EPISODE THREE:
Ferg speaks with Dr. Donna Thomas, a lecturer and researcher in the social sciences at the University of Central Lancashire. Donna has carried out extensive qualitative research with children around their unexplained experiences. She herself had an extraordinary NDE as a teenager. However, she focuses here primarily on her findings around premonition cases, and their implications for our understanding of consciousness and reality. Donna is Co-Director of the IcreateS International Research Institute, has authored 16 papers, and recently published the book: "Children's Unexplained Experiences in a Post Materialist World: What Children can Teach Us about the Mystery of Being Human."

CONTACT US
Would you like to connect to discuss your expertise on these topics, or share a personal experience? Get in touch at ferg@scoutinthewoods.com.

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INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to Scout In The Woods, a podcast dedicated to the personal stories of ordinary people who have experienced extraordinary, unexplained phenomena. The show aims to make these fringe encounters more accessible to listeners from all backgrounds, no matter your prior assumptions. Broadcasting from Liverpool UK, I hope you enjoy hearing from our guests in the coming weeks and months!

WHAT’S IN THE NAME?
The name Scout In The Woods has a few layers:
• It pays tribute to our late family dog, Scout, who also plays a symbolic role in the podcast. The starting assumptions here about consciousness elevate the experience of all life forms we share our planet with over and above the sterile rationality of AI/machines.
• "Scout" also refers to the show’s quest to explore fringe experiences of reality and gain deeper understanding from these new frontiers of knowledge.
• Meanwhile, “into the woods” in storytelling refers to journeying into unknown territories in search of personal growth, epiphanies that can help resolve problems at home, and our mission to protect and extend life.

THE NATURE OF CONSCIOUSNESS:
I'm fascinated by the growing body of evidence on near-death experiences, paranormal events, and other unusual sensory experiences. Through this podcast, we will explore what these phenomena reveal about our consciousness, the nature of reality, and what lies on the fringes of human knowledge. Are we on the verge of a paradigm shift in how we view consciousness and reality – a shift that could be as significant as the Copernican revolution or Darwin’s theory of evolution? Are our individual brains really the sole generators of meaningful experience in the universe?

THE ORIGINS OF STORY:
The podcast also delves into the universal narrative structure found in stories. This storytelling “DNA” was explored by John Yorke in his brilliant book Into the Woods, a key influence for the podcast. Yorke asked, ‘Why does this story structure exist? How did it come about? And why is it so ubiquitous and consistent?’ I felt however that Yorke’s vague answer to his own question overlooked the possibility that story structure connects to a far deeper frame for consciousness than the human-centric one that Western, secular society currently adopts — a topic I explore in future episodes.

OTHER MOTIVATING FACTORS:
• A key motivation behind launching this podcast has been the sheer number of people close to us all who have witnessed something unusual yet who hesitate to share their experiences due to societal stigma. These events, often dismissed by science, psychiatry, and medicine, are more common than most people realise. I believe that by acknowledging and understanding these phenomena, we can lessen this fear of the unknown, provide better support for anyone who is troubled by these confusing aspects of reality, and deepen our understanding of human experience.
• As Thomas Kuhn noted, paradigm shifts are protracted and messy, and involve social and cultural as well as top-end scientific discoveries. By giving a platform to personal stories of extraordinary experiences, I hope to contribute to the larger conversation and inspire others who have had similar experiences to share or better grasp their own.