As I get older (going into my 50's) life seems strangely more dreamlike. My kids are growing up, people come and go and eventually it will be my turn. I'm not too anxious about it though because I've accepted the inevitable. I love life and death shows me how to live better.

I love it when she tells Lex that she is terrified of death, then he keeps going ON AND ON about it!!! 😂😂😂

Sometimes I want to die not because of depression just out of curiosity

I'm afraid of death. Death is unknown. I don't believe we just turning off like a computer, I think there's going be something after it. I'm not talking about hell or heaven, I'm not even talking about continuation of your personality, but some kind of continuation of consciousness at least on some level. My biggest fear is not death itself, but losing myself, my memories, affection for loved ones etc. It terrifies me.

This could be a good follow up topic...why do we grieve the people we've lost? I lost my 17 yo son to cancer, and I cannot remove the void in my heart it has left. It effects me negatively every day.

Its so amazing to see how your face already speaks a lot about the things that go inside your head. So many traits of your personality already shows on your face. It's like when you are born, your future attributes, qualities and traits are already written and your face just reflects it... sometimes it is not always true or it just depends on judgement.

I love it when two introverts get together.

I share the same level of utter terror as this lady is describing. There are only distractions, to varying degrees, but the fear is unshakable.

I regularly imagine lying in my final moments and what kind of thoughts would be going through my head. It immediately gives me a very clear image of the things that truly matter to me and it helps me to appreciate life and show the people that I love how much they mean to me. We could all die tomorrow. Look around you. What really matters to you? Who do you need to talk to and to show love?

I'm glad it exists or I wouldn't know what our catalyst for appreciating the beauty of it all would be. We'd take life for granted, get bored, wish for a way out, and someone would invent death.

There's being alone and there's loneliness. The two are not the same thing. One is a state of being; the other a state of mind. One can empower and the other can cripple. Luckily, everyone has a choice on which one they give power and influence to.

he's vocally saying out loud...what we are all thinking. even if we distract ourselves. We all think it. He's searching you can plainly tell. . But we all are.

Interestingly these days I don't think about my own death much and concentrate mostly on what I am doing at the present moment. If it comes in I feel I settle it and accept it once again. I just don't really think about it anymore although when I watch something like this it reminds me of death. I am the kind of guy that is smiling at a funeral and hugging friends or family while everyone else is in years. I am just full of joy most the time so I try not to let dark times bring me to tears when most of the time I am naturally happy. I went to so many funerals when I was younger and used a meditative technique I learned from the Tibetan Book of the Dead to meditate on a dead body that now at funerals I don't react in deep grief over a dead body. I don't feel I suppress it and hold my feeling in but rather sustain the joy I have most days in life.

Thank you Lex for covering this topic. I've spent so much time pondering these questions. And I'm a power lifter/marathon runner. I have always preferred for my journey to be alone. It's the only way to master yourself

I'm really afraid of death, but, I'm more afraid of not living (i. e, doing almost everything I can do and want to do) than death.

About death: We are going where everyone else has gone. Pragmatically speaking, it must be okay because that is reality.

Once I turned 30, unfortunately, I began to think about death constantly. It’s given me a lot of stress and anxiety, but I’m slowly coming to embrace it and see it as a good thing. I can already tell it is something I will likely obsess over for the rest of my life, too.

I'm 67, and I recognize diminution of nearly every aspect of my life: physical, motivational, intellectual, financial, health, sensory, etc. I have no reason to think that these processes will diminish their rates of deterioration. I'm not afraid of death per se, but I am offput with the idea of 25 more years of linear deterioration.

We need to flip this interpretation. The critique of TMT is that people may not actually fear death, but rather the unknown of how death will happen or the method of dying. What is universal is pain or sadness of leaving those one loves and not having completed aims

I’ve had this thought that reminds me of the Buddhist perspective she shared… that life is an illusion. We think of ourselves as living in a finite world, separate from one another, in a moment in time, but if we are brave enough to contemplate infinity we come to realize there is no end or beginning to anything. We are enmeshed in infinity. Our sense of separateness from Infinity is an illusion, but one that is beautiful and fun and gives life meaning. We must fear death in order to keep up the illusion. So to me, the choice is wether to keep up the illusion with a willingness to suffer, or give up the suffering, and with it, all the fun of the illusion.

Positively the best podcast out now.

I'm finally beginning to live at the age of 47. I get it now. Thank you God.

I think it is about the "unpreparedness" for death which brings in the fear component. Are we terrified of death of being unprepared for it?

I think when you're young and you haven't experienced loss in a major way death is something you fear. But when talking to most really old people they say yeah, had a good life, the world I know has gone and friends/family have passed you would be more than ready. Most fear not living a life. Live life without ego. Learn that yes your actions may not have an effect in the grand scheme of things but a life of helping others, loving others knowing you did some good is all most can ask for. Don't be so ego driven that you feel oh, I have to make a huge lasting impact or nothing I do is important long term. When I do an act of kindness I feel good, doing many acts of kindness knowing you made a difference is enough. Now think of the millions if not billions of people who have done the above and it all adds up. You matter and what you do matters even if there is no tangible quality that lasts in the minds of future generations etc. I know I'm glad my great great grandfather decided to work, live and love and now I am here. You carry a flame and cast that into the great fire that is humanity.

Once when I was stoned I was thinking about how time can seem to change, like sometimes time can fly and other times time can drag, then I thought what if when we are dying and our vision is just going what if time really seems to slow down, like really really slow and the last thing we see seems to go on for ever, because I was stoned this thought that I had seemed so believable. Now when I try and think of it not stoned I just think,, Mehh,,,,,

"This journey can't be done together with others. It just has to be done alone." Sweet. I'm already halfway done with my journey then.

I don’t think it’s death so much as loss, that people fear, in much the same way people who are scared of heights are actually not, it’s more to do with the associated risk of falling, that is their fear. Regarding death, it’s that feeling of loss in no longer being able to be there for your loved ones or having big regrets in terms of not fulfulling your potential or making a good crack at it.

Thank you for all you do, love all your talks.

I'm always afraid to pour the last bit of cereal out of the box and into the bowl because it seems an analogy for finality. That box of cereal is just DONE. But if I leave a little in the box, then it never ended...Which leaves the problem that throwing it out seems kind of monstrous, too. So...basically I live among almost empty cereal boxes. I'm also afraid of commitment. ... :D

I had an NDE in my 20s. A type of stroke near 2 months ago ( am in late 60s ). As I have not totally died for good as yet , I must still have some purpose yet to fulfill in life - may possibly be to help just one individual. I think many people fear manner of death moreso than death itself.

"Nothing lasts forever" Lex If true then neither does death. Be not afraid. I fear getting sick and suffering more than death. Death probably is welcomed when you have been slowly wasting away for years. But if I'm totally honest it still scares me. I recently had to put my 13 year old German Short-haired Pointer down. I stayed in the room with her. It was one of the emotionally hardest things I have had to do. That really forces you to contemplate your own mortality.

Psilocybin is the miracle treatment of death anxiety

her honesty is refreshing

We cannot escape death. However, we can overcome it 🤘 together.

Every awful thing that has happened to me has happened while I've been alive but I worry about death - weird. Hopefully it's just nothing or some form of awesome.

I dont know if there is anything to this but what if the idea of death we are given in our culture is completely wrong. Its a story based off something unknown. The whole fear of non existence only arises in a logical mind that cant comprehend what it means to die since the brain only knows life. As a kid before I had "learned" about death and what our culture thought of it I was not scared at all. In my heart there was a knowing that its all good. One could argue that its just child ignorance but what if its not. As we grow we begin to identify with our mind and earthly constructs more and more. We bury ourself so deep in ideas and stories we lose touch with the basic principles of life. Our whole fear of death is built around our story of what it means to die. No one alive can know and thats the kicker. We can only speculate. The trouble is we have an animalistic brain that wants to live so when it is presented with the unknown of course its natural instinct is to want to run away from the very thing it is built to avoid. Its like the game shows where they have people stick their hands into a box blind folded. The person has no idea what is happening and you can see the mind freak out from something as innocent as touching a teddy bear. Death, to our brain, is the ultimate box. So then, because its the greatest unknown our mind can create whatever story it wants. It could be a teddy bear, or it could be non existence. If we get past our fear of it, the big scary box that keeps us shackled and chained (because of our fear based storyline) becomes the key to our freedom. It truly can become a giant ass teddy bear. The truth is we dont know what happens after we die, not even Sheldon, so the only goal when contemplating death should be to overcome the fear of the unknown. Once that fear is under control deaths story isn't so powerful. We are free to explore life and contemplate without bias. I have a personal rule when it comes to any set of beliefs and its this: I am truly okay with someone who believes in any specific dogma or practice so long as they are not believing out of fear. If you are a christian because subconsciously you are terrified of death so you run to another story to comfort you that is not okay simply because you are not free. However if you are truly okay with the idea of death and from a place of peace you resonate with Christianity then that is awesome because you chose to from a place of freedom.

There is no need to fear death. Everyone knows how it was being dead [the state before your birth the eternal nothingness where time didn't exist] or "dreamless" sleep some religions describe being born as awakening from an eternal sleep same goes for the "opposite". So it isn't painfull or boring or anything else its just a state of timelessness without thinking. The only thing that would bother me is to die too early and make some people around me sad. Since there is an eternety of death before me I try to look around have some fun do some work and live for the time being.

This lady really needs to do a study on near death experiences! It would the cure of all of her anxiety!

"Stepping out into the cold" I love that

Death is simply the absence of Life. There is nothing to be "afraid of" since it is a state without your presence. Being afraid of not living makes much more sense. The whole point is focusing on life enjoyment. Can you make your life a little better-happier-more meaningful? Happy moments is the best thing we can try to achieve. We are not in control of a lot of things. As the saying goes... We should try to work on things we can control, and have the wisdom to separate them from the ones we can't control.

Even though it makes me a little jealous, they have great chemistry

The worst possible crime reincarnation can commit is making us forget the wonderful people we meet along the way.

Skulls used to be a standard component on desks to visually remind us that our time is limited and to make the best of it - the ultimate motivation. Personally, death by astonishment as the late Terrance McKenna used to say would be my choice and if DMT/ayahuasca is any indication of what lies ahead in the next cycle of life and death, then I am looking forward to death when it's time will come, but I have a few more things to do yet...

He has the unique ability to spend 5 minutes formulating his questions.

We all have two lives. The second begins when we realize that we only have one.

Fear is the enemy, a cruel enemy.

4:34 same hear Lex

We love you Lex 💟

I'm not sure it's correct to think no other animals contemplate death...they know it. It's the obsession part that separates us...everything else...let's it go until the actual moment. They deal with it better than we do. Animals have their egos in check...we don't.

Awww i wish i could hug her, she's a sweetheart

I think our consciousness exists to serve the subconscious, the latter of which can not be aware of death. I believe the core of our being is no different than the core of any other animal, and our awareness of death is a by-product of our consciousness.

At least he acknowledges that we're apes, and it's something I'm not very fond of being. I've made the best I could out of this body I'm in, I'm 165 lbs which is extremely heavy for a girl, especially a girl with no curves whatsoever but all muscles only, it's the way I've always wanted my body to be if I have to live in it, and it's fine for the time being. Fear of death is the fear of the unknown, and I won't lie, of course I fear it too. I've worked out my body so I'll be able to defend myself, so that I'm equal or superior to a male, so that no one can threaten me. But what when I die and I'll no longer be in this body? Will I still be strong then? I hope I will, and that my current body is a reflection of my inner strength, because it takes will power and determination to get there, to be an athlete and a warrior. There are people who had a glimpse beyond the Veil, and it seems to be different for everyone. The most important treasure we can hope to gain there is freedom, ultimate freedom, forever.

Death is humbling. No amount of accomplishment can escape it.

“Bushido is realized in the presence of death. This means choosing death whenever there is a choice between life and death. There is no other reasoning.” ― Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai “Rehearse your death every morning and night. Only when you constantly live as though already a corpse (jōjū shinimi) will you be able to find freedom in the martial Way, and fulfill your duties without fault throughout your life.” ― Yamamoto Tsunetomo, Hagakure: The Book of the Samurai

Whether heaven exists or not, the death we are guaranteed ends all and any kinds of suffering. Peace will come regardless. For now, we must enjoy the life we have

Poetic how a conversation about death branched off into excresies and marathons but inadvertently ends with "....This has to be done alone"

This is terrible if you don’t have faith in eternal life in Christ but I know what he said was true I felt the spirit last Sunday

Personally, I came across so many references to Becker's book in all my favourite podcasts, pop psych/philo lectures, and video essays (including those reviewing pop culture products) that I just decided to read the book cover to cover. And now everytime I see people discussing Becker, I sense that instead of discussing the ideas he presented threadbare, these discussions basically just rediscover the man himself, who is not TOO well known outside of these niche circles. Now that's fine and even desirable. But, is there something amiss here? Are we, especially the Western (and Christian) society capable of accepting his conclusions? That a Kierkegaardian leap of faith is the choice. That psychoanalysis and psychotherapy can only diagnose neurosis but not heal it in the way Religion can? That man must confront his mortality? What has changed in your lives after dissecting Becker so much? (This last question I ask as a person from a deeply religious society who adopted Western atheism early on but, after Becker and John Gray, is realising that even Western atheism and progressive humanism remains Christian at its core whilst denying it (and Death) on the surface.)

Death of the body yes our spirit never, which matters the most not being trapped in our body a celebration only the good place awaits bliss and the never ending kiss. Use your Mighty Mind

It's great to hear someone like Eugenia talk about how terrified she is of death, because so am I. I rarely meet people or get to hear people that get it. Robert Kuhn with his show Closer To Truth, also gets it. For people like us, there's is nothing more important to us, than the survival of our consciousness after the death of our body. I wrote a song about it: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/eq1zf5qrmp7OZ2g.html

His mind is so intriguing!

There are some things worse than death

if you have a chance, check out the film Meloncholia

Death is whatever. The dying part is going to hurt. I just know it.

I'd be affraid of death too if I lived without the belief and precepts of God. Afterlife exists and spirit "lives" on, which makes it important where you go. There are numerous testimonies of things people temporarily experienced in this regard on youtube.

She needs to NDE - start with Dr. Raymond Moody which is the father of this movement. Look on the Jeff Mara Podcast, some real good experiences, some not so good. So many out there to look at.

We are surrounded by religious structures created to wrap our fears in something consoling. Hardest thing to do is confront the most likely fact in front of us...we cease too exist in any form whatsoever...no memory of anything...for all of eternity...just gone....

Being dead is not the problem it’s the leading up to it that’s going to be a fucking nightmare

Hi when we cry we accept our means

Thank you very much to both! "Russians being Russians" - what I think of when I read or hear this expression outside the most physical or spectacular context of youtube videos. This excerpt from the interview will rival that final excerpt from "Love and Death" by Woody Allen in my reference to the not-so-dated 19th-century caricature of Russian lucubrations. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/as6llLthuqeqd4E.html

Lex passively dropping bombs in casual conversation “ funny how running from your demons make you face them “.

It's not that complicated, get past the pain get past the fear.

She’s fantastically interesting

Man. I'm tell you straight up. I am absolutely horrified of death and dying. Absolutely. I have always wanted to live forever. I mean...its really a good deal . in the 1970s forward... Roughly speaking....i say roughly. Not a bad deal...overall in life to be alive...it can be something...thats for sure. So why want it to end. Ya know. It works. Why fuck it up. Ya know.

Is amazing how people truly believe that they’re their ego and believe in it, very sad!

Death is absolute annihilation, eternal oblivion. The only "good" thing that we can say about death is that, once it's over, you won't care because "you" won't "be" anymore. The moments that preceed death are terifying as you feel your consciousness slipping into the abyss from which it will never return. But once the deed is done, it's over. Just an absolute "nothingness", the same "nothingness" that you arose from after billions of years since the Big Bang. Richard Dawkins said that the closest that we can get to what it's like being dead is being under a general anesthesia from which you will never wake up again. Of course, this is the closest that a Human can conceptualize it. Because even saying "being dead" makes no sense, since when you are dead you "are not". We Humans are the most cursed of all living creatures, because we have the ability to abstract and postulate, and with it we can predict our deaths. We are the only animal that knows that we are going to die. Religion is an eviolutionary "trick" that allows people to live with some peace to balance that terror. But, of course, religion is just wishful thinking.

Lex, love you like a brother dude. Ask the girl out already, she's waiting for it. So much sexual chemistry it'll make MIT jealous.

Jocko still is #1

My thoughts on death- we were not here before we were born; we don’t complain about that 😉. Death is inevitable- we can’t do anything about it. nothing matters too much, everyone everything will disappear anyways; it’s a great equalizer; there’s nothing to be too much depressed about or proud about.. our differences (e.g. billionaire or a poor man) have no intrinsic difference in the context of eternity, an oppresor who commits injustice will also fade away soon from the world.. if there’s no death there might have been no desire for doing anything; everything could be postponed for a later time.. every activity might have some meaning, some urgency because our life clock is ticking. if we live an honest life true to our soul, we may have a true smile just before our departure from life.

I was dead before I was born

Do not go gentle into that good night

Back to my crowd again

Afraid of going to sleep? That’s a new one.

I'm not afraid of dyeing because I'm dead inside 🤷🏽‍♂️

WOW!, is this true?, are people truly afraid of death?, that’s crazy!, that must be a horrible way to leave!, why is death even a conversation when death doesn’t even exist?

Death is the next big adventure. Nothing to fear.

I've spent my hole life out in the freezing cold.

I ain't waiting till death comes knocking on my door. I know where death lives and I'll be paying him a visit.

Their conversation is kinda romantic 😂

Hi ever one thing about it. It's natural because we know other do. That means we our equality. It's black and white just like everything. Every thing is equally. Every one born equally way of living. Natural is a double edge sord. You have life and dieth is equally important to life. Except it will be good for you it's healthy to talk about. Elostion is desertion. We don't end.i think we carried on. I am black and white now problem. Our body ends we cannot touch other on earth. Indian have it right. Beings glad you're alive now. That ilimitate any fears. I part of the universe. Life goes hand in hand with life. Duality.

It's a sin to think about death. That's all you need to know.

From 9.45 onwards is some beautiful shit

We are not here to stay, we are here to pass away, there is one creator, to ask me how it is or what it is, is like to ask a blind person what is red or green. Life is very easy and beautiful and happy. We are very small in front of a being who have created universe easily. The universe that we can't even imagine. The creator of space time. Thank you Lex Fridman.

Sleep is a temporary death - Bob Dylan-

Love the honesty here. I really appreciate how forthright they are about the absurdity of death and, as a result, our lives. Still, I found this incredibly sad to hear; it's all just so utterly hopeless despite what consolations they may find (i.e. running... really??? 😜). If you have ears to hear, hear hope: the God who created the world and calls it "good" longs to put the world right. The God who longs to put the world right became one of us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. When mankind did their worst to God by putting him to death on a Roman cross, did God consume the world in fiery judgement? No, instead, he spoke over his accusers and he speaks over us, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." And when Jesus rose bodily from the dead, he rose as a foretaste of what God will one do for all of creation: redeem it. In Christ, all things will be made new, all the sad things will come untrue... even death itself will be undone!

Lex call me I tell you how I overcame fear of death

Wow, I love her ......

i dont fear death i fear god

She’s pretty cute for some reason

And I just realized I'm jealous of the two of you. Do I know why?