend you give them a look...
Fredrick Stonehouse was an interesting guy. Fred has written many books on Maritime history & hauntings. He is extremely knowledgeable about his field of study & brings a fresh perspective to all who love a good ghost story. I really enjoyed his presentation & look forward to reading his books, anyone who loves both history & ghostlore will enjoy Fred's stories...
www.frederickstonehouse.com
Ray Saywer was there representing his group Dark Angel. He shared some EVP evidence they have collected & told the stories behind them. He was the first speaker on Saturday & shared his personal accounts of hauntings & why he became a ghost hunter. It was fun hanging out with him on Friday night & reviewing photo evidence with him & members of Tony Pickman's group PAR. I enjoyed his presentation.
www.darkangel-inv.com
I'm sorry to say that because I was having lunch I missed The Paranormal Detectives presentation. They have a new show coming out on A&E called "The Paranormal Cops". I did, however, have the pleasure of speaking with them outside the theater and talkin shop about ghost hunting. These are real no-nonsense guys who are Chicago Police Officers by day and paranormal investigators by night! I heard their presentation was excellent & I look forward to seeing their new show!
www.chicagoparanormaldetectives.com
Bill Konkolesky from MUFON was there to share his insight on Ufology. It is an aspect of the paranormal that I have been fascinated with since I was a kid. It was an interesting presentation & a nice compliment to all the ghost hunters on the panel.
www.mimufon.org
Ghostly Talk Radio was set up in front of the stage and it's always good to see them guys! Scott & Amberrose are old paranormal friends of mine I don't get to see often enough! It was fun talking to them & having some laughs! Look for highlights of the 2009 Chicago Ghost Conference on Ghostly Talk Radio online. AmberRose Hammond of Ghostly Talk Radio has just published her first book & was on hand to to showcase it. I've already started reading it & I must say she did a great job!
Ghostly Talk - Paranormal Talk Radio
Ghostly Talk!!
Archived shows are available around 24 hours after the end of our live broadcasts. Podcast archive is usually available 24 - 48 after the our live broadcasts.
To listen to Ghostly Talk on Sunday nights from 6pm to 9pm Eastern Time, select a link depending upon your connection speed from the Main Menu at the left. You must have an MP3 player installed on your system. Any MP3 player should do, but we use Winamp. During the show, the live caller line is (586) 203-8033 (if you have unlimited long distance--for example on your cell phone, Vonage/VoIP, or land line--please use the direct phone number) or toll free at 1-888-520-1969.
Meet the people of Ghostly Talk
Doug (a/k/a "Skizz") has been interested in paranormal topics ever since checking out a book about witchcraft from his elementary school library. He has read many books about paranormal subjects, with his favorite topics being out of body experiences, Edgar Cayce, ESP, prophesy, and ghosts. While surfing the internet in 2001, he was happy to learn that other folks actually went prowling about cemeteries and haunted places looking for ghosts. Since then, he has been an avid ghost hunter. Doug had done terrestrial radio before at WTWR, the station at the University of Detroit. He received his Bachelor's degree in Management Sciences and Information Systems from the University of Detroit. Upon meeting Scott L on ghost hunts, Doug suggested doing an internet talk show about ghost hunting. The premier of Ghostly Talk in February 2002 streamed to a total listening audience of one (1) computer, though two (2) people were listening. Doug continues to ghost hunt and co-host Ghostly Talk from Fraser, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit.
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Born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, MI, Scott L. became interested in the paranormal as a young child when he bought his first book 'Haunted Houses' by Larry Kettelkamp at a garage sale for $.25. Intrigued and frightened by this book, Scott L. developed an adolescent interest in the paranormal that rooted itself firmly into the little boys mind through the present day:
"For a while, with college going on and being a professional musician, I didn't have time to really pursue the paranormal field as extensively as I wanted to."
It was when Scott L graduated from Wayne State University with a major in Operational Logistics and minor in Information Systems Development that he now had the time to pursue his passion.
How did he get into radio though? 'Honestly, I have wanted to do radio for a very long time. I had some downtime from playing music about 5 years ago, and it was a something that went through my mind a lot. Unfortunately, I had no contacts at the time to break in and try to pursue it. When I met Doug after doing a lot of ghosthunting and talking about the paranormal, he asked if I wanted to try to do an internet talk show on the subject(s), I jumped at the opportunity.'
In addition to being one of the creators of Ghostly Talk, Scott L. is the webmaster/caretaker for the now defunct speed metal band Holy Terror.
'To Do The Dream Is Not A Dream, It Is A Must.' -Scott L.
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Official Web Site:
www.ghostlytalk.com
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Indiana Ghost Trackers had a booth and it was nice to see some members I rarely see. Mike McDowell & company was there representing Indiana's largest paranormal group that I am a proud member of! I have to give props to all the IGTians who tirelessly worked the booth: Carrie Rose, Lisa Bradley, Heather Stenger, Rene Grahm & Kat Klockow. Kat Klockow,"The Urban Legend Detective", is just completing her first book (due out next year) and I can't wait to read it! A special shout out goes to IGT member Ashley Grahm who worked the ticket booth & signed in our guests and was a very busy girl!
www.indianaghosts.org
www.urbandlegendsdetective.com
Shout outs also go to: Danielle & Ron Garrison, Phil Holman & Tammy Weaver for all their behind the scenes work!
Thanks also to Jeff Rezman of The International Paranormal Radio Talk Show for his appearance! Jeff was a good sport & took goofy pictures with me - thanks! Jeff and his wife Nancy can be heard online each Saturday at http://www.para-x.com/ipaa.html
A HUGE Thank You to Dave Schrader of Darkness Radio for his appearance & for all your help throughout the conference! Dave secured an appearance by Chicago Paranormal Detectives from the upcoming A&E show "Paranormal Cops" at the last minute & we GREATLY appreciated it! Pick up Dave's latest book "The Other Side - A teen's guide to ghost hunting & the paranormal". Dave hosts an excellent online radio show-be sure to tune in every Sunday night!
www.darknessradio.com
Darkness on the Edge of Town Radio Show
Darkness on the Edge of Town Radio Show
Darkness On the Edge of Town | Paranormal Radio Show
YOUR HOSTS:
David Schrader Originally from Illinois Dave has been a resident of Minnesota since 1988 when he attended Winona State College and fell in love with the beauty and people of this great state.
With the growing interest in the world of the unknown on TV, the movies and literature building each day, Dave and Tim decided to bring their unique views and experiences to the radio. Dave has had an active interest in the paranormal since early in his childhood when he was visited by the spirit of his deceased grandmother. Continued activity and experiences has kept this passion alive. He is a contributing writer to TAPS Paramagazine and now he hopes to explore and learn with you each week as we delve deeper into The Darkness On The Edge Of Town.
ALSO SEE: 20 QUESTIONS WITH DAVID SCHRADER
Tim Dennis - Co-Host/producer a life time resident of Minnesota, he grew up in Blaine and attended Winona State University where he studied Mass Communication and Radio Broadcasting. He later graduated from Brown College in 1993. Tim has continued working in radio behind the scenes as Operations Manager of KLBB/KLBP radio and his voice can often be heard in commericals.
Tim's interest in the paranormal also stems from his youth with dream visitations from dead relatives. Although the more skeptical of the 2, Tim remains open minded and willing to explore many possibilities. His grounded nature helps keep Dave in check. Tune in weekly to share in their experiences in The Darkness on The Edge Of Town.
Every weekend join hosts David Schrader and Tim Dennis as they lead you on a journey into the world of unexplained phenomena with their weekly program; The Darkness On The Edge of Town.
Based in the Minnesota but streaming their show all over the world they cover every aspect of the paranormal; from ghosts to UFO activity and more. Each week they speak with experts in every field to bring you the latest and most up to date stories and dig deeper into classic and familiar tales and urban legends. Darkness on The Edge of Town promises to deliver interesting and thought provoking topics each week. The show will be available in its entirety every Monday morning to download so you can replay the show on this site to listen to at your leisure.
You can listen Sunday nights from 10pm to Midnight Central time right here on our site.
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Every Sunday night at 10:30PM Central you can listen live and join us in the always lively chat room.
- Listen Live
- Live Chat
www.darknessradio.com
The Other Side: A Teens Guide to Ghost Hunting and the Paranormal
BUY IT HERE NOW!
It used to be you needed a crystal, a psychic, or a Oijia board to make contact with the spirit world. So who would think science would make it possible for just about anyone to experience a ghostly connection? Cameras, recorders, computers, magnetic field readers and other scientific means are now the tools of the trade. But there’s so much available, how does the average teen weed through it all to create the best possible ghost hunting team? Here to help sort it all out are three of today’s leading investigators of the field.
Together, Patrick Burns, Dave Schrader, and Marley Gibson have more than ten years of experience. They’ve put together this guide to impart their knowledge and wisdom on to the next generation of ghost hunters.
What’s included:
How to set up a ghost hunting team
The equipment needed and how to use it
Where to look for spirits
Safety, safety, and more safety
Ghost hunting is equal parts science and belief. Patrick, Dave, and Marley are here to help with science part.
About the Author
Marley Gibson grew up in a southern town very much like her fictional Radisson. She never saw any ghosts growing up--that she knows of--although she has been on a few ghost hunts recently with the famed New England Ghost Project and has gotten some very interesting pictures. Marley is a member of the New England Romance Writers of America (RWA) and Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators. She is the Creator and Founder of Chick Lit Writers RWA, and was twice named to "Outstanding Young Women of America." She lives in the Boston area with her best friend, personal webmaster, and hubby, Mike. She can be found online at www.marleygibson.com or at her blog www.booksboysbuzz.com.
Patrick Burns is the star of TruTV's Haunting Evidence. He lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
Dave Schrader hosts KTLK FM's Darkness Radio. He lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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Tony & Deb Pickman of Sallie House stopped by for their first ever appearance at a paranormal conference! Their story is one of real horror & torment! If you are unfamiliar with the story of Sallie House I suggest you visit their website to read Tony & Deb's first hand personal account of one of America's most haunted houses! During their stay at Sallie House Tony Pickman was accosted by dark forces that left bleeding scratch marks, bruises, boils & even his clothes catching on fire as well as a drastic change in his personality & behavior. Apparitions appeared & objects moved about their home. Many disturbing EVPs are captured in that home to this very day! It was a very unsettling experience that haunts them still. The Pickman's honesty on stage was so courageous as they really opened up & spared no details of their time spent at the haunted Sallie House. Their experiences were frighting, dangerous & almost fatal! I got to spend quite a lot of time with the Pickman's & their paranormal group PAR over the weekend, including a ghost hunt of The Great Escape Restaurant on Thursday night. They are all very very cool! I look forward to seeing them again. I hope they decide to do more public talks as their story is one for the records....
Lorraine Warren gave a compelling, fascinating & terrifying presentation Saturday night to close out the conference. Lorraine & her late husband Ed have been a part of the paranormal community for 40 years. Lorraine & Ed were demonologists best known for their involvement in the Ammityville Horror case. She shared her personal accounts of some of her most interesting cases over the years as well as a history of her and her husbands work. She showed many amazing photos of paranormal evidence collected over the years that even I, the skeptic, was very impressed with! She finished her talk with a 25 minute film of an actual excorsism performed by a Catholic priest in the mid 70's. I was not prepared for it. Let me tell you folks it was CHILLING! I was not only frightened & shocked by what I saw but I was also very very sad for this poor guy who's soul was obviously tormented by evil. He later committed suicide. I was very disturbed by that film, mostly because of the fact that it was real and not a Hollywood movie. I cannot tell you how creepy it was! I have the up-most respect for people like Lorraine & Ed who take paranormal research to a whole new level! Lorraine was very personable and accessible & took the time to greet fans, sign autographs & take pictures. She was a real sweetheart & I enjoyed our two brief conversations immensely! Everyone in attendance was captivated by what they heard & saw, evident in the standing ovation she received from the large audience at her presentation's close. It was a perfect way to end the 2009 Chicago Ghost Conference!
I'd like to mention that the vending area was just excellent! All the guest speakers had booths set up where you could talk one on one with each presenter as well as pick up a signed copy of one of their many books, take pictures with them or get an autograph. There were also many other vendors there with a eclectic mix of paranormal wares. There were artists there who's work focused on a horror/Halloween theme, really great stuff! One of the artist, Scott Jackson, has done artwork for many heavy metal bands such as: Kiss, Megadeth, The Scorpions as well as been featured in comic books & Fangoria Magazine. Scott was also the artist who created the poster for this year's Chicago Ghost Conference! Aside from the speakers & the artists there were vendors there with unique jewelry, clothing & a variety of other items that you can't get at your local Walmart. Of special interest was a booth set up by The Horrorables, a horror movie/Halloween collectible store based out of Berwyn Illinois who had a constant flow of shoppers the entire weekend. Rob Conover was there promoting his new book as well as giving psychic readings. I really enjoyed mingling in the crowd looking at everything and talking to the vendors who were all so very cool. I picked up quite a few things, including signed books by Ursula Bielski, Joshua Warren, Jeff Belanger, AmberRose Hammond & Fredrick Stonehouse and I look forward to spending this Halloween season reading them!
www.halloweenartexhibit.com
As a special treat Chicago's very own SVENGOOLIE (Rich Koz) payed us a visit on Friday night! Svengoolie has been on Chicago television for many many years. He was such a nice guy! He signed autographed pictures, talked with fans & took photos. "BERWYN!"
www.wciu.com/svengoolie.php
Lastly I'd like to mention the people who were responsible for putting on & hosting The 2009 Chicago Ghost Conference: Wanda Spudic, Ursula Bielski & Mike McDowell. Ursula Bielski is a Chicago historian & author who has written many books on Chicago's dark history & hauntings. She also runs year round bus tours of the city called Chicago Hauntings Tours. She is a dear friend and is a definite asset to both the city she loves & the paranormal community. MikeMcDowell is the founding member of The Indiana Ghost Trackers which has well over 400 members and has trained many paranormal investigators since 2000. Mike also runs ghost tours of Northwest Indiana called Chaos Tours. Lastly I'd like to mention the person responsible for seeing the Chicago Ghost conference through from conception to end, Wanda Spudic. Wanda logged in hundred of hours for nearly a year handling every aspect of putting on this event. From scouting locations, booking guests & vendors, ticket sales, advertising & booking flights & hotels for guests Wanda was truly the reason this event was so successful. She did a wonderful job! As PR executive for the event I had the pleasure of working with Wanda, Ursula & Mike over the course of the last 10 months. Although it was a lot of hard work it was very gratifying to be part of something that meant so much to so many. It is not easy putting on an event of this magnitude & I learned so much in the process. I'd like to thank all who played a part in the event including staff, vendors & guest speakers as well as all who attended. I have many great memories to reflect on and look forward to next year's Chicago Ghost Conference!
Troy Wilkey
Chicago Ghost Conference PR
Indiana Ghost Trackers N Area Regional Director
http://www.facebook.com/people/Troy-Wilkey/1296831137#/troy.wilkey?ref=profile
www.myspace.com/troywilkey
CHECK OUT THE 2009 CHICAGO GHOST CONFERENCE SITE -
COMPLETE WITH PICTURES FROM THE EVENT & VIDEOS OF THE SPEAKERS & VENDORS!
www.myspace.com/chicagoghostconference
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