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Discussion thread: Quasithanatology is live! (Patreon)

Published:
2023-12-14 05:03:33
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Yep, a whole episode on near-death experiences from a medical professional and psychiatrist with healthy skepticism who's been studying them for decades. We chat about everything from brain activity to out of body experiments, odd commonalities between near-death experiences, studies that didn't pan out, theories for brain activity after death, street drugs, flim-flam, and if religious beliefs influence near-death experiences. Also, how a hat influenced our notion of time. 

Oooooh, it's a good one. Let me know what you thought in the comments! Any NDE stories you want to share? Favorite ways to feel connected to nature? 

Waving from the ceiling,

Ol' Dadward VonAlcast

Files

Quasithanatology (NEAR-DEATH EXPERIENCES) with Dr. Bruce Greyson - alie ward

Tunnels of light. Unconditional love. Visions of dead aunts. And a lot of questions. What happens when you die... or almost die? GOOD QUESTION. Dr. Bruce Greyson chats about about brain activity during death, accounts from patients, out of body experiments, time dilation, the Swiss Alps, dea

Comments

sarah de jesus

what a cool topic i’m excited for this!!!

Brooklyn Baron

What a good one!! So much to dig into and think about here. Also really appreciated what you shared about your recent personal experience and I’m waiting patiently for a psychedelic psychology episode :) Thanks DadWard for continuing to interview rad scientists and forcing me to add far too many books to my Goodreads list!

Mark Calonico

Alie, another wonderful interview! I loved his stories especially where his scientist self confronted an NDE that couldn’t be explained. And I’m so glad you explained the difference between spirituality and religiosity. I’ve had no NDE, but as a volunteer firefighter I was present shortly after people died and whispered in their ear, held their hand, or prayed for them. For a spiritual experience, I was in a vineyard preparing to harvest grapes, and felt the energy through my feet as if the vineyard was surging with life. When I touched the first bunch of grapes I felt an energy surge like a weak electric surge. I cut the first bunch and thanked the earth for her gift. And I turned my head down the row, and a coyote appeared. It stopped, looked at me, and bobbed its head then went on in its way. That wine won a double gold at a home winemaker competition. Whenever I’m in a vineyard now I feel a reverence for the soil, vines, and fruit I don’t get anywhere else.

Katt Simons

I can’t wait to give this a listen. I found Ologies when I was commuting to see my mom last fall while she was in the ICU and dying. The episodes were a way to think about something otter than that, the thanatology episodes and their resources were immeasurably helpful in preparing and coping, and some of the episodes around DadWard’s grief :( made me less alone. Almost a year now she has been gone, and corny as it sounds, finding Ologies a lasting gift. I love learning, it reminds me if time spent with my mom, and the only downside is she’d have so much fun discussing them with me if she could. Thank Alie for being and making the best thing that I had as a constant during those days. (My husband was there but Ologies wasn’t juggling work and kids while I was dealing with hospital and grief.)

Rachel Cannon

Ahhh! I just re-listened to Thanatology (top episode, IMHO) and I could use a little more cold hard staring death in the face. Yay!

Annmarie Everhart

My new favorite episode! I saw Dr. Greyson at a book reading earlier this year, so some topics were familiar to me but other ideas were new. Really appreciated hearing the answer to my question about the ceiling experiments. Thanks for making this episode happen!

Spencer Parks

Listening now! I've actually seen the new doc about NDEs because it came to my theater for a brief time. I find the topic endlessly fascinating, but the doc did eventually lean too religious for me (I didn't know who the production company was until it started) and yes, not enough science. Some, not enough. But it's still interesting to hear people's stories!

Jim Ottaviani

This episode was terrific, enlightening, hopeful, and just what I needed to hear today. Thank you!

Oren Simchy

Awesome. Especially because I picked up “After” from the library a couple weeks ago and have been too scared to start reading it! I thought reading it could help with all of my health anxieties, fear of death/dying, etc. I think this episode will definitely help ease me into the topic.

Alie Ward

Yep. We talked more off the record about why he declined to participate. Sounds like that doc was def more agenda than science.

Jeanette Moss McCurdy

I loved learning about NDEs from a science angle. One thing that really got my attention is when Dr. Greyson said the brain gets MORE oxygen near death, so the whole “white light is caused by oxygen deprivation” idea is flim flam. I had an experience that left me without fear of dying. Five days after giving birth to my son, I became sick and had a temperature of 105. While at the emergency room, a feeling of peace and acceptance came over me. I knew I was going to die, and although I had a newborn giving me every reason to live, I was okay with it. I didn’t leave my body or anything like that, but I felt almost numb, or that I was cocooned from the natural world and unable to interrupt what was happening to me.

Nicole S

Thanks for this episode dadward it was very enlightening!

Spencer Parks

You got that right! We need a legit scientific documentary about NDEs! But in the meantime this podcast episode does a great job! Thanks for asking about where we are with consciousness. I need more science about that!

Audrey Hudak

I just listened and I am shook. Completely shook. I had a out of body NDE experience when I was 7 years old after a traumatic injury - My brain had me floating about my own body watching the surgeons put my my noggin back together in the operating room. I remember the scrubs, the lights, and seeing myself and my injury. Now I work in healthcare I use my skills and abilities to help people every day. I've always known that I'm not afraid to die. Ali, I am shook. Great work.

Elizabeth K.

This was a truly fascinating episode. My beloved mom passed away last year after a 5 month battle with cancer (actually 5 days before my daughter was born) so the episodes about death and dying and the interconnected of all of us are so fascinating and truly necessary for me. It’s comforting to hear of death as a positive experience and the thought that there may be more afterwards. Thank you so much Alie for your continued important work.

Filipa Quadrado

Just listened and it was really interesting, as always! A bit disappointed I didn’t get my question on DMT being released in the brain at the time of death (and it being the same chemical released when dreaming and therefore being possibly responsible for the visions and lights) answered - so many people had the same questions about it! but, alas, maybe on another episode. Great interview though!

Staci Pinkowitz

What a fascinating episode!! I loved the discussion about the differences between religiosity and spirituality in particular. Some of those descriptions made me take big sighs of emotion. Anybody else kinda want to have a NDE now??

Gene Phillips

I confess I was ready to roll my eyes as I listened to this, but instead found myself opening up to the possibility that death is not simply the absolute end. I think need to read Dr. Grayson's book.

sarah de jesus

Alie. this episode is amazing. I’ve shared it with everyone I know. This is why I love you and your show. So enlightening and profound. Such good questions about something everyone will eventually experience. (also i’m glad u finally tripped and that it was a good experience for u)

Alie Ward

I hope you like it! We tried to really delve into all the corners

Alie Ward

Awww thank YOU for listening. And yeah man, that trip was bonkers. My brain was like "ooooh, this is why my patterns are not helping me..."

Alie Ward

Dang, great stories! It's interesting to think about how much we don't know, but how cool would that be if the coyote was like "oh I should go nod at that guy for being so nice to the grapes." When my husband proposed to me, he took me to a part of Griffith Park that meant a lot to us -- at midnight on Christmas Eve, and on our way walking through this little forest, two coyotes stopped in our path, and gave us a head bob. Sure there are a lot of coyotes in the park who hunt at night, but it was nice to connect with nature in that little glimpse.

Alie Ward

Ahahaha, well after the part about the Alps, you may be like : 'eh, no biggie.' I hope you liek ti!

Alie Ward

Oh man, I just wrote a big long response to this and I think it erased but my heart goes out to you for the loss, I'm happy I could help provide any comfort and I hope you enjoy this episode!

Alie Ward

I hope you enjoy it! I imagine it was a book reading for After, right?

Alie Ward

Yeah, I hate that the science of it can be used to further certain religious sects, or even religion at large. I was so relieved when he said he wasn't involved.

Alie Ward

Oh great! I'm glad you listened! I wasn't sure if people would be too scared of it.

Alie Ward

AAaa, what a cioncidence! I hope it helps a bit!

Alie Ward

Woooow. In the future it'll be interesting when they'll be able to pinpoint where in the brain certain neurotransmitters are released. It was interesting to know that in those moments, it's not merely sheer horror. I'm glad you made it through <3

Alie Ward

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I was fun to make a research. I went deep into Heim and had to pull myself out of Swiss mountain dog holes.

Alie Ward

Wow! That's amazing that you remember that? Would you have noticed a laptop with a jumping frog on it?

Alie Ward

I'm so sorry for that loss. I really get it and it's so tough. I hope she had a peaceful death and know how adored she was.

Alie Ward

We do cover DMT a little in the beginning portion, so I didn't touch on it again. But he did say more than once that we don't know exactly where in the brain that happens, but I'm sorry I didn't press him for more! I had sooooo many questions to get through!

Alie Ward

Aahaha, just hit up a doc for some ketamine, I guess? BUT NOT A RAVE OK? Too much weird shit in street drugs these days and an EDM concert might not be the most chill vibe

Alie Ward

I'm glad it exceeded expectations! I felt the same way and I still like Dr. Tanedo's suggestions that if there are g-g-g-ghosts.. it's US.

Alie Ward

Awww, thank you! And yeah, I contemplated over and over if I should cut that part out because -- illegal in CA-- but then was like "what the fuck am I thinking, why would I censor something like this?!" If I go to jail, it will be for you, kiddo

sarah de jesus

I think it was really good information in the name of science and truth!! and thanks dadward :’) I’m sure if you did go to jail we would do everything we could to get you out lol.

Annmarie Everhart

It was! And the topic has fascinated me ever since. :)

fullmetalknee

Is A Christmas Carol by Dickens describing a NDE in literary story format???

Rachel Cannon

YES. This put a lot of context to the time I got knocked off my bike by a Buick and flew through the air while I revisited my whole life in about 5 seconds that felt like an hour. I bought his book. You guys knocked this one out of the park.

Teale Vee

This great episode helped me to understand about my NDE. Dr Bruce nailed it. Thanks to you and everyone who works so hard to put this together. You’re 🔥

Spencer Parks

Makes me like him even more! Science and religion have a very messy relationship, but both deal with the same big questions! I prefer the science route, myself, but I guess religion is good for certain people.

Filipa Quadrado

I know, sooo many questions, so little time 😊 I love Ologies, thanks Alie, and Happy Holidays 🎄

Sébastien Mouttet

Allie, first time commentor and lurker for many years. Got to say this episode is a work of art one of your best ones yet you’re amazing. Thank you for sharing your very intimate moments with everybody. I hope you and your family have a happy holidays..

Alie Ward

Thank you thank you thank you. SO glad to hear that, really.

Seán Thomas Kane

This was such a fascinating episode. There are stories about time slowing when figures in mythology travel to the underworld or such and they return to the land of the living to find years have passed in what seemed like moments. I wonder from a humanities perspective what other elements in folklore and mythology might reflect NDEs?

Ja Jo: Art & Craft

Loved the episode! It made me think that maybe what’s next is a happy place for everyone with no judgement.

Julie Glass

Sharing these with kids…when is this appropriate? My mother shared this with me and it was terrifying.

Brooklyn Baron

I’m so glad your trip was helpful and illuminating! Going on a journey like that is definitely a goal of mine in the new year :)

Kaitlin Comet

First time commenter, long term admirer. LOVED this episode! I learned so much and unexpectedly, felt peaceful. Allie, thank you for the grounding at the end of the episode. Who knew that listening about near death experiences was the exact break from reality that I needed. Thank you!

ZZ

I'm sad y'all hadn't watched the OA! It's a curious & imaginative take on the what ifs of NDEs

Kris Ruzicka

This episode is one of the episodes that very subtly but surely changed my life. I listened with genuine interest from the beginning and was like yeah this is cool but then by the end, I literally saw my life with different eyes! We can get so caught up in small or even big things but when your guest said how the near death experience changed people, I could almost feel them and it changed me through their experience. Like giiirl! It feels very subtle but my anxiety and overthinking got way smaller. Hope it sticks around!! Thank you so much, Alie, your podcast is wonderful and I just installed patreon only to tell you all this (but im defo gonna stick around). 💖

Lisa N

I really loved this episode!! Such an interesting topic.

Auri Malloy

This episode was so cool, and it made me really want to try mushrooms. 🥲

George Sakoulas

I've greatly enjoyed dozens of ologies, but this episodes stands out. It has always been a goal of mine to reconcile science with religion/spirituality and this episode was huge. To hear a scientist who entered this field as a skeptic and though research now is convinced that it doesn't just end when we die is life-changing. Many thanks for putting this together!

Teale Vee

Sorry, it took me a while to respond. Difficult subject but here goes. 3/12/2016 I lost my 34yr old son to Fentanyl. I was devastated as any parent would be, being a MDD gal I totally went into a deep depression. Down to 90 lbs at 5’8” I wanted to die to be with him. I got very sick at work, voided and was ready to go. As I faded I saw the tunnel with the light above. I called his name out loud, and very clearly heard him say “No Mommadukes, it’s not your time yet. I’ll be here”. I woke up in the hospital with the ER staff making fun of me for smelling so bad, I knew I was back. A coworker witnessed it happen and said she saw me die. Mommadukes was his pet name for me. I had to start living again, it’s what he wanted, so I’m trying my best. Thanks for asking Dad ❤️

Mary Lobdell

Such a profound story. All the best to you.

Linda Breitag

don’t know if you’ll get this, but wowww what an episode. I just found out a dear friend has only months to live, and while it sucks so bad for us, it seems he has something good ahead of him. Thank you!

Sarah B

I just listened to this episode — I guess I accidentally skipped it when it came out — and it was great! My ears definitely perked up when I heard the Swiss Alpine Club yearbooks being mentioned as a written record for near-death experiences. Funny enough, I'm a linguistics postgrad at the University of Zurich in Switzerland, and the people at the computational linguistics department here were actually the ones who digitized these books:)) And even funnier, in my Introduction to Programming class, my professor brought one of these old books with him and told us, that the student who wanted to take it home could just take it. Guess who has now had one of these yearbooks on their bookshelf for the past 1.5 years!