Chapter 3: The Interview — from Online Courses by Thomas Cooney
The interview is where cases are won or lost. If someone has been experimenting with spirit contact, spell work, or other practices, you need to know. They may volunteer it—or hide it out of shame. Dig carefully, without contempt.
Recording: video, audio, and rapport
I used to favor video for every interview. Video helps review congruence, deters some hoaxes, and lets teammates catch what you missed. It also makes many people self-conscious. They watch how they look instead of what they remember. I decide case by case. If something feels off, I may video. I almost always record audio. Audio is less intrusive, easy to re-listen, and invaluable weeks later when details blur.
Trust first
Clients must trust you enough to tell the awkward parts. If they think you will scold them for an Ouija session, they will omit it—and you will waste nights chasing the wrong model. Stay nonjudgmental in manner even when you later advise them to stop a practice. Humor helps: take the work seriously, not yourself. Use a form so you do not lose the thread when the story turns fantastic—but do not sound like an interrogator. Mix structure with ordinary conversation. Supportive tone unlocks detail.
The interview never really ends. Throughout the case, new fragments appear at odd moments. Keep listening. When possible, bring mixed-gender team coverage; some witnesses open up more easily to one listener than another. Who gets the information matters less than getting it. Gather as much as you can before the first overnight—planning and time are limited resources.