Podcast Summary

Podcast: This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
Episode: #618 – Sam and Colby
Date: October 17, 2025
Guests: Sam and Colby, Paranormal Investigators

Episode Overview

Theo Von welcomes Sam and Colby, famed paranormal explorers and YouTube sensations, for an in-depth, funny, and at times philosophical conversation about ghost hunting, faith, the intersection of science and the supernatural, and their travels to the world’s most haunted locations. The episode explores how their friendship began, how their content evolved from pranks to paranormal deep dives, and what they’ve learned along the way—about the world and themselves.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Sam and Colby’s Origin Story

• Meeting and Motivation
  • Met as teenagers in Kansas at band camp, later bonded over winning school awards and their desire to break from the “normal Kansas route.”
  • “We just really didn’t think that was for us.” —Colby (04:32)
• Rise in Social Media
  • Started with Vine and social pranks before transitioning to exploring abandoned and haunted places.
  • “We didn’t know there was money in it.” —Sam (06:08)
  • Their goal was to escape Kansas and find a voice and adventure through content creation.

Transition to Paranormal Investigations

• From Abandoned to Haunted
  • Early videos featured illegal explorations of abandoned sites—led to their arrest (08:27).
  • The move to haunted locations was initially for fun and skepticism, but inexplicable experiences changed their perspective.
  • Notable Quote: “We thought it would be great... let’s see if there’s a ghost there. That’s funny... but then things started happening.” —Colby (08:43)

The Queen Mary Experience (Long Beach, CA)

[20:30–22:22]

• Turning Point
  • Initially skeptical, their overnight on the ship produced unexplained knocks, faucets turning on, and eventually, a transformative experience (10:12).
  • Notable Quote: “That night completely changed my life. It made me religious.” —Colby (11:22)
• On Faith and Openness
  • Theo draws a parallel between ghost hunting and faith, noting that a willingness to meet the unknown halfway can yield powerful experiences.
  • Sam elaborates on reconciling his Christian faith with the paranormal: “For me, it was more just... securing my beliefs” (12:32).
  • Key Insight: The willingness to believe is central to encountering the unexplainable.

The Philosophy of Belief and Skepticism

[12:49–16:05]

• Belief and the Afterlife
  • Discuss how skepticism blocks experiences, and how faith and openness invite them.
  • Connection between childhood openness and frequency of encounters.
  • Quote: “If you go into a haunted house and you’re super skeptical and you don’t think something’s gonna happen…you’re never gonna get it.” —Colby (13:05)
• Science and Near-Death Experiences
  • Theo references Dr. Jeffrey Long’s NDE research as giving him scientific “stair steps” to believe there is more than this life (16:05).

Tools and Methodology of Paranormal Hunting

[24:51–27:16]

• Technologies Used
  • EMF readers to detect electromagnetic fields produced by living and non-living things.
  • Everyday objects (cat toys, flashlights) for spirits to interact with—emphasizing accessibility.
  • Quote: “At the end of the day, you are the equipment.” —Sam (27:30)
• Importance of the Participant
  • Bringing in guests as “independent variables” to add credibility and new perspectives (28:44).

Notable Hauntings and Investigations

Pendle Hill Witch Trials, UK

[34:12–38:40]

• History and Darkness
  • Site of infamous 1612 witch trials. Generations of energy focused on the demonic was “one of the most terrifying things we’ve ever done.” —Colby
• Summoning Rituals
  • Brought a modern witch to attempt contact with “the actual devil.”

Paris Catacombs (France)

[40:11–47:45]

• Description
  • 200 miles of underground tunnels, millions of human bones, ritual and bone rooms—"mirror of Paris."
  • Navigational dangers (getting lost, criminals) added to supernatural danger.
  • Remarkable Quote: “Imagine you’re sitting there underground next to thousands of skeletons, and you ask to a voice recorder, 'Are you dead or alive?'... there's a new voice saying, 'I’m alive.'” —Colby (49:02)

The Smurl House and Modern Hauntings

[66:09–74:07]

• Demonic Hauntings
  • Ed & Lorraine Warren investigated; stories of physical and sexual assault by a demonic entity.
  • Sam and Colby were the first since the Warrens to officially investigate.
  • Utilized “real” spirit boards with priestesses for communication.

Other Haunted Sites

[78:05–82:00]

• Winchester Mystery House (San Jose, CA): Said to be a “Grand Central station for spirits.”
• Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (West Virginia): Largest psychiatric hospital with reports of hauntings and disembodied voices.
• Farrar Elementary (Iowa): A school now run by Sam and Colby as a haunted location for tours.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Theo, on Faith and Exploration:
  “We alone are supernatural.” (32:19)
• On Why Some Experiences Hit Harder:
  Sam describes struggling to reconcile his Christian faith with participating in occult rituals:
  “It's beyond YouTube videos... you are meddling in some stuff ... with my faith.” —Sam (51:07)
• Theo’s Wry Observations:
  “People could beg for ... someone from the afterlife... then they hear a weird knock at the door, and instead they call the police.” (14:15)
• Paranormal Humor:
  “You guys are talking to some low-level spirits.” —Theo, joking about spirit hierarchies (29:27)
• Introspective Wrap-Up:
  “It surprised me because ... I want something to be here. ... How can I show up to receive the best things that are out there?” —Theo (84:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Description | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 03:07 | The universal fascination with the afterlife and spirits | | 08:27 | Why Sam and Colby switched from abandoned to haunted locations; legal issues | | 10:12 | The Queen Mary incident changes Colby's life and worldview | | 12:49 | Parallels between faith, skepticism, and paranormal experiences | | 16:05 | Theo’s reflections on faith, near-death experiences, and DMT | | 24:51 | Overview of Sam and Colby’s ghost hunting gear | | 34:12 | Pendle Hill and the demonic focus of UK witch trials | | 40:11 | Paris Catacombs: dangers, hauntings, and remarkable voice recorder evidence | | 66:09 | The Smurl House/Demonic hauntings, modern day investigation, spirit boards | | 78:05 | The Winchester Mystery House and Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum |

Tone and Dynamics

The conversation balances humor and depth, with Theo riffing on spirituality, pop culture, and daily life, while Sam and Colby provide candid, sometimes vulnerable insights into their journey. Their camaraderie is evident, with frequent asides and laughter.

Takeaways

• Paranormal investigation is as much about the openness of mind and heart as it is about scientific tools.
• The most powerful experiences often come when expectations are dropped and belief is invited in.
• Cultural contexts, historical trauma, and faith all play roles in shaping what is experienced at haunted locations.
• Skepticism is respected; many of Sam and Colby’s guests have changed their beliefs only after direct experience.
• Whether or not one believes, the drive to connect with “something more” is a fundamental part of the human experience.

Notable Ghost Hunting Figures

• Ed & Lorraine Warren: Considered the GOATs of paranormal investigation (85:59).
• Zach Baggins: Modern TV ghost hunter, called the "father of paranormal" by Sam and Colby.

Closing Thoughts

The episode is more than ghost stories—it’s a meditation on curiosity, belief, and the search for meaning. Sam and Colby’s lore, the history of faith and science, and Theo’s philosophical asides combine into a spirited, entertaining reminder that “meeting the unknown halfway” can change both your life and your afterlife.

[End of Summary]