How I Died — S4E07: "So It Comes"

Release Date: September 24, 2025
Podcast by: Audiohm Media

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, the strange deaths in Springfield drive forensic pathologist Dr. Jonathan Spacer and his colleagues to a new autopsy—and escalating internal tensions. The unsettled trio of Dr. Spacer, Dr. Lewis, and Dr. Gatz probe deeper into the nature of "storm shock," a mysterious condition plaguing the town. As bodies continue to pile up and the scientific debate grows more heated, personal vendettas, hidden agendas, and supernatural abilities threaten to unravel the fragile alliance among the doctors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Autopsy Begins: Medical Disagreements & Observations

[01:34–04:58]

• Dr. Spacer and Dr. Lewis debate the importance of external versus internal autopsy exams:
  • Dr. Spacer insists on a comprehensive external exam, carefully noting a "distinct loss of hair on the forearms and legs" and signs of internal bleeding.
  • Dr. Lewis is skeptical:
    • "Why would we care about the external exam? I'm just saying we're trying to find a cure, right? Not cause of death. It's pretty obvious." (03:51, Dr. Lewis)
• The medical banter becomes competitive, revealing differences in approach and personal history.

2. Storm Shock: Unstable Science & Creeping Horrors

[04:58–10:12]

• Autopsies reveal that "storm shock" victims show severe, inconsistent body degradation, including rapid aging and necrosis.
• Dr. Lewis posits a radical theory:
  • "I've seen survivors of storm shock who don't age… Others age rapidly, even physically, showing signs of decay while still alive… it's almost as if the body ages, even dies, while the brain is still alive." (07:54)
• Discussion expands to societal impact: Multiple storm events “prime” victims—each recurrence worsens both physical and mental health, now affecting "most of the population… thanks to the dissipation bubble." (10:09, Dr. Spacer)
• The Springfield Corp’s involvement in ethically dubious experiments is referenced, further clouding local trust.

3. Personal Fallout & Supernatural Secrets

[11:27–13:20]

• Tension and suspicion spike among the trio:
  • Dr. Spacer is accused of being naive, while Lewis and Gatz mock each other’s motives and histories.
  • Dr. Lewis references Dr. Spacer's secret ability: "And talking to ghosts isn't [absurd]?" (11:55)
• Dr. Lewis has used experimental treatments on herself, with ambiguous results:
  • "I was able to give myself a dose and live… She made something that can help wipe the blood of lesser effects… first attempt at removing the minor effects of storm shock were barely successful." (12:27–13:01)
• Cure remains elusive for the most severe cases, derisively called “gray bees,” “Zom Grays,” or “gray monsters.”

4. Medical Theories Clash: What is Killing Them?

[13:12–15:17]

• Dr. Lewis suspects heart and lung pathology (pulmonary fibrosis), whereas Dr. Spacer argues autoimmunity—specifically scleroderma triggered by geomagnetic events:
  • "I think whatever reaction this victim had was autoimmune… The tissue and cells begin to inflame, which can damage the blood vessels." (14:42–14:48, Dr. Spacer)
• The debate is sharp, and Dr. Lewis jabs: "And what was your subspecialty bias, doctor?" (14:59–15:03)

5. Motives Unmasked: Dr. Lewis’s Machinations and Psychological Warfare

[15:21–17:01]

• Without Dr. Gatz present, Spacer and Lewis confront each other about intentions and guilt:
  • Dr. Spacer: "Do you really think you can overwrite all the bad you did just by helping here?" (15:37)
  • Dr. Lewis (mocking): "Did you really think I was here to atone?...They promised to let me go…Just a little poking around in some bodies, which, let's be honest, I was probably going to do that anyway." (15:41–16:08)
• Lewis’s dangerous unpredictability is laid bare—she is not seeking redemption.

6. Crisis Erupts: Panic, Lockdown, and the Dead Return

[17:01–19:18]

• Dr. Spacer experiences a sudden panic attack, stoked by Dr. Lewis:
  • "It's just called a panic attack… that's a panic attack, John. I thought those sessions with Kim would have at least clued you in." (17:04–17:33, Dr. Lewis)
• Tensions break out; the lab goes into lockdown as new threats surface—including a possible escape or attack.
• The concluding twist: Dr. Spacer encounters someone presumed dead, deepening the supernatural conspiracy and suggesting time may not be a linear, safe constraint in Springfield.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Dr. Lewis (provocative banter):
  "Trust me, John, if I wanted to get under your skin, I would have done it a year ago." (04:40)
• Dr. Spacer (on the necessity of the autopsy):
  "The purpose of an autopsy is to look at it without that lens to gain new information." (07:19)
• Dr. Lewis (on morality in Springfield):
  "Good guys? Oh, Lord, when will you learn that there are no good guys? Hell, there isn't even bad guys. There's just guys. All of us." (16:23)
• Dr. Lewis (gaslighting Dr. Spacer):
  "Oh, nothing, John. It's just called a panic attack…That's a panic attack, John. I thought those sessions with Kim would have at least clued you in." (17:04–17:33)
• Last Moments (the supernatural confirmed):
  "Oh, you can't be. Actually, guys, he's talking to me. No, no, no. This can't be real. You're dead." (19:14–19:18, Dr. Spacer)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• Autopsy and Storm Shock Medical Theories: 01:34–10:12
• Personal Motives and Supernatural Abilities: 11:27–13:20
• Medical Theory Clash (Autoimmune vs. Organ Failures): 13:12–15:17
• Motives Unmasked, Lewis’s Threats: 15:21–17:01
• Panic Attack, Lab Lockdown, and Reveal: 17:01–19:18

Tone & Takeaway

The episode maintains its signature dark, sardonic tone, with crackling medical banter, veiled threats, and an ever-present undercurrent of moral ambiguity. As science and the supernatural blend, questions of ethics, personal atonement, and what it truly means to save—or damn—a town come to the fore. The closing scene’s supernatural reveal ensures listeners are left unsettled, eager for answers the living alone can’t provide.

For more chills and mysteries, "How I Died" is available on all podcast platforms and Patreon for bonus content.