Episodes

  • S2 Ep1: Monsters Among Us

    S2 Ep1: Monsters Among Us
    Sep 30 2024
    “As we sat there, watching, she transformed into this huge beastly creature, similar to what people might call a wolf. Right there in the middle of our church. It stood on hind legs and rode a roar that would’ve made a lion cower.”—Monsters Among Us by Linda Godfrey

    Are you the kind of person who thinks ‘roughing it’ means staying at a hotel without Wi-Fi? Then pour some champagne to get through this episode set, mostly in the great(ish) outdoors. Let’s just say Monsters Among Us by Linda Godfrey has Richard rethinking that ‘quaint’ cabin in the woods Susan’s been pushing him to visit.

    In this episode, you’ll join Richard as he dives into Linda’s lifelong research and colorful universe, exploring a world where camping might mean becoming some creature’s midnight snack and not even the suburbs can keep you safe. During his trek, Richard uncovers the camaraderie and pancakes that fuel the paranormal community and the joy of exploring the weirdness of the world, together.

    Ready to venture off the beaten path? Grab a flashlight, say goodbye to room service, and join Richard for a rollicking deep dive into one of his wildest reads yet.

    Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/
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    55 mins
  • ASK ME ANYTHING with special guests Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess!

    ASK ME ANYTHING with special guests Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess!
    Sep 16 2024
    Join special guests, Scott Philbrook and Forrest Burgess from “Astonishing Legends” for Richard Hatem’s first-ever AMA!
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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Special Announcements for Season 2 of Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf!

    Special Announcements for Season 2 of Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf!
    Sep 2 2024
    Richard & Susan drop in with some important upcoming dates and announcements about all things RHPB, including a couple of SPECIAL UPCOMING EPISODES you’ll want to know about right away… Enjoy!
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    25 mins
  • 10: Miracles by D. Scott Rogo – Part 3

    10: Miracles by D. Scott Rogo – Part 3
    Jul 29 2024
    "Miracles may potentially occur when large crowds of people who share a similar worldview come together. Their combined faith and emotion may somehow become linked to the world around them. Miracles may be the result." –Miracles by D. Scott Rogo


    In the final episode of Season 1, journey with Richard as he navigates the tumultuous landscape of his career and personal life, all while finding solace and purpose in the pages of both of his Miracles. As Richard grapples with the ups and downs of life, including the slow opening of The Mothman Prophecies and the heartache of divorce, Miracles emerges as his creative sanctuary.

    But just when it seems like Miracles might be the answer to his prayers, Richard faces a devastating blow when execs seemingly reject the pilot, leaving him reeling. What will be the fate of Miracles?

    This episode serves as a culmination of themes explored throughout our season – the power of belief, the comfort of books, and the ability to turn to creativity amidst personal turmoil. Through Richard's journey, we're reminded of the tension between being a believer and skeptic in our own lives and the strength found in embracing the unknown.

    Join Richard as he shares the highs and lows of his journey, from the depths of despair to the heights of hope, reminding us that even in the darkest moments, miracles can still happen. Tune in now for the part 3 of 3 of the Miracles series.
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    44 mins
  • 9: Miracles by D. Scott Rogo – Part 2

    9: Miracles by D. Scott Rogo – Part 2
    Jul 15 2024
    “The exact same phenomenon can be investigated very differently depending on whether the investigator is a clergyman -- or a parapsychologist.” –Miracles by D. Scott Rogo

    By September 13th, 2001 the world was changing hourly. Richard gets a call that the execs at Touchstone want to "re-approach" the original outline that he had toiled over for weeks. This is the kind of news that could undo a writer. But, the world was changing. Why shouldn't Miracles?

    And it is in this moment, dear listener, where Richard finally remembers his unwanted book, Miracles by D. Scott Rogo. Although he had never read a word of it, now he was hungry for some inspiration to help him get through the rewrite. He learns that Rogo's approach in the book was to examine various infamous paranormal cases from levitation to bilocation, as a parapsychologist and not a priest.

    As Richard was skimming (and let's be honest skipping) through the pages he realized that the disconnect he felt to the religion-heavy content was a solution to the problem he was having in the pilot. What if instead of a believer and a skeptic, of things being at odds...we had two believers. The same phenomenon is investigated differently depending on the investigator. This opened up endless opportunities for Miracles, from UFOs to haunted houses. All the things Richard loves. All the things we've explored this season.

    As Richard navigates the rewrite, he confronts his work against the backdrop of genuine fear and a life boiling over with change. Join him on a journey through uncertainty, discovery, and the quest for understanding in this gripping Part 2 of 3 of the Miracle Series.
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    38 mins
  • 8: Miracles by D. Scott Rogo – Part 1

    8: Miracles by D. Scott Rogo – Part 1
    Jul 1 2024
    “It is my hope to show in this book that the evidence authenticating the existence of miracles is indeed so strong that its collective falsehood would be, quite literally, miraculous." –Miracles by D. Scott Rogo

    All book people know this to be true: sometimes you find the book; sometimes the book finds you. And sometimes the book that you wanted to find got sold to someone in Delaware. The book that Richard Hatem found was Miracles by D. Scott Rogo. But the book Richard was actually looking for was Phone Calls From The Dead ” by D. Scott Rogo & Raymond Bayless. Right author, wrong title, and the bookstore (all the way in Dela-WHERE) had already sold the hard-to-find title.
    This mishap felt like another unlucky blow in a continual, mortal kombat-level series of unlucky blows. But, Richard didn’t want to read it. Even when another Miracle came his way–this one a job offer to rewrite a movie script, Miracles, into a TV show. As the book version of Miracles lays forgotten somewhere in his house, he hurriedly tries to make the script he was given work for television. To be something that execs will love, will help his family, and maybe solidify his career.

    In Part 1 of 3 of the Miracles series, Richard reflects on the curious twists of fate that led him to these kismet encounters with "Miracles," reminding us all that sometimes, the universe has a way of guiding us to exactly where we need to be.

    Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/
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    38 mins
  • 7: The Amityville Horror Conspiracy

    7: The Amityville Horror Conspiracy
    Jun 17 2024
    “I decide to do some investigating of my own. I don’t know it yet, but I’m about to begin one of the most complex investigations of my career.” –The Amityville Horror Conspiracy by Stephen Kaplan and Roxanne Salch Kaplan

    Can you imagine if Richard Hatem wrote the remake of the Amityville Horror? Well, stop imagining it now because it would have deeply offended Stephen Kaplan, the co-author of one of Richard Hatem’s favorite books of ALL time: The Amityville Horror Conspiracy by Stephen Kaplan and Roxanne Salch Kaplan.

    In 2004, Richard's agent pitched him an Amityville Horror remake. But here's the twist: Richard's not exactly jumping at the opportunity. He's still reeling from the cancellation of his show "Miracles," but he takes his agent’s reading list anyway because he is Richard Hatem, after all. One of the books he reads while in between shows is The Amityville Horror Conspiracy. If you’ve listened to the rest of season 1 so far, you may be confused as to why one of Richard’s favorite books is about debunking. And, while the book may be a masterclass on debunking, it’s also beautifully human, achingly real, and absolutely heart-breaking. Kaplan believes in ghosts but can’t stomach the hoax that he believes Amityville to be.

    Join Richard as he navigates the choppy waters of Hollywood, from the heartache of canceled projects to the challenges of carving out his niche in someone else's production. In this episode of Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf, truth is stranger than fiction...and Hollywood is stranger than them both.

    Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/
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    55 mins
  • 6: The Amityville Horror

    6: The Amityville Horror
    Jun 3 2024
    "The tragic history of 112 Ocean Avenue didn't matter to George, Kathy, or their three children. This was still the home they had always wanted." –The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson

    You’ve probably heard of Love in the Time of Cholera…but what about love in the time of The Amityville Horror? In this episode, we're packing our lunch boxes and heading to Brightwood Elementary School in 1978. Join Richard as he devours his favorite Christmas present yet, The Amityville Horror by Jay Anson, while a girl named Kim devours all his time.

    As Richard reads and re-reads the Lutz family's ordeal, he feels intimately connected to their struggles. George's brooding demeanor, Kathy's escalating fear, and the children's confusion resonate with Richard, who identifies with their sense of impending doom. Because, well, he’s in love.

    Experience Richard's journey through young love, loss, confusion, and the eerie allure of "The Amityville Horror". By the end of it, maybe you'll agree that falling in love and living in a haunted house are pretty similar.

    Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/
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    48 mins