News, Views, & Interviews

In Episode 75 we examine the curse of America’s first and most prolific serial killer, H.H. Holmes (born Herman Mudgett) with Holmes’ great great grandson, Bloodstains author Jeff Mudgett. We talk about how the curse has affected Jeff Mudgett’s life, plus look at the startling evidence that points to H.H. Holmes also being London’s Jack the Ripper. Is the curse real? Is Holmes’ former “Murder Castle” still haunted? Tune in to find out!

In Episode 74 we explore the history and lore of Halloween. From bobbing for apples to a day of souls, we explore the legends and lore of this amazing time of year with Lesley Pratt Bannatyne! Bannatyne is the author of numerous books including: A Halloween How-to; Halloween: An American Holiday, an American History; and her latest book, Halloween Nation: Behind the Scenes of America’s Fright Night. You’ve seen her on Nickelodeon, The History Channel, and now live in the 30 Odd Minutes studios. Do the Oddballs dress up for this one? Tune in to find out!

In Episode 73 we explore evidence of extraterrestrials visiting us long ago. Not just within the last few decades, but maybe centuries or even millennia ago. Did our ancient ancestors leave us clues in their cave drawings, artwork, religious texts, and paintings? We’ll explore all of that and more with our guest tonight. Peter Robbins is one of the most respected UFO investigators in the world today. He has more than thirty years experience as a researcher, investigator, writer, lecturer, activist and author. A regular guest on radio shows around the country, he has appeared on or been consultant to numerous television shows and documentaries. He is also co-author of the British best-seller, Left at East Gate: A First-Hand Account of the Rendlesham Forest UFO Incident, Its Cover-Up and Investigation. You’ve seen him on the History Channel, National Geographic, the Sci Fi Channel, Lifetime, and The O’Reilly Factor, and tonight he makes his triumphant return to 30 Odd Minutes. Don’t miss it!

In Episode 72 we go ghost hunting in Southern New England with author and paranormal researcher Andrew Lake! This region is full of haunts — some historic, some dark and creepy, and others that are just weird. Andrew Lake takes us on a ghostly tour through some of the region’s most infamous haunts like the USS Salem, the Mark Twain House, Union Cemetery, Mercy Brown’s grave, the Houghton Mansion, and more! Andrew Lake is the founder of Greenville Paranormal Research, and he’s the author of the new book, Ghosthunting Southern New England. Is Nicolas Cage a vampire? Is Will Ferrell a time travelling cross-breeder? Tune in to find out!

In Episode 71 we explore how and why the paranormal became cool, it became trendy, why the weird became a staple of pop culture. Plus we dive into some Middle Eastern legends with Deonna Kelli Sayed! Sayed is an American-Muslim author, global citizen, cultural commentator, and editor of Ghostvillage.com. Her first book, Paranormal Obsession: America’s Fascination with Ghosts & Hauntings, Spooks & Spirits, is a cultural studies discussion regarding the influence of paranormal reality TV in a post 9/11 American society. Are the pyramids haunted by a Djinn? Tune in to find out!

In Episode 70 we explore that quantum leaps in technology, the gaps in development, and the out-of-place items that turn up in history and art that may offer evidence of UFO visitation, time travelers from the future in a Charlie Chaplin film, or maybe our ancestors were more advanced than we ever gave them credit for. Lamont Wood visits with the 30 Odd Crew to discuss strange items he chronicled in his new book, Out of Place in Time and Space: Inventions, Beliefs, and Artistic Anomalies That Were Impossibly Ahead of Their Time.

In Episode 69 we go inside the world’s most famous haunted house — Amityville — with one of the three people still alive today who knows exactly what happened. On November 13, 1974, Ronald Butch DeFeo Jr. walked into his house at 112 Ocean Avenue in Amityville, New York, and shot his two parents, his two brothers, and two sisters dead. He was convicted of the crime and still sits in jail today. The house sat empty for over a year and the price plummeted. In December of 1975, the Lutz Family: George, Kathy, and Kathy’s children Daniel, Melissa, and Christopher, all from a previous marriage moved in. For the next 28 days the family experienced haunting events that would eventually make this home one of the most famous haunted houses in the world today. The Amityville Horror, as it was known has been the subject of a lot of controversy over the years. There have been books written about it, movies made, and the debate continues to rage on. Tonight we hear from Christopher Quaratino (Lutz), who was seven years old when his family lived in the infamous house. We hear about what really happened and how those events have affected his life ever since. Tune in!

In Episode 68 the Oddball Crew visits the haunted Fearing Tavern in Wareham, Massachusetts. Built circa 1690, the Fearing Tavern is one of the oldest buildings in the United States. It’s been the home of royal loyalists during the Revolutionary War, and it’s served as a tavern and boarding house. After seeing so much history it’s no wonder this building is haunted. Just like our studio show this episode is live straight through with no cuts. When mistakes happen (as they always do with us), we roll with it. Along the tour and investigation of the Tavern we bump into Ghosts of the SouthCoast author Tim Weisberg. Tune in to find out what bumps in the night inside this ancient treasure!

In Episode 67 we explore the paranormal through the eyes of Christian Pastor Robin Swope. Swope has been a minister for more than 17 years. He holds a B.A. in Biblical Literature and is finishing his Masters of Divinity. He’s the founder of and chief officiant of Open Gate Ministerial Services and a church council member and pulpit minister of St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Erie, Pennsylvania. He’s also a freelance journalist and columnist, and he’s written for FATE magazine. What’s this guy doing on 30 Odd Minutes? He’s a seminary trained exorcist who has worked with paranormal investigators on cases involving not just ghosts and demons, but cryptids and aliens too. He’s the author of Eerie Erie: Tales of the Unexplained from Northwest Pennsylvania. Is Bigfoot an alien? Are there ghosts in the Bible? Tune in to find out!

In Episode 66 we visit with Jason Haxton, the current owner of the haunted Dibbuk Box — an antique Jewish wine cabinet that came from Poland. The original owner of the cabinet said it was to never be opened because it contained a dibbuk and keselim. The box made its way to the United States where it was bought in an estate sale and from there the legend took off. Trouble… paranormal trouble… has plagued people who have come in contact with the Dibbuk Box ever since. Jason Haxton has been a museum director, he’s studied American antiques and ancient artifacts for the past 26 years, and he lectures at the university level and in this episode he’s all yours, Oddballs! You’ll hear the stories and see the evidence. Now that the Dibbuk Box has been encased in a gold-line ark has the trouble been silenced? Tune in to find out!