Neurodiversity Podcast
Episodes
Challenging What We Know About Autism and PDA
14 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Donna Henderson joins Emily Kircher-Morris to talk about the changes in the assessment process for autism, the importance of empowering therapists...
Education for Everyone Through Universal Design for Learning
07 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode, Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Jeff Horwitz about the concept of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and its application in educatio...
A Quest For Meaningful Relationships
29 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Friendships and relationships can be hard for neurodivergent people, especially if they experience lagging social skills, or struggle with executive f...
Not a Disease: Understanding Autism as Difference
22 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 213, Emily is joined by Matt Lowry, host of the Autistic Culture podcast. They discuss the concept of autism as a neurotype and culture, Ma...
Challenging the Status Quo in the Classroom and Beyond
15 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 212, Emily Kircher-Morris and Jess Lahey discuss the importance of understanding and supporting neurodivergent students. Jess highlights th...
Turning Neurodiversity Barriers Into Benefits
08 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 211, Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Brooke Schnittman, founder of Coaching with Brooke and author of Activate Your ADHD Potential. They di...
Dani Donovan on Motivation, Procrastination, and Her Viral Memes
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 210, we dive into a topic that resonates with many of us: the struggle between wanting to achieve our goals, and a lack of motivation. Toda...
Ask Me Anything #7 with Emily Kircher-Morris
25 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What are the limits of IQ tests and scores? How can someone best advocate for gifted-affirming education for a 2e student? Why do some kids consider t...
The Tricky Transition From High School to Higher Ed
18 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Entering college can be a pivotal and challenging journey, especially for neurodivergent individuals. On episode 208, we look at what happens when tra...
Unique Learning Challenges of Neurodivergent Brains
11 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Studying and learning skills are different for neurodivergent learners, and traditional teaching methods often fail to address their needs. So what ha...
Creating and Fostering Autonomy and Motivation
04 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 206 we talk about autonomy and motivation. In a world where autonomy is key to motivation and engagement, how do we navigate this with our ...
Perspectives Series: Emotional Regulation
29 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In episode 205 we talk about how understanding and supporting the emotional needs of our neurodivergent children is like learning a new language. Th...
Perspectives Series: ADHD
21 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As we wrap up 2023, we are presenting a series of episodes called Perspectives, and on episode 204 we talk about ADHD. The experience of being an ADHD...
Perspectives Series: Sensory Needs
14 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As we wrap up 2023, we are presenting a series of episodes called Perspectives. Today, we talk about sensory needs. These varied needs impact a wide r...
Taming the Pull: Trichotillomania and Other BFRBs
07 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Emily Kircher-Morris is joined by Barbara Lally, a certified professional coach and author who focuses on Body Focused Repetitive Behaviors (BFRBs). B...
Myths, Barriers, and Supports for Twice-Exceptionality
30 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How important is early identification and evaluation of twice-exceptionality? And what are some common myths about 2e people? Julie Skolnick is the au...
Life at 200: We're Grateful, Excited, and Pass the Pumpkin Pie
25 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The Neurodiversity Podcast celebrates its 200th episode! We're pretty sure we were surprised to hit 10. Probably shocked at 100. But at 200, we're gra...
Can We Blend Behaviorism and Neurodiversity-Affirming Care?
17 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In the world of mental health, understanding the unique experiences of neurodivergent individuals is crucial, especially when it comes to addressing a...
Am I the Impostor Among Us?
09 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 certa...
Exceptional Minds: Understanding and Nurturing Profoundly Gifted Children
03 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we explore the intriguing world of profound giftedness, shedding light on a subject often shrouded in mystery. Blake Haygood is an educator in g...
The Magic and Madness of Middle-School
26 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We explore the unique world of tweens, who are at a critical juncture in their lives, grappling with identity, independence, and transition. Our guest...
Ask Me Anything #6 with Emily Kircher-Morris
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Low-Demand Parenting: Bridging Divisions, Fostering Trust
19 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Entering the world of neurodiversity often enables personal discovery, and creates challenges. How can parenting nudge adults toward uncovering their ...
2E Or Not 2E: The Nuts and Bolts of Twice-Exceptionality
05 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many brilliant young people experience the dichotomy of disability layered on top of their intelligence. It's called twice-exceptionality, or 2e for s...
Suicidal Ideation in Neurodivergent People
28 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many neurodivergent people, a world built for neuronormative people provides unique challenges, especially when mental health intersects with thei...
Interoception Is a Sense Few Understand
21 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Interoception plays a pivotal role in how all people perceive and engage with their bodies and the world around them. For neurodivergent people, the d...
Emotional Regulation: Finding Peace Among the Chaos
14 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Nurturing emotional regulation in neurodivergent kids can feel like a complex puzzle, yet it's vital for their wellbeing. Why is emotional regulation ...
The Confluence of Neurodiversity and LGBTQ
07 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
At the intersection of neurodivergence and LGBTQ identities, self-realization is both complex and personal. The stigmas are multifaceted, and navigati...
Mixed-Neurotype Relationships
31 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What are some common issues that crop up in relationships between people of different neurotypes? Are neurodivergent people more drawn to each other t...
Learning How to Learn, Studying How to Study
24 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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 m...
Parenting Through the Chaos and Finding Peace
18 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Raising kids and teens who struggle with emotional regulation can be tough. Parents must navigate the complexities of societal pressures, and it can l...
Life With Synesthesia: Does This Color Smell Funny To You?
10 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
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...
When Procrastination Hijacks Your Executive Functioning
03 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Procrastination is something we all do, but it's even more common among people with executive function challenges. Do they do it for the same reasons ...
It's Not You, It's ADHD
27 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding ADHD is more than understanding its effects on learning or work. ADHD affects personal relationships and friendships too. How does ADHD ...
Trauma-Informed Support for Adopted and Foster Children
20 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The intersection between neurodivergence, trauma, and adopted and foster families has a lot of overlap. There's a difficulty supporting kids who don't...
Ask Me Anything #5 with Emily Kircher-Morris
13 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the best kind of therapy for your child? What is DMDD? How can you support your child's need for executive function skills? This is episode 18...
Understanding Behaviors and Emotional Regulation with Mona Delahooke
07 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is top down behavior, and how does it differ from bottom up behavior? Why is emotional regulation more difficult for neurodivergent people? How i...
Working, Living, and Learning with ADHD
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the impact of being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, after having invested years struggling with neurotypical strategies? What are areas of AD...
Comfort Zone Ahead, Construction in Progress
22 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We all know that uncomfortable feeling when we are around someone who is pushing us beyond our comfort zone. How can we understand where our own bound...
Controlling and Harnessing Anxiety
15 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Neurodivergence often comes with a side of anxiety. Is it possible to harness anxiety as a strength? Can we find ways to work with our anxiety, ins...
ODD - Oppositional? Defiant? Or Just Misunderstood?
08 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
One of the more misunderstood diagnoses in the world of neurodiversity is ODD, or Oppositional Defiant Disorder. We talk with Amelia Bowler, a behavio...
Reducing Anxiety Through Mindfulness
01 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Mindfulness is definitely a buzzword today, but what's the reality of mindfulness and how can it help neurodivergent people? What are some usable tech...
Authenticity, Unmasking, and Zest
25 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Living an authentic life is a goal we all have. In the neurodiversity world, that can be a tricky concept. Masking has often become a habit born of se...
Beating Gifted Kid Burnout
19 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Burnout is something everyone occasionally deals with, but it manifests very differently in the world of neurodiversity. Today we talk about the burno...
Technology, Gaming, Social Media, and Your Child
11 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There's a pressure on parents to allow more technology into the lives of their kids. Gaming and social media have positive and negative aspects, and n...
The Misunderstanding About Motivation
04 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are kids really unmotivated, or are you just misinterpreting the signs? Dr. Ellen Braaten talks with Emily Kircher-Morris about the importance of unde...
Can We Stop Pathologizing Kids Now?
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Is the neurodiversity movement a social justice issue? How can we convince the world that differences aren't deficits? Many of our widely-held beliefs...
PDA, Autism, and Parenting for Peace
20 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
As Autism Acceptance Month continues, we present a visit with Casey Ehrlich. Casey talks with Emily Kircher-Morris about the relationship between auti...
Life as an Autistic Middle-Grade Fiction Author
13 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Selah is an autistic 7th grader at a private school, and is navigating all of the expectations and social relationships of being neurodivergent. She's...
Ask Me Anything #4 with Emily Kircher-Morris
10 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Are there neurodiversity training and certification programs for medical practitioners? How can we help our kids deal with existential dread? Is there...
Newly Diagnosed at Age Forty-Something
06 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
It's common today for people to be diagnosed as neurodivergent as an adult, having survived childhood without the recognition or support that may have...
The World is (almost) Ready For Neurodiversity
30 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
During Autism Acceptance Month, we're reminding anyone who will listen that acting differently, speaking differently, or following different social ru...
The Quintessential Book on Parenting Gifted Kids
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Many consider "A Parent's Guide to Gifted Children: A Resource for Caregivers and Advocates" to be the most comprehensive and important handbook on th...
Preparing for a More Independent College Experience
16 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We welcome Elizabeth Hamblet, the author of Seven Steps for College Success: A Pathway for Students with Disabilities, to talk about how parents can p...
Multipotentiality: When There's More Than One Right Answer
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
While career changes are possible later in life, our first choice defines much of our career so it's important to make careful decisions. But when mul...
What To Do When Kids Worry (encore)
02 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Parents often struggle with helping their children manage anxiety. Dr. Eli Lebowitz of Yale University joins us to talk about his research and work wi...
Getting Verbal About Non-Verbal Intelligence
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Intelligence is divided into several categories, and today we're talking about non-verbal intelligence. It's often harder to recognize, so it can be a...
Autistic Girls Are Going Undiagnosed or Misdiagnosed
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Often, autistic girls are called shy, introverted, perfectionistic, confused, anything BUT autistic. There is a pervasive impression, even in the medi...
Surviving in a Digital World
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The technology world is changing quickly. For confirmation, look no further than ChatGPT. Parents, teachers, and mental health professionals are rushi...
When Neurodiversity Meets Existentialism (encore)
03 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We're still in a years-long pandemic. Humanity feels like it's crumbling. How do we deal with the inevitable feelings of existentialism? It's common f...
How Much Does Biology Influence Behavior?
27 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What more do parents need to understand about their neurodivergent kids in order to reach that "aha" moment? Does it ever even really arrive? Penny Wi...
Declarative Language: A New Strategy for Neurodivergent Communication
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Often, neurodivergent people have a completely different communication experience than neurotypicals. They respond differently to regulation, attentio...
Counseling In a Neurodiversity-Affirming World
12 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What does it take to make a counseling practice neurodiversity-affirming? What do we need for the wider mental health community to understand or embra...
Ask Me Anything #3 with Emily Kircher-Morris
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Destigmatizing labels. Teaching mental health professionals to be neurodiversity-affirming. Reasonable expectations of your kids, and when is it enoug...
Discovering Dyscalculia
05 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Dyscalculia. What is it? Why haven't we heard more about it? What is its relationship with dyslexia? On the first episode of 2023, Emily Kircher-Morri...
The Stealth Nature of Dyslexia (encore)
29 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We're revisiting a conversation this week with Dr. Dan Peters. Dyslexia is often misunderstood, and educators and parents sometimes mistake it for a s...
Talking to Your Children
15 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Talking to kids can be uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be. The basis of every conversation is trust, so once you build a comfortable and trustin...
The Power of Positivity and Unique Thinking
01 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 149 we continue moving the world toward a more positive view of neurodivergence and its impact on society. We also talk about reimagining e...
Processing Speed: Why Some Kids Are Faster Than Others
23 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Ellen Braaten joins Emily to discuss processing speed and why it's important. They also talk about when it's not so important, and why it varies s...
Does Personality Impact Neurodiversity?
17 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today we talk with Dr. Alex Vuyk, a Professor of Psychology at the Universidad Católica Nuestra Señora de la Asunción in Paraguay. We discuss the B...
Occupational Therapy for Neurodivergent Kids
10 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Occupational therapy. What you think it is, and what it actually is, might be completely different. Keri Wilmot joins Emily Kircher-Morris for a conve...
Books For "Kids on the Fringes"
03 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
There's no doubt you remember a book from your childhood that changed your life, or at least had a profound effect on you. On episode 145 we talk with...
Adult Diagnosis ADHD
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Being diagnosed with ADHD as an adult brings many questions to mind: What did I miss? What would my life be like if I had been diagnosed as a child? H...
Girls and ADHD
20 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Generalizations about ADHD haven't done girls any favors. ADHD often manifests very differently in girls than in boys. What causes parents, educators,...
Understanding ADHD Children
13 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Parents often believe they know their children, when in reality they haven't made the effort to really understand them. That understanding can be even...
Taming (and Embracing) the ADHD Beast with Eric Tivers
07 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
October is ADHD Awareness Month, and we're spotlighting it with a special series of episodes. On #141, Eric Tivers from the ADHD Rewired Podcast joins...
Two Conversations About Dyspraxia
30 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We are joined by two guests, Keri WIlmot and Rosemary Richings, both of whom are dyspraxia experts in their own right. Rosemary is dyspraxic, and Keri...
Depression and Suicide in the Neurodiversity Community
26 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On episode 139, as part of Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, we address depression and suicide among neurodivergent people. We talk about interv...
Sorting Out Sensory Awareness
15 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Many people don't realize they're neurodivergent until adulthood, after dealing with sensory sensitivities their entire lives. Robert Jason Grant join...
Ask Me Anything #2 with Emily Kircher-Morris
08 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We take questions from people in the Neurodiversity Podcast Advocacy and Support Group on Facebook, and Emily answers them. This is our second AMA, an...
Mentoring Tweens Through Transitions
25 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As parents and educators prepare for the start of the new school year, middle schools everywhere are welcoming a new crop of excited, nervous, and som...
The World is (almost) Ready For Neurodiversity
18 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Acting differently, speaking differently, or following different social rules, doesn't make someone less human or deserving of respect. On episode 135...
Sensory Sensitivities, Parenting, and Neurodiversity
11 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With neurodiversity comes a host of extra effects, sensitivities, and challenges. Parenting a neurodivergent child can require a willingness to recons...
Let's Talk Executive Function with Seth Perler
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Helping neurodivergent kids with executive function issues is tricky. You have to use the correct strategy for their personality, and they need to 'bu...
Beneath the Surface of Giftedness (encore)
21 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Giftedness is complicated. By itself, it can be difficult to find curriculum, activities, or hobbies that will consistently engage gifted kids. How do...
Removing the Roadblocks of Dyslexia
14 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A word many experts use to describe dyslexic people is "misunderstood." Teachers often don't catch the signs, parents often don't know the best ways t...
The Utility (or Futility) of Labels
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The reality of working within a system in flux. The meaning or usefulness of the term "gifted." The utility (or futility) of labels. The confusion of ...
Our Bright and Complex, Twice-Exceptional Kids with Dr. Dan Peters
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Quirky kids often become the most accomplished adults, especially when they are allowed to grow and mature in a welcoming, neurodiversity-affirming en...
What We're Learning About (Pervasive) Pathological Demand Avoidance
17 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
If you suspect someone in your life has PDA (Pathological/Persistent Demand Avoidance), this is a conversation you need to hear. Sandra McConnell is a...
Ask Me Anything with Emily Kircher-Morris
06 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We took questions from people in the Neurodiversity Podcast Advocacy and Support Group on Facebook, and Emily answers them. This is our first AMA, and...
Laying the Groundwork for Life After High School
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when scaffolding, such as a 504 plan or IEP, goes away at college? Some schools have transition programs, but many or most do not. We're ...
Teaching Learners How To Learn
19 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Educators are constantly learning how to better teach neurodivergent learners, but often we overlook the opportunity to help the students be better le...
Want To Help Kids? Help Their Parents
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We talk a lot about the unique way neurodivergent kids see the world. Often, parents have a completely different view, and sometimes tend to try to re...
Is This A Game To You? Let's Talk Play Therapy
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Play therapy is an often misunderstood counseling technique. On episode 123 we clear up some of the misunderstandings, with help from Katie Bassiri, a...
Attorney, Author, Artist, Autistic
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A three-year-old with an autism diagnosis is looking at a completely different future than someone who has masked their neurodivergence for years. We ...
Understanding Pathological Demand Avoidance with Harry J. Thompson
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is Pathological Demand Avoidance and how does it manifest among the neurodivergent? What can we do to educate parents, teachers, and counselors a...
We're Not Broken with Eric Garcia
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
World Autism Acceptance Month continues as Emily Kircher-Morris has a conversation with Washington DC policy and politics journalist Eric Garcia. Eric...
Autism's History and Neurodiversity's Future with Steve Silberman
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As part of our special coverage for World Autism Acceptance Month, we talk with Steve Silberman, author of Neurotribes, about autism, the neurodiversi...
Embracing the Bright Without Quashing the Quirky
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The landscape is slowly changing for neurodivergent kids, but progress is slow and we're facing headwinds. Getting a diagnosis is still integral to re...
Letting Your Geek Flag Fly: Guidelines for Strengths-Based Supports
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Whether you're a therapist, parent, or even teacher, it pays to embrace the gaming geeks around you by learning more about their world. Through effort...