Haunted Cosmos: Are The Telepathy Tapes Real?! (S6, E5)

Date: January 7, 2026
Hosts: Ben Garrett & Brian Sauvé

Episode Overview

In this much-anticipated episode, Ben and Brian tackle the phenomenon of “The Telepathy Tapes”—the viral podcast and broader cultural movement claiming that nonverbal autistic children can communicate telepathically. The hosts explore the historical origins of telepathy research (especially Cold War experiments), discuss the rise of the Telepathy Tapes podcast, critically analyze claims about facilitated communication (FC), and reflect on the implications for families, faith, science, and the broader search for meaning beyond materialism. Their approach is both empathetic (especially to families affected by autism) and rigorously skeptical, warning of false hope, self-deception, and the dangers of credulity.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Soviet Telepathy Experiments & Cold War Paranoia

(00:05-24:17)

• Dramatic Storytelling: Opens with a moody retelling of 1960s Soviet telepathy experiments—subjects isolated in Faraday cages, strobe light stimuli, and distant partners allegedly responding in perfect sync.
  • Notable Quote:

    “Every flash of light in Novosibirsk corresponded exactly with a shout in Moscow. ... The message had traveled mind to mind. The Soviets, it seemed, had proven telepathic communication.” (05:22)

• Twin Experiments: Soviet studies on supposed telepathic bonds between twins—allegedly showing physiological reactions to distant stimuli.
• Telepathy for Military Use: Describes the Sevastopol submarine experiment as a wartime communication breakthrough.
• Big Picture: Both US and USSR invested in hidden research on psychic phenomena as an edge in war and espionage.

2. Telepathy Claims, Spiritual Yearning, and Materialism’s Collapse

(12:45–24:17)

• Civilian Interest: Telepathy isn’t just for governments; private citizens also pursue psychic phenomena—not for dominance, but for connection, hope, and understanding.
  • Notable Quote:

    “We have mined modernity for all it had to give. ... Brute materialism has shown itself to be bankrupt and lies dead.” (18:30)

• Spiritual Crisis: Draws parallels between today's hunger for the “spiritual” and a postmodern return to pre-Christian paganism, but warns about sliding into a new abyss of credulity and spiritual darkness.
• Christian Framing: The hosts approach all claims through a Christian lens, stressing the need for discernment and not falling into “the whirlpool of the spirit” without Christ.

3. Historical Telepathic Anecdotes and Scientific Studies

(24:17–47:03)

• Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) Dream: Retelling of Twain’s prophetic dream of his brother’s death—a classic “telepathic” anecdote (31:00).
• WWI Dreams: Stories of relatives dreaming of loved ones’ deaths in wartime, claimed as evidence of psychic connection (34:00).
• Carl Jung and a Dreaming Patient: The psychoanalyst’s patient mysteriously dreaming of a dinner at Jung’s home she could not have known about (36:10).
• Skepticism Introduced:
  • The hosts analyze these examples as rare anomalies—possibly God-ordained prophetic dreams, sometimes demonic in origin, but never normative or reliably reproducible.
  • Confirmation bias and the large numbers of forgotten, inaccurate “prophetic” dreams are stressed.
    • Notable Quote:

      “How many of them had dreams where their loved one died, didn’t turn out to be true, and so they forgot it three months later? ... It’s the anomaly, not the norm.” (44:31)

4. Rise of the Telepathy Tapes Podcast & Faciliated Communication (FC)

(47:03–65:33)

• Introduction to Telepathy Tapes: Focus on Kai Dickens (filmmaker) and Dr. Diane Powell (researcher), who believe in and popularize claims that nonverbal autistic children are telepaths.

• Key Case #1 – Mia (Mexico City):

  • Mia, a nonverbal autistic child, allegedly demonstrates mind-reading by using a communication board to spell out words her mother is thinking—blindfolded and with all sensory cues removed.
  • Facilitated Communication (FC):
    • FC is explained: the neurotypical partner (often the mother) “helps” the autist spell out words, often unconsciously guiding answers.
    • Dr. Howard Shane’s 1990s experiments debunk FC, showing the communication originates from the facilitator, not the autistic child.
    • Notable Quote:

      “The children were being unconsciously guided by their parents, spelling out what the adults expected rather than what they themselves, the children, actually perceived.” (54:25)

• Expert Testimony: Ben’s wife, a board-certified behavioral analyst, confirms (via text, humorously relayed) that using FC is grounds for immediate firing in schools because of proven unreliability.

  • Notable Quote:

    “That stuff is bogus … it would be a violation of HIPAA” (58:13—Ben’s wife, via Ben)

5. Case Study #2 – Houston in Atlanta

(69:28–81:48)

• Houston’s Story:
  • Nonverbal for 17 years, Houston suddenly says his first words, “Mama, I love you,” leading to intense hope and eventual turn back to the Christian faith for his mother, Katie.
  • Fails standard therapies; turns to FC, which seems to unlock communication and “telepathic” abilities (such as reading the exact word written in another room).
• Experimental Sessions:
  • Alleged mind-reading feats performed under the Telepathy Tapes team’s observation (guessing random numbers, words, Uno cards, and even full Bible passages).
  • The hosts point out critical weaknesses in how these experiments are run, especially the ambiguity and potential for unconscious guidance in FC.
• Complex Dynamics:
  • The hosts praise the compassion driving parents’ desire for connection but warn that self-delusion is easy with such high emotional stakes.

6. Critical Warnings: The Dangers of Misplaced Faith in FC

(85:15–96:07)

• Why Skepticism Matters:
  • The hosts draw a parallel with the “Satanic Panic” and the epidemic of false accusations from hypnosis and “recovered memory therapy” in the ‘80s-90s.
    • Notable Quote:

      “… the suggestibility of people in the state is high. They invent false memories. They will believe them 100% … It literally destroys families.” (89:00)

  • FC has directly resulted in false abuse allegations, broken families, and even legal tragedies.
• Why Hope Can Harm:
  • “Sometimes the pitiable patients ... are not actually helped. And when a treatment fails to treat, it must be set aside … In our zeal to discredit materialism, we must not topple headlong into the dark ditch of spiritualist credulity on the other side.” (94:48)

7. Cautionary Tales & The Call for Prudence

(96:07–end)

• Case: Janice Boynton and Betsy Wheaton:
  • A well-meaning teacher is convinced, through FC, her student is being abused at home—leading to family destruction before the claim is revealed as false.
• Darkest Scenarios:
  • Tragically, some cases involve actual abuse committed by facilitators, further showing the grave risks where proper validation and controls are neglected.
  • Notable Quote:

    “It thinks it understands them, when really it does not. The compassionate love ... transposes into an idolatrous desire to believe the miracle ... In their visions of grandeur, they forget that their child has always been a miraculous gift from God ... doing good work in the ordinary acts of love that can bear fruit to a thousand generations.” (101:16)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Telepathy Claims:
  “People are drawn to telepathy and similar pursuits to learn more about themselves or to unlock what they imagine to be the hidden abilities of the human soul. Most practically ... for the most valuable of all: hope and peace of mind.” (12:11)

• On the Christian’s Discernment:
  “The Christian is called to hold the line of discernment, to learn wisdom from the spirit and so distinguish right from wrong ... Sometimes, quite simply, things don’t work the way they are supposed to.” (95:33)

• Emphatic Skepticism:
  “Facilitated communication ... they actually told us that if we use that in a school setting, we would be immediately fired.” (58:13—Ben’s wife, via Ben)

• On Self-Deception:
  “Your desire is so strong ... and you can see how people have a very high ability to influence and deceive themselves in very, very subtle ways ... we don’t even know.” (60:00)

• Caution Against Spiritualistic Lures:
  “Be careful to bite down on any lure that the enemy might use ... it just wants you to be deceived.” (91:39)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 00:05 | Soviet telepathy experiments story | | 12:45 | Psychic research in Cold War context, societal themes | | 24:17 | Start of main episode, podcast banter | | 54:25 | Dr. Howard Shane’s facilitated communication study | | 58:13 | Ben’s wife addresses FC as an expert | | 69:28 | Houston’s case study | | 81:48 | Christian lens and critique applied to FC stories | | 89:00 | Parallels with Satanic Panic, dangers of credulity | | 94:48 | Warning: why hope in FC can harm | | 101:16 | Call to discernment, value of ordinary love |

Tone & Style Observations

• Empathetic & Humorous: While occasionally bantering and self-deprecating (“We may say some jokes, but we'll try to avoid it ... can't do it. Not today.”), the hosts remain compassionate—especially toward families living with autism.
• Critical Yet Faithful: The hosts are open about Christian convictions, skeptical toward manipulation and credulity, and alert to spiritual dangers. They celebrate miracles but demand evidence and wisdom.
• Well-Researched & Narrative: Rich use of historical accounts, scientific studies, and detailed storytelling; often adopting the voice of the people involved.

Conclusion / Final Thoughts

Ben and Brian issue a sincere call for discernment—especially for families desperate for hope or connection. While longing for the supernatural is understandable and sometimes a sign of deeper spiritual needs, the pursuit of telepathy (especially via unscientific methods like FC) carries profound risks: emotional harm, family destruction, legal crises, and deception. The Christian faith, they argue, points to a hope and truth far more secure than any extraordinary claim yet to be proven in the world of paranormal research.

In summary:
The Telepathy Tapes and similar movements reflect a widespread hunger for meaning beyond materialism—but without caution, humility, and discernment, the search for miracles can end in disaster. True love, for the hosts, is found not in wishful thinking or “miraculous” abilities, but in the faithful, ordinary acts of parental care—and in the ultimate redemption promised by Christ.

“In their visions of grandeur, they forget that their child has always been a miraculous gift from God ... doing good work in the ordinary acts of love that can bear fruit to a thousand generations.” (101:16)