Empowering Exceptional Minds

Educational Therapy LLC

Welcome to Empowering Exceptional Minds —the podcast where we dive into real conversations about neurodiversity. We interview parents, individuals, and professionals to explore the challenges, strengths, and unique experiences of diverse learners and thinkers. We discuss ADHD, Executive Functions, dysgraphia, autism, dyscalculia, dyslexia, written expression, auditory processing, visual processing, learning disabilities, evaluations, assessments, parenting and professional development.

  1. 5d ago

    Why Can’t I Just Do It? Executive Functioning in Adults

    Do you know what you need to do—but somehow just can't get yourself to do it? In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds, Maayan Glaser-Koren talks with educational therapist and executive function coach Eric Kaufman about the everyday challenges adults face with executive functioning. They discuss procrastination, working memory, emotional regulation, task initiation, prioritization, workplace challenges, and practical strategies for getting things done without constantly feeling overwhelmed. You'll hear about: Why procrastination happensHow emotions affect task initiationWorking memory and using external remindersThe ABC method and Eisenhower MatrixBreaking overwhelming tasks into smaller stepsUsing self-talk to move forwardWhy there is no one-size-fits-all EF strategyStarting small and celebrating progressMost importantly, your brain isn't broken. Executive functioning is a set of skills, and we can build strategies that work with the way our brains work. 🎧 Follow Empowering Exceptional Minds for more conversations about neurodiversity, ADHD, learning differences, and practical strategies for everyday life. This podcast is for educational and informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional or medical advice. https://www.upskillspecialists.com/team

  2. Sep 29

    Beyond the After-School Collapse: Somatic Tools with Lisa Danahy

    Did you know that many "behavioral issues" in children aren't behavioral at all—they’re sensory? Following up on our last conversation with Aaron about sensory integration, we’re taking a deeper dive into the specifics of how our nervous systems process the world around us. In this episode, host Maayan sits down with Lisa Danahy, founder of Create Calm, featured Hay House author, and international speaker with over 30 years of experience across education, healthcare, and community organizations. Lisa breaks down the complex science of stress and human behavior into relatable, practical strategies you can use immediately in the classroom or at home. The 8 Sensory Systems: Moving beyond sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch to explore Vestibular (balance), Proprioception (body awareness), and Interoception (internal signals like hunger or heart rate). Behavior vs. Sensory Processing: Why a child's meltdown might actually be an unmapped hunger signal or a shrunk "window of tolerance"—and how to spot the difference between sensory modulation and discrimination issues. Somatic Regulation Techniques: Experiential tools to ground the nervous system, including: 🎈 Balloon Breath: Aligning mind and body through intentional breath. 🤲 Body Tapping: Activating proprioception to feel "back inside the body." 🧺 The "Washing Machine": Using twisting and sound to release tension via vestibular engagement. Co-Regulation in Practice: Why adult energy dictates child regulation, and how to use mindfulness for somatic awareness rather than behavior control. Support for Neurodivergent Students: Effective, non-verbal physical "containers" (like weighted tools or child’s pose) for nonverbal or autistic learners. Lisa Danahy is the founder of Create Calm, a Hay House author, and an international speaker. For over three decades, Lisa has dedicated her career to making stress science and nervous system regulation accessible, engaging, and transformative for educators, healthcare workers, and communities worldwide. Learn more about her work at Create Calm. https://createcalm.org/ https://a.co/d/0bk52982 👉 Missed our previous episode on sensory integration with Aaron? Be sure to go back and give it a listen to get the full picture! https://open.spotify.com/episode/5oHQllOf8ql7lGfjMf9rCT?si=-T4Kz7G7TOGJHU496Kw_ZA Enjoying the show? Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review on Spotify to help other educators and parents find these tools!

  3. Sep 22

    Why Does My Child Fall Apart After School? The Sensory Connection With Aaron

    Why might a student press incredibly hard on their pencil, bump into things, avoid sports, or completely fall apart after holding it together all day at school? In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds, Maayan sits down with occupational therapist Aaron DeNardo, founder of Laughing Giraffe Therapy, for a fascinating conversation about the connection between the brain, body, sensory processing, movement, and learning. Aaron explains what occupational therapists actually look for during an evaluation—including fine and gross motor skills, visual processing, sensory processing, body awareness, and functional skills. Maayan and Aaron dive into primitive reflexes, proprioception, vestibular processing, and interoception, and how these systems can influence movement, regulation, coordination, attention, and everyday functioning. The conversation includes practical examples of what these challenges can look like in the classroom—from difficulty copying from the board to pencil pressure, clumsiness, avoiding movement, and exhaustion after school. Most importantly, Maayan and Aaron discuss a message every parent and educator needs to hear: behavior is communication, and children are doing the best they can with the skills and nervous systems they have. You’ll also hear why connection and attunement matter, how play can reveal valuable information about a child, what school-based OT can address, and why homework can sometimes become counterproductive when a child is already overwhelmed. If you’re a parent, educator, therapist, or anyone supporting a neurodivergent child, this conversation offers a different way of looking at the behaviors we often misunderstand—and a reminder to get curious about what might be happening underneath. Listen, learn, and see the child behind the behavior. https://laughinggiraffetherapy.com/

  4. Sep 14

    The Moon Cactus Effect: Autism, Adulthood, and Finding Your Bloom Later in Life

    What happens when a life-altering diagnosis arrives at 48 — not in childhood, but in the middle of adulthood, after decades of unexplained struggle? In this episode, we sit down with Robert Caldwell, journalist, science fiction author, and self-advocate on Alabama's Interagency Autism Coordinating Council, to talk about what it means to finally understand yourself later in life. Robert shares the story behind his moving "moon cactus" metaphor — comparing developmental disabilities to a mutation that can't survive alone, but becomes something beautiful when grafted onto the right support. We dig into how undiagnosed autism shaped (and sabotaged) his early career in journalism and web design, how his neurodivergent perspective fuels the strange, imaginative worlds of his science fiction, and the discrimination he faced — and only recognized in hindsight — as an invisible disability. We also get into Robert's advocacy work, including his fight to protect voting access for disabled Alabamians, and his message to anyone recently diagnosed as an adult: this isn't the end of your story — it might be the key that finally makes sense of it. Whether you're autistic, love someone who is, or work with neurodivergent individuals, this conversation offers a powerful reframe on late diagnosis, resilience, and the "superability" that can come with seeing the world differently. Topics covered: Late autism diagnosis • Workplace discrimination • Creative writing as neurodivergent expression • Disability advocacy • Voting rights • The moon cactus metaphor https://robertwcaldwell.home.blog/page/2/ https://a.co/d/0eFEexd8 https://a.co/d/08NJeyNz https://a.co/d/032SASMU

  5. Sep 7

    Off the Lines - Understanding Dysgraphia with Kelli Fetter

    Words get stuck. Letters flip. The hand can't keep pace with the mind. For millions of people, dysgraphia turns something as simple as writing into a daily battle — one that's often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, or dismissed as laziness or carelessness. In this episode, we sit down with Kelli Fetter, owner of Handwriting Solution, to dig into what dysgraphia really is, how it shows up in kids and adults, and why so many people go years without the right support. Drawing on her hands-on experience helping students overcome writing challenges, Kelli breaks down the signs parents and teachers often miss, practical strategies that actually work, and how to shift the narrative from "try harder" to "here's what your brain actually needs." Whether you're a parent trying to understand your child's struggle, an educator looking for real strategies, or someone who's always felt "off the lines" yourself — this conversation offers clarity, tools, and hope. Because how you write shouldn't define what you're capable of saying. https://www.handwritingsolutions.org/about The Writing Revolution 2.0: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades The Writing Rope: A Framework for Explicit Writing Instruction in All Subjects by Joan Sedita M.Ed. (Author), Jan Hasbrouck Ph.D. Email: kelli@handwritingsolutions.orgWebsite: www.handwritingsolutions.orgAccess to over 100 articles on our blogFree Guide to 15 Multisensory Handwriting Practices

  6. Sep 1

    Does your child’s IEP actually provide what they need? With Kara Orlando

    IEPs can feel overwhelming—especially when you're hearing terms like IDEA, FAPE, LRE, push-in, pull-out, and service minutes. In Part 3 of our IEP & 504 series, I’m joined by Kara Orlando, founder of Kind Mind Executive Function Coaching and former school psychologist. We break down what these terms actually mean, how services can be delivered, and what parents should understand when advocating for their child. If you’ve ever left an IEP meeting thinking, “Wait… what does that actually mean?”—this episode is for you.

  7. Aug 24

    Parental burnout is real—and it deserves more attention with Roopa Belur

    In the newest episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds, we’re talking about parental burnout—especially the kind that can happen when you’re constantly advocating, coordinating, worrying, problem-solving, and supporting a neurodivergent child. I’m joined by Roopa Belur, clinical director, therapist, and founder of Belur Neurodiversity Consulting and Coaching. With more than 23 years of experience supporting neurodivergent individuals and their families, Roopa brings so much insight and compassion to this conversation. We talk about: What parental burnout really looks likeSigns parents may overlookWhy neurodivergent families can be particularly vulnerable What to do when you're already completely depleted How to begin recovering without adding another thing to your to-do listWhy struggling doesn't mean you're failing One message I hope parents take away from this episode: Burnout doesn't mean you're a bad parent. It means you've been carrying too much for too long.. And if you know a parent who needs to hear this, send them this episode. ❤️ roopablore@gmail.com

  8. Aug 17

    Is Gaming Really the Problem? What Your Child’s Screen Time Might Be Telling You with Mark Talaga

    Is gaming really the problem—or is it telling us something important about what a child needs? In this episode, we move beyond the “screens are good vs. bad” debate and look at gaming through a developmental and regulation-focused lens. Games can provide connection, creativity, mastery, immediate feedback, and a sense of competence—especially for kids who may struggle to find those experiences elsewhere. But what happens when gaming becomes the only place a child feels successful? We explore the powerful Input vs. Output framework: consuming games isn't inherently problematic, but healthy development requires opportunities to turn that input into real-world creativity, skills, relationships, and meaningful experiences. We also talk about transitions, executive function, limits, teen screen use, and practical ways parents can reduce conflict without vilifying games. The goal isn't to ask, “How many hours did my child play?” It's to ask: “What is gaming giving my child that they aren't getting somewhere else?” https://www.centerforidentitypotential.com/ https://drdouglas.org/drdpdfs/Gentile-5Dimensions.pdf https://www.hopelesslygifted.com/

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Ratings & Reviews

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About

Welcome to Empowering Exceptional Minds —the podcast where we dive into real conversations about neurodiversity. We interview parents, individuals, and professionals to explore the challenges, strengths, and unique experiences of diverse learners and thinkers. We discuss ADHD, Executive Functions, dysgraphia, autism, dyscalculia, dyslexia, written expression, auditory processing, visual processing, learning disabilities, evaluations, assessments, parenting and professional development.

Information

  • Creator
    Educational Therapy LLC
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    56
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Educational Therapy LLC
  • Show Website
    Empowering Exceptional Minds

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