06/09/2026
Next up for Meet the Team is...
Ann Wilke
“Mom”/Lead Investigator/TikTok Manager/page Co-Manager
How long have you been on Phantasm Paranormal?
I joined Phantasm a little over 3 years ago.
Where was your first investigation?
Jericho Haunted Trinity in Jericho, WI.
What drew you into the paranormal?
Honestly, I was always scared of the paranormal growing up. I wanted nothing to do with it! A few years ago, I was going through a divorce. I decided that I really wanted to push myself out of my comfort zone and figure out who I really was. And that included trying new things, including things that scared me. I reached out to a few teams to inquire about opportunities to go on an investigation. Aaron saw one of my comments on a post and messaged me to say they had an open spot on an upcoming investigation and asked if I would be interested in going along? After working over a decade in corrections, I thought that sounded like a bad idea! Meet up with strangers I didn’t know in an abandoned building? Sounds like a murder story! But something told me to try it, so I went. I’ve been with the team ever since!
What are your roles in Phantasm Paranormal?
I am the Phantasm “mom”. I help make sure things are taken care of. I work with Aaron to schedule, book, and plan logistics for a lot of what you see the team doing throughout the year. I create our booths at conventions and conferences. I manage the TikTok page and co-manage our business page. Since I’m the mom, I also stock the med kit and carry extra batteries and supplies!
What helped make your decision to be on a team? Are there advantages to being on a team versus just buying equipment and running solo?
I love the family dynamic that Phantasm has so that plays into my decision heavily. To have people that you can trust to have your back in any situation that you encounter is essential. Knowing your teammates and their “normal” or “baseline” is also really important. Spirits can affect people in so many different ways and being with your team who can notice even slight differences to pull you out is very helpful to ensure safety. Plus, when you have a great group of people, you learn how to play on each other’s strengths to amplify the abilities of the group and also have friends to laugh with and have fun during the night. It also doesn’t hurt when the team has some pretty amazing equipment to use during investigations that there is no way I’d be able to afford on my own!
Speaking of equipment, what is your least favorite piece of equipment to use? And what’s your favorite to use?
I can get sound sensitivity fairly easily. I’m not a fan of equipment with alarms like REM Pods. Give me equipment that plays music and I’m all in! But anything with an alarm is like nails on a chalkboard. I’m also not really fond of spirit boxes, especially if they have a lot of static for this same reason. My favorite piece of equipment is probably the trip wire. I never get tired of seeing it light up in the dark! But I have to admit that I also love my blush edition Ovilus. Any time equipment is available in pink, I have to have it!!
Have you seen or felt anything during investigations?
I have seen some shadows but it’s not my strong point. I am plagued with self-doubt so it’s difficult to let my brain believe what I am seeing. It’s definitely an area that I work on quite frequently! I have physically felt a little bit of small touches during investigations over the years. The most memorable happened at the Waushara Jail. I was sitting in a cell quietly, and it felt like a giant tarantula crawling up my arm! I immediately shined the flashlight on it and there was nothing there. I apologized to the spirit and said that they just took me by surprise, and they were welcome to do that again. And it happened again right away! Usually, I just get the feeling if I’m welcome in a room or not and if someone is there. It usually starts with a buzzing in my 3rd eye area and can progress to a full migraine and nausea if they want me out!
Have you gotten to investigate a lot of places? Which one was your favorite?
I have been very blessed to have been able to visit a good number of places so far. But there are sooo many more on my list yet that I want to go to! Top of my bucket list locations right now is probably Missouri State Pen. Having a background in corrections, I am drawn to old jails and prisons. But I am also weirdly obsessed with asylums. My all-time favorite location is Trans-Allegheny. We have been there twice now for private overnight investigations. That is a place that just draws me in like no other I’ve ever been to. It’s not even just about the activity or architecture (although that does add to it). There is something deeper for me when it comes to that building. I could just sit there for days and days on end without getting tired of it.
Do you feel that there’s a certain team dynamic on Phantasm that you’ve never encountered on other teams/groups?
I definitely do! Phantasm is so much more than just a paranormal team. We are truly a family. It’s not just about investigating; it’s about being together. We always make time to go out to dinner before investigations and quite often, you will find us hanging out as one big group during the investigation instead of splitting up all night. Having amazing activity always makes the night better, but we all really prioritize just hanging out together as the most important part of an investigation. I have seen a few other teams with that dynamic, but it’s definitely rare. Phantasm is also very diverse. We have empaths, we have healers, we have members that can communicate with spirits, we have members that can see spirits, we have members that have studied demonology, we have members that have studied mediumship, etc. It seems like most of the team has some sort of ability and when we are all together, the abilities really seem to get stronger.
Do you feel that Phantasm is a complete turnkey team? Or do you feel there are elements missing that you’re always on the lookout for people to fill?
I don’t feel that there is anything “missing”. We have a great foundation built, and we continue to grow and build upwards from that. We have an amazing team right now! But I also think that once you stop trying to grow and be better, it’s time to leave. You should always be trying to improve things. We don’t have a designated application process to join our team, and we’re not looking for people to check off a list of qualifications to join the team. I’m always looking for potential new teammates. I believe that spirit will send them to us if they are meant to be with us. We can teach anyone how to investigate. But we can’t teach people how to be a good person and a contributing member of the team. It’s all about the kind of person they are and how well they fit in with our family. That will always be the most important factor. Not what they can provide for us or how well they fit into a specific role.
What’s your vision for Team Phantasm? What would you like to see accomplished by the end of this year?
My vision for the team is to continue to grow together. To do all we can to make our teammate’s paranormal dreams come true to the best of our abilities. To keep chopping away at booking the places that are bucket list locations for our team members. To keep improving our presence at conventions and conferences. I would love to grow more with collaborations with other teams and continuing paraunity. By the end of this year, I would love to have at least one or two more opportunities for the public to join us on an investigation. I love teaching people and sharing the world of paranormal with people. I would love to do more of that. I also would like to see myself accomplishing more of an online presence on Facebook and TikTok because I need to hold myself accountable for keeping that more up to date (sorry!).
