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Episodes 19 & 20: Problems in the Paranormal With Stephanie McCown.

TW: Language, Adult Themes including Abuse. One of the biggest pet peeves we all have as paranormal investigators or consumers of paranormal media is the rampant ableism, gatekeeping, and dumb tricks a lot of these 'Ghost Bros' perform on camera for crappy generic ghost hunting shows. We are sick of people getting famous for yelling at dust particles in locations where many people suffered. Stephanie McCown is a single mom, a YouTube creator, a podcaster, and an author based out of Michigan and she's sick of it too! Stephanie is going to help us break down some of the major problems with these shows, and talk with us about her ideas on how to interact with the weird in a way that is meaningful, respectful, and avoids exploitation. Edit: We had to so much to say we had to split it into TWO Episodes! Enjoy.

Author Stephanie McCown is as sick of the ableism plaguing popular ghost shows as we are.

Ghost Shows for Ghost Bros. YAWN.

Becoming a member of Team Brick and has had a real impact in Stephanie's life since learning about Mother Joseph and Hidden Bricks. Just like SJ and Andrea, Stephanie had been an enthusiastic consumer of paranormal content on tv and other media for some time, and was similarly blown away by how Hellier was different than anything we had ever seen. Encountering the Newkirks and the rest of Planet Weird helped us all solidify the feelings we had about so many of the terrible paranormal content that is raking in the dollars. It doesn't feel good to "hate watch" 90% of popular Paranormal media as they do nothing but reinforce stereotypes and inaccuracies through a lens of ableism and white supremacy. We like to call this: GHOST SHOWS FOR GHOST BROS. And we are not talking about the Ghost Brothers - we'd be glad to pop the trunk on some ghosts with them anytime!

We are not talking about the Ghost Brothers when we say "GHOST BROS." In fact, SJ and Stephanie look forward to meeting these guys at MIParacon.

Of course, one of the most famous GHOST BROS is none other than SJ's sworn enemy Zak Bagans, who clearly has somehow stumbled into a "Bad Hair Forever Curse" he wants to blame on Demons - but we digress.

Zak Bagans' Demon Waiver. LOLZ.

SJ's sister got married on 4/20 a few years ago in Las Vegas. You can blame the amount of weed if you want, but SJ was bored enough to wait in line for way too long to cough up $48 to go to Bagan's Museum, which is one of the reasons they now despise him. The vilest, most tasteless thing inside his Museum is pretty arguable, but SJ's vote is probably for the reconstructed torture chamber from a serial killer, which is still covered in the bodily fluids of murder victims. Anyone with a soul realizes that it should probably have been burned after trial instead of displayed in a ghoulish cash grab, but that's not how Zak Bagans or this terrible Museum works!

The coolest thing on the tour is the tricked out hearse parked outside, which you can stare at for free.

What's actually HILARIOUS though is the DEMON WAIVER you have to sign before agreeing to pay a bunch of money to be rushed through an old house with pumped in electricity and smells. #DEMONS! They make sure to keep the "celebrity" employees that Travel channel viewers would recognize (like "Angry Joe" shown here) visible and interacting to keep the crowd pumped up as they wait and wait and wait for hours in the baking heat. Bagans has the same hoaxer P. T. Barnum-type energy and has a huge collection of memorabilia for him, right next to his ever-growing Serial Killer room. Zak Bagans has a particular obsession with Charles Manson - he even has parts of what is supposed to be Manson's remains in there for Museum people to visit... like a shrine. *gagging noises intensify* Not only is SJ still bitter she paid $48 to go to his crappy death hag museum a few years ago, it just keeps getting worse. Want to go to a real Haunted Museum, where they let you actually interact with the objects? Try the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult instead.

SJ signed their life away against "bodily injury, damage to property, emotional distress, death, or other harm" just to look at Bagan's crappy murderabilia collection. LOL FOREVER.

"Zak could come by at any time," Uh huh. Sure, "Angry Joe".

If you like jump scares and clowns you will love this place.

You don't even need to make fun of Ghost Adventures when their official marketing materials do it so remarkably well for them.

"Sharon Tate is more than the worst thing that ever happened to her. Let's talk about it!"

Shortly after inviting SJ on to her youtube show Get Ready With Me and Talk about Stuff to discuss Mother Joseph (Part One) and Hidden Bricks (Part Two), Stephanie became particularly interested in the life of Sharon Tate, doing a YouTube episode about her. Stephanie's pretty upset about what Zak Bagans is doing to the memory of Sharon Tate, and we'll talk about that too. Bagans also purchased the home that once belonged to Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, some of the other Manson murder victims, and we shudder to think what he will do with it.

Photo credit: Julian's Auction, where Zak Bagans bought Sharon Tate's Wedding dress.

The Problem With Shows Like "Ghost Asylum."

Autistic activist Lydia Brown writes in their blog: “The attitude that leads otherwise decent people to believe that there is nothing wrong or problematic with featuring 'the criminally insane' in a haunted house attraction is one deeply rooted in and perpetuated by an ableism so pervasive in society that it even taints disability rights movements.” Exploring "haunted places" like hospitals and asylums where people suffered can reinforce damaging views of the disabled... and we just don't understand how this kind of ableism makes for must-see-television anymore.

Do you think if anyone is left at any of these locations they deserve to be "captured?" Didn't they suffer enough while living? Don't be an asshole!

Sorry Zak - with Docents like SJ at the Academy now your camera crew is never getting in. Keep trying tho (LOL!) P. S. Everyone at St. Ignatius in Colfax can't stand you either - so good luck ever getting back in there. Mother Joseph isn't having it.

Also constructed from Hidden Bricks is the beautiful Oregon State Hospital, famous for its portrayal in the film "One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest." This hospital is infamous for the suffering that occurred in its walls with treatments like hydrotherapy and electroshock therapy. It also notoriously haunted - here is a sobering look as to why.
Part of the building now also serves as the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health, and acknowledges the injustices that occurred here. Problems with understaffing and abuse still occur, but the most concerning issue is how the complex is linked to the local Criminal Justice system.

While famous for the Jack Nicholson film, the Oregon State hospital in Salem Oregon is actually locally infamous for its ongoing problems with abuse.

If we keep watching shows like Ghost Adventures and Ghost Asylum we continue to perpetuate this cycle. It's time to stop. Visit our links page for some additional paranormal content from creators that avoid perpetuating these problems. Mentioned above, Stephanie's "Get Ready With Me and Talk About Stuff" feeds your brain while they work on various makeup looks and teach you their tricks for looking fabulous.

One of Stephanie's wondeful makeup looks she put together as she feeds her viewers' brains!

Ever wanted to look like Jem? Go here for that step by step!

Stephanie also is the owner of the absolute FLYEST suit SJ has ever seen. WE STAN.

Stephanie covers both serious social justice topics and Paranormal goodness on her YouTube show and Podcast. Some of our favorites: GRWM and Talk About White Privilege - "White people, we need to have a conversation. An uncomfortable one. One a lot of us don't want to have. Buckle up." GRWM: The Michigan Dogman, the Loup Garou, and The Truth - "In this video, I discuss the legend of the Michigan Dogman, and my wig." GRWM And Talk About The Milgram Experiments - "How far are people willing to go when obedience to authority conflicts with their conscience? The answer may surprise you. "

Stephanie surprised SJ with this portrait of them with some Hidden bricks. She now is open for art commissions on her ETSY!

More about Stephanie McCown and Her Work!

Stephanie's first book is available HERE.

"My hope is my books and other projects will help others find words for their own stories, and sharing those stories will lead to greater freedom and healing. I firmly believe there is power in telling our stories, and in choosing how they are told...it is my great honor to help others find the courage to do so." - Stephanie McCown, author and podcaster

Some of Stephanie's poetry available HERE.

Make sure to connect with Stephanie McCown on Twitter at @StephanieMick75 or Instagram where she posts lots of awesome redacted Bible poetry. Stephanie also appeared on "S6 052 | Fundamentalism, Politics & Religion with Stephanie McCown" of "Poema Podcast" to discuss fundamentalism and its impact on politics and faith in both the UK and US. While she isn't primarily focused on her moving on from the Evangelical movement any longer, Stephanie's blog "Razed Evangelical" is an excellent resource for other people realizing there is life after Church. You can also support her work financially HERE if you are moved to do so.

NUNS RULE. Stephanie's redacted Bible poetry - visit her Instagram for more.