What if most hauntings weren’t only ghosts, but people? We sit down with Colleen O’Hara of Pocatello Paranormal Research to explore the grounded, humane side of paranormal work—where careful debunking meets real stories that tug at your nerves and your heart. Colleen grew up learning from a mother who was both a career police officer and a psychic medium, and that mix of discipline and sensitivity drives her team’s approach today.
We swap eerie and illuminating cases around Pocatello and southeast Idaho: a rare pyrokinesis household where conflict sparked literal fires; red lights drifting over Mink Creek; and the infamous night upstairs at Portneuf Valley Brewing, where a jammed latch, scratches, and a flood of energy left investigators reeling. We widen the lens with Old Town’s history of public hangings, tunnels, and vice, then step onto ISU’s campus to unpack a charged investigation in the Administration Building, complete with layered evidence and a palpable, angry imprint.
Colleen also breaks down the gear and the guardrails. From Polaroids and dowsing rods to K2 meters and REM pods, we talk why older tech can capture cleaner signals, how EMF can create “fear cages,” and the simple boundary-setting that helps people take back their homes. We cover ethics—why her team never charges, how to vet investigators, and what “no experts” really means—plus an upcoming series of intimate medium nights at Gate City Coffee designed to help the community connect and heal.
If you’re curious about the paranormal, skeptical yet open, or just love a good local story that blends history with human emotion, this conversation will give you language, tools, and courage. Hit follow, share with a friend who loves haunted history, and leave a review with the question you’d ask a ghost first.