Beacon College's "A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity" The Podcast

A World of Difference
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"A World of Difference" celebrates and supports families who are navigating the journey of learning differences. The show is produced by Beacon College (America's first accredited baccalaureate institution dedicated to educating students who learn differently). Episodes examine neurodiversity issues related to learning disabilities, ADHD, dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorders, and learning differences from birth through the baccalaureate years through compelling storytelling, conversations with experts, viewer Q&As, and interviews with successful/famous individuals with learning differences.

  1. Sep 5

    Neurodiversity and the College Journey | A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity | S7E1

    From college funds opened before a child can walk to collegiate onesies, prep schools, and SAT tutors, college for many families is a foregone conclusion — an expectation rather than a question. But for neurodivergent students, the path is rarely that linear. Academic struggles can leave parents questioning whether college is even a possibility. Difficulties connecting socially can spark parental fears about how their newly independent young adult will navigate life without the familiar comfort of home. And the supports needed to make a successful leap from high school to higher education often fall outside what traditional college prep culture imagines. It can be a crooked path — but one that, with patience, planning, and determination, can help students arrive at college ready to succeed on their own terms. In this episode, we explore what it truly takes for neurodivergent students to thrive in that transition — not just to get into college, but to stay, to grow, and excel. First, we meet a Colorado mother and son weighing the prospects of his becoming a big man on campus. Next, our panel of national experts breaks down the challenges and offers actionable strategies to help parents support successful transitions to college for students who learn differently. And then, you’ll meet our latest Difference Makers — a couple who, when faced with the challenge of finding schools that met their neurodivergent children’s needs, turned education into a DIY project that ultimately served both their family and their community.

  2. Jun 13

    A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity | Cultivating Emotional Intelligence | S6E10

    In the world of rock music, “You just don’t get it” is a well‑worn refrain — a primal scream of frustration when communication fails and understanding breaks down. For many neurodivergent children, that breakdown isn’t just between people. It happens inside. Big emotions can arrive suddenly. Powerfully. Sometimes all at once. And when a child struggles to name what they’re feeling — or why — the result can look like an overreaction, a shutdown, or behavior that leaves peers and adults confused. Those emotional spikes often invite judgment instead of curiosity. And for a child who already feels misunderstood, that gap only grows wider. But emotional intelligence isn’t something you either have or don’t have. It’s something that can be taught. Through evidence‑based supports — like explicitly teaching emotions, using special interests to explore feelings, co‑regulation strategies, and parental modeling — neurodivergent children can build emotional intelligence. They can learn to understand emotions, manage them, and use them — in themselves and in others. And that ability isn’t soft. It’s foundational. On this episode of A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity, we meet the Losee family, who are raising two sons with autism and intentionally nurturing emotional intelligence by asking thoughtful, forward looking questions about how situations make them feel, how others might feel, and the consequences of words and actions. Our national panel breaks down the key aspects of emotional intelligence in neurodivergent children — and the evidence based strategies families can use to strengthen it at home and at school. And you’ll meet musician and advocate Bing Futch, whose lifelong journey with ADHD has shaped not only how he creates music, but how he connects, teaches, and helps others see neurodiversity differently.

  3. May 2

    Pathological Demand Avoidance | A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity | S6E9

    Into every parent’s life, a child will eventually say the word no. It’s expected, developmental, and usually short lived. Except when it isn’t. For a growing number of parents, “no” becomes the soundtrack of daily life. Even simple requests—getting dressed, starting homework, brushing teeth—can spark intense resistance. Many families are now turning to a term they feel captures this extreme, persistent pushback: Pathological Demand Avoidance, or PDA. Yet PDA is controversial. It isn’t an official diagnosis, and experts debate whether it reflects a distinct autism profile or a child’s attempt to cope with overwhelming anxiety. But families living this reality share a truth: their children aren’t trying to be difficult—they’re trying to feel safe. And when parents shift from “You have to” to “How can we make this doable?”, conflict eases and connection grows. On this episode, we travel to Michigan to meet the Lozen family who have embraced low demand parenting and discovered that reducing pressure can open doors. Next, our national leaders help us untangle the controversy, the science, and the lived experience behind PDA. And, we spotlight actor and advocate Patrick McKenna, whose honesty about ADHD has helped countless families feel seen.

  4. Apr 21

    Hearing Beyond the Noise | A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity | S6E8

    We’ve all encountered that seemingly aloof child — the one who, when spoken to, offers only a blank stare, his thoughts drifting into the cosmos. It’s easy to assume he didn’t hear you. But for millions of children and adults, hearing isn’t the problem. Processing what they hear is. Auditory Processing Disorder doesn’t show up on a standard hearing test. It hides in plain sight — in classrooms, conversations, and everyday expectations — where bright, capable students are too often mislabeled as inattentive, unmotivated, or “not trying hard enough.” For families, finally naming the challenge can feel both unsettling and illuminating. But understanding opens doors. With the right tools and training, parents can help their child connect, communicate, and feel far less lost in the social woods. On this episode, we meet the Fly family, whose son Brock’s slipping performance in the classroom provided the breadcrumbs that led to an APD and ADHD diagnosis — and to a new understanding of how he takes in and interprets the world. Next, national experts share practical strategies for supporting children with auditory processing differences. And we meet our latest Difference Maker, an attorney, media expert, and changemaker, whose national leadership in neurodiversity advocacy has expanded access, awareness, and dignity for families navigating disability.

  5. Apr 21

    The Neurodiverse Family | A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity | S6E7

    In many homes, neurodivergence isn’t just an individual trait — it’s a family affair. It’s a genetic thread weaving through the fabric of generations, from grandchildren to grandparents. For some parents, those differences are familiar. For others, a child’s diagnosis becomes a mirror — revealing traits they’ve carried all along. Like son, like father. When all or most of the household reads from the neurodivergent playbook, traditional “how-to” guides for family life often get shelved. But families can find strength in shared experience — whether it’s “been there, done that” parenting or a grandparent guiding a child through terrain they know well. On this episode, we visit Georgia to meet the Carlton family, where neurodivergence is a shared landscape navigated across three generations. Our panel of national experts explores strategies for harmonizing life in a neuro-inclusive home. And we meet our latest Difference Maker, Aubrie Therrien, Executive Artistic Director of EPIC Players, who is creating professional stages where neurodivergent talent shines.

  6. Apr 21

    Single-parenting Neurodivergent Children | A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity | S6E6

    Life as a single parent can feel like you’re Eddie Murphyin the Dr. Dolittle movie franchise — playing every part. And when you’re raising neurodivergent children, the roles only multiply. One moment brings pure joy — watching your child’s unique strengths shine. The next brings exhaustion — juggling work, school, therapies, and wondering if you’re doing enough. The challenges are real: navigating IEP meetings solo,managing meltdowns without backup, and carving out time to care for your own mental health. But here’s the truth: single parents can and do raise thriving neurodivergent kids — with the right strategies, support, and mindset. On this episode, we meet a Maryland mom who’s crafted her own winning playbook for parenting solo — turning obstacles into opportunities for her kids who learn and thinkdifferently. Then, our panel of national experts shares practical advice for single parents — from building a support network to balancing self-care with caregiving. And later, we introduce our newest Difference Maker: a young golfer, entrepreneur and autism advocate who’s crushing drives on the links — but isn’t old enough to drive.

  7. Jan 3

    A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity | Pathways to STEM | S6E5

    For neurodivergent students, STEM learning can feel like a Dickens novel — “the best of times, the worst of times.” One page brims with curiosity, creativity, and a hunger to understand how things work. The next reveals classrooms not built for how they learn, leaving them confused, discouraged, or left behind. That disconnect doesn’t just affect the classroom; it can block the road ahead. STEM jobs are growing twice as fast as other fields and already pay, on average, more than double non-STEM roles. But when learning environments don’t fit, neurodivergent students risk being locked out before they even get started. Here’s the good news: when families, educators, and communities reimagine STEM — from kindergarten coding to college robotics — students who learn differently can thrive. They can build, explore, and lead in ways that honor their strengths and ignite their passions. On this episode, we meet a Colorado college student with autism who’s engineering a future that fits — powered by his talent, his tenacity, and a mechanical engineering degree. Then, a panel of national experts shares practical strategies for nurturing STEM confidence at every age — from tackling math anxiety to igniting coding curiosity. And later, we introduce our newest Difference Maker: a teen trailblazer whose love of science is inspiring a movement and helping kids see themselves in STEM.

  8. 12/20/2025

    A World of Difference: Embracing Neurodiversity | Fostering Empathy Among Neurotypical Peers | S6E4

    It’s been said that before you judge someone, you shouldwalk a mile in their shoes. But when the person being judged is neurodivergent, it’s often hard for neurotypical peers to even find those shoes — let alone slide into their moccasins. For children — who are often conditioned to mock, marginalize, or misunderstand anything that strays from the so-called “norm” — it can be especially tough to find common ground. Why does a classmate laugh at the “wrong” time? Or react in a way that seems unexpected? Or fixate on something others overlook? It takes empathy. And helping neurotypical children andteens develop empathy for their neurodivergent peers is essential to building inclusive classrooms, campuses, and communities. The good news? With awareness, perspective-taking, sharedexperiences, and intentional modeling, parents, caregivers, and educators can help kids get closer to stepping into those moccasins. On this episode of A World of Difference, we explore an innovative online platform that helps neurotypical parents, caregivers, and students better understand how kids who think and learn differently experience the world. Our panel of national experts shares practical strategies for parents, schools, and communities to nurture empathy and inclusion. And we meet our latest Difference Maker — a Grammy-nominated musician who discovered that the most powerful way to help others experience life through his autistic son’s eyes was note by note.

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"A World of Difference" celebrates and supports families who are navigating the journey of learning differences. The show is produced by Beacon College (America's first accredited baccalaureate institution dedicated to educating students who learn differently). Episodes examine neurodiversity issues related to learning disabilities, ADHD, dyslexia, autistic spectrum disorders, and learning differences from birth through the baccalaureate years through compelling storytelling, conversations with experts, viewer Q&As, and interviews with successful/famous individuals with learning differences.

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