Mind Matters

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 member for SENG, editor or the SENG Library, and President-Elect of the Colorado Association for Gifted Students. He is the Gifted Programs Specialist in a large, urban school district in Colorado Springs. Mark’s articles often appear in the NAGC blog, and he is an advisory committee member for NAGC’s Teaching for High Potential. His 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade Gifted Social-Emotional Curriculum books are available from Prufrock Press. As Portable Gifted and Talented, Mark has shared over 24,000 free resources for teachers a

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 Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). She is a mother to four autistic children, ranging in age from 5 years to 21 years, all with varying autistic expression including non speaking and PDA, and she is married to an autistic man. Kristy has the unique experience and insight into many perspectives: the teacher, the support specialist, the parent, the partner and the person. She understands, accepts, and acknowledges the very real challenges neurodivergent people and their families face, and t

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. She is a self-described old Millennial from the midwest who graduated from the University of Georgia and now lives in NYC, where she primarily works as an AEA stage manager of new plays and new musicals. She was diagnosed with autism in her late 20s. Her writing has been published at the Thinking Person’s Guide to Autism, Barking Sycamores, and NeuroQueer, among others. Morénike Giwa Onaiwu is an American educator, author, and autism and HIV advocate. She is an editor of All the Weight of Our Dreams, an anthology of ar

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 skilled at teaching people how to effectively manage the challenges they face. He and his twin sons have ADHD, and he enjoys helping others with ADHD meet the challenges they face. Brendan is also host of the ADHD Essentials podcast. 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. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

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, experiments, science, nature, and creativity in kids – especially gifted kids. She’s also the host of the Raising Lifelong Learners podcast.  She has a master’s degree in gifted education and spent over ten years as a gifted intervention specialist advocating for the gifted children with whom she worked. Colleen has been a full-time writer since 2007. 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 o

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 intervention specialist for 10 years. She has been working as an education writer since 2007 and played an integral role in launching Understood.org in 2014. As an educator and parent of kids with learning issues, she has been an active member of numerous Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams and believes strongly in the importance of educators partnering with families. Morin received a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Maine and special education advocacy training from the Council of Parent Attor

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 former attorney who founded ThinkLaw—an award-winning program that helps educators teach critical thinking to all students using real-life legal cases and other Socratic and powerful inquiry strategies. 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. For more information go to www.NeurodiversityPodcast.com

Dr. Michele Borba says it’s a popular myth that our children are predetermined to be thrivers, or destined to simply survive. Emily Kircher-Morris talks to Dr. Borba about her travels and research, and they discuss ways to instill the thriving instinct in others and ourselves, no matter the age. It’s episode 79 of The Neurodiversity Podcast. ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. 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 25 books translated into 14 languages. She received a Doctorate in Educational Psychology and Counseling from the University of San Francisco, an M.A. in Learning Disabilities and B.A. from the University of Santa Clara, and a Life Teaching Credential from San Jose State University. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patre

What is play therapy? How well-established is the process, and what are the misconceptions? What questions should you ask when looking for a qualified play therapist? On episode 78 Dr. Robert Jason Grant joins us to talk about his process, called AutPlay therapy, and the future of play therapy in the neurodiversity movement. ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. Robert Jason Grant is a licensed Professional Counselor, National Certified Counselor, Registered Play Therapist Supervisor, and Advanced Certified Autism Specialist. He owns and operates the Robert Jason Grant Ed.D AutPlay Therapy Clinic. Dr. Grant is an international speaker and keynote presenter having presented for the American Counseling Association, Association for Play Therapy, American Mental Health Counselors Association, and The World Autism Congress. He is a multi-published author of several articles, book chapters, and books. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/neurodiversity. The Neurodiversity Podcast is a

When a parent is forced to take on the education system to advocate for their child, it can be difficult, intimidating, and frightening. Micki Boas shared the story of her experience in her book, One In Five, and with Emily on this episode of The Neurodiversity Podcast. ABOUT THE GUEST - Micki Boas is an entrepreneur and brand strategist who applied her knowledge of fixing broken systems for big national brands to help get support for her two dyslexic sons. The hobbled and ill-equipped education system would become her biggest project. During a four-year battle to provide educational services for her oldest son, she found herself asking questions about the ways in which our government and our schools fail to provide all children with equal access to quality education. As a result, she created Invisible Red Tape, a thought leadership forum designed to expose the inequalities in education for children with dyslexia, create public awareness around the problem, and crowdsource an insider’s guide to practical solu

Gifted people often get lost in the shuffle within the neurodiversity movement. On episode 76 we talk with Dr. Matt Zakreski about how to keep them front and center, and ways to provide vital services to gifted and twice-exceptional people within the new neurodiversity framework. ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. Matt Zakreski has shaped his career around his passion for serving gifted kids, starting with being a counselor (and a camper) at the Center for Talented Youth summer program as a teenager. He’s cofounder of The Neurodiversity Collective, LLC, and in his practice he offers therapy, consultation/coaching, and assessment. ​Matt is a board member of PAGE, the Pennsylvania Association for Gifted Education, and works closely with multiple organizations around the country. He consults schools, presents at conferences internationally, conducts webinars, and leads discussions at his local library. ​He earned BAs in Psychology and Communications at Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, NC.  He assisted with research a

There’s a nagging feeling most of us experience from time to time, that tells us maybe we’ve fooled everyone. We shouldn’t have been placed in a certain position, or we’re not qualified to take on a project. On episode 75 we talk to Lindsay Lee, the author of a study about impostorism. Why do we experience it? What can we do to tamp it down? ABOUT THE GUEST - Lindsay Ellis Lee is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of North Texas with a concentration in gifted and talented education. She currently serves as the Assistant Editor for the Journal of Advanced Academics and Co-Chair for the NAGC Research & Evaluation Network Graduate Student Committee. Influenced by her experiences as an advanced placement teacher, her research interests include psychological, behavioral, and environmental factors that influence the learning process. Her recent research has focused on gifted program evaluation, equitable access to advanced opportunities, creativity in schools, and th

We talk with Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity, about autism, what the neurodiversity movement is, and where it’s going. We talk about Sia’s controversial new movie (due for release in February), and some books you might want to check out. Episode 74 is here, and our new name is the Neurodiversity Podcast! ABOUT THE GUEST - Steve Silberman is an award-winning science writer whose articles have appeared in Wired, the New York Times, the New Yorker, the Financial Times, the Boston Globe, the MIT Technology Review, Nature, Salon, and many other publications. He is the author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity (Avery 2015). The book became a widely-praised bestseller in the United States and the UK, and won the 2015 Samuel Johnson prize for non-fiction, a California Book Award, and a Books for a Better Life award. It was chosen as one of the Best Books of 2015 by The New York Times, The Economist, The Financial Times, T

We’re using the holiday break to retool our podcast and debut its new name in January - The Neurodiversity Podcast! In the meantime this is an encore presentation of episode 48, featuring Jen Merrill, who talks with Emily about the holidays. Shopping can be a headache, but choosing the right gifts for high-ability kids is extra-challenging. Between meal planning and decorating, Jen Merrill found time to pop in with holiday stories and gift ideas, and Emily divulges her darker history as a “peeker.” See you next year! Happy holidays, and here’s to a great (or at least better?) 2021! You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters. The Mind Matters podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Mind Matters Podcast, and on Twitter @MindMattersPod. For more information go to www.MindMattersPodcast.com Thank you for caring about kids. Copyright © 2020 Morris Creative Services LLC. All rights reserved.

We’re using the holiday break to feature some past guests, while we make some changes that will refocus the podcast just a little. When we return in January, Mind Matters will be known by a new name: the Neurodiversity Podcast. The new name better defines what we do, helps people recognize and understand what we’re about, and hopefully makes us even easier to find. And, we’ll be releasing episodes more often, with a larger variety of guests to help our listeners better understand the various areas of neurodiversity. Be here in January when Mind Matters becomes The Neurodiversity Podcast. The theme of today’s episode is creativity, and we’re featuring segments from past conversations with experts who know a thing or two about the subject. A creativity compilation, ahead on episode 72. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters. The Mind Matters podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Mind Matters Podcast, and on Twitter @MindMattersPod. For more in

Kids have two primary areas where executive functioning skills are crucial - school work and responsibilities. Seth Perler, an executive function advocate and coach, talks with Emily Kircher-Morris about what many parents and professionals are getting wrong when trying to help their kids with executive function skills. ABOUT THE GUEST - Seth Perler calls himself a renegade teacher turned executive function coach & 2e coach. He helps struggling students navigate their educational landscapes, and helps them “disrupt” and improve their educational experience. Seth specializes in executive function issues and twice-exceptional learners through his website, www.SethPerler.com. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters. The Mind Matters podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Mind Matters Podcast, and on Twitter @MindMattersPod. For more information go to www.MindMattersPodcast.com. Thank you for caring about kids. Copyright © 2019 Morris Creative

What is the process of evaluating a child for autism? What does the profile of an autistic twice-exceptional person look like? Why are girls’ autism symptoms often missed? Dr. Alissa Doobay from the Belin-Blank Center joins us to talk about autism, on episode 70 of Mind Matters. ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. Alissa Doobay received her PhD in Counseling Psychology from The University of Iowa in 2010. She is currently a Licensed Psychologist and Supervisor of Psychological Services at the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development at The University of Iowa, where she provides clinical assessment, therapy, and consultation services. Her clinical expertise is in the area of twice-exceptionality (individuals who are high ability or “gifted” and have a disability), particularly students who have Autism Spectrum Disorder, Learning Disorders, ADHD, anxiety, and mood disorders. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters. The Mind Matters podcast is avail

What is intelligence? What myths do we need to let go of, and how can we better evaluate intelligence? Is there a way to measure intelligence across cultures and continents? Dr. Russell Warne is here to talk about his findings as he wrote his new book, “In The Know: Debunking 35 Myths About Human Intelligence,” on episode 69. ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. Russell T. Warne earned his Bachelor’s of Science degree in psychology from Brigham Young University in 2007 and his PhD in educational psychology (with an emphasis in research, measurement, and statistics) from Texas A&M University in 2011. He has taught at Utah Valley University since 2011 and has obtained the rank of associate professor. Dr. Warne is the associate editor for the Journal for the Education of the Gifted and serves on the editorial boards for Intelligence, the Journal of School Psychology, Gifted Child Quarterly, and the Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment. Dr. Warne has published over 55 scholarly articles in peer reviewed journals and is t

With the death toll still rising from the coronavirus pandemic, it’s especially easy for neurodivergent people to wax existential. They question life, worry about death, and generally ask, “what’s it all about?” Our guest is Leon Garber, author of a blog called Leon’s Existential Cafe, and we’re diving deep on episode 68. ABOUT THE GUEST - Leon Garber is a philosophical writer, and a Licensed Mental Health Counselor/Psychotherapist, specializing in Existential Psychotherapy, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, and Trauma Therapy. He’s also the author of Leon’s Existential Cafe, a blog exploring issues of death, self-esteem, love, freedom, life-meaning, and mental health/mental illness, from both empirical and personal viewpoints. His practice is based in Brooklyn, NY. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters. The Mind Matters podcast is available on Facebook and Instagram at Mind Matters Podcast, and on Twitter @MindMattersPod. For more information go to www.Mi

“Neurodiversity” is an umbrella term encompassing a variety of atypical diagnoses. Where do the gifted and twice-exceptional communities fit into that landscape? What are we learning about neurodiverse people? We’ll talk with Dr. Michael Postma about those subjects, and the groundswell of new information from the field of epigenetics, on episode 67. ABOUT THE GUEST - Dr. Michael Postma is a teacher, administrator, consultant, speaker, and author, dedicated to the development of both gifted and twice-exceptional children through his company, Gifted & Thriving, LLC. Over the last two decades Dr. Postma has worked in the field of gifted/talented education as both a teacher and administrator in the public and charter school system in Minnesota and North Carolina, and was the architect of the Minnetonka Navigator Program, a magnet school for highly gifted and twice-exceptional students. Dr. Postma is the author of two books, including The Inconvenient Student: Critical Issues in the Identification and Educatio