Interview with Paul Dale Roberts, HPI General Manager - Fortean Investigator - Esoteric Detective
www.hpiparanormal.net Interviewed by: Carissa Yamanishi
1) How and why did you get into the industry of ghost hunting?
Answer: When I was a little kid, I thought I lived in a haunted house on Effy Street in Fresno, California. When I grew older, I wanted answers. I wanted to know if that house was truly haunted or was I having childhood nightmares. I started reading books by Brad Steiger and became well-versed in the paranormal. Later, I was dating a ghost hunter named Julie English and she invited me to an HPI (Haunted and Paranormal Investigations International)
www.hpiparanormal.com - event at the National Hotel. She said..."Paul, since you are so well-versed in the paranormal, perhaps you should write an article about this ghost hunt." The reason why she told me this, is because I was also a freelance journalist. I met the President of HPI named Shannon 'Ms. Macabre' McCabe and asked her if I could write an article. She grabbed my arm and said.."I love the press", before I knew it I became HPI's ghostwriter, paranormal investigator, core member. I am now the General Manager of HPI, I am a journalist for the Sacramento Press, Haunted Times Magazine, Chatter Brew Online Magazine and All Destiny Magazine. I opened the doors for all types of paranormal investigations, from UFOs to Bigfoot to Ghosts. I have been on 300 paranormal investigations and have written over 300 paranormal articles.
2) What kind of training is involved in becoming a Fortean Investigator?
Answer: First off, you need someone to train you. Since I am familiar with various aspects of the paranormal, I do the training. Bigfoot, the collection of hair samples, skat, searching out for footprints, using Plaster of Paris for the impressions of footprints, using evidence bags, wood on wood communication. Bigfoot is known to hit wood on wood to communicate, etc. UFOs - laserlights and high powered flashlights for intelligent communication and responses, binocular and telescope use. When to take pictures. Cameras, telescopic lens. The use of psychics for communication to UFO occupants, etc. Ghost hunting, the use of FLIR (Forward Looking Infra-Red), EMF Readers, digital audio recorders, digital cameras, temperature gauges, etc. Well, I think you get the picture....
3) What do you do in an investigation? Do you work in a group or alone?
Answer: 1 Group. I break up the group usually into 3 teams and place the teams into 3 different sections of the building or home. The investigation will last for 45 minutes and then we have an evidence briefing. We will show the occupants the evidence we gathered in 45 minutes. We will have 3 investigative sessions for 45 minutes each. Each one will have an evidence briefing.
4) What do you think about ghost hunter shows, do you think they are real or phony?
Answer: To be honest I do not watch: Ghosthunters, Ghosthunter Academy, Ghosthunter International, Paranormal State, Paranormal Cops, Ghost Lab, Ghost Adventures, etc. Since I do this kind of work, the shows bore me to tears. I do watch Sy Fy Channel's Destination Truth, History Channel's UFO Hunters, Mystery Quest, Monster Quest, Tru TV Conspiracy Theory, Discovery Channel's A Haunting. I am interested in paranormal shows that deal with other things than ghosts. I am a monster hunter, UFOlogist, but don't practice the trade that much.
5) Do you believe that people have to be born with the ability to see ghosts or can anyone see them?
Answer: I believe it is a gift that is given to you at birth. Most people have the ability up to the age of 8 and lose it. Others keep the gift.
6) Have you had ghost investigations in San Luis Obispo, California? Do you know of any investigators working in that area?
Answer: I just investigated the Chupacabra on the Channel Islands: San Miguel Island & Santa Cruz Island with HPI Paranormal Investigator Christina George. Afterwards we interviewed people in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Ysidro. Haven't done San Luis Obispo yet, but here is the funny thing, one of our investigators Carrina Hanson used to run an HPI Branch Office in San Luis Obispo. For some reason or another, things didn't work out and the Branch Office is now closed. Thank you for the interview!
Thank you for your time,
Carissa Yamanishi
Thu Apr 29, 2010 5:46 pm