Interviews with Innocence
Interviews with Innocence
Marla Hughes | Podcast Host
My name is Marla Hughes. I have worked with children my entire life. I have a Master’s degree in Exercise Physiology. I have worked in the pediatric transplant unit at UCSF Hospital in San Francisco, teaching children about exercise, good nutrition and relaxation. I also worked at the Center for Attitudinal Healing with its founder, Dr. Gerald Jampolsky, using art and music therapy to help young children who had life threatening diseases or who had a parent or loved one who was severely ill. My greatest teachers, however, have been my children. I have never experienced a love that deep or profound. I created this podcast because I am intrigued by how children can help us reconnect with our spiritual selves. I believe the young are our teachers; after all they are the masters of living in the moment, enjoying the messiness of life and curious about the universe in all it's dimensions. They are not concerned with ego or comparisons. These young souls enter life with driblets of heaven clinging to them, still in touch with their memories of past lives and the people and places they had known before. I want to explore and share this wisdom.
Beyond the Veil: Children's Journeys through Near-Death Experiences
In this profoundly enlightening episode of "Interviews with Innocence," we are honored to host Dr. P.M.H. Atwater, L.H.D., an internationally recognized authority on near-death experiences (NDEs). With a career spanning over 38 years, Dr. Atwater has dedicated her life to researching NDEs, fueled by her personal survival of three near-death episodes. Through her journey, she has authored 18 books, with “The Forever Angels: Near Death Experiences in Childhood and Their Lifelong Impact” being among her most recent and impactful works. Dr. Atwater's extensive research, which includes interviewing over 5000 individuals from young children who have had NDEs to older adults reflecting on their lifelong impact, brings forth a compelling argument: the near-death experience is a profound consciousness transformation or “brain shift,” rather than an anomaly. This episode delves into how children, in particular, perceive and articulate their encounters with the divine, and how these experiences shape their understanding of life and existence. Key Insights from Dr. P.M.H. Atwater: Childhood NDEs: Children's interpretations of near-death experiences diverge significantly from adults'. They often report encountering three distinct lights, a fatherly figure, and various animals and birds, illuminating a unique perspective on the afterlife. Communication Post-NDE: The importance of engaging with children on their level post-NDE to foster genuine and uninhibited conversations. Dr. Atwater emphasizes the significance of eye-level interaction to avoid influencing children to speak merely to please adults. Challenges of Reintegration: The struggle many children face reintegrating into "real life" post-NDE, driven by a profound sense of not being understood and a yearning to return to the light they experienced. Ongoing Life Stream: Dr. Atwater's research suggests that what we often conceptualize as the afterlife is, in fact, part of an ongoing life stream, challenging traditional perceptions of life and death. Phenomena of Protection: An intriguing account of children in a devastating tornado in Missouri who were reportedly saved by "butterfly people," raising questions about angelic interventions. Supporting Children with NDEs: The episode emphasizes the importance of allowing children to express their experiences freely through conversation, prayer, rituals, and the creation of personal altars or centerpieces. Respecting Children's Truths: Acknowledging and honoring the truth in children's descriptions of their experiences without judgment, and the importance of letting children be children. Personal Growth: Dr. Atwater shares her personal takeaway from her extensive research and experiences: a profound ease and trust in navigating life, even in the most daunting situations.
Feb 3, 2024
43 min
#207 - Journey with Horses and Therapeutic Riding with Randi Shannahan
Episode Highlights: Journey to Hippotherapy: Randi shares her personal story of how her journey with horses and therapeutic riding began, exploring the roots of her passion. Childhood Reflections: Discover Randi's nature as a child - was she intuitive, spiritual, sensitive? How did these traits shape her career path? The Shea Center's Programs: An overview of the various programs offered at the Shea Center and how they cater to different needs. The Healing Energy of Horses: Insight into the significant role of horses' energy in therapy and the profound impact they have on clients. Life Lessons from Horses and Clients: Randi reflects on her learnings from working closely with horses and clients, and the personal transformation she has experienced. Children's Stories: Heartwarming anecdotes from children who've participated in the program, highlighting their experiences and takeaways. Transformative Impact: Stories showcasing the physical and emotional evolution of children engaged in equine therapy. Children and Animals: Discussing the potential benefits all children could gain from interactions with animals, whether through therapy or as pets. Lessons from Horses: Exploring the wisdom and learnings that horses can impart to us. Words of Wisdom: Randi shares her profound insights and advice, drawing from her rich experience in hippotherapy. Professional Bio: Randi Shannahan, PT, DPT, HPCS, is a distinguished therapy services manager at The Shea Center in San Juan Capistrano, CA. Specializing in hippotherapy, she utilizes her expertise to treat children and adults with diverse diagnoses. With 8 years of clinical experience across various care settings, Dr. Shannahan's dedication extends to her role as an adjunct faculty member at Azusa Pacific University and as a gold standard tester and trainer for cerebral palsy-related assessments at UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine.  
Jan 25, 2024
34 min
Dreamscapes and Celestial Threads: Navigating the Cosmos through Dreams and Psychoanalysis
The show notes for the content include the following topics: Dream interpretation Astrology 101 Overcoming childhood trauma Helping your kids grow in their own way Learning about the inner teacher and letting it guide you Is astrology a science? What is astrology telling us about 2024, 2025, and 2026     Website: https://michaellennox.com/  Highly sought-after media expert, Dr. Lennox has been seen internationally on many television shows, beginning with the Sci Fi Network’s The Dream Team and has also been featured on numerous network and cable television venues including NBC’s Emmy award winning Starting Over, Soap Talk, The Wayne Brady show and many others. His radio appearances talking about the power of dreams number in the hundreds. Dr. Lennox obtained his Masters and Doctorate in Psychology from The Chicago School and his Doctoral Dissertation, Astrology and Personality, is published by Lambert Academic Publishing. Dr. Lennox is also the author of two books on dreams, Dream Sight: A Dictionary & Guide for Interpreting Any Dream and Llewellyn’s Complete Dream Dictionary. Dr. Lennox leads workshops and retreats all over the United States and conducts a worldwide private practice based in Southern California.
Jan 18, 2024
1 hr 9 min
ENERGY HEALING, AND CHILDREN WITH NIC WHITHAM
Update on Nic Whitam As a most recent update from Nic: Banyan Retreat closed due to Covid and Steven and I now live in the north-west of England. We are semi-retired although we still host SoulQuest each Sunday and I continue to work for the Spiritual Truth Foundation promoting the teachings of Silver Birch. I will be hosting a few online lectures on the History of Mediumship and Healing a little later this year but other than that we live a very quiet life in rural England.     “It takes many years of practice to be able to invite the spirit world into a safe place with you.” — Nic Whitham, on Trance Mediumship “Love is automatically embedded in all that you do in a healing capacity.” — Nic Whitham Nic Whitham grew up in a family of healers and was exposed at a young age to the remarkable results of energy healing on other humans. He knew early on that this would ultimately be his calling. After a career in finance that took him around the globe, he returned to the UK and the world of energy healing and founded Banyan Retreat with his partner, Steven Sui. There are many kinds of energy healing, including Reiki, Platform Mediumship and Trance Mediumship. In trance healing, a medium invites the spirit world to blend its energy with that of the medium, who needs to be 100 percent submissive to allow this to happen. That energy can then be channeled through the medium to the places where it is most needed. Most energy healing can be accomplished by the healer tapping into universal energy without the need to merge with the spirit world. In Nic’s work, he is able to see people’s auras (colors) which enables him to know which area of the client’s body has issues. He can then channel his energy towards that part of the body that needs repair. Energy healing often requires multiple sessions to be fully effective. Nic described two miraculous examples of using healing practices to cure young children. Children, more so than adults, are more accepting of energy healing because they are less removed from the spirit world and more connected to the aura field. In the US it is difficult to find reputable healers. The UK has its own umbrella organization: The British Alliance of Healing Organizations. Interestingly, healing energy knows where it is needed most. Healing can also be accomplished remotely. Nic highly encourages parents to support their children’s connection to the spirit world, and to talk about their experiences with imaginary friends, etc. Nic described a most extraordinary Christmas Seance at Banyan retreat, where the spirits of children who has been denied happy childhoods were invited to visit and experience holiday gifts and toys.
Jan 11, 2024
40 min
Healing Children’s Hearts in Ethiopia With Mesfin Dollar
On today's episode I have Mesfin Dollar on the show to share his beautiful story of perseverance, courage and overcoming diversity.   
Dec 23, 2023
47 min
The Mountains, Massage and Healing With Teresa Frank
In this episode, I'm excited to welcome Teresa Frank as she shares her fascinating spiritual journey. She delves into the significance of rituals and ceremonies that played a pivotal role in establishing a deep spiritual bond with the divine. Teresa's exploration of various healing modalities, coupled with transformative spiritual encounters, unveiled the healer within her. This self-discovery has inspired her to initiate her own practice, where she provides energy body work to assist clients in navigating their inner worlds. For full shownotes, please visit: https://www.interviewswithinnocence.com/blog/203
Dec 14, 2023
38 min
The Beautiful Memories Our Children Share: A Tribute to Wayne Dyer
If you are curious, would like to learn more or have a story to share, please visit us at Interviewswithinnocence.org. And support our show and leave us a review on iTunes. Thank you! Today on Interviews With Innocence, I wanted to celebrate the holidays with some stories from internationally renowned author and speaker Dr. Wayne Dyer's book, "Memories of Heaven". Dr. Wayne Dyer was an internationally renowned author and speaker in the fields of self-development and spiritual growth. Over the four decades of his career, he wrote more than 40 books, including 21 New York Times bestsellers. He created many audio and video programs and appeared on thousands of television and radio shows. Dyer held a doctorate in educational counseling from Wayne State University and had served as an associate professor at St. John’s University in New York. Through his early work in college-level teaching and clinical psychology, he discovered a widespread need for the principles of self-discovery and personal growth and sought to bring these ideas to a wider audience. "Memories Of Heaven" was co-authored by Dee Garnes, who currently resides in Maui with her husband and two children. She has worked in the healing-arts field as a massage therapist for over 13 years, and was assistant to Dr. Wayne Dyer. When she is not chasing her two-year-old son around or caring for her infant daughter, she enjoys long-distance swims in the ocean, paddle-boarding, and hiking. Her longest hike to date spanned 50 days across the 500-mile Colorado Trail, where she found that her heart was not only in the mountains but also in the ocean—and in truly healing and helping others. Dr. Wayne Dyer was always drawn to speaking with young children, as their memories seemed to stretch far past their young age and into the deep past. What he learned from them surpassed what the imagination of a young child could dream up, dipping into families, experiences, and spiritual realms that nobody could know at so young an age. Listen in to hear the stories Dr. Wayne Dyer had collected over the years of children's memories of heaven, choosing parents and spiritual insights. Let us celebrate the impact he had around the world. For more information, please visit: https://www.interviewswithinnocence.com/blog/202
Dec 7, 2023
18 min
Nature Centered Coaching With Kris Olivas
In this episode, I'm excited to have Kris Olivas join us to delve into her distinctive perspectives, techniques, and practices guiding individuals on the journey to their soul's highest path and purpose. Kris's work beautifully illustrates that by prioritizing healing and releasing negative energy, we create space for our soul's light to shine brightly. For full shownotes, please visit: https://www.interviewswithinnocence.com/blog/201
Nov 30, 2023
40 min
Renowned Medium and Physic William Stillman Talks About Autism and the God Connection AND Animal Communication
I'm delighted to have William Stillman back on the show. In today's episode, we talk about two different topics: autism and the God Connection and his work with animal communication.  Even though the topics seem very different, William draws a fascinating connection between the sacred nature of pets and individuals with autism, suggesting that both are sent to us on this earth for profound emotional healing. For full shownotes, please visit: https://www.interviewswithinnocence.com/blog/200
Nov 16, 2023
48 min
Teaching Children How to Nurture Their Inner World With Eva Goulette
In today's episode, I'm excited to introduce Eva Goulette and the profoundly meaningful work she undertakes with children through her Spirit Camps. Her work beautifully provides children with the essential tools to foster their inner landscapes and maintain a strong connection to their true selves. For full shownotes, please visit: https://www.interviewswithinnocence.com/blog/199
Nov 2, 2023
45 min
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