Here I sit down with existential psychologist Dr. Alex Sielaff to explore how our awareness of death subtly shapes everything, from our beliefs and identities to our relationships and search for meaning.

We dive into Terror Management Theory, peak states of consciousness, and the ways adventure, discomfort, and integration can help us live more fully in the face of mortality.

It’s a conversation about fear, freedom, and the quiet power of choosing presence over certainty.

You can contact Alex via email at sielaff@arizona.edu

Some of the references discussed in this conversation are:

The Denial of Death by Ernest BeckerRude Awakening: Perils, Pitfalls, and Hard Truths of the Spiritual Path by P.T. MistlbergerRobert Anton Wilson's idea of Maybe Logic for holding multiple worldviews at the same time

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Episode ID: 1000703306220

GUID: 47bea6e1-364d-4811-bb44-d3f7ca9cab9a

Release Date: 12/04/2025, 17:00:00