Jeff Belanger lives a life of journey. Not just has he has actually climbed up Mt. Kilimanjaro as well as Machu Picchu, yet his expert life focuses on ghosts as well as tales.

He had his very first individual experience with a ghost in Paris, as well as ever since, has actually authored a lots publications regarding the paranormal. He is additionally a scientist for the Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures (14 years) as well as Paranormal Challenge as well as Aftershocks, as well as for Amish Haunting on Destination America.

In 2009, Tony Dunne, a PBS manufacturer, was servicing his docudrama, Things That Go Bump in the Night: Tales of Haunted New England Jeff as well as Tony fulfilled throughout the recording, as well as they promptly understood that they shared a passion in tales. Coincidently, they additionally uncovered that they were birthed in the exact same city, at the exact same health center, simply one year apart. They maintained in call over the following 3 years, and afterwards, Jeff was influenced to ask Tony if he would certainly want beginning a brand-new tv collection checking out New England tales.

New England Legends started broadcasting in 2013, as well as by very early 2014, “The Spooky Berkshires” episode was chosen for a Boston/New England Emmy in the Magazine Program/Special classification.

In regards to creative thinking, they were both pleased with the program, yet they additionally really felt that there may be a lot more.

Jeff shares, ” television manufacturing takes a very long time. As well as it’s costly therefore labor-intensive. Tony as well as I were constantly whining– it resembled, ‘Man, I desire we might do numerous these tales.'”

Jeff had actually attended on countless radio programs as well as podcasts, as well as a seed was starting to sprout. He remembers, ” I’ve constantly been intrigued in podcasting, as well as I assumed the podcast tool would certainly get rid of most of the restrictions of tv, recording licenses, as well as insurance coverage teams, consisting of unbelievable linked prices as well as points like that. As well as we might obtain the tales available even more consistently.”

So, Jeff started considering that he could intend to co-host the podcast with him, as well as radio individuality Ray Auger entered your mind. Jeff had actually attended on Ray’s program a couple of times, as well as they had actually ended up being pleasant.

Jeff, that jokes that he ” purchased sufficient beers to obtain Ray to state ‘ yes,'” discussed his vision to Ray:

” The episodes will certainly be brief as well as succinct. We’re not mosting likely to continue, like, ‘Hey, male, just how was your weekend break?’ They will certainly be scripted as well as concise tales.”

Ray assumed it was a superb suggestion, as well as they consented to offer it a shot. The very first episode of the New England Legends podcast– which has actually been elected second on Podcast Magazine‘s Top 50 Dads in Podcasting listicle this year– debuted in 2017, as well as they boast of the reality that they have not missed out on a solitary week considering that its beginning (that’s 247 weeks as well as checking, for those that wonder).

Ray’s passion in signing up with the podcast originates from individual experience. ” I matured in New England,” he shares, ” which suggests I matured with the background. My family members took a trip throughout the area as well as learnt more about various tales, like Bigfoot, which can be a northeastern sensation. I believe I’ve constantly been interested by these tales. As Well As past New England, there’s the Loch Ness beast, as well as all those enjoyable tales as well as tales regarding ghosts, spirits, as well as vampires. I’ve constantly been a follower of scary, as well as I do rely on the superordinary. Fulfilling Jeff had not been simply by chance. I believe it was destiny. By welcoming me to sign up with the podcast, he provided me a possibility to discover my love of the unidentified a little bit a lot more.”

Prior to conference Jeff, Ray had a paranormal experience in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He remembers, ” I had an early morning program in Portsmouth with 2 other individuals. We invested an evening secured at the Portsmouth Music Hall on Halloween Eve. We would certainly tape a little, asking a concern, and afterwards we would certainly wait on a response from a ghost. We in fact captured an EVP [electronic voice phenomenon] on tape. It was actually amazing. Indeed, I’ve constantly been a follower, yet a really amateur follower.”

Jeff’s passion in the paranormal additionally started at a young age. He bears in mind, ” I was birthed in Massachusetts, yet primarily matured in Sandy Hook, Connecticut. I had good friends from a young age that stated their houses were haunted. One stayed in a home that was integrated in 1760. Someday, in a really practical fashion, he stated, ‘My home is haunted, yet do not inform your moms and dads.’ I assumed that was impressive! I additionally matured in the community beside Ed as well as Lorraine Warren, that’ve been included in all the Conjuring films. I understood them considering that I was 13. I would certainly been to the gallery, as well as I would certainly enjoy their discussions around Halloween.”

While Jeff takes pride in all his success, the podcast is leading of his listing as well as brings him countless enjoyment. ” People pay me to go search for ghosts as well as beasts around the globe. Which’s so fantastic! But New England Legends is ours. We response to no one other than each various other as well as our target market. It’s so liberating. We do not require to stress over emphasis teams. It’s our imaginative job, as well as it’s so rewarding.”

Jeff states their podcast functions along with it does mostly partly as a result of the framework as well as the method they have actually picked to tape their episodes. ” I compose the majority of the episodes as well as craft just how they will certainly go. I attempt to consider them as an aesthetic docudrama. I understood right from the beginning that we would certainly utilize voice stars. If we obtain an old quote from a paper from 1880, for instance, we’re not simply mosting likely to review it. We’ll have a voice star as well as include audio impacts to actually bring individuals right into the tale.

” The podcast tool is so intimate– it’s simply you as well as your audiences, in their earphones, in their vehicles, any place they’re paying attention. As well as Ray isn’t simply a radio person; he’s additionally an audio designer. He understands this things in and out. I do not. Therefore extremely normally, both functions were evident. I constantly accept Ray on the sound, as well as he accepts me on the tale. As he discussed previously, he’s more recent to this, so he additionally stands for the target market, asking concerns they ‘d likely ask, also. I’m even more of an overview.”

Ray happily includes, ” We did win the Sound Bites Award in November from the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association, which was quite amazing. I recognize that Jeff appreciates my duty, as well as I appreciate his. I just created one episode, which I’m extremely happy with, yet by the end of it, it was extremely clear that Jeff is the author.

” Neither people exceed. It’s crucial to have functions, I believe. We do not intend to obscure the lines, since that can create incongruities. Jeff’s details approach of composing is why individuals have actually loved this podcast. He’s additionally called being the specialist in the unidentified. Individuals recognize him, have actually purchased his publications, as well as saw the program on Amazon. What we both unite is the individuality. As well as I believe that is tough to locate in a podcast. I’m not attempting to proclaim our very own horns, right here, yet we are rather voice stars ourselves, reviewing Jeff’s manuscript. We act. If a tale is embeded in Connecticut in 1822, as well as there’s a vampire chasing us, we are entirely because minute, as well as it makes a huge distinction.”

To include much more enjoyable right into the mix for their followers, Jeff as well as Ray have a corresponding application for their program. ” There’s essentially a pin for every single episode we’ve done,” Jeff discusses. “ You click the pin, as well as not just can you listen to the tale, yet you can additionally obtain driving instructions. These tales do not simply attach us with our background as well as our neighborhoods. They attach us with each various other when we share them. Which’s the most effective component. The application enables audiences to enter into the tale with us. If you desire, you can simply pay attention, yet you can additionally enter your automobile as well as go see the extremely positions we’re discussing. We additionally have a Facebook team you can sign up with as well as share your very own tales. It’s all component of commemorating the quirkiness that makes New England like nothing else area.”

Recently, New England Legends won its very first Communicator Award for Episode 214: “The Leaping Lumberjacks of Central Maine,” in the Individual Episodes– Documentary for Podcasts classification.

With over 4 million downloads as well as checking, the future looks intense for the hosts of this remarkable podcast.

June 2022 Issue

The blog post New England Legends showed up initially on Podcast Magazine ®

FlipsideMediaET eMagazine • “Everything Music”