This week on Headlines from the Beyond, we’re covering three major paranormal and unexplained stories shaping the conversation right now.

A new publication from the International Association for Near-Death Studies proposes a bold scientific framework for studying near-death experiences (NDEs) and other end-of-life phenomena. Drawing on decades of clinical observations, one researcher estimates that millions of Americans report near-death experiences, shared death experiences, and deathbed visions each year. Could a national database and a willingness to study consciousness beyond the body transform how science understands life, death, and what may come after?

Next, a new bill introduced by Tim Burchett aims to defund the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the office tasked with investigating unidentified aerial phenomena. If passed, the legislation would dismantle centralized UAP oversight and redistribute responsibilities across the Department of Defense. What would this mean for transparency, disclosure efforts, and the future of UFO research?

Finally, internet investigators are drawing connections between a series of recent disappearances and deaths involving scientists, military personnel, and defense contractors—including the ongoing case of missing Air Force General William Neil McCasland. From NASA researchers to national security officials, the clustering of these cases has fueled speculation about whether these incidents are coincidental—or part of something larger.

From the science of near-death experiences to government oversight of UFOs and emerging conspiracy theories, we’re tracking the stories shaping the strange, the uncertain, and the unexplained.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on Instagram and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on Substack.

Show Notes:

O'Driscoll, Jeff. "A New Scientific Model for Studying Near-Death Phenomena." Journal of Near-Death Studies 42, no. 3 (2024).

Dr. Jeff O’Driscoll

Pentagon’s UFO Office to Be Eliminated Under New Bill

All-domain Anomaly Research Office

Dr. Jon T. Kosloski

H.R.8197 - To terminate the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office of the Department of Defense, and for other purposes.

Missing nuclear official becomes TENTH person tied to dark pattern surrounding US secrets

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).

What happens when lived religious experience challenges how we define the paranormal?

In this episode of Beyond the Human, we’re joined by Andrew Chesnut, one of the leading scholars on Santa Muerte, for an in-depth conversation on devotion, healing, and the realities behind one of the fastest-growing religious movements in the world.

Building on our previous episode, we go beyond history and symbolism to explore lived experiences of devotion to Santa Muerte through the voices, practices, and reported miracles of her devotees.

Drawing on his book Devoted to Death, Dr. Chesnut discusses how Santa Muerte devotion has evolved since he began his research in 2009, including its rapid growth in the United States, its spread beyond Hispanic communities, and its place within broader political and cultural conversations around immigration and identity.

We also explore Santa Muerte's role in healing—examining how practitioners understand supernatural illness, protection, and healing in ways that often fall outside Western scientific frameworks.

In one of the most compelling parts of the conversation, Dr. Chesnut reflects on the reports of miracles among Santa Muertistas, from physical healing to protection in life-threatening situations, and why it’s essential for scholars to take these experiences seriously, even when they challenge conventional explanations

From anthropology and religious studies to the broader question of how we define the paranormal, this episode pushes the boundaries between belief, experience, and reality.

Topics discussed in this episode:

(0:35) - Welcoming Dr. Chesnut and the State of Santa Muerte Devotion

(18:00) - Santa Muerte as Healer

(24:39) - Gender and Santa Muerte

(35:32) - Santa Muerte and the Paranormal

(41:00) - Military and Law Enforcement Devotion

(43:56) - Studying Anomalous Phenomena

(47:21) - Dr. Chesnut's Upcoming Work

Show Notes:

Instagram - @drdeathanddivinity

Threads -@drdeathanddivinity

X - @AndrewChesnut1

Facebook - Andrew Chesnut

Devoted to Death, 3rd Edition

Campfire ambience: “Campfire at night soundscape (louder fire, quieter animals)” by SilverIllusionist, via Freesound (CC BY 4.0).

Music: “Backwoods BBQ” by Chris Haugen, via the YouTube Audio Library.

This week on Headlines from the Beyond, we’re covering three major stories shaping paranormal conversation right now.

The UFO community is mourning the loss of Nick Pope, one of the most recognizable figures in modern UFO research. Known for his work on the UK Ministry of Defence’s “UFO desk” and later as a prominent media voice on shows like Ancient Aliens, Pope’s legacy spans decades of investigation, public engagement, and advocacy for serious study of unexplained aerial phenomena. Following his passing after a battle with cancer, we look back at his impact on UFO discourse—and why he was often called the “real-life Fox Mulder.”

Next, Vice President JD Vance weighs in on extraterrestrials, offering a perspective that reframes UFO encounters not as alien—but potentially demonic. His comments add fuel to a growing divide between scientific and religious interpretations of the phenomenon. We break down his statements, responses from researchers like Avi Loeb, and what this debate reveals about how people interpret the unknown.

Finally, a commercial airline pilot reports a possible UFO sighting while landing at Philadelphia International Airport. Describing a “flying disc” overhead, the report raises familiar questions: what was seen, how fast was it moving, and why couldn’t air traffic control confirm it? We examine what we know—and what remains unexplained.

From the legacy of one of UFO research’s most influential figures to new political theories and fresh eyewitness accounts, we’re tracking the stories shaping the conversation around extraterrestrials and the unexplained.

Three stories, one briefing on the strange, the storied, and the extraordinary.

Stay connected with us between episodes—follow Beyond the Human on Instagram and subscribe to Field Notes from the Beyond on Substack.

Show Notes:

JD Vance says aliens are ‘demons’ and details obsession with UFOs

The Benny Show - JD Vance | Saving Western Civilization by Fighting Demons, Will We Survive?

Avi Loeb Comments on Vice President JD Vance’s Remarks that UFOs Might be Demons

Avi Loeb Reacts to JD Vance Believing Aliens Are Actually 'Demons' | Jesse Weber Live

Commercial Pilot Landing in Philadelphia Reports Flying Saucer to Air Traffic Control

Typewriter sound effect: “Typewriter snippet 01 mono [loop]” by cabled_mess, via Freesound (CC0).