Episode 233 - Sensed Presence Effect: Imaginary Friends When You Need Them Most

Squaring the Strange

Ben and Celestia have a lot of current events to discuss, from Olympic rumors about Satan and pregnant gymnasts to the real gender identity of an Algerian boxer and Hello Kitty. Then we dive into the "sensed presence" effect. This strange phenomenon can explain many things -- ghost encounters, mountain-top revelations, and hallucinations people experience during isolation in prisons, at sea or while lost in the wilderness. As social creatures, we simply aren't built for prolonged loneliness. Not only does it impact our physical health, it utterly unravels our sense of self.