We're Here to Help Ep. 225: Weird Here to Help Halloween Special

Topic: Real Magic & Closing Down the Store (with John E. L. Tenney)
Release Date: October 31, 2025
Hosts: Jake Johnson, Gareth Reynolds
Guest: John E. L. Tenney (paranormal expert)

Episode Overview

This special Halloween episode dives deep into the paranormal, magic, and the everyday weird, with foremost paranormal expert and raconteur John E. L. Tenney. The crew fields advice calls focusing on witch lineage, ancestor magic, and clearing haunted spaces, all while blending humor, skepticism, and a genuine curiosity about the unknown.

Key Sections & Timestamps

1. Halloween Vibes & Guest Introduction (01:09 – 05:05)

• The episode opens with Jake and Gareth brimming with Halloween spirit, describing this as a “Halloween spectacular,” and introducing guest John E. L. Tenney, whom Berg dubs “the George Carlin of the paranormal.”
• Notable Quote:
  “He is laying down mind-blowing things and concepts… yet you’re laughing your ass off with a delicious cocktail in your hands. It is a rock show but John like, tell us a little bit about yourself…”
  — Steve Berg (02:04)

John’s Origin Story:

• No religious upbringing or early supernatural experiences (“I wasn't abducted. I was just a punk rock kid in Detroit.” — John, 03:02)
• Early mentorship from Jack Kevorkian and a local witch; eventually began lecturing on the paranormal and researching for Unsolved Mysteries.
• Refuses to be pigeonholed as just a “ghost guy” or “UFO guy,” seeing all strangeness as interconnected.

On Skepticism & Humor in the Paranormal:

• John stresses the importance of skepticism:
  “The hardest line to walk is to say… well that’s your experience. Let's talk about it, let’s see where it comes from.” (05:48)
• The fun in the paranormal should be embraced:
  “The funnier and weirder it is, the more I believe it. I don’t have anything to base that off of.” — Steve (07:08)
• Memorable Story:
  The tale of a Michigan “Dog Man” seen smoking a cigarette and doing a backflip (08:12–09:23).

2. Call 1: The Witch Lineage Dilemma (Sabrina) (12:02 – 39:58)

Background:

Sabrina’s mother reveals they descend from a long line of witches, stirring questions about embracing or rejecting a magical path.

Discussion Points:

• Family Disclosure: Sabrina’s aunt and uncle deny knowledge, leading the hosts to speculate on secrecy and stigma.
• Jake: “The uncle and the aunt know and they're trying to keep you out of it and playing coy.” (18:42)
• John’s View: Magic is woven through daily life—“When people grow their beards out for a sports team, you’re doing sympathetic magic.” (16:13)

Advice & Insights:

• Research Your Roots:
  Steve: “Whenever I’m about ready to embark on maybe a new phase of my life, research, for me personally, is key…” (17:22)
• Honor Your Ancestors:
  John details his ancestor altar, placing coffee and even a blank frame for unknown relatives:
  “For all of you that were good, I’m gonna make you proud. And for all of you that were terrible, I’m gonna be better.” (21:16)
• Ethics of Witchcraft:
  John: “There are witch ethics, which are you don’t do unkind to people… if you curse someone, it comes back three times.” (25:53)
• Tarot and Divination:
  Tarot as a entry-level tool; eventually meanings become personal—“Even if you know what every single card means… you’re going to feel differently than what the cards are saying to you.” (32:08)
• Pendulums & Making Magic Personal:
  “I carry a yes-and-no coin around in my wallet. When I get into a weird decision, I let the coin flip decide. I give the universe a chance to be strange with me…” — John (33:03)

Dealing with Stigma:

• Words have power: “The word ‘weird’ meant the people who manifest their own destiny … It’s the greatest compliment someone can give you.” — John (37:45)
• Sabrina expresses gratitude and realization: “My big hesitation is the stigma and the weirdness. So, yeah, I think your words are really helpful.” (39:03)

3. Call 2: The Haunted Massage Parlor (Ashley) (41:20 – 65:21)

Background:

Ashley’s massage therapist works in a spiritual building that hosts seances; Ashley experiences increasingly intense paranormal phenomena during sessions.

Experiences Described:

• Banging noises from the séance room, music flickering, oppressive atmosphere, and the image of an angel transforming into a demonic face (43:20–45:15).
  • Therapist is also scared: “She looks as scared as I do… that's never happened before.” (44:38)

Discussion & Advice:

• John’s Insight: The problem could be from “walk-in” spirits attracted by the séances, not just residual ones.

  • “Sometimes when people are doing séances, they’ve started to act like a beacon to other spirits in the area.” (47:13)

• Clearing the Space:

  • Reframe the energy with kindness, music, or incense that is meaningful to both Ashley and the therapist.
  • “Create a space of kindness and happiness and love where nothing here bad can hurt either of us.” — John (52:01)
  • Use scents with “an aroma, a smell that you like… when I smudge, I smudge with cherry tobacco. Then, it smells like this warm, comfortable, loving place that I remember from childhood.” (54:38)

• Understanding Spirit Behavior:

  • John: “A lot of times, spirits… go to stuff based around Christianity. So the fact that it picked an angel picture and tried to change it… it's trying to get you to leave the room.” (59:08)
  • Spirits may act out not from evil, but confusion, loneliness, or frustration.

Humorous Advice:

• Musically banish spirits with songs like “We Are the World,” Minor Threat, or even Nickelback/Limp Bizkit:
  “If I’m a ghost and somebody plays Limp Bizkit, I am out of there.” — Steve (62:32)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• John E. L. Tenney:
  “The word weird… meant the people who manifest their own destiny. That’s what a weirdo is.” (37:45)

• Sabrina (Caller):
  “All the witch talk has been good for me and my mom and our relationship…” (23:27)

• Steve Berg:
  “Lean into it. Life is about experimentation. And I think, like, not only that, like, you know, we live in a time where we're constantly having our lives trying to be disenchanted. And I think it's good to enchant your life.” (36:59)

• Ashley (Caller):
  “I swear the face distorted into, like, a demon.” (45:13)

Running Gags, Energy & Tone

• The tone is irreverently earnest—encouraging listeners to embrace the weird with humor, skepticism, and practical magic.
• The hosts and guest play off each other with warmth and wit, showing deep respect for personal belief and the lived experiences of their callers.

Summary of Advice

• Embrace curiosity and do your research, especially when stepping into magical or paranormal traditions.
• Form your own rituals—personal meaning trumps dogmatic tradition.
• Protect yourself energetically: use meaningful scents, positive intention, and create literal or figurative safe spaces.
• Don’t let stigma prevent you from owning your weirdness; words like “weird” are a badge of agency.
• In the face of paranormal weirdness, kindness, good boundaries, and a willingness to engage with the unknown on your own terms are key.

Conclusion

This Halloween episode of “We’re Here to Help” celebrates the magical, the mysterious, and above all, the importance of embracing one's true self—even if that self is a bit weird. Through humor and insight, the hosts and John E. L. Tenney help callers navigate lineage, stigma, and spectral strangeness, blending practical advice with enchantment for all.

For more info or to share your own weird dilemma, listen to “We're Here to Help,” and consider contacting the team at helpfulpod@gmail.com.

Key Segments by Timestamp

• Halloween/Intro & Guest Background: 01:09–05:05
• Witch Lineage Call (Sabrina): 12:02–39:58
• Haunted Massage Parlor Call (Ashley): 41:20–65:21
• Notable Quotes: See above in summary

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