So Supernatural – THE UNKNOWN: Near Death Experiences

Podcast: So Supernatural
Hosts: Yvette Gentile & Rasha Pecorero, with Ashley Flowers
Date: December 19, 2025
Episode: "THE UNKNOWN: Near Death Experiences"

Overview of the Episode

In this episode, hosts Yvette Gentile and Rasha Pecorero explore one of humanity’s greatest mysteries: What happens when we die? They delve deep into the phenomenon of near death experiences (NDEs), examining real-life stories, scientific studies, and perspectives from skeptics and believers alike. Through first-person accounts and research, the hosts seek to unravel why so many people across cultures report similar visions at the threshold of death—and whether these experiences point to something supernatural.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Death, Grief, and the Universal Mystery (02:32–06:24)

• Yvette and Rasha open the conversation by recognizing that loss and grief are universal experiences, but death feels unique in its finality.
• Yvette shares personal reflections on the pain of losing their mother, underscoring the episode’s emotional stakes.
• The hosts express hope that exploring NDEs might bring peace and shift perspectives on life after death.

Memorable Quote:
"But if there's anything this show has taught us, it's that there's so much about life we still don't understand. And I truly hope today's stories will bring you some peace in knowing that maybe death isn't our final bow or our final curtain call. Maybe the show does go on and maybe it's not goodbye after all." – Yvette Gentile (05:44)

2. Sebastian Junger’s Story: The Skeptic Who Changed His Mind (06:25–12:10)

• Rasha recounts the ordeal of Sebastian Junger, a journalist/author and former skeptic, who suffered a rare and life-threatening medical event in 2020.
• As Junger underwent surgery, he experienced a chilling vision: a giant black swirling pit and an encounter with his deceased father.
• The vision left him changed, open to ideas of souls, ghosts, and an afterlife.

Notable Segment:

• The episode narrates Junger’s vision of his father guiding him during his brush with death, emphasizing how convincing the experience felt.

Quote:
"He gets this sense that if he goes into the pit, he won't be coming out ever again. And even though he trusts his father, he still doesn't want to die. So instead of giving in, Sebastian fights." – Rasha Pecorero (11:19)

3. The Birth of Near Death Experience Science: Dr. Raymond Moody (13:45–20:25)

• The hosts introduce Dr. Raymond Moody, who coined the term “near death experience.”
• Inspired by a college professor’s tale of dying and returning, Moody dedicated his career to cataloging and studying NDEs from 1965 onwards.
• Moody’s research identified common elements, despite each experience’s unique details.

Quote:
"He wants to learn everything he can about life after death and whether it's possible to go to another world and come back. Because Raymond believes his professor's story, and if he can study NDEs and learn how they work, maybe he can unlock the secrets..." – Rasha Pecorero (14:45)

4. Commonalities in Near Death Experiences (20:25–23:41)

• Experiences often include sensations of consciousness after physical death, sounds (buzzing, wind, bells), entering tunnels, floating above their body, and encounters with deceased loved ones or “the Light.”
• The “life review” is a frequent motif: reliving one’s entire life in vivid detail, sometimes followed by the sense of a choice to live or die.

Quote:
"Not only do they supposedly see everything they've ever done and hear everything they've ever said, they also feel each emotion associated with the memory." – Yvette Gentile (24:11)

5. The Hellish NDE: Howard Storm’s Story (28:26–36:21)

• Not all NDEs are positive. Some, like art professor Howard Storm's, begin with terrifying, hellish visions—monsters, darkness, and torture.
• Storm is eventually rescued by a warm, loving light that presents itself as God, and undergoes a life-altering spiritual experience.
• After recovery, Storm dedicates his life to ministry, despite previously being an atheist.

Memorable Exchange:
"God even tells Howard he can ask any question he wants and get the answers. So Howard asks the big ones, what's the meaning of life? Which religion is correct? And of course...has Jesus ever visited aliens on another planet?" – Yvette Gentile (35:42)
"The light tells him the meaning of life is to love God. All religions are valid as long as they bring you closer to God." – Yvette Gentile (35:45)

6. Science, Skepticism, and Studies of NDEs (40:21–46:45)

• Nancy Bush and Dr. Bruce Grayson (psychiatry professor) studied negative NDEs and found no clear correlation between personal morals, religious belief, or lifestyle and the tone/destination of the experience.
• Even criminals sometimes report blissful NDEs, while good people may have disturbing ones.
• Science posits that neurochemicals (like serotonin or DMT) released at death can create powerful hallucinations, accounting for recurring NDE themes.
• Yet, skeptics are challenged by unexplainable knowledge gained during NDEs (e.g., patients “seeing” events while unconscious).

Quote:
"Nancy and Bruce discover there's no correlation between how you live your life and where you end up. There are some truly horrible people, including violent criminals, who have positive NDEs..." – Yvette Gentile (40:45)

7. The Role of Culture, Religion, and the Unexplainable (45:56–49:28)

• Later studies reveal that NDEs often reflect the subjects’ cultural and spiritual backgrounds—Christians see Christian symbols, Hindus see Hindu ones, etc.
• Some NDE cases include inexplicable claims: patients know details from other rooms or share knowledge they couldn’t have accessed while unconscious.
• The mystery remains unresolved, fueling ongoing debate about whether NDEs are biological or genuinely supernatural.

Key Story:
A patient named Holly described the exact marinara stain on Dr. Grayson’s tie (which he’d hidden) after her own NDE, though she never physically saw him that day. (47:10)

8. The Comfort and Uncertainty of the Unknown (49:29–50:39)

• Yvette affirms her personal belief in something beyond this life, expressing hope and comfort in the idea of reunion and healing after death.
• Listeners are invited to embrace the mystery, whatever their beliefs.

Quote:
"I choose to believe that this life is not our last. There's something that is very comforting in the idea that our story doesn't end here, that this might just be a chapter in a very long novel." – Yvette Gentile (49:33)

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On the universality of grief:
  “The loss of our mother is something we still deal with every single day. But if there's anything this show has taught us, it's that there's so much about life we still don't understand.” – Yvette Gentile (05:20)

• On ‘life reviews’:
  “Not only do they supposedly see everything they've ever done and hear everything they've ever said, they also feel each emotion associated with the memory.” – Yvette Gentile (24:11)

• On skepticism:
  “Raymond wants to believe in an afterlife and wants proof that we continue to exist after we die.” – Yvette Gentile (26:37)

• On religious neutrality:
  “It doesn't seem to matter if you're an atheist or a member of any faith tradition. Nancy and Bruce found no correlation between any particular religion and any specific destination in NDEs.” – Yvette Gentile (42:46)

• On unexplained knowledge:
  “There is no way Holly would have seen Bruce's dirty tie while she was recovering from her suicide attempt. All Bruce could think was that she really had experienced something otherworldly.” – Rasha Pecorero (47:22)

• On embracing the unknown:
  “...there may be worlds waiting for us where we can reunite with loved ones... That is the world I want to live in.” – Yvette Gentile (49:38)

Structure/Timestamps for Main Segments

• Death, Grief and the Unknown – 02:32–06:24
• Sebastian Junger’s NDE – 06:25–12:10
• Raymond Moody and the Foundation of NDE Studies – 13:45–20:25
• Common Characteristics of NDEs – 20:25–23:41
• Howard Storm’s “Hellish” NDE – 28:26–36:21
• Negative NDEs and Scientific Studies – 40:21–46:45
• NDEs Across Cultures and Unexplained Phenomena – 45:56–49:28
• Hope and Closing Reflections – 49:29–50:39

Summary

This episode takes listeners on a thoughtful, sometimes unsettling, journey through the personal, scientific, and philosophical landscape of near death experiences. By combining moving personal stories with the latest research and healthy skepticism, Yvette and Rasha illuminate why NDEs continue to fascinate—and why, for many (including themselves), these stories bring comfort rather than fear. Whether you’re a skeptic, a believer, or somewhere in between, this exploration of life’s ultimate unknown is sure to leave you reflecting on what might lie just beyond the veil.