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In this podcast episode, author Benjamin Carraud discusses his book, “Goodbye Fields of Prokhorovka,” his childhood in northern France, and intense early nightmares accompanied by sleepwalking.

He describes later moving abroad, including time in Shanghai as an entrepreneur. He had a sudden, vivid flashback-like experiences of leading soldiers through a WWII battlefield under artillery fire. In the flashback he had tactical awareness, vulnerability, and a sense of command. The flashback - like episodes recurred regularly and made him fear he was losing his mind.

After returning to France, he took a calming job as a castle receptionist, remained withdrawn, and sought help. A psychiatrist said he was not schizophrenic and suggested exploring less routine techniques. A documentary on a child's recollection of the battle of Iwo Jima—helped him connect his nightmares and flashbacks. This leading him to speak with researcher Jim Matlock and find community and research-based discussion of reincarnation phenomena.

00:00 Welcome and New Book

03:14 Growing Up in France

04:05 Childhood Nightmares

05:54 Leaving France for Abroad

06:45 Shanghai Flashback Begins

08:18 Inside the Battle Vision

13:23 Aftermath and Fear of Losing It

15:25 Back Home and Quiet Job

17:12 Clues in the Memories

18:15 Reincarnation Documentary Link

20:10 Therapy and Past Life Regression

22:43 Jim Matlock and Community

27:30 Wrap Up and Next Episode

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In a second interview with John Ray Bartges, the discussion focuses on how to approach the end of human life by choosing kindness, expressing love, and being present with others to create a positive ripple effect.

Bartges shares research associated with Dr. Marty Seligman and Positive Psychology that identifies three keys to happiness: faith in something greater, supportive friends, and a sense of purpose.

She also cites Hopi questions (who am I, why am I, where’s my garden, where’s my water) and offers a free “Spiritual Compass” exercise on psi studies.com to clarify values and direction.

The conversation highlights gratitude as a tool for coping with difficult emotions, including self-appreciation, and includes a hospice story about her husband Paul finding humor near death and fulfilling a final purpose by reconciling his mother and brother.

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We talk with Jonna Rae Bartges, an author, minister, Emmy-winning producer, and founder of the Practical Spirituality Institute, about supporting loved ones who are nearing death and easing fear around dying.

Jonna Rae shares the phrase “grief remembers the love that created it,” explains how humor can raise “frequency” (and helped her survive a 1989 brain aneurysm), and describes her approach as a bridge between science and spirituality.

Ms. Bartges references concepts like the unified field, Carl Jung’s collective unconscious, near-death experiences, and research suggesting consciousness continues.

This episode includes practical guidance such as normalizing death conversations, discussing proud memories, validating a person’s impact, and asking who they look forward to seeing “on the other side.”