The Diary of a CEO

Why grief mimics psychosis and unlocks deeper senses

Through grief after her husband died, a neuroscientist explored somatic work; mediums; and a wider model of the human mind beyond the brain.

SBSteven BartletthostTSDr. Tara Swartguest

Aug 14, 2025·1h 44m·Watch on YouTube ↗

📖 CHAPTERS

1. 1
   0:00 – 9:00

   Opening Claim: A Neuroscientist Says We Can Talk To The Dead

   Bartlett frames the conversation as potentially revolutionary if Swart’s claims about communicating with the dead are true. Swart reveals she has kept a four-year secret about her experiences after her husband’s death and expresses 100% certainty in her conclusions. She sets the stage by acknowledging the taboo nature of the topic, especially given her background in psychiatry where similar claims can be pathologized.

2. 2
   9:00 – 19:40

   Beyond Five Senses: Brain As Filter And Human Potential

   Swart argues that humans drastically underestimate their sensory and cognitive capacity. She introduces the idea that the brain filters a larger mind so we can function materially and cites research suggesting humans have about 34 senses. She positions Bartlett as a rational skeptic she wants to convince, framing this as a test case for wider societal impact.

3. 3
   19:40 – 36:40

   The Secret: Robin’s Death, Early Signs, And Self-Doubt

   Swart recounts the death of her husband Robin and the devastation that followed, including reading condolence cards on their wedding anniversary. She describes seeing robins everywhere, a vivid visitation-like experience, and early forays into consulting mediums, which she ultimately found unsatisfying. Simultaneously, she interrogated her own sanity, given her clinical background.

4. 4
   36:40 – 44:40

   Grief In The Body: Somatic Trauma And Psychosis-Like States

   The conversation shifts to how grief manifests physically and neurologically. Swart details intense unexplained body pain and freezing sensations linked to specific dates from Robin’s illness, which she later maps to trauma memory. She introduces somatic work and the idea that trauma can shut down speech centers, making talk therapy insufficient on its own.

5. 5
   44:40 – 58:20

   Thought Insertion, Creativity, And Training Yourself To Notice Signs

   Swart describes experiencing ‘thought insertion,’ a classic psychotic symptom, yet simultaneously analyzing it as a psychiatrist. She introduces the shared trait vulnerability model: the same neural features that underlie creativity and noticing patterns can also predispose to psychopathology. From this, she formulates a method to train perception—loosening filters and cultivating ‘the art of noticing’—to receive and interpret signs.

6. 6
   58:20 – 1:11:40

   Skepticism, Confirmation Bias, And Using Coincidence Constructively

   Bartlett challenges Swart with probabilistic reasoning and confirmation bias—the idea that unlikely coincidences are statistically expected. Swart doesn’t deny the psychology but encourages using it intentionally. They explore the line between pattern recognition and delusion and discuss how to set stringent criteria for signs so they are less likely to be random hits.

7. 7
   1:11:40 – 1:31:20

   Near-Death Experiences & Terminal Lucidity: Challenging Materialism

   Swart outlines evidence she finds compelling from near-death experiences (NDEs) and terminal lucidity research. She focuses on medically documented cases where non-functioning brains seem to support coherent consciousness just before death or during clinical flatlines. These observations underpin her belief that mind can operate independently of brain matter.

8. 8
   1:31:20 – 1:41:40

   Souls, Consciousness, And What Survives Death

   Confronted by Bartlett’s insistence on evidence, Swart shares her metaphysical view: that there is a larger field—call it consciousness, universe, or ‘cosmic soup’—into which personal essence flows. She leans on her subjective certainty about Robin and on scientists who model the brain as a receiver. Both agree these ideas are unproven, but not ruled out.

9. 9
   1:41:40 – 1:52:30

   Practices To Cultivate Signs, Intuition, And Spiritual Grounding

   Swart outlines practical steps from her book ‘The Signs’ for anyone wanting to heighten intuition, receive signs, or simply heal. She emphasizes neuroaesthetics, nature, and community as structured ways to open perception and counter modern disconnection. They also explore how belief in something transcendent can be both beneficial and potentially dangerous, depending on its form.

10. 10
    1:52:30 – 2:03:20

    Trauma In Fascia, Serotonin Hypothesis, And Somatic Release

    Returning to embodied experience, Swart explains emerging ideas on how trauma may be stored in fascia, blood flow, and serotonin signalling. She connects these mechanisms with ancient practices like wailing, drumming, and chest-beating at funerals, arguing that ancestors intuitively used effective somatic techniques to process grief.

11. 11
    2:03:20 – 2:15:50

    Gut–Brain Axis, Intuition, And Physical Foundations For Higher Consciousness

    Swart details bi-directional communication between the brain and gut, emphasizing gut microbiome health as the most direct way to influence brain function and intuition. By reducing inflammation and free radical damage, especially in the energy-hungry brain and hippocampus, we free cognitive resources not just for problem-solving but for deeper embodied intuition.

12. 12
    2:15:50 – 2:27:30

    Dark Retreats, Altered States, And Emulating Near-Death Experiences

    Swart introduces dark retreats from Tibetan and ancient traditions as a way for ordinary people to approximate the transformative aspects of NDEs. She explains how prolonged darkness alters melatonin and perception, leading to visions and shifts in worldview. The discussion then broadens to psychedelics, breathwork, and art as different roads to altered states that can expand what we consider possible.

13. 13
    2:27:30 – 2:40:50

    Meaning, Disconnection, And A Call Back To Ancient Wisdom

    The conversation zooms out to societal trends: individualism, choice, and the erosion of shared structures of meaning. Bartlett and Swart agree that many people feel unanchored, turning to spirituality or religion amid midlife crises. Swart suggests that reconnecting with nature, community, and embodied practices can coexist with technological advancement and help restore a sense of purpose and belonging.

14. 14
    2:40:50 – 2:59:10

    Love, Loss, And Purpose After Robin

    In a vulnerable section, Swart recounts traumatic hospital episodes with Robin, his near-death crash call, his insistence on leaving the hospital, and their final intimate moments. She cries as she speaks about not wanting him forgotten and feeling he still has a purpose for her to fulfill. Bartlett asks about future love and how she has changed; she answers with ambivalence, gratitude, and a newfound fragility.

15. 15
    2:59:10

    Open-Minded Skepticism, Purpose, And Final Reflections

    In closing, Bartlett reflects on how podcasting has made him more agnostic, having changed his mind so many times he now resists fixed positions. Swart reiterates that she’s not claiming to have all the answers, only to open forbidden questions with scientific seriousness and personal honesty. They discuss the identity of the show’s audience, the value of curiosity, and the best thing anyone has done for her: Robin’s demonstration that unconditional love is real.