Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf By cover art

Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf

By: Astonishing Legends Productions
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  • Summary

  • “Go inside the mind of one of television and movies’ wildest storytellers…” Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf is a podcast that feels like discovering a secret diary. Every episode unravels the mysteries of a book from Richard's bookshelf and a story from Richard’s life, weaving together the excitement of the supernatural and the warmth of personal storytelling.
    Summerland Entertainment, Inc
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Episodes
  • 4: Dancing Past the Dark

    4: Dancing Past the Dark
    May 6 2024
    “Someone else knew about the circles! My breath jammed in my throat, and in a storm of terror I hurled the book across the room and fled from the house, too frightened to even say goodbye.” – Dancing Past the Dark by Nancy Evans Bush

    Look, no one wants to think about dying, but it’s inevitable, right? So if we can’t talk about it, maybe reading a book about it will be better. Enter: Dancing Past the Dark by Nancy Evans Bush, a book about Near Death Experiences (NDEs). This book serves as a catalyst for profound introspection and existential dread of the eternal question–what happens? And, let’s just say the first read-through of this text was so utterly demoralizing that Richard put the book down. Seriously. Initially disheartened by the unsettling revelations about life and near-death presented in the book, Richard can’t continue reading it. As he picks up and puts the book back down over the years, he grapples with the ebbs and flows of creative endeavors, celebrating the wins while feeling a tension with the unknown ahead. As the inevitability of his aging father's death looms closer, he thinks about NDEs again, compelled to confront the profound questions unearthed by Bush. And, when he finally finishes the book, well, he’s come to a much different conclusion. How? Well, you’ll have to listen to find out. Join us as we navigate the complexities of belief and disbelief, life and death, creativity and constraint, as Richard finally finishes the book he put down so many times.

    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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    47 mins
  • 3: The World of Ted Serios

    3: The World of Ted Serios
    Apr 22 2024
    Richard delves into challenging misconceptions held by both skeptics and believers through the lens of Jule Eisenbud's "The World of Ted Serios," which underscores the significance of caution in scientific inquiry while also exploring the debilitating doubt often encountered in paranormal exploration.

    “Certainly an attitude of caution and skepticism should be expected of anyone undertaking to test a hypothesis according to conventional cannons of scientific inquiry. But not the kind of gnawing, festering doubt that took possession of me." –The World of Ted Serios by Jule Eisenbud

    In this episode of Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf, we’re exploring The World of Ted Serios by Jule Eisenbud. And we’re taking on one of the longest-standing feuds in the world of paranormal exploration: skeptics vs. believers.

    In the 1960s, Theodore Judd Serios, a Chicago bellhop, gained fame for producing "thoughtographs.” Ted, it seems, could think images onto film. Polaroid film to be exact. Parapsychologist Jule Eisenbud arranges to meet with him, and over the next three years of wild experiments, Jule goes down a rabbit hole from which he never completely emerged.

    As Richard immerses himself in Eisenbud's narrative, he grapples with the dichotomy between skeptics and believers, challenging misconceptions that often plague serious paranormal inquiry. Through insightful commentary, Richard sheds light on the rational pursuit of knowledge among individuals intrigued by the unexplained, contrasting it with the hasty conclusions drawn by both skeptics and true believers.
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    49 mins
  • 2: Love in an Alien Purgatory

    2: Love in an Alien Purgatory
    Apr 8 2024
    Richard reflects on his complicated courtship with his wife Susan Lambert, while taking us on guided tour through Farah Yurdozu's book of David Huggin's eerie paintings: Love In An Alien Purgatory.

    “Crescent’s night visits became a routine part of David’s life. She would visit him twice or three times a week. What David experienced with Crescent was much more than a “normal” sex dream. But he still didn’t know whether Crescent was a dream – or a real woman.” – Love In An Alien Purgatory by Farah Yurdozu.”

    Join us for a journey through space, love, and Santa Barbara in this episode of Richard Hatem's Paranormal Bookshelf. In this episode, Richard explores the complexities of relationships and the fear, joy, wonder, and confusion of commitment as he shares his personal reflections on love, marriage, and aliens.

    Love in an Alien Purgatory – The Life and Fantastic Art of David Huggins by Farah Yurdozu explores David Huggins and his relationship with Crescent, his alien lover. David Huggins’ encounters with alien visitors began in the 1950s, spanned decades – and led to the birth of over sixty hybrid children. Paired with his vivid and sometimes unsettling full-color paintings, his story offers a glimpse into a world between two dimensions—a purgatory of hope, sex, fear, and ultimately, love.

    From alien encounters to existential crises, each perspective within this episode, the relationship of Richard & Susan and David and his alien lover, Crescent, offers a glimpse into the human psyche and the mysteries that lie beyond our understanding. Join us as we navigate the blurred boundaries between reality and the paranormal, guided by Richard Hatem's introspective commentary and Farah Yurdozu's retelling of David Huggins’ experience & art.
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    48 mins
Art Biographies & Memoirs Literary History & Criticism Social Sciences Comedy & Humor
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Profile Image for mdlarson

Addictive from the start!

We knew Richard Hatem was brilliant from his screenplay for The Mothman Prophecies. We knew he was entertaining and insightful from his numerous appearances on the Astonishing Legends podcast. Now with his own podcast that is a cross between a paranormal book club and a therapy session...we find out he's so much more and a little bit like each of us too! Five stars, two thumbs up, recommend to everyone who feels a connection to the spooky side of life!

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Profile Image for Benjamin Neusius

Entertaining listen

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this. It's like this guy is a professional writer or something!

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