Jennifer Shaffer is a medium/intuitive who works with members of law enforcement nationwide, including agents from the FBI, NYPD and LAPD. We met ten years ago and began a conversation that has continued undaunted onto this podcast.

I'm a filmmaker, author who has written 13 books about the afterlife, Jennifer and I met up ten years ago and have been meeting weekly ever since.  We have four books together BACKSTAGE PASS TO THE FLIPSIDE 1, 2, 3 and TUNING INTO THE AFTERLIFE.

Jennifer has been instrumental in helping me to get information from people offstage - including #AmeliaEarhart and the book #SheWasNeverLost - the Amelia Earhart saga.

In today's podcast we talk to someone that Jennifer didn't know when he was on the planet, but has met and works with members of his family.  In our podcast, he refers to someone who saw him many years ago - someone whom I knew who worked with him.  

Upon further reflection, I'm not sure if he was referring to my friend or not - but either way, I knew who Jennifer was referring to.  Steve wanted to speak about AI - and argue that it's not something to fear but something that will enhance the ability of people to think at a faster rate.

We talked about the value and pitfalls of that - and he's arguing that people can use it as a tool that it's meant to be used as.  

I asked some questions about #Parkinsons (and the show "Shrinking which had an episode about it) as well as my old USC professor the late Coleman Hough who had Parkinsons and appears in the film HACKING THE AFTERLIFE where it vanishes during her six hour interview.

We talked about how that is or why that happened, and then talk about the idea that "filters on the brain" (see Dr. Greysons book AFTER pg 125 or DIVINE COUNCILS IN THE AFTERLIFE for a discussion of the research into filters on the brain) might be something to examine, look into as science tries to cure Parkinsons.

We reiterate we're asking questions, not giving any medical advice - not medical advice is implied or suggested or given.  However, when talking about the brain and the research involved with looking for "filters on the brain" and how it is that Jennifer's brain is in a "delta state" during her sessions (as proven by MRI's that she has done on camera, and the same results were demonstrated via Dr. Drew and Tyler Henry's MRIs.) 

That people who do this kind of mediumship MAY BE stepping past those filters - and that doing so on a daily basis may help or heal parts of the brain.

That's the general discussion and we do these discussions to inspire people to do their own.

Hope this helps. 

As usual, another mind bending session.

It begins with a visit from Kobe, who mentions some of the work that Jennifer has been doing with his family.  I asked him some questions about his observations of watching NBA players, and he says he plays an active role in terms of helping those who are open to it.

He called his "council" his "line up" - the team that we all have that help us when we're navigating the stage. He said he's more likely to work with coaches than individual players.

Luana then brought forward JFK jr and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy - whom we've had a brief chat with before, but this time it's a little more indepth.  Asking him what it was like to cross over to the flipside, he said he was someone who didn't know where he was for awhile.. and then his mother brought him that awareness. 

I asked him some questions about his opinion of the current administration and he couldn't stop laughing. John McCain (Maverick) stopped by as JFK Jr said he was one of the people who surprised him on the other side - as it wasn't someone he'd have conversed with on the planet, but offstage they were able to talk about John's incarceration and aspects of that part of his journey. 

In terms of speaking to Carolyn about who she was surprised to meet on the other side, a question I often ask people, she said she was surprised to meet with Oprah's "higher self."

We only bring a portion of our conscious energy to a lifetime - based on the reports - and a larger portion of "who we are" is always "back home."

So that included some unusual questions to "Oprah's higher self" about her path and journey and what advice she might give to people listening in.

All of it mind bending.

But it's what we've been doing for years now, and about six years on our podcast.

Enjoy.

HERE'S A PODCAST FROM A YEAR AGO - 2025... LAST YEAR'S Happy New Year!

Well no time like the present to kick off the new year with a mind bending podcast courtesy of Jennifer Shaffer and Rich Martini.  Jennifer's web page JenniferShaffer.com has links to her "Uncorked" events, or to book with her directly, RichardMartini.com is where one can book a guided meditation with Rich.

So the other day in my kitchen (and I don't know why it's the case, but I sometimes get a message or feeling there that someone wants to talk to us) President Jimmy Carter popped into my head.

It of course could have been because he'd just passed away - but I try not to judge why someone shows up, or if someone shows up.  I just leave it aside, and see what happens when we start the podcast.

And as we often do, I left it up to our moderator on the Flipside, Luana Anders to suggest the topic for the day. And she told Jennifer: "Richard has someone who spoke to him yesterday."

Which is accurate.  And just prior to the podcast - literally a minute before, I remembered that happened, and I looked up Jimmy on Wikipedia so at the very least I had some of his background correct. as it is - at some point I call the King of England before Elizabeth "Edward" when everyone knows that's not her father's name.

But Jennifer didn't say his name - just pointed out that she was seeing him when Winston Churchill showed up. (For historians out there, the story of Winston sleeping in the White House and seeing a ghost is old news.)

As noted, when over the past ten years we have someone Presidential show up (We've had all chats with Hoover, FDR, Truman, JFK, Nixon, Reagan, Bush Sr.. and folks associated with the Presidency - Abe Lincoln, Mary Todd Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, RFK, John McCain - those interviews are in the books BACKSTAGE PASS TO THE FLIPSIDE (books 1, 2 and 3).

Some of them are searchable on the podcast - Abe, JFK, RFK, etc... but it wasn't surprising what Jimmy said about seeing Reagan on the flipside, how McCain stopped by - and the legions of people who loved him were there to greet him.

Interesting that he said Rosalyn was "with him" frequency wise - he spoke about the regrets he had from his life (associated with war) and the things he was proudest of. 

I asked him a question about a film project I've been working on - something only he would know about, the land case in Maine.  Fun to hear him say it's a story "that should be told."

He also talked briefly about people off planet - since he saw a UFO back in 1969, and says that the kinds of work they're doing are benevolent... nothing to fear.  The same kind of things I've heard in the research behind CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE FLIPSIDE KIND. 

We asked him who he was surprised to see - and he mentioned Winston Churchill and Elvis - who was friends with him. Paul Newman showed up - I wasn't aware of their friendship, but Jimmy talked about Paul's food charity work, and we asked Paul some questions about his journey, including what it was like to welcome his wife Joanne Woodward home.  (Joanne is still on the planet, but has Alzheimers - from the research, multiple conversations with people offstage, our loved ones who have dementia are "90% already home" - so it's normal for them to interact with each other.  As my friend's father Jack Tracey told us in his last weeks of being here, "It's like leaving a leg in the pool."  I didn't mean to imply she is gone - just was asking him what it was like to see her "higher self" on the flipside.)

So while one is watching the nation mourn this President, while the nation has a funeral for him, honoring him and his service, be aware that he hasn't disappeared or is gone: he's just not here.

Available. Like everyone is.

Hope this helps.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK!

Happy New Year!  Jennifer and I chat about the upcoming New Year, about pets in the afterlife.  Also a visit from Amelia Earhart prior to my going on Coast to Coast to talk about the new book SHE WAS NEVER LOST: THE AMELIA EARHART SAGA. George's mom stopped by (she's still on the planet, but his mom's higher self stopped by)... and we chat with Amelia about the book, also chat with Robert Towne's dog Hira who talks about the life and returning home of pets.  (Not death - but returning home)  To book a session with JenniferShaffer.com - or myself RichardMartini.com - happy new year!

Welcome to the podcast Hacking the Afterlife. I tend to put information here that gives context to the podcast. In that vein, for those unfamiliar with what we're doing:

At what point in time is it okay to ask recently deceased people questions on the flipside? When is too soon? When is it inappropriate? 

Some context: as a filmmaker, I’ve written and or directed 10 feature films, made a number of documentaries about the afterlife, and have spoken at UVA Medical school DOPS regarding how the footage shows consciousness is not confined to the brain.

Jennifer Shaffer works with law enforcement agencies nationwide on missing person cases. I’ve interviewed some of those agents from the FBI, LAPD (NYPD) who work with her on a daily basis. A third of her practice is pro bono work with law enforcement. She also works with a number of people who knew Rob and Michelle, and the families of Kobe Bryant and Steve Jobs have allowed her to mention that she works with them.

Ten years ago, I began working with Jennifer - we met for lunch and have been talking since then. The past five years on our podcast. Our moderator on the flipside is Luana Anders - who worked with Rob Reiner in the film THE LAST DETAIL.

Luana died in my arms, and began visiting me not long after (back in 1996). It took me until 2004 to investigate how it was possible she could communicate with me - and upon meeting Jennifer I realized I could have conversations with her. And indeed - we’ve been doing that nonstop for over ten years. Luana was in many films - worked with Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson and others - and in my case, I worked with Ray Charles in the film LIMIT UP where he plays “God.” The point is that it’s “six degrees of separation.” If Luana knows someone, or I worked with someone, it’s easier for us to verify those details. I knew Penny Marshall, we did a gig together once, I appeared on Laverne and Shirley once (cutting room floor because Harry Dean Stanton’s song went long.)

So when this question is asked; “Are you going to be speaking to Rob and Michelle soon?” it comes from the couple of hundred interviews we have on the podcast HACKING THE AFTERLIFE on YouTube.

In terms of our podcast, people tend to miss the notion that we aren’t in charge of the guest list. Since Jennifer and I have begun to talk to the flipside, it’s really up to Luana Anders to decide who is “ready to be interviewed.”

In terms of how that works, sometimes I “hear” a voice from someone I knew or know - and when that happens, I’ll say to myself “Well, if this person wants to show up for a conversation, they know where to find us.” And then - since Jennifer and I have been doing that for over the past ten years, frequently I’ll show up for a meeting with her - and she’ll say “so and so is here.”

That has happened more often than I can recall. I can report that I heard Robert Kennedy’s voice one day saying “I understand you’re the person I need to speak with to get a message to my family.” I had the presence of mind to not judge that I heard his distinct voice - and said to him; “Actually I’m not the guy, you need to find Luana.”

The next day I went to meet with Jennifer and she said before I could say anything; “Robert Kennedy is here.” The other day during the Frank Gehry interview, I heard his voice (or had the impression of hearing his voice) saying “Yes, I’ll be on your podcast.” And not believing that it was actually him and not my imagination, I said to him “Well, we met through Sally Kellerman, so if you do want to speak to us, Sally should show up and I’ll know it’s you.”

And during that podcast, at first Jennifer said “Luana says you have someone” and then said “Hot Lips is here.” (Sally Kellerman’s role in the film MASH.) So I knew that Frank was available to converse.

In this case, we have spoken to Rob Reiner’s ex, Penny whom I was pals with. When she crossed over, we have a conversation with the one and only. We’ve also interview Garry Marshall, whom I knew when he was still on the planet - so it wasn’t hard for us to connect with Penny.

Generally - what we’ve learned recently is that Luana Anders is teaching a class in the flipside in how to communicate with us. The class - is large. We’ve spoken to quite a few people in the past ten years.

So all that being said, I was wondering if we’d be speaking to Rob and his wife Michelle this week. A friend of mine who has done a guided meditation session with me said “I have the feeling you’re going to be speaking to Rob Reiner this week.” I said “It may be too soon - but I have to be open to whomever does show up.” In other words - I know how tragic the event is, I know how raw his friends feel - and some of them I know well enough to say that I know they’d be upset to hear that we were inviting him to our podcast.

This week - I’m about to post it - he does show up. I ask Luana “Who is here on your guest list” and Jennifer makes a face and says “Rob Reiner.” Then she said “He’s just observing. He doesn’t want to speak. But he’s observing the class.”

We’ve had that before - where people show up to just observe this give and take to see what it is. In the Frank Gehry podcast I asked him if he was ready to converse (He was friends with Luana and I told him at a party that I had scattered some of his old friend’s ashes at the Guggenheim in Bilbao) - and we ask him about that on the podcast.

The point is - without context it may seem exploitive to converse with someone who is recently passed. I know that some people are offended that we speak to anyone in this fashion - however, as I try to point out, as a filmmaker for the past 40 years, a music critic at Variety, and since Luana was in over 100 films and TV shows - between us we know many folks on the flipside, and she has many of them in her class on how to “communicate with the denser realm.” (Folks onstage).

So Rob and Michelle may talk to us in the future. That’s up to them.

Again - it’s not my opinion, theory or belief that people exist after leaving the stage - it’s what the footage, data and research show. People can spend their lives believing that life ends, and be completely startled, shocked to realize life goes on. That our manner of passing isn’t as relevant as our many of living - and how many people we’ve affected or cared about.

Love is all there is.

So it’s a cogent question, and the answer is revealed in today’s podcast: “Yes, he still exists and No, he’s not ready to talk about it yet.”

We’ll see if he is at a future date. The point of the podcast (and the underlying point of the question) is that “everyone can communicate with people offstage” - our loved ones are not gone, they just aren’t here. I’m sorry that bothers some people - but I wouldn’t be accurate if I didn’t report verbatim what the data, research or footage was showing.

Hope this helps someone. For people who want to communicate directly with loved ones, I can recommend Jennifer's help - there's also her "Wine & Spirits" events in Manhattan beach. For those willing to do hypnotherapy, I recommend Scott at LightBetweenLives.com - a way to explore in detail. For those who are familiar with guided meditation, I can help them access their teachers and guides via RichardMartini.com

Hope this helps.

Some years ago, when Jonathan Krane was producing my films and married to the Oscar nominated actress Sally Kellerman - who was Luana Anders closest pal on the planet - my wife and I had a Christmas dinner at Sally and Jonathan's home.

Frank Gehry was there - by himself, so my wife and I, both children of architects sat down to have a lively conversation about everything under the sun.

So the other day, after Frank passed, I had the "feeling" or awareness that he was willing to join our podcast - mainly because we've interviewed so many pals of his.

Frank was in "group therapy" with Sydney Pollack, Sally, Jonathan, Luana - Blake Edwards, Dudley Moore and others... Milton Wexler was the renowned psychotherapist who ran the group, and remained a famous therapist until the end of his life.

But because I knew Sally was in the group - I made that the "bell ringer" for myself - if I asked to speak to Frank and Sally showed up ("Hot Lips" in the original MASH) I knew it was him.

And that's what happens in the podcast.

Frank stops by to talk about his journey - and I was startled to see that his favorite building was the home of Norton Simon - which I didn't know he designed when I went to Sally and Jonathan's wedding at the palatial estate.

But there you have it - I don't even know if Jennifer said "Venice" and I heard "Malibu" - I'll have to check the tape, but that's where my mind went.

And yes, Jennifer Jones did offer to have our wedding at her home - but we didn't go that path.  Funny to remember it now and in this fashion.

It's another mind bending podcast and serves as a reminder; they aren't gone; they're just not here.

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and for folks like Frank who are Jewish; Happy Hannukah!

As always, the podcast is around whatever topic that Luana Anders, our moderator on the Flipside wants to discuss.

In this case, it was about how to modify stress, how to change the paradigm, and most importantly, to talk about Santa.

I make a joke about how you never see Santa and Satan in the same room - both have the same letters, both wear red outfits, what's up with that?

Jennifer avoids answering me and talks about how Luana is making a connection between Jesus and Santa. I offer an explanation and Jennifer "taps her nose" which is how Luana shows her that I'm on the right path.

The idea that Santa represents a gift giver, someone who gives gifts without asking for anything in return - no loyalty, no fealty, no religions beliefs - just flat out, "here's the gift I'm giving you based on what you need."

Jesus - in terms of the data, the research (see THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD AS TOLD BY JESUS AND THOSE WHO KNEW HIM for context) - he shows up in 15% of NDE's whether people believe in him or not, so it's not a religious point that is being made.

It's a giving point.

And when Jesus shows up, people talk about feeling "unconditional love" or "indescribable joy" or "non judgmental acceptance."

All of which could be viewed as "Gifts" to give someone.  Luana talks about how the world would shift in 24 hours if everyone on it could give unconditional love for that time frame - but suggests that just doing ten minutes of focused meditation a day - and giving yourself love while doing it, is a way to chip away at the problem.

Again - Luana Anders is my pal who I was with for 20 years, who died in my arms in 1996. When I first started meeting up with Jennifer over 10 years ago, she talked about Luana being in the room - and eventually we realized that she brought us together.

In this podcast, for the first time, I realize that Luana is "teaching a class on the flipside" (parts of which include this podcast) where she's showing people offstage how to communicate to a denser realm, using telepathy or by reaching out to someone like Jennifer whose filters are lowered or down.

Jennifer talks about how her doctors have suggested that her being in the Delta state for a number of hours per day, has healed her brain from the traumatic injury she experienced after a car accident many years ago. 

Her doctors have suggested that its her work that has helped to heal her brain.

However, that also means that her filters are less than others - and the density of our realm is what the class is about. 

It's another mind bending podcast, but the discussion is lighthearted. Eddie Hassell, the later actors makes an appearance at the beginning to explain how and why he "set off the fire alarm" in Jennifer's home (to reach out to his mother).  

Then I recount the battery on my car dying - and Luana said that was "done to prevent you from having a car accident that day."  It sounds like wishful thinking, except I wasn't aware I'd left the flashers on the car on - didn't see them in the garage, didn't hear them as I normally would.  All I can say is "Thank Lu, I appreciate it."  She also said she was with me and my pals and family on Thanksgiving - which is a fun thing to consider.  

Again another mind bending podcast and it includes Santa!!!

Another mind bending podcast.  #Prince #Hira #RobertTowne #RobinWilliams #FredRoos

Jennifer begins the podcast talking about a kitty she's rescued and what she's going to name it.

Robert Towne's dog Hira stopped by - often does when it comes to animals - and we asked him about how the cat found Jennifer. 

Then since Robert Towne was standing by, I asked him about our mutual friend Fred (Jennifer head his name "Fred Roos") and I asked him about a conversation I had this past weekend about the Heritage Auction that they're doing with his stuff - and asked about a mutual friend named Colleen.

Those who know Colleen and know Fred will know their connection, but Jennifer does not.  So I spoke to Colleen and she told me a friend of hers had passed, but nothing more about them. And so I asked Fred about that.

Meaning I'm asking someone offstage about someone else offstage that I don't know - that Jennifer doesn't know - that only Colleen could know if this is accurate or not.

Then Robin Williams and Prince stopped by - and at some point, because I know that people like to complain about "celebrities" on the podcast, I asked Prince how many of his other lifetimes he was aware of.

It's not a question I've ever asked before on the air. But he said "1325" (I think).  Meaning he's aware of over 1300 other lifetimes.  And so when someone is accessing their previous lifetimes - as we all can - they can access the ones that had impact on the one they're living now.

It's mind bending to consider, but it is consistent in the data, research and footage.

Then Robin talked a little bit about how when someone wants to invite him over, just turn on one of his films. He's happy to watch his films with anyone who wants to see him.

Another mind bending podcast.

Thanks for tuning in!

We weren't able to do a podcast tonight, "unforeseen circumstances" (isn't that funny for a podcast where we talk to the afterlife?) - but am rerunning one of our most popular podcasts, with the additional opening and subtitles, so people can "sing along with us."

Just kidding. Here's the original liner notes:

This was from a year ago....

For those not familiar with this podcast; Jennifer Shaffer is an intuitive medium who works with law enforcement nationwide on missing person cases. She does pro bono work daily for them, and once a week we get together and see what we can learn from the flipside.  We've been doing this weekly for 8 years, the last two on our podcast. I'm a filmmaker, have written and/or directed 8 theatrical feature films, a couple of documentaries.  

Some years ago, my best friend died in my arms and started coming to visit me. Instead of being freaked out by it (and her showing up to friends and family members) I started to dig into how that might be. That's resulted in 10 books (Flipside, etc) and four with Jennifer Shaffer. 

In this edition, a number of people show up that we've spoken with before. We interviewed Kobe just after his passing, it's the last chapter in the book "Backstage Pass to the Flipside 3" - where he talks about his journey, and I ask him questions in Italian. Eventually members of his family have met with Jennifer - so it's not unusual for us that he might stop by.  

The construct is this; my friend who passed away is on the flipside, and has organized a "group meeting" or a class as we call it, not to teach folks on the planet, but to teach people on the flipside how to communicate using frequency, images, visualizations on the flipside. Jennifer may get an image, let's say of a character from a TV show, and it may be their way of giving her a thought so that I could say, "Do you mean someone who shares the same name of that character in the TV show wants to speak to us?" That happens often. 

As noted, Jennifer is doing her best to translate what is coming to her. Like a translator at the UN, the people on the flipside are downloading a lot of information, and she does her best to catch the meaning, syntax and general idea of what someone wants to impart. A number of people stop by who've been interviewed before; Prince ("I was addicted to jumping off pianos, which caused me to use pain killers"), Robin Williams ("Love Love"). Marilyn stops by - refers to something I was writing at MartiniZone.com the other day - and when I asked if she wanted to talk about the manner of her passing, she said she wanted to talk about how she had two children waiting for her on the flipside. Both whom had not come to term.   

That concept has been repeated in the research - consistently. A number of people in our podcast have mentioned it, the idea of "those we don't have are waiting for us on the flipside."  Harry Dean Stanton said the same thing - and I was able to verify it (but don't mention it in the podcast.) It's in "Backstage Pass to the Flipside."  Harry came through after he passed and before his memorial. I asked him what he wanted me to impart to his friends (as noted.) He also said that when he passed, "He was in a room with five women" and when he got to the flipside, he was met by a "baby that he didn't have in life."  

In other words, a child was there to greet him with this profound unconditional love. At his memorial that I went to a week later, I asked someone who was with him at his deathbed to describe the scene. She said "There were five of us with him, all women."  I asked if he had said anything unusual while she was in the room. She said "Yes, he asked me to hand him the baby. But there was no baby in the room."

I had heard THE SAME THING from Harry on the Flipside via Jennifer a week earlier. At some point, the Alpha and Omega stops by - and mentions the one thing he wishes people would not do, that is "get freaked out by his name." (Jesus). I've had a number of interviews with him via various mediums, different hypnotherapy sessions, and multiple guided meditation sessions. 

As noted in the podcast, I've finished that book and am doing the audible as we speak. (SINCE THEN IT'S BEEN PUBLISHED, AS HAS THE LATEST BOOK "SHE WAS NEVER LOST" about Amelia Earhart)  As to books by scientists about how consciousness isn't confined to the brain, I recommend Dr. Greyson's AFTER, Dr. Tucker's BEFORE, Dr. Kelly's CONSCIOUSNESS UNBOUND.  In terms of the hypnotherapy research, I recommend the thousands of case studies from Dr. Helen Wambach (RELIVING PAST LIVES) Dr. Weiss (MANY LIVES, MANY MASTERS) Michael Newton (JOURNEY OF SOULS.)  My latest book is DivineCouncils.com - where I invited 50 people, half whom had never heard of councils, who visited them, met their guides, teachers, etc. Enjoy!

Another mind bending podcast.  In this case, Luana brought JFK forward to chat with us about a number of things.  Including a conversation I had with him yesterday via a guided meditation. I ask as many questions as I could think of - and I'm happy to report that he's still the charming fellow he was when he was on the planet.

He has a birthday message to his niece Maria, and so did Prince.

To book a session with Jennifer: JenniferShaffer.com - to book a session with me, RichardMartini.com