Emmy-nominated host of PBS’s “New England Legends”; Internationally recognized author, adventurer, and storyteller of history, ghosts, and lore
Jeff Belanger is one of the most visible and prolific researchers of folklore and legends today. A natural storyteller, he’s the award-winning, Emmy-nominated host, writer, and producer of the New England Legends series on PBS and Amazon Prime and is the author of over a dozen books (published in six languages). He also hosts the New England Legends weekly podcast, which has garnered over three million downloads since it was launched. A sought-after speaker, he’s spoken at MENSA’s national conference, given a prestigious TEDx talk in New York City, and provides dozens of live lectures and programs to audiences each year.
Always one for chasing adventures, Belanger climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Africa, explored the ruins of Machu Picchu in Peru, searched the catacombs of Paris, France (where he encountered his first ghost), faced his life-long struggle with basophobia on his birthday by skydiving, and ghost hunts all over the world from a former TB asylum in Kentucky, to medieval castles in Europe, to an abandoned prison in Australia.
Belanger got his start as a journalist in 1997, where he learned how to connect with people from all walks of life. For his work, he’s interviewed thousands of people about their encounters with the profound. His books include the best sellers: The World’s Most Haunted Places, Weird Massachusetts, Our Haunted Lives, and The Call of Kilimanjaro: Finding Hope Above the Clouds.
Belanger has written for newspapers like The Boston Globe and USA Today and has served as the writer and researcher on numerous television series including every single episode of Ghost Adventures (19 seasons and counting), Paranormal Challenge, and Aftershocks on the Travel Channel, and Amish Haunting on Destination America. He’s been a guest on hundreds of radio and television networks and programs including: The History Channel, The Travel Channel, Biography Channel, Discovery+, Reelz, PBS, NECN, Living TV (UK), Sunrise 7 (Australia), Bell (Canada), The Maury Show, The CBS News Early Show, CBS Sunday Morning, FOX, NBC, ABC, and CBS affiliates, National Public Radio, The BBC, Darkness Radio, Australian Radio Network, and Coast to Coast AM.
Praise for Jeff Belanger
“Jeff Belanger is a rock star in the ghost world.”
—CBS Sunday Morning
“Jeff Belanger is a supernatural superstar.”
—The Daily Edition – Channel 7, Australia
“If you are looking for someone to discuss the wonders of the paranormal world, look no farther than Jeff Belanger. Hear him talk about the history of the unexplained and its lasting effects on our culture and society. The perfect host for this engaging discussion, Belanger truly captures the audience—believers and sceptics alike—with his humor, passion, and knowledge about the mysteries that surround us.”
—Jennifer Hartin, WGBH Event Producer
“Jeff’s ‘A Creepy Christmas,’ presentation was informative, funny, scary, and ultimately inspiring. As an historian, I loved the way he wove history and folklore together to explain how many of our holiday traditions originated, and how we’ve changed them over time. The program was a huge success.”
—Gloria Greis, Executive Director, Needham (MA) History Center & Museum
“Thanks to Jeff for his exciting performance of ‘An Evening of Ghost Stories and New England Legends’. It was sellout! Our patrons were thoroughly entertained and grateful for the amount of time Jeff spent with them after the show.”
—Carolyn Kennedy, General Manager, The Company Theatre, Norwell, MA
“‘A Creepy Christmas’ is a must-see presentation from the multi-talented Jeff Belanger. Fun, informative, with plenty of humor and horror, Jeff had our history museum crowd cringing, laughing, and learning about some of the long-forgotten Christmas ghost stories from around the world. Highly recommended!”
—Katie MacDonald, Director, Old Colony History Museum, Taunton, MA
“Jeff is as intelligent and amusing as he seems in his writings. His presentation is tight, full of information, and best of all FUNNY! Jeff is a must for your next conference, convention, or lecture.”
—Tim Ellis Michigan Paranormal Convention Co-Founder
“Jeff was incredibly charismatic, friendly, and engaging and was able to share his experiences and stories in an incredibly entertaining and compassionate way. His extensive knowledge of local legends, paranormal investigation tools and haunts in our own backyard is nothing short of impressive. You can definitely tell he is passionate about the paranormal field, and we look forward to having him back again.”
—Kathryn Thamsen, VP Paranormal Investigation and Research Organization, University of New Haven
