Electrical engineer, and scientific truth seeker Jim Elvidge, discussed theories of a programmed reality, in which we may be living in a giant simulation, as well as developments in science and the mind. All the evidence seems to point to the idea that our world is made of bits and data that in some ways seems to follow patterns that we see in computational systems, he noted. Philosopher Nick Bostrom has posited that at some point in the future, we'll be able to create simulations of a fantasy reality computationally in a "post-human" phase, and if that is true, we could already be in such a simulation, Elvidge pointed out. When we die, we could in a sense wake up from the experience of living in our physical matter reality, which may seem as unreal to us as a dream, Elvidge intriguingly suggested.

Further, he theorized that our consciousness comes from somewhere outside the human body, is driven by intent and free will, and uses our brain to experience physical matter reality. He also spoke about different concepts of parallel realities. One is espoused by the metaphysical writer Tom Campbell, who delineates an astral plane or thought space that encompasses our physical reality and other ones similar to ours, and he believes that we can travel between these parallel worlds.

In NDEs and other out-of-body states, people are sometimes able to experience timelessness (time being a factor of physical reality), or see timelines existing simultaneously, thus experiencing a kind of time travel, Elvidge explained. In the fields of science and technology, he listed autonomous cars, hover bikes (bikes that hover above the ground), and bionic eyes as particularly remarkable recent developments.

Wilkerson & Las Vegas

First hour guest, author Willie Wilkerson III shared his contention that it was his father, W.R. Billy Wilkerson Jr., the founder of the Hollywood Reporter, not the gangster Bugsy Siegel who led to the creation of the Las Vegas strip as we know it today. Interestingly, he revealed that it was his father's gambling addiction that fueled the idea of the modern casino. Wilkerson Jr. built the original Flamingo Hotel in 1945, and it was his notions about the gaming environment-- such as no clocks or windows in the casino, and that visitors have to walk through the casino to get anywhere in the hotel, that are still followed today. Additionally, the Flamingo offered one of the first high end experiences in Las Vegas with high quality gaming tables and air conditioning.

News segment guests: Lauren Weinstein, Christian Wilde