The Michael Shermer Show

Believing Is Seeing: Inside the Modern Paranormal Movement

21 snips
May 24, 2025
Matthew Hongoltz-Hetling, a freelance journalist and author of 'The Ghost Lab', dives into the quirky world of modern paranormal beliefs. He discusses a ghost lab in New Hampshire that aimed to document spirits scientifically but attracted a mix of paranormal enthusiasts. The conversation highlights the clash between personal experiences and scientific skepticism, exploring how media shapes our beliefs in the supernatural. From ghost hunting to alien abductions, Hongoltz-Hetling unravels the intriguing relationship between these beliefs and societal trust in science.
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INSIGHT

Distrust Fuels Paranormal Beliefs

  • Declining trust in institutions drives people toward paranormal beliefs for life questions.
  • Psychics and mediums fill roles once held by therapists, pastors, and psychologists.
ANECDOTE

Shermer's Haunted Radio Experience

  • Michael Shermer experienced his wife's long-dead grandfather's radio turning on unexpectedly.
  • He received hundreds of letters from others sharing their uncanny anecdotal experiences.
INSIGHT

Science vs. Personal Experience Tension

  • Paranormal investigations face tension between scientific rigor and validating personal experience.
  • The community thrives more on personal narrative than on measurable scientific evidence.
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