The Bert Show: Vault - Ghost Hunters Part One

Air Date: November 24, 2025
Host: Bert and The Bert Show Cast
Guest: Patrick Burns (Founder, Ghost Hounds)

Episode Overview

In this chilling and candid episode, Bert and the team are joined by Patrick Burns, a leading paranormal investigator and founder of the Ghost Hounds network. The conversation dives deep into the world of ghost hunting, the realities (and myths) of hauntings, personal encounters with the paranormal, and why people are drawn to the unknown. Patrick shares professional insights, personal stories, and separates fact from fiction—all with The Bert Show’s signature authentic and humorous tone.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Ghost Activity and Halloween Myths

• Is paranormal activity higher around Halloween?
  • Patrick Burns debunks the myth, explaining that although interest in ghosts spikes seasonally, activity is steady year-round.

    “I don't think there's any increase in activity around this time of year. I think it's more at the forefront of people's minds and imaginations at this time of year. But we capture this activity, you know, equally dispersed throughout the rest of the calendar.” — Patrick Burns (01:25)

2. About Ghost Hounds: The Paranormal Network

• What is Ghost Hounds?
  • Southeast’s largest paranormal investigator network; over 3,000 members
  • Founded in 2001, a hobby-driven community using mostly off-the-shelf, modified equipment

    "It's 99.9% of the people that do this. It's a hobby, you know, we do it for our own curiosity, our own interest." — Patrick Burns (02:13)

3. Haunted Atlanta: Hotspots & Historical Theory

• Where’s the activity in Atlanta?
  • The suburbs (Stone Mountain, Marietta, Roswell), not the city center
  • Theory: The repeated destruction and reconstruction of Atlanta diluted concentration points for hauntings

    "Within the perimeter... there's not as much activity within the city itself as you start to get into the burbs... The city was burnt down and then reconstructed and reconstructed again." — Patrick Burns (02:42)

4. Cemeteries: Haunted Stereotypes

• Are graveyards really haunted?
  • Patrick shares that, in his experience, older cemeteries are often active, despite differing opinions among investigators

    "We have recorded a substantial amount of activity in cemeteries. And yeah, I think there is activity in cemeteries. Usually the older ones are the more active." — Patrick Burns (03:33)

5. Origin Stories: Why Patrick Hunts Ghosts

• Patrick’s personal turning point:
  • Childhood account: A neighbor witnessed his grandmother’s ghost after she passed, describing in detail her favorite clothing

    “She described what my grandmother was wearing… that was my grandmother's favorite thing to wear… that made my mom a believer. And of course… how cool is that for me, my own grandmother's been seen as a ghost.” — Patrick Burns (04:18)

6. Bert’s Own Haunting

• Host’s personal encounter:

  • Bert recounts repeatedly seeing a boy’s apparition in his old townhouse in Alexandria—always in his peripheral vision

    "I would be up in my office… and from time to time I would see… just silhouette of a boy… every time I would see it… I would turn to look at it… it was gone… it happened half a dozen times." — Bert (05:47)

• Patrick’s tip for investigators:

  • Pay attention to your peripheral vision; don’t look directly at apparitions right away

    “Most apparitions... are going to occur out of your peripheral vision... I say pay attention to what's going on in the corner of your eye, you know, and don't turn to look at it right away.” — Patrick Burns (06:08)

7. Ghost Hunting Ethics: No Charging Policy

• Should ghost hunters charge for investigations?
  • Patrick insists investigations should be free (except travel expenses), warning that charging could incentivize fraud

    “You can never go in and say, hey, this place is haunted, because you can't prove the existence of ghosts from a scientific standpoint… anytime, you know, money becomes involved in it from that angle, there's a possibility of fraud.” — Patrick Burns (07:01)

8. Listeners’ & Hosts’ Personal Accounts

• Melissa’s spiritual curiosity:
  • Shared tales of experiencing odd phenomena at a historic bed & breakfast and college sorority house; finds hauntings fascinating

    “Everyone who worked there experienced something or another, whether it was just a weird feeling, feeling like things were actually moving out of place...” — Melissa (08:36)

9. Ghosts vs. Spirits: The Afterlife Explained

• Key distinction:
  • Spirits have crossed over and return voluntarily; ghosts are "stuck" due to confusion, trauma, unfinished business, or fear of judgment

    “A spirit is somebody who has died and crossed over to the other side and is able to come back… a ghost… is trapped between our existence of the living and the next life… they are stuck here because they are confused... or unfinished business.” — Patrick Burns (11:02)

10. Is There a Heaven or Hell?

• Patrick’s verdict on the afterlife:

  “I think there's at least some type of afterlife. There's definitely something waiting for us. And what is on the other side of that is, of course, the big mystery to mankind.” — Patrick Burns (12:26)

11. Communicating with Ghosts & Use of Mediums

• Direct communication rare; requires trance mediums
  • Mediums enter a hypnotic state and allow temporary spiritual possession, but practitioners are rare

    “It's very difficult to find a medium that will actually allow themselves to go under... who can blame them? That's kind of a scary thought.” — Patrick Burns (13:28)

12. Detecting Ghostly Presence: Environmental Effects

• Not just visual, but environmental changes
  • Sudden cold spots, magnetic disturbances (e.g., spinning compasses) are strong indicators

    "A ghost... pull[s] the heat out of their environment... the temperature will drop in a highly localized area... sometimes that compass will sit there and spin." — Patrick Burns (14:24)

13. Are Ghosts Comfortable Being Stuck?

• No, says the field’s originator:
  • Patrick’s mentor Hans Holzer said being a ghost is “unnatural” and most eventually wish to move on

    “He says, no, it's unnatural. It's an unnatural condition for someone to become a ghost. It's a rare condition. And he said, once you reveal to them, you know, you're dead… no one really wants to stay around.” — Patrick Burns (15:37)

14. Possession & Exorcism

• Ghost Hounds doesn’t handle possession; leaves that to other specialists

  “If we get a case where someone… may have a case of possession, I usually refer that onto somebody who specializes in that field. That's admittedly a little bit over my head.” — Patrick Burns (17:17)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On skepticism and science:

  “You can't be an expert in a field that is almost entirely theoretical in nature... there's so little hard scientific evidence of what we're studying, because science demands repeatability... paranormal activity... doesn't repeat on command.” — Patrick Burns (16:16)

• On engaging ghosts:

  “Dude, I know you're there. Dude, what's up?” — Bert (06:51)

• Melissa’s excitement:

  “I just think it would be so cool to have something in my house, but I really don't think it's my house. That's why I'm like, come on, come on.” — Melissa (09:31)

Key Timestamps

• 01:11 — Patrick Burns joins the show
• 02:42 — Haunted places in Atlanta
• 03:33 — Cemeteries: haunted or not?
• 04:11 — Patrick’s origin story
• 05:47 — Bert’s haunting experience
• 06:08 — How to spot apparitions
• 07:01 — Why ghost hunting should be free
• 08:36 — Melissa’s haunted workplace and sorority
• 10:16 — Ghostbusters vs ghost hunters; can ghosts be removed?
• 11:02 — Defining ghosts vs spirits
• 12:26 — Afterlife: Patrick’s perspective
• 13:28 — Rare use of trance mediums
• 14:24 — Environmental effects of haunting
• 15:37 — Are ghosts happy to stay?
• 17:17 — On possession and exorcism
• 18:21 — Catholic Church and exorcisms

Next Episode Tease

• Patrick investigated the homes of The Bert Show cast; one home has unexplained activity. Audio evidence and the reveal to come in Part Two.

With an engaging blend of skepticism, curiosity, and humor, this episode offers a compelling look into ghost hunting—demystifying clichés, sharing jaw-dropping stories, and peering into the afterlife, all while keeping it real and relatable.