Theresa Caputo, known as the "Long Island Medium," is one of America's most recognizable psychic mediums, star of the hit TLC reality series Long Island Medium (2011-2019) and the more recent Lifetime series Raising Spirits (2024-present). With her distinctive blond hair, Long Island accent, and charismatic stage presence, Caputo has become a household name in the world of mediumship—though not without controversy.
Theresa Caputo was born Theresa Brigandi on June 10, 1967, in Hicksville, New York. [1][2] She grew up in a Catholic family and discovered her psychic abilities at a young age. As a child, she struggled with knowing how to use her gift, often feeling overwhelmed by the information she was receiving. [2]
Caputo did not fully embrace her abilities until her early twenties, when she sought out spiritual awareness classes and a spiritual healer who helped her understand that communicating with deceased loved ones was her purpose in life. [2] She describes the turning point as occurring around the time of September 11, 2001, when she "put my gift in God's hands" and committed to using her abilities for healing purposes. [3]
"I was built for this kind of work because it's not easy... my gift is guided by God." — Theresa Caputo [3]
Caputo married Larry Caputo in 1989, and they have two children together: Larry Caputo Jr. and Victoria Caputo, both of whom have appeared on her television show. [1] The couple separated in 2017 and finalized their divorce in 2018. [1] Caputo's parents, Nick and Ronnie, still live next door to her, and her brother Michael and his family live nearby. [2]
Caputo's breakthrough came with the TLC reality series Long Island Medium, which premiered in 2011. [1][2] The show followed Caputo as she conducted private readings and live events, connecting people with their deceased loved ones. The series ran for 14 seasons, making it one of the longest-running reality shows about a psychic medium. [1]
During her time on TLC, Caputo developed a loyal following of viewers who appreciated her ability to deliver specific, validating messages from the "other side." Her distinctive personality—combining emotional intensity with humor and Long Island sass—became her trademark.
On January 25, 2024, Caputo returned to television with a new Lifetime series, Theresa Caputo: Raising Spirits. [1][4] The new show offers a glimpse into both her personal life and her continued work as a medium, featuring readings for clients seeking closure and connection with departed family members.
Caputo tours extensively under the banner "Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience," performing live events in venues across the country. [5] These events feature large-group readings where Caputo connects with audience members, sharing messages from spirit. She maintains a reported 10-year waiting list for private readings. [2]
Caputo is a New York Times bestselling author with four books: [2][6]
Caputo hosts the podcast "Hey Spirit!" available on all major podcast platforms. The show was nominated for an Ambie award in the Best Personal Growth Spirituality category. [2]
Caputo describes her process as fundamentally different from what audiences might expect:
"Spirit mostly speaks to me through a sixth sense—a kind of feeling and knowing. When I get information, it feels like very strong intuition, or recall." [2]
She explains that spirit uses a "vocabulary of signs and symbols" that she has learned to interpret over years of practice. [2] The messages come through as images, feelings, and intuitive knowledge rather than audible voices.
Caputo has built a multimedia empire spanning television, books, podcasts, and live events. Her popularity is evident in: [2][5]
Her shows have been praised by audiences for providing comfort and closure to grieving individuals. Raising Spirits continues her legacy of bringing spirit communication to mainstream audiences on Lifetime. [4]
Caputo has read for numerous celebrities, though she maintains confidentiality about most readings. [5] She has made appearances on various talk shows and has been featured in numerous magazine profiles.
In April 2012, the James Randi Educational Foundation awarded Caputo its Pigasus Award in the performer category. [7][8][9] The award, created by former magician and skeptic James Randi, is a tongue-in-cheek recognition of "the most egregious examples of flim-flammery" in the paranormal field. [9]
James Randi wrote critically of Caputo:
"Caputo is just one more of the myriad faux seers who have stepped into the TV spotlight for their turn... she'll do her number along with Van Praagh, John Edward and 'Psychic Sally' until someone with a newer novelty elbows her offstage." [8]
Caputo has been criticized for using cold reading techniques—a method used by mentalists to gather information about a person through educated guesses, leading questions, and general statements that could apply to anyone. [10][11][12]
Skeptical investigator Dr. Karen Stollznow wrote:
"Caputo had emotionally disarmed the woman who was taken in by what a real skeptic would readily recognize as a classic cold reading. Skillful editing seems to have ironed out any misses and genuine skeptics." [10]
Investigative reports have alleged that Caputo uses hot reading—gathering information about clients before readings through social media and other sources. [11][12] Mark Edward, a former psychic who now works as a skeptical investigator, conducted a sting operation with Inside Edition in 2012:
"Instead of taking chances with too much guessing, Theresa bumps-up her percentage of hits and avoids bad misses by front-loading her stage shows with a combination of techniques... planting previous clients they have already read for in specific seats in the audience." [11]
Caputo has faced criticism from several high-profile figures:
Anderson Cooper appeared skeptical after Caputo's appearance on "Anderson Live" in 2012: "There's a lot you can say to a room of 300 people. If you say somebody here has ashes of a loved one, there's a pretty good chance somebody has a piece of jewelry with some ashes in it." [12]
Howard Stern refused to have her on his show in 2014, calling her "a charlatan" and saying "She's never coming in here... The Long Island psychic is not a psychic." [12]
Andy Cohen described his reading as "a lot of fishing," suggesting Caputo made vague statements that he interpreted to fit his own knowledge of his deceased friend Natasha Richardson. [12]
James Randi created the One Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge, offering $1 million to anyone who could prove paranormal abilities under controlled conditions. Caputo has declined to participate: "I will never prove or defend my gift." [12]
In 2013, magician Criss Angel offered Caputo $1 million to prove her claims. The offer was declined. [1]
Theresa Caputo represents one of the most successful—and controversial—figures in modern mediumship. From her beginnings in Hicksville, New York, to her television empire, she has built a business empire on the promise of connecting the living with the dead.
Her supporters praise her ability to provide comfort, closure, and healing to grieving individuals. Her critics argue that her techniques can be explained through cold reading, hot reading, and careful editing—methods that require no supernatural abilities.
Unlike some mediums who have participated in controlled scientific studies (such as John Edward's involvement with Dr. Gary Schwartz's research at the University of Arizona), Caputo has not submitted to rigorous scientific testing. The debate over her abilities continues, but her commercial success suggests there remains significant public appetite for mediumship content—whether viewed as genuine spiritual communication or as a form of entertainment.
[1] Wikipedia - Theresa Caputo
[2] Theresa Caputo Official Website - About
[3] YouTube - Theresa Caputo on Dumb Blonde Podcast
[4] Theresa Caputo Official Website - Raising Spirits
[5] Theresa Caputo - Live Events
[6] Amazon - Theresa Caputo Books
[7] Skeptical Inquirer - Theresa Caputo: The Fake Long Island Medium
[8] Wired - The 'Medium' Is Not the Messenger
[10] James Randi Foundation - Long Island Medium: A Tall Story
[11] ILLuMiNuTTi - Is Caputo Kaputo Yet?
[12] Des Moines Register - The Long Island Medium on critics, gifts ahead of Des Moines stop
[13] PsychicReview.org - Theresa Caputo Certified Expert
[14] Skepchick - Open Letter to Ellen Degeneres: Don't Promote Theresa Caputo