S2 Ep7: The Other Side - Part 1

01/06/25 • 53 min

2 Listeners

“I had heard of poltergeists – the spirit of a dead person causing some sort of disturbance in the house where the person resided before dying. For the first time I faced the real possibility that the source of all that had been happening could be my son – dead, but still living.”
In this episode, travel with Richard Hatem to – “The Other Side” by Bishop James A. Pike, with Diane Kennedy. This book recounts the chilling experiences of Bishop Pike, an Episcopal leader who, in the wake of his son’s suicide, found himself crossing into a realm few are willing to acknowledge.
In his search for an explanation, Pike turns to various mediums, paranormal experts, and eventually concludes that his son’s personality had somehow survived death. The haunting events that unfolded during these months left Pike—and those around him—questioning the very nature of life, death, and what might lie beyond the veil.
But this episode isn’t just about Pike’s journey. It’s also about Richard’s own other side. When his girlfriend’s dad handed him The Other Side, Richard left it gathering dust on his desk for weeks. Why? Because he was stuck in his own emotional quicksand—trying to survive a long-distance relationship and all the teenage drama that came with it. Richard talks about his own experiences with love, loss, and how he found comfort in friends who managed to make him laugh when he felt like his world was falling apart. Along the way, listeners will learn how grief, love, and the supernatural can unexpectedly collide, pushing us to rethink everything we thought we knew about the other side. Feeling more desperate by the hour, Richard finally decides to take a “big swing” to save himself – but will it work? We’ll find out in The Other Side – Part Two...
Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/

Previous Episode

S2 Ep6: Surgeon From Another World

This isn’t your typical Christmas story—but it is a Christmas story: one that delves into second chances, goodwill towards humanity, ghosts, and hope. And it’s true.
Tonight, Richard Hatem brings you one of the strangest and most captivating tales he’s ever heard in Surgeon from Another World by George Chapman and Roy Stemman. It begins with a father’s devastating loss: at 25, George Chapman’s four-week-old daughter died. Struggling with grief and anger, he turned to spiritualism—hoping to connect with the beyond using whatever means necessary.
What he found was unexpected: his mother, who had passed away when he was just five years old, reached out with messages of comfort and clarity. But that was just the beginning. George Chapman’s journey into the spiritual realm quickly deepened, leading him to encounter Dr. Lang—a once-living surgeon now communicating from beyond the grave. Even those who had known Dr. Lang—friends, patients, family—were absolutely convinced they were truly in contact with him through George. Every response and question from Dr. Lang shattered any lingering doubt, leaving listeners captivated and questioning the very possibility of life after death.
For over 30 years, George’s interactions with these spirits defied skepticism and reshaped beliefs. This episode delves into how George Chapman’s experiences urge us to approach the inexplicable with an open mind and a spirit of curiosity.
Subscribe now for more stories from Richard Hatem’s Paranormal Bookshelf, and visit richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com for more information on this episode and more.

Next Episode

S2 Ep8: The Other Side - Part 2

"The Other Side" by Bishop James A. Pike, with Diane Kennedy Part 2
We’re back on The Other Side, diving deeper into Bishop James A. Pike’s gripping search for a connection with his late son – and Richard Hatem’s high-stakes hijinks as a burgeoning writer chasing his dream. While Pike wrestles with the profound—and sometimes unsettling—realities of life, death, and faith, Richard takes a big swing of his own, trying to break into the world of television by breaking his way into the office of legendary TV creator Stephen J. Cannell.
For Pike, the stakes couldn’t be higher as he navigated the fine line between faith and fraud. Did he uncover genuine evidence of his son’s spirit, or was he simply a grieving father, too willing to believe? The stakes also couldn’t have been higher for Richard, a teenager desperate to be seen—not just by his hero, but by the world as a writer.
As tensions mount in Pike’s spiritual quest and Richard’s personal life, each faces the uncomfortable collision of doubt, hope, and the pursuit of something greater. Join us to explore ambition, belief, and the light that emerges when we step into the unknown.
Subscribe now wherever you listen to podcasts for the next episode. Learn more about the stories, books, music, and more featured in this episode at https://www.richardhatemsparanormalbookshelf.com/