Oprah Winfrey spotlighted near-dear experiences (NDEs) this week in her Oprah Podcast, interviewing IANDS co-founder Dr. Bruce Greyson and several near-death experiencers, including orthopedic surgeon Dr. Mary Neal, Academy Award-winning actor Jeremy Renner and Grammy-winning songwriter and producer Harmony H-Money Samuels.
Oprah mentioned the International Association for Near-Death Studies (IANDS) in the first minutes of the podcast and discussed Greyson’s role in founding IANDS. During the 70 minutes podcast, Oprah delves into the origins of the field of near-death experience research, common themes in NDEs reported by experiencers, the impacts of NDEs on people’s lives, and the lessons NDEs offer all of humanity.
The Oprah Interview with Bruce Greyson Offers Fresh Perspectives
Greyson describes his initial skepticism about NDEs and the eventual shift in his thinking that inspired him to devote his life to the field as a professor in the University of Virginia School of Medicine Division of Perceptual Studies.
“I’ve seen so many examples of people whose brains were obviously not functioning well at all, and yet they describe their consciousness as more vivid than ever before,” Greyson explains. He also tells Oprah that NDEs are common experiences around the world, in all cultures and throughout history. “Some get it through meditation, or through prayer, or just spontaneously, The near-death experience is one precipitant for that experience,” he says.
Jeremy Renner, whose NDE occurred following his harrowing 2023 accident, appeared awestruck by the experience and struggled to find words to describe it, a common reaction among experiencers.
“It’s the collective divinity of love,” Renner says. He also talks about how his life priorities have shifted. ”Love is the only thing you take with you when you die,” he adds. “Nothing else freakin’ matters besides what you love, and love unequivocally.”
In a poignant moment, Dr. Mary Neal described how her NDE and the hope and future it showed here enabled her to cope with the later death of her son. “Even in the midst of my sorrow I experienced great joy. And that joy is because of knowing, trusting spiritual truth.”
See Oprah’s Interview with Dr. Bruce Greyson Here!
