Jeff Belanger's Live Programs
Jeff Belanger is a master storyteller and speaker, captivating audiences worldwide with his engaging programs on legends and lore. An Emmy-nominated TV host, bestselling author, and popular podcaster, Jeff combines humor, expertise, and over 25 years of experience to make the unexplained accessible and entertaining. His dynamic presentations and performances leave a lasting impression.
Jeff Belanger provides programs, performances, lectures, and keynotes to audiences all over the world. You can see his upcoming events here, and he has received dozens of testimonials from past programs.
In addition to being the author of more than a dozen books published in six languages, Jeff has been on countless radio and television programs discussing the topics he explores. He’s lectured at many conferences, theaters, libraries, colleges, universities, and other functions around the world. He was featured in the 100th episode of Stories from the Stage on PBS, he’s given a TEDx talk in New York City, he spoke at MENSA’s national conference, he’s an Emmy-nominated television host and producer, and a popular podcaster. You can see his list of programs below.
Ghosts and Legends
This program changes each year. For over 25 years, Jeff Belanger has been exploring the unexplained. He seeks out history, folklore, ghosts, monsters, and legends all over the world and in your backyard. His talk presents highlights from his own adventures, a look at the investigation process, and compelling audio and visual paranormal evidence.
Not just focused on ghost stories, Belanger’s presentation will delve into the reasons behind the legends. Drawing from a huge library of locations, this program is different every single time it’s presented. Perfect for the Halloween season!
Not just focused on ghost stories, Belanger’s presentation will delve into the reasons behind the legends. Drawing from a huge library of locations, this program is different every single time it’s presented. Perfect for the Halloween season!
Wicked Strange New England
Based on Jeff’s popular PBS television show and weekly New England Legends podcast, and his latest book Wicked Strange, this program offers a multimedia journey through the history, oddities, paranormal, and just plain weird side of New England. Funny and entertaining, Jeff draws from hundreds of legends around New England, so this program is different every single time it’s presented, and is tailored to include stories from the region where the performance is taking place.
A Cemetery Safari
This program is a MUST SEE for anyone who ever plans to die! In a Cemetery Safari, Jeff takes you on a journey from the oldest burial rituals up through modern times. We explore funerary art throughout the ages, see funny and memorable epitaphs, funeral customs, cemetery oddities, and throw in the stories behind a few haunted boneyards for good measure. The program is funny, entertaining, and uplifting.
The Fright Before Christmas
Based on Jeff’s best-selling book, this one-man show explores the many Yuletide monsters and legends that have almost been lost to the ages. Jeff explores the history of the holiday and the ghostly traditions that date back more than two thousand years. Krampus, the Belsnickel, Tomtens, and who can forget the most famous ghost story of all time: Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol? Yule scream! Spooky, funny, and heartwarming, this one-man show will make you believe again!
The Dead of Winter...
Ready to put a chill into the coldest winter's day? This program explores the haunts, legends, and monsters associated with winter. From frozen people to abominable snow beasts, from icy haunts to strange creatures who adapt to freezing temperatures, the Dead of Winter will give you something to shiver about.
Time Travel
This mind-bending show explores the nature of time, the attempts we've made to travel through it, the fun time-travel paradoxes, and time travel in popular culture and movies. Can we go back? Should we? Can we leap forward?
Monsters and Mysteries of New England
New England is home to monsters, mysteries, and cryptids of all kinds: Bigfoot, Champy the lake monster, sea serpents, pukwudgies, the pamola, and the Dover Demon just to name a few. This program delves into some of the many monster legends Jeff has chased over the years in his weekly New England Legends podcast and his books. Be careful… you may just find yourself thinking twice before you take your next stroll through the woods…
The Call of Kilimanjaro
After his brother-in-law Chris passed away, Jeff made the decision to take the trip of a lifetime, both in honor of Chris and in pursuit of clarity about his own life and goals. One of the famed Seven Summits, Mt. Kilimanjaro in east Africa has been on Jeff’s radar since childhood. Based on his memoir, The Call of Kilimanjaro: Finding Hope Above the Clouds, this performance offers a multimedia tour of Tanzania and the great mountain that has inspired so many. Spiritual, motivational, and uplifting, this program will take you up 19,341 feet to Africa’s highest peak and back home again.
A Masterclass in Podcasting
Ever want to start your own podcast, or take your existing podcast to a higher level? Jeff has been the co-host, writer, and producer of the New England Legends podcast for the past eight years. His show has garnered over 6 million downloads. Plus, Jeff has been a guest on hundreds of other podcasts throughout his career. It doesn’t take a lot of money to get started, but you do need a plan. In this program you’ll learn the basics of what you’ll need, from developing your idea, equipment, software, hosting, advertising opportunities, getting your show listed in all of the directories, and promoting.
The Writing Life
This is a 90-minute workshop to help writers tap into their creativity, find their voice, craft a story, and express themselves in a world with more media than it’s ever had before. For more than 20 years, Jeff has made a living as a full-time writer. He’s written for newspapers, magazines, the web, podcasts, radio, television, documentary film, and he’s authored over a dozen books. The workshop focuses on nonfiction and memoir, but there is plenty for fiction writers to chew on. Attendees are encouraged to email in questions before the program.
Turning Your Passion into Your Profession
For the last two decades, Jeff Belanger has earned his living doing what he loves: chasing stories, publishing books, producing television programs, and public speaking. It hasn’t always been easy, but this motivational talk helps lay out a road map to self-employment for almost any type of job. If Jeff can turn his dream into reality, so can you.
The Devil: A Brief History
The Devil has made his presence known throughout throughout the world. We’ve named thousands of locations after him, he plays a role in our religion and politics, and he’s been blamed for countless problems and disasters. But who is he really? We’ll explore the stories of where the devil has left his mark, hear the folkloric accounts of him showing up in courtrooms and debates, and see the influence he still has over our lives through myths and legends.
Dark Journeys: Exploring Urban Legends
Bloody Mary, the Hook, White Lady ghosts, the weight of the soul, gravity hills, and so much more. Why do these legends pop up all over the world and force us to explore them?
Spirit Communication
Are talking boards (aka Ouija boards) just a game? Can people reach the other side with automatic writing, through mirror gazing, by pulling out a camera or tape recorder? Jeff shows the method, discusses the history, and displays the evidence