Jane just got back from the IANDS conference—the world’s biggest gathering focused on near-death experiences (NDEs), consciousness, and what happens when we die—and she brought back everything: the science, the stories, the gossip, and the thrift-store goodies. In this episode, Jane and Sarah dive into the fascinating world of near-death experiences and consciousness, unpacking what happens when people flatline and come back profoundly changed. From shifts in the nervous system and a dramatic loss of the fear of death to an inner voice that seems to switch on for good, these stories raise some big questions about life after death, the nature of consciousness, and what might be waiting on the other side. It's part conference recap, part science geek out, part reminder that the whole point of all of this, at the end of the day, is love. Jane recounts crashing a conversation with filmmaker Steven Simon (What Dreams May Come) to invite him on the show, dancing with Anita Moorjani at a Wizard of Oz themed party, and thrifting with medium Lauren Robertson. Along the way, she and Sarah dig into a University of Milan study on grief hallucinations that aren't hallucinations at all, talk through the difference between intuition and a nervous system in fight or flight, and touch on the University of Virginia's Division of Perceptual Studies, which investigates spontaneous and verifiable after death communication. It's part conference recap, part science geek out, part reminder that the whole point of all of this, at the end of the day, is love. Key Takeaways Grief hallucinations aren't hallucinations. Research suggests a majority of grieving people see or hear a deceased loved one, but most stay quiet out of fear of being seen as unstable. If it's happened to you, you're not imagining it and you're not alone. A calm nervous system and intuition are connected. When the body is stuck in fight or flight, it's genuinely harder to access intuitive guidance. Regulating the nervous system (through breath, somatic practice, or anything that signals safety to the body) can be a prerequisite for hearing your inner knowing, not a separate task from it. Fear of not knowing shows up everywhere, not just around death. The same anxious grip that shows up around mortality also shows up around money, security, and control. Naming that pattern can make it easier to work with. Discernment matters more than certainty when evaluating any spiritual teacher or channeled information. Watch for dependency, whether you feel free to leave at any time, and whether the message serves your growth or someone else's authority. You don't need proof to start. People who return from a profound experience (near-death or otherwise) tend to skip the years of study because they already know something is possible. Belief itself is often the actual doorway. Direct Quotes Sarah: "The only thing you have to do to be a medium is know that it's possible." Jane, on a friend's final months: "He was like, I'm just here to broadcast love, and that's all I'm gonna do for the rest of my time here." Jane, on nervous system regulation: "If you're in a sympathetic nervous system, which is activated fight or flight, the intuition is not really available." Links and Resources International Association of Near-Death Studies (IANDS) conference Steven Simon, filmmaker (What Dreams May Come) and author of a book written with his late wife (title referenced in the episode as "What Dreams Have Come," Lauren Robertson, medium and author of The Medium in Manolo's Alex Ferrari, host of Next Level Soul podcast University of Virginia Division of Perceptual Studies (DOPS), founded by Ian Stevenson Medium Curious Collective (community membership, mentioned at the close) Jane Morgan Medium: Jane Morgan Medium Sarah Rathke: SarahRathke.com Instagram: MediumCuriousPod (@mediumcuriouspod) Substack: https://mediumcuriouspod.substack.com/
