The Telepathy Tapes – Ask Me Anything with Dr. Jeremy Chapman (Preview)

Podcast: The Telepathy Tapes
Host: Ky Dickens
Guest: Dr. Jeremy Chapman (Medical Director, SSM Health Treffert Center)
Date: November 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This preview episode features an AMA with Dr. Jeremy Chapman, following the resonant episode "Savants: When Brilliance Drops In." Dr. Chapman addresses audience questions centered on supporting autistic non-speakers and acquired savants—individuals with extraordinary, sometimes telepathic or mystical, abilities. The conversation explores bridging the gap between savant talents and scientific understanding, as well as the psychological ramifications of developing extraordinary abilities.

1. Connecting Savant Talent to Academia and Research

[01:24 – 05:28]

Key Discussion Points:

• Barriers for Savants:

  • Many savants, such as Jason Padgett, lack traditional academic backgrounds and thus face significant hurdles in being recognized by the scientific community.
  • “He does not have an in. And frankly, he faces a huge uphill battle in terms of credibility and getting people's attention. You know, who's this guy to come along and make all these claims… It's really hard to break in.” – Dr. Jeremy Chapman [02:07]

• Role of the Treffert Center:

  • The Center is dedicated to supporting both acquired and congenital savants, offering visibility via podcasts, social media, and annual gatherings.
  • Advocacy includes facilitating collaborations and ratification of insights by recognized academics.
  • Chapman references prior efforts to connect savant Gianni with astrophysicists, describing him as a "muse" who inspires trained scientists even though his language is unconventional.

• Need for Open-mindedness in Science:

  • Recognition that academia can be insular or “a little bit elitist,” hesitant to engage with those outside traditional pathways.
  • “You have to be open minded as the expert to… entertaining the opinion of someone who does not have your background.” – Dr. Jeremy Chapman [04:31]
  • Chapman encourages connections from listeners, especially with open-minded researchers who can bridge these worlds.

• Notable Mention:

  • Reference is made to Dr. Max Tegmark (MIT), though Chapman is not personally acquainted with him.

2. Psychological Impact of Acquiring Extraordinary Abilities

[05:28 – 07:13]

Key Discussion Points:

• Unexpected Neurocognitive Changes:

  • Chapman discusses how brain trauma in acquired savants sometimes leads to remarkable new perceptions of reality, such as altered pattern recognition or frame rate of visual experience.

• Examples:

  • Jason Padgett experiences reality as a series of discrete frames—“It's like the frame rate of his visual perception changed.” [06:19]
  • Analogy made to houseflies, which perceive motion very differently due to their unique visual processing.

• Adjustment Difficulties:

  • Such perception changes can be disorienting or distressing for individuals, sometimes leading to withdrawal or psychological stress if not balanced by positive recognition.
  • “A lot of people…get very reclusive. Some of them never really make it out of that too so people can get very stressed out by it.” – Dr. Jeremy Chapman [06:55]

• Importance of Community:

  • Treffert Center is building community among those with similar experiences to reduce isolation and offer support.

3. Upcoming Topics

[07:13 – 07:47]

• The next question, teased but not answered in this preview, addresses the telepathic abilities of some savants, hinting at deeper explorations in the full Backstage Pass episode.

Notable Quotes

"If you perceive the universe…in a different way, you might bring a very useful, fresh look at stuff. And so…they can work together in a way that the one person never viewed it that way and the other person never was able to explain it that way."
— Dr. Jeremy Chapman [03:18]

"The research and academic community can be very, I hate to say it, but kind of close minded, maybe a little bit elitist…so it's hard for people to kind of open their mind up to someone who does not necessarily have that stuff."
— Dr. Jeremy Chapman [04:39]

Episode Flow and Tone

Dr. Chapman speaks openly, candidly, and with clear empathy for savants struggling to find mainstream acceptance. He mixes technical expertise with relatable analogies, maintaining an encouraging and inclusive tone throughout.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:24] – Introduction to Dr. Chapman and the AMA premise
• [01:52] – The difficulties savants face in breaking into academia
• [03:03] – Efforts to build bridges between savants and researchers
• [05:30] – Psychological impact of new abilities on savants
• [06:19] – Jason Padgett's unique visual perception
• [06:55] – The emotional and social toll of extraordinary abilities
• [07:13] – Teaser for upcoming discussion on telepathy

This preview episode lays the foundation for an empathetic, rigorous, and paradigm-challenging series, urging listeners to reconsider the bounds of communication, consciousness, and human potential.