A Chat with Steve Shippy about “Haunting in the Heartland”

Establishing a good rapport and helping people suffering from (as yet) unexplained –and in some cases horrific– hauntings is Steve Shippy’s main priority in his new show, Haunting in the Heartland.

After a bit of an awkward start, I ended up having a great chat with Steve Shippy about his new series, Haunting in the Heartland. It premieres on Travel Channel Friday, February 21, 2020 at 10 p.m. ET/PT.

(Awkward on my part, btw. Not his.)

What would you have asked if you got a chance to talk to him? I extended that offer, but got limited responses. Mostly people were just excited for Steve and to see his new show.

However, Priscilla Bettis did pose a question about haunted fields that I was able to sort of work in to the conversation early on.

And Blaine Thompson from The Blue Gnat left an intriguing comment that also sparked some dialogue. It wasn’t a question, per se, but Blaine had piqued my interest by mentioning the Greeneville, Tennessee, episode. When I brought it up to Steve, it actually led to a pretty surprising revelation about that episode.

So what did we talk about? (When I finally got warmed up and could speak coherently?)

Below follows an abbreviated recap of it. However, feel free to listen to the whole thing on the podcast. (I’ve also embedded the episode below.)

Fields & Farmlands

Priscilla’s haunted field question got addressed early on because that’s sort of the subject of Haunting in the Heartland‘s first episode, “The Watchman.” 

Shippy travels to the old farming village of Merrill, Michigan, to confront an evil spirit that has held the town hostage since the 1800s.

He has a chance to confront the “residue” left behind on the farmland and help the community heal.

The Format

I was curious if it would remain similar to the style in his Haunted Saginaw series on Amazon Prime.

Yep.

A little different time-wise, since this new show will be hour-long episodes. Some of his documentaries are upwards of two hours, like his most recent release, A Haunting on Brockway Street. (Which clocks in at 2 hr 12 min.)

Most Memorable Case

The most memorable case this season was the one in Greeneville, Tennessee. This is the one that really stuck with Steve.

Does Blaine have ESP and he knew that? I think in general Blaine knows something about the case that haunts that town.

Steve wouldn’t give a lot away about the episode, but he did tease that it involves a very angry, malevolent spirit, a gruesome murder and an occult practice.

Whatever’s happening is causing a horrific haunting that’s affecting a young family. They fear for their children because it’s already affected one of their family members to a horrible degree.

Haunted Atchison

It doesn’t get as much hoopla as say New Orleans, Savannah or somewhere like Gettysburg, but Atchison, Kansas, has been on my radar for years. Haven’t had a chance to jaunt there yet, but I know it’s got quite the haunted reputation, which Steve said was an accurate way to put it.

I was curious where he investigated for the Atchison episode. Was it the Sallie House, or maybe the McInteer Villa?

Nope. It was the Dilbert House, which is just down the street from the Sallie House.

However, the Sallie House had been on Steve’s bucket list. He got a chance to investigate it too.

However, surprisingly, he said once was enough for him. He thinks it’s a dangerous place and he wouldn’t have any interest in going back there.

After canvassing the community, he believes the people investigating and doing rituals there are empowering the bad energy. Apparently some wild stuff goes on there.

Helping People

Does he feel like he can really help people? Can he get the entities to leave? Can he help the spirits and humans live together in harmony?

It’s always the goal. He feels education is power. If they at least have an idea of what they’re dealing with, that gives comfort.

Experts

Will he call in others, like demonic experts to help the families?

Yes.

In fact, the Malvern, Iowa, case was an extremely powerful one where he did have to call in an expert.

Unique Perspective

Because Steve himself was a small town boy who grew up in a haunted house, he brings a unique perspective to paranormal investigating.

He knows what it’s like to be the kid living in the “creepy house on the corner” –and how isolating that can be.

As a victim of a severe haunting, he has a heightened level of sensitivity to those enduring similar circumstances. His level of care and compassion really shines through.

Will Steve Go Home?

Will Steve investigate his haunted childhood home this season?

No.

Is he open to doing it at some point in the future?

According to him, it’s unfinished business. He doesn’t rule out investigating it at some point, but right now he has no plans to do it. There are others he wants to help first.

Brockway Part 2?

Will there be a 2020 release in the Haunted Saginaw series?

Yep.

In fact, more has happened since the debut of A Haunting on Brockway. He’s currently working on a follow up investigation and video, would should be released this November.

Listen

You can hear the whole conversation here:

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