The supernatural podcast and TV show host tells Den of Geek about his relationship with ghosts.
Created during the pandemic, Robins foray into supernatural podcasting felt, well, natural.
Robins is a believer, though hes never seen a ghost himself, he is desperate to do so.
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I never really asked, do ghosts exist?
He says, Because people are witnessing them all the time.
I think the question is, what are ghosts?
Are they the dead, returning to us?
Or are they a figment of our imagination?
Or are they the product of our environments?
I think theres a range of different possibilities about what people are witnessing, but theyre definitely witnessing something.
Actually, were, were sort of denied that ability to change our mind in society right now.
Theres no ability to learn from mistakes or to progress.
Theres very little capacity for forgiveness now.
I think thats really important.
I just love the fact that were all enjoying these stories in our own way.
How did you select which stories you feature on the show, or the podcast?
Those are the ones that make my heart beat faster.
Youre also looking at the person and for television, particularly, theres a higher bar.
Its scary to see a ghost, it can be even scarier to tell people youve seen one.
I think that takes guts.
Im really glad to say that he emailed me and hes had an incredibly positive response.
Have you ever seen a ghost?
No, I havent.
I definitely have not even come close and I live vicariously through the people who told me their stories.
I feel like Ive always wanted to see something.
I think that I am frightened of death.
And I think that thats been a big factor.
That became my personal ghost.
I think it gives me a certain empathy with the people Ive talked to.
Its also what made me interested in ghosts.I hate the idea of death.
I see ghosts as the antidote to it.
Have you had a lot of responses to the show?
Was that an important element?
But then on the other hand, with all the noises, could it be a bit of both?
One of the things we often say is that there doesnt need to be one answer to something.
What is a poltergeist?
Is a poltergeist a dead person?
Is it a sort of energy form?
Or kind of pop in of consciousness?
Your show consciously appeals to both believers and non-believers, was that important to you?
Ive really enjoyed that.
I think there is a kind of nostalgia in people for debating these mysteries.
I think theres a huge interest in the paranormal right now.
Were living through a moment in time where our world is quite frightening.
Were in a very chaotic, uncertain, and sadly, death-filled moment in history.
We go looking for answers.
When our world is strange and frightening, we go looking for another world outside of it.
Is there a bang out of person who is particularly susceptible to ghosts?
I think Id probably previously thought that there was a bang out of person who saw ghosts.
I dont think there is any more.
These experiences often happen at a transitional moment in life.
Where you are growing up or youve just moved out of your home.
There are lots of student stories.
Or youve just lost someone close to you, or separated from your partner.
That its definitely not true of all cases.
Do you think it matters whether you believe the case is real?
I dont think I would ever tell a story where I didnt think it was real.
If I felt I could answer it or dismiss it I wouldnt tell it.
I think all of the stories are mysteries to me.
That does make it hard to find the cases.
What future plans do you have forUncanny?
Were doing more podcast episodes after the TV series goes out.
So theres lots ofUncannyon the horizon.
I think wed like to do some internationalUncannyas well.
Wed like to go abroad and find some cases outside the UK.
I would love to do another big case.
LikeBatterseaorWitch Farm, and whether thats on podcast or TV Im not sure yet.
So I think therell definitely be more of that.
Im a writer of drama and fiction as well, like my play, obviously.
All episodes of Uncanny are available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
