What do ghosts look like?  In this 18-minute podcast -- the first of two -- Fiona Broome explains what to look for, if you'd like to see a ghost.

She divides visual phenomena into five kinds:

1. Light and shadows, including shadow figures.

2. Figures that look like people -- sometimes with clearly observed faces and clothing -- seen out of the side or corner of your eye.

3. Visual distortions, where proportions seem odd, or you see wavy lines.

4. Reflections, including:

• Reflections from windows, especially at dusk or after dark.
• Reflections on shiny and polished surfaces such as metal, tabletops, and hardwood floors.
• Strange reflections in mirrors, especially older mirrors, and often at dusk or at night.

5. Full apparitions that appear like living, breathing people... but they do something that signals that they aren't regular, living people.

Mentioned in this podcast, or related to this phenomena:

The Falstaff's Experience, Stratford-upon-Avon, England (visual distortions)

Houmas House, Louisiana (ghostly reflections)

The Myrtles Plantation, Louisiana (haunted mirror)

Haverhill, Massachusetts

The Spalding Inn, Whitefield, NH (visual distortions, upstairs hallway)

Margaret Byl (one of the organizers of the G.H.O.S.T.S. conference in May 2010, where Fiona will be among the speakers)

Primeval TV series (BBC America)

Music: Zombie, written and orchestrated by Devin Anders0n

Poltergeists... what are they, and what makes them different from other ghosts?

In this 19 minute podcast, Fiona Broome explains what a poltergeist might be, and she shares stories of famous poltergeists.

To learn more about topics mentioned in this podcast, visit the following links.

Colin Wilson - Ghost Sightings

This book reads like a children's series of "ghost stories," but it's actually filled with unique and fascinating information about ghosts and poltergeists.  Often overlooked by researchers, it's among Fiona's favorite resources for unusual insights about the spirit world.  Fiona agrees with Wilson when he says, "...the evidence is that we do continue to exist. And I don't think that there's any possible doubt about it."

Winchester Mansion (aka Winchester Mystery House) - Wikipedia entry - One of the world's strangest and most haunted houses.

Cases mentioned:  The Drummer of Tedworth, Enfield Poltergeist

Fiona will write more about these poltergeist stories at HollowHill.com.

Movie mentioned: The Entity

Based on a true story, this movie was so graphic, realistic and disturbing, the studio discontinued production of the DVD.  It's difficult to find now, and copies of the DVD are generally expensive.

Books mentioned: Harry Potter books, by J. K. Rowling

The poltergeist, Peeves, appears during every school year.  However, when he is visible, he generally looks solid.  Other spirits, such as Nearly Headless Nick, usually look translucent and slightly glistening or pearlescent.

For more information, visit Hollow Hill, the ghost hunting website

Music: Zombie, written & orchestrated by Devin Anderson