On this episode of Dark Matter, Art Bell introduces the guest, Loyd Auerbach, an expert in parapsychology and the paranormal. Before diving into the interview, Art shares some technical updates. He discusses how he manages his own music and announcements, along with the role of his assistant Evan, who handles phone calls. Art, being tech-savvy, excitedly reveals that he’s added Skype to his setup to allow international listeners to call into the show. He encourages overseas listeners to try contacting him via Skype, sharing his ID “artbell51” for international interactions.
Additionally, Art touches on the ongoing ghost picture contest, encouraging listeners to view and submit ghost photos for a chance to win a Sirius XM radio and subscription. He also invites listeners to send in their ghost stories for a special Halloween episode. Towards the end of the segment, Art comments on the current US government shutdown and the looming concern over the debt ceiling, even mentioning his own financial precaution of contacting his banker in the Philippines.
As Art Bell continues, he shares his concerns about the U.S. debt ceiling and its potential impact. He reflects on the possible financial consequences if the government defaults, expressing doubt that the rich would allow it to happen because they would also stand to lose significant amounts of money. He answers a Skype call from Andy in Melbourne, Australia, confirming that the new Skype system works perfectly for international listeners. Art is excited about this breakthrough, noting that now people from anywhere in the world can participate in the show for free, though he advises using good audio equipment for a better experience.
Art then shifts to talking about a useful tool for improving Wi-Fi signals, especially for truckers or people with weak connections at home. He introduces a product from C. Crane, a super USB Wi-Fi antenna that can significantly boost reception. The device is easy to set up, reasonably priced, and offers a substantial increase in range. Art enthusiastically shares the details and invites listeners to call and order the product.
Finally, Art introduces his guest, Loyd Auerbach, the director of the Office of Paranormal Investigations. Loyd has been involved in the paranormal field for over 30 years, with a focus on education and field investigations. He has authored eight books, taught at several universities, and appeared on numerous media platforms, including The View, Oprah, and Larry King Live.
As Art Bell wraps up a humorous interaction with a prank caller, he welcomes Loyd Auerbach to the program. Loyd explains that he is based in San Francisco and teaches parapsychology both in-person and online. Art, excited about the conversation, asks Loyd about the consciousness experiments at Princeton, specifically involving random event generators, also known as “the eggs.” Loyd describes how these devices produce random outputs, like ones and zeros or lights moving in various directions, which people can attempt to influence with their minds. Over time, research has shown that unconscious psychokinesis (mind over matter) can affect these machines.
Loyd goes on to explain that the eggs, known as electrogaiagrams, are positioned around the world to monitor random outputs. They seem to respond to significant emotional events, such as the outcome of the World Cup or the Super Bowl. These devices detect patterns of non-random activity during such charged events, which can be compared to more random outputs during less emotionally intense periods. This phenomenon has been observed even before the events of 9/11, and researchers are continuously exploring these connections.
Art Bell continues his discussion with Loyd Auerbach about the potential dangers and effects of influencing the weather through collective concentration. Art recounts how, in previous radio shows, he had conducted experiments where millions of listeners focused on bringing rain to drought-stricken areas. Incredibly, within 30 minutes of these experiments, it would start to rain in those regions, leading Art to perform several more such experiments. However, he admits that the results began to scare him, as he realized that he might be playing with forces he didn’t fully understand.
Loyd agrees, pointing out that influencing the weather with large groups of people could have unintended consequences. He mentions that the concentration of millions is an impressive achievement, but the potential for a “tug-of-war” in unconscious intentions makes the results unpredictable. For example, some individuals with knowledge of meteorology might attempt to direct the weather in ways that conflict with the overall group’s intention, making it hard to predict the exact outcome.
Art expresses concern over the potential dangers, especially after listeners requested that he attempt to turn a hurricane away from the U.S. coast. He worried that instead of reducing the storm’s strength, they might inadvertently send it back out to sea, where it could build up into a more powerful and dangerous storm. This was the moment Art decided to stop conducting these experiments, realizing the risk involved in tampering with natural forces.
Art Bell continues his conversation with Loyd Auerbach, discussing Loyd’s teaching experiences in parapsychology at smaller institutions like JFK and Atlantic University. Loyd explains that parapsychology classes, while interesting, fluctuate in attendance due to the lack of formal graduate programs in the U.S. He shares that his courses, particularly non-academic ones, tend to attract students who are genuinely curious but not seeking formal qualifications. Art remarks that if such courses were offered at major universities, they would likely be very popular, but Loyd points out that academic prejudice against the subject often prevents this from happening.
The conversation then shifts to the Forever Family Foundation, which Loyd is president of. The foundation was started by Bob Ginsburg and his wife after they lost their daughter in an accident. Initially skeptical, Bob was convinced of the medium’s authenticity when she provided detailed, accurate information during a session. The foundation aims to connect grieving families with reputable mediums to help them cope with loss, as well as to support scientific research into mediumship and life after death. Loyd shares how this foundation has helped many people find relief from their grief through credible medium interactions.
Art, admitting that he is a skeptic but eager to believe, asks Loyd about the strength of the evidence that convinced the Ginsburgs. Loyd explains that while names, dates, and places are important, it’s often more compelling when mediums convey specific statements or gestures unique to the deceased person. The emotional delivery, gestures, and personal details can be very convincing and provide a sense that the loved one is truly communicating from the other side.
Art Bell and Loyd Auerbach continue their discussion on mediumship and the challenges of proving communication with the deceased. Art mentions that if he were trying to contact his late wife, Ramona, he would have very specific questions in mind to verify the authenticity of the communication. Loyd explains that many times, mediums provide answers before questions are even asked, which can be more convincing. He also shares insights from the Winbridge Institute’s research, where experiments are designed to prevent mediums from receiving any feedback from sitters, ensuring that the medium only gets the first name of the person they’re supposed to contact. This setup creates a type of “quintuple-blind” experiment.
Loyd points out that one of the challenges in mediumship research is determining whether the medium is picking up information from the deceased or simply reading the living person’s mind. This leads to a fascinating discussion about the distinction between ESP (extra-sensory perception) with the living and communication with the dead. Art agrees, noting that even if it’s just ESP, the implications are still exciting because it suggests abilities that humans don’t fully understand.
The conversation shifts to Loyd’s involvement with television shows. While he hasn’t been involved with most recent ghost hunting shows, he has consulted on various projects, including some non-reality shows and movies. He even helped consult on the movie Ghost, which has been credited by Whoopi Goldberg and others. They also touch on how cultures in Asia, such as Japan and the Philippines, tend to be more interested in the paranormal compared to the Western world, where materialistic and empirical sciences dominate.
Art Bell resumes his discussion with Loyd Auerbach, focusing on the credibility and reliability of psychics and mediums. Art mentions that he’s had several psychics on his show over the years, but most have disappointed him, with only a few, like Dannion Brinkley and Evelyn Paglini, making a strong impression. Loyd agrees that psychic abilities can be hit or miss, with many psychics overstating their abilities. He notes that the best psychics tend to have a sense of humor, are self-aware, and don’t overpromise.
When asked to estimate how many psychics are legitimate, Loyd suggests that around 20% are genuinely talented, while the remaining 80% either have mixed abilities or none at all. Some may be sincere but misguided, and others could be outright phonies. Loyd emphasizes that people should be cautious when consulting psychics, paying attention to whether the information provided is genuinely useful.
Loyd also explains the certification process for mediums, particularly through organizations like the Forever Family Foundation and the Windbridge Institute. These organizations conduct rigorous vetting processes, including background checks and readings with sitters, to ensure that the mediums are legitimate. Loyd shares a story about a former student who, after completing his class, revealed her psychic abilities. He encouraged her to go through the certification process, and she successfully became one of Windbridge’s research mediums.
Loyd Auerbach continues to discuss the techniques used by psychic entertainers, particularly the process known as “cold reading.” He explains that cold reading involves observing a person and picking up on subtle cues, like their reactions or personality traits, to guide the reading. Salespeople, reporters, and even Sherlock Holmes-type figures use similar observational techniques, but psychic entertainers often rely on them to give the appearance of supernatural insight. Loyd emphasizes that even the best psychics sometimes do this unconsciously, which complicates the line between intuition and genuine psychic ability.
Art Bell raises the question of how, in today’s social media world, it’s even more difficult to distinguish between legitimate psychics and those who might just be using information easily available online. Loyd agrees, noting that it’s essential to be cautious, especially when giving personal information like a name or credit card, as it could be used to look up details about a person before a reading.
Loyd shares that when he tests psychics or mediums, he often takes them to haunted locations where he knows specific details they wouldn’t be able to research in advance. He distinguishes between two types of hauntings: locations that seem to replay past events (which he refers to as place memory) and apparitions, which are interactive and suggest the presence of a deceased person. He provides an example from the Gettysburg battlefield, where people have reported seeing the same battle being replayed. Loyd clarifies that this would be considered a haunting, not an apparition, since it involves the residual energy of past events rather than interactive spirits.
Loyd Auerbach discusses the concept of hauntings involving living people, explaining that sometimes the reported phenomena are impressions left by individuals who are still alive. These imprints can linger in a place and be perceived by those who are sensitive to them, suggesting that hauntings could be more about environmental factors and biophysical processes than about deceased individuals. He adds that while psychics who visit these locations may be overwhelmed by the energy, it depends on their specific abilities.
The conversation shifts to remote viewing, and Loyd clarifies that while the CIA had a brief involvement, the primary remote viewing program was run by the Defense Department. He mentions his colleague Ed May, who directed the program for its final ten years, and reveals that he co-authored a book about the inner workings of the Stargate program, as well as the psychic programs in Russia. Loyd shares that the Russians trained psychics to operate in the tanks during the Chechnya war, using their abilities for both offense and defense. This direct application in military operations was unique, as psychics were placed in the tanks to be closer to the action rather than stationed remotely.
Art is fascinated by the idea of psychics being used in military tanks and presses for more details, to which Loyd explains that these psychics were also trained as army personnel. The use of psychic abilities for defensive strategies and to avoid attacks was a practical application that surprised even Loyd when he first read about it in the book manuscript.
Loyd Auerbach continues sharing insights about the Russian experiments involving psychotronic generators and psychic weaponry, a topic that was widely speculated about during the Cold War. He explains that psychotronic generators were theoretical devices intended to harness psychic energy as a power source for weapons or other applications. Despite the excitement surrounding these ideas, many of the projects did not produce any tangible results. Loyd humorously recalls that some inventors would bring their so-called psychotronic generators to labs, only for the devices to be dismissed as ineffective and stored away.
When asked to define psychic weaponry, Loyd explains that it involves using psychic abilities to influence physical systems, including attempts to stop a heart or cause harm remotely. Though these concepts have been popularized in science fiction, actual success stories are rare. There are accounts of experiments, including one where a frog’s heart was allegedly stopped, but these events were few and far between. Art Bell references the well-known “Men Who Stare at Goats” myth, and Loyd recounts the teachings of a martial artist who claimed to teach a technique called “Dim Mak,” or the delayed death touch, which supposedly disrupts the organs of a person or animal.
Loyd remains skeptical about these techniques, pointing out that most people likely have a natural psychic shield that would prevent such attacks from succeeding. While some demonstrations, like breaking open a watermelon with a psychic slap, have been captured on video, these events remain more mythological than scientific.
Loyd Auerbach and Art Bell shift their discussion to psychokinesis (PK) and the challenges of training someone to become more effective at it. Loyd explains that PK—mind over matter—often faces significant mental barriers, which are deeply ingrained and difficult to overcome. Most PK cases, like poltergeist phenomena, are unconscious reactions, and deliberate control over such abilities is much harder to achieve. Loyd contrasts psychic healing with psychic attacks, stating that healing is more effective if the person being healed is willing to get better, as the patient’s desire to heal is a key factor.
Art brings up studies on the effects of prayer, where people who were prayed for, without knowing it, seemed to recover faster than those who were not. Loyd acknowledges that these studies are well-conducted, noting that prayer is a form of directed intention. He points out that similar effects have been observed in animal studies, where healers seemed to accelerate the healing process in injured mice. He also mentions that this phenomenon has been documented with plants, suggesting that intention, even toward non-human organisms, can have a positive effect.
The conversation then pivots to Loyd’s criticism of paranormal reality TV. Loyd, who has a deep connection to the television industry through his family, expresses frustration with how these shows misrepresent paranormal investigation for the sake of entertainment and ratings. While these shows have increased public interest in the paranormal, they often present a distorted view, leading many people to believe in inaccurate methods and neglect the scientific aspects of parapsychology. This has made it harder for parapsychologists to gain attention and credibility within their field, as viewers are more likely to follow what they see on TV rather than engaging with legitimate research.
Loyd Auerbach delves deeper into the issues with paranormal reality TV, revealing the pressures placed on those involved, including talent and experts. He explains that many of these shows manipulate the order of events or outright fake scenes to boost ratings. Participants are often bound by non-disclosure agreements that prevent them from speaking out about these manipulations. Loyd recounts how some release forms he has encountered even include clauses allowing producers to intentionally defame participants, leaving them unable to take legal action.
When asked if he’s had the opportunity to guide a paranormal show, Loyd shares that while he has worked with production companies, many of his concepts are rejected because networks favor formats that resemble already successful shows. Despite networks claiming to want fresh ideas, they often choose to replicate existing formulas because they guarantee short-term ratings success.
The conversation shifts to the growing interest in the paranormal, which Loyd attributes to a broader decline in traditional religious participation. As people move away from organized religion, they turn to alternative spiritual avenues, including paranormal exploration. Art Bell comments on the declining church attendance in America and how even Jewish cultural identity is weakening. Loyd agrees, noting that while people are still spiritually curious, they are moving away from traditional practices. He suggests that religious institutions might need to adapt by becoming more open to questioning, discussions, and even exploring spiritual experiences beyond their usual teachings.
Loyd Auerbach continues discussing psychic phenomena, specifically psychokinesis (PK). He shares a personal experience with Martin Caidin, a science fiction writer who created The Six Million Dollar Man, and who claimed to be able to move objects with his mind. Loyd worked with Martin under controlled conditions and observed him moving small targets, such as paper or metal objects balanced on spindles. Martin demonstrated this ability even when the targets were enclosed behind glass, responding to Loyd’s commands to move them on cue.
Art Bell is intrigued, asking how Loyd manages to observe such phenomena without being overwhelmed. Loyd explains that he finds it exciting rather than unsettling, having been fascinated by the possibilities of psychic abilities since childhood. His background in science fiction and parapsychology made the idea of people moving objects with their minds feel natural to him. He adds that he has witnessed similar PK events in poltergeist cases and ghost investigations, further fueling his belief in these abilities.
The conversation shifts to the potential for psychic attacks, such as stopping a frog’s heart, with Art wondering if PK could be weaponized. Loyd acknowledges the possibility but points out that living organisms, including humans, likely have natural psychic defenses or survival instincts that prevent such attacks. He compares this to the psychological effect of curses or voodoo, where belief plays a crucial role in whether the negative intention has an impact. Loyd also touches on the idea of karmic consequences, as seen in Wiccan beliefs, where directing bad intentions comes back on the sender manyfold.
When Art asks how these experiences have affected Loyd’s life, Loyd admits that while he was raised Jewish, he doesn’t participate in organized religion. Instead, he jokingly identifies with the philosophy of a Jedi, believing in the possibility of greater forces at work without subscribing to traditional religious concepts.
Loyd Auerbach reflects on his belief in a unifying force that connects all things, likening it to the concept of the “grand unified field” in physics. He expresses that while some people may call this force “God,” he prefers to think of it as a connectedness throughout the universe, which ties into the concept of quantum entanglement. Art Bell then raises the perplexing nature of quantum entanglement, where particles, regardless of distance, seem to react simultaneously without communication, and Loyd agrees, acknowledging that while it doesn’t make sense yet, it may in the future when physics unravels more of these mysteries.
Loyd points out that the key challenge for parapsychology is understanding how quantum-level interactions, like entanglement, translate into macro-level effects, such as extrasensory perception (ESP). He also notes that ESP, like quantum entanglement, does not seem to be bound by distance or time, making entanglement a compelling area of study for parapsychology.
Shifting to psychokinesis (PK), Loyd discusses how it seems to manifest in some ghost encounters, where objects move, lights flicker, and other phenomena occur. He mentions that ghosts may not be inherently smarter than the living and often need time to learn how to manipulate physical objects. Drawing from the movie Ghost, he explains that spirits may need to grasp the concept that they no longer have physical bodies, and must rely on their minds to move objects.
Loyd recounts a case at the Banta Inn in Tracy, California, where the ghost of a former bartender frequently moved objects, sometimes even for TV cameras. During one incident, while filming for the show Hard Copy, an ashtray mysteriously flipped into the air and landed on the bar in full view of everyone present, though it was missed by the camera.
Loyd Auerbach shares more about his experiences with psychokinesis (PK) and paranormal phenomena at the Banta Inn. He recounts an incident where an ashtray suddenly popped into the air and smacked down on the bar, surprising everyone except the TV crew who missed capturing it. Art Bell expresses his excitement about the possibility of seeing such footage, asking if any of these events have been recorded and shared online. Loyd mentions that some footage exists, including a Japanese crew capturing a chandelier moving on command, and references a show called Beyond Bizarre that may have covered the Banta Inn, with footage available on YouTube.
Loyd also discusses a famous Russian psychic, Nina Kulagina, who became well-known for allegedly moving objects, such as matches, using only her hands. While some skeptics accused her of using tricks like threads, others analyzed her and found that her hands emitted histamine, which, influenced by electrostatic fields, allowed her to move objects. Despite her later being caught with a magnet in her bra, Loyd argues that her ability to move non-metallic objects was still evidence of psychokinesis.
Art, fascinated by the story, asks Keith to search for video footage of Nina Kulagina online, and Loyd promises to help find additional footage if needed.
Loyd Auerbach shares how he became involved in both the paranormal and the world of chocolate. He explains that his interest in chocolate began when he encountered high-quality American artisan chocolate, which sparked his curiosity to learn more about its properties, history, and production. This led him to write a book about transitioning from a chocoholic to a chocolate gourmet and even pursue professional chocolatier training. Loyd now enjoys making chocolate as part of his work.
Art Bell remarks on how people are often told that delicious foods aren’t good for them, but Loyd counters this by noting that chocolate, particularly dark chocolate, has been shown to have health benefits. While eating too much of anything can be unhealthy, high-quality dark chocolate, with its rich flavor and low sugar content, is quite satisfying in small amounts. He explains that chocolate contains stimulants like theobromine and phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the chemical associated with feelings of love, making it a natural mood enhancer.
Loyd then shares a fascinating study conducted by Dean Radin, which explored the effects of intention on chocolate. The study involved four samples of chocolate, one of which was a control. The other samples were prayed over by Buddhist monks, a Mongolian shaman, and exposed to an “intention circuit.” Participants consumed the chocolate and reported their mood before and after. The results showed that the chocolates with intentional energy were significantly more mood-enhancing than the control sample.
Art, intrigued by the connection between chocolate and mood, admits that even just talking about dark chocolate is making him crave it.
Loyd Auerbach and Art Bell discuss the idea of whether certain pleasures, like chocolate or radio, continue in the afterlife. Loyd humorously hopes that food, especially chocolate, remains in some form after death, even if it’s just the mental sensation of it. Art, similarly, wishes for the continuation of radio, expressing that heaven should consist of what makes life paradise for each person.
The conversation takes a more serious turn as Art asks Loyd if he has any sense of what the other side is like. Loyd explains that this is a central question at the upcoming Forever Family Foundation’s afterlife conference, and he shares his own thoughts. He references cross-cultural studies and is torn between two ideas: that we create our own afterlife, as depicted in Richard Matheson’s What Dreams May Come, or that the afterlife is something entirely beyond our current understanding since we won’t have physical bodies.
Loyd notes that most mediums describe the afterlife as a peaceful, pleasant place similar to our current world, where people live without aging or illness. He mentions that those who were considered “evil” in life must face their wrongdoings, but not through punishment—more like being confronted with their actions, similar to the movie Defending Your Life.
Art then poses a philosophical question about love in the afterlife: if a person has loved multiple people during their life, who would they reunite with on the other side? Loyd speculates that it might be the person with whom the deepest connection was shared, while others would connect with their own significant people. He also raises the possibility of reincarnation, noting that in some cultures, such as in Thailand, reincarnation is a widely accepted belief.
Loyd Auerbach and Art Bell dive deeper into the topic of reincarnation, discussing its history and evidence. Loyd notes that reincarnation was once a part of early Christian teachings, likely present in the New Testament before being removed by religious authorities, such as during the Council of Nicaea. He highlights the significant evidence supporting reincarnation, particularly from research conducted by Ian Stevenson and his successors at the University of Virginia, as well as Erlandur Haraldsson at the University of Iceland. These researchers have documented cases of children recalling past lives with details they couldn’t have known, especially in environments without modern technology like the internet.
Art shares that in past interviews, doctors and professors claimed they had unintentionally regressed patients to past lives during hypnosis sessions for unrelated purposes, like quitting smoking. Some of these cases reportedly provided evidence of previous lives. Loyd acknowledges these claims but warns of the limitations of hypnotic regression. Many past-life regressions can be influenced by suggestion, and people might unconsciously create stories based on information they’ve absorbed through books, films, or other sources, a phenomenon called cryptomnesia. He explains that credible cases come from situations where the person recalls fine details that would be unknown to the average person, like daily life in 12th-century France.
Loyd believes some reincarnation cases are real, though the exact nature of what is reincarnated—whether it’s the spirit, memory, or something else—is still unclear. He points out that reincarnations tend to occur within a short time after a person’s death, often less than 15 months, which rules out genetic explanations. He also briefly references the Tibetan Book of the Dead, which describes a process where souls choose their next life, including their future parents, during an “in-between” phase after death.
Loyd Auerbach and Art Bell continue discussing reincarnation, noting that different cultures have varying beliefs about whether people can be reincarnated within or outside their families. Loyd mentions that these beliefs might reflect the actual experiences reported in different regions, or they could be cultural artifacts. The conversation turns to the idea of karma, where reincarnation is believed to help souls improve over multiple lifetimes. However, both Art and Loyd question how this process works if people don’t have conscious memories of past lives to guide them in correcting their actions.
After a brief intermission, Art shares some disturbing news about a large earthquake in the southern Philippines, which affects his wife’s family. Loyd expresses his sympathies, and Art asks whether psychics can predict major natural disasters like earthquakes. Loyd explains that while psychics may pick up on general areas or events, they rarely have the precision needed to make accurate predictions about timing or location. The future is malleable, he says, and psychics often describe it as constantly in motion, making predictions difficult to nail down.
Art inquires whether Loyd himself has consulted psychics. Loyd admits that he has, both for personal clarity and to test the abilities of mediums. He shares a powerful experience he had after his father’s passing, where a psychic accurately communicated details about his father, which provided comfort. He also recounts an incident shortly after his father’s death where the television in a hospital waiting room mysteriously turned on to a sports channel—a field his father worked in—further reinforcing his belief that his father was communicating with him from the other side.
Loyd Auerbach recounts a personal story about his friend, Martin Caidin, who had passed away and promised to “haunt” him. About a week and a half after Martin’s death, while driving to the airport early in the morning, Loyd experienced the strong smell of Martin’s cigar smoke in his car, despite it being brand new and not previously exposed to smoke. He felt Martin’s presence in the passenger seat and had a one-sided conversation, saying his goodbyes before the presence faded.
Later that day, Loyd called one of Martin’s pilot friends in New Jersey, who had also experienced the same phenomenon around the same time, along with another pilot who had a similar experience. Over the next few weeks, several others who were close to Martin reported the same encounter, with the cigar smoke and the sense of his presence. Art Bell, who has also had such conversations with loved ones after their passing, empathizes and notes how comforting and useful these experiences can be, whether they are psychological or real.
The conversation then shifts to education within the paranormal field. Loyd expresses that while he’s known as an investigator, he also sees himself as an educator. He encourages those interested in the paranormal to seek out reputable organizations like the Forever Family Foundation, which offers valuable resources and educational opportunities, including conferences that feature both scientists and psychics.
Loyd Auerbach shares resources for those interested in learning more about parapsychology and the paranormal, emphasizing the importance of education in the field. He highlights the Ryan Research Center, where he serves on the board, which offers a large video library of lectures and workshops on topics like remote viewing. The center, based on the legacy of J.B. Rhine, is one of the leading organizations in parapsychology, and they also offer online classes. Loyd mentions other organizations, such as the Forever Family Foundation and the Windbridge Institute, which focus on the role of mediumship in the grieving process. Studies have shown that mediums can have a positive impact on those dealing with loss, offering therapeutic benefits.
Loyd emphasizes that seeking out these organizations can provide valuable information and support for those interested in the field. He adds that there is growing recognition that grief must be addressed, whether through traditional therapy or alternative methods like consulting mediums. Skeptics often dismiss mediumship as harmful, but Loyd argues that even if the experience is psychological, it can still provide comfort and closure for the grieving.
Art Bell asks how someone can find a legitimate medium, and Loyd recommends consulting the certified medium lists from the Forever Family Foundation and Windbridge Institute. These organizations rigorously vet mediums, ensuring their credibility. Interestingly, Loyd notes that some mediums perform better over long distances, such as on Skype, possibly due to less direct interaction with the person being read. He mentions Sandra O’Hara, a medium from Ireland, who is highly skilled despite not going through the certification process due to geographic reasons.
Loyd contrasts the down-to-earth nature of most certified mediums with the more eccentric personalities portrayed on TV, mentioning that even popular mediums like Theresa Caputo (the Long Island Medium) are certified by reputable organizations. He encourages people to do their research, especially during the vulnerable time of grief, to find a trusted and reliable medium.
Loyd Auerbach discusses the mind-body connection, emphasizing that we likely have more control over our own health than we realize. He points out that psychosomatic illnesses, where psychological stress leads to physical symptoms, demonstrate the powerful effect our minds can have on our bodies. He also notes that if we can make ourselves sick, we should theoretically be able to heal ourselves or engage in preventive care through positive thinking, visualization, and intention. This idea, supported by research on visualization in cancer patients, suggests that mental practices can have real, measurable impacts on health.
Art Bell shares that he’s been told to visualize healing light flowing through his body before sleep to promote good health, a practice Loyd supports, noting that the key is the intention behind the visualization. He further explains that positive emotional states, like laughter, can improve health by reducing stress and boosting mood, which have physiological benefits.
The conversation shifts to a follow-up on Nina Kulagina, a famous Russian psychic known for moving objects, with Art’s website now featuring a YouTube video showing her abilities. Art remarks that witnessing such phenomena, much like seeing a UFO, can change one’s perspective forever, though some people experience cognitive dissonance when confronted with events that challenge their worldview.
Loyd touches on the challenges he has faced in academia, where his degree in parapsychology from JFK University is often dismissed as “not a real field.” He contrasts the cultural differences between the U.S. and countries like Russia and China, where research into psychic phenomena has been more accepted. These countries have philosophical and cultural histories that make them more open to exploring areas like parapsychology, while the West has remained more rigid, particularly due to its empirical and scientific traditions rooted in 19th-century Victorian values.
Art Bell continues the discussion with Loyd Auerbach, touching on a question from a listener about whether people regain their mental clarity after death, particularly those who suffered from conditions like Alzheimer’s. Loyd affirms that many reports suggest people do regain their full faculties after passing. He mentions instances of “deathbed apparitions,” where people nearing death momentarily regain lucidity and communicate with loved ones, sometimes even seeing someone who has come to take them away. These moments suggest that consciousness, like a television signal, is independent of the body, which may act as a faulty receiver.
The conversation then shifts to electronic voice phenomena (EVPs), a topic that has fascinated and unsettled Art for years. Loyd explains that while some EVPs may indeed be spirit communication, others could be produced through psychokinesis (PK), where living people unconsciously affect recording devices. He shares that certain individuals in paranormal investigation groups tend to consistently capture EVPs while others do not, suggesting these individuals might unknowingly act as mediums, or “technomediators,” between the spirit world and technology. Additionally, some EVPs may capture “place memory”—a residual recording of past events rather than direct communication with spirits.
Art then takes a call from a listener who experienced psychic events after his wife passed away. The caller shares how he was guided to find a book and insurance papers shortly after her death, seemingly through her presence. He asks how he can enhance his psychic abilities, as he has always felt slightly psychic but wants to develop these skills further.
A listener shares a story with Art Bell and Loyd Auerbach about how, after his wife passed away, he was guided by her presence to find various items like a book and insurance papers. Loyd explains that the emotional connection between the listener and his wife likely made him more receptive to her communication. He encourages the listener to remain open to such experiences as a way to further develop his psychic abilities. Loyd suggests that becoming aware of one’s psychic abilities is the first step, and tracking unusual experiences can help enhance those abilities over time.
Loyd recalls advice from a psychic he worked with, Alex Tanous, who said that the first step to becoming psychic is recognizing that you already are. He teaches a class on being psychic, where students learn to notice and document information that doesn’t come through normal sensory means. This self-awareness can help individuals become better at using their abilities.
The show continues with another caller who describes feeling out of place in the current era and recounts memories of talking about being an adult when she was just a child. Loyd notes that these are typical signs of past life memories, often described by children. The caller is interested in trying hypnosis to uncover more of these memories, and Loyd supports this idea, explaining that hypnosis can be therapeutic and might help her access suppressed memories from her childhood or even past lives. He offers to connect her with a past life therapist.
One caller shares his experience of feeling as if he had knowledge from past lives, a belief that has evolved over time. After listening to discussions about past-life regression, he wonders if undergoing hypnosis might reveal whether his feelings are tied to past lives. Loyd Auerbach advises that while hypnotic regression can sometimes bring up unconscious stories rather than actual past-life memories, it can still be valuable for personal insight and therapeutic purposes. He also recommends focusing on mundane details during regression to validate the authenticity of the memories.
Art then introduces a theory, comparing the fading memories of past lives to how dreams fade if not written down or spoken about immediately. Loyd agrees, pointing out that many children who recall past lives begin to forget these memories around the age of six, as their current personality takes over.
Next, a truck driver calls in to share a story about a time his truck broke down after his father passed away. While stranded, he asked his late father for help and, despite not remembering the mechanical lessons his father had tried to teach him, he suddenly felt guided and was able to fix the truck. Loyd affirms that this experience is a common type of post-death communication, where loved ones provide guidance in moments of need.
Art Bell and Loyd Auerbach continue discussing how common it is for people to experience communication from deceased loved ones. Loyd shares that many people confide in him with stories of paranormal experiences, often ones they haven’t told others for fear of being seen as crazy. He believes that if more people felt comfortable sharing, we’d discover that a large percentage of the population has had some form of extrasensory or psychic experience, making these encounters more “normal” than “paranormal.”
Art and Loyd then discuss surveys, which consistently show that a significant portion of the population believes in ESP (extrasensory perception) and life after death. Interestingly, college-educated people tend to report stronger beliefs in ESP than those without higher education. The percentage of people who claim to have had encounters with the afterlife, such as communication with deceased loved ones, hovers around 32-38%.
A listener asks about the term “paranormal” and suggests that the field should be rebranded as something more natural, since these experiences could be seen as a normal part of life. Loyd agrees and mentions that those in the field of parapsychology have been trying to come up with a new name for the discipline for years but struggle with finding one that doesn’t require further explanation.
The listener follows up by asking if it would be possible to fund a university program dedicated to parapsychology. Loyd shares a humorous anecdote about how, in a conversation with PAC-10 football coaches, he learned that securing funding for such a program would require diverting some of the money to the athletic department. He highlights the financial challenges that prevent widespread academic acceptance of parapsychology.
Loyd Auerbach and Art Bell continue their conversation, addressing questions from a listener who asks about psychic connections with animals and non-human entities. Loyd explains that while there are many documented cases of people encountering the ghosts of their deceased pets, he is skeptical of “pet psychics” who claim to communicate in full sentences with animals. However, he acknowledges that animals seem to possess some form of psychic ability, citing stories of pets finding their owners after being left behind across great distances.
When asked about communication with extraterrestrials, Loyd admits that there isn’t much evidence to work with, and it’s difficult to prove or disprove such claims. The discussion then shifts to the topic of evil entities. Loyd shares his view, rooted in his background in anthropology, that there isn’t such a thing as pure evil, but rather individuals who lack empathy and engage in harmful behaviors. He references Simon Baron-Cohen’s book, The Science of Evil, which discusses the idea of evil as a lack of empathy, rather than a cosmic battle between good and evil.
The next caller, Teresa from Pennsylvania, shares an extraordinary story about an encounter with her deceased mother when she was 11 years old. Teresa describes seeing her mother by her bedside, and while she wanted to hug her, her mother told her she couldn’t. Teresa experienced a kind of out-of-body moment, where part of her consciousness separated from her physical body, which she saw standing in the corner of the room. Her mother delivered comforting messages, telling Teresa that she had gifts and needed to believe in herself. As her mother left, Teresa felt a sharp pain in her belly button, which stopped her from following. Later, Teresa learned from a friend connected to the Edgar Cayce Institute that what she experienced might be known as the “dream of the silver cord.”
Loyd Auerbach responds to Teresa’s story about her encounter with her deceased mother, explaining that the experience likely occurred in a hypnagogic state—a state between sleep and wakefulness. He assures her that out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are common and that not everyone reports seeing the “silver cord” during OBEs. The silver cord is believed by some to connect the soul to the body, but research suggests only a small percentage of people report it during such experiences, and its presence isn’t necessary for an OBE to occur.
A listener asks about the belief in transmigration, where a soul comes back as an animal. Loyd points out that while this is a core belief in Hinduism and other cultures, it’s difficult to research because there’s no way to verify information from an animal’s perspective. He emphasizes that the cases researchers focus on are those with verifiable information from human subjects.
Another caller, Robin from Florida, shares her experiences working as a performer at Star Trek: The Experience in Las Vegas, where strange phenomena occurred, such as doors opening and closing on their own and multiple performers witnessing a female ghost during renovations. Robin also describes smelling a dog and seeing its outline, which she later realized matched the description of a fellow actor’s deceased pet. Loyd explains that electromagnetic fields, like those surrounding the attraction, can cause hallucinations or even heighten psychic abilities. He references the work of Michael Persinger, who found that electromagnetic fields might enhance people’s sensitivity to paranormal phenomena or recordings of past events.
Art takes a call from Bram in Japan, who asks about ghosts that appear in a repetitive manner without interacting with people—such as those that seem to play out the same actions at the same time in a particular location. Loyd explains that these are likely examples of what is called “place memory,” where the environment somehow records events, especially those with strong emotional energy or repetitive actions. These are essentially recordings that people can pick up through various senses, but they are not interactive like true apparitions.
Bram then inquires about out-of-body experiences (OBEs), and Loyd shares his experience with research in this field. He explains that while some part of a person does seem to leave the body during an OBE, the entire spirit doesn’t leave, as that would likely result in death. Instead, it’s as if a part of consciousness splits off and acts as an observer. He recounts how subjects in experiments could sometimes describe their surroundings both where they were physically and from the location they visited during the OBE, suggesting a dual awareness.
The conversation shifts briefly to lucid dreaming, which allows people to control their dreams. Loyd mentions that the concept was first explored in psychical research by a parapsychologist in 1910, though it became more well-known when Stephen LaBerge popularized the term much later. LaBerge deliberately downplayed earlier research to avoid being discredited in mainstream science, only acknowledging it after his own work had gained acceptance.
A listener calls in to share an experience where, after people in his family passed away, unusual things like lights turning on and off and locks switching around would happen in his house within three days of the death being announced. Loyd Auerbach explains that this could be the result of the caller’s unconscious mind picking up on the impending death and triggering these events as a way of alerting him.
Art then asks Loyd if people who dream of dying ever actually die, to which Loyd responds that while it’s possible, there isn’t enough evidence to confirm it. He also references the common belief that if you hit the ground during a falling dream, you’ll die, but says that isn’t always true—many people, including himself, have survived such dreams. In Loyd’s case, he humorously likens it to a scene from a cartoon, where he gets up from the impact, dusts himself off, and continues.
Another caller, Valerie, asks about the use of electromagnetic fields to induce metaphysical experiences, such as religious ecstasy or out-of-body experiences. Loyd explains that this is based on the research of Michael Persinger, who found that certain electromagnetic fields, similar in strength to the Earth’s magnetic field, can stimulate the brain to create these experiences. However, attempts to replicate Persinger’s results have been inconsistent.
The next caller, Scott, shares a story about using psychometry—a psychic ability to pick up impressions by holding objects. While practicing this with his wife, he described her grandmother’s house and even revealed tragic details about her family that he couldn’t have known. Loyd comments that psychometry is relatively easy to learn and works similarly to how hauntings leave behind place memories. Objects can hold information about their past, and by opening oneself up to that information, people can tap into those memories.
As the episode approaches its conclusion, the calls continue with a listener from Michigan who asks about the “double-slit experiment” and structured water. Loyd Auerbach explains that while he hasn’t personally worked with the double-slit experiment, Dean Radin is conducting experiments to explore the effects of consciousness on quantum particles. As for structured water, Loyd mentions Emoto’s work on how emotional energy can affect the molecular structure of water. He connects this to his own experiment on chocolate, which studies how intention can influence the molecular patterns of substances.
Another caller shares a deeply personal experience about the importance of grieving. He explains that after his parents passed away within a few months of each other, he followed his father’s advice to “suck it up” and carry on without processing his grief. However, 18 months later, he began having panic attacks. His therapist explained that suppressing grief is like putting a lid on boiling water—it will eventually overflow. Both Art and Loyd agree, emphasizing the importance of grieving properly to avoid emotional breakdowns later in life.
In the final call of the night, Marion from Nevada recounts a childhood experience of seeing a ghostly figure standing at the foot of her bed. The figure appeared as a dark, see-through outline of a man with two small inward-facing horns on its head. She was frozen in fear and never spoke about it, but the vivid memory has stayed with her for decades. Unfortunately, the show runs out of time before they can delve deeper into her story.
Art thanks Loyd for being such a captivating guest and promises to have him back on the show. The episode ends with Art signing off and promising to return the following night.