"Pere Cheney: Plague In The Pines" is now streaming on PARAFlixx: https://paraflixx.vhx.tv/pere-cheney-plague-in-the-pines-paraflixx-paranormal-plus

On this episode of Paranormal Lens: we discuss the superstition, lore, and perceived risks surrounding whistling in the woods at night. Could merely whistling alert something supernatural to your presence? The conversation also veers (or as Brie calls it, "devolves") to discuss Bigfoot calls and their effectiveness. This episode has a little bit of everything, including references to our recent projects "Pere Cheney: Plague In The Pines" and "Seven: The Mystery of Jacques"!

GEMINI SUMMARY: This episode discusses the superstition and perceived risks of whistling in the woods at night (0:00). The hosts share their varying opinions on whether whistling can attract supernatural entities (1:33), referencing folklore from different cultures (1:57) and the idea of whistling as a universal invitation (4:40).

Key points from the discussion include:

Personal Experiences with Whistling (1:41): One host accidentally whistles frequently, while another avoids it in the woods.

The "Invitation" Theory (4:25): The idea that whistling acts as a call or invitation to unknown entities, akin to a universal language (4:55).

The Pere Cheney Cemetery Incident (9:06): A detailed account of an experience during filming where both groups spontaneously started whistling at the same time in a haunted location, followed by coyotes howling (11:30).

Bigfoot and Dogman Whistling (14:12): The conversation "devolves" into a discussion about Bigfoot and Dogman calls that incorporate whistling, raising questions about the existence and nature of these cryptids (14:26).

Fear and Activity (29:45): The theory that being scared while whistling can influence paranormal activity due to the energy generated by fear.

Individual Discretion (30:31): The hosts conclude that ultimately, the decision to whistle in the woods at night is up to the individual and their comfort level with potential risks.

"Pere Cheney: Plague In The Pines" is NOW STREAMING on Paraflixx: https://paraflixx.vhx.tv/pere-cheney-plague-in-the-pines-paraflixx-paranormal-plus

The legend of Pere Cheney has long been one of Michigan’s most talked-about ghost stories. With the help of the local historical society, this documentary offers a fresh and entirely new perspective on Pere Cheney’s haunted history.

By separating fact from folklore, putting real names to long-muddied legends, and uncovering a historical discovery that changes everything, the film reexamines what we truly know about this infamous piece of Michigan folklore.

GEMINI SUMMARY: This special episode discusses our latest documentary "Pere Cheney: Plague In The Pines," (0:43) which explores the history and paranormal phenomena of Pere Cheney, a well-known Michigan ghost town. (1:28)

The discussion covers:

Pere Cheney's History: The town was once a bustling village (2:30) with 1,500 residents that served as a county seat. (2:34) It declined after two diphtheria outbreaks (2:49) and was eventually burned down by people who believed it was cursed, leaving only 18 residents. (3:51)

The Cemetery: All that remains of the town is its cemetery (4:36) and some building foundations. (4:45) The cemetery's headstones were heavily vandalized, (5:26) leaving only five or six readable names. (5:32) The historical society revealed that the cemetery was originally four times larger than what is visible today, with many graves extending into the woods, including a lost mass grave. (28:56)

Paranormal Experiences & Technical Issues: The hosts share numerous paranormal encounters that did not make it into the film, such as a child apparition (7:34) and a "monster" sighting on the railroad tracks. (29:25) They also experienced recurring technical difficulties (8:50) while filming and editing, including corrupted footage (9:31) and internet outages (11:42) that they attribute to the location's haunted nature.

The "Witch" Folklore: The documentary aims to separate fact from folklore, specifically addressing the legend of a witch who allegedly cursed the town. (3:25) The film intentionally minimizes the "witch" narrative (23:08) because it is not historically verifiable. (23:26) The hosts mention a "witch's tree" (23:47) or stump where the witch was supposedly hanged, but historical accounts vary, and they encountered odd weather phenomena when investigating it. (25:55)

Filming Challenges and Goals: The film is feature-length (0:53) and was made in collaboration with A Non Sasquatch Production, What Goes Bump In The Night, and the Crawford County Historical Society. (1:22) Many paranormal occurrences and pieces of evidence were excluded from the final cut (14:38) to prioritize the historical narrative and create a cohesive story. (18:29) The documentary aims to shed light on Pere Cheney's overlooked history (20:25) and a significant historical discovery, which is revealed in the film. (38:32)

In this free-wheeling "old-school" episode of Paranormal Lens: We bring the FUN back to ghost hunting! What are the benefits of bringing joy, laughter, comradely, and fantasy to the haunted spaces we investigate? Brienna also educates us on the nuances and misunderstood history of Dungeons & Dragons; and we come up with a pretty interesting Stranger Things theory that surprisingly explains the lackluster ending (and excuses the Duffer Brothers in the process).

GEMINI SUMMARY: This episode of Paranormal Lens highlights the benefits of bringing fun and games to ghost hunting (0:00). The hosts discuss how playing games like Dungeons & Dragons (6:07) or "haunted" Jenga (25:38) can positively impact paranormal investigations.

Key discussion points include:

The "Man Eyes" ordeal (0:00-1:52): The hosts open with a humorous anecdote about Ben's inability to find a specific comment, leading to a playful discussion about "man eyes" and stereotypes (2:00-3:04).

Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons (4:49-6:51): The conversation shifts to the show Stranger Things and its connection to Dungeons & Dragons, including a theory about the show's ending (19:12).

D&D and the Satanic Panic (7:57-14:20): The hosts delve into the historical misunderstanding of Dungeons & Dragons, particularly how it was linked to the "satanic panic" of the 1980s.

Bringing fun to ghost hunting (22:53-26:30): Inspired by a comment, the hosts explore the idea that joy and fantasy might help spirits wandering haunted spaces. They share their experience with "haunted" Jenga (25:38) and how excitement during the game seemed to feed paranormal activity.

The importance of fun (27:47-28:26): The episode concludes with a call to bring more fun and games into paranormal investigations and everyday life, emphasizing that not everything needs to be serious.