The Unholy Podcast - Drew Ellsworth MacRae: Haunted History, Paranormal Investigation & the Unexplained

August 14, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

In 2019, after decades of keeping paper files and a few photos, Drew Ellsworth began recording his paranormal investigations. Eleven months before this conversation, he launched Paranormal Papa Investigations. But his connection to the unexplained started much earlier—at six months old—and has continued his entire life. Ellsworth is also an ordained multi-denominational minister who performs weddings for traditions ranging from Celtic and Druid to Norse and LGBTQ+, a fact he sees as compatible with his investigative work despite biblical passages that seem to warn against contacting the dead. He points to New Testament language about exerting control over the afterlife as a counterbalance. His investigative partner, Mark Siegel, started as a security officer at the casino where Ellsworth’s wife works and holds a firm belief that spirits go either to heaven or hell with no middle ground—yet the two have worked together on well over 200 investigations, including Gettysburg, the Flight 93 memorial, museums, and historic cemeteries.

The investigative process: calm before evidence

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What you'll learn

1 (05:35) **Drew Ellsworth's Origin Story** - Drew describes his lifelong paranormal sensitivity, his near-death experience, and the founding of Paranormal Papa Investigations.
2 (13:30) **Building the Team** - Drew explains how he met his investigative partner and the unusual balance between his work as an ordained minister and a paranormal investigator.
3 (16:57) **The Investigative Process** - Drew walks through his client intake procedure, emphasizing a calm, supportive approach that prioritizes the client's state of mind and safety.
4 (24:22) **Biggest Misconception About Investigators** - Drew argues that TV has created a false "jump scare" image of the paranormal, while real investigation is mostly quiet communication.
5 (28:51) **First Thing He Looks For** - Drew explains his baseline protocol: taking electromagnetic readings before any investigation begins.
6 (30:42) **Essential Gear** - Drew describes his two permanent equipment boxes and his habit of always bringing them along.
7 (32:37) **Intuition vs. Technology** - Drew reveals that going blind actually heightened his innate psychic sensitivity, and he now uses his feelings to direct his equipment.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

What happens when a passion for history leads directly into the mysteries of the paranormal?

This week on THE UNHOLY PODCAST, host Doug Owen welcomes Drew Ellsworth MacRae of Living History Comes Alive for a fascinating conversation exploring haunted history, paranormal investigation, unexplained phenomena, and the stories that remain connected to historic places.
Drew shares his passion for bringing history to life and discusses how understanding the people, events, and stories surrounding a location can provide valuable context when investigating claims of paranormal activity. Together, Doug and Drew explore the relationship between historical research and paranormal investigation, the importance of approaching unexplained experiences with an open but critical mind, and what investigators may actually be encountering when something appears to respond intelligently.

From haunted locations and historical mysteries to unexplained encounters and the continuing search for evidence, this episode examines what can happen when the past refuses to remain silent.
Whether you're fascinated by haunted history, paranormal investigations, ghosts, or the possibility of an intelligence behind unexplained phenomena, this episode offers an engaging look at the intersection of history and the unknown.

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