How can we knock down the walls that surround many neurodivergent kids? Should teachers play a role in their students' social and emotional well-being, or is school only about academic rigor? What are some teaching techniques that will get kids talking and participating? Emily Kircher-Morris and Jim Delisle have a conversation about ways to release the potential often locked inside neurodivergent kids, and it was one of the biggest conversations of 2021. For more information about Jim Delisle's ...
Dec 30, 2021•37 min•Ep. 109
One of the more misunderstood diagnoses in the world of neurodiversity is ODD, or Oppositional Defiant Disorder. We talk with Amelia Bowler, a behavior consultant and author of the book "The Parent's Guide to Oppositional Defiant Disorder," about the diagnosis, and how to be better at decoding the message that kids are trying to send through their defiance. This conversation is from another of the most-downloaded episodes of 2021. For more information about Amelia and her book, go to the episode...
Dec 29, 2021•33 min•Ep. 108
Most of us have at least some rejection sensitivity, but with neurodivergent people it's often magnified. Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Brendan Mahan, an ADHD and executive function consultant, about how to reduce or overcome rejection sensitivity. This is an episode everyone can benefit from, and don't forget to check out Brendan's podcast, ADHD Essentials. This conversation is one of the most popular of 2021. For guest info and more, visit the episode 83 page at www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com...
Dec 28, 2021•39 min•Ep. 107
"By the time you're 18, you'll be dead or in jail." When those words come from your teacher or coach, it takes a long time to unlearn that belief. This is the story of a troubled twice-exceptional teen who had no idea about his diagnosis until after he fought his way into college. Today, Dr. Shawn A Robinson is a reading instructor at Madison College, and a Senior Research Associate in Wisconsin's Equity and Inclusion Laboratory. He and his wife are the authors of the Doctor Dyslexia Dude book s...
Dec 08, 2021•32 min•Ep. 106
What are you grateful for regarding neurodiversity? Our listeners share their thoughts, and Emily Kircher-Morris reflects on the things she's thankful for during this kickoff of the 2021 holiday season. While we're on the subject, thank YOU for making 2021 the biggest year of growth in our history! You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity . The Neurodiversity Podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram, and on Twitter @NeurodiversePod....
Nov 25, 2021•13 min•Ep. 105
Emily Kircher-Morris has a discussion with Joy Lawson Davis and Deb Douglas, authors of a new book called Empowering Underrepresented Gifted Students, about equity challenges in public education. They provide a snapshot of the contributors who helped write the book from their individual perspectives as marginalized, neurodivergent students, and describe why eliminating gifted programs won't fix equity issues in gifted education. Many more topics as well, on episode 104. ABOUT THE GUESTS - Dr. Jo...
Nov 11, 2021•37 min•Ep. 104
Learning to empower our kids and students to do for themselves is often harder than just doing it for them. But ultimately they will need autonomy, so we must help them hone their executive function skills now. Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Sarah Kesty about how to go about helping our kids, and how to retrain teachers to help their students be self-empowered. It's another great conversation you shouldn't miss. ABOUT THE GUEST - Sarah Kesty is an executive function expert, an international spe...
Oct 29, 2021•34 min•Ep. 103
People with ADHD have to face both the strengths and struggles that come along with their diagnosis. During ADHD Awareness Month, we're presenting some important conversations we've had along the way about ADHD, including this conversation with Brendan Mahan, who shares his struggle with ADHD and executive function. This conversation was first released in October of 2019. ABOUT THE GUEST - Brendan Mahan, MEd., MS, is an ADHD/Executive Function consultant, coach, and speaker. As a veteran educato...
Oct 25, 2021•39 min•Ep. 102
Emily Kircher-Morris previews the inaugural GTN Awareness Week with Marc Smolowitz, producer and director of the upcoming movie The G-Word. We talk about the organization behind the event and how you can get involved. GTN Awareness week is October 25-29, and will feature different events each day. To take part in the free activities and discussions, go to www.thegwordfilm.com . To hear the interview with Marc about the stories of the people featured in The G Word, and for more info about the mov...
Oct 21, 2021•28 min•Ep. 101
People with ADHD have to face both the strengths and struggles that come along with their diagnosis. When ADHD is combined with giftedness (twice-exceptionality), those struggles can be magnified, or maybe worse, hidden. On episode 100 Dr. Matthew Fugate shares data from his research about ADHD and provides parents and teachers insight into better understanding our kids. This conversation was first published June 26, 2019. About the guest - Dr. Matthew Fugate received his doctorate in Gifted, Cr...
Oct 18, 2021•33 min•Ep. 100
Today's classroom can feel like an alien environment for neurodivergent learners, and the resulting anxiety can derail and disrupt their educational experience. Simple and easily-implemented accommodations can completely change outcomes. How important is placement for a child's happiness and well-being? What do psychological professionals understand that educators often don't? Creating an educational environment for neurodivergent kids in a system that isn't made for them, on episode 99 of the N...
Oct 15, 2021•30 min•Ep. 99
Some colleges and universities are beginning to understand the challenges of autistic and otherwise-neurodivergent people to adapt to the higher education experience. One such university is Marquette, who has developed a program called "On Your Marq," to equip autistic students for the new rigors of academia. Emily Raclaw runs the program, and Emily Kircher-Morris sits down to talk with her on episode 98. Emily Raclaw, MS, LPC is the director of Marquette's On Your Marq program. She's a lifelong...
Sep 30, 2021•28 min•Ep. 98
On episode 97 we talk with Fleassy Malay about prosopagnosia, commonly referred to as "face blindness." What are the symptoms? What can you do to lessen the effects, and how can you enlist the help of your friends and colleagues? Fleassy is a TEDx speaker and viral poet, is the host of the new "Fierce Gentle - The Courageous Voice Podcast," and deals with the challenges of prosopagnosia every day. ABOUT THE GUEST - Fleassy Malay is a two-time TEDx speaker and viral poet. She's a global advocate ...
Sep 23, 2021•32 min•Ep. 97
This is the final installment of our series on suicide among gifted and 2e people. Today, Lisa shares the story of what led to her son's suicide, and we get a glimpse of her current state of mind, nine months after Nick's death. The Suicide Prevention Lifeline - 1-800-273-8255.
Sep 09, 2021•21 min•Ep. 96
In part two of our series on suicide among high-ability and twice-exceptional people, we explore some of the signs of depression and suicidal ideation with Lisa Van Gemert, author of Perfectionism, and Living Gifted. We explore ways to identify problems that could lead to self-harm or suicide, and suggest ways to help you work through those problems. If you haven't listened to episode 94 with Dr. Tracy Cross, we suggest you do. And as always, if you need help, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline is ...
Sep 08, 2021•43 min•Ep. 95
Is suicidal ideation more prevalent among the gifted population? Do our beliefs about suicide square with statistics? In part one of our series on suicide among gifted and 2e youth, Dr. Tracy Cross joins us to shed some light on a dark subject, and shares his Spiral Model of the Suicidal Mind. This is a series all parents should hear. This is a reprise of an episode that first aired in 2019. Since then, new suicide statistics have been released. (see link below) A marked decrease in suicide was ...
Sep 07, 2021•42 min•Ep. 94
Emily's new book, "Teaching Twice-Exceptional Learners in Today's Classroom," is now officially released! This is a special episode, featuring an interview of Emily Kircher-Morris by her executive producer/husband Dave. They talk about her background, her experiences with 2e kids, and how she views the world of neurodiversity. They also preview the book! ABOUT "TEACHING TWICE-EXCEPTIONAL LEARNERS IN TODAY'S CLASSROOM" Twice-exceptional (2e) learners have often been misunderstood, disciplined, un...
Aug 24, 2021•20 min•Ep. 93
One of the more misunderstood diagnoses in the world of neurodiversity is ODD, or Oppositional Defiant Disorder. We talk with Amelia Bowler, a behavior consultant and author of the book "The Parent's Guide to Oppositional Defiant Disorder," about the diagnosis, and how to be better at decoding the message that kids are trying to send through their defiance. ABOUT THE GUEST - Amelia Bowler is an author, an artist, a parent, and a behavior consultant. Growing up twice-exceptional with undiagnosed ...
Aug 20, 2021•33 min•Ep. 92
Emily Kircher-Morris and Joel Schwartz talk about what it would take to create a neurodiversity-affirming world where old stereotypes and perceptions are shed. Such a shift would allow neurodivergent people to be themselves, and society would benefit from a new perspective, where strengths and uniqueness of the neurodiversity community are recognized and embraced. Episode 91 is a conversation you shouldn't miss. ABOUT THE GUEST - Joel Schwartz is a licensed clinical psychologist who co-runs Tota...
Aug 10, 2021•35 min•Ep. 91
How is college different from high school for neurodivergent students? There's almost no comparison, and that makes the transition difficult for many. Elizabeth Hamblet is a specialist who helps neurodivergent people make decisions and successfully enter the higher education world. Emily talks with Elizabeth about the big move on episode 90. ABOUT THE GUEST - Elizabeth C. Hamblet is the author of From High School to College: Steps to Success for Students with Disabilities, published by the Counc...
Jul 29, 2021•33 min•Ep. 90
How can we knock down the walls that surround many neurodivergent kids? Should teachers play a role in their students' social and emotional well-being, or is school only about academic rigor? What are some teaching techniques that will get kids talking and participating? Emily Kircher-Morris and Jim Delisle have a conversation about ways to release the potential that's often locked inside neurodivergent kids, on episode 89. ABOUT THE GUEST - James Delisle, PhD, was a professor of education at Ke...
Jul 15, 2021•37 min•Ep. 89
Parents often struggle with helping their children manage anxiety. Dr. Eli Lebowitz of Yale University joins us to talk about his research and work with children and their parents on managing anxiety and OCD. He's also developed a program to teach parents how to help their children with anxiety, and to help therapists learn new therapy techniques. ABOUT THE GUEST - Professor Eli Lebowitz studies and treats childhood and adolescent anxiety at the Yale Child Study Center. His research focuses on t...
Jul 01, 2021•44 min•Ep. 88
Most of us code switch. Code switching is when someone uses a certain type of language in one environment, but then switches to a different style of communication in another environment. Sarah Nannery and her husband Larry join us to talk about Sarah's experience with an autism diagnosis as an adult, and how, with Larry's help, she relearned how to navigate her professional world, and overcome the communication hurdles she faced. ABOUT THE GUESTS - Sarah and Larry Nannery are a neurodiverse coup...
Jun 17, 2021•32 min•Ep. 87
What kind of specific social and emotional support do high-ability kids need? How can we help high-ability students deal with perfectionism? How can teachers in gifted programs thrive when they are forced to play the role of counselor? How can we help neurodivergent kids cope with potential asynchrony between their emotional and intellectual abilities? We talk about all of these topics and more with Mark Hess, a Gifted Programs Specialist, on episode 86. ABOUT THE GUEST - Mark Hess is a board me...
Jun 04, 2021•30 min•Ep. 86
The language around autism and neurodiversity in general is changing. We talk with Kristy Forbes, founder of Australia-based inTune Pathways, about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), the difference between PDA and other types of demand avoidance, and the changing language of autism, especially the terminology society uses to describe neurodivergent people. ABOUT THE GUEST - Kristy Forbes is the founder of inTune Pathways, is autistic herself, and has been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyper...
May 18, 2021•42 min•Ep. 85
In this episode we're talking with two of the editors of Sincerely, Your Autistic Child, a book about what autistic people wish their parents knew. Emily Paige Ballou and Morénike Giwa Onaiwu join Emily Kircher-Morris to talk about autism, neurodiversity, and ways to better understand your autistic child's unique view of the world. ABOUT THE GUESTS - Emily Paige Ballou is a Senior Editor, Online Content Moderator, and is on the Publications Committee at the Autistic Women and Nonbinary Network. ...
May 05, 2021•40 min•Ep. 84
Most of us have at least some rejection sensitivity, but with neurodivergent people it's often magnified. Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Brendan Mahan, an ADHD and executive function consultant, about how to reduce or overcome rejection sensitivity. This is an episode everyone can benefit from, and don't forget to check out Brendan's podcast, ADHD Essentials. ABOUT THE GUEST - Brendan Mahan, MEd., MS, is an ADHD/Executive Function consultant, coach, and speaker. As a veteran educator, he is ski...
Apr 22, 2021•39 min•Ep. 83
At a time when homeschooling has experienced a surge, Colleen Kessler talks with Emily Kircher-Morris about instilling confidence and resilience in neurodivergent kids. They also talk about how the Coronavirus pandemic changed the homeschooling experience. Colleen Kessler is the host of the Raising Lifelong Learners podcast and she joins us on episode 82. ABOUT THE GUEST - Colleen Kessler is the author of dozens of books for teachers, parents, and children, most focusing on hands-on learning, ex...
Apr 16, 2021•38 min•Ep. 82
Equipping a neurodivergent kid for the adult world can be a challenge. Amanda Morin from Understood.org talks with Emily Kircher-Morris about some of the things you wish someone had told you about that transition. You can download a free excerpt of her new book, Adulting Made Easy: Things Someone Should Have Told You About Getting Your Grown-Up Act Together, on the episode 81 page at www.neurodiversitypodcast.com . ABOUT THE GUEST - Amanda Morin worked as a classroom teacher and as an early inte...
Mar 31, 2021•32 min•Ep. 81
Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Colin Seale about what it's like to be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult. They discuss whether we've forgotten the real meaning of equity. They talk about teaching and promoting critical thinking, and they remind teachers about where to turn for guidance on motivating and inspiring their students. (hint: it's the parents.) ABOUT THE GUEST - Colin Seale is a critical thinking expert, achievement gap educator, child welfare reformer, education-for-all advocate, and fo...
Mar 18, 2021•37 min•Ep. 80
