Into the Supernatural With Jen Lilley & Billy Hallowell

"The Exorcist Files" podcast host Ryan Bethea joins "Billy Hallowell's Playing With Fire" to tackle the "alarming increase in the number of reported demonic possessions" across the U.S. — and the globe. Bethea reveals some of the crazy stories he's heard while working with Father Carlos Martins, a renowned Catholic exorcist. "The Exorcist Files" dramatically tells real-life cases, and Bethea shares his journey into exploring the occult — and the "robust theology" and framework at the center of it all. "After hearing about possessed 9-year-olds, Ouija boards, truck drivers, witches, curses, levitation, and objects ... at the very least, there's stories here," Bethea said of his surprise when first hearing Martins' experiences. "Even people who are not religious are fascinated by this topic."Listen to this fascinating conversation.MORE INFORMATION:- Want to know more? Read Billy's book, "Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts"- Follow Billy on Facebook- Follow Billy on Twitter- Follow Billy on Instagram

Evil is real. That's a lesson Chris DeFlorio, a former officer with the New York Police Department, has learned all too well.DeFlorio is using his investigative skills to help people who believe they’re facing ills from the demonic realm. He and his wife Harmony run New York Demonic Investigation, an organization that seeks to explore these potential scenarios.“It wasn’t until I pretty much focused full-time into this area, which we’ll call demonology, through the church, [that] I started to try to differentiate … the secondary evil that I was seeing on the street in human beings,” he told "Billy Hallowell's Playing With Fire Podcast." “And then [I wondered], ‘What’s behind that? There, there must be a primary evil.'”That’s when DeFlorio began to take a Bible-based approach to try and understand wickedness — a path that led him to apply his law enforcement skills to demonology and the biblical understanding of the manifestation of evil.Listen to Chris and Harmony describe confronting evil and why they do what they do.MORE INFORMATION:- Want to know more? Read Billy's book, "Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts"- Follow Billy on Facebook- Follow Billy on Twitter- Follow Billy on Instagram

Once overtaken by the occult, an ex-psychic is speaking out about culture’s obsession with crystals, herbs, and other items tied to witchcraft.Jenn Nizza, a Christian who now shares her testimony on social media and through her new podcast, “Ex-Psychic Saved,” warned about young people’s increased use of such tools.“This is so New Age … using crystals for protection, to ward off evil, for enlightenment, to bring about psychic awareness, to place on chakras, thinking you’re going to open them up and use the energy from the crystals,” she told CBN’s Faithwire. “This whole thing is relying on energy with crystals.”Nizza reflected on her past use of crystals as a psychic, noting she used a heart-shaped rose quartz pendant to try and draw love toward herself. She said people use crystals for other reasons as well, including protection against illness.“It’s really so scary,” she said, noting the use of such tools is growing. Listen to her break down the issues — and sound an alarm for parents.MORE INFORMATION:- Want to know more? Read Billy's book, "Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts"- Follow Billy on Facebook- Follow Billy on Twitter- Follow Billy on Instagram

Yoga is one of the most popular workouts in the world, but not everyone is a fan. While some see it as mere stretches and poses, others, like ex-psychic Jenn Nizza, believe Yoga is diabolical. “Yoga is a Hindu spiritual practice, and the word ‘yoga’ is rooted in Sanskrit. It means ‘to yoke to’ or ‘to unite with,’ and what they’re doing,” she said on "The Playing With Fire" podcast. “They have deliberate postures that are paying tribute, honor, and worship to their false gods, and they have over 330,000,000 false gods, which are demons, and they’re honoring them with these postures.”Listen to Nizza break down her perspective on Yoga and share her own past experiences on the matter.MORE INFORMATION:- Want to know more? Read Billy's book, "Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts"- Follow Billy on Facebook- Follow Billy on Twitter- Follow Billy on Instagram

Julie Lopez says she was walking in "darkness" until her father's horrific suicide sent her and her family on a path that snapped them out of generations of witchcraft and into a relationship with Jesus. "I basically come from five generations of [witchcraft]," she recently told CBN's Faithwire. "I think it actually goes [further back], but ... it ends in me. I cut that generational course." Lopez, who is now a Christian working to help others discover the Lord's voice, explained what practicing witchcraft looked like for her and her family -- and why everyone must be on guard. Here's her harrowing story. MORE INFORMATION:- Want to know more? Read Billy's book, "Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts"- Follow Billy on Facebook- Follow Billy on Twitter- Follow Billy on Instagram

"I found myself giving myself to Satan."That's not an admission one would expect to hear from a preacher, but Ben Atkins wasn't always a believer. In fact, the U.K.-based pastor went through quite a harrowing journey — one that took him into the bowels of a Satanic worldview before he discovered hope in Christ."This is my story. These are my experiences," Atkins said on "The Playing With Fire" podcast, noting his story involves "supernatural things" and that he is careful not to go beyond what he experienced and what he sees in Scripture. "I'm quite hesitant to go beyond what the Bible says, what Jesus taught, and my experience. That's really all I can share with any sort of authority."Atkins described growing up in a chaotic household that looked comfortable from the outside — a scenario he likened to the "English equivalent of the American Dream." But beneath the surface was a lot of trauma, with the situation leaving him "questioning everything" at an early age.Then, he found Satanism.

Preachers like Mike Signorelli, pastor of V1 Church in New York City, is among those concerned over the rising obsession and prevalence of the occult. And he has some perspectives on "Hocus Pocus 2," the sequel to the 1993 film about three witches.“It seems all too common in today’s culture that we are being bombarded with everything except for Christianity,” he said.Signorelli pointed to 2 Corinthians 11:14 when reacting to claims “Hocus Pocus 2” puts a more friendly face on witchcraft. The verse reads, in part, “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.” Listen to the conversation. 

Evil is real. In this second part of our conversation with Jareb and Petra Nott, Bible teachers who operate a deliverance ministry and train others to help set people free from demonic influence, we discuss generational issues and why the occult, witchcraft, and evil are so everpresent in today's world.The key question: what's driving the increase? And how should Christians respond? "So, the fascination with evil in society right now — we have a huge interest in the supernatural and people don't know where to turn to learn about that," Petra explained. "So, they're turning to the wrong side."Authors of the book "The Science of Deliverance: How Spiritual Freedom Brings Physical Healing," the husband and wife duo say they take a scientific approach to healing the influence of evil. Listen to them explore these themes among others.MORE INFORMATION:- Want to know more? Read Billy's book, "Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts"- Follow Billy on Facebook- Follow Billy on Twitter- Follow Billy on Instagram

“Little Demon,” a new animated show about a woman who mates with Satan and produces the Antichrist, is raising eyebrows and making cultural waves. Mike Signorelli, senior pastor of V1 Church in New York City, issues a dire warning and breaks down why people need to be wary of the show.“I … can’t believe that this show exists,”  Signorelli said. “I think if we could go back 30 years … everybody would universally be shocked and appalled.”Read more about "Little Demon."MORE INFORMATION:- Want to know more? Read Billy's book, "Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts"- Follow Billy on Facebook- Follow Billy on Twitter- Follow Billy on Instagram

Satanists continue to dominate headlines, but who are they, what do they believe — and do they really worship the devil? Headlines about Satanists can be confusing and confounding, particularly when it comes to attempts to understand their belief system.There are two general Satanist camps: theological and atheistic/rationalists. Understanding these umbrella terms and what people within each believe helps us better comprehend the headlines, process the news, discern the biblical implications, and be better prepared to respond to questions about these groups and individuals who reject Christ.MORE INFORMATION:- Want to know more? Read Billy's book, "Playing With Fire: A Modern Investigation Into Demons, Exorcism, and Ghosts"- Follow Billy on Facebook- Follow Billy on Twitter- Follow Billy on Instagram