Doctor of Naturopathy and hydrogen water technology pioneer Paul Barattiero joined guest host Connie Willis (info) to discuss the healing properties of hydrogen water. Barattiero shared a compelling personal account of how his professional journey into hydrogen water technology began when his wife faced significant health challenges early in their marriage. Her worsening medical conditions—including severe menstrual issues, thyroid dysfunction, and anemia—motivated him to explore alternatives beyond conventional medicine.
A turning point occurred when a friend, as a thank-you gesture for a loan, invited Barattiero and his wife on a cruise and brought along alkaline water they believed had healing properties. Despite skepticism, his wife drank the water and experienced dramatic improvement in her symptoms, even during her menstrual cycle—a time she was typically bedridden, he reported. Barattiero said the experience caused him to ask questions about the water and its effects, though the people promoting it could not explain the science behind it. Frustrated by the lack of clarity and scientific rigor, he took it upon himself to understand what was making a difference.
According to Barattiero, he discovered that the health benefits attributed to so-called alkaline water were due to dissolved hydrogen gas, not the pH of the water. Rejecting the pseudoscientific claims others were making, he focused instead on understanding the actual mechanisms of healing. This led him to develop his hydrogen water system, which eventually became Echo Water, a company dedicated to providing safe, science-based hydrogen water technology. Barattiero noted his wife's sustained health improvements as confirmation of his findings and said he has since made it his mission to help others access the same benefits.
Barattiero has provided coupon code COAST for listeners to get 10% off products at echowater.com.
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In the second half of the program, former TV anchor and business magazine editor Hank Baughman talked about his experiences with consciousness and the afterlife. He began by delving into the complex and evolving relationship between artificial intelligence and consciousness. Baughman expressed his belief that machines, despite their growing capabilities, will never be truly conscious in the human sense. While AI systems may become "aware" of tasks or their environment in a mechanical way, he argued that this is not self-awareness. For instance, even though computers can beat humans at chess consistently, they have no understanding that they are playing chess, he suggested.
Shifting from technology to metaphysics, Baughman delved into the nature of consciousness and the afterlife. He argued that consciousness is not created by the brain but instead exists as a field, with the brain acting as an interface or receiver—much like eyes for sight or ears for sound. He is convinced, through personal and anecdotal experiences, that life continues after death and that consciousness persists beyond physical existence. Baughman recounted compelling stories, including one about his deceased mother's rotary phone inexplicably ringing and a mysterious towel appearing in his kitchen, as evidence of spirit activity. These moments, he believes, prove that those who have passed are still aware and able to influence the physical world.
He also reflected on the concept of the soul's journey, destiny, and the idea of predetermined life experiences. While acknowledging theories that suggest souls choose specific lives for spiritual growth, he expressed dissatisfaction with the notion of souls agreeing to suffer, particularly in extreme cases like abuse or war. For Baughman, his view of consciousness as a shared field explains phenomena like intuition, telepathy, and mental illness while emphasizing the interconnectedness of all minds. He shared his perspective that our time on Earth is limited and part of a greater, mysterious journey that continues well beyond this life.