Today we’d like to introduce you to Ashlie Pounds.
Hi Ashlie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Growing up, my mom and dad would always take me on ghost tours wherever we would travel to, mainly because I loved history. When I was touring UCF in Orlando, my dad and I went on a ghost tour of Downtown Orlando. We were able to go into the Orange County Regional History Center to “ghost hunt”. There, I had my first “experience” that got me hooked on paranormal. The guide took us to a small room behind the courthouse- he did not tell us anything about this room, but told us to see if we could feel anything or pick anything up, and to tell him. I immediately saw the capital letter E in a circle in my mind. I asked him if it was something to do with the letter E, and he told me the room revolved around the story of a little girl named Emily who haunts the space because it was the last place she saw her parents together. I always thought it was so strange how I picked up on that- whether I was picking up on his thought, or the group, or if there really is a spirit there. I also had many questions- how do we know this story? Where is this history from? To this day, I cannot corroborate the story, but ever since, I have traveled to haunted places worldwide with the same goal: to investigate the history behind the legends. I never deny that paranormal activity occurs and people experience things (whether natural or unexplained), but many legends are completely false compared to the actual history. I perform deep dives into the history surrounding these legends, or based on the answers we receive during investigations. Sometimes, I am led to incredible stories!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I took a break for a while after high school and during college. I had to support myself and was unable to travel. I worked in the service industry for quite a while before entering the veterinary field in 2016 as a nurse. I met my wife while working (she is a veterinarian) and we began to travel the world. This reignited my passion for history and mystery and I picked up where I left off.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am currently the manager at Animal Eye Associates, a veterinary ophthalmology practice in Maitland, and have worked in just about every area of veterinary medicine as a nurse before working here. I originally went to school for film and graduated with a B.S. degree in psychology. I am particularly proud of my perseverance and desire to get to the truth and spread the truth, especially in today’s online world, where nothing is fact-checked. So much can be researched and verified if we only care to look. If a name comes through during an investigation, we must do our due diligence and research to see if anything supports the presenting narrative. At the crossroads where evidence and context intersect, the historian becomes an invaluable ally to the professional paranormal investigator. Every true scientific pursuit is guided by the search for truth, and the same holds for the paranormal. Without truth, credibility crumbles. When truth and understanding are absent, investigation collapses into speculation. I believe humans have senses that have atrophied due to societal constructs requiring conformity. If we tune in to ourselves, we can discover many things hidden in this world. I was raised in a private Presbyterian school, which has given me a lot of biblical knowledge as well, so I can analyze from a historical, biblical, and scientific perspective. I am incredibly passionate about preservation and connecting communities with their past.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I believe in taking risks and believe in doing at least one thing you are scared of daily. If nothing changes, nothing changes. I feel in my life I have always been an advocate for change in my life and in the lives of others. Challenge yourself and stand up for what is right- even if it is not popular. This quality is becoming a rarity in this world. For example, I was approached by a publishing company (Beyond the Fray) 6 months ago to write a book regarding my experiences and research. I was/am terrified. I just submitted it 2 days ago. I never thought I would ever write a book, but Beyond the Legend: Paranormal Paths to Hidden History will soon be released in the next couple months! Do what scares you!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ghoststorygirl/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ghoststorygirl
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GhostStoryGirl
Image Credits
Tatiana Soares da Silva (spouse)
