Ryan Buell
In November 2007, a six-story billboard was erected at the corner of Prince and Mulberry Streets in New York City. Behind the billboard were two audio speakers, producing a highly focused sound beam. Pedestrians who walked directly in the path of the sound would hear a series of spooky, disembodied voices whispering suggestive messages such as “What’s that?” and “Who’s there? It’s not your imagination.” But someone standing next to that person would hear nothing. Fun Fact: The billboard was the first commercial use of the technology on a billboard. This unique marketing campaign was the setting to start one of the most viewed paranormal shows on television a month later: Paranormal State.
Ryan Buell, the on-screen leader of PRS, was one of the most iconic Paranormal investigators and TV personalities at the time. Buell’s fascination with the paranormal began in his childhood. Buell’s experiences in the paranormal started at a young age, but in the South at the time, no one talked about it, and no one was willing to help. His interest in ghost hunting intensified during his college years at Pennsylvania State University, where he founded the Paranormal Research Society (PRS) in 2001.
Buell’s charisma and passion for the paranormal quickly caught the attention of television producers. In 2007, A&E launched “Paranormal State,” a reality show that followed Buell and his team as they investigated alleged hauntings across the United States. The show’s popularity soared, making Buell a household name and turning PRS into a renowned paranormal investigation organization.
Buell’s appeal wasn’t just in his ability to uncover ghostly phenomena but also in his relatability. Audiences were drawn to his vulnerability and authenticity, traits that made him feel like one of us. As he shared personal struggles alongside his paranormal adventures, he became more than just a TV personality—he became a friend. His willingness to discuss topics such as addiction and mental health endeared him to fans and added depth to the show’s narrative, making us feel like we were part of his journey.
At its peak, “Paranormal State” attracted millions of viewers and spawned a devoted fan base. Buell became a celebrity within the paranormal community, frequently appearing at conventions and events. His success seemed boundless, but beneath the surface, trouble was brewing.
As “Paranormal State” continued to enjoy success, rumors swelled about Buell’s personal life. Allegations of financial mismanagement and unethical behavior tarnished his reputation, casting a shadow over his career. In 2012, Buell announced that he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, further complicating matters.
Despite his health struggles, Buell remained active in the paranormal community, touring the country and engaging with fans. However, his public appearances became increasingly erratic, leading to speculation about his well-being.
In 2016, Buell was arrested on charges of theft and stolen property.
The legal troubles marked a turning point in Buell’s life and career. Addiction, mental health issues, and legal woes derailed his once-promising trajectory. In the years that followed, Buell faded from the spotlight, retreating into obscurity as he grappled with his demons.
Fast-forward to now. Ryan Buell is healthy and come April 2024, he will celebrate seven years clean from drug addiction. Ryan also holds a license to be a psychotherapist, and is still in his associate phase.
Early on in his career as a paranormal investigator, Ryan was contacted by the Catholic church to help consult with assessments before the church conducted exorcisms. Once they got involved in the evaluations, it wasn’t as fun as they thought as they confronted dark forces and possible mental instabilities. “if you’re going to work in this realm of dealing with dark entities that may have been around before humankind, there are warnings…” Ryan remembers a conversation with a priest where he was told, “Now you’re on the chess board. Once they notice you, you’re always on their radar.”
“There is a dark side to the paranormal. It doesn’t mean everything is demonic. “I have spoken to many investigators, some that are no longer with us, and they got overwhelmed and consumed by the darkness, and their lives fell apart. Looking back, that should’ve been a warning.” Ryan added.
At his events, Ryan counsels participants about practicing a healthy home life and creating boundaries with the paranormal. Ryan shares a perspective on the current dynamic and rift between the Paranormal Network shows and the YouTubers. Ryan’s thoughts are, “Everything has its place in the paranormal. I don’t really watch a ton of paranormal shows, even when Paranormal State was airing. I think it’s great that there are so many people out there on different platforms bringing attention to the community; I can’t speak for their authenticity. But as long as we don’t forget that there are real people doing actual investigations out there. Sure, there are sensationalist-type videos out there, but that’s entertainment, and that’s not what the entire paranormal field is all about.”
When asked if he felt there were pros and cons to getting on a network television show, Ryan responded, “Sure. We were broke college kids so when they said we can investigate the paranormal and get paid, we were like HELL YEAH! They would pay for us to travel and pay for the hotel. Back then, I thought this would be a great PR tool to talk about the paranormal. The cons are that no matter what your intentions are, the people financing this have their own agenda and are not necessarily looking out for your credibility. When Paranormal State aired, about 2.5 million people were tuning in, so I went from being an unknown to being a known person. It was a different vibe. The show ended 13 or 14 years ago, and to my surprise, I still get people that recognize me; it’s a little weird.” Ryan adds, “Family is really important to me. When I was doing Paranormal State, I had no life. I had all this attention, and sure, I had some money, but I had no life.”
Ryan offers more intimate and boutique events where he can get to know people and interact with everyone. Ryan also relies on his ability as a psychotherapist to help others before or even after an investigation. Ryan’s therapy dealing with his childhood trauma was to join low-key investigations as a form of exposure therapy.
Acknowledging his very public “crash and burn” absence from the paranormal. Ryan speaks candidly about how he had to make right with himself and be honest with himself. With some encouragement about sharing his message and story of dealing with his addiction. a large amount of encouragement came from those who have been touched by some addiction.
What Ryan went through was a very human experience, and many can relate to it. It’s easy to kick someone while they’re down from behind a keyboard and walk away, but what you’re missing out on is the daily struggle to keep pushing forward. The journey for Ryan is far from over; his commitment to helping others is what drives his passion. You can catch Ryan talking about blending in the therapy with the paranormal at his future events.
Ryan closes with this, “Listen, Passion is all you need. The paranormal is big everywhere. Communities can have their pros and cons. On the one hand, they can be beautiful and support one another. On the other hand, they can be toxic and drag you down. I have always personally thrived being outside the community because then it is about doing my own thing. Don’t pay attention to the noise or necessarily what everyone is doing, even though sometimes it’s tempting. I believe it’s important to celebrate people’s successes along the way, be supportive, but do your own thing. As someone who has been high up there, I can tell you there is no top to the paranormal, it’s an illusion. Do your own thing, be ethical, and think outside the box. If you look at all the pioneers in the field, that’s what they did.”
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Judelo
Ryan, I’m so happy to hear you are taking care of you! I was a loyal watcher of PS and never knew about your personal struggles until about a year or two ago. I’d love to one day be a part of one of your paranormal experiences but I don’t live close enough. Congratulations Ryan! I’m sure you have/do help many ppl! Keep working it one day at a time!