Around these parts, we have a tradition to do a paranormal episode at Halloween. We’ve done psychic powers, ghosts, and now… reincarnation. What are we to make of the stories—sometimes told in NYT-bestselling books—of children who appear to remember details of their past lives? What about the many peer-reviewed scientific papers that claim that something supernatural is going on here? In this EXTRA-SPOOKY episode, we find out.

🎃 Happy Halloween! 🎃

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Show notes

* The University of Virginia’s Department of Perceptual Studies

* And the University of Edinburgh’s Koestler Parapsychology Unit

* Jim Tucker, child psychologist and reincarnation researcher

* Tucker’s 2025 paper on the >2,500 reported cases of reincarnation

* 2024 review of cases on the “reincarnation birthmark” issue

* Michael Sudduth’s 94-page debunking of the James Leininger case

* Response from Jim Tucker on Leininger

* Reply from Sudduth

* Sudduth’s blog post on the same issue

* Steven Novella on memory, children’s learning, and supposed reincarnation

Credits

The Science Fictions podcast is produced by Julian Mayers at Yada Yada Productions.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit sciencefictionspod.substack.com/subscribe

Episode 89: Halloween special on reincarnation

Science Fictions

Episode 89: Halloween special on reincarnation