Empowering Exceptional Minds

About Empowering Exceptional Minds

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.

Publisher

Educational Therapy LLC

Category

education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Aug 2025

Latest episode

5 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

56 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   5 Oct 2026

   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 happens How emotions affect task initiation Working memory and using external reminders The ABC method and Eisenhower Matrix Breaking overwhelming tasks into smaller steps Using self-talk to move forward Why there is no one-size-fits-all EF strategy Starting small and celebrating progress Most 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. 

   29 Sept 2026

   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://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. 

   22 Sept 2026

   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/

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.