By Michael
O'Brien
Special
Contributor: Aanica Guess
Everyone knows who John Zaffis
is and may be familiar with his hit show “Haunted Collector”. As we get
ready for a new season and first new episode tonight at 9/8 C, we decided we
wanted to get to know one of those who are lucky enough to work with Mr. John
Zaffis. A request was sent out through Facebook for fans to submit their
questions for Ms. Brown and for over 2 weeks we collected hundreds of your [the
fans] questions. These questions sent to Jesslyn Brown have been answered
and presented to you unedited.
Please enjoy this most delightful
interview featuring Jesslyn Brown from John Zaffis’ “Haunted Collector”
And don’t miss tonight’s first new
show of the season Haunted Collector on SyFy
JESSLYN BROWN INTERVIEW
Anonymous asked: Jesslyn, where were you born and raised?
I was born in St. Louis, Missouri
and raised mostly in Winter Park Colorado.
Teresa Born asked: What are your talents other than ghost hunting Ms. Brown?
Something most people don't know
about me is that I was a Jr. Olympic skier and 2 time silver medalist in
Freestyle Moguls.
Caesar Romero asked: Did you go to a university and what did you study Jesslyn?
I went to college in St. Louis at
Webster University's Conservatory of Theatre Arts and majored in Acting. Being
from St. Louis I am obviously a diehard birds fan, GO CARDS!!!
Anonymous asked: At what age did you realize you had any curiosity about the
paranormal?
The weeks before my mine and my best
friends 19th birthdays he passed away in a car accident. Both our families
started noticing strange things happening, however I seemed to notice things
that they didn't, like thinking an extra person came in the room, or hearing
things they weren't. That is when I knew I needed more answers.
Kendra K asked: Are you a skeptic or believer in the paranormal at this
point.
I am most certainly a believer at
this point. That being said, I do my best not to jump to the conclusion that
anything is paranormal activity until I have done my absolute best to rule out
every other possibility, and even then belief is a perception, it is in the eye
of the beholder, I have these experiences and feel them in my heart and soul,
it's hard to explain that to a full blown skeptic until they experience that.
Anonymous asked: From your perspective working in the paranormal field, why
do these spirits get trapped here in our realm?
I don't know that there is just one
answer for that, lol this is one of my favorite conversations and I think I
could go on for hours about it, so I’ll try to streamline my main thoughts on
the subject. First off I don't believe that all spirits that we are able to
communicate with are "trapped here" I think most spirits come and go.
I prefer the term attached when speaking about a spirit that spends the
majority of its time in our realm. I think that something, some place, someone,
or some task, brings them to us, whether it is unfinished when they pass or
they are sent back later i.e., a loved one is in danger and needs protection.
Where they go when they leave our world, I'm not sure, I think that is one
secret I want to leave untouched until I am an angel myself ;)
Mickey O’Bryan asked: Did you ever experience any paranormal activity as a
child?
I can't say for sure, because I
don't know that anything is for sure, but I can say that I believe very
strongly, as do many members of my family that I had a much stronger gift as a
child. I had two, what we believe to be spirits, who came to me when I was
about 2 1/2. At first I was very shy about telling my parents they were around
and certainly didn't want other children to know about them. Daniel was with me
around a year, until he told me it was "time for him to go." And
after that I never spoke of him again. Hamba was with me a little longer and
when my family moved he told me she "had to stay there." The most
compelling memories I have of these spirits are that of genuine emotion they
would relay to me about people or events.
Anonymous asked: Do you have any brothers or sisters and how do they feel
about you being a Haunted Collector celebrity?
I always think it’s funny when
people say that because in no way do I, nor my family consider me a celebrity!
I had 3 older brothers, one passed away, which is along with my best friend
Phillip the other reason I am so invested personally in my search for answers
about the other side. Between the 3 of them and their wonderful wives they have
8 boys & they certainly don't think of me as a celebrity, though they
normally have the most interesting questions! They all think I am a little out
of my mind lol but they are incredibly supportive!
Tiffany Reed asked: What religion did your parents raise you as and are there
any conflicts between the religious beliefs they taught you and your interest /
career in the paranormal?
I was baptized and confirmed in the United
Church of Christ, which is a very liberal Christian based faith. I was very
active in middle and high school in youth group and helped my church become
open and affirming (accepting of all no matter what). I think that my
understanding in basic religious beliefs and holding some of my own is an
advantage for me in the paranormal field. I deal with many religious cases and
it gives me a basic understanding from the begging where and how and why they
might have been practiced with out judgement. I also believe I am able to keep
a more open mind to the paranormal and the afterlife because of my personal
beliefs.
Michelle Fife Haggerty asked: What was the most haunted, spiritually active, or
intriguing item her and her team have documented and removed to date?
There are certainly a few items from
this season that I cannot divulge just yet, but that absolutely blew my mind...
For now I will have to say I was most blown away by the entire investigation
and the removal of the item at St. Alban's asylum. I felt like we were not only
able to take away a trigger item from a criminal spirit in power, but also
release some trapped and tortured spirits so that they could move on to the
after lift they deserved.
Anonymous asked: Do you think multiple items can be inhabited by a spirit,
or only one spirit/energy per one item and can one item have more than one
spirit attached? And…Why?
I think that when spirit is involved
anything is possible. My team and I, and for that matter the rest of the
professional paranormal field do what we do because we don't have all the
answers, were just doing our best to figure some of them out. I have personally
seen what I believe to be a spirit inhabits several items and I believe as well
that several spirits can inhabit just one as well.
Anonymous asked: How did you deal with your own celebrity at the onset?
Hahaha there's that word again... I
don't have to deal with it much on the day to day seeing as on the street no
one knows who I am, and I am grateful for that. I am a very private person.
There are a few funny stories when we have to change our names at hotels in
small towns! Other than that my only hardship has been to try and relay to
people that I can't be "Jesslyn the paranormal investigator" 24/7 365
days a year. Sometimes I need a break from social media and all that is PARA,
after all this isn't my only job ;)
Gramma Tammy asked: As far as you know, can an object find its way back to the
person it was meant for if it was given to someone it wasn't intended for?
I'm not EXACTLY sure what you mean,
but if you mean original owner, then in my opinion, yes, I think if an object
is powerful enough it's energy's potentials are endless. If you mean that it
was meant to be passed down to someone or was made for someone and was taken, then
I would still say yes, especially if energy is attached.
Michael O'Brien asked: Are you involved with any charitable organizations? If so,
which ones?
I do a lot of runs supporting as
many charities as I can and volunteer for many others that are close to my hart
due to family hardships, some among those are Breast Cancer Awareness (my mom
is a Survivor) Prostate cancer awareness (my dad is currently fighting and
looking great!) SADD and MADD (my brother was killed by a drunk driver)
Michael O'Brien also asked: In your career, what was the most impressive piece of
empirical data presented to you?
I think this is the best question
asked of me so far, mainly because I'm stumped. I can tell you the best piece I
believe I have collected was an EVP in Virginia... That one you will have to
wait for ;) I think I will go with a piece of evidence presented to me by Brian
Cano, LOOK for it in episode 3 of this upcoming season!
Debbie D asked: Do you believe in past lives Jesslyn?
I believe in reincarnation. I
recently read the book "Soul Survives" a true story about a little
boy who was reincarnated from a WWII pilot. If you are questioning the subject,
I would recommend the book, it has encouraged me to study the subject!
Megan Mc Corkle asked: Do you do anything special before going to locations to
protect yourself from any negative energy that may reside there.
I won't give away all of my personal
secrets, but yes, I do "pray" in a sense, that is I ask my god, or my
higher power to send my guardian angels (my brother, Sean, and my best friend,
Phil) to protect me should anything negative or harmful try to threaten me. I
also tell whatever/whomever I have been communicating with at the end of an
investigation that it cannot follow me or attach itself to me. It may sound
silly, but you have to make it clear that you have the upper hand and clear
your head and energy before you leave a location.
Terrie Lee asked: In your opinion, do you believe there is life after death?
Of course, I wouldn't do this if I
didn't. There is not a shred of doubt in my heart that souls survive after our
bodies are gone. It is the scientific proof I seek.
Dave Q. Schroder asked: Do you believe in parallel universes?
I'm still on the fence about that
one! While I think it is a fascinating subject and a great conversation over
drinks, I am not quite sure I am convinced, then again, I quite believe
anything is possible ;)
Larry Stone asked: When items are removed and sent to the Zaffis museum, do
strange things happen there or does it “creep” you out to be where all of the
items you have removed are in one location and is there any strange activity
where all the items are?
Down in the museum where most of the
sealed items are there is very little activity, (mission accomplished) The
museum was built specificity to house cleaned haunted items and to keep them
blinded from spirit activity. John's office where Aimee and I have a habit of
wondering in and finding unbound creepy items laying around is a whole
different story!
PandoraParaPublishing asked: Since you have worked with John Zaffis, what do you believe
is the most important lesson he has taught you?
I think that respect is the most
important lesson that John has taught me. Although he is the
"godfather" of the paranormal he acts like an adopted dad to his team
(and real dad to some ;) He always makes sure that we are safe. I don't think I
truly understood the dangers of my field before or the true power of spirit.
The truth is if you don't have respect for the work and every detail that goes
into it, you have no idea how fast you can loose focus of an investigation,
putting everyone in danger. I now not only have a different approach and
respect to my work, my team and my investigation technique, but to each spirit
as an individual.
Murial Teter Roby asked: What is the most innocent looking but most personally
frightening item you have ever collected?
I would have to say the voodoo doll
that we found in the broken tree in the woods of VA at Jordan Springs. I have
only seen John react to an item like that one other time and it looks as
innocent as well but you will have to wait until season 3 for that ;)
Anonymous asked: What are your plans for the future following The Haunted
Collector?
It's hard to say because we never
know if there will be more HC or even when exactly our current season will end!
All I know for certain is that I will return to Los Angeles and I will continue
to audition for film and TV like I was when I was approached about HC,
basically return to life as normal, when I'm not a PARA-Nomad!
Connor Brandon asked: What was your funniest moment on Haunted Collector?
Oh man, there are so many! I hate to
tell y'all, but 99.9% of the time we all like each other quite a bit lol! There
are probably more times a day than the producers would like when we have to
stop rolling tape because we're all messing around. Sometimes we fake interview
each other, Aimee sings and dances about any mundane situation, I fake cry
about nothing, Jason talks for 30 minutes about his application to be a glitter
twin, Chris and Brian play light saber with their cellphones and John loves to
break it down with mad dance moves!
Cody Little also asked: When you gather paranormal items, how do you keep
everything contained that are not under glass? Do you shut the door and smudge
the entrance?
This is mainly Johns area of
expertise so I can't elaborate too far... We do have to travel with items
sometimes for a while before they are put completely to rest at the museum. As
far as the item itself goes, there are binding and protecting rituals done on
each one before they are surrounded in sea salt and contained in glass. The
museum was also designed to house the items, there is very little activity
there. I also know that John has some location rituals that keep all of us and
our clients safe and the property bound after the item is removed, but again,
he is the expert in this sense, and I have not learned all his tricks just yet!
I can say we have had some weird things happen while traveling with some of
those items!
Anonymous asked: What is the tattoo on your right wrist? What does it say
and stand for?
I have a tattoo on the inside of
each of my wrists. The left says "P&J" with an infinity sign
below and it stands for Phil and Jess forever. The right says
"dheartháir" and it means dearest brother in Irish Gaelic, and is for
my brother Sean. Phillip was my best friend in the world from almost birth, he
died six years ago and started contacting me immediately. My brother Sean
passed away two and a half years ago, and made my search for answers that much
more important.
Tammy from Omaha asked: How did you get the job with Haunted Collector? What were
your credentials that got you on the show with John Zaffis and his family?
I got a very surprising phone call
out of the blue one day asking to come into speak with the producers of the
show and answer some of Johns questions because he was looking for a new team
member and liked what he knew and had seen of me. The Paranormal world is not a
very big one, and we had mutual friends. What gives me the
"credentials"? I don't know that paperwork is what it is about...
technique in this field can only be taught and learned through experience and I
believe I have, for one reason or another, been chosen by the best mentor out
there. Whatever it was he saw in me, I don't know, I guess that's a question
for him. But I am thankful every day that he did because if it weren't for John
Zaffis, I would have given up on the paranormal and the answers I seek in my
own personal battles.
Taylor from Taylor Ranch asked: Jesslyn, do you ever feel frightened or threatened on the
set of Haunted Collector?
Threatened? Rarely, and if so, only
for a moment, we do everything we can not to put ourselves in threatening
positions... Frightened? sometimes. i always thought this would get easier, but
as it turned out, the more I explore my sensitivity, the less comfortable I am
being alone in locations. The more cases we do the more intense experiences I
have and the more my sensitivity grows... For the most part, something whispers
in my ear I'm like cool! Something crashes and I go running after it, I'm just
a little more cautious to look in the room before I go barreling into it now!
Though there will be one moment this season where you will see me completely
and utterly break down. I was not frightened, I was terrified, and whoever was
most certainly threatening me, whatever spirits were with me.
Tomas Griego asked: Are you married and how does your husband or boyfriend
feel about you being put in dangerous situations on Haunted Collector?
I am not married, though I do live
with my boyfriend. I think he's used to it, he knew what he was getting himself
into. He tells me every night to have fun and be careful, he is incredibly
supportive! Though he will call me in the missile of the night when I'm on the
road because HE has just had a nightmare about MY scary stories! My parents on
the other hand make me txt them After every night investigation!
9 year old Hunter Chase O’Mally
asked: My mom doesn't like for me to watch
your show but I do. She thinks it scares me and gives me nightmares but it
doesn’t I promise Jesslyn. She is letting me ask this question. My question for
you is, “What is your favorite book you ever read?” And if I’m allowed to ask
one more question, “What is your favorite color and movie?”
Well Chase to your mom I say thank
you! I think it's great that she cares :) I have 8 nephews and most are right
around your age. They love the show, it spooks them at times, but I remind them
that if you watch it your home can't become haunted ;) right now my Favorite
movie is Paranorman, he makes me feel like weird is normal, and what I do is OK
and acceptable and I think it's a great message. My favorite author is Dan
Brown, while he writes fiction I love that he opens my eyes to the wonders of
the mystery behind culture and challenges me to explore it for myself. I cannot
tell a lie, however, I think the Harry Potter books will always be my
favorites, I will read and retread them for the rest of my life, they are so
magical and so real all at the same time! I love every color, I don't want to
hurt any of their feelings by saying I have a favorite, but I am quite fond of
blue.
Leslie Short asked: Are you planning to write a book about your experiences in
the paranormal.
I journal often while on the road,
in fact I am writing these responses in my journal. I think often about one day
turning them into some sort of organized thought, but I feel that I am not sure
just yet of the direction of my thoughts. To plan is to "make a detailed
proposal for doing or achieving something" so the answer is yes and no! I
am one day hoping to, however I am only in the note taking process, so who
knows!
