206 - Paranormal Research and Haunted Houses with Brandon Massullo - Big Seance

  Parapsychologist and Clinical Therapist Brandon Massullo returns to discuss three different scientific papers he has co-authored involving the research and study of "haunted houses" and paranormal tourism. Plus his view on environmental influences of paranormal experiences vs. the interaction of the person experiencing it. And there's big news about a paranormal experience Brandon recently had himself! Visit BigSeance.com/206 for more info.   Other Listening Options Direct Download Link   In this episode: Episode Teaser :00 Intro :50 Brandon Massullo's Bio 1:31 Patrick and Brandon reminisce about the Haunted America Conference a few years back. 3:41 Brandon has co-authored three academic papers in recent years. These include Things That Go Bump in the Literature: An Environmental Appraisal of "Haunted Houses", Environmental "Gestalt Influences" Pertinent to Studies of Haunted Houses, and Understanding Consumer Enchantment via Paranormal Tourism: Part I—Conceptual Review. 6:27 Environmental variables and cues. Going over the last 20 years of research into "haunted houses." 8:43 Is the environment what's causing people to have ghostly experiences? 11:47 "It's not just environmental. It's actually a mixture of things. It's a mixture of environmental. It's a mixture of perceptual, cultural beliefs, psychological or emotional states. It's sort of a mixture of all these different things going on." 13:25 It's about people and their surroundings. 16:00 "…we took away the emotional or the unique personal experience and we made it more about finding something in the environment. But I think it's an interaction. It's the right person in the right environment or the right moment. This person is part of the experience. If we ignore that person, we're ignoring fifty percent of this paranormal, or ghostly apparition, or haunt-type phenomenon that occurred." 19:45 What is "gestalt"? 25:55 Cues, creepy dolls, and paranormal tourism. 27:34 Enchantment and paranormal tourism. 29:36 This episode of the Big Seance is brought to you by Jim Harold's Campfire! Tune in for true and fascinating stories as told by ordinary people who've had extraordinary experiences. Find it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to The Big Seance. 32:51 Very soon Patrick gets to visit Waverly Hills Sanatorium in Louisville, Kentucky. What do you do when you walk into a haunted location? How do you approach it? 35:13 What is my motivation? What do I want to get out of this? 38:10 Four years ago Brandon told Patrick that he has never had a paranormal experience. BREAKING NEWS! This is no longer true! Brandon breaks it down. 41:37 Patrick tells the story of the night the Other Side reached out in an obvious way, but he ignored it! Why? 45:25 Ghostbusters and the library ghost. "Because if I accept that as something, my world changes." 47:07 Brandon recounts this haunting experience in an upcoming book, Haunted Medina County Ohio. 49:25 Brandon's proton pack is his most treasured possession. 50:33 Final thoughts from Brandon. 54:00 A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 55:43 Outro 57:50   For more on Brandon Massullo:  Brandon's previous appearance on the Big Seance Podcast (Episode 113) HauntedTheories.com Brandon's book, The Ghost Studies on Amazon Twitter: @HauntedTheories Facebook: Haunted Theories     The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at [email protected]. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!