Teens Uncharted: the Pod
Being a teenager today is messy, and we aren’t going to lie about it. Welcome to Teens Uncharted: the Pod where we drop the filters and talk about what’s actually going on. Hosted by Charity, this show bridges the gap between teens, parents, and the professionals who support them. From mental health and school struggles (yes, even IEPs) to high-risk behaviors and finding real connection, we tackle the hard stuff with zero judgment, total honesty, and real clinical insight. Whether you’re a teen trying to figure it out, a parent trying to understand, or a therapist doing the work, you're in the right place. Watch the video episodes on Spotify and YouTube, or listen anywhere you get your podcasts.
Why Insight Doesn't Equal Capacity in Gifted Teens with Emily Yi, LCSW | Teens Uncharted Ep. 68
Have you ever had a brilliant, articulate teen in your office who can explain exactly why they do what they do, but absolutely cannot stop doing it?
In Episode 68 of Teens Uncharted: the Pod, Charity sits down with Emily Yi, LCSW, owner of Jacksonville Creative Therapy, to discuss the nuances of working with bright, neurodivergent, and emotionally intense adolescents. Emily shares why traditional therapeutic approaches can sometimes increase resistance or lead to misdiagnoses like ODD or bipolar disorder in gifted youth. We explore the crucial difference between a teen's intellectual insight and their nervous-system capacity, and how therapists can creatively adapt to build flexibility rather than forcing compliance.
In this episode, we cover:
🔹 Why highly insightful teens still can't "just do the thing" and the gap between intellectual understanding and capacity.
🔹 How giftedness, ADHD, autism, and asynchronous development shape a teen's behavior.
🔹 Why traditional therapy might misinterpret intense teen presentations as defiance or personality disorders.
🔹 Using the therapeutic relationship as an assessment—including pacing, humor, and Emily's "octopus arms" approach to tuning into a teen's emotions.
🔹 Working collaboratively with parents to navigate pervasive demand for autonomy (PDA), adjust rigid expectations, and focus on harm reduction over strict control.
🔹 An inside look at Emily’s new clinical training designed specifically for therapists working with bright and intense teens.
Connect with Emily Yi:
Website: https://jacksonvillecreativetherapy.com/ (https://jacksonvillecreativetherapy.com/)
Instagram: @jacksonvillecreativetherapy
Free Resource: 3 Bright & Intense Teen Therapy Plans: https://emily-yi-coaching.kit.com/3849f0d6c8 (https://emily-yi-coaching.kit.com/3849f0d6c8)
Course: Working with Bright & Intense Teens: https://emily-yi-coaching.kit.com/c28fa9b6aa (https://emily-yi-coaching.kit.com/c28fa9b6aa)
Join the Teens Uncharted Community:
Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/ (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/)
Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/ (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/)
Like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757 (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757)
Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about (https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about)
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/ (https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/)
#TeensUncharted #TeenTherapy #GiftedTeens #NeurodivergentTeens #EmilyYi #TwiceExceptional #TeenMentalHealth #TherapistResources #PDA #ParentingTeens #LCSW #MentalHealthPodcast
3 Oct 2026
Why Autistic Girls Fly Under the Radar & Redefining Teen Social Skills | Teens Uncharted Ep. 67
If you work with or raise a neurodivergent teen, you know that finding the right support can be challenging. In Episode 67 of Teens Uncharted: the Pod, host Charity Chaffee sits down with Dr. Diane Hudson. Dr. Hudson is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and former school psychologist who specializes in helping older autistic kids, teens, and their people.
Dr. Hudson breaks down why so many autistic girls fly under the radar. These girls often receive anxiety or depression diagnoses before autism is ever considered. We also tackle the controversial history of applied behavior analysis (ABA). We explore how modern, neurodiversity-affirming approaches focus on building new behaviors rather than just extinguishing old ones to force teens into neurotypical expectations.
In this episode, we cover:
✨ The Diagnostic Delay: Autistic girls frequently go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed until their teen years. They are often given mental health diagnoses before autism is even considered.
✨ Masking vs. Tools: There is a critical difference between forcing a teen to mask and teaching them actionable social skills. Teens can choose to use these social tools to confidently find their community and feel accepted.
✨ A Modern Approach: Older teens can benefit from a blend of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and behavioral science. This approach helps them connect with their own values without feeling managed or forced to change.
✨ Parenting Shifts: Parenting a neurodivergent teen requires a completely different approach from raising a neurotypical one. Parents can support their teens' therapy by practicing the skill of simply being available without putting pressure on them.
✨ Social Connections: Tailored social groups and parallel activities create low-pressure environments for girls. These spaces allow neurodivergent teens to unmask, feel understood by their peers, and realize they are not alone.
Connect with Dr. Diane Hudson:
Website: https://abc-pathways.com/ (https://abc-pathways.com/)
Instagram: @drdianehudson
Free Resource (ND Friendships for Parents): https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66cf3fcdd13fbb5648e1eb64/t/6a55a03e76b945282f0d2578/1783996478296/ND+friendships+for+parents.pdf (https://static1.squarespace.com/static/66cf3fcdd13fbb5648e1eb64/t/6a55a03e76b945282f0d2578/1783996478296/ND+friendships+for+parents.pdf)
Join the Teens Uncharted Community:
Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/ (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/)
Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/ (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/)
Like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757 (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757)
Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about (https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about)
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/ (https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/)
#AutismInGirls #Neurodiversity #TeenTherapy #AutismAcceptance #BCBA #TeensUncharted #ParentingTeens #SocialSkills #NeurodivergentTeens
26 Sept 2026
Why "Weird" is a Superpower: Neurodiversity & Teen Mental Health with Cynthia Baseman | Ep. 66
What if the very things that make a teenager feel "weird" are the exact traits we should be protecting? In episode 66 of Teens Uncharted: The Pod, host Charity Chaffee sits down with author Cynthia Baseman to discuss her new young adult novel, Weirdos Welcome. Drawing from her personal experiences raising neurodiverse sons and witnessing her niece's journey with a late diagnosis, Cynthia explores the complex realities of high school for teens navigating autism, ADHD, OCD, and anxiety. This conversation challenges the traditional parenting goal of helping kids "fit in" and instead advocates for helping them become so comfortable with themselves that fitting in no longer matters.
🎧 The Inspiration Behind Weirdos Welcome: Cynthia's neurodiverse family inspired a seven-year writing and research journey to center teenagers who are usually treated as sidekicks.
🎧 The Gender Gap in Diagnosis: Girls often fly under the radar for autism and ADHD diagnoses, which is mirrored in the book's protagonist, Ray, who starts an "Audi Freak" blog to find others like her and harness their collective superpowers.
🎧 The Heavy Toll of Masking: The book explores the internal struggles of Braden, a character who appears to be the "cool kid" but secretly battles severe anxiety and OCD while terrified of people seeing "the me beneath the me".
🎧 Parental Guilt and Forgiveness: Cynthia offers vital perspective for parents of neurodiverse teens, emphasizing the importance of letting go of hindsight guilt and forgiving yourself for making the best decisions you could with the information you had at the time.
🎧 The Value of Curiosity: Replacing snap judgments with a curious lens helps us appreciate the highly valuable, unique ways neurodiverse minds approach and solve big problems.
Follow and Support Cynthia Baseman:
Grab your copy of Weirdos Welcome by Cynthia Baseman today! [https://cynthiabaseman.com/product/weirdos-welcome-a-novel/ (https://cynthiabaseman.com/product/weirdos-welcome-a-novel/)]
Website: https://cynthiabaseman.com/ (https://cynthiabaseman.com/)
IG: @cynthia_d_baseman
TikTok: @cynthiabasemanbooks
Join the Teens Uncharted Community:
Clinicians: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/ (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BHi1bkcXZ/)
Parents: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/ (https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CLjk1359K/)
Like our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757 (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575657270757)
Join us in Skool: https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about (https://www.skool.com/teens-uncharted/about)
Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/ (https://www.instagram.com/teens.uncharted/)
#TeensUncharted #CynthiaBaseman #WeirdosWelcome #Neurodiversity #TeenMentalHealth #AutismAwareness #ADHD #OCD #ParentingTeens #YALiterature #LateDiagnosis
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
3 ratings
Contact Teens: No Cap
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Teens: No Cap?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
