Neurodiversity Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Low-Demand Parenting: Bridging Divisions, Fostering Trust Oct 19, 2023

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Entering the world of neurodiversity often enables personal discovery, and creates challenges. How can parenting nudge adults toward uncovering their own neurodivergence? What is 'low-demand parenting' all about? It's not simply eliminating expectations, it's deeper and more nuanced. We're diving into the complex world of self-discovery and parenting with Amanda Diekman, a late-diagnosed autistic adult, and author of "Low Demand Parenting."

Learn more about 2e students by taking our course, Strategies for Supporting Twice-Exceptional Students. It's great for CE credits for educators, and the course will be enlightening to anyone curious about helping 2e students thrive in the classroom.

Amanda Diekman is an autistic adult, parent coach, and author in the neurodiversity community. Amanda became a leading voice in the movement for low demand parenting practices, with her book Low Demand Parenting, published back in July 2023. Amanda runs a successful coaching practice for parents of neurodivergent children, including online courses and a vibrant membership community. She lives with her husband and three neurodivergent children in Durham, NC.

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2E Or Not 2E: The Nuts and Bolts of Twice-Exceptionality Oct 05, 2023

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Many brilliant young people experience the dichotomy of disability layered on top of their intelligence. It's called twice-exceptionality, or 2e for short. What are the common misconceptions about twice-exceptional individuals? How do traditional models fall short when identifying the learning disabilities of our brightest kids? And why is early recognition so pivotal? Emily talks with Dr. Danika Maddocks, a psychologist, parent coach, and founder of the Gifted Learning Lab, about the intricacies of twice-exceptionality, in childhood and beyond.

Here's a link to the free course about power struggles from Danika Maddocks.

Dr. Danika Maddocks is a psychologist, parent coach, and owner of The Gifted Learning Lab. She has supported gifted and twice-exceptional kids and their families for over 15 years as a teacher, therapist, school consultant, assessment provider, and coach. She has also published award-winning research on giftedness and twice-exceptionality. Much of her work is informed by her personal experiences growing up gifted and her experience raising a young gifted kid.

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Suicidal Ideation in Neurodivergent People Sep 28, 2023

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For many neurodivergent people, a world built for neuronormative people provides unique challenges, especially when mental health intersects with their identity. In this episode, Emily is joined by Dr. Jessica Revill, a psychologist and bereaved parent, whose autistic son Gregory died by suicide. How did he understand his identity in a world that viewed neurodiversity differently? How did factors like ableism create barriers for him? And most crucially, what signs should we all be vigilant about to prevent such tragic losses in the neurodivergent community? Join us as we delve deeply into Jessica's journey, and the imperative of suicide prevention.

The suicide prevention line is available 24 hours a day by calling or texting 988.

Join the Neurodiversity University Educator Hub! Sign up by September 28 at midnight Pacific time. Use the coupon code FM20 for the Founding Member discount.

Dr. Jessica Revill is a psychologist and a parent survivor to a son who died by suicide in 2020. Her autistic son, Gregory, developed tourettes, depression and possible psychosis which gradually robbed him of his will to live. Since his loss, his mother has written a memoir, "Find Him Among the Living", and works within the suicide prevention space. She is an avid advocate of suicide prevention awareness and autism.

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Interoception Is a Sense Few Understand Sep 21, 2023

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Interoception plays a pivotal role in how all people perceive and engage with their bodies and the world around them. For neurodivergent people, the differences we experience in interoception can have a bigger effect than we might expect. How well do we truly understand interoception? And how does it influence those who process it differently? From the very sensation of 'feeling our feelings' to the day-to-day experiences and potential supports for those with variations in their interoceptive system, we dig into the subject with Dr. Kelly Mahler, she's an occupational therapist and professor at Elizabethtown University.

You can still sign up for our free Crash Course on Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools! It's going on this week, and all of the events in the course will be live and interactive. You can talk to Emily and our expert guests, and share and compare ideas with your colleagues from around the world. You also have access to videos of each event, so you haven't missed anything.

Kelly Mahler is an occupational therapist who has served both school-aged children and adults for the last 20 years. She earned a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University in Dallas, PA, and has won multiple awards, including the 2020 American Occupational Therapy Association Emerging and Innovative Practice Award & a Mom's Choice Gold Medal. Kelly is an adjunct faculty member at Elizabethtown College as well as at Misericordia University, and is a co-principal investigator in several research projects pertaining to topics such as interoception, self-regulation, trauma & autism.

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Emotional Regulation: Finding Peace Among the Chaos Sep 14, 2023

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Nurturing emotional regulation in neurodivergent kids can feel like a complex puzzle, yet it's vital for their wellbeing. Why is emotional regulation such a challenging problem for them? And how can the concept of co-regulation serve as a bridge to self-regulation? Sheryl Stoller is an expert on supporting families on their journey of raising neurodivergent children. She joins Emily Kircher-Morris to talk about the intricacies of empathy and non-judgment at home, the challenges faced by teachers in the classroom, and the many points in between.

This is your last chance to sign up for our free week-long Crash Course on Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools! The first event is next Tuesday, and all of the events in the course will be live and interactive, so you can talk to Emily and our expert guests, and share and compare ideas with your colleagues from around the world. It's a great step toward meeting the needs of all students in the classroom.

Also, we'll be launching a membership community for educators who are dedicated to creating a neurodiversity-affirming learning environment for students! Click here to hop on the waiting list and get more information.

Sheryl Stoller is a Family Wellbeing Coach for parents of neurodiverse children, helping them to create a supportive environment (within themselves as well as externally) that result in peace of mind, confidence, and the ability to overcome challenges. Sheryl is also a PCI Certified Parent Coach, and Mastery Level Positive Intelligence Coach. In addition to her private practice, Sheryl serves as a Parent Coach in Debbie Reber's TiLT Parenting community, and a Positive Intelligence Humanitarian Coach providing respite for those affected by the Ukrainian war. She's a neurodivergent, highly sensitive, seasoned parent of three multi-exceptional young adults, and enjoys supporting other parents in their journey with their neurodivergent kids.

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The Confluence of Neurodiversity and LGBTQ Sep 07, 2023

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At the intersection of neurodivergence and LGBTQ identities, self-realization is both complex and personal. The stigmas are multifaceted, and navigating the intricate overlaps between autistic experiences and gender identity is challenging. How can we best support, recognize, and uplift neurodivergent youth within the LGBTQ community? Julia Rutkovsky, a licensed clinical social worker specializing in this unique intersection, joins us today to shed light on the challenges, the overlaps, and the ways in which we can be effective allies and caregivers.

Sign up for our free week-long Crash Course on Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools! It happens the week of September 18th, and all of the events in the course will be live and interactive, so you can talk to Emily and our expert guests, as well as your colleagues from around the world. It's a chance to learn and share ideas that will better position your classroom and school to meet the needs of all learners.

Please take our listener survey. It's quick and easy, and it will help us understand who is listening, so we can better choose the subjects and guests that matter to you. We value your privacy, and won't share your personal information with anyone.

To volunteer for the research study of gifted/ADHD women, email Jessica Williams at Denver University. click to email.

Julia Rutkovsky is a clinical social worker and psychotherapist who specializes in working with neurodivergent and twice-exceptional children, adolescents, and their families. She also works closely with the LGBTQ+ population, and is interested in the confluence of those communities. Julia holds a Masters of Social Work from New York University's Silver School of Social Work, and she holds a number of advanced training certificates, including child & family therapy, CBT, anxiety, meeting the needs of 2e kids, mindfulness, and dialectical behavioral therapy, among others.

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Mixed-Neurotype Relationships Aug 31, 2023

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What are some common issues that crop up in relationships between people of different neurotypes? Are neurodivergent people more drawn to each other than to neuro-normies? Is effective communication more challenging between neurodivergent couples? What about intimacy and affection challenges between people with different sensory sensitivities? Laurie Budlong-Morse is a therapist who specializes in helping neurodiverse couples, and she talks with Emily Kircher-Morris about mixed-neurotype relationships, on this episode of the Neurodiversity Podcast.

Laurie Budlong-Morse is a private practice therapist and online content creator who specializes in neurodiverse/mixed-neurotype relationships. She offers online workshops and courses for couples, as well as for partners of autistic adults. Laurie blogs regularly about neurodiverse relationships on Medium, and co-facilitates a local networking group for clinicians working with Autistic individuals. In addition to her professional experiences, Laurie grew up in a neurodiverse family and has built a neurodiverse family of her own.

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Learning How to Learn, Studying How to Study Aug 24, 2023

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What does it take to be an effective learner, and how does a neurodivergent person's experience differ from that of neurotypical people? Which study methods work better for our neurodivergent population? What role does confidence play in the learning process? Finally, we take no joy in breaking some news to people who fancy themselves good multi-taskers. Cinthia Nebel is a Cognitive Psychological Scientist, and she talks with Emily Kircher-Morris about learning and studying, on episode 187.

Sign up for our free week-long Crash Course on Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools that Emily talked about in today's show. It happens the week of September 18th, and all of the events in the course will be live and interactive, so you can talk to Emily, our expert guests, and other attendees. It's a chance to learn and share info that will better position your classroom and school to meet the needs of all learners.

Also, soon we'll be launching a community for educators who are dedicated to creating a neurodiversity-affirming learning environment for students! Click here to hop on the waiting list and get more information.

Finally, please take a minute to take our listener survey. It's quick and easy, and it will help us understand who is listening, so we can better choose the subjects and guests that matter to you.

Dr. Cynthia Nebel is a Cognitive Psychological Scientist who has broad interests in human learning and memory, and applying cognitive concepts to improve education. She is currently a senior lecturer in the Leadership & Learning in Organizations Program at Vanderbilt, and is part of the Learning Scientists team, which focuses on researching ways to motivate students, increasing efficacy of teaching strategies and more.

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Parenting Through the Chaos and Finding Peace Aug 18, 2023

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Raising kids and teens who struggle with emotional regulation can be tough. Parents must navigate the complexities of societal pressures, and it can lower self-esteem and cause self-doubt. Today we talk about some essential strategies to establish a warm, connected relationship with a challenging child. We try to help find the balance between talking less, and setting clear, aspirational expectations that are crucial for both parents and kids. Our guest is Dayna Abraham, author of the newly released book "Calm the Chaos," and we'll try to help quell your fear of the emotional rollercoaster that often accompanies raising a challenging child.

Sign up for our free week-long Crash Course on Creating Neurodiversity-Affirming Schools that Emily talked about in today's show. All of the events in the course will be live and interactive, so you can talk to Emily, our expert guests, and other attendees, to share and learn how to better position your classroom to meet the needs of all learners.

Finally, please take a minute to take our listener survey. It's quick and easy, and it will help us understand who is listening, so we can better choose the subjects and guests that matter to you.

Dayna Abraham, bestselling author and National Board Certified Educator, is the founder of Lemon Lime Adventures, which provides resources to parents of neurodivergent kids, and helps them find peace, and meet their kids where they are. Dayna is a mother of three neurodivergent children, as well as being an ADHD adult herself, and brings an out-of-the-box perspective to parents raising kids in a modern world. Her work has been showcased in HuffPost, Scary Mommy, BuzzFeed, ADDitude Magazine, Parents Magazine and Lifehacker. She lives in Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband Jason, her kids, and two huge Newfoundland puppies.

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Life With Synesthesia: Does This Color Smell Funny To You? Aug 10, 2023

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With synesthesia, colors can evoke sounds, numbers can generate tastes, and the lines between senses can blur. It also occurs more often in some forms of neurodiversity. Some people have mild forms of synesthesia and don't realize it. Emily talks with Maike Preißing, a German neurodivergent psychologist and synesthesia expert, on episode 185.

Here's the link for TEFOS. Register for free for The Executive Function Online Summit, so you can join Seth, Emily, and a variety of other professionals this weekend, August 11-13.

Don't forget, we're launching a community for educators who are dedicated to creating a neurodiversity-affirming learning environment for students! Click here to hop on the waiting list and get more information. This will be an exciting and helpful place, with plenty of activities and resources every week that will help members grow and learn, from experts and each other.

Maike Preißing is a neurodivergent psychologist from Germany who supports other neurodivergent adults and adults with mental health issues. Her focus is particularly on the Autism Spectrum and Synesthesia, which inspired her to create a community for people with these conditions, as well as her podcast, "Let's Talk Synesthesia". Maike holds a Master's degree from Leopold-Franzens University in Austria and is passionate about helping others lead happier, more fulfilling lives through her work.

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