The Next Big Idea Best Of: Sebastian Junger’s Journey to the Edge and Back
Aug 21, 2025
Sebastian Junger, bestselling author and Oscar-nominated filmmaker, shares his gripping near-death experience after a ruptured aneurysm. He reflects on the fragility of life, the deep existential questions raised by his brush with death, and the profound thoughts about the afterlife that followed. Junger also contrasts the recognition of famous authors with the unsung bravery of journalists in perilous situations. Delving into themes of fatherhood and the significance of blood donation, he inspires listeners to ponder mortality and community.
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The Moment He Almost Died
- Sebastian Junger nearly died after a ruptured pancreatic artery flooded his abdomen with blood.
- He remembers a black pit and telling the doctor, “You’re losing me right now. I’m going.”
Remote Cabin Collapse And Aneurysm
- On June 16, 2020, Junger collapsed in a remote cabin and was transported an hour to the hospital in compensatory shock.
- Doctors later found a ruptured aneurysm bleeding into his abdominal cavity that nearly killed him.
The Nightmare Before The Near-Death
- Two days before his aneurysm burst, Junger had a vivid nightmare of dying and hovering over his grieving family.
- After surviving, he feared the dream might have been the actual dying experience and that his current life was a hallucination.
