Advisory Board
Aaron Sagers He/Him/His
Paranormal Journalist | Host | Storyteller
Aaron Sagers is a New York City-based journalist, author, and researcher of the weird, pursuing the cross-cultural connections of the paranormal across the globe for more than 15 years. He currently appears on Travel Channel's Paranormal Caught On Camera (in its fifth season), is host of Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Ripley’s Road Trip web series, host of Den of Geek's Talking Strange show, and host of the NightMerica true crime/paranormal podcast. Sagers was co-creator, host and Co-Executive Producer with Zak Bagans on Travel Channel’s Paranormal Paparazzi (based on his ParanormalPopCulture.com site), host of Destination America’s Paranormal Lockdown: Evidence Revealed, and has discussed the unexplained on Portals to Hell, Paranormal Challenge, The Today Show, NPR, BBC, CNN, HuffPost, and was profiled in The Hollywood Reporter, and featured in The New York Times. Sagers ghost hunted with Breaking Bad’s Aaron Paul on TruTV’s Super Into; explored The Winchester Mystery House on Syfy; uncovered The Shocking Truth of The Conjuring House on Reelz Channel; traveled across Romania with Bram Stoker’s descendant on the hunt for vampire lore; spoken about life on Mars with National Geographic Channel; interviewed alleged abductees in Roswell, New Mexico; and was turned into a Walking Dead walker by effects guru Greg Nicotero. He has been published in multiple academic journals, and written for CNN, NBC, Chicago Tribune, Baltimore Sun, Philadelphia Inquirer, Miami Herald, Los Angeles Times and more. He is the author of The Paranormal Pop Culture Collection, and contributing author to Doctor Who Psychology and The Joker Psychology, and has taught journalism at New York University.
Carrie Cates | She/her/hers
Horror Writer | Producer
Carrie Cates has a Radio-TV-Film degree from Indiana State University and studied abroad at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. She was a technologist and film teacher at Rawson Saunders School (Austin Area School for Dyslexics) for several years, and then the Community Director at the Austin School of Film for five years. In 2021, she broke away from the 9-to-5 as a full-time, independent film producer. Since moving from the Hoosier state to Austin, TX she has produced feature-length films, quite a few award-winning shorts, commercial ad campaigns and music videos. She has collaborated on projects with clients including The Chive, Rooster Teeth, Indeed, Sam's Club, Academy Sports, and Warner Bros. She taught Digital Filmmaking courses and a Production Management workshop for adults, and hosted an official South By Southwest showcase screening of her student's work for several years.
"I had the opportunity to host some panel discussions at Ethereal Horror Festival, and it was such a great experience! The folks on the panel had such diverse backgrounds and were some true up-and-coming voices in horror. What's even better is we have all stayed in touch since the festival and I love that it was so easy to make industry friends in the horror community. The festival made a great reason for us all to come together and enjoy the one thing we all had in common, a love for the genre."
Owen Egerton | He/him/his
Horror Screen Writer | Producer
Owen Egerton is an author, performer, and filmmaker. He is the writer/director of MERCY BLACK (Blumhouse/Netflix), the horror/comedy BLOOD FEST (Rooster Teeth/Warner Media) and the psychological horror FOLLOW (Raven Banner). He’s the author of several books including The Book of Harold, the Illegitimate Son of God, Everyone Says That at the End of the World, the short story collection How Best to Avoid Dying, and Hollow which NPR listed as one of the best books of 2017.
Vicky Adamczyk | She/they
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Advisor
Vicky's pronouns are She/they, and is a lesbian, dyslexic and gender queer. She has worked on equality, diversity and inclusion [EDI] in the workplace for approx. 7 years, and is deeply passionate about hearing everyone's voice, and giving voice and representation to those creatives most marginalized, be it through access, finances, gender reassignment or health. Vicky is a program manager for the national health service in England, and has enjoyed being a judge for ethereal horror film festivals since 2020.
Vicky is looking forward to stepping up into the role of EDI advisory board member, and will bring with her all her experiences to date to be the voice and representation of LGBTQ+, BAME, disabled and learning disabled diverse filmmakers. Vicky's goals are to create a 5 year EDI strategy and ensure the board is inclusive and representational of all the marvelous creative wonderfully diverse filmmakers out there.
Nicole Riccardo
Paranormal Investigator
The Real Ghosts of.. Podcast
Host of The Real Ghosts Of… Podcast, Nicole Riccardo has been featured on television, radio, and Austin Monthly magazine for her work as a paranormal investigator and medium.
On the hunt for a paranormal podcast full of scary stories, ghost hunting, real research, and a healthy dose of sass? Grab your glass of wine & get comfy because you're in for a treat.
"Ethereal provides such a supportive community and incredible opportunities for those in the horror and paranormal world. Everyone at the events, from those running it to the attendees, are so warm and welcoming, you can’t help but feel at home!"