Julian Dorey Podcast #359: Death Expert on 9/11, Ancient Afterlife Prophecy, Psychics & Reincarnation | Guest: David Ferrugio

Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Julian Dorey
Guest: David Ferrugio (host of "Dead Talks" podcast)

Overview

In this deeply personal and philosophical episode, Julian Dorey sits down with David Ferrugio—a podcaster, death/grief commentator, and 9/11 survivor’s son—to explore death, grief, the afterlife, spiritual concepts, and humanity’s relationship with mortality. Drawing on David’s own loss (his father perished on 9/11), their conversation takes on an unabashedly honest tone, weaving between firsthand trauma, growth through pain, the science and mythology of near-death experiences, reincarnation, faith, and how trauma shapes who we become. The episode combines moving personal narrative with unflinching curiosity—never shying from existential or controversial rabbit holes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

I. David’s Story: Losing His Father on 9/11

• Immediate Recollection of 9/11

  • David was 12, his father worked on the 105th floor of Tower 1 for Cantor Fitzgerald (“They lost the most people.” [03:19])
  • Found out at school via a classmate, was not allowed to call home, wandered in a daze all day (“I went the whole school day not knowing what was going on…Just so unfathomable.” [05:35])
  • Came home to a crowded house, snuck a look at TV for the first time around 3pm—realizing his father was gone
  • “It was like the end of the movie there. Everything went black. I think that was my body saying, ‘You can’t handle this, we’re gonna shut you down for a while…’” ([07:02])

• The Lingering Impact of Trauma

  • David describes a long-term “fugue state” after 9/11, not remembering much until college, and grieving only surfaced years later ([53:09])
  • Discusses envy for those who remember every detail, wishing he remembered more from adolescence ([15:51])
  • “You see the world differently immediately…You kind of have to grow up a little quicker.” ([17:59])

• Community and Grief in the Public Eye

  • Excess attention, both supportive and overwhelming, as the “9/11 kid.”
  • “I was the Pete Davidson before Pete Davidson…People would talk to me a little gently and I noticed that.” ([18:30])
  • Acknowledges the dual-edged nature of being at the center of a collective trauma.

II. Processing Grief, Building Resilience

• Evolving Relationship with Loss:

  • David observes that trauma fundamentally changes perception of reality—instilling both greater gratitude and reduced shock at tragedy.
  • Being open about grief became his vehicle for healing (“Dead Talks” podcast).
  • “I’m not a doctor. I don’t know. It's just a conversation, and I think it's something that should be normalized.” ([02:21])

• On Helping Others:

  • Empathy for other grievers; sees his platform as a way to give back.
  • “Community and support is a massive way to get through anything in life. I’m grateful I had that.” ([18:28])

• Advice for the Grieving & the Supportive:

  • There's no “right thing” to say to a person in pain—better to focus on intent and presence over perfect words.
  • “I don’t let what people say to me affect how I feel… If they say the wrong thing, it just doesn’t get to me.” ([22:22])

III. The Present Moment, Mindset, and Finding Meaning

• Choice Between Fear & Gratitude

  • “I really believe it’s a choice. Sometimes it’s as simple as that—fear or gratefulness.” ([35:48])
  • Advocates for the power of reframing thoughts—being aware, choosing which ones to “latch onto,” and building healthier internal monologue.

• On Stoicism, Suffering, and Self-Compassion:

  • Moves between self-accountability and gentleness with oneself: “There’s got to be a little bit of ‘get up…’ But also, be gentle with yourself.” ([42:17])
  • Talks candidly about feeling childhood insecurities even as an adult and working to “turn the light on” in self-image ([76:34])

Notable Quote:

“Your body might shut this stuff down to protect you for a little bit, but it's not meant to stay in there forever.” —David ([15:51])

IV. What Happens After Death? Near-Death Experiences & Reincarnation

• Patterns in Near-Death Experiences (NDE):

  • Multiple guests on David’s show describe out-of-body sensation, sense of returning “home,” immense peace, and revelation
  • Example: Dr. Mary Hensley’s NDE—“Once she got to the other side, it was a return to home… She was explaining like, ‘Oh, of course, of course, of course.’” ([144:06])
  • Some report ‘nothing’; theories suggest this is purposeful so some souls “would have to return” ([148:47]).

• Are There “Soul Contracts?”

  • Several NDE guests believe “we chose this life” and its main events for the purpose of the soul’s growth.
  • “It’s like me and my dad shook hands in this handless soul world—like, ‘yo, I'm gonna dip when you're 12, but it’ll launch you off.’” ([85:33])

• Reincarnation, Past-Life Memories, and “Soul Families”

  • Referencing Brian Weiss’s “Many Lives, Many Masters,” stories of hypnotic regression and recurring ‘soul characters’
  • “The more I read, the more I listen, I’m like, I think there’s something to do with that [reincarnation].” ([87:16])
  • Kendrick Lamar, Tupac, and other artists as examples of “old souls” expressing possible past-life memories ([94:54])
  • “All I’m saying is maybe.” ([96:23])

Notable Quote:

“There's a hole nother veil behind that I can't answer…Maybe certain things happen to expand our life… it's, it's a will see.” —David ([142:11])

V. Spirituality, Religion, and Open-Mindedness

• Dogma vs. Humility:

  • Both Julian and David were raised Catholic but describe being open and humble in the face of existential questions
  • “Whenever someone says, ‘This is the only way,’ I instinctively look the other way…” ([108:02])

• Comparing Religion, Mediums, and the Afterlife:

  • The Bible’s sole reference to mediums discussed (the Witch of Endor, Saul) ([110:20])
  • David shares about a friend struggling to reconcile Christian dogma with medium abilities: “Bible tells me this is bad, but everything I’m experiencing is good.” ([111:29])

• Embracing “I Don’t Know”:

  • Both agree: being able to say “I don’t know” and “I was wrong” is central to growth and authenticity ([120:52])
  • “It’s not about always finding the lesson now…everything I go through, I’m like, there's going to be something here that’s gonna benefit me later.” ([128:38])

VI. Processing Trauma Physically & Psychologically

• **Says he processed anger (after 9/11) physically — “blasting Hybrid Theory, punching bags till my knuckles bled” ([176:26])
• Describes “exposure therapy” — replaying the 9/11 footage until tears came, as a way to force suppressed emotions out ([177:09])
• Encourages facing pain head-on—differentiates between healthy facing and becoming numb (“I think that was one of the best things I ever could have done because I got comfortable with it.” [179:08])

VII. 9/11, Public Events, and Conspiracy

• David’s Unfiltered Thoughts on the Day ([168:41] onward):
  • “It doesn’t add up… The biggest one for me is Tower 7.” ([169:16])
  • Acknowledges awareness of government “false flag” operations (Operation Northwoods), and the history of “the playbook.”
  • Recognizes the multiplicity of explanations; does not claim certainty but demands more questions be asked
  • “I’m hoping it’s just mistakes…even the mistakes piss me off.” ([173:57])
  • Is open that anger “came out in different ways,” not via joining military or activism.

VIII. Embracing Uncertainty & Letting Go

• Letting Go of Outcomes:

  • Julian and David discuss their struggles to “detach from outcomes” in creative/personal endeavors
  • “It’s the knocking [that matters]…I want that, and if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen.” ([162:36])

• Life as a “Will See” Process:

  • Both lean on the Chinese farmer parable: don’t judge an outcome too quickly—every win/loss has a long tail ([135:01])
  • “I don’t know what else to do but just enjoy where I’m at right now and hope for the best. Whatever happens, we’ll work with it.” ([121:49])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker |
|---|---|---|
| [07:02] | "Everything went black...my body just said, yo, chill out, this is too much, just some overload, we're gonna black you out." | David Ferrugio | | [15:51] | "Your body might shut this stuff down to protect you for a little bit, but it's not meant to stay in there forever." | David Ferrugio | | [18:28] | "I was the 9/11 boy...I'm like the Pete Davidson before Pete Davidson kind of thing." | David Ferrugio | | [32:56] | "There isn't a part of me that ever says that could never happen here." | Julian Dorey | | [35:48] | "Sometimes it’s as simple as that—fear or gratefulness." | David Ferrugio | | [85:33] | "It's like me and my dad shook hands in this handless soul world—like, ‘yo, I'm gonna dip when you're 12, but it’ll launch you off...'" | David Ferrugio | | [120:52] | "There's six words that are really difficult in the human language. I don't know. And I was wrong." | Julian Dorey | | [142:11] | "My friends are so much closer. I see the world differently because of [my loss], because I chose to choose that path and I’m happy the way I see the world." | David Ferrugio | | [169:16] | "The biggest one for me that makes me question it the most is Tower 7. Why did that go down like a perfect [demolition]?" | David Ferrugio |

Timestamps — Important Segments

• 00:00–05:35: David’s personal recounting of 9/11 events and immediate aftermath.
• 17:59–22:22: On grief, the public aspect of 9/11 loss, and how others treat the bereaved.
• 35:48–43:04: Gratitude, being present, and mindset after trauma.
• 53:09–58:45: Memory, trauma, bottling emotion, and the science of stress release.
• 80:06–88:23: Near-death experiences, "soul contracts," reincarnation, and past-life regression.
• 168:41–176:08: 9/11, conspiracy, Tower 7, and coming to terms with public tragedy.
• 144:06, 147:02: Near-death experiences—accounts of what the "other side" is like.

Tone & Language

• The conversation is frank, freewheeling, and often soulful—balancing skepticism (especially regarding afterlife, soul contracts, NDEs) with spiritual open-mindedness.
• There is an unvarnished directness about trauma, emotion, and questioning authority.
• Humor, self-deprecation, and Jersey bluntness keep weighty topics approachable (“I'm the black sheep of the family”; “Turn the light on in the bathroom”).

For New Listeners

This episode is a candid, unsentimental but ultimately hopeful deep dive into surviving trauma, seeking meaning, and living with life’s deepest mysteries. Whether pondering personal development, the afterlife, or disillusionment with public narratives, David and Julian remain rigorously honest, self-aware, and compassionate. The dialogue is especially resonant for anyone who’s ever wondered how to grow in the wake of terrible loss—or how to keep searching for truth when so much is unknowable.

Links:

• Dead Talks Podcast (David Ferrugio)
• Julian Dorey on YouTube

“Enjoy the journey. We’re all just on a journey. And it’s just taking—it’s…I’m trying to make things simpler, just simpler, because our brain makes this way more complicated.” – David Ferrugio [121:49]