Michael Richey shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Good morning Michael, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Typically my day starts when most people end theirs. I prefer to work at night since it’s much quieter and allows me to focus on the tasks at hand. I will usually spend six to ten hours editing photos or videos for my channel, Charm City Paranormal, or one of the shows I direct for my production company, Lost Goat Productions. Once the days work is done, I find some time to play a video game for a couple of hours, play guitar or work on one of my many unfinished projects that will probably never see the light of day before calling it a night and heading to bed.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Michael Richey and I’m the creator of Charm City Paranormal, a paranormal investigation duo based in Baltimore, Maryland that aims to bring history, cinematography and a grounded approach to exploring various aspects of the paranormal, esoteric and supernatural to a wide audience. My journey began in May 2020 after a profound experience in an abandoned asylum close to home, where I encountered something otherworldly that changed my life. I didn’t go into that place looking for anything paranormal, but whatever was there found me. The curiosity of that day overwhelmed the fear, pulling me into what is now my full time job and career as a paranormal investigator and creative. Our goal as Charm City Paranormal is to showcase haunted locations across the United States in an ethical way, utilizing cutting edge equipment and gear to showcase real hauntings and gather eyewitness testimonies to the hauntings occurring in and around people’s lives while doing so in an engaging way that keeps viewers coming back. We aim to validate experiences not only for ourselves but for the viewers at home who may be skeptical or unsure of what the paranormal is.
Our combination of a cinematic approach to our presentation while remaining grounded and authentic has made our work stand out, growing from just a small YouTube channel to reaching a global audience in a short amount of time. Since beginning, we’ve been featured on Discovery+, Travel Channel, StreamBeaconTV, PlayNowMedia, VideoElephant and various news outlets, podcasts and guest appearances on other shows. We’ve also worked with many veteran investigators within the field, further solidifying our status as a prominent and respected investigative duo.
I’m also the director for Lost Goat Productions, a newly founded production company that focuses on creating paranormal media of varying kinds, ranging from light-hearted comedy investigations to tense thrillers. We’re also exploring the possibility of short films and full scale films of varying topics in the future. I’m currently leading direction and production for Para With a Normal, a comedy based paranormal show about a guy named Mike getting his feet wet in the paranormal with an experienced psychic medium named MaryLynn. Think “The Office” meets paranormal investigating. It’s a rollercoaster of a show that I think fans of comedy and paranormal will love. Some of our other projects are in the very early stages of production so I’m not at liberty to talk about them just yet, but if you enjoy paranormal media, history and travel shows to any extent, I think you’ll really like what we have going on.
It’s a lot of work and long hours but it’s immensely satisfying and I love what I do. Combining my creative skills with Mike and MaryLynn’s vision has given me the opportunity to explore and overcome new challenges, create something different outside of my own work, explore the various cultures within the United States and meet some amazing people. It’s been a positive experience so far and one that I see myself doing for a long time. When I’m not working on their shows I’m editing my own, or scouting out locations for our next shoot.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I have many relationships that have cultivated a positive, confident outlook on who I am as a person today. I have an incredibly loving family who has supported all my endeavors over the years and have believed in me since I started. The audience we’ve built with Charm City Paranormal really love the work we do, and have been overwhelmingly supportive in every investigation, decision, long break and bump in the road in a way I never thought possible. There are honestly so many people in my life that have all been amazing, loving, kind and supportive people that I am grateful for. I appreciate all of them for seeing the potential in me before I did. I wouldn’t be here without them. There were many times I wanted to throw in the towel and their love and support pushed me to keep going and see my true potential. Having that kind of support is crucial in life and it’s something I’m thankful for every day.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
It’s the only true constant in life. For a long time I thought that you had to reach a certain level of success, financial freedom or reputation to avoid or suppress it, but time has shown me that it never goes away. I’ve had nothing and everything and the feeling is still the same. You simply have to learn to adapt to it. That isn’t to say that all of life is constant suffering, but it’s a big part of existing. I went through a period of deep suffering in my mid to late twenties that crushed me. Everything that could go wrong, did. I sat with that pain and tried to find the lesson hidden below the surface of it. Eventually I did and was able to come out on top of it better now than I think I have ever been. It taught me many things I had never considered or forgotten about. I think the most important part of that lesson was to realize that the suffering doesn’t end, but I can end the way I think of suffering. Instead of falling apart, I search for the lesson in every hard moment and apply it to my life going forward. Optimism gets you much further in life and makes dealing with hardship easier. No loss is ever truly a loss but rather a redirection to bigger and better things. Adversity builds character if you’re willing to sit through the lessons it gives you.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
The paranormal! Much of what’s put out on social media is sensationalized and over exaggerated so I can understand why someone on the outside looking in doesn’t believe in it or take it seriously. I worked in IT for twelve years before I shifted my focus over to paranormal media. My entire life was about solving problems with logic and reasoning, so the idea of being a paranormal investigator wasn’t something I would’ve ever considered if I didn’t experience what happened in that abandoned asylum in 2020. While much of what I’ve experienced can be explained in some way, I’ve had many personal experiences that defy all rational explanation no matter how you approach it that have made me a staunch believer in something existing beyond our senses, and nothing will change that. I might not be able to prove it, and maybe I never will, but I will remain committed to showcasing our findings as authentically and honestly as possible with hopes that it opens more people’s minds to the possibility of life after death.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. I take pride in any and everything I do and always try to give it 110% no matter what it is. If I can’t be satisfied with the end result of whatever it is I’m doing, I can’t expect anyone else to feel satisfied either. Give it all or give it nothing, there is no room for half measures.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.charmcityparanormal.com/
- Instagram: @charmcityparanormal
- Facebook: @charmcityparanormal
- Youtube: @CharmCityParanormal
Image Credits
MaryLynn Bast
