
What Really Happens During Near-Death Experiences? | RC97
From Rebelliously Curious with Chrissy Newton: UFOs, Science, Culture and Futurism by Chrissy Newton
December 4, 2025 · 55 min
About this episode
The episode explores near-death experiences and their transformative effects, featuring insights from Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova.
Today, we're diving into one of the most fascinating topics, near-death experiences, and one of the deeply human questions of our time: What happens when we come close to death—and why does it change people forever? Joining me is Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova, Research Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine, and a leading researcher at the renowned Division of Perceptual Studies. Today, we explore what near-death experiences are, what people report during them, why these moments are so transformative, and how her research is shaping new approaches to care and support for those who've experienced them. We'll also take a look at how science is evolving to better understand these experiences—and where the field is headed next. Follow Chrissy Newton: Winner of the Canadian Podcast Awards for Best Science Series. YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM32gjHqMnYl_MOHZetC8Eg Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beingchrissynewton/ X: https://twitter.com/chrissynewton?lang=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BeingChrissyNewton Chrissy Newton's Website: https://chrissynewton.com Top Canadian Science Podcast…
People in this episode
Host: Chrissy Newton
Guest: Dr. Marieta Pehlivanova
Topics covered
- near-death experiences
- transformation
- science
- psychology
- research
Keywords
- near-death experiences
- transformation
- psychology
- research
- science
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: University of Virginia School of Medicine, Division of Perceptual Studies
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