Podcast Summary: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

Hosts: Ted Danson, Woody Harrelson (not present this episode)
Guest: James Van Praagh
Release Date: January 28, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode of "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" features a heartfelt and profound conversation between Ted Danson and James Van Praagh, a world-renowned spiritual medium and author. Ted and James share personal stories of loss, connection, and the mysterious ways in which the spirit world may touch our lives. Recurring themes include the nature of being a medium, skepticism vs. cynicism, the enduring bonds of love after death, grief and healing, the relationship between creativity and spirituality, and the importance of kindness and empathy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. How Ted and James Connected

• The episode opens with Ted recounting the serendipitous, almost fated way his wife, Mary Steenburgen, connected with James (03:16).
  • Mary, who avoids talking to strangers, felt compelled to strike up a conversation with a man on a plane, leading her to learn about the book "Talking to Heaven" and ultimately bringing Ted and James together.
  • James: “Those things just happen.” (04:23)

2. What is a Medium? James' Early Experiences

• James provides a detailed explanation of mediumship (06:19–09:35):
  • "A medium is someone who attunes themselves to frequencies outside of the physical range... It’s like tuning into a radio signal."
  • He shares stories from his childhood, including seeing his grandfather’s spirit without realizing who it was until years later.
  • James describes a seven-year period of intense spiritual training and “development circles” to hone his abilities.
  • "It's really interesting when you let go of the ego self, the human self, and you realize you're a soul having a human experience. Your whole perspective changes." (09:35)

3. Skepticism vs. Cynicism

• Ted addresses the audience with an important qualifier:
  • “If you’re listening to this, it’s fine that it sounds anecdotal. Totally. Who cares?” (10:48)
• James: “It’s good to be skeptical. I was very skeptical at the beginning. I think skepticism is healthy.” (11:38)
• Ted: "Don't be cynical. ... You're not going to learn that way." (11:49)

4. On Death, Connection, and Perspective

• James argues death is an illusion (12:43):
  • “There is no such thing as death. Science has proved you can’t kill energy.”
  • He uses the analogy of every bucket reflecting the same moon, to explain the interconnectedness of souls (13:55).

5. Profound Mediumship Story – The Thea Foundation

• Ted shares a moving account (14:56–24:42) of how James helped two parents connect with their deceased daughter, Thea, catalyzing their healing:
  • [21:36] James (via Ted): “Did you have an uncle with a glass eye?” The mom did, which astonished the group.
  • “The next 45 minutes ... was a reunion between a daughter and the parents who hadn’t seen each other for nine months.”
  • Thea’s spirit communicated personal and previously unknown details—proving comfortingly real to her parents.
  • The experience directly led to the creation of the Thea Foundation, now a thriving arts education initiative.
  • Ted: “We took our first full breath in nine months.” (23:32, quoting the parents)

6. The Meaning of Life, Empathy, and the Life Review

• James shares about “the life review” (25:33):
  • After death, the soul reviews its life, experiencing the impact of its actions on others.
  • “You are your own judge.” (25:40)
  • “We come back here to learn. We come back here to the school.”
• Discussion of meeting people at their level, practicing non-judgment, and how acts of kindness ripple through others (29:23):
  • “We all know the right thing. Treat another person as you want to be treated. The Golden Rule. … Forgiveness is a big one. It’s a medicine we give ourselves.” – James (29:26, 29:47)

7. Spirituality vs. Organized Religion

• Ted raises the tension between spiritual experience and religious dogma (33:11).
  • James: “Every religion has a bit of the truth, but not anyone in religion has all the truth... There’s so many roads.” (34:17)
  • Both share family stories of faith and transitions through religious traditions.

8. Life, Loss, and Legacy

• Ted and James discuss the deaths of their parents, the immediate and long-term effects, and the practical imperative of living fully (36:43–39:30).
  • James shares remarkable anecdotes about posthumous communications and validations from his skeptical father and brother.

9. Creativity and Spirituality: Parallels in Acting and Mediumship

• James draws a parallel between acting and mediumship (41:07–44:01):
  • Both require surrendering the ego, tuning into intuition, and accessing an energetic flow.

10. How Spirit Communication Works

• James: “Not everyone who passes over has a desire to communicate... It’s all different.” (44:01)
• He shares stories illustrating spirit reluctance, the varied levels or bands of the afterlife, and reiterates that he works for the spirit world “not for the humans." (46:21)

11. Practical Advice: How to Connect with Lost Loved Ones

• James offers a method for listeners to connect:
  • “Sit in the quiet... go within... Use your breath, bring yourself to a soft space, and ask, ‘Dear spirit friend, come next to me, let me feel your hands upon my shoulders.’” (57:02)
  • “Allow—don’t think. It’s not from the head, it’s from the heart.”
  • Notice signs: scents, birds, license plates, odd coincidences. “They hear your thoughts. They're closer now than they ever were before.” (58:57)

12. The Importance of Curiosity and Staying Awake

• “Everybody you meet is your teacher... There are a lot of sleepwalkers out there. We've gotta wake up.” – James (62:14)
• Spirits continue to learn by observing and being influenced by those still living (62:50).

13. Closure—Returning to the Thea Story

• Ted closes by reflecting on how Thea’s passing and the subsequent reunion transformed lives:
  • Ted (65:45): “It’s why you and I are able to sit together. ... Are you happy? ... I am when you are.”
  • James: “Grief is a teacher... Everyone who passes over leaves gifts behind. ... Live your life as they would be so pleased.” (66:14)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• James Van Praagh (on being a medium):
  "A medium is someone... who can attune themselves to a frequency which is outside of the physical range... It's like tuning into a radio signal." (06:19)

• Ted Danson (on skepticism):
  "Don't be cynical though... you're not going to learn that way. But skepticism is healthy." (11:49)

• James Van Praagh:
  "The two biggest illusions we have in this three-dimensional human world: death, because there is no such thing. And the other is separativeness... that we're separate from one another. When in truth, we're actually all connected." (12:48)

• Ted Danson, sharing Thea’s message to her mother:
  "Are you happy? ... I am when you are." (23:32/65:45)

• James Van Praagh (on empathy):
  "We have to meet people for the level that they're at... You can guide them or help them in some way. Don't force it, but see them for where they're at." (26:41)

• James Van Praagh (on forgiveness):
  "Forgiveness is a big one. It is. It's a medicine we give ourselves." (29:47)

• Ted Danson (on performing and surrender):
  "If you're truly paying attention to somebody else and not you, and you give up your ego... you just surrender—then it's like flying." (42:08)

• James Van Praagh (on continuing bonds):
  "They hear your thoughts. You haven't lost them. They're closer now than they ever were before. And it's easy to say, but it's true." (58:57)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 03:16 – Serendipitous meeting: Mary, Ted, and James’ connection
• 06:19 – What is a medium? James’s early experiences
• 09:35 – The importance of letting go of ego, changing perspective
• 11:38 – The role of healthy skepticism
• 13:55 – The moon in the bucket analogy: oneness
• 14:56–24:42 – The Thea Foundation story: profound healing, mediumship, and life-changing impact
• 25:33 – The “life review” and empathy after death
• 29:23 – Ripple effects of kindness; the Golden Rule
• 33:11 – Spirituality vs. religious dogma
• 36:43 – Stories of death, loss, and making life count
• 41:07–44:01 – Comparison between creativity in acting and mediumship
• 57:02 – James’ guidance: How to connect with the spirit of a loved one
• 62:14 – The importance of curiosity and being “awake”
• 65:45 – Closure: The impact of Thea’s legacy

Tone of the Conversation

The episode is warm, occasionally mystical, but frequently lightened by Ted’s heartfelt, curious approach and James’s gentle, grounded explanations. The discussion never feels heavy-handed or dogmatic; rather, it openly embraces mystery and the unknown with honesty and humility.

Final Reflection

Whether you come to this conversation skeptical, hopeful, or simply curious, Ted and James provide both gentle validation and practical wisdom—offering listeners stories, metaphors, and guidance on how to deal with grief, live more fully, and notice the unseen patterns that shape our lives. The episode’s recurring refrain: love, kindness, and connection—both here and beyond—are what matter most.

Recommended Next Steps:

• For more James Van Praagh: Read his book "Talking to Heaven" or listen to his podcast "Both Sides Now and Beyond."
• To honor Thea’s story and learn about their ongoing work: visit the Thea Foundation.

(Summary by AI; episode transcript courtesy of "Where Everybody Knows Your Name" and Team Coco.)