Tag Archives: podcasts

Felt Mansion, LST 393 are just some of the places Darren Dykhouse has investigated for paranormal activity

Darren Dykhouse of the Lakeshore Paranormal, sits down with the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters. (WKTV)

By Wayne Thomas
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters


Darren Dykhouse, founder and lead investigator of (LSP) Lakeshore Paranormal has appeared on four episodes of Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Paranormal Podcast and was the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunter’s first guest on Cryptic Frequencies, my Blog Talk Radio show. We open every show with a literary reference significant to each guest and so Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” has become LSP’s signature opening.

 

Dykhouse mostly explores local urban legends and suspected haunted locations in Michigan, but he also investigates private homes and provides smudging and blessings on request. He tediously edits and regularly posts his 10-15 minute video blogs to YouTube where viewers are able to see different haunted sites through the camera lens. On the list are: The Felt Mansion, The Old Allegan County Jail Museum, Joliet Prison, The Old Stimpson Hospital, and these ships rumored to be haunted; the Coast Guard ship USCGC Acacia and the S.S. City of Milwaukee both docked in Manistee, and the USS LST 393 in Muskegon.

  

Darren Dykhouse of the Lakeshore Paranormal

This list is incomplete as additional videos spotlight haunted trains, woods, piers, many cemeteries, and an Alien connection. Dykhouse is perhaps the king of cemetery sessions with reports from The Old Beaver Dam Cemetery, Nunica, Woodville Lake, the Ada Witch/Finlay Cemetery, Bath Cemetery, and others. Bath being the location of the worst school massacre in U.S. history.

 

Darren uses a simple approach to investigating the supernatural, asking a minimal number of questions with only one or two investigators. Collaborations have included Robert Walker of Michigander Man, scuba diving specialist Taff Williams, Brandon Hoezee of Kent County Paranormal, Jamie Rae Wonders, myself and others. He currently has been teaming up with Ali’s Vlogs T.V.

 

Dykhouse likes to keep it basic but does experiment with some modern devices and techniques, using his P-SB11 Spirit Box, proximity pods, Spiritus Whispering and Necrophonic phone apps, and on occasion utilizing the Estes Method. You can find his videos on You Tube and conversations with him on our show G.R.G.H.P.P. episodes 7, 14, 18, & 31 and Cryptic Frequencies’ first episode.

 

Dykhouse is empathic and like the rest of us he is sometimes haunted by doubts, sorrows, fears, and even loved ones. The ghost of Edgar Allan Poe’s lost love “Lenore” would have us believe, “’Tis the wind and nothing more.” 

Exploring Michigan’s spooky side in the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunter’s podcast

In the Halloween episode of the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Paranormal Podcast, guests and hosts dressed up for the season. (WKTV)

By Wayne Thomas
Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters

Hosting Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Paranormal Podcast and Cryptic Frequencies Blog Talk Radio show has introduced me to the spooky, weird, and strange world that surrounds us here in our Great Lake State.  Michigan measures very high on the mysterious meter with Bigfoot, Dogman, and lake monster sightings, significant UFO sightings, haunted ships and lighthouses, roads, cemeteries, libraries, and museums.  We profile mysterious people and places, authors and investigating teams and it’s my pleasure to share some supernatural insights, starting with one of our all-time favorite guests, Shetan Noir.

Noir recently joined us for a special WKTV, The Whole Picture Podcast Halloween episode #34 where we discussed urban legends and superstitions.  We opened with the poem “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” by A.H. Schacknofsky and co-host Brandon Hoezee offered insights into the half-truths and his own family connections to the legend of the headless horseman of Sleepy Hollow.

Guest Shetan Noir dresses as a green mermaid during the Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Paranormal Podcast special Halloween edition. (WKTV)

Co-host Kim Kolean presented evidence of the Allegan County “Melon Heads” with a disturbing photo image of what they might have looked like.  The show also featured two of Noir’s books, “Lake Monsters and Odd Creatures of the Great Lakes” and “Mothman and Other Flying Creatures of the Midwest.” She shared an incredibly fascinating story of the Lake Superior Mermaid while dressed in costume as a shimmering green dragon lady.

My first encounter with Noir was during the 2018 Michigan’s Ghost Coast Paranormal Convention in Grand Haven. Noir was one of the featured speakers and during the day she asked to interview our team for her podcast Into the Liminal Abyss. Noir is an author and a journalist who has spent 25 years researching the paranormal in the field of cryptozoology, the search for or study of animals whose existence is disputed or unsubstantiated.

Currently Noir is the lead investigator for the Michigan Chapter of the North American Dogman Project as well as research into Lake Monsters, Mothman, Bigfoot, Nain Rouge. While ghost hunting might have been enough to keep most people busy, Noir found time to author several books.  Noir’s amazing research chronicles actual eye witness accounts, historical testimony, real world explanations, hoaxes, fossil evidence, and artistic renditions of what these monsters might have looked like with detailed descriptions. Noir’s extensive research documents evidence of hundreds of people experiencing strange creatures at the same time with very similar descriptions by reputable well respected citizens, police, sea captains and crews, and collectively challenges the true definition of cryptozoology.

For more about Noir and her work, listen to the Grand Rapids Ghost hunters Paranormal Podcast at the WKTV Journal or on Facebook at The Whole Picture Podcasts.

Snapshot: Things to get you out of the house this weekend

Although I cannot see your face. As you flip these poems awhile, Somewhere from some far-off place I hear you laughing–and I smile.

Shel Silverstein


By Faith Morgan
WKTV Intern




Rosa Parks Circle (Experience GR)

Listen to podcasts in the park

If you’re in need of some fresh air, Bridge GR will be hosting multiple podcasts live at Rosa Parks Circle from 2-5:3 pm. Saturday, Oct. 3. Hear from podcast hosts of “Full Exposure” and “In My Humble Opinion,” along with other speakers on the obstacles and opportunity of diversity in Grand Rapids.

Party on Division

Kids driving you crazy at home? Open and free to the public, Division United hosts fun, family-friendly events this weekend from 5-9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 2 at the corner of Division Avenue and Logan Street and Saturday, Oct. 3 from 11 a.m. – 3 pm. there are two events, one at the corner of Division Avenue and Burton Street and the the other at Division Avenue and 43rd Street. From games to food and learning about the cultures on Division, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Fight Invasive Species

Are you passionate about caring for the environment? The city of Kentwood has partnered with Kent Conservation District Invasive Species Strike Team to educate people on the invasive vines harming our tree canopy. Volunteer and learn about different types of invasive species from 10 – 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 3, at Covenant Park, 3402 36th St. SE.

Dachshund Bobblehead (Google)

Fun Fact: Dachshund Bobbleheads

The first dachshund bobblehead was manufactured as a car accessory in Germany in 1970. Dachshunds are the short-legged breed of dogs commonly known as “wiener dogs.” In the 1990s, a German gas station chain used this “Wackeldackel” or bobbling dachshund, in an advertising campaign and within eight months of the advertisement’s launch, more than 500,000 dachshund bobbleheads were sold.

The original Wackeldackel or bobbling dachshund. Ach guck mal / CC BY

WKTV celebrates its volunteers at March banquet

Right, WKTV Board President Judy Bergsma with her husband Mark Bergsma talk to Ron Schultz and his wife. (Photo by Pat Moll)

By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org


About two weeks before the governor’s Stay Home, Stay Safe order went into effect, more than 100 people gathered at the WKTV station, located at 5261 Clyde Park Ave. SW, to celebrate another great year of community programming.

At the annual Volunteer Banquet, which was held at the WKTV station, giving volunteers an opportunity to check out the recently finished construction work that added a new facade to the station’s main control room along with creating a second floor above Studio A. In fact, the new meeting space already has been used for a video shoot in February.

WKTV also added to its offerings with the creation of a new podcast room where about 20 shows are taped and filmed with the video housed on the Whole Picture Podcast Facebook page and the podcasts also can be found on the WKTV Journal website.

As always, the annual banquet is designed to recognize the many amazing contributions of the WKTV volunteers.

From left: Anne Cope with Scott Baisden (Pat Moll)

This year’s Volunteer of the Year, Scott Baisden, has spent plenty of time at the WKTV station, clocking in more than 1,000 volunteer hours while also editing and producing shows. Baisden has done a number of handyman jobs from various construction projects to landscaping. He also has lent his expertise to several WKTV productions and podcasts.

Far right, Mike Moll, with the rest of the WKTV Sports crew Mark Bergsma, Ron Schultz, and Paul Kabelman. (Photo by Pat Moll)

This year’s Community Service Programming recipient also is no stranger to WKTV. Mike Moll has been a WKTV volunteer for nine years and he might be a familiar face to many as he is one of the hosts for the WKTV Sports program. Moll also has written sports articles for the WKTV Journal and served as a host for a number of WKTV projects.

Recognition was given to volunteers for both years of volunteer service as well as hours of service in 2019. Following is a list of those recognized as well as their programs or volunteer areas for those honored for years of service.

20 Years

Allen Wegener – Variety of shows throughout the years

10 Years

Beccie Schumaker – Sports/Concerts

5 Years

Cynthia Johnson – Sports/Parades

Randy Galaszewski – Anything Goes/Sports/Concerts

New Volunteers

Cynthia Best – Volunteer

Latesha Clay – L.I.P. Street Team

Bernadine Francis – Studio Productions

Dana Knight – Productions Involving Arts and Culture

Riley Zoet – WKTV Sports

Volunteers who contributed 25 or less hours to WKTV. (Photo by Pat Moll)

1 – 25 Hours

Judy Bergsma – WKTV Board Member/ Reading Train

Caleb Butler – Former staff / Remotes /Council meetings 

Paul Chittenden – Indie Filmmaker / Podcasting

Sagar Dangal – WKTV News /Bhutanese Talk Podcast  

Joe DeJong – Infinity & Beyond Podcast

Randy Galaszewski – Anything Goes / Summer Concerts

Cynthia Johnson – Holiday Parades

Phyllis Koslow – Grand Rapids Symphonette

William McKenny – L.I.P. Street Team and Truck Remotes

Pat Moll – Photographer WKTV News

Linda Pacic – Host Parades and Specials 

Les Raebel – WKTV Board

Don Schumaker – Golden Gloves

Laura Szczepanek – The Polish Pod Café Podcast

Andrew Shelest – Construction

Nathan Slauer – WKTV News

Mark Tangen – Metro Cruise

Mike Van Druemel – WKTV Fix it Man

Dick Visser – WKTV Board Member

Pat Williams – Volunteer

Volunteers who contributed between 26-50 hours to WKTV in 2019. (Photo by Pat Moll)

26 -– 50 Hours

Doug Hansen – Sports

Paul Kabelman – WKTV Sports

Romeo Keels – L.I.P. Street Team + Truck Productions

Kyle Misak – Indie Filmmaker

Reid Petro – Indie Filmmaker 

Prakash Rai – WKTV News / Sports

Tom Sibley – Veterans / Sid Lenger Travel Shows

Bob Serulla – Golden Gloves / Metro Cruise

Wayne Thomas – Grand Rapids Ghost Hunters Podcasts

Meochia Thompson – New Cooking Show/ WKTV News

These volunteers contributed 51 – 99 hours to WKTV in 2019. (Photo by Pat Moll)

51 – 99 Hours

Carrie Bradstreet –  Anything Goes Podcast / WKTV News Host/ 10

Mark Bergsma – WKTV Sports

Anne Cope – Why Don’t We Have Our Own Podcast

Ron Schultz – WKTV Sports


This year’s 100 Hour Club included a number of dedicated WKTV volunteers. (Photo by Pat Moll)

100 Hour Club

Val Fisher

Gary Vande Velde 

Scott Wiseman

Kyle Cortez 

Allen Wegenar

Monique Keels

Darius Young

Stephanie Norton 

Renee Karadsheh

Becci Schumaker

Bill Rinderkencht

Mike Bacon 

Kathy Norton

Mike Moll

Matt Kavaluskis

Matt Zuby

Michael McCallum

Rose Hammond

Doug Remtema 

Scott Baisden