An Interview With Ryan Buell of Paranormal State
The Story Behind The Paranormal Research Society's Lead Investigator
Feb 28, 2009
Ryan Buell founded the Penn State Paranormal Research Society, now the Paranormal Research Society, in 2001 at the age of 19. The Paranormal Research Society began as a student club and today is made up of Penn State undergraduate and graduate students as well as various Penn State faculty and staff. PRS is comprised of two departments: Field Investigation and Research and Parapsychology and Laboratory Research. PRS is based in State College, Pennsylvania. Buell and his investigative team travel the United States assisting clients who feel they are dealing with disturbing paranormal activity in their homes or businesses. Some of these cases can be seen on the A&E Television Network reality show Paranormal State.
What was your first experience with the paranormal field? Was it a personal experience, a book, or a person that influenced you?
Buell: When I was very young, I experienced something that was terrifying. I tried to tell my parents but they were understandably skeptical. For me, I locked it up inside until I entered my teens when I was ready to start looking for answers. Along the way, I learned about paranormal investigators such as Ed and Lorraine Warren and Hans Holzer.
How old were you when you became interested in the paranormal field?
Buell: I began pursuing the paranormal when I was fifteen.
Did you keep your interest in the paranormal field a secret or were you open about it with others? What did your family think of your exploration into the paranormal?
Buell: At the beginning, I kept my journey private. Absolutely no one knew. But then one of my best friends ended up having an equal passion for paranormal investigation, so for a while, we teamed up. She helped me feel more comfortable about discussing it in the open. My friend and I published some of our investigations in the high school newspaper. That's when it became public in my school that I was the Mulder kid (Mulder from The X-Files). My family blew it off. They were either entertained, indifferent or embarassed depending on which family member I spoke to.
How hard was it to establish the Paranormal Research Society once you reached Penn State University? What was The PRS like in its early days?
Buell: It was pretty hard. You were required to have a certain amount of members, an approved constitution and other things. On top of that, we had a subject matter that was really confusing to the student government - who, at the time, approved student organizations. They denied us first and that was very discouraging. But the second time around, they gave us a chance.
PRS is nothing like it was… There was a lot of sitting around talking about what we wanted to do. Then there were fundraisers - we stooped to the level of going around campus to convince students to fill out a credit card application. And of course, there was collegiate drama! I was actually one of the youngest people within PRS, so there were times that I had to fight for their respect. It was hard to do any investigations back then because we were all so young. Now, I’m 25 years old. That’s still young, but it’s a big difference from being 19. So, for the first year, the Paranormal Research Society didn’t perform any actual investigation until seven months in. I definitely learned patience.
What are your interests outside of the paranormal?
Buell: I love to travel and discover new things. I try to travel as much as I can. This year so far I’ve traveled across the country and to the Caribbean. I keep pushing back a trip to Europe, but I’m definitely doing that soon! I’m also big in to writing. That’s where I feel the most joy, where I am most honest and in touch with myself. I have a dog, Xander. He and Sergey [tech manager, PRS & best friend] have gotten me interested in the outdoors more. I’m also a major movie fanatic. I always seek Spider-Man in NYC. Spider-Man is so mythical and iconic to me; I grew up reading his adventures and connecting to the morals of each story.
Further Reading:
Ryan Buell of Paranormal State
Source:
Interview with Ryan Buell. 25 Oct 2007.
