In the first half, former CIA officer and author Jason Hanson discussed his experiences in intelligence, current global threats, personal safety, and societal issues. He described the CIA as treating its personnel well but acknowledged the difficulty of balancing this kind of job with family life. Confirming the CIA's historical involvement in covert operations, including attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro, he stated, "It was originally formed for intelligence, for sabotaging...causing a lot of problems." Despite criticism, Hanson defended intelligence agencies as vital to US national security: "They do a lot of wonderful work that most people never hear of... we have to have it to preserve our freedom."
On contemporary threats, he identified China as the foremost concern, highlighting their patience and long-term strategy: "China will put somebody in our colleges... and they will wait 20 years for them to be in the FBI, in the CIA," or high level jobs in corporate America. "They are very good at playing the long game." Reflecting on his CIA training, Hanson pointed to the importance of deception detection, describing it as learning "how to be a human lie detector." He also warned about the risks posed by technology, noting that devices like Alexa or Google Voice make it easier for people to spy on you.
He also shared details of his post-CIA life, including his private security company and the challenges of dealing with death threats. He noted the rise in demand for bodyguard services due to societal unrest and the impact of social media on escalating conflicts. On home defense, he emphasized simple yet effective measures: "One of the world's simplest things anybody can do... is putting up a door barricade," a metal bar installed across doors to prevent forced entry, giving residents time to call for help in the case of a home invasion.
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In the latter half, author Sandra Champlain spoke about the powerful spectrum of end-of-life phenomena that she believes prove our consciousness survives death, including Shared Death Experiences (SDEs), where healthy individuals report sharing in a loved one's transition, sometimes seeing "a mist rising from them" or "a golden glow." They often see the loved ones in spirit who come to greet the dying person, she added. SDEs are not limited by physical proximity, she continued, as consciousness transcends space and time, allowing communication through dreams or visions. "We're just a thought away," she said, emphasizing the interconnectedness of souls.
She stressed the importance of being present and open to these experiences, suggesting practices like meditation and forgiveness to facilitate connection. Champlain also addressed why some may not experience contact with deceased loved ones, attributing it to either the loved ones not reaching out or the living not being receptive. "They come through in the most subtle ways...we just need to be open to it," she remarked. Champlain described end-of-life visions where the dying see a vibrant afterlife with loved ones. She cited Dr. Christopher Kerr's research showing that these experiences occur in lucid, non-drugged states, underscoring their authenticity. "They see it as real. It's just being on that threshold between life and death," she mused.
Champlain also addressed the historical suppression of afterlife studies by institutions like the Catholic Church's 16th-century Council of Trent, which forbade scientific inquiry into spirituality. She argued that this division between science and spirit is finally breaking down. For more, check out Sandra's "Shades of the Afterlife" podcast, part of Coast to Coast's Paranormal Podcast Network, with free downloads available on the web, via the Coast app, or wherever you get your podcasts.
News segment guests: Lauren Weinstein, Robert Zimmerman