Paranormal City: Chicago Con-Cast

I love chatting about the paranormal in front of a live crowd. It has never been my mission to convince others to believe or disbelieve in the unexplained, so much as I just enjoy geeking out about the stories, folklore and theories. So I've really been digging the "Paranormal City" panels I created and have been hosting at Wizard World cons lately. By assembling local personalities, we've been able to engage in fun conversation about what makes a town unique with its para-personality.

And the Chicago Paranormal City panel really nailed that. With the exceptional involvement of Dave Schrader, Chris Fleming, Ursula Bielski and Jonathan James, we spoke to a packed room about what makes the Windy City so spooky. 

Take a listen and let me know what you think!

-Aaron Sagers

The Pros of Paranormal Cons

BY LARISSA MRYKALO

I propose that the American Psychological Association should include a new diagnosis in its diagnostic manual: Post Paranormal Conference Blues (PPCB?). There's nothing like spending a weekend with friends and not only having fun but also learning something too. I just arrived home from Phenomacon 106 that took place in Gettysburg, PA and once again, I realize how fortunate I am to get to attend conferences and not only meet up with but speak to some truly interesting and genuine folks.

I asked my friend, Alli, to give me a quote about why she comes to paranormal conferences and her response mirrored the ones of those I just saw on the Phenomacon Facebook page. She said it was, "A great opportunity to connect and learn from other like-minded people." The range of guests goes from skeptics and scientists to psychics and healers. I went from speaking to Grady Mosby who is the author of "A Near Death Experience: I Died and Came Back from Hell" to discussing Bigfoot and the recent Rick Dyer hoax with Eric Altman, Director of the Pennsylvania Bigfoot Society. I attended paranormal researcher/psychic, Chris Fleming's panel on angels and left there much less skeptical and will definitely be keeping my eyes open. This was just on my first day.

UPDATED with Chris Fleming quote: Syfy renews 'Ghost Mine,' greenlights new paranormal reality series

Ghost Mine, courtesy Syfy

[Updated April 10, 4:30 p.m.]

OK, we're covering a lot of Syfy news the past couple days, but it's worthwhile, we promise.

Announced today, the network has renewed Ghost Mine -- the paranormal series set in a supposedly haunted gold mine -- for Season Two, which will return next September, and greenlit eight other unscripted series.

According to Variety, the new shows include three paranormal programs: Meat Loaf Rocks the Paranormal, "starring the famous musician, his two daughters and his son-in-law, Scott Ian of Anthrax traveling to America’s most famous and haunted locales." Also coming is Dead Famous, "a show that sets out to answer questions about celebrities who died young by collecting personal items and holding a séance."

If you'll remember, Dead Famous is the same name of the 2004-06 show co-hosted by psychic/medium Chris Fleming (also the son of Chicago Blackhawks hockey player Reggie Fleming). We're awaiting word on whether this is indeed a return of the show, and if Fleming will again be involved.

Also joining the paranormal lineup is Joe Rogan Questions Everything , premiering Tuesday, July 16 at 9 p.m. On the show, Syfy says "paranormal mystery-addict Joe Rogan ventures into unknown worlds and untapped territories to search for answers to life’s most startling theories ... to quench his curiosity for the unknown."

Check out the Variety article for details on the other shows, including The Jim Henson Creature Shop, a competition reality series akin to Face Off -- but with Muppets!

UPDATE: We here at PPC did reach Fleming about the program and his response was, "I am confused as anyone else." So as much as it sounds like the show he was involved in, it seems unlikely he is not attached to this.

-Aaron Sagers