Diane Hennacy Powell, M.D. is the chief scientist involved in The Telepathy Tapes, a podcast about non-speaking autistic children who are extraordinarily telepathic.

"In a world that often dismisses the extraordinary as mere fantasy, The Telepathy Tapes dares to explore the profound abilities of non-speakers with autism—individuals who have long been misunderstood and underestimated. These silent communicators possess gifts that defy conventional understanding, from telepathy to otherworldly perceptions, challenging the limits of what we believe to be real. For years, their parents and teachers have quietly witnessed these remarkable abilities, knowing that the time to share their truth would eventually come. But now, as the evidence mounts, the time has come to reveal what has been hidden in plain sight.

This groundbreaking series challenges everything we think we know about communication and the human mind, inviting viewers to step into a reality where the impossible is not only possible but happening every day. Through emotional stories and undeniable evidence, The Telepathy Tapes offers a fresh perspective on the profound connections that exist beyond words. Traveling with neuroscientist Dr. Diane Hennacy Powell, witnessing mind-boggling telepathy tests and forging deeply intimate relationships with families around the globe, host Ky Dickens invites you to contemplate the world through the eyes of those who speak without words. Prepare to be captivated, challenged, and ultimately transformed as the series shines a light on the untold capabilities of those who have been underestimated for far too long."

Dr. Powell is a Johns Hopkins-trained psychiatrist, therapist, neuroscientist, and public speaker. She develops multidisciplinary theories towards understanding psychological anomalies, such as savant skills and verified accounts of spacetime navigation. Her current research focuses on controlled testing of autistic savants and children reported to be telepathic and/or precognitive by their caregivers.

Dr. Powell has been on the faculty at Harvard Medical School, a member of a think tank on human consciousness at the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, and Director of Research for the John E. Mack Institute. Her investigation into the neurocorrelates of ESP is discussed in her 2008 book The ESP Enigma: The Scientific Case for Psychic Phenomena, and in Seriously Strange: Thinking Anew about Psychical Experiences.

Dr. Powell is also an expert on PTSD and created the psychiatry program for Survivors of Torture, International in San Diego, California. She was the principal author of IONS The 2007 Shift Report: Evidence of a World Transforming and a contributing author to Beyond Forgiveness: Reflections on Atonement, the 2014 Campus Book of the Year at Indiana University. She is also a participant in the #NeverAlone movement for suicide prevention launched by Deepak Chopra.

Website: drdianehennacy.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

First BatGap interview with Dr. Powell

Interview recorded March 23, 2025

Dr. Neil Schuitevoerder, a clinical and organizational psychologist, has been doing spiritual practices for 50 years. He's no longer interested in his ego's story, so here's the story of his soul's evolution: He had early instruction in how to use a pendulum, which led to the opening of his intuitive knowing, which has continued to expand into higher stages. His intense meditation practices in his 20s led to illness, and he was guided to return to a householder life as husband and father. He continued practices in mystical Judaism, then turned to Vedanta, kundalini, and other Hindu practices. With a kundalini master, and with the Diamond Approach technique of Inquiry, he opened the higher chakras and began to experience states of unity and nonduality, first with a near object, such as a tree, then with a far object, such as the galaxy. Slowly, the dualities of self/other, near/far, past/future, dissolved, and his knowing expanded to include the distant past, his past lives, his rebirth in this lifetime, and his ability to travel in subtle bodies to the subtle planes, including conversing with the deceased. His mind emptied out, then his body became empty, containing the whole galaxy, a nondual body. Then his astral body emptied out, and he no longer "traveled" but was united with the subtle mental and causal planes, all within him. The state of bliss is always accessible. The local identity of Neil remains when he functions in the world, as he lives in dual and nondual levels of awareness simultaneously.

Neil's has a podcast with his wife, Connie Zweig, about his ongoing awakening and what it's like to live in the world in advanced levels of consciousness -- Dr. Neil's Spiritual Awakening to Nonduality. It posts on Apple, Spotify, and all platforms.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Interview recorded March 15, 2025

Jim Grove is a lifelong practitioner of yogic meditation who grew up in a small logging town on the West Coast of Canada. At age thirteen, he was introduced to a teacher who was one of the few ministers directly ordained by Paramahansa Yogananda during his lifetime, Mother Yogacharya M. Hamilton of Seattle. A series of early transcendental experiences convinced him to commit himself to continued yogic practice under her tutelage. His recent memoir, A Curious Spiritual Journey, recounts some of the prominent experiences that have arisen from his practice over four decades, starting from early adolescence, in the interests of providing some insight into the often unpredictable process of spiritual unfoldment. He likes to speak plainly about spiritual experience and practice, avoiding the vague, abstract, and sometimes inflated language used in much spiritual and new age writing. He lives in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.

Website: jimgrove.ca

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded February 15, 2025

Although Lisa worked as a chemical engineer, spirituality always was the priority in her life. In 2009, at a silent retreat, her thought-based identity dropped away, and she saw only the single flow of benevolence in all that is.

When some of those thoughts returned a few weeks later (less convincing than before), there also came a deep curiosity to inquire into those thoughts. She developed many tools to return to a lived experience of the deeper knowing. Both of her books share these tools. All that is is a vibrant expression erupting from a single full emptiness.

Website: experiencingthetrueself.com

Books:

An Unprincipled Life: Living from the Unknown

Living Awake: 20 Techniques to End "I Got It; I Lost It"

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded January 26, 2025

Born and raised in San Diego, CA, and currently residing in Carlsbad, CA, Eli Recht is a licensed psychotherapist (LMFT), EMDR clinician, spiritual counselor, editor, and teacher of Self-realization.

In 2020, Eli experienced a falling away of ego identity and an awakening to the true nature of Reality. As a result, Eli has dedicated his life to service – to help alleviate suffering, cultivate connection, guide people through the often-confusing journey of Life, and invite others to recognize our shared unconditioned essence.

Eli’s specialty is blending contemporary psychological knowledge with timeless spiritual wisdom and advocating for the integration of these two disciplines.

Website: elirecht.com

Books (Editor and Foreword):

Grace Happens: An Awakening of Consciousness

Reflections of Consciousness: Essays on the Journey of Awakening and the Nature of Reality

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded January 11, 2025

Tanis Helliwell has seen higher realms and spoken with Masters, angels and elementals since childhood. Walking in many worlds, she led tours to sacred sites for two decades, was a management consultant working for over 30 years, and founded the International Institute for Transformation specializing in spiritual transformation in 2000.

A true mystic who has worked with Masters in higher realms since childhood, her gift is assisting others to develop a soul-infused personal life in harmony with spiritual laws. Her knowledge and understanding of other worlds and spiritual realms can be found in some of her most popular books:

Summer with the Leprechauns,

The Leprechaun’s Story,

HYBRIDS: So you think you are human,

The High Beings of Hawaii,

The Dragon's Tale, and

Good Morning Henry: An In-Depth Journey With the Body Intelligence.

Website: tanishelliwell.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded December 16.

Tanis Helliwell has seen higher realms and spoken with Masters, angels and elementals since childhood. Walking in many worlds, she led tours to sacred sites for two decades, was a management consultant working for over 30 years, and founded the International Institute for Transformation specializing in spiritual transformation in 2000.

A true mystic who has worked with Masters in higher realms since childhood, her gift is assisting others to develop a soul-infused personal life in harmony with spiritual laws. Her knowledge and understanding of other worlds and spiritual realms can be found in some of her most popular books:

Summer with the Leprechauns,

The Leprechaun’s Story,

HYBRIDS: So you think you are human,

The High Beings of Hawaii,

The Dragon's Tale, and

Good Morning Henry: An In-Depth Journey With the Body Intelligence.

Website: tanishelliwell.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group.

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded December 16.

Efrat Shokef, Ph.D., is a mother to three spiritually aware teens. A daughter, wife, sister, writer, teacher, cosmic journeyer, a shamanic energy healing practitioner working primarily with children, teens, parents, and families, and the Author of The Promise We Made: Three Universal Soul Promises We Made to Our Children – Near Death Experience and the Parenting Teachings It Invites.

Efrat was severely injured in a car crash and experienced a profound near-death experience (NDE) when her three daughters were all still younger than four. Her journey of physical recovery, the integration of her NDE, and, at the same time, her inability to participate in the caretaking of her daughters sent her on a quest to the essence of motherhood. What makes us our child(ren)’s parent beyond the doing? A quest and insights she shared in her book, and on her website.

Efrat believes that when parents know/remember that they are more than their physical bodies or their confused, wounded emotions, they can recognize the luminosity of their child(ren). When we all accept that we are on a journey of growth, we can mirror the possibility of this Earthly journey to the children in our lives.

When we walk our essence and connect to who we are at our core, we can see that same luminosity in everyone, beyond gender, race, ethnicity, or age. Respecting all others, including our children— dependent humans, yet also powerful, experienced souls—becomes a way of life.

Explore articles and resources for Spiritually Aware Families and Contact Efrat through her website: https://efratshokef.com/

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Interview recorded December 8, 2024.

Born in Kenya, and of Indian ancestry, Riyaz came to North America when he was ten years old (growing up in Canada, and then moving to the United States as an adult). Each of these lands, peoples, and cultures has informed and shaped his expression and sensibilities. He is a product of both East and West.

Most of his adult life has been devoted to the study and practice of both psychotherapy and spirituality. And both of these disciplines have been integral to a path of healing and awakening. Professionally, his life’s work has been to bring together Eastern wisdom with Western science and psychology in a synergistic alliance.

After 26 years of mainly practicing as a psychotherapist, and many years of teaching and supervising students and interns in a transpersonally oriented graduate school (CIIS in San Francisco), he has shifted his work in a more explicitly spiritual direction. He now leads individuals and groups in spiritual work through groups, and day-long and multi-day retreats.

In April 2023, he received dharma transmission and the blessing of his teacher, Adyashanti.

Website: riyazmotan.com

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Summary and transcript of this interview

Interview recorded November 26, 2024

 

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 Embracing Vulnerability in Teaching  

 00:03:24 Transition to Spiritual Teaching  

 00:06:25 The Unexpected Lung Cancer Diagnosis

 00:10:10 Embracing Life’s Challenges as Spiritual Lessons

 00:13:24 Philosophy of Evolution and Suffering  

 00:17:23 Embracing Mortality and Living Fully

 00:20:23 Wisdom from Sri Ramakrishna: Always Be Learning

 00:23:25 Navigating Cancer Treatment Challenges

 00:26:34 Embracing Alternative Healing Methods  

 00:29:41 Embracing Non-Western Healing Approaches  

 00:33:01 The Profound Experience of Near-Death and Out-of-Body Events   

 00:36:32 Personal Transformations Through Marriage  

 00:40:30 Embracing Earthly Spirituality

 00:45:53 The Impact of Spirituality as an Escape Mechanism

 00:49:46 Cultivating Presence for Emotional Healing

 00:53:54 The Power of Group Consciousness

 00:57:45 The Toll of Being a Spiritual Teacher  

 01:01:07 Embracing Vulnerability in Teaching

 01:05:08 The Evolution of Spiritual Teaching Methodologies

 01:08:57 Evolution of Teacher-Student Dynamics in Education  

 01:12:51 Importance of Preparatory Spiritual Practices  

 01:16:26 Lack of Spiritual Development and Global Issues

 01:19:34 Humanity’s Crisis and Opportunity for Change  

 01:22:26 Awakening of a New Consciousness

 01:26:27 Exploring Neurodivergence and Enhanced Perception

 01:30:28 Transformative Power of Psychedelics and Nature  

 01:33:46 Ayahuasca Experience: A Catalyst for Awakening  

 01:36:57 Spiritual Awakening through Nature and Retreats  

 01:40:52 Exploring the Hero Dose: Insights from Adyashanti  

 01:43:41 Transition from One-to-One Work to Spiritual Mentoring

 01:47:33 Upcoming Guests and Spiritual Experiences

Thomas Legrand is a wisdom’s seeker, a social scientist and sustainability practitioner.

He is the author of the internationally acclaimed book “Politics of Being. Wisdom and Science for a New Development Paradigm” (2022), an invitation to radically rethink our model of development, which received the Grand Prize of the Nautilus Book Award in 2024.

His spiritual journey began at the age of 23 with an encounter with native spirituality in Mexico, before embracing the wisdom of a wide range of traditions and practices, including meditation, energetic healing and Tai-chi-chuan. He lives with his wife and their two young daughters near Plum Village, the monastery of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh in the South West of France, his country.

He is currently the Lead Technical Advisor for the UNDP-convened Conscious Food Systems Alliance.

Discussion of this interview in the BatGap Community Facebook Group

Summary and transcript of this interview.

Interview recorded November 9, 2024

YouTube Video Chapters:

00:00:00 Introduction to Thomas Legrand and His Work

 00:03:27 Integrating Politics and Spirituality  

 00:07:32 Radical Restructuring for Humanity’s Survival  

 00:10:43 Prophecies of Transformation and Enlightenment  

 00:15:14 Exploring Spiritual Solutions for Society

 00:19:22 The Necessity of Consciously Attending to Ethics in Spiritual Practice

 00:23:51 Spirituality and Science Collaboration  

 00:27:12 The Influence of Sri Aurobindo’s Spiritual Work on Global Events  

 00:31:11 Spiritual Practices and Deep Forces  

 00:34:53 The Need for Spiritual Transformation  

 00:39:07 Theory X and Theory Y: Workplace Dynamics  

 00:43:34 Prisons as Factories of Stress and Recidivism  

 00:48:32 The Importance of Relationships in Happiness  

 00:52:40 The Impact of Collective Consciousness  

 00:56:18 Emerging Sciences for Happiness and Peace  

 01:00:30 Integrating Wisdom and Science for Unity  

 01:04:21 Healing Patterns on a Societal Level  

 01:09:00 Transformation Through Breakdown and Regrowth  

 01:12:06 Introducing the Concept of a Politics of Being  

 01:15:30 The Shift Back to Human Dimensions

 01:20:37 Implementing Spiritual Solutions in Everyday Life  

 01:25:51 Economic Inequality as the Root of Social Issues  

 01:30:39 The Necessity of Change in Society  

 01:36:22 The Baha’i Vision and Progressive Revelation  

 01:39:03 Understanding the Soul of a Nation in a Globalized World

 01:43:25 The Destiny of Unity and Diversity  

 01:48:08 Conversations on Conflict and Harmony in Israel  

 01:50:45 Healing Trauma as a Gateway

 01:53:37 Presidential Apology and Indigenous Healing

 01:56:00 Navigating Economic Growth and Conscious Transformation  

 02:00:23 Exploring Our Website Offerings