WTF Just Happened?!: All about the afterlife. No woo.

Near-death experiences and past-life memories are often dismissed, yet at the University of Virginia's Division of Perceptual Studies they are examined using rigorous psychiatric and neuroscience research methods. In this episode, Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD, Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at UVA, explains how near-death experiences are defined and measured in scientific research, why many experiencers struggle after returning, and what decades of data suggest about consciousness beyond the brain. The conversation also explores children who report past-life memories, how cases are investigated, what makes a case verifiable, why many children stop talking about these memories in early childhood, and what long-term follow-up studies reveal. Skepticism, academic stigma, and why this research is gaining broader attention are also discussed. A grounded, science-first discussion of near-death experiences, past-life memories, grief, and what the evidence actually shows. My Books + Offerings: WTF Just Happened?! Book Series Join the Science + Spirituality Circle Host or Attend a Science + Spirituality Salon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠ |Patreon | Buy me a coffeeMore at: https://www.wtfjusthappened.net/ Guest: Marieta Pehlivanova, PhD Follow DOPS: Website | Instagram | YouTube  Attend the Forever Family Foundation Grief Retreat in Florida -  January 16th - 18th 2026 Full Show Notes

In this bonus episode, Mark Anthony, JD returns to the show to share details about a special virtual event he is hosting with the Omega Institute called The NDE Zone: Connected by the Light From the Cosmic to the Subatomic. Mark Anthony, known as the Psychic Explorer, explains what near-death experiences really are, how consciousness operates beyond the physical body, and what happens in the space between this world and the other side. We talk about the science, patterns, and shared features of NDEs, spirit communication, and why understanding these experiences can be deeply healing, especially for those navigating grief.   We also discuss what attendees can expect from the event, including how near-death experiences relate to mediumship, deathbed visions, and expanded states of awareness, all presented in a grounded, engaging, and accessible way. The NDE Zone will be held January 28 from 7pm to 9pm Eastern and is hosted by the Omega Institute. The event is virtual and open to anyone interested in near-death experiences, consciousness, and evidence of life beyond the physical body. Learn more and register at eomega.org. Mark Anthony: Website | Instagram | IMDB | YouTube⁠ The Omega Institute 49 years of wisdom. Where transformation becomes real . Where community feels like coming home. Wherever you are on life's journey, Omega meets you there. Retreat. Renew. Rhinebeck, NY.     My Books + Offerings: WTF Just Happened?! Book Series Join the Science + Spirituality Circle Host or Attend a Science + Spirituality Salon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠ |Patreon | Buy me a coffee More at: https://www.wtfjusthappened.net/

What happens when you blend intuition and creativity to help shape the life you want? Learn from someone whose insights have repeatedly proven true. In this episode, Colette Baron-Reid joins WTF Just Happened?!: All About the Afterlife. No Woo. for a grounded, fun conversation about intuition, oracle cards, manifestation, recovery, and taking real action to create change. Colette shares her personal journey from addiction and recovery to building a globally respected body of work around intuition and creativity. She also shares verified and surprising moments where intuitive and mediumistic information proved to be accurate, including details about loved ones who have passed away. She is clear that manifesting is not about sitting back and wishing. It requires personal responsibility, discernment, and tangible steps in the real world. Guest: Colette Baron-Reid, Intuitive Medium Oracle expert, spiritual intuitive, and personal transformation thought leader. My Books + Offerings: WTF Just Happened?! Book Series Join the Science + Spirituality Circle Host or Attend a Science + Spirituality Salon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠ |Patreon | Buy me a coffeeMore at: https://www.wtfjusthappened.net/ Follow Colette Baron-Reid: Website | Instagram | YouTube | TikTok Book: The Art of Manifesting, Illustrator Anna Denning Events Omega Institute - The NDE Zone: Connected By the Light From the Cosmic to the Subatomic with Mark Anthony (virtual)  Attend the Forever Family Foundation Grief Retreat in Florida -  January 16th - 18th 2026 Full Show Notes

What happens when the U.S. government secretly investigates psychic abilities for intelligence and national security? In this episode, Dale E. Graff, former CIA-linked scientist and director of the now-declassified STARGATE Project shares firsthand insight into the government's remote viewing and psychic spy program that operated for decades during the Cold War. Dale explains how remote viewing was used to gather intelligence, locate targets, and support high-level operations, including missing persons cases and international security threats. He discusses precognition, dream-state psi, consciousness beyond space and time, and why these phenomena challenged conventional science. This conversation explores what STARGATE actually did, why it was shut down, what skeptics misunderstand, and what this research suggests about human consciousness, intuition, and survival beyond death.   My Books + Offerings: WTF Just Happened?! Book Series Join the Science + Spirituality Circle Host or Attend a Science + Spirituality Salon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠ |Patreon | Buy me a coffeeMore at: https://www.wtfjusthappened.net/ Guest: Dale E. Graff — Former Chief of the STARGATE Project, physicist, and author of Tracks in the Psychic Wilderness and River Dreams Follow Dale E Graff Website Events   Attend the Forever Family Foundation Grief Retreat in Florida -  January 16th - 18th 2026 Full Show Notes    

University-Researched Psychic Medium: Inside the UVA Studies | Joe Perreta (Bonus) What happens when a psychic medium is tested inside a Faraday cage—under strict lab conditions designed to eliminate sensory cues and rule out "normal" information channels? In this bonus episode, Joe Perreta returns to share the behind-the-scenes story of participating in research with the University of Virginia's Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS), including what it was like being wired up for brain mapping, locked into a high-security Faraday cage, and asked to deliver evidential information on a timed "receive/report" protocol with no sitter feedback. Joe also explains why this setup was harder than a typical reading, what stayed the same about how the information came through, and the surprising "drop-in" moments that appeared to be meant for people working in the lab. My Books + Offerings: WTF Just Happened?! Book Series Join the Science + Spirituality Circle Host or Attend a Science + Spirituality Salon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter ⁠⁠⁠ |Patreon | Buy me a coffeeMore at: https://www.wtfjusthappened.net/ Guest: Joe Perreta (Psychic Medium; Forever Family Foundation Certified) Follow Joe: Website | Instagram | TikTok Follow DOPS: Website | Instagram | YouTube Follow Forever Family Foundation: Website | Instagram | YouTube  Attend the Forever Family Foundation Grief Retreat in Florida -  January 16th - 18th 2026 Full Show Notes