Podcast Summary: Spooked LIVE: Glynn Washington x John Blake

Podcast Information:

• Title: Spooked
• Host: Glynn Washington (Snap Judgment)
• Episode: Spooked LIVE: Glynn Washington x John Blake
• Release Date: October 4, 2024
• Description: Spooked features true-life supernatural stories, told firsthand by people who can barely believe it happened themselves. This live episode features John Blake sharing his haunting family story.

Introduction to the Live Show

Glynn Washington sets the eerie atmosphere backstage at LA's Haunted Orphan Theater, where over 2,000 "spooksters" gather for the first-ever Spooked live show. The anticipation is palpable as Glynn introduces John Blake, a celebrated CNN correspondent known for covering pivotal stories over the past decade, who is about to share his own supernatural encounter for the first time.

John Blake's Haunting Beginnings

John Blake begins his story by recounting a chilling experience from his childhood:

John Blake (12:45): "It starts off like any other night. It's the early 1970s and I'm an 8-year-old boy growing up in an inner-city black neighborhood."

One bitterly cold night, young John awakens drenched in sweat to witness a mysterious white man rummaging through his dresser. The figure, dressed in a vintage yellow shirt with no visible lower body, sends John into a state of fear:

John Blake (14:10): "He's just floating there. This can't be real. I think. Must be a dream."

The next morning, John discovers missing birthday cards from his dresser. Confronting his Aunt Sylvia leads to a revelation that the intruder was his grandfather, Bill Michael Daley—a man with a troubled past marked by racism and substance abuse.

Unveiling Family Secrets

At 17, John learns about his estranged white mother, Shirley, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia. This discovery compels him to reconnect with his mother's family, leading to a strained reunion with his Aunt Mary. During this meeting, John faces the terrifying realization that the ghostly figure haunting him was his own grandfather.

John Blake (22:15): "That was the man that came into our bedroom when we were boys. That man was our grandfather."

Career and Continued Hauntings

As John builds a successful career at CNN, covering significant racial tensions and events, he remains haunted by his grandfather's apparition. His marriage introduces a new layer of supernatural disturbances when his wife Terri Lynn experiences a similar encounter with the ghost.

John Blake (28:50): "She was scared. She saw him standing inches away from me. It was my grandfather."

Desperate for answers, John reaches out to Alberto, his father-in-law and a minister with experience in exorcism. Alberto advises John to seek forgiveness for his grandfather, suggesting that reconciliation might quell the haunting.

Confronting the Past: Prayer and Reconciliation

Following Alberto's counsel, John and Terri Lynn pray together, directly addressing the spirit of his grandfather. This act of forgiveness brings a sense of peace, and the hauntings cease thereafter.

John Blake (34:20): "The same strength that it took for her to love a black man when she did, was still there. I just didn't see it at the time."

John reflects on the profound transformation within his family and himself:

John Blake (37:55): "I now know that he was a victim of his racism. Not just me. He didn't just haunt me. I haunted him. I no longer see him as a monster. He's my grandfather."

Reflections and Community

Glynn Washington concludes the live show by highlighting the power of storytelling in fostering community and understanding. He emphasizes that sharing these supernatural experiences creates a magical fraternity, breaking down barriers and uniting listeners through shared secrets and experiences.

Glynn Washington (38:05): "Stories destroy walls tying us together. Sorcery of the highest order. Spell casting."

He encourages listeners to share their own spook stories, reinforcing the communal magic that binds the Spooked community.

Notable Quotes

• John Blake (12:45): "It starts off like any other night. It's the early 1970s and I'm an 8-year-old boy growing up in an inner-city black neighborhood."

• John Blake (22:15): "That was the man that came into our bedroom when we were boys. That man was our grandfather."

• John Blake (28:50): "She was scared. She saw him standing inches away from me. It was my grandfather."

• John Blake (34:20): "The same strength that it took for her to love a black man when she did, was still there. I just didn't see it at the time."

• John Blake (37:55): "I now know that he was a victim of his racism. Not just me. He didn't just haunt me. I haunted him. I no longer see him as a monster. He's my grandfather."

• Glynn Washington (38:05): "Stories destroy walls tying us together. Sorcery of the highest order. Spell casting."

Conclusion

In this poignant episode of Spooked LIVE, John Blake shares a deeply personal and supernatural journey that intertwines family history, racial tensions, and the quest for reconciliation. His story not only delivers spine-tingling moments but also underscores the transformative power of forgiveness and understanding within a community.

For listeners seeking to explore John Blake's full narrative, his memoir "More than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered about the White Mother He Never Knew" delves deeper into his experiences. Additionally, his ongoing work can be followed on CNN and his personal website johnkblake.com.

Produced by: Zoe Ferrigno and Davey Kim
Original Score: Doug Stewart and Brine Murphy
Special Thanks: Michael Isop, Holly Kernan, John Cohen, and Rebecca Stume