Dream Studies

Out-of-Body Experiences with Samantha Lee Treasure S1:E2

Ryan D. Hurd sits down with medical anthropologist and author Samantha Lee Treasure to explore the fascinating and often misunderstood world of out-of-body experiences (OBEs). Samantha shares how growing up on a reportedly haunted farm in Ontario set her on a lifelong path of researching consciousness beyond the body.  In this episode: * How a veridical cherry cheesecake sparked Samantha's career in anthropology * The surprising variation in OBE content  * Haunting narratives and astral projection * How OBEs differ from lucid dreams and why the line can be blurry * The "astral marketplace" and the wellness world's complicated relationship with OBEs * Gen Z's reality shifting phenomenon, a new culturally shaped altered state for the streaming generation * Samantha's ongoing "Future Tokyo" OBE experiences: a consistent, semi-dystopian world she's been visiting since age three Samantha's new book: Out-of-Body Experiences: [https://bookshop.org/p/books/out-of-body-experiences-explorations-and-encounters-on-the-astral-plane-samantha-treasure/b4500c61b198c8a7?ean=9781398844292&next=t] Explorations and Encounters with the Astral Plane Find Samantha online: Blog: zombiesinpjs.com [https://www.zombiesinpjs.com] Instagram: @astral_anthropology [https://www.instagram.com/samanthaleetreasure/] YouTube: @SamanthaLeeTreasure [https://www.youtube.com/@SamanthaLeeTreasure]

The State of Dream Studies with Nicoline Douwes Isema S1:1

In the inaugural episode of the Dream Studies Podcast, host Ryan D. Hurd sits down with dream research expert Nicoline Douwes Isema for a wide-ranging conversation about where the field of dream studies stands today.. and where it's headed. Topics covered: * The "democratization of dreaming" — why your dreams belong to you, not an authority figure * How 100+ years of psychiatry and psychology inadvertently took dream ownership away from everyday people * The role of AI in dream interpretation: pattern recognition vs. meaning-making, and how to use it wisely * Wearables, sleep trackers, and cognitive freedom — empowering people through data about their own sleep * How dream sharing strengthens emotional connection (and yes, sexual intimacy) in relationships * Team dreaming and collective dream work — dreaming together as a creative problem-solving tool * Synchronicities: why keeping a dream journal puts rare experiences in perspective * A "tiny revolution" in how we talk about and relate to our dreams Guest: Nicoline Isema | thinkinginyoursleep.com [https://thinkinginyoursleep.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkinginyoursleep/] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/thinkinginyoursleep/]  Resources mentioned: * International Association for the Study of Dreams (IASD [https://asdreams.org/about-iasd/])  * Gail Delaney's dream interview method [https://delaneyondreams.com/delaneys-dream-interview-method/] * The Dream Portal [https://dreamstudies.org/jointhedreamportal/] membership community  About the host: Ryan D. Hurd is a dream researcher, author, and holistic educator. The Dream Studies Podcast explores dreams, consciousness, and the imagination, bridging 21st century science with intuitive ways of knowing. Original music and art by Eldest Child (c) 2026 Subscribe to get notified when the next episode drops. This a slow publishing project by design, with new episodes every two weeks or so.