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:

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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.