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Astonishing Legends

James Willis and the Ghosts of Ohio

Astonishing Legends

Scott Philbrook

History, Society & Culture

4.69.8K Ratings

🗓️ 16 September 2019

⏱️ 134 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

The ideal qualities of a paranormal investigator should include objectivity, a grasp of the relevant history and science, and a skeptical and inquisitive nature that’s balanced with a fair and open mind. Tonight’s guest has all of those traits and more. Author and paranormal researcher James A. Willis originally hails from the Hudson Highlands of upstate New York, the stomping grounds of the Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow. After spending 15 of his formative years being intrigued by macabre media and all things ghostly, strange and spooky, Willis moved to Ohio to found the nationally recognized research organization, The Ghosts of Ohio. He has since grown the organization to over 35 members, representing the regions anchored by the cities of Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati. In 2004, the founders of the popular line of Weird US books invited Willis to contribute and he has since collaborated on 6 volumes in the series. In 2012, Willis struck out on his own with the publication of Haunted Indiana. For 2013’s The Big Book Of Ohio Ghost Stories, Willis crisscrossed Ohio to bring readers over 75 of the Buckeye state’s most famous (and infamous) ghosts. In 2015, Willis released Ohio’s Historic Haunts: Investigating the Paranormal in the Buckeye State. Willis’ latest project, 2017’s Central Ohio Legends & Lore, had him chasing down some of the Buckeye State’s most legendary characters, including Johnny Appleseed, Annie Oakley, and Chief Leatherlips. Along the way, Willis took the time to explore some of central Ohio’s stranger legends, such as the Ohio Grassman and even UFOs. A sought-after public speaker, Willis has given presentations throughout the United States, during which he has educated and entertained tens of thousands of people of all ages in crowd sizes ranging from 10 to well over 600. He has also been featured in more than 75 media sources, including CNN, USA Today, Columbus Business First, Midwest Living, The Canadian Press, and even the Kuwait Times. Please join us as we hear about James’ approach to paranormal research and delve into some of his most weird and eerie cases.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

Estonishing legends would like to thank Quip, Mint Mobile,

0:02.7

a life-lived, the Great Courses Plus,

0:04.8

and our contributors at patreon.com for making tonight's show possible.

0:09.0

We know a lot of you are probably multitasking right now.

0:12.8

Maybe driving somewhere, or working out.

0:15.8

Perhaps you're bearing somebody in the garden before fall sets in.

0:19.6

But some of you may be able to safely get online.

0:23.0

Those that can, go ahead and Google Weird Willis.

0:27.4

That's right, that's all you need to type in.

0:30.4

At the top of your search returns,

0:32.4

you'll find a website titled Strange and SpookyWorld.com.

0:36.4

This is the virtual home of tonight's guest, James A. Willis.

0:41.4

James Willis is a man of many talents,

0:44.4

not the least of which is being an author of several books.

0:47.4

And as we were drafting up tonight's cold open,

0:50.4

we wanted to share some excerpts from his bio.

0:54.4

Not since the headless horseman went charging through sleepy hollow,

0:57.4

has something come out of the Hudson Highlands of Upstate New York

1:00.4

as thrilling and chilling as author and paranormal researcher, James A. Willis.

1:06.4

Fueled by a steady childhood diet of Boo Berry cereal,

1:10.4

creepy magazine, and late-night Vincent Price movies,

1:13.4

Willis soon developed a taste for the unexplained

...

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