The Observador Paranormal podcast returns with an episode that takes direct aim at one of the most sensitive topics for the Latino community: the spiritual quest. HERE you can listen to the podcast.
Under the title “Spiritual Self-Deception”, the 170th episode of the program asks to what extent the spiritual path we claim to follow is really a deep search… or a comfortable story we tell ourselves to avoid seeing certain truths. For a little over an hour, the hosts talk with Balam Ibarra, who breaks down the contradictions, excuses and “shortcuts” that many people use when they talk about faith, energy or spiritual awakening.
Click on the photo to listen to the podcast
As in every issue, Juan Manuel Torreblanca and Roberto Belmont take the conversation beyond the anecdotal.
In Observador Paranormal they have built, episode after episode, a space where the occult, paranormal phenomena, horror movies, supernatural investigations and the most famous cases of mystery are explored, comparing film versions with real archives and documented testimonies.
On this occasion, the “monster” is not an entity from the beyond, but the magical thinking that often replaces critical thinking when we talk about spirituality.
The episode invites you to question gurus, “high vibration” speeches and promises of express enlightenment that are consumed on social networks as if they were any other product.
Who is Balam Ibarra?
This chapter’s guest, Balam Ibarra, does not come from the terrain of terror, but from deep reflection.
Various projects present him as a philosopher and writer, a connoisseur of the spiritual traditions of Native American peoples and a disseminator of topics such as the Red Road, sacred plants and ethical responsibility in the inner search.
In other interviews he is also described as a lecturer and therapist with a philosophical approach, focusing on critical thinking, mental health and questioning contemporary spiritual dogmas.
That mix makes his dialogue with Torreblanca and Belmont not an “attack” on spirituality, but an invitation to distinguish between a real process of transformation and the simple need to feel special, chosen or more “awakened” than others.
Who’s behind the microphone
Behind each episode are Juan Manuel Torreblanca and Roberto Belmont, two voices that are already a reference in Spanish-language audio about mystery and spirituality.
Juan Manuel Torreblanca is known for his work as a storyteller, musician and lover of Latin American esoteric folklore, something that is reflected in the way he builds atmospheres and stories within the podcast.
Roberto Belmont, on the other hand, has collaborated in paranormal investigations and outreach projects on unexplained phenomena and alternative spirituality, which gives the program a more analytical and field angle.
Belmont is also the voice behind “Crímenes del más allá“, another QuéOnnda podcast in which he reviews real criminal cases marked by an inexplicable component.
Together they have turned Observador Paranormal into one of the most recognized Spanish-language podcasts in the genre, with a presence on platforms such as iHeart, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and other audio apps, where it has accumulated hundreds of episodes and very high ratings from the audience.
According to specialized rankings, the program now has more than 170 episodes and maintains ratings above 4.7 stars on platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
“Spiritual Self-Deception” is now available on major audio platforms – such as Spotify and Apple Podcasts – where it is published as part of the Paranormal Observer catalog.
It is also part of the podcast offerings of Nueva Network and QuéOnnda.
If you live in the United States, miss the scary stories told at home and wonder when spirituality became a business, this episode is a good gateway: it questions, provokes and, incidentally, accompanies you on those long freeway rides or sleepless nights when any noise feels… a little closer than usual.
Filed under: Spiritual Self-Deception
