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INTERVIEW: Medium Amy Allan on newest season of ‘The Dead Files’

Amy Allan walks through the home, channeling the dead in an attempt to understand the paranormal activity — Photo courtesy of The Travel Channel
Amy Allan walks through the home, channeling the dead in an attempt to understand the paranormal activity — Photo courtesy of the Travel Channel

Amy Allan, star of Travel Channel’s The Dead Files, said she is a medium who attempts to offer comfort and answers to families dealing with paranormal activity. On The Dead Files, she walks through houses and buildings trying to piece together the pieces, while her partner, former NYPD homicide detective Steve DiSchiavi, plugs together the physical evidence and research.

The new season of the reality series returns Saturday, July 12 at 10 p.m. Allan said there are three episodes that are highlights of her.

“I know there are about three that really were amazing,” she said recently during a phone interview. “Two of which encountering subject matter that really hasn’t been something that we’ve encountered before. One of them having to do with past life issues, and that one I believe took place in California on an investigation that we did. But that subject actually did arrive and had to be dealt with, so that’s something that is kind of new territory as far as The Dead Files is concerned. I think the Texas case was really fascinating, dealing with an entity that is typically only present in certain locations around the world, and it was in Abilene, Texas, which really made no sense and was absolutely, really horrifying. I’m still very, very worried about that family, and then the last one that we did was a very interesting mystery that found resolution during the reveal, and it was shocking really I think for everybody involved how that one played out.”

Steve DiSchiavi finds some leads for the case while combing through the archives at a local library on the season premiere of 'The Dead Files' — Photo courtesy of The Travel Channel
Steve DiSchiavi finds some leads for the case while combing through the archives at a local library on the season premiere of ‘The Dead Files’ — Photo courtesy of the Travel Channel

Allan admitted that sometimes she is “extremely unnerved” by the cases, but other than the initial scare factor, she’s OK dealing with the paranormal. “I typically try to control that as quickly as possible because I really can’t allow myself to be scared,” she said. “I need to be there for the dead and the living and not have that be an issue. Really from a young age I’ve encountered all kinds of things, so, of course, there may be an initial, ‘Oh, s***,’ this is great. But then I have to really just focus and get through it.”

Allan came to The Dead Files at a time in her life when she was thinking about giving up the television side to her profession. Producers from Painless Entertainment convinced her that The Dead Files would be done the “right way” and focus on methodology. This gave Allan a sense of comfort and confidence in the TV work.

“I definitely focus more on the work. Occasionally it’ll hit me that I’m on a television show, but I don’t really focus that much on that aspect of it, other than I’m glad to be given a platform to hopefully have an educational purpose, getting information out to the public in such a broad manner.”

Allan was tight-lipped about the new season premiere, which takes her to a case in Florida City, Fla., but she did allow that her skills are still being used to help the family involved. She called the case “very dire” and at times “volatile.” “Everyone is kind of having their separate experiences, so it was good that we were able to be there and be able to form a good solid communication within the family itself so that they can take care of it,” she said.

In these cases, Allan sees her role as relaying what “the dead are going through,” including their needs and wants. Similarly, she’s a listener of the living, trying to understand their wishes.

Her earliest memory as a medium goes back to when she was 4 years old with “shadow people.” At the time she didn’t understand what was happening, but then in her early teens she started to realize there was something deeper to these experiences.

“So at the ages of 12, 13, 14, you just want to be like everybody else, and so I kind of tried that. It didn’t work too well, and then it wasn’t until my late teen years that I was watching a television program, and I actually saw James Van Praagh. And it hit me that I knew, and I had a complete breakdown. I was crying and very scared. Although my whole life, I always talked to people about paranormal, I’d always had these experiences, I was always reading the scientific literature about it. That was my a-ha moment. This is what’s really going on here, and that’s when I put myself out there to be tested. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t insane or schizophrenic, and ended up going through a lot of testing and meeting with parapsychologists.”

She said that her parents and most of her friends are “sensitive”.

“When I finally kind of came out, my parents initially wanted me to just be a parapsychologist and not so much public,” she said. “But now it’s wonderful because we do have a very open communication, and they’ve kind of dealt with their demons regarding their own abilities and what they went through as children with their families. So it’s actually been a really great experience regarding that. Most of my friends are sensitive, so we kind of travel in packs. They always knew something similar was going on. … I’m very happy that a lot of people have come out of the closet due to this or are communicating more about this and learning a lot about it, so that makes me really happy. Who knows what the future brings. I don’t know. I’m not a psychic; I’m just a medium.”

By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com

  • The Dead Files returns with new episodes 10 p.m. Saturday, July 12 on the Travel Channel. Click here for more information.

John Soltes

John Soltes is an award-winning journalist. His writing has appeared in The New York Times, Earth Island Journal, The Hollywood Reporter, New Jersey Monthly and at Time.com, among other publications. E-mail him at john@hollywoodsoapbox.com

15 thoughts on “INTERVIEW: Medium Amy Allan on newest season of ‘The Dead Files’

  • William Crain

    I have always enjoyed the dead files.I have many questions regarding the paranormal as I believe I have had a few experiences and I would like to discuss them with someone like Amy.That said, please continue making the show as it is very informative as opposed to the investigation type shows out there that offer no real answers. Thank you Amy and Steve, you are making an educational difference.

    Reply
  • Robin Olson

    I love this show and Amy and Steve. I believe it’s genuine and very needed for those who have had experiences such as myself. There is so much we don’t know or understand and the research into the paranormal is in it’s infancy. Please continue with real people and true experiences to be shown to the public.

    Reply
  • kyoko

    I just want to say that I love the show very much! Thank you Amy and Steve for helping people and the educational show.

    Reply
  • I really enjoy the show, has Amy ever thought about writing a book about what she sees when she does a walk? Explaining all the different things that’s going on when you die, and what she is experiencing?

    Reply
  • What a Show. I cant believe how fantastic you guys are as a team. Spot on thanks for educating the rest of us… with or without abilities.
    Thanks

    Reply
  • Branda Trickett

    HELP!!! Amy please,

    Reply
    • Branda

      I believe you can help, peace of mind is everything, thankyou

      Reply
  • We’ll be watching the show this evening on Netflix. It’s interesting, and not too scary.

    Reply
  • terry

    what a great show love it.if by chance Amy you read any of this i was wondering if you could please help.Years ago i was told by a physic that someone put a curse on me when i was a kid but never told me how to get rid of it.but years back i played with a oji board and i’am wondering if i let anything out before i burned it.You i go ahead 2 steps and than for one reason or another i go back twenty like something is blocking my way so .if you see this can you please help because thats the way life has been from then on.thanks

    Reply
  • cathy bauer

    Love your show….Ive been a sensitive from a very young age….not to the degree that you are….but i could fill a small book with my experiences…thank you for putting a positive spin on the paranormal….

    Reply
  • Carey Johnson

    Whenever you go on a walk do you have any body or something watching over you and protecting you

    Reply
  • myrna arens

    Hello Amy.
    Please, I hope you get to read this and can help us here on the farm, sort of speak! I have written you twice already and I know you have many that reach out to you. There are 4 dwellings on the property and found out that a serial killer, “Juan Corona” Killed about 27 people on the ground around us and 7 bodies were never found! What ever it is that is here, I believe is not good and is trying to attach itself to my 5yr old grandson whom is Artistic. If you can please help I can tell you of another place not far from here that is very active and a little girl that could use your help passing over!
    Sincerely,
    Myrna Arens

    Reply
  • Hi..amy …for years I been hear voices..and thing move things..feel pressured in my chest sometimes I can’t breath..today I was prep food for lunch and kitchen knife fall from counter.2times ..sometimes I feel scare..

    Reply
  • Deanna Mitchell

    Amy and Steve. Awesome duo. Please come to Vermont sometime. We all love you. I can’t decide who is sexier, Steve, Amy or Amy’s camera guy!!! Anyway Amy, you are amazing. Some much crap on the air, Thanks for doing something real.

    Reply

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