Dive into compelling tales of near-death experiences and how the mind responds during trauma. Uncover the unsettling truth behind a seemingly welcoming yoga school that hides abuse and exploitation. Explore the ethics of using AI to simulate conversations with the deceased, prompting deep reflection on life and death. This collection of stories challenges perceptions and encourages listeners to view decay as a pathway to rebirth, sparking thought-provoking discussions on contemporary issues.
Renu Arora's near-death experience reveals the brain's ability to experience profound peace and joy in extreme crisis situations.
Miranda's harrowing journey in the wellness community uncovers the hidden exploitative practices that can arise from seemingly positive environments.
Deep dives
Renu Arora's Near-Death Experience
Renu Arora recounts a traumatic moment when she was struck by a bus, leading to a near-death experience that transformed her perspective on life. In that critical moment, instead of fear, she experienced a profound sense of peace and joy, as if she had detached from her body and was floating above the scene. This state of bliss allowed her to feel a unique love unlike anything she had encountered before, emphasizing the brain's remarkable capacity to cope with extreme trauma. Her story illustrates how moments of crisis can trigger extraordinary psychological responses, changing one's understanding of existence and reality.
The Dark Side of the Wellness Industry
Miranda's journey into yoga starts with the promise of a transformative and welcoming environment, but it quickly spirals into a harrowing experience of control and exploitation. As her involvement deepens, she finds herself trapped in a situation where her basic freedoms, such as access to her passport and money, are stripped away, revealing a darker underbelly of the wellness community. This narrative highlights the complexities and dangers that can lurk behind seemingly positive and spiritual practices, underscoring how easily individuals can become entangled in manipulative situations. Miranda's determination to expose these hidden truths serves as a call for awareness and change within the wellness industry.
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Exploring Near-Death Experiences and the Power of the Mind
Sideways returns with seven new stories of seeing the world differently and the ideas that shape our lives. Stories about everything from the ethics of using AI to simulate conversations with the dead to viewing decay as a vehicle for rebirth. Listen to the eleventh series of Sideways first on BBC Sounds.
Presenter: Matthew Syed
Producers: Julien Manuguerra-Patten, Vishva Samani and Caroline Thornham
Series Editors: Georgia Moodie and Max O'Brien
Sound Design and Mix: Daniel Kempson and Nicholas Alexander
Theme music by: Ioana Selaru
Produced by: Novel for BBC Radio 4
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