S05E29 - Science of the Supernatural with Melissa Maffeo
From MonsterTalk by Blake Smith
May 4, 2026 · 45 min · Season 5 · Episode 29
About this episode
Dr. Melissa Maffeo discusses her book on the neuroscience behind supernatural experiences.
Neuroscientist Dr. Melissa Maffeo joins Blake and Karen to discuss her new book Science of the Supernatural: Critical Thinking for the Mind and Brain (Cambridge University Press, 2026). Melissa is an associate teaching professor of psychology at Wake Forest University, where she also serves as Associate Director of the Neuroscience Program. In this episode, Melissa talks about using paranormal topics as an accessible entry point for teaching psychology and neuroscience, and shares her view that most supernatural experiences can likely be explained by what's happening in our brains - even if we don't yet have all the answers. The conversation covers a wide range of topics from the book, including the God Helmet experiments, the neuroscience of out-of-body experiences, how parasites can hijack behavior, and whether prior belief shapes what we experience. Extended show notes at our website. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/monstertalk--6267523/support . Some product links may be affiliated with Amazon revenue sharing.
People in this episode
Hosts: Blake Smith, Karen
Guest: Dr. Melissa Maffeo
Topics covered
- neuroscience
- supernatural
- psychology
- paranormal
- out-of-body experiences
- critical thinking
Keywords
- neuroscience
- supernatural
- psychology
- God Helmet
- out-of-body experiences
- parasites
- critical thinking
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Wake Forest University, Cambridge University Press
Books & works: Science of the Supernatural: Critical Thinking for the Mind and Brain
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