Episode Summary: Ep. 708: A Near Death Experience with Sebastian Junger
Released on May 26, 2025
Introduction
In this compelling episode of The MeatEater Podcast, host Steven Rinella engages in a profound conversation with Sebastian Junger, a renowned journalist, bestselling author, and documentary filmmaker. Junger shares his harrowing experiences as a war correspondent, explores the concept of dangerous work, and delves into his own near-death experience (NDE), offering listeners deep insights into human resilience and the mysteries of consciousness.
Background of Sebastian Junger
Sebastian Junger is celebrated for his fearless reporting from battlefields as an embedded war correspondent and his exploration of human interactions with perilous environments. His notable works include the international bestseller The Perfect Storm, which inspired a major motion picture, and War, a detailed account of U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan. Junger’s latest book, In My Time of Dying, examines his personal NDE and its implications on our understanding of life and consciousness.
Dangerous Work and Personal Injury
The conversation begins with Steven Rinella recounting a chainsaw injury Junger sustained while working as a tree climber. Junger describes the incident in detail:
[05:03] Sebastian Junger: "...I rappelled down to the ground. My crew took me to a sort of urgent care place and they sewed me up. But it got me limping for quite a while."
This injury sparked Junger’s interest in writing about dangerous occupations, highlighting the often-overlooked risks faced by workers in industries like logging and commercial fishing.
Journalism and War Correspondence
Junger reflects on his journey to becoming a war correspondent, emphasizing his purist approach to journalism—focusing solely on topics that deeply fascinate him without commercial considerations. He recounts his time in Sarajevo during the Bosnian Civil War and later with the Northern Alliance in Afghanistan:
[19:33] Sebastian Junger: "...I was with Masood. Yes, I spent two months with him and his forces in Barakchan in 2000, in the fall of 2000..."
Junger’s dedication to immersing himself in conflict zones provides an authentic perspective on the lives of soldiers, moving beyond geopolitical debates to focus on personal experiences.
A Near-Death Experience (NDE)
A significant portion of the episode delves into Junger’s near-death experience. Five years prior, while at a remote property in Massachusetts during the COVID-19 pandemic, Junger suffered a sudden internal hemorrhage due to median arcuate ligament syndrome. He describes the onset of symptoms and his struggle to receive timely medical attention:
[49:00] Sebastian Junger: "I have a ligament in the wrong place... It has crushed the celiac artery... When it ruptured, I was suddenly bleeding out from an artery in my abdomen."
Despite his fitness, the initial medical assessment overlooked the severity of his condition due to his low heart rate masking the hemorrhage. Junger narrates the critical moments in the hospital, including an encounter with a nurse who offered profound advice:
[82:54] Sebastian Junger: "Try this. Instead of thinking about it like something scary, try thinking about it like something sacred."
This interaction led Junger to explore the concept of sacredness in life’s pivotal moments, influencing his interpretation of his NDE.
Exploring Near-Death Experiences and Consciousness
Post-recovery, Junger researched NDEs extensively, questioning the consistency of visions across different individuals. He ponders the relationship between consciousness and reality, raising questions about the nature of consciousness and its potential existence beyond physical death:
[87:45] Sebastian Junger: "There's a proposal that consciousness is part of the physical manifestation of the universe, like gravity is, and that our individual consciousness returns to that greater entity when we die."
Junger discusses the limitations of scientific explanations in fully accounting for the consistent elements of NDEs, such as seeing deceased loved ones, and contemplates the implications of quantum physics on our understanding of consciousness.
Impact on Personal and Professional Life
The NDE profoundly affected Junger’s worldview, intertwining his scientific rationalism with existential questions about life and death. He connects these reflections to his broader work on community and human connection, themes central to his book Tribe.
[84:58] Sebastian Junger: "Being a dad is what I'm doing. It's the center of my identity, my existence. And if I can get through to where they're okay, like, you know, I'm good."
Junger emphasizes the importance of human connections and community, both in his personal life and his professional endeavors, advocating for the preservation of societal unity amidst modern challenges.
Conclusion
Episode 708 of The MeatEater Podcast offers an in-depth and introspective dialogue between Steven Rinella and Sebastian Junger. Through recounting his own near-death experience and exploring broader themes of dangerous work, consciousness, and community, Junger provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of human resilience and the enduring quest to comprehend life’s ultimate mysteries.
Notable Quotes:
- Sebastian Junger [07:14]: "There are all these work in this country that the nation needs... and these people deserve some love, basically."
- Sebastian Junger [16:10]: "When I write about soldiers, they themselves were not thinking about the war in large scale terms. They just weren't thinking about it."
- Sebastian Junger [33:44]: "I wrote a book called Tribe, about that phenomenon."
- Sebastian Junger [82:54]: "Try this. Instead of thinking about it like something scary, try thinking about it like something sacred."
- Sebastian Junger [87:45]: "There's a proposal that consciousness is part of the physical manifestation of the universe, like gravity is... we don't know."
Further Resources:
For more insights into Sebastian Junger’s work, visit his official website at SebastianJunger.com where you can explore his books and latest projects.