Paratruth: Reborn

What really inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula?Before Dracula became the world's most famous vampire, centuries of folklore, history, cultural fears, and strange historical figures helped shape the legend.In this episode of ParaTruth: Reborn, Justin and Erik welcome historian and author Steven J. Rolfes, author of The Bloody Road to Castle Dracula: Explore the History of Vampires & the Inspiration Behind Bram Stoker's Masterpiece.We explore:🦇 The origins of vampire folklore and ancient superstitions🩸 The real historical figures associated with Dracula📖 The writers and stories that influenced Bram Stoker🏰 The historical mysteries surrounding the legendary Count🌋 The unlikely events that helped give rise to gothic horror🎬 Why Dracula continues to captivate audiencesIs Dracula simply a work of fiction, or is there something deeper hidden within centuries of history?Join us as we explore the fascinating line between historical fact and supernatural folklore.📚 Find Steven J. Rolfes's book:  https://www.llewellyn.com/product.php?ean=9780738782904🎙️ Support ParaTruth: Reborn:  https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/paratruth-reborn--6273542/supportorhttps://www.patreon.com/cw/paratruth👍 Like, subscribe, and share if you enjoy paranormal history, folklore, and the mysteries that challenge what we think we know.Question for the comments:  Which do you find more fascinating: the historical Vlad the Impaler or Bram Stoker's fictional Dracula?Guest Bio: Steven Rolfes is an author living in Cincinnati with his wife and two children.  He has written ten books ranging from history to the paranormal and folklore.  He hosted a radio show where he told ghost stories and volunteered as an E.S.L. teacher for many years. He retired from the Southern Ohio Regional Transit Authority, and in his free time, he plays guitar and travels.

Erik turns the questions over to Justin as they dive into the strange, dark, and fascinating folklore of Norwich, England.From the legendary Snap Dragon and the terrifying Black Shuck to haunted streets, secret tunnels, ghostly apparitions, and the story of a sleeping king beneath the city, Norwich is packed with centuries of mystery.But where does history end and folklore begin?In this episode, Justin and Erik explore the stories that have survived for generations, look at the possible origins behind them, and ask whether some legends may have started with experiences people simply couldn't explain.👻 In this episode:• The dragon traditions of Norwich  • The legend of Black Shuck  • Haunted locations and ghost stories  • Secret tunnels beneath the city  • The sleeping king legend  • Witchcraft, superstition, and the Devil in Norfolk folklore  • How myths evolve over time  • Whether folklore can influence paranormal experiences  What do you think? Are these stories simply legends passed down through generations, or could some of them be rooted in something real?Let us know in the comments.🎙️ ParaTruth: Reborn explores the paranormal, supernatural, folklore, spirituality, and the unexplained with curiosity, skepticism, and an open mind.Subscribe and join the ParaTruth community for more conversations from the strange side of reality.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/paratruth-reborn--6273542/support.

Are the Gods Listening? Exploring Devotional Witchcraft w/Kenneth Freeman IIWhat happens when witchcraft stops being primarily about spells and becomes a relationship with the Divine?Dr. Kenneth “KC” Freeman II joins Justin and Erik on ParaTruth: Reborn to discuss his book, Devotional Witchcraft: Honoring the Gods with Magic and Ritual.KC is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, author, spiritual leader, co-host of the Roots & Realms Podcast, initiated Minoan Brotherhood priest, and longtime devotee of the Gods.In this conversation, we explore:• What devotional witchcraft actually means• Hard polytheism and gods with agency• KC's journey from Baptist Christianity into Pagan practice• Personal gnosis vs. historical tradition• Cultural grounding and spiritual responsibility• Modern spiritual syncretism• Building a daily devotional practice• Discernment and spiritual experiences• Personal sovereignty and devotion• What happens when the gods tell you “no”Devotional Witchcraft challenges practitioners to slow down, examine where their traditions come from, and approach spiritual relationships with curiosity, responsibility, and humility.Guest Bio: Dr. Kenneth "KC" Freeman II is a licensed clinical social worker, educator, author, and spiritual leader whose work bridges mental health, spirituality, culture, and community. He serves as an adjunct professor of social work at North Carolina Central University, where he teaches courses on diversity, research, and social work practice, while also leading community mental health services as a Clinical Team Lead.KC is also one of the co-host of the Roots & Realms Podcast, where he explores modern Paganism, devotional practice, occult traditions, and the lived experiences of BIPOC practitioners.As an initiated Minoan Brotherhood priest and lifelong devotee of the Gods, KC's spiritual path emphasizes devotional witchcraft, personal sovereignty, and building meaningful relationships with the divine. His forthcoming book, Devotional Witchcraft, explores magic as a sacred practice rooted in devotion, transformation, and authentic spiritual connection.Whether in the classroom, the therapy room, or sacred space, KC is passionate about helping people reclaim their power, deepen their understanding of themselves, and create lives grounded in purpose, healing, and spiritual authenticity.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/paratruth-reborn--6273542/support.

What if everything you thought you knew about vampires was wrong?Author, occult teacher, psychic, ritual specialist and Kheprian elder Sean Wilde joins ParaTruth: Reborn to explore the world of modern vampire spirituality and his book Living Vampires: Modern Tradition, Magic & Practice.Forget coffins, capes, wooden stakes and creatures hiding from sunlight.Sean introduces us to a living spiritual tradition involving consciousness, psychic development, energy work, ritual, protection, magic and personal transformation.In this conversation, we explore:- What a "living vampire" actually is- The Kheprian Order and modern vampire community- Ethical feeding- Different forms of vampirism- Psychic and energetic awareness- Energy siphoning and protection- Psychic surgery- Witchcraft and vampire spirituality- Spiritual immortality- Spirit work- Sin-eating- Ethics and discernment- Whether someone can become a vampireWhether you're deeply involved in occult practice or convinced vampires belong entirely in fiction, this episode takes the conversation somewhere most vampire stories never go.Question everything. Decide for yourself.Guest Bio: Sean Wilde is an author, occult teacher, psychic, ritual specialist and internationally recognized elder in modern vampire spirituality. He is the author of Living Vampires: Modern Tradition, Magic & Practice and Magic Without Tools, and has spent more than 25 years teaching magic, energy work, spiritual development and practical occultism. As a long-standing initiate and leader in the Kheprian tradition, Sean works at the crossroads of vampirism, witchcraft, spirit work, healing, protection and personal transformation.Sean is a senior figure in the Kheprian Order and founder of the New Orleans Temple. He has helped establish temples, guide initiates, train practitioners and preserve living vampire tradition for a new generation. He is also known publicly for his work as a traditional sin-eater, offering spiritual cleansing, guidance, readings and ritual work for people, homes and communities.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/paratruth-reborn--6273542/support.

Modern life can leave us disconnected—from our intuition, our ancestors, our communities, and even ourselves.But for generations, Mexican brujas and curanderas have preserved traditions built around healing, spiritual resilience, the wisdom of the land, and relationships with those who came before us.On this episode of ParaTruth: Reborn, Justin and Erik welcome Wendy Mata, founder of Bruja Power Botanica and author of Bruja Curandera.Raised within a family tradition of brujería and curanderismo, Wendy shares how these practices shaped her understanding of magic, healing, ancestry, and personal power.We’ll explore what it truly means to be a Bruja Curandera, the relationship between magic and healing, how ancestral practices survive across generations, the importance of respecting the cultures these traditions come from, and how Wendy believes people can reconnect with their own spiritual power.If you’ve ever felt disconnected from your roots—or wondered whether the wisdom of our ancestors still has something to teach us—this conversation may give you a completely different way of looking at magic.Guest Bio: Wendy Mata is the founder of Bruja Power Botanica and a Bruja Curandera by lineage.She’s on a mission to help witches, healers, and magic-curious souls reclaim their power and live with purpose, magic, and abundance.Initiated in Shamanism in Yucatán, trained in Curanderismo and Brujería through her family line, and certified as a Reiki Master and Advanced Pranic Healer, Wendy blends ancestral wisdom with global experience.She’s a Feng Shui Master (Malaysia), a certified leadership coach (Canada), and a lifelong student of energy, consciousness, and co-creation.Before fully stepping into her spiritual path, Wendy led global product launches in cybersecurity and digital forensics.Now, she helps others weave systems, soul, and strategy to build powerful lives and businesses on their own terms.Her work has guided tens of thousands back to their power, and she believes the collective shift begins when each of us remembers who we really are.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/paratruth-reborn--6273542/support.