Neurodiversity Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Profile of a Twice-Exceptional Kid | Gifted | ASD | Asperger's | 2e Jul 25, 2018

Show notes

Some gifted people discover they have a second diagnosis which puts them into a different category - twice-exceptional, or 2e. On episode 14 of Mind Matters, Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Christen Leah, a college student who learned she was not only gifted, but was also diagnosed with Asperger's, now part of a family of conditions known as ASD, Autism Spectrum Disorder.

About the guest - Christen Leah is a twice-exceptional college student. At the age of eighteen she sought out an Asperger's diagnosis after identifying similarities between herself and other females on the spectrum through online videos. She is currently pursuing a degree in Psychology, but also maintains an interest in visual arts and music. Some of her hobbies include community theatre, playing the violin, and binge-watching animated shows and movies. She aims to be an advocate for girls with ASD to hopefully overcome the stigma and under-diagnosis presently facing girls and women with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Host Emily Kircher-Morris has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, and specializes in the area of giftedness throughout the lifespan. She founded the non-profit organization The Gifted Support Network, is the owner of Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center, and is the mother of three gifted children.

Regulating Emotions Through Mindfulness | Holistic | Intelligence | Gifted | IQ Jul 11, 2018

Show notes

Mindfulness is the awareness of the moment, the ability to observe and accept your feelings, stresses and sources of anxiety from a different perspective, and deal with them calmly. On episode 13 of Mind Matters, Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Michelle Benedict, from the organization Be Mindful, about how we can help gifted kids learn and utilize the skill of mindfulness.

About the guest - Michelle Benedict has a Master's in Education and certification in Gifted Education. She recently joined the Be Mindful organization based in Denver as a Program Director. Be Mindful is a non-profit organization which provides training and education for both students and educators in utilizing mindfulness as a tool to improve educational outcomes.

All the Feels (And Then Some) | Emotional Intensity | Education | Intelligence | Gifted Jun 27, 2018

Show notes

Emotional intensity varies from person to person, but among gifted people, it's often markedly higher, and more of a challenge to understand and control. Critically-acclaimed author and former school psychologist Christine Fonseca joins us with her insight into emotional intensity among gifted people, on episode 12 of Mind Matters.

About the guest - Christine Fonseca works to help children and adults explore the authenticity of their own voices. She's the author of several books in the area of giftedness and emotional intensity, including Emotional Intensity in Gifted Students. Christine provides professional development to help educators understand the social and emotional needs of the gifted. She has worked as a school psychologist in the elementary, middle, and high school levels, and currently works as a consultant to school districts on the behavioral and social-emotional needs of students.

Zero to Sixty: The Case for Acceleration | IQ | Education | Intelligence | Gifted Jun 13, 2018

Show notes

Acceleration is an option for students who are academically advanced compared to peers in their age group. When is it a good idea to consider acceleration? How can we know a student is ready? What are the social and emotional implications of acceleration? We talk with Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik of the University of Iowa about academic acceleration, on episode 11 of Mind Matters.

About the guest - Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik, PhD is the Administrator for the Acceleration Institute and Research at the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education, and an adjunct professor in the Department of Psychological and Quantitative Foundations, both at the University of Iowa.

The Importance of Empathy | IQ | Bullying | Intelligence | Gifted May 30, 2018

Show notes

Emily Kircher-Morris explores the concept of empathy with Dr. Michele Borba, author of the book "End Peer Cruelty, Build Empathy: The Proven Six Rs of Bullying Prevention That Create Inclusive, Safe, and Caring Schools." They discuss ways to help students, children, and patients show empathy, and how to weave it into curriculum and social life.

About the guest - Michele Borba is a globally-recognized educational psychologist and parenting, bullying and character expert whose aim is to strengthen children's empathy and resilience, and break the cycle of youth violence. She has delivered keynotes and workshops to over 1,000,000 participants and authored 24 books translated into 14 languages.

The Over-Under on Achievement | Gifted | Education | 2e | Intelligence May 16, 2018

Show notes

Cookie-cutter curriculum can be Kryptonite to a gifted kid, and can often spark a decline into a place where underachievement becomes the norm. James Delisle, PhD, helps us probe the world of underachievement, and suggests ways to help people of various underachiever profiles break their chains.

Dr. Delisle was a professor of education at Kent State University (Ohio) for 25 years and was selected by faculty and students there as a "Distinguished Professor", the University's most prestigious teaching award.

Jim Delisle is the author of a book called Doing Poorly On Purpose: Strategies to Reverse Underachievement and Respect Student Dignity, and continues to consult with schools worldwide in an effort to increase awareness of the needs of gifted children and adults.

A Guide to Self-Advocacy | Gifted | Education | 2e | Intelligence May 02, 2018

Show notes

You might say Deb Douglas is an advocate for self-advocacy. Deb has committed her career to helping educators, school administrators, and parents teach their gifted and twice-exceptional kids the importance of self-advocacy. Now she's sharing her knowledge on Episode 8 of Mind Matters.

Deb Douglas has a Masters of Science in Curriculum and Instruction, and is the architect of the GT Carpe Diem Workshop, a system designed to empower gifted and high-potential children to self-advocate. She's a past president of the Wisconsin Association for Talented and Gifted.

Transitioning to Adulthood | Gifted | Intelligence | IQ | Education Apr 18, 2018

Show notes

On episode 7, Emily talks with Garrett Hartman, LPC about the transition to adulthood for gifted people and their neurotypical counterparts. How can parents help? What should the education system do to prepare kids for a changing landscape? Adulting - on this episode of Mind Matters.

Garrett Hartman is a counselor and the Director of Training and Development at the Center for Identity Potential in Chicago. Garrett works to help simultaneous development of clients and their families to affect overall positive change throughout the family system.

Overcoming Perfectionism | Gifted | Intelligence | IQ | 2e Apr 04, 2018

Show notes

On episode six of Mind Matters, Emily talks with Lisa Van Gemert, the "Gifted Guru," about perfectionism. We clear up some common misperceptions and discuss strategies to deal with the challenges perfectionism presents.

Lisa Van Gemert has written numerous published articles on social psychology and pedagogy, and is the author of Perfectionism: A Practical Guide to Managing Never Good Enough. She is a co-founder of The Gifted Guild, a professional community for educators of the gifted.

Host Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC, has dual Masters degrees in Counseling and Education, and specializes in the area of giftedness throughout the lifespan. She founded the non-profit organization The Gifted Support Network, is the owner of Unlimited Potential Counseling & Education Center, and is the mother of three gifted children.

The Creativity Crisis | Gifted | Creativity | Perfectionism | STEM Mar 21, 2018

Show notes

In this episode, Dr. Steve Coxon, Executive Director of the Center for Access and Achievement at Maryville University in St. Louis discusses the 'creativity crisis' and STEM. We also discuss ways to promote creativity and challenge gifted people.

Steve holds his PhD in Gifted Education Policy, Planning, and Leadership from The College of William and Mary.

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