Short Stuff: Third Man Syndrome
Josh and Chuck discuss "third man syndrome," a phenomenon where people in extreme, often life-threatening situations report sensing a distinct, guiding presence that feels like another person with them. They explore classic accounts from Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition, mountaineers like Frank Smythe and Joe Simpson, and survivors of the 9/11 attacks, then consider possible explanations ranging from an innate survival mechanism to the bicameral mind hypothesis. The conversation stays grounded in reported experiences while acknowledging that science has no definitive explanation yet.
#618 - Sam and Colby
Sam and Colby, two YouTube creators known for exploring haunted and abandoned locations, talk with Theo about how they met in small‑town Kansas, built an online career from Vine days, and eventually shifted from illegal urban exploration to structured paranormal investigations. They describe the pivotal Queen Mary experience that changed their beliefs about the afterlife, the methods and equipment they use to investigate alleged hauntings, and some of the most disturbing locations they have visited, including Pendle Hill, the Paris catacombs, and the Smurl house. Throughout, they and Theo connect paranormal exploration to faith, intention, manifestation, and how people show up in their lives and relationships.
(#10) Elise's Top Ten: What almost dying taught me about living | Suleika Jaouad
Host Elise Hu introduces a talk by writer, teacher, and activist Suleika Jaouad, who recounts being diagnosed with leukemia at 22 and spending four years in treatment as "patient number 5624." She explains that surviving cancer did not end her struggle; instead, the hardest part was reentering life afterward, dealing with physical limitations, grief, PTSD, and the myth of the heroic, ever-grateful survivor. Jaouad describes a 15,000-mile road trip to visit readers who had written to her, and shares what she learned about meaning, hope, and living in the in‑between space between sickness and health.