41:T452,Sebastian Junger came as close as you possibly can to dying. While his doctors struggled to revive him, the veteran reporter and avowed rationalist experienced things that shocked and shook him, leaving him with profound questions and unexpected revelations. In his new book, In My Time of Dying, Junger explores the mysteries and commonalities of people’s near death experiences. He joins Sean to talk about what it’s like to die and what quantum physics can tell us about living that countless religions can’t. Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area Guest: Sebastian Junger. His new book is In My Time of Dying. Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Be the first to hear new episodes of The Gray Area by following us in your favorite podcast app. Links here: https://www.vox.com/the-gray-area Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts This episode was made by: Producer: Jon Ehrens Engineer: Patrick Boyd Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices42:T42c,

Death is a word we like to avoid. We dance around the subject or use vague euphemisms to not hurt anybody. But what if being open about our deaths meant we could live happier lives?

That’s where Alua Arthur comes in. Alua is one of the most prominent death doulas in the country, which means it’s her job to help people die. She offers support to her clients and their families as they embark on their dying journey, tackling everything from financial planning and insurance policy to emotional support and grief.

When I sat down with Alua, I was prepared for a grim conversation. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by her candor and good humor about dying. She shares with me how she made a career pivot from lawyer to death dula, the most interesting stories she’s heard from people on their death bed, and why thinking about our deaths is the key to living the way we wish to live.

This…is A Bit of Optimism.

For more on Alua and her work, check out: Going With Grace

43:T553,WHAT IF OUR END WAS REALLY JUST THE BEGINNING?IT’S THE GREATEST MYSTERY OF OUR LIVES THAT NONE OF US WILL SOLVE UNTIL WE DIE. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE DIE?British journalist and broadcaster Charlie Webster experienced life after death. After completing an exhausting 3000 miles charity cycling challenge from Europe to South America, she became critically ill and spent two weeks on life support in a coma. This is when she had her ‘NDE’—near death experience—she made a miraculous recovery that baffled doctors both in Brazil and the UK. After her close brush with death, she is now determined to open the conversation about the afterlife, and find answers to what she experienced in the moments doctors were trying to save her. In this captivating and inspirational 8-part series, Charlie will act as a detective, piecing together clues to build a bulletproof case as to how to approach death, and how to live in the here and now. She’ll meet with “experiencers” and hear their startling personal encounters with death and the beyond. She’ll also chat with experts - scientific and spiritual opinion leaders —who are using hard science and modern technology to gain never-before seen or heard evidence of the afterlife. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.44:T7f8,

Checking Out: The Industry That Takes Ca...