About Ghostly Activities
Meet Jacob Rice
Who I Am
Hey there. I’m Jacob Rice, a ghost hunter who builds case files using historical records, witness accounts, and on-location investigation. I’m not chasing jump scares or made-for-TV drama. I’m here to solve mysteries, piece together forgotten histories, and document what really happens at a haunt.
And I do all that with a cup o’ joe, some good friends, and a dog in tow.
How It Started
It all began years ago in Chicago. One day in 2007, a ghost appeared in the elevator of my apartment building — my grandfather checking in on me. Of course, I freaked out a bit and I didn’t recognize him and shooed him away. I’ve regretted it ever since.
That moment changed everything. I realized hauntings aren’t just strange phenomena: They’re unfinished stories. From that night on, I’ve treated every encounter like a mystery waiting to be solved, and every ghost like someone with something to say.
It took another 2 years for me to start Ghostly Activities in 2009, and I didn’t make the blog until 2013.
How I Investigate (AKA Sleuthing)
I start with research: archives, maps, newspaper files, eyewitness accounts, and sometimes old blueprints. That’s where the evidence begins with the facts.
Then comes sleuthing, which is connecting clues, noticing patterns, and following my intuition. After all, a hunch is a clue. A flicker of EMF might point to wiring, or it might be a spirit approaching to set the story right.
I focus on five forms of evidence:
- Auditory: EVPs and direct voice phenomena
- Visual: shadows, apparitions, or movement on video
- Environmental: temperature drops, EMF spikes, static charges
- Engagement: devices responding intelligently to questions
- Personal: sensations or emotions tied to specific places
EVP and video remain my go-to tools but intuition and empathy often close the case. I mean, if you can’t relate to a ghost (they were people), then how would you expect to communicate? That’s a rhetorical question.
“A good haunting is like a good mystery. You collect clues, test theories, and listen to the witness, even if they’ve been dead for a century.”
Keeping It Real
Respect always comes first. I learn names, study the time period, and speak as if the spirits are still part of the conversation. No shouting, no provocation, just questions, patience, and a touch of understanding.
A good investigation lets both sides — living and dead — be heard. One of my favorites was at the Congress Plaza Hotel in Chicago, where we recorded the voice of a little boy who’d died during a mob hit around 1920. Research later confirmed his story. That moment reminded me why I do this: Every haunting is a mystery rooted in a person’s life.
Why It Matters
Haunted places connect us to who we were — and who we’ve become. Each investigation preserves a story, uncovers a truth, and sometimes even brings closure to both the living and the dead.
Ghostly Activities exists to:
- Share true stories of haunted places
- Teach how investigations — and sleuthing — really work
- Review ghost-hunting technology
- Keep haunted history alive
Ghost hunting is my craft. Mystery solving is my calling. Because in every creak of a hallway and whisper on a recorder lies the same question every sleuth asks:
“What really happened here?”
The Ghostly Activities Podcast
Ghostly Activities isn’t just a passion project. It’s recognized among the best in its field.
Ghostly Activities is a Top 20 ghost hunting podcast
Millionpodcasts.com, Top 70 Ghost Hunting Podcasts, September 2025
Google.com, Best ghost hunting podcasts, September 2025
Ghostly Activities is also a Top 25 ghost story podcast
Join the Spooky Side
Want to keep up?
- 🎧 Subscribe to the Ghostly Activities Podcast on Apple, Spotify, or your favorite app
- 📖 Read the blog for spooky stories, haunted history, and how-to guides
- 📺 Watch YouTube for ghostly documentaries and podcast episodes
- 📌 Follow on Pinterest for shareable stories & ghost hunting resources
Now, grab your flashlight and EMF meter. It’s time to find what’s really going bump in the night.