198 - The Second Empire Strikes Back - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Release Date: 10/19/2021
262 - The Case for the Afterlife with Philosopher Chris Carter - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
In this episode, we’re joined by Oxford-trained philosopher and author Chris Carter to explore one of humanity’s most enduring and controversial questions: Is there evidence of life after death? Drawing from his latest book, The Case for the Afterlife: Evidence of Life After Death, Carter argues that the survival of consciousness can be established beyond reasonable doubt through empirical evidence rather than faith alone. Our conversation ranges across research from the British and American Societies for Psychical Research, compelling cases of reincarnation involving children who...
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261 - Hoodoo, Healing, and Helping Others: A Conversation with Jamilah Davis McKenzie - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
In this powerful and heart-centered episode of the Big Seance Podcast, Patrick sits down with Jamilah Davis McKenzie—a minister, spiritual counselor, and boutique owner, whose life is steeped in legacy, music, ministry, and magic. With the grounded wisdom of your favorite “cool auntie,” Jamilah opens up about surviving a traumatic gunshot wound, living with PTSD, and her eclectic spiritual path rooted in church ministry, Hoodoo, ancestral veneration, and radical authenticity. She shares how her work—whether through oracle readings, retreats, or ministry—creates sacred...
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260 - Sarah Neoma of Grave Matters on Cemetery Preservation, Vintage Fashion, and the Stories History Tells - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
What do cemeteries, vintage fashion, and spiritual connection have in common? For Sarah Neoma, they all tell stories. In this delightful conversation, Sarah joins Patrick to talk about Grave Matters, her work preserving cemeteries, and her deep reverence for the past. Along the way, she shares personal experiences, stories from being a fourth-generation seamstress, her boutique Spellbound, and a chilling ghost story from her lovingly restored historic cabin. Whether she’s water witching forgotten graves, diving deeper into what she calls cemetery mediumship, or curating and...
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259 - CREEPZ Ghost Commandos - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Patrick reconnects with the spirited crew behind CREEPZ Ghost Commandos—Alec and Adam Tillery, and Gideon Coyle (absent Caleb Tillery)—who reveal how a shared childhood fascination with the unknown turned into a full-fledged paranormal investigation team. Patrick and the CREEPZ reflect on their recent collaboration at the 2024 Missouri Paracon, dive into creepy encounters including ghostly handprints and unexplained scratches, and discuss how their beliefs have evolved over time. With tales of growing up in a haunted house, debunking high EMF, a brand new EVP from the bunker...
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258 - Raven Knight from the Darkwoods Paranormal Podcast - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Patrick sits down with one of the new friends he met at Missouri Paracon, Raven Knight from the Darkwoods Paranormal Podcast. Raven considers herself an empath, and her interest in both the paranormal and true crime goes back to childhood. We discuss the Villisca Axe Murder House, the importance of finding your group, reflections from the paracon, paranormal pet peeves, and her recent interview with paranormal investigator, Dustin Pari! Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 Patrick recently returned from , where he met today’s guest, Raven Knight from the...
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257 - Music and Sound in Victorian Seances with Olivia Cacchione - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Dr. Olivia Cacchione, a musicologist, sat with Patrick in the parlor to discuss her current work and study of music and sound in Victorian seances. Olivia also shared about years of uncomfortable out-of-body experiences and hearing voices that led to her being diagnosed with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy. Plus skepticism, haunted listening, enchantment, possibility vs. disbelief, Victorians and the accordion, the channeled music of Rosemary Brown, and asking the question, “How does music haunt us?” Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 Dr. Olivia Cacchione studies the...
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256 - Missouri Paracon 2025 with Brad Blair and Jesse Leimkuehler - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Brad Blair of the Upper Peninsula Paranormal Research Society and Jesse Leimkuehler from Belvoir Winery and Inn, join together to create the Missouri Paracon, which will take place at Ameristar Kansas City from February 28th to March 1st 2025. Patrick gets the scoop on what’s in store for those attending. Plus conversation on topics such as psychics, apparitions, people who flee haunted locations, drones and alien invasions, and changes in the paranormal space since the boom that started with Syfy’s Ghost Hunters. Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 Brad Blair...
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255 - Titanic with James Penca - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Titanic expert James Penca joins Patrick in the parlor for this unique episode of the Big Seance. James is a spokesperson and researcher for RMS Titanic, Inc., Creative Director for Titanic: Honor and Glory, and host of the Witness Titanic podcast. He only recently returned from the exciting 2024 Titanic Expedition that made headlines. Have you ever wondered what can be learned about a passenger or crew member, just from recovering a single artifact from the wreckage? Other topics include the re-discovery of the statue of Diana, the debate on whether the famous wreckage is a...
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254 - Calling Out Fraudulent Physical Mediumship with Jeni Juranics - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Earlier this year, psychic medium Jeni Juranics released an episode of her Spirit Call podcast where she opened up about what she described as a heartbreaking experience at a mediumship conference, where on more than one occasion she witnessed a fairly well-known physical medium faking seances. She decided to call out his fraudulent behavior. He’s been called out before, but Jeni’s story seems to have struck a chord with many in the community. In this important and sometimes emotional conversation, Patrick and Jeni discuss what this means for the mediumship community, as well...
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253 - Catching Up with Evidential Medium Jeffrey Peck - Big Seance
Big Seance: My Paranormal World
Evidential Medium, Jeffrey Peck, returns to the show with advice and inspiration for developing mediums. Does the structure of a medium's training help or hinder them? How does one get over fears and imposter syndrome? And what is considered great evidence? Plus lots of laughs and news about some exciting Sedona retreats! Visit for more info. In this episode: Intro :00 Some notes about today’s conversation with Jeffrey Peck, including that of a big belly laugh and delicious simmering homemade soup! :49 Bio for Jeffrey Peck 2:28 Catching up! 4:47 Lessons, growth,...
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Kaleb Higgins purchased a three-story 1889 Second Empire home in Saint Louis. It needed lots of love and many repairs, but has a spectacular mansard roof! It was originally built by Charles S. Brown, who co-owned the Hall and Brown Woodworking Machine Company. Kaleb started The 2nd Empire Strikes Back YouTube channel to document the whole restoration, and it has become incredibly popular! In this episode he shares his passion for the history of the home, learning about the original family who occupied it, and how you can help him bring the house back to life! And is it possible that a viewer discovered a ghost in the home? Plus, this episode marks the return of Tim Prasil with a brand NEW installment of Spectral Edition! Visit BigSeance.com/198 for more info.
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In this episode:
Episode Teaser :00
Intro :54
Remember our friend Tim Prasil and the Spectral Edition? Stay tuned after the interview for a brand new installment! 1:37
Some background on Kaleb Higgins and his popular YouTube channel, The Second Empire Strikes Back. 2:13
What drew Kaleb to purchasing this 1889 Second Empire house in the Saint Louis Place neighborhood? 6:11
The house’s current condition and what goes into restoring it. 8:27
The Charles S. Brown family, the Hall and Brown Woodworking Machine Company, historic dog tags, and the history of the house. 10:50
Kaleb is truly bringing something back to life. A home that has a history, a history connected to humans who had their own lives and passions, and their own legacies. Kaleb is doing this with passion and empathy, and he’s sharing it with the world by letting us hang out with him while he does his magic. 14:03
How do you balance time and work in the house with creating the content? 15:06
Getting feedback and support from viewers. 17:14
Finding and returning letters from World War II. 19:15
The search for Hall and Brown machinery and historic interior photos from the home. 20:51
“Good bones” and a great historic photo of the Brown family in front of the house! 24:40
The beauty and purpose of a mansard roof! 26:37
Making a connection with the past. 28:25
"It’s always been more than a house." 32:04
Does a ghost reside in the home? 33:19
Kim’s Second Empire Strikes Back Vlogs 38:11
Wallpaper, contractors, financing, and when will we get to see the finished product? 40:25
How can you support Kaleb and the Second Empire Strikes Back Project? 45:16
Kaleb Higgins the Artist 47:25
Kaleb’s final thoughts and where to find Second Empire Strikes Back! 51:49
Railroad EXTRA #1 - A brand NEW Spectral Edition with Tim Prasil! 55:34
A special THANK YOU to Patreon supporters at the Super Paranerd and Parlor Guest level! 1:05:25
Outro 1:07:39
For more on The Second Empire Strikes Back
The Big Seance Podcast can be found right here, on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn Radio, Stitcher, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. Please subscribe and share with a fellow paranerd! Do you have any comments or feedback? Please contact me at Patrick@BigSeance.com. Consider recording your voice feedback directly from your device on my SpeakPipe page! You can also call the show and leave feedback at (775) 583-5563 (or 7755-TELL-ME). I would love to include your voice feedback in a future show. The candles are already lit, so come on in and join the séance!