Meet Chad Frantsen of Gaylord

Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Frantsen.

Hi Chad, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
and how you got started?
Absolutely. I grew up in a really structured religious environment, and for a long time, that shaped how I saw the world. But over time, I started questioning, exploring, and realizing there’s a whole lot more mystery and wonder out there. That curiosity turned into Notorious Fortean, a way to explore the strange side of reality, from local Michigan legends to cryptids and weird historical events, without taking myself too seriously.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced has been recovering from Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS), a rare neurological condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks your nerves. It came on fast and completely changed my life for a while. My muscles got weak, my reflexes disappeared, and at one point, I could barely move or control parts of my face. It’s basically like your body suddenly forgets how to communicate with itself.

The recovery process is long, painful, and unpredictable. You have to relearn how to move, how to walk, and how to trust your body again. But honestly, that experience gave me a new kind of perspective, physically and mentally. When you’re forced to slow down like that, you start noticing the world in a deeper way. It made me appreciate small things most people overlook, and it pushed me to focus more on meaning and mystery instead of perfection.

That’s part of why Notorious Fortean became so important to me. It gave me a creative outlet while I was healing, a way to explore the weird, the unexplained, and even the spiritual side of what it means to be human. Having GBS taught me how fragile and incredible our minds and bodies really are, and that’s the same kind of awe I bring into my work. I think curiosity and resilience go hand in hand. When you survive something that takes away your strength, you start chasing meaning in everything.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m the creator behind Notorious Fortean, where I explore the strange side of reality — things like Michigan folklore, cryptids, UFOs, and the psychology behind belief. My goal is to make the mysterious feel relatable and fun, not fringe or out of reach. I mix curiosity, humor, and storytelling so anyone can join in, whether they’re skeptics or true believers.

I’m proud that Notorious Fortean has grown into a space where people feel comfortable asking questions again. Growing up in a strict environment taught me what it’s like to have curiosity limited. So now, I try to open doors instead of close them.

I also went through Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which left me temporarily paralyzed and forced me to rebuild my strength from the ground up. That experience gave me a deeper respect for mystery. not just in the paranormal sense, but in life itself.
What sets me apart is that I don’t chase proof or fear; I chase understanding. Every story is a chance to learn something new about the unknown and about ourselves.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I’ve come to see risk as another word for growth. For most of my life, I played it safe. There wasn’t much room to question or step outside the lines. But eventually, I realized the biggest risk was never asking “why.” Leaving that mindset behind and rebuilding who I was felt terrifying, but it’s what pushed me toward creating Notorious Fortean in the first place.

Getting Guillain-Barré Syndrome was another kind of risk. Not one I chose, but one I had to face head-on. When your body suddenly stops working, you have to trust that every small effort matters, even when you can’t see progress. Recovery taught me that every meaningful thing in life involves some form of risk , whether it’s sharing your story, starting a new project, or just believing you’ll walk again when you can’t yet.

So now, I don’t think of risk as danger; I think of it as opportunity. Every episode, every post, every new topic I explore with Notorious Fortean is a small leap into the unknown. The payoff isn’t always views or numbers. Sometimes it’s just connecting with one person who says, “Hey, I thought I was the only one who wondered about that.” That’s worth every risk.

Pricing:

• Ghost hunting
• Cryptozoology
• UFOlogy
• Unsolved Crimes
• Paranormal Investigations

Contact Info:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17K8VupZiK/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@notoriousfortean?si=w4mVHVaTjrvIuV8D
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@notorious_fortean?_t=ZP-90nVEReKbKo&_r=1