Today we’d like to introduce you to Phantom Phil.
Hi Phantom, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I had the idea for this podcast kicking around for almost nine months (kind of like a birth cycle if you think about it). In early 2019 I had been wanting to get into videography part-time and see where it would take me from there. I was looking for ‘niche’ areas to cover and then it dawned on me. I’m sure paranormal investigators need a videographer. Before I started to look into this locally the second light-bulb went off. What if I start a paranormal podcast where I document filmed evidence from going out with investigators?
My older brother started a true-crime podcast in 2018 and is still doing it to this day (very successfully might I add). After seeing his success and pivoting into a different direction I thought this would be doable. In late 2019 I connected with a psychic / reiki practitioner that I used to be a client for. She was helping me brainstorm and was stoked to have a monthly segment on the show called the Psychic Mailbag. In early 2020 I met a local paranormal investigation team that a friend had dealt with in the past and said very positive things. Meeting with both parties (oddly enough who were residing in the same city at the time…yet didn’t know each other) gave me a lot of ideas to be grateful for.
The problem was that I had too many regimented ideas. The show’s format was too rigid and in the early stages was scrapped. It wasn’t only scrapped for logistical reasons…I just happened to unknowingly select the exact same date to launch that most of the world went into lockdown in March 2020. I almost pulled the plug from there but luckily cooler heads prevailed and I launched the following week on March 27, 2020 and haven’t looked back since.
With that being said I wasn’t able to follow through with the original ‘investigation reporting’ vision of the show. So I started with two solo episodes and piled on guests by mutual connections and cold-calling and this mostly has stayed the show’s format ever since. For recording I had to do it in my kitchen before I invested in a better microphone and a mini iso-booth for lacking background noise. It takes up a lot of desk space alongside my laptop where I run the feed into and my printer/scanner. About 95% of the show’s episodes are recorded online with the odd one in person.
On a humorous side note…I recorded my first two solo episodes at rented commercial office space in late February 2020. It was supposed to be quiet and isolated and turned out to be anything but…almost spoiling these recordings. To connect with that story further you’ll have to tune into the podcast where I go into it in great detail.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t think anything by anyone worth doing translates into a smooth road.
Some of the struggles are still ongoing. Monetization is a challenge. Building on an already existing audience is a challenge. Standing out in a sea of oversaturated clutter is a challenge. But all challenges I accept.
In the early going…getting a decent sonic quality for my episodes was a struggle. I levelled up in recording equipment and software to where that is almost never a problem. Having internet issues while using a long dead modem was a problem early on until I replaced it.
Booking guests is always a challenge as quite a few are interested until it’s time to set things up logistically and then they disappear. Or a long time ally or returning guest goes ghost on you without any explanation. These are many challenges that are ongoing but I’ve just grown internally to learn that I have to just roll with them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My podcast is Unexplained Inc.
Known as the show where the unknown connects with the empowered. While it started out primarily as a paranormal podcast that explored other corners of the unexplained, it has evolved into bringing in concepts of the metaphysical, various forms of spirituality and lots of chats about psychic phenomenon and consciousness study. It is a show where you truly get the best of both worlds if you are into this sort of thing and the cool part is I am on the journey with you…constantly sharing discoveries of my own encounters with the unexplained, synchronicities and guidance from the non-physical world.
My mission is to reaffirm and validate stories from those that have had unusual experiences and haven’t been comfortable to talk about them. I am open to just about any discussion as long as it is not ruled in blind hatred. The collective has come such a long way in embracing the nonphysical aspects of our existence but there is a lot of work left to do. I am not trying to save anyone or wake them up…but expand their curiosity and have them decide on these big questions themselves. I like to have fun while doing this to so while you are being entertained I am also hoping that you are learning practical information to expand your awareness and consciousness.
I am most proud of the fact that this show has survived some layoffs and pivots and that after all this time and around 260 episodes in people are still willing to invest in my guests and hopefully what I have to say as well.
I affectionately call my listeners the True Believers. If you follow under this category check out the links following this passage and give me a follow or subscription. I’d be happy to have you on board!
How do you think about luck?
A wise man once said…
“Luck is for losers”
I partially resonate with this. At the end of the day no matter what life throws at you, you make your own luck.
I remember listening to podcast musings of John Segall a.ka. Jay Jay French…guitarist and founder of Twisted Sister. He told the story of what he had to do to survive after the band he founded all the way back in 1973 dissolved and went through a bitter / nasty breakup. He took a job working nights at a pool hall…for very little money. He was quite unhappy until he went through a mental shift that said to him…you’re in a box right now…so let’s play in the box. This mentality helped turn his life and fortunes around during a valley in his life.
No matter what early tech issues, crossed wires with certain guests, missed opportunities or whatever else has gone sideways…I have found a way to persevere and come back to do stronger and better work.
My biggest regret is going on a summer break in 2023 when I was only doing twelve episode seasons. The show was on fire and I should have kept going as it hasn’t quite reached that level of momentum since. However it will regain that status and eventually surpass it with some ideas I’m working on…stay tuned! So overall, despite some setbacks I’m very lucky because I don’t solely rely on it to make great things happen!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.unexplainedinc.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unexplained_inc_official/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/phantomphil3/
- Twitter: https://x.com/PhantomPhil3
- Other: https://rumble.com/user/Unexplainedinc
