Listener Stories: Vol. 115 featuring. Nichole Bigley

Stories:

1: Experience with Angels/Guides - T (she/they)
2: My Grandparents Like to Visit On Their Way to Get Their Wings, Which Makes Me A Pit Stop I Guess? - Ceci (she/her)
3: A reincarnation, doppelgänger, or astral projection? You decide! - Kailee (she/her)
4: The time I think I died, at least for 5 minutes - Josie (she/her)
5: My Guardian Angel Ghost - Sarah
6: My Guardian Angel, Confirmed by a Psychic - Claire (she/her)

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Welcome to May! We’re here with our spring witch, Nichole Bigley from​ A Psychic's Story​ on ParaPods! ​This month we needed Nichole's expertise to help us deep dive into all your submitted angel stories. ​Y'all really delivered. We loved everything about this journey from guardian assholes to French time slips. And is that Christine inside Nichole's walls?? ...and that's why we drink!

Want to hear more from Nichole? Check out A Psychic's Story wherever you get your podcasts, at https://www.apsychicsstory.com or @APsychicsStory on socials!

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Transcript

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[intro music]

Christine: Ding dong. [laughs]

Nichole: Knock knock. [laughs]

Em: It’s May!

Christine: Who’s that? [laughs]

Em: [laughs] And, uh, we have, uh, a very–

Christine: It’s our, our spring witch is here.

Em: Our s– I love that. A spring witch. We have a–

Christine: Our springtime witch.

Em: –special guest. This is one of Christine’s personal friends, so I’m, I’m gonna have you do the introduction. I feel–

Christine: That’s what I call her, a personal friend.

Em: Personal buddy.

Christine: This is my personal friend, Nichole, uh, Nichole Bigley, host of A Psychic’s Story. Um, just– I, I mean, now it’s like the, the spots on– the spotlight’s on me, and I–

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: –I’m blanking on my personal friend’s entire biography.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Um, we’re pals. One time I went into the walls of her house with her–

Nichole: Yes. True story.

Em: Hm?

Christine: –and we looked at stuff, and she has like a cool secret tunnel under her house.

Em: That’s something we should discu– Uh, let’s– Speak on that. [chuckles]

Christine: Sometimes I introduce people like I’m in kindergarten. Like you know, like, “Who’s your friend?” It’s like, “I don’t know their name, but here’s everything about them,” you know.

Nichole: [chuckles]

Christine: And it’s sort of like that where I feel like– Em, we did that too where we skipped a bunch of levels of friendship–

Em: We did.

Christine: –and we suddenly knew all these things about each other but not like where we were from or like basics.

Em: Yeah, yeah. We–

Christine: Sometimes I feel that way.

Em: Well, okay. I– As– I’m gonna be the, um, hm, the spokesperson–

Christine: The voice of reason?

Em: –for the audience–

Christine: Yeah, okay.

Em: –and we would like to know what you just said about [chuckles] being in her walls.

Nichole: Oh. [chuckles]

Christine: Oh! I was like, “What– About which part? I said so much.”

Nichole: Yeah, you could take that so many ways.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Oh! [laughs] Well.

Nichole: So let’s please–

Christine: This–

Nichole: Let's please explain.

Christine: –is a n-not safe for work podcast. You never know what’s coming. But no, uh, we– She owns this beautiful home, um, in southern– what is it? Southwestern– In Cincinnati area, let’s say. And, uh, it’s just this beautiful witch, witch house. It’s like the perfect beautiful–

Em: [groans]

Christine: –cauldrony witch house. And, um, she invited me over one evening, and we had several glasses of wine.

Nichole: Some wine.

Christine: Yeah. A little bit. And, um, I– You know, we were venting our stuff, and suddenly I’m like, “What’s up there?” And she has these huge tall ceilings and that– you know those like– What are they called?

Nichole: Well, they’re kinda sort of like transom windows, but if there’s not a window–

Christine: Right, transom.

Em: [groans]

Nichole: –there’s like a door–

Christine: Cabinet, yeah.

Nichole: –and you can actually open it up and store stuff. So they used to put like trunks–

Em: Yes.

Nichole: –and things up there.

Em: Okay.

Christine: And surely the previous owners emptied them out, right?

Nichole: Right, that’s what I thought.

Christine: Well, well, well. The painters had left a ladder. And I said, “There’s only one way to find out.”

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: And I kid you not, we found in there some– I was like– Honestly, sometimes I’m like, “Did Nichole plant that just to like–“

Nichole: No, I didn’t.

Christine: “–you know, amuse me for the day?” But it really was like treasure hunting. We found this silver briefcase, and it was locked.

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: And we took it, of course, next up onto Nichole’s balcony, and she took a [laughs] hammer, and we hammered–

Nichole: We didn’t know the code, clearly.

Christine: We didn't know the code. [laughs]

Em: And, and Nichole, as a psychic, were you– are you–

Christine: Good point.

Em: –are your abilities there when it comes to being able to sense something off of an item? Like what– Were you able to get a vibe?

Nichole: So that’s, so that’s psychometry–

Em: Okay.

Nichole: –and I will say we both were a little nervous, which, you know, after having some wine, you wouldn’t think we would be–

Em: [chuckles]

Nichole: –but we were definitely determined to open it. It had like those latches and like– where like–

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: –number combination, and it was a silver metal briefcase, as Christine mentioned. And I–

Christine: Like nothing good can come of– Like those were–

Nichole: Nothing good can come from that.

Christine: Nothing good can come of that. [chuckles]

Nichole: Like what’s in this locked, locked briefcase?

Christine: And why’d they leave it here?

Nichole: And then we’re taking a hammer to it, you know.

Christine: [laughs]

Em: Well, the– I think the hammer is certainly bringing some, some darkness. Yeah.

Nichole: And what–

Christine: “Some darkness.” [laughs]

Nichole: And so we did, we did try and intuit– tune in and see what was in there, and I think we guessed like somewhat correctly, but there was no way we would have known what was in there.

Christine: It was so random. It was like somebody left their like random personal effects like, like in a glove box but put them in a– So there was a picture of an atomic bomb– Okay, that doesn’t so much ring personal–

Em: You have to be kidding me.

Nichole: When often–

Christine: –personal effects. [laughs] But–

Nichole: No.

Em: You found a random trunk–

Nichole: Like an actual photograph.

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: Like a photograph of it going off in the ocean.

Em: That f– So–

Christine: And then a s– photo of a small ch– little girl–

Nichole: Small child.

Christine: –and then a driving log in pencil like a serial killer or a trucker.

Em: Are you improving right now? That can’t be– [laughs]

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: No. [laughs] It’s a true story.

Em: Because it–

Christine: It feels like it, doesn’t it?

Nichole: We have photos and video.

Christine: We have a video.

Nichole: Yeah, we do a video.

Em: I– That’s– ’Cause one would think, “Oh, what’s the most mysterious thing I could find in this like unmarked trunk?”

Christine: True.

Em: “It’s a bomb.”

Nichole: We were hoping it was money.

Christine: Well, we were hoping it was like so much money or like doubloons, gold doubloons, you know.

Em: [laughs] Did you keep it? Like did you hold on to any of it and like– and store it?

Nichole: Yeah, I kept it all. Yeah.

Em: Okay.

Nichole: We also found, um–

Christine: Oh, yeah.

Nichole: –wood clogs–

Christine: Clogs from–

Nichole: –a cam–

Christine: The– S–

Nichole: –a camera with some film that still needs to be developed.

Christine: Yes, a mysterious camera.

Nichole: I’ve not developed it. Mm-hmm.

Christine: Um, some artistic, some artistic artsy stuff.

Nichole: An American flag.

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Em: How big was this trunk? Damn.

Christine: No, this was all in the transom thing.

Nichole: No, no, it wasn’t in– It was– I had like five of them or six of them, so we went through each and every one.

Em: Crazy. I’m glad that we started here–

Christine: It’s my favorite activity.

Em: –because it– [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: –it just is–

Christine: You put me– You told me to introduce my personal friend, and I said, “Uh-oh, the only thing I can think–"

Nichole: “Let’s go there. Let’s go there.”

Christine: “–off the top of my head is our personal adventures.” [laughs]

Em: No–

Christine: That sounds bad. Sorry.

Em: I appreciate it. I– That’s– That sounds like a really bonding exper– I don’t mean that in a funny way.

Christine: I could have said we went to Egypt together.

Em: I would like– I would li– I would remember that. I’d stay in that memory for a very long time.

Christine: I do live in that memory a lot. And we did also go to Egypt together, which, of course, was its own kind of magical, but that almost feels like so big that it like–

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –I just– I miss it.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: I look at the smaller details, you know.

Nichole: That’s a whole ‘nother combo, whole ‘nother podcast.

Christine: That’s– Yeah. [laughs]

Em: Uh-huh. [chuckles] Well–

Christine: Which I did on your podcast. Yeah.

Em: Yeah, yeah.

Nichole: Oh, and, and real quick, if I may add too. So it, um– I was having– My house is haunted. I was having these experiences. Very long story short, the TV–

Christine: Yes.

Nichole: –that I had just purchased kept going on and off, and this psychic medium told me that one of the ghosts wants me to know where the money is hidden.

Em: Um–

Nichole: So–

Christine: And it’s not in the silver briefcase, by the way, we checked.

Nichole: It’s not in the silver briefcase. There’s an are–

Em: That’s such a red herring. That’s so annoying.

Nichole: I know.

Christine: Can you imagine if, if you had heard that message before and then we found the silver briefcase? You would have been like, “This is the thing that–”

Em: “Jackpot!”

Nichole: [chuckles] “This is the thing.”

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: Yeah, I would have not worried about using that hammer on it.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: But anyway, there will be a follow-up story because Christine’s gonna bring her equipment, and I think I know where it is in the wall.

Christine: My hammer.

Nichole: Yeah.

Em: I–

Nichole: Her hammer–

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: –and we’re just gonna go to town with it.

Christine: No, I literally went crazy and bought a bunch of shit on Amazon after that because I–

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: This is like– What– When was this? Like over a year ago now.

Nichole: Yeah.

Christine: Um, and I bought like all these little cameras that you can like put in the walls. I just became obsessed with what’s in the walls. And I went to my house, and I found some like wallpapers, you know, behind some of the paint and– Nothing too thrilling yet, but when I was a kid, I used to find stuff in the walls a lot. So I realized it’s one of my favorite pastimes, and my personal friend, Nichole, has really brought that out in me, so I appreciate that.

Em: I, I think you, I think you like looking in walls, and you have a friend who is saying, “My– The walls are available.” And–

Christine: They're haunted. Yeah.

Nichole: They’re yours.

Christine: Totally.

Nichole: They’re yours.

Christine: Totally.

Em: They’re yours to do whatever you want.

Nichole: Have at it.

Christine: One of these days– And I wanna get one of these like cool X-ray vision things that you can like look underground and you can–

Em: Mm?

Christine: I have one that you can see like if there are objects behind it.

Em: Incredible.

Christine: Anyway, it’s very fun. It’s very fun.

Em: And you didn’t find the money yet?

Nichole: No, because I haven’t gone hunting for it yet.

Em: I feel like–

Nichole: It feels like, it feels like a– It’s a whole thing. It’s a whole production. And I wanna document it.

Christine: Yeah, I feel like you have to like prepare. Yeah, it feels like a big, big undertaking.

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: Also do you disclose it? I mean–

Christine: Good point.

Nichole: –it is yours, so.

Christine: Well, too late now, my friend.

Nichole: Did I find anything?

Christine: Oh, oh!

Nichole: I don’t know.

Christine: Whether you found it. I see. So she’ll always be “looking” for it–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –but one day she’ll like own six houses–

Em: There will be signs.

Christine: –and we’ll be like, “Wait a minute.”

Nichole: There will be signs, yes.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: There will be signs. [laughs] Yes, exactly.

Em: And I– Forgive me if this is like a– like such a, a question you get all the time, but I feel like someone’s gonna ask – and by the way, it’s gonna be me – but somebody else is gonna wonder also.

Christine: [laughs]

Em: But is there– If you’re able to make contact with spirits who will tell you there is money–

Christine: Mm.

Em: –can you not ask a follow-up question and be like, “Where is it?”

Nichole: Yeah, no, so I did. And interestingly– So where I live, and again, trying not to give too much information about the location–

Em: Sure.

Nichole: –there’s a lot of lions around. It’s, um, just it’s one of those things. Like it’s very with this town.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: And so, she did not know that, and she said, “I’m seeing this lion sketch.” And I’m like, “Well, there was some renovations–“

Christine: Oh.

Nichole: “–done to my house, so I don’t know where there would be a lion.”

Em: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: However, I realized I have this lion sculpture, uh, not very expensive, but I put it in this one area of my home.

Em: Sure.

Nichole: And where it is on the extension of the house is over where the old well used to be.

Em: [gasps]

Christine: Oh!

Em: Oh my god. You get more and more interesting.

Nichole: And I–

Christine: [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: And so, and so I was like walking out one day like at this door and I thought, “Wait, I think that’s where the well is that they filled in. And wait–“ you know, so yes. So I do ask follow-ups, but I’m also not a medium necessarily.

Em: Sure. Okay.

Nichole: So I don’t speak with spirit–

Christine: Right, right, right.

Nichole: –or all that. So I feel the ghosts around. I can– It’s kind of creepy. I know when they [unintelligible] watching me. And I’ll say, “Hey, you know, give me some privacy,” type of thing. But I don’t have like a lot of one-on-one conversations with them–

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –in that respect.

Christine: That’s interesting.

Em: Okay.

Nichole: So that’s why I called this one person. I was like, “Why is this ghost haunting me?”

Christine: Right.

Nichole: “Why does it keep turning on my television to this random channel about a man, you know, drowning in the ocean?” And I’m like, “Oh, well, that’s probably ’cause that’s how he died. Great.”

Em: Oh my gosh.

Christine: Oh, wow. What a, what a wild power to have after you die though. Like–

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: –“I died in a parachuting accident. I’m gonna keep making you watch Rick Steves’s parachute down into England or something,” you know.

Em: The more you– the more that I, I hear you speak about your life, the more I understand why you and Christine are so close because like–

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: –just like everything that you say so far is like kind of vague, and like I’m desperate for more information.

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: Where like, like–

Christine: Imagine if– imagine then you add a bunch of wi– red wine–

Em: Oh, I’m sure.

Christine: –and it’s just like a disaster. Anyway.

Em: Where you’re like, “Oh, I don’t wanna triangulate myself–“

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: “–but I live where there’s a bunch of lions,” and I’m like, “The zoo? The–“

Christine: [laughs] The zoo.

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: “The Cincinnati Zoo?”

Nichole: Lion statues.

Em: I see.

Nichole: There we go. [chuckles]

Christine: I did notice she didn’t say “stone lions,” and I was like, “Em’s gonna be like, ‘Okay?’”

Em: I was like a–

Christine: “‘Lion enclosure?’”

Em: I– I mean, it was the most Christine way to answer that though.

Nichole: [laughs] I do live at the zoo.

Em: It’s like– [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] She lives at the zoo.

Nichole: Can you tell I listen to your podcast?

Christine: And she’s– You know why? She’s hunting for buried treasure at the Cincinnati Zoo [chuckles]–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: –so le-leave her alone. She’s not gonna disclose where she finds it–

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: –but it may or may not be underneath one of the lion enclosures. [laughs]

Em: And no one’s gonna try to come for you if you live surrounded by lions, so, you know.

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: No, no, it’s– she’s safe as can be.

Nichole: They're my protectors. You didn’t know that?

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Yeah, exactly.

Nichole: I have a bunch of pet lions. Mm-hmm.

Christine: They have a re– you know, a thing, a relationship. It’s all good.

Em: Yeah, I see, I see, I see.

Christine: Well, anyway, so that’s Nichole. [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: Does that help?

Nichole: Yeah, sure.

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: That's a great intro.

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: I– That’s probably the best intro I’ve ever received on a podcast, so thank you for that introduction.

Christine: You’re so welcome.

Em: Thank– That was a– I, I had a great time.

Christine: I know what I thought before this. I thought, “I should pull up like a little bio about Nichole, so I–“

Nichole: Nah.

Christine: –and then I thought, “Nah, I can wing it,” and, um–

Em: Well done.

Christine: –it worked, I think, really well. So that’s probably what I would have scripted anyway, all of that, so.

Em: I’m– [chuckles] It’s– was a perfect script. Thank you.

Christine: Thank you. Well it’s, uh, it’s May 1, which means we have a new listener episode, uh, out for you, and Eva, as always, has picked some stories. We submitted the theme, because we have Nichole here, of, uh, people’s experiences– Did we do angels and gui– like spirit– people’s angel experiences?

Em: Guardians.

Christine: Yeah. And, um, I’m so excited for this ’cause I don’t think we’ve done this topic, or if we have, I don’t remember it. Um–

Em: Agreed.

Christine: Yeah, so this is–

Em: I’m– I feel like it’s, it’s something we must have asked for in the past–

Christine: It feels like we should have.

Em: –and I–

Christine: Yeah. [chuckles]

Em: But I don’t remember any of the stories, [chuckles] but I’m–

Christine: It could very well be we asked for it and never actually followed up. So, uh, yeah, but we’re excited. And we, we told Nichole before we started that we wanted, um, her input. We want her to take over and tell us what she thinks about, about what we’re doing, so o–

Nichole: This is my area of expertise–

Christine: Exactly.

Nichole: –angels, so–

Christine: Yes.

Nichole: –I’m all for it.

Em: Perfect. Yeah. And–

Christine: And, uh–

Em: It– No, it’s very helpful that, that we have the source here– on, on the ground journalism.

Christine: A primary source. Yes, exactly.

Nichole: [chuckles]

Christine: And we’re gonna read these aloud. None of us have read them before, so they’re all new to us. Um, although Nichole almost admitted to psychically scanning them before the show–

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: –but then–

Nichole: I wanted to make sure there wasn’t anything, you know, any bad juju, but these–

Christine: [chuckles] Okay, fair enough.

Nichole: –they all feel energetically fantastic, so here we go.

Christine: Fair enough. I love that for us. Good job, Eva. Um, okay. Who wants to go first? Em?

Em: Sure. Okay. Yes.

Christine: I can go first. I don’t care either way.

Em: I don’t care either.

Christine: I’m happy to.

Em: I, uh, I– I’m happy to do it. Let’s see.

Christine: Okay. You go ahead then.

Story 1 – Experience with Angels/Guides

Em: This is from– Hm. It seems– Oh, “just refer to me as T.” Alright. Hey, T. Um, “My pronouns are she/they–” And by the way, the, the subject line just says, “Experience with Angels/Guides,” so.

Christine: That seems to fit the theme this week, this month–

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –pretty well.

Em: Okay. So T says, uh, “I have always been sensitive. My childhood home is over 120 years old and has some ghosts include– including the Hat Man.” Great.

Christine: Oh no.

Em: “And I have also unfortunately had a few near-death experiences and that– oh, that have seemed to make me a magnet. When I was about 22, I had, uh– I’d been having a really rough time, and due to unfortunate situations, I was in a very deep and dark place. I had then fallen asleep one night after having a very rough day and immediately ‘woke up’ at my grandparents’, uh, dining room table. I could hear my grandma in the kitchen and felt like I was just at their house for dinner. My papa was across from me and that was when I was aware of it being a non-normal dream.” So a bit of a vision going on at the grandparents’ table. “My papa had sadly passed away when I was ten and had also had a few more losses within my family, including my great-grandpa and my brother around the same time. And every time I was very sad or going through it, I would dream of my papa. In the dream, he comforted me and apologized that he couldn’t be there physically, uh, to help me through things, but as I got older, he had been watching me grow up through whatever this– uh, through whatever this ‘veil’ is. He had told me how proud he was of me going to college, pursuing my dreams of being an artist, and was very happy to see the amazing person I was turning into. I, of course, started bawling, and he held me, saying, ‘Things will work out.’ I remember him telling me he would send me a sign when I’m on the right path by smelling his cologne.”

Christine: Mm.

Em: “I kind of took that as an odd thing because I hadn’t smelled that in years, so I nodded my head and said, ‘I’ll try my best to keep an eye out for that.’ Fast forward, I’m out of college, started my life in Chicago as an adult, moved in with my boyfriend, and getting our bearings on this next step. I obviously was very nervous about this big change, and my boyfriend was making room in his closet that was now becoming our closet. And as he moved a pile of sweatshirts, I got the largest whiff of my papa’s cologne.”

Christine: Aw.

Nichole: Mm.

Em: “I immediately grabbed, uh, the clothes and took a big smell of them and asked my boyfriend if that scent was his– if that was a scent that he had as a cologne. Confused, he looked at me and said, ‘Um, no. I haven’t been able to get the smell of that cologne out since I thrifted it.’”

Christine: [gasps]

Nichole: Oh, wow.

Christine: Shut the fuck up.

Em: “And that’s when I realized this had to be one of the signs my papa was talking about. I–“

Christine: [chuckles] He was up there like, “One of these days–“

Nichole: [chuckles]

Christine: “–this– somebody will buy this cologne, and I can finally make it work.”

Em: Oh…

Christine: Oh my god.

Em: “I got very emotional, and my boyfriend comforted me, and that’s when I told him about my dream. He thought that that was very sweet and also has some similar spiritual views to me and said that seems to be a very clear sign. Since then, it’s been five years together. We’re engaged and planning our wedding. We’re parents to three fur babies and both on the up-and-up in our careers. I’m in the art and creative field as a floral and visual designer–“

Christine: Ooh.

Em: “–and my fiancé is in pharmaceuticals. I’ve had a few more dreams with my papa since, and I love knowing that maybe whatever is beyond allows your family members to look into how you’re doing and help guide you, and I think that’s beautiful.”

Christine: Aw.

Em: Um, thank you, T.

Christine: Thanks, T.

Em: I was, I was getting really nervous that we were gonna find out that like what are the odds that her future husband like bought– like went to the thrift store and actually bought her grandpa’s clothes. I, I don’t know–

Nichole: That would be wild.

Em: That was–

Nichole: You know, I did have that thought.

Em: I was kind of hoping. I was kind of–

Christine: Ohh. You guys are both psychic though. I feel like I did not have that thought at all. [laughs]

Em: I– Christine keeps calling me psychic.

Christine: I thought, “I’ll be surpri–“

Em: It feels extra embarrassing next to an actual psychic.

Christine: Well, one time Nichole came on this podcast–

Nichole: But you are.

Christine: –and said, “Em, you’re psychic.”

Nichole: Yeah, you are.

Christine: And I said, “Told you.”

Nichole: You just don’t wanna, you just don’t wanna claim it.

Christine: Just don’t wanna admit it.

Em: I, I don’t know how to tap into that world yet. I– You’re c– you’re certainly the psychic here, capital P psychic. Um, no, I, I was, I was like, “Is it gonna happen? Is she gonna find out that like these were her grandpa’s clothes?” But no, that’s– Still, just to have the cologne. I still have my grandfather’s cologne, and if I ever get a whiff of it–

Christine: Oh…

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Em: –I always wanna think it’s a sign, but I’m like, “It’s lit– I personally bought it. It’s–“ [chuckles]

Christine: I almost think like– I think like the buying the cologne is almost more intriguing to me ’cause it’s like– I feel like that’s not a– Like I’ve never thrifted a cologne, and I guess people do, but like normally you’d think like, “Oh, you thrift a sweater,” but like thrifting a cologne is so specific and like–

Em: Yeah. Well–

Christine: I don’t know.

Em: I don’t know.

Christine: I don’t know.

Em: I, I also I, I personally like to collect the smells of all my family. I know that’s like weird, but like–

Christine: Wow, that’s spooky.

Nichole: That’s cool though.

Em: –I have, I have a candle that smells like my– one of my grandmas. I have a, you know, this that smells like my grandpa and stuff. So I, I like getting the wafts of it.

Christine: That’s actually a nice idea. That's a really nice idea.

Em: But it would be so freaky to me to just have it hit me out of nowhere when I’m not expecting it. That–

Christine: Has that ever happened to you, Em?

Em: Once or twice I’ve smelled my grandma, but it was also–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –it was a woman that was my grandma’s age walking by, so I was like, “Maybe they just have the same perfume,” so.

Christine: Aww, still cool.

Em: But yeah. Still cool.

Christine: Nichole, do you ever get the smell, the old– what’s it called?

Nichole: So clairalience–

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: –is when you have a smell and there’s no reason for it, you know.

Em: Mm.

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: So there’s that. And I don’t get it a lot. Um, there’s also the taste too that you can get–

Christine: Oh, yeah.

Nichole: –but I have had a weird banana bread smell in my house occasionally. And–

Christine: Oh, yeah.

Em: That’s a great thing to have happen to you.

Christine: I know, of all smells.

Nichole: Yeah. And I’m like, “Can you make me some?”

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: Um, “Where’s that coming from?” ’Cause I’m not a baker.

Christine: “Where’s the taste one that that’s supposed to come through?” [chuckles]

Nichole: So– Yeah, so I know that at some point somebody did that, but it’s not related to anyone. Um, and my, my grandfather, my mom’s mom, he used to smoke cigars at one point, and then he gave them up. So occasionally, I’ve smelled that–

Christine: The cigar– Yeah.

Nichole: –but it’s not my strong– it’s not one of my strong ones.

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: But I, I love this story so much because our loved ones– Well, first of all, I refer to our spirit team. It includes angels, guides, our loved ones, and they’re always trying to get our attention. And if we’re not paying attention to those signs, then it’s, it’s hard. So they love to get us and communicate with us in our dreams when that veil is the thinnest.

Christine: I see.

Nichole: And so, dreams tend to be– especially if one’s standing out where it’s extremely vivid and it just feels differently–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –like more of that lucid dreaming– I know you, you both talk about this a lot on the–

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –on the podcast too. They love to, to drop into our dreams and to communicate with us that way. So um, and the fact that she was going through such a rough time–

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –at the, at the moment, and then he said, “Listen, you know, heads up, you’re gonna smell, you’re gonna smell me,” type of thing. I think it’s such a beautiful way that he was able to connect. And then fast forward, you know, it’s, it’s her fiancé/husband–

Christine: [groans]

Nichole: –and everything.

Christine: Oh! And they’re getting married. Yeah, it really is– that’s really beautiful.

Em: I, I do like that he said, “You’ll smell me when you’re like on the right path or doing the right thing.”

Christine: Yes.

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Em: And he was like–

Christine: Ohh.

Em: –“This boy right here, that’s a good one.”

Christine: Yeah, yeah, “This’ll do.” Yeah. [chuckles]

Em: It’s like, “I approve.” It, it was very sweet.

Christine: That’s cute. Um, alright. I can read the next one so we can–

Nichole: Okay.

Christine: –leave Nichole for last. Um, best for last.

Nichole: Save the best for last.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: Yes, I’ll take it.

Christine: That’s what I’m trying to say. Yeah, yeah. This– The words are tough today. Okay.

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Story 2 – My Grandparents Like to Visit on Their Way to Get Their Wings, Which Makes Me a Pit Stop, I Guess?

Christine: The subject of this email, uh– which is from Ceci, uh, who uses she/her pronouns. The subject is “My Grandparents Like to Visit on Their Way to Get Their Wings, Which Makes Me a Pit Stop, I Guess?” [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Christine: “Hello to all friends, living and fruit (#TeamLemon4Life!)–“ I know Em would have skipped this part, so I’m just making sure to read it.

Em: What?

Christine: [laughs]

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: You would never. “My name is Ceci. Uh, I have two angel stories for you. Both of them are about my grandparents. I saw the call for angel/guide stories–“ Oh, this was recently. I was like, “See? We have done it.” Okay, no.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: This is the new– This is a new thing. Okay. “I saw the call for angel/guide stories and have been sitting on these stories for years (since the grandparent ghost stories listener episode back in the day), so I thought I’d send these to y’all because I do feel like both of them were angel visits. Let’s crack into it. My mom told me a story once about how my great-grandma visited me the night she passed away, even though we lived hundreds of miles away. I was a baby, sleeping soundly in my crib when my mom was woken up by a cold breeze. Not strange because my mom’s a light sleeper, but when she turned over to check what time it was she had to look toward my crib, and there, all white and standing over me, was my Nana.”

Em: Mm?

Christine: “My mom watched her bend down, kiss me on the forehead, and then just disappear.”

Em: Ooh…

Christine: “The clock on her nightstand said 2:15 a.m. Later that morning, she got a call that Nana had passed away at–“ Ooh. “–at, you guessed it, about quarter after 2 that morning. We are all convinced that Nana really stopped by to give me one last smooch before joining my GiGiPa (great grandpa, pronounced ‘jee-jee-paw’), in the next life.” [chuckles] That’s so sweet. I’m sorry. That just got me a little bit.

Nichole: Aw.

Christine: Like she’s like, “I have to check on the baby real quick–“

Em: Just one more time, yeah.

Christine: “–before I go.” Yeah. “My grandfather on that side of the family also decided to visit me on his way to the beyond, but this time I was old enough to know what was going on. A little backstory on him: he was a gay man, the pastor of his church, and I remember him always having a beard. He and my grandma led the first desegregated church in their small area of Cumberland Gap, Tennessee, and I have so many sto–“ Jeez. “–so many stories about both of them (the KKK literally firebombed their house when my mom was an infant because of how progressive they were–“

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: “–and Grandma–“

Nichole: Whoa.

Christine: “–had to throw mom out of the second story window to Grandpa), but that’s all for a different time.”

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: “Papa passed away of pancreatic cancer when I was about ten years old, and the night of his death, my parents had sent my sister and me up to my grandma’s house for the night, so they could be with him. At 12:08 that night, I woke up to a tickle on my face. I was not a light sleeper at the time (now I am, oops)–“ Well, that’s okay.

Em: It’s okay.

Christine: We kind of all are, I think, at a certain point.

Nichole: [chuckles]

Christine: “–so very rarely did I fully wake up in the middle of the night, but I remember very vividly waking up to a scratchy feeling on my cheek. I also smelled something warm and musky but just assumed it was the air freshener my grandma used for the bathroom down the hall. Thinking it was a fly or something, I just went back to sleep. The next morning, my parents came to pick us up and told us that Papa had died the night before, and it all suddenly clicked. The scratchy feeling on my cheek, the warm smell (which definitely was his favorite cologne), it was him coming to give me a kiss and tell me goodbye. After we got through the initial shock, I told my mom all this through tears, and she wasn’t surprised at all, LOL.”

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: “I still remember the feeling and the smell over two decades later, and every time I think about it, I get a little misty-eyed. Suffice to say, I’ve always been a believer in the paranormal, so once I was introduced to y’all, I was hooked. Thank you for all the stories, for being familiar voices on gloomy days, and for being such huge advocates. I am bi–“ Hell yeah. “–and, uh, you’re great, etc., etc., etc. Stay spooky, Ceci.”

Nichole: Whoa.

Em: First of all, your grandparents sound fucking cool. Um–

Christine: Yeah, what the hell? [laughs]

Em: C– And then also I would wonder like is this something you tell the cousins? Or are you worried that you were like the best one and that’s why you got the visit goodbye? ’Cause–

Christine: Oh, right. Like do they visit you and nobody else has an experience? ’Cause, Em, you’ve said that like your grandparents will give each– have given everybody their own ex– like individual different experience, sort of.

Em: Yeah. It was very nice of them. They gave everyone an individualized goodbye.

Christine: They were even, yeah.

Em: Um–

Nichole: They spread the love.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Right. [chuckles]

Em: Well, like I– and I personally– Well. Who’s listening? I know I was the favorite grandchild on that side.

Christine: [laughs]

Em: Um– [laughs] Um, and I did–

Christine: Of course you were.

Nichole: Of course.

Em: –and I did get the–

Christine: Of course.

Em: No, it’s been confirmed. Um–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: And I–

Christine: No, I fully believe you, 100%.

Em: And I did get the best experience. I had like a f– He was my first flat-out ghost–

Christine: Like apparition.

Em: –I ever saw. Um, and he was right in the room with me, and we talked at–

Christine: Well, that’s probably why he sent everybody else something, like a sign. He was like–

Em: Yeah, he was like, “Eh.”

Christine: He was like, “Edible Arrangement for the rest.”

Em: “Here’s a dream,” you know.

Christine: Yeah. [chuckles] Here’s a dream.

Em: Um–

Christine: “I’ll visit you in real p– in real life.”

Em: But so I’m like, it sounds like you got a really cool one. But I was, I was scared to always say something to my cousins ’cause I was like, first of all, I don’t wanna look crazy, but two, did he visit you? And then when everyone else started talking about it, I went, “Oh, okay. I– I’m– We’re–“

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Em: “This is a safe space to bring it up.” But I wonder–

Christine: Yeah, but then you realized yours was the best one. You were like, “Thank god.”

Em: Yeah, kind of.

Christine: That would have been so lame.

Em: So I’m kind of like, I wonder where, where this person would also– or Ceci would stand.

Christine: I know.

Em: But anyway, that’s just a silly little aside, but–

Christine: No, no, it’s true though. I feel like– I don’t know. Some people just have that– [chuckles] I don’t know. Some people get visits.

Em: Some people have the X factor with their grandparents, you know.

Christine: Some people are just the favorite. [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: I can–

Nichole: They’re just the favorite.

Christine: [laughs] I can relate.

Nichole: They’re just the favorite.

Christine: [laughs] Just kidding.

Nichole: Yeah. No, I mean, I would be wearing that like a badge of honor, you know–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Totally.

Nichole: –and telling everybody, not just with your family, but her, so, you know.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: “They literally like visited through space and time to see me one more time. That’s how special I am.”

Em: And I wonder– Nichole, maybe you can answer this.

Nichole: Mm-hmm?

Em: It–

Nichole: Yeah, yeah.

Em: Does, um– I wonder if one of the reasons that some people get the experiences and others don’t is like I wonder if they’re just more in tune with that or more open to that?

Christine: Mm.

Nichole: See, you are psychic ’cause that’s exactly where I was gonna go– [chuckles]

Em: Oh. [chuckles]

Christine: Wow.

Nichole: –is that– is that, yes. So with people, when you’re more sensitive especially with your loved ones and– It’s not always when they’re about to pass. So I love hearing that it was, you know, her, her grandma made a pit stop before–

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –she kind of crossed over to the other side. But also when we are more sensitive, i.e., our psychic abilities are, you know, a little bit stronger for us, especially when it comes to our loved ones, we’re gonna be more open to receiving that, especi– You know, if somebody’s closed off, they don’t believe in it, it’s gonna be harder–

Christine: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –to have those experiences and/or pick up on those signs type of thing. Um, and I bet you she was really close to both of her grandparents as well.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Yeah, yeah. That’s really special. I love that.

Em: What was the tickling on the face? Was it like his beard?

Christine: The, the beard, I think.

Em: Okay.

Nichole: Yeah, his beard.

Christine: Like–

Em: Oh, like he was hugging her or something.

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: Yeah, like giving her a kiss on the cheek or something.

Em: Cute.

Christine: I know.

Em: Wow.

Christine: Which is kind of what the grandma did too. Like lean down, give her a kiss.

Em: I did get a– I got a hug, but it was not, um, as memorable as apparently this one was, so I’m kind of mad now at–

Christine: Mm.

Em: –my grandpa. Let me tap in real quick and go–

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: [chuckles] “Try again.”

Christine: “What’s that scratching feeling then?”

Em: Yeah. [laughs] Like, “Make, make it count next time.”

Nichole: But do you want it? I don’t know.

Christine: I don’t know.

Em: I don’t know.

Nichole: I always feel like an uncomfortable feeling when somebody–

Christine: Yeah, it sounds kind of weird.

Nichole: –had scruff on their–

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: Unless it’s something that’s special to you. I don’t know.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: Yeah. Yeah. No, I’m good with what I got. Um, okay. Thank you, Ceci.

Nichole: Alright. Am I up next?

Em: Yes.

Christine: Yay!

Nichole: Yeah. Thank you, Ceci.

Story 3 – A Reincarnation, Doppelgänger, Or Astral Projection? You Decide!

Nichole: Okay. So this subject is “A Reincarnation, Doppelgänger, Or Astral Projection? You Decide!” And this is from–

Em: Oh my.

Christine: [gasps] No, Nichole, you decide.

Nichole: Yes! –Kailee.

Em: [chuckles]

Nichole: So, “Hi team! I just finished listening to listener episode–“ or sorry, “listener stories episode 24, and when you guys asked for reincarnation stories, I figured it was time to sit down and write about my slightly disturbing story about my own reincarnation/doppelgänger/potential astral projection.” I’m already hooked and intrigued.

Christine: Yeah. [chuckles]

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: “I was 18 and working at a cafe. One day when it was super busy, I noticed there was this man that kept staring at me and looking at me kind of weird. I wasn’t his server, but I saw that he was sitting– just sitting, drinking tea, and watching my every move whenever I’d walk by his table. He must have noticed my uneasiness because he stopped me and apologized as if he was making me uncomfortable. He said that I looked like, spoke like, and my mannerisms were very similar to that of, and I quote, ‘the woman he fell in love with 50 years ago,’” end quote.

Em: What?

Christine: Whoa!

Em: Oh my god.

Christine: That’s not necessarily what you wanna hear at work. [laughs]

Nichole: Yeah. [chuckles]

Em: Yeah, actually. Wow. I didn’t think–

Nichole: That’s– C-could– Would not have guessed that. Okay.

Christine: Nope. [laughs] Surprise.

Nichole: “I was spooked out, but then he pulled out his phone that had a picture of a Polaroid picture–“

Christine: [gasps]

Nichole: “–of this super hippie girl that looked exactly like me.”

Em: Ooh.

Nichole: “My bo–“

Christine: Now, this is what I wanna hear when I’m w– at work. I’m like, “Actually, speak on that. This is so interesting.”

Nichole: [chuckles] “That was me. How, how do you– How did you know?”

Christine: “How the hell–“

Nichole: “My boss came over out of curiosity, and when she saw the picture, she honestly thought that this man had a picture of me. This man said that they fell in love about 50 years ago in France and had wanted to marry her, but she mysteriously disappeared one day when she was only in her 20s, and he could never find her.”

Christine: What?

Em: What?

Nichole: And that also could be a t– yeah, time warp type of thing too.

Em: Oh, I didn’t even think about a time warp.

Nichole: Time travel.

Christine: Yeah, that’s freaky.

Em: I’m st– I’m stuck on like she agreed to find him in another life and now they’re like in corporate, like yuck. But [laughs] at least you tried.

Nichole: Yeah, yeah. “I was still pretty spooked out, and I panicked, so I politely said sorry and just walked away.”

Em: Yeah.

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs] Yeah. That’s, that’s a lot all at once, esp–

Christine: Mm-hmm. You’re allowed to do that. [laughs]

Nichole: Yeah. “A couple weeks later, I was working a night shift at the cafe and closing by myself. It was empty until ten minutes before closing this woman with a very heavy French accent got–“

Christine: No fucking–

Nichole: Oh my gosh.

Christine: –way.

Nichole: I just got chills.

Christine: Don’t do that.

Nichole: “–got out of a cab and came in to eat. I was kind of peeved because I just wanted to get out of there, but she was just–“

Christine: Ten minutes before closing. [laughs]

Nichole: What? What?

Christine: Ten minutes before closing is so fucking rude. [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: “–she was just some lady by herself, and she didn’t seem like she was from around town, so we ended up having a conversation while she was eating. We were talking about traveling when, all of a sudden, she interrupted her own thoughts and said, ‘I’m sorry. I just can’t shake it. You look like and remind me of one of my old friends from school a very long time ago. It’s kind of weird.’ She then proceeded to tell me that she went to an all-girls school in France–“

Em: Shut up.

Nichole: “–(where she was coming from on a business trip) with–“

Christine: Mm.

Nichole: “–this girl, what she looked like, had the exact mannerisms and smile as me.”

Em: [sighs]

Nichole: “When I asked her if they still kept in touch, her face turned, and she said that after school they were still friends, but she hadn’t heard from her in 50 years because one day this woman just disappeared.”

Christine: Shut up.

Em: You’re totally right, Nichole. This is some weird slipped through a portal or something.

Christine: Yeah, has to be.

Nichole: W– Yeah, it’s so strange, right?

Christine: [shudders]

Nichole: “When she said those words, the story of the old man clicked in my head from a few weeks prior, and I swear I got the chills.” You just now got them. [laughs]

Em: Yeah. [laughs]

Nichole: I’m getting them this whole story.

Christine: Yeah, I was like, “Yeah, I’ve had them this whole, whole time, girl.” [laughs]

Nichole: “I didn’t tell this French woman the story the man told me–“ Ah, man, you missed an opportunity.

Em: You really did.

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: “–because I didn’t want to freak her out or anything, so I just let her finish her meal, and she gave me a hug goodbye when she left. Ever since then, I’ve been really curious about, one, why I look and act like this woman; two, who she is and what happened to her–“

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: “–three, if I am living a parallel life in the past; or four, if my reincarnation looks the exact same. So many questions.”

Christine: [shudders]

Nichole: “Sidebar, I’ve always had a strong urge to go to France and Spain, and my friend and I always joke about living a past life together when we were sisters living in France–“

Christine: No.

Nichole: “–working as dancers.”

Em: Girl, what? [laughs]

Christine: Holy shit.

Nichole: “Anyways, if in– if any more people that notice me from 50 years ago, I’ll keep you posted.”

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: “Also, sorry this is long. Best, Kai.” [laughs]

Christine: Okay, this was in 2019 this was written, so we better get, uh, somebody searching if, if Kai has sent any updates since then. Um–

Em: Yeah, I’m kind of upset that Kai didn’t–

Nichole: Well, you’re the researcher–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Me?

Nichole: –Christine.

Em: Now, that’s a good point.

Nichole: You’re the researcher.

Christine: Uh, I lost the password to our email so long ago.

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: I don’t even know how to get in there anymore. [laughs]

Em: I was gonna say, I feel like Kai should have sent like s– not in a creepy way, hang on a second, a full body pic so that way we could have blasted–

Christine: [laughs]

Em: –and be like, “Does anyone know– Did anyone meet her 50 years ago in France?”

Christine: Oh, yeah.

Nichole: [unintelligible] Missing, yeah.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Doppelgänger. Yeah.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Oh my god. Okay, that is just so wild and like– I don’t know. I wanna hear Nichole’s professional thoughts–

Nichole: Yeah.

Christine: –and I wanna hear–

Em: Please.

Christine: –Em’s and my Gemini th–

Em: Amateur. [laughs]

Christine: –amateur thoughts.

Nichole: Okay. So–

Christine: But I’m like my gut is like this feels almost like a parallel like existence. I don’t know. Like or a– or– Ah, I don’t know. What do you guys think?

Nichole: Well, I’m gonna close my eyes here ’cause that was a lot, [chuckles] so I gotta, I gotta kinda tune in. And so, the first thing like I’m drawn to is that I kept hearing “time, time, time.” And as we all know, and I’m sure you, you believe this, that time doesn’t exist.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: Right.

Nichole: You know, it’s not linear. We’re all living– if you believe in multiverses and time-space reality dimensions. And so we make about 30,000 choices a day, um–

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –most of them subconscious, and anytime we make a choice, it changes the trajectory, and it ripples out. It’s like, “boom!”, blow your mind right there.

Em: Mm.

Nichole: So I feel like it literally could have been her.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: And then this is a different lifetime, so I feel like it’s more of that reincarnation. I don’t necessarily know if it’s like a doppelgänger. Although I do believe in doppelgängers, and maybe doppelgängers– ’cause I think doppelgängers are more like it’s a split part of our soul and our experience–

Christine: Mm, interesting.

Em: Okay.

Nichole: –and/or it could also be in that– in like a timeline. But for me, um, I, I keep getting “time,” and I keep seeing her then and her now.

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: Also the only thing that like throws me off is the people didn’t feel familiar to her. So if–

Christine: Good point.

Nichole: So if she’s listening to the story, maybe look back later and tune in and be like, “Did you–“ I know you were creeped out ’cause that would have creeped me out too [laughs] if there was someone there–

Christine: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: –staring at me–

Christine: Fair– Like fair point. Yeah.

Nichole: –um, and everything. But, you know, I, I just– I always say look back and reflect how you feel in the moment–

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –because if these people– She even gave, gave that woman a hug or that woman gave her a hug–

Christine: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Nichole: –so there was some familiarity, you know.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: I feel like this was a wasted opportunity for a Hollywood script just because I feel like–

Nichole: Oh… [sighs] Yeah.

Christine: [laughs] Hey, it’s not wasted yet.

Em: –if she–

Nichole: Not yet. TM, TM, TM as–

Christine: TM, TM, TM.

Nichole: –as Christine would say.

Christine: [laughs]

Em: –if she gave that woman her co-worker’s number, then it could have been like a, a, a mystery of the two of them trying to refresh her on her old life and like get together and teach her like–

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Em: –who she was–

Christine: Oh, I was gonna say a scam, like a big scam, but yeah–

Em: Oh!

Christine: –your thing is, is nicer though.

Em: No, mine was more like they both recognized her and helped her find her way or something. I don’t know.

Christine: Oh my–

Em: Well–

Christine: Well– I– The only thing is yeah, if some guy was like, “I fell in love with you 50 years ago,” and I was like–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: –working as a server, I’d be like, “Seriously, guy?” But–

Em: That is a weird way to start this, yeah.

Christine: But the photo, I feel like he was like ready. He’s like, “I know this is weird. Here’s the photo,” which I feel like is very validating.

Em: I wond–

Nichole: The fact that he still had it on his phone too.

Christine: Unless it’s AI, but this was 2019.

Em: Yeah. And he–

Christine: Hm.

Em: I wonder like what happened timeline or cosmically– I wonder what happened for all of it to happen kind of all at the same time.

Christine: Yeah, it’s close together.

Em: Like she met this guy and he was like, “Ah, France,” and then she met this woman, “Oh, France.”

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: And then she’s like–

Christine: [laughs]

Em: –“Oh, I remember talking about France with my sister when I was a kid.” But I wonder like–

Christine: [laughs]

Em: –why that moment was the moment that the world felt like she should be put–

Nichole: Yeah.

Em: –brought in this.

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: I don’t know. Um, I’m reminded of when I was little and I asked my mom one time what deja vu was–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: [gasps]

Nichole: –’cause I don’t know if you ever felt that a little bit more when you were a child?

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: At least I did. I was constantly– And it’s because we’re, we’re so innocent and we– we’re so pure–

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –and we haven’t been programmed and, you know, the reality of the world hasn’t weighed so heavily on us. But that deja vu I asked her, and she gave me this explanation. I think I was five, and I was like, “Yeah, no, Mom. That’s not it.”

Christine: [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs] She’s like, ”Okay. Well, what is deja vu?”

Christine: She’s like, “Why would you even ask me?”

Nichole: ’Cause she’s like, “It doesn’t sound and feel familiar?” Yeah. Whatever– I don’t even remember what it was. And I– and so I asked my guides and angels. I was like, “What is deja vu?” And so then they told me, and they said it’s that moment in time when your past, present, and future all collides at once–

Em: Ooh.

Nichole: –and that’s why you feel like you’ve been there before because you already are there. It’s like you’re–

Christine: I know. Isn’t that a mind, mind bender?

Em: [sighs] Wow. I’ll sit on that–

Nichole: And s–

Em: –for a while. Thank you.

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: [laughs]

Em: [chuckles] That’ll, that’ll take up most of my day actually. Thank you.

Nichole: So when, so when you’re–

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: –me– you know, saying, “Well, why then?” I mean, I don’t know. I would say like what was the dates of both of those people? Like she doesn’t necessarily remember maybe this, quote unquote, past life – ’cause to me, it’s an alternate life – so is that what necessarily happened?

Christine: Mm.

Nichole: And in which case she wouldn’t necessarily have the why. But also maybe that was a trajectory and a turning point. ’Cause I think she said it was like three weeks prior, so it’s like a three week period–

Em: Right.

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: –okay, when she saw the–

Christine: Interesting.

Nichole: And so maybe there were things that she was– happening in her life– ’Cause remember when we make these choices and decisions, so did she decide to finally go to France?

Christine: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Nichole: Inquiring minds want to know. Did she–

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: Was it a push that, um, allowed her to look more into reincarnation and like–

Christine: Oh, wow.

Nichole: So it’s probably something that helped her, you know–

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: –I would imagine, the why.

Christine: Yeah, this was written – oh, this is crazy to think, but – seven years ago. So Kai, if you’re still a listener–

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –reach out, let us know what’s, what’s going on, or if you ever got any more–

Em: Did you make it to France?

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: Did you ever make it to Fra–

Em: Did other people know you?

Christine: Yeah, do you have a sister in France or a doppelgänger? We’d love to hear about it. Um, good job, Nichole. Thank you for reading that.

Nichole: Thank you.

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: That was a fun one.

Em: That was.

Christine: That was.

Em: I’m glad you read that one. That one felt m-most, uh–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –timeline layers–

Christine: Yeah, it felt right for you to explain to us. [laughs]

Em: Yes.

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: Yes.

Story 4 – The Time I Think I Died at Least for Five Minutes

Em: Um, okay. So the next one we have is, oh, from Josie. Okay. And the title is I think– “The Time I Think I Died At–“ and then with like a, a caveat here – “At Least For Five Minutes.”

Christine: [gasps]

Nichole: Oh, whoa.

Em: And I don’t know if that means–

Christine: Well, okay–

Em: –she thought that for five minutes or she thinks she died for at least five minutes.

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] Oh, she thought that for five minutes.

Em: Um–

Nichole: I’m gonna go with the latter.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: I thought that for so– You’ve only thought that for five minutes.

Em: It’s funnier that way. It’s funnier that way.

Christine: The amount of times I’ve thought I, I must have died–

Em: [laughs]

Christine: –um, it’s much more substantial. But–

Em: It’s like once it hits five minutes then it counts why, you know–

Christine: Then it finally– you’re like–

Nichole: I almost spit out my coffee.

Christine: –“Uh-oh, things are– things are pro– things are a problem.” I was just at a, uh– for one night at, um, Jeri’s bachelorette party in, um, Hocking Hills area, and I– all these people started suddenly sharing like the time– And it got really eerie in the room. There were three people who had had like these really crazy car crashes who were like, “Oh, I woke up–” One of them said, “I woke up in the passenger seat and like– Just completely unscathed. My car was in the middle of a field.”

Em: Mm.

Christine: “Like you could follow the– But like something happened, spun out, woke up in the passenger seat.” just weird stuff like that. And then they all said, “Does anybody ever feel like maybe they died?” and two other people were like, “I think that all the time.” And I was like, “Guys, you’re freaking me out.” anyway. So that’s why when you started the story, that’s what it made me think of. But that just gives me the the willies a little bit.

Em: Sure. No. I– Yeah, any, any– That also reminds me of when we would talk about like third man syndrome where like–

Christine: Yes.

Em: –there was like a, a random person that they never saw again that showed up in the middle of the woods to help them before help could get there and–

Christine: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Em: Oy-ai-ai. Um, okay. Josie says, “Uh, I have never– I’ve actually never told anyone but my husband this story, and I think he may have thought I was crazy. In 2021, I was 17, and I was sitting in church and just randomly passed out, like fully unconscious, not breathing for around five minutes. And when I came to– when I came to, my skin was pale, and my lips were blue.”

Christine: Jesus.

Em: “I, I obviously don’t remember anything that happened around me in the real world while I was out, but when I came to, I thought for sure I had died. After I blacked out, I remember something grabbing my hand and walking me away from my own body on the floor–“

Christine: Mm.

Em: “–through the wall, and to what looked like a beach, but instead of the sky over the water, it was like a giant movie screen. The hand was so warm, like way warmer than a human hand, and when I looked over to who was holding my hand, the person? thing? just looked so bright. Maybe the shape of a person, but made of fire or lava or light, and it didn’t have a face.”

Christine: [shudders]

Em: Oy.

Nichole: That’s what angels look like.

Christine: It’s like it’s gi–

Em: Really?

Christine: That’s just like–

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: –powerful.

Em: “So anyways, I thought, ‘Well, this is it. I’m about to see my whole life on the sky movie screen before I go to heaven. This sucks.’”

Christine: [chuckles]

Em: “’I haven’t even graduated high school yet.’”

Christine: Oh my gosh.

Em: “And instead, I saw glimpses of what I have now come to realize were my future.” Aw.

Christine: [gasps]

Nichole: Whoa, cool.

Em: “Some of the things I saw, I don’t really remember, but I vividly remember seeing my at-the-time boyfriend, now husband, in a suit with a lake behind him. And–“

Christine: Wow.

Em: “–we got married in 2024, three years later, by a lake, and the lake was in fact behind him from my view of the wedding.”

Christine: This is like, like Lifetime movie montage, but like real. [chuckles]

Em: I love that this guardian kinda grabbed you away and was like, “I’m just gonna spoil a couple things for you, but–“ [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] Yeah, “I just wanna show you some fun–“

Nichole: “Here you go.” [laughs]

Christine: “–some fun stuff while we’re here.”

Em: Yeah. [laughs] It’s like, “You’re having a bad day. You’re having a bad day.”

Christine: “While you’re like, uh, in a coma or whatever over there–“

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: [chuckles]

Christine: “-–let’s just watch a movie real quick–

Nichole: “For five minutes.”

Em: Yeah. [laughs]

Christine: “Yeah, for five whole minutes.” Yeah.

Em: At least five minutes.

Christine: At least.

Em: “I saw a wooden stage and bright lights. And I graduated college in 2025, and the stage looked exactly the same.”

Christine: Aw.

Em: “I saw my cat napping in the sun by a window. I didn’t get my cat until two years later, and she is a very uniquely colored calico. And I saw who I later recognized would be my nephew, sleeping in my arms who wasn’t– had– who hadn’t even been born yet and wasn’t born until later that year.”

Christine: Wow.

Em: “Before I was shown the last picture, the creature tried to speak to me, but it didn’t speak English. It spoke in some language I do not know, and instead of regular speaking, its words sounded like a song.”

Christine: Hm.

Em: Oh, I guess that’s where we get like angels singing from.

Nichole: And light language.

Christine: Mhm.

Em: Ohh, yes. “And the last thing I remembered seeing on the sky screen was a hand holding a peanut butter sandwich and a cup. And as soon as I woke up, uh, on a table in the church kitchen, my Nana was handing me a peanut butter sandwich and a glass of juice. Um–“

Christine: Whoa. So it’s like a convergence of time, like, “Here’s your future.”

Em: Yeah.

Christine: “And the last picture–“

Em: Maybe I’m–

Christine: “–is right now.”

Em: Maybe I’m messing up the timeline, but it sounds like she got the farthest away vision first, and it like slowly was like–

Christine: Yeah.

Em: –bringing her back to reality. And–

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: Because the the nephew being born in two months–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: –was one of the last ones. Whoa.

Em: “There were other things, but I haven’t had the IRL experience where I say, ‘Oh my gosh, I remember this from what the bright creature showed me’ to remember what they are yet.”

Christine: Oh, interesting. So it’s not like you see the cat at the pound, and you’re like, “Oh my god, that’s a cat from the–“

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: It like hits you later like, “Oh, that–“ That’s really interesting.”

Em: “We later found out I’m hypoglycemic, and I have passed out multiple times since then, but I didn’t see anything, just black.”

Christine: Wow.

Em: I would be pissed that next time.

Christine: [laughs] I know, right?

Em: Like if you’re gonna– I would be like, “Oh, yes. One more, one more glimpse.”

Christine: The sequel.

Em: “So maybe it was just the fact that I had literally no oxygen to my brain for five minutes and I was hallucinating, but I truly believe that something was showing me what was– uh, what was to come and that my time–“

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Em: “–wasn’t over yet. And I would like to add that I was completely fine and had no brain damage or anything from my lack of oxygen for an extended time.”

Christine: Thank god.

Em: “So it really seems like some other worldly creature just decided to pay me a visit.”

Christine: Wow.

Em: Um, wow. Yeah.

Nichole: That's so fascinating.

Em: Can you speak more on light language? Because I’ve heard that phrase, and I don’t really know enough about it.

Nichole: Okay. So if you ever decide to look it up and listen–

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: –go with an open mind ’cause I always wanna giggle when I hear it.

Em: Okay.

Nichole: I don’t–

Christine: [chuckles]

Nichole: I don’t speak light language just so– [chuckles] I ain’t, I ain’t gonna do it here for you–

Em: [chuckles] Sure.

Nichole: –but, uh, just because, uh, I don’t, I don’t speak it. But essentially it’s a channeled language of light, and it normally is representative of more extraterrestrials–

Em: Okay.

Nichole: –or ETs and–

Christine: Mm.

Nichole: –or the intergalactic, but also I heard, um– Just channeling as you were telling the story– Because I do feel that this being was an angel ’cause when I see them, I see them as light–

Christine: Wow.

Nichole: –um, massive huge beings of light, and kind of like what she described the lava– almost when you look at the sun, and there’s like offshoots of that energy going.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Wow.

Nichole: It's, it’s really really beautiful. Um, so– And I feel like this was a guardian angel of hers.

Em: Wow.

Nichole: Um, and so as soon as you read that, I heard in my head, “light language.”

Em: Cool.

Nichole: And so light language is, um– And it’s more when um, you know, usually when angels and others speak to us, it’s more telepathically and/or through our intuition–

Christine: Mm.

Nichole: –but when they need to say something, and it probably was to help her like connect back to her life–

Em: Sure.

Christine: Oh, wow.

Nichole: –and to her soul, it– they’ll speak more in that. There’s a vibration–

Christine: ’Cause I was gonna say, “Well, is she supposed to understand what it means?” But I guess not necessarily if it’s not meant for you.

Nichole: I, I had a gentleman on recently, Ken Lloyd, and he did this light language prayer/download meditation. So afterwards, I said, “Well, what did you say?” He’s like, “I don’t know.”

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: Wha– [laughs]

Nichole: I was like, “You speak the language.”

Christine: He doesn’t know?

Nichole: “You speak the language here.” But point is is that it– it’s not– it’s– it can’t necessarily be translated–

Christine: Sure. Okay, fair point.

Nichole: –in the way that we would translate word-to-word from like English to another language. It’s more the meaning–

Christine: Right.

Nichole: –the intention, the energy behind it–

Em: Sure.

Nichole: –you know? So yeah.

Christine: Right, right, right. So that’s my, my little bit of knowledge on light language.

Em: Thank you.

Christine: That’s just amazing though to like be able to validate in like little stories like that.

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: You’re like, “Yep, that– I know what that is, and that’s how I see angels,” and– Yeah.

Nichole: The other thing I was getting when you were reading the story, Em, is that this person, I don’t think that they have seizures, but my guides and angels were showing me it’s like when people have seizures and/or they pass out. And you also see people dramatized on shows and movies where they’re able to channel and receive information.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: So think of it almost as if when you’re asleep and then you’re coming awake and you’re in that, again, in-between state.

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Em: Sure.

Nichole: When you’re in, um– I would say a coma ’cause she wasn’t in a coma, but they found out that she was hypoglycemic, so she passed out. She’s kind of out, you know.

Christine: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: And she’s probably able to connect a little bit more in that state. Um, so–

Christine: Right, right, right.

Em: Wow.

Christine: Brain waves, etc. Wow. Fascinating.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: [sighs]

Nichole: Thank you for sharing that story, Josie.

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Story 5 – My Guardian Angel Ghost

Christine: Alright. Oh, hey, this is perfect. Are you ready? This is called “My Guardian Angel Ghost,” and it says, “Servus from Munich,” which is the Bavarian way to say “hello”–

Em: Hello.

Christine: –in German. Servus [pronounced “sare-voos”].

Nichole: Servus. Sor– Did I say it correctly? Servus.

Christine: Yeah, it looks like “service,” sort of. Servus. But then in Austria, you say, “Gruß Gott“ [pronounced “groos got”].

Em: Great Scott.

Nichole: Uh-huh.

Christine: And that starts to get cra– crazy. Gruß Gott.

Nichole: This is why I don’t know any other languages.

Christine: And they kind of roll their Rs, and it sounds like what’s happening down here. [speaking with vocal fry] This is the– I’m with the Hicks now. I love it.

Em: [laughs] Okay.

Christine: Okay, sorry. Anyway, “Servus from Munich. Hey Em and Christine–“ I’m gonna see if this person gave us a name. Um, says, “Love you, xoxo,” and then the name is Sarah. Okay. “I have a story about how a mystery ghost tried to save me from an abusive relationship.”

Em: Mm!

Christine: “FYI, I did end up dumping the abusive guy, and I lived happily ever after with someone else.”

Em: Good.

Nichole: Yay! [claps]

Christine: We love that. “So when I was in college–“ I feel like that guardian angel’s like, “Yes, victory.”

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: “I did it.”

Em: She’s smoking a cigarette right now. She’s like, “Ugh, that was really tough.”

Nichole: “They liste–“

Christine: “Thank god I’m off the clock.”

Nichole: “They listened to me.”

Em: [laughs]

Christine: “They listened finally.” “So when I was in college, I was dating this horrible person who my friends and I now affectionately call ‘Captain Asshole’ – since it has such a nice ring to it, I will call him Captain Asshole for the remainder of my tale.”

Em: Cool.

Christine: “ Captain Asshole was, well, a fucking asshole.”

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: “He was extremely manipulative, kind of gaslight-mountain, and made me feel like human trash. What fun for an 18-year-old girl who had just left her tiny town to go on an adventure at a big state college campus with over 40,000 students. There were so many fish in that sea, and I sure found myself a winner. He isolated me from my friends, called them ‘sluts,’ and told me I shouldn’t hang out with them. He wouldn’t let me speak to his friends and barely let me leave his room when I came over to visit. He rolled his eyes and criticized me whenever I spent my own freaking money on something he deemed ‘stupid’ to the point I stopped purchasing things that I wanted. When I told him I was studying German [chuckles] and international policy so I could join the US foreign service as a diplomat, he literally laughed in my face in front of all his friends.”

Em: [groans]

Christine: “He then proceeded to tell me, ‘No self-respecting man is going to give up his career to follow you around the globe so you can play diplomat.’”

Em: [scoffs] Oh.

Christine: Oh my.

Em: What’s his address?

Christine: Wow. This guy is a winner. Yeah.

Nichole: Whoa.

Christine: Just quick– Yeah, yeah. Quick question. What’s his first and last name?

Em: Yeah. [chuckles]

Nichole: [chuckles] Captain Asshole.

Christine: I wanna do a little googling. Oh-ho!

Em: Is it, it–

Christine: I’m so oblivious.

Em: You know, I have, um– Sorry, I’m not–

Christine: No, no, it’s a long one.

Nichole: Yeah.

Christine: So interject, please.

Em: Well, I was gonna ask is there– and I’m maybe I’m speaking in too much of like a– with a human mind here, but can her guardian asshole– or guardian asshole. [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: Guardian asshole. [laughs]

Nichole: Can you imagine? Em has a guardian asshole?

Christine: Em would have a guardian asshole. Oh my god.

Em: I like to think mine is a bit of, you know, not the kindest sometimes.

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: You got to have a little asshole in there somewhere–

Em: Yeah, yeah.

Christine: –to like get you going.

Em: Uh, well, can her–

Christine: Okay, sorry. That sounded bad too. I need to stop talking.

Em: No, no, no. Well, I was gonna say like when there are not so nice people in the world– I assume everybody gets a guardian angel, whether or not I personally believe they are deserving of one, but can like their guardian a– guardian angels get together and like hash it out and be like, “What the fuck is your client doing?”

Nichole: Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Em: Client, I don’t know. What–

Christine: [chuckles] Your client. “My client pleads the fifth.”

Em: Like, “Could you get him to not be such a piece of garbage, please? Because like she’s hurting.”

Christine: Captain Asshole?

Nichole: Yes, they, they meet all the time.

Em: Okay.

Nichole: They negotiate for us. They duke it out. But also think of it like Captain Asshole’s guardian asshole–

Em: Mm-hmm.

Nichole: –okay, or whatever that is–

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: –they’re just probably sitting off the side, filing their nails–

Em: Sure.

Nichole: –’cause he’s not gonna be listening to anything they bring him.

Em: Okay.

Christine: So they’re sort of like tuned out by now.

Nichole: Yeah.

Christine: They’re like, “He’s not gonna be–“

Nichole: Yeah.

Em: Gotcha.

Nichole: Oh, wow. That’s sad.

Em: And, and would you say that they’re, um– like are guardian angels– are all guardian angels equally equipped for the job or are there some that are lazier than others?

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: Because sometimes I’m like, “I could’ve–“

Christine: Is Em’s better than mine?

Em: As someone who like–

Christine: Just kidding. [laughs]

Em: –like very like you know– A light-hearted example is I– I’m someone who’s incredibly clumsy–

Nichole: Uh-huh.

Em: –and I’m like, “Are we just not on the clock today, guardian angel? Or–“

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: “–like do you just not care? You’re like, ‘Oh, well, you’ll learn better if you just fall.’” like I– Like what– Like what’s, what’s going on in that world when it comes to like when they really step in versus like–

Christine: Mm.

Em: –force you to have an experience?

Nichole: Yeah. So it’s a great question. Um, they’re gonna– So our guardian angels– I believe this because this is what I experienced as a child and what I was told from them is that our guardian angels are ones where we have a soul contract with. So before we come here to earth, we’re like, “Hey, you did a great job in that other life, and we made a great team, so we wanna work together.“

Em: Mm.

Nichole: Because we have free will and choice, they’re not gonna like interject unless we make that. So everybody has at least one guardian angel, whether you believe it or wanna work with them or not. Um, and so to your question as far as like are they filing their nails or sitting off to the side or what, sometimes we need to experience those things, and they’re not gonna interject.

Em: Okay.

Nichole: But if we wanna work with them and say, “Hey, help me out a bit, you know, with this, this, or this.” Then– Or regarding your life, they’re gonna show up more. They’re gonna interject more. They’re gonna support you more.

Christine: So it’s almost like you need to be engaging too.

Em: So–

Christine: Like you need to be–

Nichole: It’s like it’s a two-way street.

Em: Sure.

Nichole: You have to have kind of a communication.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: So you have to be open to, you know–

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Em: –open to all of it. Okay. Thank you.

Nichole: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Christine: Asking for help and stuff, yeah.

Nichole: And if you want. You know, again, ’cause like some people aren’t, aren’t into this, so they’re–

Christine: Right, right, right.

Nichole: –so then they’re not gonna have very much to do.

Em: Sure. Okay.

Christine: Yeah.

Em: Thank you.

Nichole: It’s like that song in my hea– Yeah. It’s like that, uh, that social media [sings jaunty tune].

Em: [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] Just that sound rolling.

Nichole: [laughs] It’s in my head like somebody just playing around the guardian angels. Like, “Okay, you, you fly, little birdie.”

Christine: [laughs] [sings jaunty tune]

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: “Go do your own thing.”

Christine: "I hope you– your nails are gonna look great.” Um–

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: –okay. Let’s see. So–

Nichole: Where were we?

Christine: “–you can play diplomat. K, asshole,” it says.

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: “Those are just some snapshots of our relationship. I’ve done my best to forget the rest.” Good for you. “We dated for about a year before I dumped his ass while on study-abroad in Germany.”

Em: Good.

Christine: “Finally got far enough away from him to be able to think for myself and realize that he was destroying me bit by bit. However, during the year we were together, we visited each other’s homes, met each other’s families, etc., etc., etc. One extra special visit happened when he came to visit my parents at their house, deep in the Michigan wilderness on ten acres of land, surrounded by over 100 acres of state-owned land, aka in the middle of absolutely nowhere with absolutely no one around.”

Nichole: No body, no crime.

Christine: No body, no crime.

Em: Mm-hmm.

Christine: Terrifying. “While staying the weekend at my parents’ house, Captain Asshole had to sleep in the basement, and I slept in my room two whole floors away. #ChristianParents.” for, for once, I’m like, “They’re probably making the right move.”

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: “He slept in our living room basement on the couch. This room had a dimmer light switch. And because the house would otherwise be literally pitch black because we were so deep in the woods, he’d sleep with the lights just barely on so he could see the room a bit. After we had all said good night and I’d climbed the stairs up to my tower–“ [laughs]

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: “–the entire household fell asleep, and all was quiet. At about 3 a.m., my phone, which was on the nightstand next to me, absolutely erupted. Captain Asshole was calling me from the basement.” Oh, for god’s sake with this guy.

Em: Yeah, please.

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: “I rolled over and answered. ‘Um, hello?’ I said. ‘There’s someone in the basement,’ said a terrified Captain Asshole.” [laughs]

Em: Finally.

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: And I’d be like, “Oh–“

Christine: I feel like I’m reading an audiobook.

Em: I’d lock the door to the basement and go, “Figure it out.”

Christine: [laughs] Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That’s exactly what I prayed for, thank you.

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: So she’s in like a family home. He’s in the basement. It’s dark.

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: He’s an asshole.

Christine: He’s–

Nichole: Check, check.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Check, check.

Nichole: I’m feeling a, I’m feeling a ghost.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: Yeah, this feels like, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing here?”

Em: Time to be as tough as you claim you are.

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: Yeah, exactly. “‘There’s someone in the basement,’ said a terrified Captain Asshole. I shot up in my bed and paused for a moment. Deafening silence was on the other end of the phone. ‘What?’ I replied. ‘I just saw someone in your basement,’ Captain Asshole said in a slow, eerie voice. ‘What do you mean?’ I whispered back. ‘Meet me in the mudroom.’” [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: It sounds like– Okay. “‘Meet me in the mudroom. I have to get out of here,’ he replied.”

Em: Okay.

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] Jesus. “I threw on a sweatshirt and headed downstairs. When our eyes met, I could tell he was absolutely about to lose it. He was as white as a sheet and in full panic. We sat down in the mudroom, and I asked him to explain what exactly it was that he saw. He said he suddenly woke up from a deep sleep, and his eyes flew open as if he didn’t even have control over his own eyelids. As his eyes began to focus on the barely lit room, he saw a man, standing about six feet away from him in the middle of the room, staring straight at him.”

Em: Eugh.

Christine: “The man was solid, not like a wispy figure, a solid whole man standing right in front of him. Captain Asshole described the man as about six feet tall, jet black hair, slicked back like James Dean, with a neatly shaved face, blue eyes, in a gray cable knit sweater and black slacks–“

Nichole: That’s a lot of detail.

Em: Yeah.

Christine: He got a long look at this fella. “–staring right at him. And this man was pissed.”

Em: Good.

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: “Apparently, the man’s eyes were wild with rage, and he was grimacing so hard he was physically shaking. The man extended his left arm and aggressively flipped off Captain Asshole. The man took a step toward Captain Asshole, but he blinked, and then the man was gone. But the image of this man was scarred into his mind– or seared into his mind.”

Em: Mm.

Christine: I would imagine both are probably accurate. “I was so very confused. I didn’t know anyone at all who fit that description, so it must have just been his imagination or a weirdly realistic dream. After calming him down, we both went back to bed. Yes, he went back to the basement to sleep. If that wasn’t my signal, this guy was completely fucked in the head, I don’t know what is.”

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: [laughs] “The next morning, Captain Asshole was telling my mom about what he had seen in the basement the night before. When he got to the description of the man, my mom’s eyes perked up. Side note: my mom looks insanely similar to Dolores Umbridge from Harry Potter.” [laughs]

Nichole: Oh my gosh.

Em: [chuckles] Oh my god.

Christine: “I literally would mistake that woman for my own mother.” Maybe that’s what hap– was happening in that diner.

Em: Maybe.

Christine: “I fell in love with Dolores Umbridge 50 years ago.” “But my mom is an actual saint and nothing like Professor Umbrage, but I digress. ‘Hmm,’ my mom interjected, ‘that sounds like exactly how my dad looked.’ I had never met my mom’s father.”

Em: Oh my god.

Christine: “He unfortunately died of brain cancer before I was born. My mom always spoke very highly of her father, saying that he was extremely loving, kind, patient, gentle, and sweet. She couldn’t imagine him flipping anyone off. However, from other stories my mom told about her father–“

Nichole: [chuckles]

Christine: “–she also said that he was a fierce father of three girls and would have done absolutely anything for them. Her girlfriends would come over to their house and ask for advice about any problems they were facing, and all of her friends look up to him as a father figure. Sounds just about like the kind of guy who would have flipped off someone abusing his granddaughter.”

Em: Yeah.

Christine: “To this day, I believe that since my Grandpa Joe was the only person in my family who could have seen for himself what Captain Asshole was doing to me, he felt like he needed to step in and try to protect me. And even though I never met him, I will always love him for that. A few mon– A few months later, I was on study-abroad in Germany and dumped Captain Asshole.”

Nichole: Yay!

Christine: “In my study-abroad group was a guy named Kevin who absolutely stole my heart when we spent over an hour talking about how much he admired his grandparents for having such a warm, respectful, and empowering relationship. His Grandma was a career woman, like a CFO of a huge company, and his Grandpa was her biggest fan. He said he hoped to find a love like theirs someday. Spoiler alert, he did. It’s ten years later. Kevin and I are married with a little kitten named Linguini.”

Nichole: Aw!

Em: Aw.

Christine: Come on. “Kevin is an extremely supportive husband, so much so that he has empowered me and supported me in my career to the point I’m the breadwinner in our household, and he feels 0% emasculated by that because he’s so proud that he landed that bitch.”

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: “So suck my dick, Captain Asshole. I did find a self-respecting man who would follow me to the ends of the earth. Well, I hope you enjoyed my tale. And to all the other listeners, a little message from me: in a healthy relationship, your partner should lift you up, make your life easier, and help you achieve your dreams. Do not settle for anything less. This is your one shot at a happy life. Don’t let any asshole ruin it. The people who love you will help you leave. Psychological abuse is abuse, besties. Get help. You are worth it. Love you. XOXO.” The end.

Nichole: Whoa.

Christine: [sighs] Wow.

Nichole: That’s amazing on so many levels.

Christine: That’s a doozy. That is like a kick-ass redemption story, you know?

Em: Yeah. And I–

Christine: Not that you needed to be redeemed, but like you got out of a very shitty situation that you didn’t deserve.

Em: I wonder how– why in that moment the– her grandfather was able to come through. Was it because of that house or because he was alone or because he was surrou– Like they were in a house full of her family members?

Christine: The energy of the family.

Em: What’s that?

Christine: Yeah, yeah. Like the energy of the family or something?

Em: Yeah. I wonder if it was easier to like show up when like enough family were around to like subconsciously channel you?

Christine: Or maybe he just got–

Nichole: Oh, he was motivated– [laughs]

Em: Yeah.

Christine: He was pissed off.

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: –number one. And I didn’t know what was gonna happen, but I heard um, you know, family land, all of that, so I think that’s definitely a part of it, Em. But when you, when you were telling the story, Christine, or sharing it, I was seeing them at dinner, and I feel like what had happened was there was like some argument after dinner–

Christine: Mm-hmm, mm-hmm.

Em: Ohh.

Nichole: –and then that like ticked off Grandpa ’cause he saw what happened–

Christine: Yeah, ’cause she–

Nichole: –and then he was just like in a ra–

Christine: Yeah, exactly.

Nichole: He was like, “I need to really shake [unintelligible].”

Christine: Like, “This stops here.”

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Christine: Like, “Not in my house.” Yeah, yeah. Wow. That’s powerful.

Em: I love–

Christine: Especially if that was like his MO in life too. That’s really cool.

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Em: Mm.

Nichole: Well, thank you so much for sharing. That was a great one. Glad that–

Christine: I love that he’s like, “Give me a body. Give me a corporeal body. I need to flip this guy off.”

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: [laughs] Yeah.

Christine: “It’s not enough to just scare him with a light switch. I gotta give him the finger.”

Nichole: Well, what’s weird is when, when you said a ‘guardian asshole’ Em, I saw like fingers flipping off, and I didn’t know what that meant, so now I know.

Em: Well, hey, alright.

Christine: Oh my god. You’re right. Yeah.

Nichole: Yeah.

Christine: He is a guardian asshole but like in the best way.

Em: I accidentally let the future slip.

Nichole: Uh-huh.

Em: [sighs]

Story 6 – My Guardian Angel, Confirmed by a Psychic

Nichole: Okay. Are we ready for the next one?

Christine: I think we’re ready.

Nichole: The last story, I believe. Okay.

Em: Yes.

Nichole: This one is a subject, “My Guardian Angel, Confirmed by a Psychic”–

Christine: [gasps]

Nichole: –and this is from Claire.

Christine: It’s now about to be confirmed by another psychic–

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: Yes, check, check.

Christine: –which is crazy.

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: Okay. “Hello, Eva and Co. My name is Claire (she/her), and my dead uncle protects me.”

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: Ooh. “Before I get into–“

Em: I, I love that. That should be like in your like Tinder profile or something.

Christine: Like if anyone ever tries to introduce you on a podcast, um, like I tried to do for Nichole, that’s how they should do it. Just simple like that.

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: Her dead, her dead uncle protects her.

Christine: “My dead uncle protects me,” yeah.

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: “Before I get into all of that, I wanna tell you guys how much your show means to me. You have been my companions for years–“

Christine: Yeah, Nichole. [chuckles] Tell me about how much my show means to them. [laughs]

Nichole: [chuckles] “–including on the many back and forth drives from North Carolina to Virginia my stepdad and I had to take when my grandma was dying. He and I listened together and have since been two– to two of your live shows together.”

Christine: Oh, hey!

Em: Cool.

Nichole: “And he wants you to know he called it after the episode when you met Allison, much like we all did.”

Em: Okay, well.

Christine: Uh-huh.

Em: [chuckles]

Nichole: “Thank you for being a part of our family and giving Big Richie and his Sweet Angel Daughter something special to share.”

Christine: Aww.

Nichole: “Yes, he and my mom have a What– have a What We Do in the Shadows bit. We’ll see you around next time you’re in Atlanta.”

Christine: Yay.

Em: Okay.

Nichole: “Now back to the real story. My aunt Minnie and Uncle Joe lived in Louisiana in a trailer in the middle of nowhere. My uncle Joe was due to get heart surgery but had a fatal heart attack a few days before.”

Christine: Mm. [sighs]

Nichole: “He died in my aunt’s arms.”

Em: Mm. [sighs]

Nichole: “They couldn’t afford a phone, so she couldn’t call the paramedics. She moved back to upstate New York and started stocking shelves at Walmart. She went to see a local psychic who was physically blind but saw more than most. She said Joe was coming through. After my aunt cussed him out for leaving her too soon, he apologized–“

Christine: [chuckles]

Nichole: “–said he’d be there when it was her turn, and that he had a gift coming for her in May.”

Christine: [gasps] Oh?

Nichole: “In May of 1998, my aunt won $25 million in–“

Christine: What?

Nichole: “–in the New York–“

Em: Can that uncle come over here too?

Christine: He must have felt real bad. He must have been like, “Shit, I gotta make up for this one.”

Nichole: [laughs]

Em: Oh my god.

Christine: Whoa.

Nichole: “–$25 million in the New York State lottery (before taxes).” [chuckles]

Christine: Shut the front door. Before taxes. [chuckles]

Nichole: Yeah, but that’s okay. Hey, we’ll take it.

Christine: We’ll take it.

Nichole: “Two months later, I was born. My aunt and my mom went back to the psychic years later, and she informed them both he was gonna look after that ‘little blonde girl.’”

Christine: [gasps]

Nichole: “And he’s done a damn good job since. There are many sticky situations I imagined he helped me out of, including choking on a half chicken nugget earlier this month. Shout out to my husband for–“

Christine: [laughs] Oh my god. Em, okay, so–

Em: [chuckles]

Christine: –they’re busy saving– giving people the Heimlich, not helping you trip over your couch or spill your drink.

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs]

Christine: That’s why we’re so clumsy. There’s real people with real problems, like choking on a chicken nugget.

Em: Yeah, yeah.

Nichole: “–shout-out to my husband for remembering the Heimlich. There’s–“

Christine: Oh, good. Okay, never mind.

Nichole: [chuckles]

Christine: Husband gets the credit for that one.

Nichole: “There’s so much more I could tell, like about the time Guardian Angel Uncle Joe went to prison for manslaughter because he killed a guy in a bar fight with one punch, or my mom’s prophetic death dreams, but we’ll leave that for the next time. Wink. Love you guys truly, Claire.”

Christine: Wink. [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: “P.S. Attached is the, is the interview she gave her local paper and the Buffalo paper when she won. As you can tell, she was a character. You can read them on air if you want. They’re both short.”

Christine: Nichole–

Em: Oh my.

Christine: –do the honors if you would.

Nichole: Okay, there’s an image here. Let me open this up. Okay. “Marilyn Brantley and her sister met with reporters at the Olean [pronounced “oh-lean”] Tops market May 20– 29. ‘What am I–‘”

Christine: Olean [pronounced “oh-lee-anne”]? That’s where my stepdad’s from.

Nichole: Oh, really?

Em: Oh?

Christine: Olean, New York. It’s this tiny ass town.

Nichole: Oh, I said it wrong. Olean [pronounced “oh-lee-anne”]?

Christine: I’ve been to the Olean Walmart like a hundred times.

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: That’s where this woman worked at one point before–

Christine: What the fuck?

Nichole: –she won $25 million.

Christine: And maybe that’s a sign. I’ll go, I’ll go up there.

Nichole: “I need to fire my guides and angels. They didn’t give me $25 million.”

Christine: [laughs]

Em: [laughs] You know what? I–

Christine: They want you to find the treasure.

Em: You’re speaking too soon because you got those trunks.

Christine: Yeah, you got treasure in your house.

Em: You got– They said something about the money.

Nichole: I mean, you’re right. The– But those are the ghosts. Those aren’t my guardian angels. I mean–

Christine: Oh. The guides need to like tell you where that treasure is.

Em: Maybe sometimes ghosts are m-more helpful than the angels. Maybe this one’s like, “I’ll step in.”

Nichole: Mm-hmm.

Em: “There’s money somewhere. Go find it.”

Christine: Yeah, “I know the angels care more about your spiritual welfare, but like this–“

Nichole: Yeah, they’re, they’re like, “She’s rich beyond your imag– you know, imaginations.”

Christine: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: And I’m like, “F it. I want the money.” No, just kidding.

Christine: Like immediately.

Nichole: I can have both. We all can.

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: Okay, back to this interview. “‘What am I going to do? I’m going to do what the 400-pound gorilla does – exactly what I want to do,’ said Marilyn Brantley–“

Christine: [laughs]

Nichole: “–in a response to a Patriot reporter’s question.”

Christine: [laughs] “None of your fucking business. None of your beeswax.”

Nichole: “Brantley, who learned last week that she had won over $12 million in a New York State Lottery game, was feted May 29 at the Olean Tops Market, the site where she purchased her winning ticket. The game was a $25 million top prize, but by selecting the lump-sum option, Brantley will receive less than half the advertised prize. Taxes will then have to come out of her winnings. With her was her sister, who had stepped in front w– of her to buy a losing ticket on the same day.”

Christine: [gasps]

Nichole: Well, there you go. [laughs]

Em: Oh! [laughs]

Christine: Her sister– You– No, no, no. The, the fucking Uncle Joe pushed–

Nichole: The fact that this reporter got that in there. “Her sister was in front of her.” [laughs]

Christine: The uncle pushed the sister in front. He’s like, “You don’t get that ticket.”

Nichole: That’s what happened.

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Christine: “You–“

Em: The way that if I were that sister–

Christine: Oh, I would never let it go. [laughs]

Em: –I would lose my F-ing mind every day I woke up. I’d be, I’d be like, “You owe me at least $1 million. Please.”

Nichole: Yeah.

Christine: “At least $1 million. Come on.”

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: Oh my gosh. “A contingent of co-workers from the Wal-Mart store in Olean came to wish her well. When they asked her if she’s planning to return to work to that– at the store, she quipped, ‘Wal-who?’” [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Christine: “Wal-who?” [laughs]

Nichole: “The co-workers were ecstatic at her good luck.”

Christine: Aw.

Nichole: “‘This couldn’t have happened to a better person,’ one of them said. ‘She’s a great lady.’ Brantley, who told the crowd she enjoys fishing, said she plans to travel but did not announce any immediate plans to move from Allegany County.”

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: “She is the first lottery millionaire from the county.”

Christine: I’m gonna a–

Em: Wow!

Christine: I’m literally– This is so weird. I’m gonna– I have a question. I’m gonna ask my stepdad if he knows this person.

Em: I feel like, I feel like he’ll know if you text him. It’s like, “Oh, yeah, the girl that won the lottery.”

Christine: I know, right? I’m like, this is like–

Em: Yeah.

Christine: –I think as far as I’m concerned, a pretty small– I mean, it’s outside of Buffalo, but it’s like pretty small.

Nichole: Well, he said he had a gift coming to her, and boy, did he.

Christine: Wow.

Em: Yeah. [laughs]

Nichole: I mean, if that’s not the way to make it up that, you know, she was mad that he, he left her too soon.

Christine: That’s incredible.

Em: Let’s circle back to my grandpa who gave me a hug one time in a dream. Like, let’s–

Christine: [laughs] You’re–

Nichole: Okay. Yeah, I thought you were the favorite grandchild.

Em: Let’s try again.

Nichole: Clearly not, Em.

Christine: I thought you were the favorite. [laughs]

Em: Yeah, I–

Nichole: Mm-mmm.

Em: All of a sudden, I’m nothing. I feel like nothing, so. Um–

Christine: Do you– All– Just like that. Just like that.

Nichole: And just like that. [snaps fingers]

Em: I can–

Christine: And then your angels are there like, “Alright, now can we do the spiritual journey thing and your psychic and all this?” Nope.

Em: I, I feel like that– like her– Was it her uncle or her grandpa who, who did this? It was–

Nichole: Grand–

Christine: I think uncle.

Nichole: Uncle Joe is what she said.

Em: Uncle Joe.

Nichole: Uncle Joe, Uncle Joe. Yeah.

Em: The, uh– I feel like– I don’t know. When they go to like guardian angel– like the bar for guardian angels, he gets a real big pat on the back that day, just like, “Oh, yours won $12 million.”

Christine: Yeah. Like, “Shit, you’re really taking care of your, your wife.”

Em: Like, “Making us look bad, Joe.”

Christine: “Yeah, seriously, Joe.”

Em: “Making us look bad,” you know. [chuckles]

Nichole: [chuckles]

Christine: “Save some lotto wins for the rest of us.”

Em: Man, that’s very cool. I’m very jealous.

Christine: I texted my stepdad: “Do you know someone named Minnie who won the lottery in Olean?” We’ll see.

Nichole: I thought you were texting me. I was like, “Why are you texting me? I’m here.” [laughs]

Em: [laughs]

Christine: Oh, no, no. I’ll text you too. Just for fun. “Hey. Hey, Nichole. Do you know anyone named Minnie who won the lottery?”

Nichole: No. Mm-mmm. I do not.

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: Now I do. I mean, from this story.

Christine: Now you do.

Em: Wow.

Christine: Wow. What a good story though. I– And then I love that the grandchild was born right after and it was like, “Was that supposed to be the gift and the lottery was just an accident?” Like–

Em: Yeah.

Nichole: That was just the cherry on top.

Christine: Or was it the other way around? Yeah, cherry on top.

Em: Sure.

Christine: That’s beautiful.

Em: Sure.

Nichole: [unintelligible]

Christine: Aw.

Em: Well, thank you everyone for sending in your stories. Uh, and happy May. Um, it will, uh, hopefully–

Christine: Oh, it’s beautiful. We’re making it to spring finally.

Em: I know. It’s probably very hot. I’m probably complaining in a nearby episode.

Christine: It’s probably not quite where we are, but maybe.

Em: Uh, and thank you, Nichole, for coming on, and, uh–

Christine: Yeah.

Nichole: This has been a blast. Thank you for having me.

Em: Everybody, please go check out A Psychic’s Story. And, uh, is there anything else you’d like to plug or where people can find you?

Christine: In the walls.

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: [laughs] In the walls. Come, come to our retreat and adventure when Christine and I are gonna climb through walls. No.

Christine: Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’re– I’ll bring a hard hat for everyone.

Em: [laughs]

Nichole: Yes, we can go do some adventure discovering. No, A Psychic’s Story wherever podcasts are. And if you need more information, you can go to apsychicsstory.com. Thanks again for having me on, all.

Christine: We love you.

Nichole: Love you.

Christine: Bye.

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