Short Stuff: Third Man Syndrome

In this episode of The Short Stuff, Josh and Chuck delve into the phenomenon known as the Third Man Syndrome, or the Third Man Factor, where individuals in extreme survival situations sense the presence of another person or entity offering guidance and comfort. They discuss Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic expedition and his account of feeling an additional presence during a critical moment, as well as T.S. Eliot's poem "The Waste Land" which touches on a similar theme. The hosts explore various documented cases, including those of mountaineers and survivors of the 9/11 attacks, and touch on potential scientific and psychological explanations, such as the bicameral mind theory, for this mysterious experience.