In the first half, Connie Willis (info) spoke with retired attorney, paranormal researcher, author, and webmaster Jody Long about the concept of soulmates. "Soulmates," she said, "can be anyone with whom you share a deep bond— parents, siblings, even pets." Her perspective challenges the traditional view of soulmates as purely romantic. Long highlighted the idea that every relationship serves as a learning experience about love, stating, "We come to Earth to learn different aspects of love and to explore our emotional makeup." This includes understanding both positive and negative emotions, which are often absent in the afterlife. She elaborated, "In heaven, you don't have the challenges of discernment or the lessons that come from negative experiences."
Throughout the conversation, Long encouraged listeners to consider the deeper meanings behind their relationships, suggesting that even difficult connections can lead to significant personal development. "Each relationship is part of a soul contract, guiding us toward understanding love in all its forms," she remarked. Jody also talked about how she met her husband, Dr. Jeff Long (guest in the second half of the show), who turned out to be her soulmate, as well as how recognizing one's soulmate involves understanding the deeper connections forged through shared life experiences and soul contracts.
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In the latter half, Dr. Jeffrey Long, a radiation oncology physician and founder of the Near Death Experience Research Foundation, discussed his continued research into near-death experiences (NDEs). "We're seeing more near-death experiences now than we did in the past," he noted, attributing this rise to advancements in medical resuscitation techniques that allow more people to survive life-threatening events. Long's extensive research, which spans over 25 years, has led to the compilation of over 4,000 full-text NDE accounts on his website, which he describes as "the largest publicly accessible collection anywhere" on the subject. He explained that while most NDEs are positive, about 4% are frightening or hellish.
His findings indicate a significant reduction in fear of death among those who have had NDEs. "After a near-death experience, people can live their life more fearlessly," he said, and "they take a little piece of that heavenly wisdom back to their earthly life." Additionally, those who undergo NDEs often return with heightened abilities, particularly in intuition and compassion. One of the most compelling stories he recounted was that of Vicki, a woman born blind who gained sight for the first time during her NDE after a car accident. Her newfound ability to see included what she called "360-degree vision," and during the experience, she went through a tunnel, met some deceased loved ones, and felt an overwhelming peace and connection in that realm.