Podcast Summary
From a small project to a captivating docuseries: Following one's interests and allowing projects to evolve organically can lead to unexpected results.
Sometimes a small project can unexpectedly turn into something much larger and more captivating than originally planned. This was the case for Ward, who started with a goal of creating a 15-minute video but ended up producing a five-episode docuseries called "Dark Holler." During their conversation on The Confessionals podcast, Ward shared how his passion for videography and a compelling storyline led him to explore deeper into the subject matter, resulting in hours of content and an ongoing investigation. Merkel, the podcast host, was so captivated by the conversation that they ended up talking for hours. This experience highlights the power of following one's interests and allowing projects to evolve organically. If you're intrigued by Dark Holler and want to learn more, check out the description below for details on how to watch the docuseries.
Exploring unexplained phenomena and questioning narratives: The 'Dark Holler' docuseries invites individuals to reconsider their perspectives on the world by examining unexplained phenomena and the potential role of government intelligence involving nonhuman entities, ultimately fostering open-minded dialogue among people with diverse theological backgrounds.
The "Dark Holler" docuseries, available at darkhollerfilm.com, challenges individuals, including the film's charismatic Christian creator, to reassess their perspectives on the world. The series, consisting of five episodes and behind-the-scenes content, explores unexplained phenomena and government intelligence involving nonhuman entities. The creator, initially skeptical, was drawn in by personal experiences and the Hellyer project, which presented a more serious take on the Mothman legend. Through the making of the series, the creator and his friends, with differing theological backgrounds, found common ground in questioning narratives and acknowledging the world's complexities. The series is a thought-provoking exploration of unexplained phenomena and the impact of open-minded inquiry on personal beliefs.
A Pastor's Account of an Unexplained Event During a Baptism: A pastor's investigation into a girl's strange experiences during a baptism uncovered a deeper family history and hinted at unexplained phenomena.
During an investigation in West Virginia, a pastor shared his experience of what he believed to be an exorcism during a baptism. The girl involved, Kristen, had blacked out during the ceremony and had limited memory of the events. Her mother reported strange occurrences leading up to the baptism. When the investigator returned to speak with the mother, they uncovered a deeper family history connected to the phenomena. The investigation led them down a rabbit hole of synchronicities and strange occurrences, with some events taking on significance later in the week. The girl's out-of-body experiences prior to the baptism were described as happening from various angles, but she did not remember the angle during the baptism itself. The pastor's account and the girl's experiences add intrigue to the investigation, hinting at a deeper, unexplained phenomenon.
Consulting a Paranormal Expert for Unexplained Events: Unexpected intersections of backgrounds led to valuable expertise in understanding unexplained events, despite past practices or beliefs.
The hosts of the podcast, "Sword and Staff," Josh Robinson and Richie, have unique backgrounds that intersected in an unexpected way. Josh is a pastor and host of the Sword and Staff podcast, while Richie has a background in paranormal investigation. When the team experienced strange occurrences during their shoot, they consulted Richie for his expertise. Despite Richie's former practice of occultism before converting to Christianity, his knowledge was invaluable in understanding the symbolism and significance of the events. Richie's past experiences in paranormal investigation, which he conducted for the church, involved gathering evidence to establish the need for a blessing or exorcism. The team's experiences unfolded on a Sunday when they arrived in Crosslanes, West Virginia, and they encountered something unexplainable that challenged their understanding of the supernatural.
Encountering vultures and a haunted house: Investigating unexplained phenomena, seemingly unrelated occurrences may hold significant connections.
During an investigation for a haunted story, the witness encountered an unusual phenomenon of a large number of vultures circling above the area, which seemed unrelated at the time. Later, they visited a rumored haunted house where the owner shared stories of strange occurrences, including a small figure with a burned face appearing at the door and a large owl sighting. The burned face figure and the large owl sighting, although seemingly unrelated, resonated with the investigator due to his prior knowledge of similar cases involving small, burned-faced entities and large birds in the context of unexplained phenomena. This experience highlights the importance of considering seemingly unrelated occurrences in the context of a larger investigation.
Haunted House Investigation: Unusual Findings and Local Legends: During a haunted house investigation, the team discovered a dust-free mirror streak, a painting of a tree in a locked room, and an unexplained child's scream EVP. These findings fit into local legends of Mothman sightings and added to the house's haunting reputation.
During an investigation at a supposedly haunted house in Kentucky, the team uncovered several intriguing findings. Locals mentioned the Mothman sightings of the late 1960s and early 1970s, and the team discovered a mirror with a strange, dust-free streak and a painting of a tree in the slaves' quarters. Additionally, they heard an unexplained EVP that sounded like a child's scream. These discoveries fit into the local folklore and added to the house's haunting reputation. The mirror's dust pattern and the painting's presence in the locked room were particularly noteworthy. The team also encountered an EVP that might be related to the house's hauntings. These findings suggest a connection between the house's history and the local legends.
Family history of witchcraft practices: Unearthed family history reveals potential explanation for strange occurrences in old house, involving past violent behavior and human sacrifices
The old house where strange events occurred had a history of witchcraft practices involving Kristen's uncle and his brother. These practices seemed to have led to instances of violent behavior, including a belief that human sacrifices were necessary. The family had even attempted an exorcism on the uncle due to his disturbing actions. This revelation adds a new layer of understanding to the mysterious happenings at the house. It's important to note that these events were shared by family members during a debriefing at a campfire and were later confirmed by another family member. This discovery not only connects the current events to the past but also provides a potential explanation for the unexplained occurrences in the house.
The unexpected connection between two individuals' experiences and influences: People's experiences and influences can be interconnected in surprising ways, shaping their beliefs and relationships without their initial awareness.
The experiences and influences in people's lives can be interconnected in unexpected ways. In the discussed case, Craig, an influential figure in Kristen's life, had a significant impact on her spiritual beliefs, leading her to practice witchcraft and worship a deity named Lilith. Later, during their investigation, they discovered that her uncle, who also practiced witchcraft, had a familiar named Gerald who demanded to be called Lilith and had supposedly traded his soul for the transformation. This revelation connected the two seemingly unrelated individuals in Kristen's life, as both practiced witchcraft and worshipped Lilith, without their knowledge beforehand. Additionally, the synchronicity of discovering the connection between Lilith and Psalm 91, which references the Mesopotamian entity Lilith, further emphasized the interconnectedness of their experiences.
Family encounters with birds linked to local folklore: Unexplained bird encounters in a town with a 200-year curse and historical roots in local folklore may be connected.
The experiences of the family members with extraordinary encounters with birds, particularly owls and large, black birds, are connected to the legend of Lilith and the cultural folklore of the area. The scripture referencing Lilith and vultures, as well as reports of similar phenomena during the Mothman flap, add to the intrigue. The name of the town, Logan, has historical roots connected to this folklore, with the original name being derived from Princess Irakoma, the daughter of Chief Cornstalk, who is believed to have cursed the town with a 200-year curse. The recurring experiences of the family members and the historical and cultural references suggest a deeper, unexplained connection.
Mothman and Shawnee Tribe Synchronicities: The Mothman legend and Shawnee tribe symbolism were found in a West Virginia house investigation, with a birdman pendant, owl-like Mothman, and footstep phenomena among the synchronicities, adding to the intrigue of reported paranormal experiences.
The investigation uncovered several synchronicities and symbolic occurrences related to the legend of Mothman and the Shawnee tribe in the case of paranormal experiences reported at a house in Logan, West Virginia. The discovery of a birdman pendant, the owl-like imagery of Mothman, and the footstep phenomena were among the synchronicities that couldn't be dismissed as coincidence. The experiences reported in the house, including hearing hardwood shoes or a dog's claws on the floor, shadow figures, and a man's alleged push down the stairs, added to the intrigue. Despite initial reservations about gaining access to the house, the team was able to speak with the current owner and explore the location, further deepening their investigation.
Haunted House Investigation: Shared Experiences and Parallels: During a haunted house investigation, the team discovered a web of shared experiences and parallels, including nightmares, sightings of a shadow figure, being pushed down stairs, and encounters with crows, all connected through the same room, windows, and dream catchers.
During an investigation at a haunted house, the team encountered various supernatural experiences shared by the residents, including being pushed down the stairs, nightmares, and sightings of a shadow figure. These experiences were connected through the same room, windows, and dream catchers. The residents also reported encounters with birds, specifically crows, which paralleled one team member's personal experiences. The investigation concluded with the discovery of a wooden moon cutout with stairs on the wall in the room where the activity was most prevalent. Overall, the team uncovered a web of shared experiences that suggested a strong supernatural presence in the house.
A mysterious witch's symbol in a house raises questions about its history: A house's unexplained symbol, believed to represent a witch's life stages, sparks curiosity and investigations into its past
The unexplained presence of a witch's symbol in a house, which survived multiple owners, raises intriguing questions about the house's history and the reasons why no one seemed to notice or remove it. The symbol, representing the three stages of a witch's life, was noticed by the speaker during their initial visit to the house, and was later discovered to have been there for decades. The family members shared similar stories of its existence long before they moved in. The speaker's curiosity was further piqued when they learned about the use of the "secret cipher of the euphonauts" in investigating paranormal phenomena, and they experimented with feeding descriptions of the house's oddities into the cipher. The open-ended nature of the cipher's output and the speaker's lack of seriousness at the time led to a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. The discovery of the symbol and the house's connection to local legends added to the sense of mystery surrounding the property.
A house filled with bears: an unexpected discovery: During an investigation, seemingly insignificant details can lead to major discoveries. Keep an open mind and don't dismiss potential clues.
The group's exploration of a house with stories of childlike figures and a history located near mines and caves led them to discover an unexpected connection to bears. During their investigation, they used a secret cipher to explore potential leads, including the possibility of a mine entrance. The phrase "hold bare" came up in the cipher results, and although they initially dismissed it as a warning about bears, they later realized that the house was filled with decorative bears, bear tracks, and references to bears. The group was so taken aback by this discovery that they swore off using the secret cipher and began to question if the house was a portal to another world, given the prevalence of goblin stories in the area and the belief that these creatures emerged from caves. Overall, their experience served as a reminder of the power of seemingly insignificant details and the importance of keeping an open mind during investigations.
Discoveries in a Haunted House: Strange Phenomena and Odd Occurrences: A haunted house reveals a cipher leading to a cave system, recurring number 3, biblical references, and sightings of supernatural entities including a goat man, unexplained screams, and connections to team members' tattoos.
During the filming of a documentary, the team discovered several odd occurrences surrounding a house with a history of strange phenomena. They found a possible entrance to the Mammoth Cave system using a cipher inspired by a movie. The house had a recurring number 3, which was significant in various ways, including the time of an unexplained event experienced by Heather and Kristen. The children living in the house reported seeing a goat man, which tied to a biblical reference. Kristen, who had moon tattoos and a tree tattoo with crows, was also experiencing unusual occurrences. While shooting her tattoos, the team heard a scream from the hallway. The house seemed to be a resting place for supernatural entities, and the team left the scene with more questions than answers.
Mysterious Flooding Incident in a House: A houseowner encountered unexplained flooding, affecting multiple areas and causing significant damage. Despite investigations, the source remained a mystery, leading the owner to explore supernatural explanations.
The speaker experienced an unexplained flooding incident in his house, where water poured out of a light fixture without any identifiable source, causing significant damage. The incident was not limited to one room, but seemed to have affected multiple areas, including the floor joists and the exterior of the house. Despite extensive investigations, no explanation was found for the origin of the water. The incident left a lasting impression on the speaker and led him to delve deeper into the topic, eventually turning a 15-minute video project into a docuseries. The speakers' encounter with the unexplained event also led them to explore the possibility of supernatural influences, specifically the Lilith entity, which is said to enter homes through windows. The journey of uncovering the truth behind the incident is ongoing.
Discovering hidden meanings in a flooded house: During an investigation, a moving decorative window led the team to uncover local mythology and archaeology, highlighting the importance of diverse skills and perspectives in paranormal research.
During an investigation into a flooded house, the team discovered a moving decorative window, which they later learned was a symbol of the demonic entity Lilith in both Jewish kabbalah and Mesopotamian folklore. This discovery led them to research local mythology and uncovered the Shawnee deity Kokamthena, who also fits the pattern of being associated with birds, owls, and flooding. The team plans to investigate sites and high strangeness in the area, combining paranormal, mythohistorical, and archaeological research. The team's diverse skills and perspectives, including story collection and conversational relationship building (the speaker's strengths), and analytical thinking (the team's strengths), will be crucial in their investigations. The speaker has been doing podcasting for six years and has felt less lonely as more people with similar interests have joined the field.
Exploring the Unseen World of Paranormal Investigations: The speaker's unique perspective on paranormal investigations, gained through filming and exploration with various groups, has led to a deeper understanding and fascination with the unseen world.
The speaker has a deep interest in paranormal investigations but prefers to observe rather than actively participate in summoning spirits or breaking religious laws. He believes that if a place is truly haunted, the entities should reveal themselves without provocation. The speaker has found a way to explore this interest through making content and going on expeditions with various groups, such as Shadow Appalachia. He also acknowledges the effectiveness of religious provocation as a method used by some investigators, like the Warrens, to gather evidence. The speaker's involvement in filming paranormal investigations has given him a unique perspective and a window into the world of the unseen, leading to a newfound excitement and a desire to continue investigating. Dark Collar, a project he's involved in, has opened up new opportunities and experiences for him. Overall, the speaker's experiences have shifted his perspective and led him to a deeper understanding and fascination with the paranormal.
Exploring the Supernatural with Merkel Media's 'Dark Hauler': Merkel Media pushes boundaries with 'Dark Hauler', a supernatural series challenging narratives and inviting audiences to join their exploration.
Merkel Media is embarking on a deliberate and innovative exploration into the supernatural realm with their production, "Dark Hauler," which they believe sets a new standard in the space. They aim to shape culture and challenge narratives that they perceive as inaccurate and dangerous. The fifth episode of the series will be released on Halloween, and viewers can purchase or rent the entire series on the Dark Hauler website or watch the first episode for free on YouTube. The team is passionate about their work and invites audiences to join them in their exploration of the supernatural.
Support Independent Creators, Watch 'Dark Holler': Check out 'Dark Holler', a docu-series on darkhollerfilm.com, for an engaging binge-worthy experience. Support independent creators to contribute to their projects' growth.
Supporting independent content creators can significantly contribute to the growth of their projects. The speaker highly recommends checking out "Dark Holler," a docu-series available on darkhollerfilm.com. With five engaging episodes, "Dark Holler" is reminiscent of popular shows like Stranger Things and is a must-binge. The speaker expresses gratitude for his friendship with the creator, Ward, and urges listeners to experience "Dark Holler" for themselves. As a friendly reminder, the speaker signs off with his signature sign-off, "remember, the truth will set you free, but first it'll piss you off." So, stay tuned for next week and in the meantime, support independent creators and check out "Dark Holler" at darkhollerfilm.com.
