Mike and Chaya sit down with Donna Kargel, founder of Lotus Coaching and veteran educator, to talk neurodivergent parenting, the education system, and how early labels can shape a kid’s identity for life. Donna breaks down why standard milestones often backfire for divergent thinkers—and what actually helps kids build curiosity, confidence, and self-trust.We Also Cover:

• Why high expectations mean nothing without genuine belief in your child's capability
• Why neurodivergent parenting has to start with connection at home
• What to do when your kid is labeled “learning disabled” (and starts believing it)
• How labels can become identities children spend adulthood trying to undo
• Why “good grades” can hide a kid who’s quietly burning out
• The neurobiology of early attachment and how it shapes lifelong beliefs
• How to support a neurodivergent child in school without turning them into a project
• The difference between praising intelligence and recognizing effort, persistence, and process
• Why education loses the child when data, standards, and college pipelines take over
• How parental modeling of emotional regulation shapes what kids believe is possible
• The role of belonging, autonomy, and safety in learning

Quotes:

• “You can plant the seed, and you can water it ... But you’re not in charge of the growing.” — Donna Kargel
• "Where do you go when no one's watching? When you're daydreaming, when you checked out of the teacher talking, your mom talking... Tell me where you go because that's your creativity." — Donna Kargel

About Donna Kargel:Donna Kargel is a veteran educator, former principal, academic success coach, and founder of Lotus Coaching. She draws on her own neurodivergent experience—including being labeled learning disabled as a young child—to help families question the assumptions placed on children and young adults.Her work centers on connection, authenticity, resilience, and finding a person’s real access point for learning and work. Through coaching, career exploration, assessments, and free parent workshops, Donna helps young people recognize the strengths they already carry instead of forcing themselves into a path chosen by someone else.Connect with Donna Kargel:

• Website: https://coachlotus.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100095357930612

Recommended Reading:

• Carol Dweck - Mindset: The New Psychology of Success: Research on growth mindset and how feedback shapes belief and achievement
• Gabor Maté - Scattered: How Attention Deficit Disorder Originates and What You Can Do About It: On neurodevelopment, attachment, and how early experiences shape identity

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android. - Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.ai
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Devora Segall, therapist, parenting coach, and founder of Segall Coaching, who helps overwhelmed parents build calmer, more connected relationships at home. Devora opens up about her own experience of overwhelmed parenting, shares trauma-informed and DBT-based tools for pausing before reacting, and explains why emotional regulation is often the first step toward real change.We Also Cover:

• Why extreme reactions are often the clearest sign to pause before responding
• How a deep breath and a 30-second pause can interrupt automatic parenting patterns
• Noticing body sensations, thoughts, and emotions in real time
• The difference between go skills and slow skills in emotional regulation
• Why neurodivergent parenting can come with more emotional intensity, not less capacity
• How parents can reconnect with their “wise mind” in stressful moments
• What the “inner child” really means and why it matters in parenting
• How repeated rupture affects trust between parent and child
• Why repair is possible, even after years of reactive parenting
• Getting to the root issue instead of only focusing on behavior

Quotes:

• "It's really a matter of degree and intensity because every human being has big feelings. People who are neurodivergent have them more often and more intensely."
• "The inner child is usually the part of you that's still hurting."

About Devora Segall:Devora Segall, LCSW, is a parenting coach, therapist, author, and founder of Segall Coaching. She helps overwhelmed moms move from yelling and guilt toward calm, confidence, and connection through practical, DBT-based parenting support. Devora is the author of Sensitive Hearts Strong Minds and The Peaceful Parenting Solution, and her work focuses on emotional regulation, breaking old patterns, and building stronger parent-child relationships.Connect with Devora Segall:

• Segall Coaching: https://segallcoaching.com/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devora-segall-8288a6299/

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android. - Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.ai
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Cassie Olguin, a Partnerships Specialist at Outschool and homeschool mom of 11+ years. Cassie shares how her family moved from a traditional-school mindset to homeschooling, and then navigated a new layer of needs as one of her twins was diagnosed with OCD, autism, and ADHD. Together, they explore what it looks like to protect a child’s spirit, redefine “success” beyond test scores, and build a learning life that flexes with mental health, sensory needs, and curiosity. We Also Cover:

• Why testing high doesn't always translate to actually understanding the material
• The hidden cost of comparison culture and chasing standardized grades
• The real-world benefits of homeschooling neurodivergent kids
• When it's time for academics to step back for mental and physical health
• How interest-based learning benefits all students
• Using creative platforms like Minecraft and art to teach math
• What to consider with online learning vs public school for neurodivergent kids
• Practical ways working parents can integrate alternative schooling
• Leveraging dual enrollment pathways for high schoolers
• Giving yourself permission to pivot and ditch a curriculum that isn't working

Quotes:

• “We don’t need a billion mathematicians… we need creatives.” — Cassie Olguin
• “Just because you started something doesn’t mean you have to finish it.” — Cassie Olguin
• “None of my kids could read at what would be considered grade level until the sixth grade… and now they are all way above grade level.” — Cassie Olguin
• “Some of what we view as accommodations for neurodivergent learners are just the right way to teach anybody anything.” — Mike Cornell

About Cassie Olguin: Cassie Olguin is a Partnerships Specialist at Outschool and has homeschooled her three daughters for 11+ years (one in high school and twin middle schoolers, one of whom is neurodiverse). A former paralegal with a Political Science degree, she transitioned from the legal field into home education—using a California homeschool charter while exploring a wide range of curricula and approaches. At Outschool, she focuses on community engagement and content development, working closely with educators and families to build supportive, student-centered learning environments. Cassie advocates for flexible, personalized options across public, private, homeschool, and hybrid models, and believes every child deserves an education that fits their unique needs. Connect with Cassie Olguin:

• Outschool: https://outschool.com/
• Cassie on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cassieolguin/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cassies.hs.corner/
• Outschool Resources for Parents: https://outschool.com/parents

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android. - Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Kristin Walker, founder and CEO of Mental Health News Radio Network, who returns to the show to share the profound impact of receiving an autism and ADHD diagnosis in her 50s. Kristin opens up about the strange and beautiful work of unmasking after a later-in-life autism and ADHD diagnosis, shedding old survival patterns, and rejecting the deficit mindset often placed on neurodivergent minds. We Also Cover:

• The grief, relief, and disorientation of late-diagnosed autism and ADHD
• Building the Mental Health News Radio Network across 12 years while fully masked and unaware
• Why neurodivergent masking can hide your strengths, not just your struggles
• How relationships can help us find our way back to ourselves
• Slow processing and the exhaustion of performed competence
• Learning boundaries without abandoning connection
• How threat-mapping shapes neurodivergent relationships
• Letting go of scripts, shortcuts, and conversational over-prep
• The difference between living from self-protection and living from self-trust
• How deficit-based views of neurodivergence are a trap

Quotes:

• "I got diagnosed with autism and ADHD right after I turned 54… that has been a really trippy ass journey." — Kristin Walker
• "I’m done editing myself. I’m done. The best parts of me are the unedited parts." — Kristin Walker
• "That’s not Mike that’s talking. That’s scripts that are talking, and I don’t really script so much anymore." — Mike
• "Every time I peel back something else and bring something out into the open... every time I say no, another chamber opens that I get to explore." — Kristen Walker

About Kristin Walker: Kristin Walker is the founder and CEO of Mental Health News Radio Network, a platform for conversations about mental health, trauma, neurodivergence, behavioral health, and lived experience. She is also connected to everythingEHR, where her work bridges behavioral health, technology, and systems-level support. As an Electronic Health Records Expert for Behavioral Health Organizations, she regularly speaks at healthcare conferences and consults with hospital systems across the country. Kristin's unique approach emphasizes collaborative leadership and creating inclusive spaces for different perspectives on mental health, making her a respected voice in both the technology and mental health communities. Connect with Kristin Walker:

• Mental Health News Radio Network: https://www.mentalhealthnewsradio.com/
• Mental Health News Radio Podcast: https://www.mentalhealthnewsradionetwork.com/our-shows/mental-health-news-radio/
• Lawn Chairs in Space Podcast: https://www.mentalhealthnewsradionetwork.com/our-shows/lawn-chairs-in-space/
• Kristin Walker on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kristinswalker
• Mental Health News Radio Network on Instagram: @mhnrnetwork
• Mental Health News Radio Network on Facebook: facebook.com/MentalHealthNewsRadioNetwork

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android. - Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Ryan Mayer, a certified ADHD coach who helps neurodivergent adults stop trying to “discipline” their brains and start building systems that actually work. Ryan shares how drowning in corporate burnout, overwhelm, and the constant pressure to “try harder” pushed him toward a strengths-based approach to adult ADHD. Most importantly, he explains why self-care is a non-negotiable part of taking your life back. We Also Cover:

• The relief and regret that comes with an adult ADHD diagnosis
• Student services and ADHD college accommodations
• Why trying to "spreadsheet your way out of ADHD" always leads to burnout
• The realities of living with an invisible disability
• How to stop fixing your weaknesses and start leveraging your signature strengths
• Bypassing task paralysis through external accountability
• Why self-care isn't a luxury, but a strategic necessity for ADHD management
• Using "tiny experiments" instead of rigid routines to build momentum
• Using the "power of the pause" to slow down physical and mental hyperactivity
• How taking off the neurotypical filter changed Ryan’s life and business
• The growing need for neuro-inclusion in modern workplaces

Quotes:

• "You can't just keep trying to swim across a raging river of consequences... you have to build a bridge." — Ryan Mayer
• "Self-care isn't just something nice to do. If you have ADHD, it's a strategic necessity." — Ryan Mayer
• "We spend way too much time focusing on our deficits instead of leveraging our signature strengths." — Ryan Mayer
• _"People have no idea how much harder it is for us to do anything... underneath they're paddling like crazy to try to keep up."_— Ryan Mayer

About Ryan Mayer: Ryan Mayer is a certified ADHD coach who helps neurodivergent adults (especially late-diagnosed folks) manage overwhelm, procrastination, and the day-to-day chaos that comes from living in a world built for neurotypical systems. After spending over a decade in corporate roles, he hit the familiar wall: pushing harder didn’t create consistency—it created burnout. That shift led him into coaching and into building practical, strengths-based tools for working with an ADHD brain instead of constantly correcting it. Today, Ryan coaches clients globally and also supports companies through neuro-inclusion work—helping workplaces understand what ADHD really looks like on the inside (and what actually helps). You’ll also find him sharing tactical ADHD strategies across TikTok and YouTube through Ryan Mayer Coaching. Connect with Ryan Mayer:

• Website & Free Masterclass: https://ryanmayercoaching.com/
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RyanMayerCoaching
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_coach_ryan
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhd_coach_ryan/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmayerpeopleconnector/
• Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/ADHDcoachRyan
• Free Resource - Conquer Your ADHD in the Workplace Guide: https://guides.ryanmayercoaching.com/?which\_resource\_are\_you\_most\_interested\_in=ADHD+at+Work

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Neal Glendenning, founder of The Neuro Inclusion Project and NdCare Group, who is building neurodivergent care systems rooted in lived experience, compassion, and real-world support. Neal opens up about ADHD burnout, hospitalization, and the moment he realized that awareness alone was never going to be enough. He explains what it means to redesign healthcare, workplaces, and power structures so neurodivergent people are not just accommodated, but truly understood and empowered. We Also Cover:

• Neal’s personal experience with ADHD burnout and hospitalization
• Why current therapies often fall short for ADHD and AuDHD people
• Building an end-to-end ADHD care pathway from pre-diagnosis to lifelong support
• The difference between awareness and real neuroinclusion
• Why compromised systems often fail the people they were meant to serve
• How work environments strip meaning, creativity, and humanity from people
• Flexible work, productivity, and honoring neurodivergent energy patterns
• Why hierarchy blocks collective wisdom and system change
• The role of neurodivergent people in rebuilding broken systems
• Neal’s vision for public-first ADHD support through the NHS and beyond

Quotes:

• "Any system is limited by the person that is actually in control of it." — Neal Glendenning
• "You shouldn't have to settle for some system that's compromised." — Neal Glendenning
• "We’ve taken industrialization too far because now we’re trying to industrialize human beings." — Neal Glendenning
• "The one benefit of the collapse is rebirth." — Neal Glendenning

About Neal Glendenning: Neal Glendenning is the founder of The Neuro Inclusion Project, an ADHD advocate, innovator, and systems thinker working to create a world where neurodivergent people are not just accommodated, but fully understood, supported, and empowered. After navigating his own journey with ADHD, Neal saw how often the systems meant to support neurodivergent people fail to recognize the full picture: the strengths, the struggles, the creativity, the chaos, and the emotional toll of being misunderstood. Through therapy, psychoeducation, corporate training, and community outreach, Neal bridges the gap between neurodiversity awareness and meaningful action. His work challenges outdated narratives, breaks stigma, and helps individuals, teams, and organizations build ADHD-affirming systems rooted in compassion, evidence, lived experience, clarity, confidence, and authenticity. Connect with Neal Glendenning:

• The Neuro Inclusion Project: https://www.theneuroinclusionproject.co.uk/
• Meet Neal and the Team: https://www.theneuroinclusionproject.co.uk/about-us/our-team/
• Enquire About Speaking: https://www.theneuroinclusionproject.co.uk/neuro-inclusion-project/enquire-about-speaking/
• Neal on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neal-glendenning-142406a4/

Recommended Reading:

• The Future Belongs to Systems That Can Tolerate Human Variability: https://www.theneuroinclusionproject.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/go-x/u/c939df17-d7f4-4a31-bcc8-aba68a41bb89/The-Future-Belongs-to-Systems-That-Can-Tolerate-Human-Variability.pdf
• Shame Is a System Maintenance Tool: https://www.theneuroinclusionproject.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/go-x/u/dceb5e25-377d-4d69-9e4b-98e0e4eb8120/Shame-Is-a-System-Maintenance-Tool.pdf
• ADHD: Beyond Inattention and Hyperactivity: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/neal-glendenning-142406a4_adhd-mentalhealthawareness-neurodiversity-activity-7333550656080818177-VEOy/
• Stop Fixing Neurodivergent People. Fix the System.: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/neal-glendenning-142406a4_neurodiversity-inclusion-leadership-activity-7331782322406490112-9Z4P/
• The Hidden Toll of Late Autism Diagnosis: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/neal-glendenning-142406a4_latediagnosis-autisminadults-neurodiversity-activity-7351506009971982338-rxfo/

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Katy Johnson, a registered nurse and founder of Reciprocity KC, who brings vital wellness support directly to burned-out healthcare professionals. Katy opens up about her late-in-life ADHD and social-phobia diagnosis, unpacks the reality of compassion fatigue, and explains why prioritizing somatic release and self-compassion is the true first step toward healing. We Also Cover:

• Misidentifying adult ADHD symptoms as simple perfectionism and procrastination.
• The grief and relief of a late-in-life diagnosis
• Why mindfulness can be challenging for neurodivergent brains and how movement helps
• The process of forgiving yourself for decades of negative internal dialogue.
• Recognizing healthcare worker burnout and the grief and sadness that builds up without a release
• Why hospitals aren't the place for healthcare workers to heal and the need for external wellness spaces
• Why the female-dominated healthcare industry normalizes toxic levels of compassion fatigue
• The unique challenges of launching a nonprofit organization while navigating ADHD
• Making wellness spaces more inclusive, accessible, and less performative

Quotes:

• "For years. I was going to my doctor, my therapist, saying, 'I used to be so productive... What is wrong with me? Why?'" — Katy Johnson
• "I do think that the communities could do more for the healthcare providers. I know the hospitals can't do it. Their job is to save the patients, not to save their staff." — Katy Johnson
• "If you don't feel good in the room, are you in the right room? Because for me, it wasn't the right room, and it's not about them being bad people. It's about me and where I was comfortable." — Katy Johnson

About Katy Johnson: Katy Johnson, RN, MHL, is a former pediatric transplant nurse and the founder of Reciprocity KC, a nonprofit dedicated to helping healthcare professionals heal from the inside out. After spending more than a decade working in pediatric hematology, oncology, and transplant, she witnessed firsthand the devastating toll of compassion fatigue and chronic stress on those who give so much of themselves. At 38, Katy was late-diagnosed with ADHD and social phobia—and likely falls within the AuDHD spectrum—a discovery that profoundly shifted her approach to nervous system regulation, sensory needs, and authenticity. Guided by the belief that you can’t pour from an empty cup and that caregivers deserve care too, she launched Reciprocity KC to offer donation-based yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness events for medical professionals in the Kansas City community. Today, Katy balances her nonprofit mission with a career in oncology biopharma, raising two kids, and continuing her own journey of growth through movement and self-discovery. Connect with Katy Johnson:

• Website: https://www.reciprocitykc.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reciprocity.kc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Reciprocity-Collective/61577774972418
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reciprocity-collectivekc/

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Briana McCallum, founder of Divine Empowerment Coaching, who helps neurodivergent people and caregivers build regulation, self-trust, and resilience. Briana opens up about her path from an medication-resistant kid to becoming a Reiki master, how alternative healing finally brought her peace, and drawing insight from her own lived experience as a neurodivergent woman and parent. She breaks down the gut-mind connection, the hidden physical toll of masking, and exactly how to regulate a dysregulated nervous system so you can stop fighting your own wiring. We Also Cover:

• Briana’s path from misunderstood child to healer, coach, and advocate
• How she explains energy work through chakras and the central nervous system
• Why grief, stress, and dysregulation can show up as pain in the body
• The gut-brain connection and how food affects mood, focus, and inflammation
• Glutamate sensitivity, sugar crashes, and tracking food patterns for self-awareness
• How masking in neurodivergence disrupts emotional and energetic alignment
• Breathwork, grounding, and nervous system regulation in overstimulating environments
• Medication resistance, intolerance, and holistic starting points for support
• Adaptogens, medicinal mushrooms, and nutrition for cognitive and emotional steadiness
• The tension and complement between neurodivergent and neurotypical ways of moving through the world

Quotes:

• "As a life coach, it is an intentional process. Like, hey, I'm gonna come mess you up in the most beautiful ways." — Briana McCallum
• _"When we mask and we are pretending to be somebody we are not, there's so much turmoil inside of us. But we can always realign."_— Chaya
• "The only thing we really have control over is ourselves." — Briana McCallum

About Briana McCallum: Briana McCallum is an ACCP International Board Certified Life Coach from Jay Shetty's Certification School and a Neurodiversity Empowerment Coach specializing in helping neurodivergent individuals and their caregivers achieve their goals and set themselves up for success.   Using her trinity coaching model — combining mind, body, and spiritual health — she approaches every goal, dream, and aspiration with a full-circle wellness perspective.   With 4 years of Life Skills Leadership at Cooperiis Healing Farm, 20+ years of studies in psychology, sociology, and human development, and over 30 years of lived experience, Briana brings a deeply personal and professional foundation to her work.   She is also a Reiki Master, holistic health consultant, medium, and the founder of LMH Custom Teas & Herbs LLC — a trinity wellness company blending botanical medicine, energy healing, and personalized coaching support.   As a neurodivergent woman who could not tolerate medications, Briana was forced to navigate her own path to wellness — moving through cycles of depression, anxiety, and chronic pain using holistic and integrative approaches. That lived necessity became the foundation of the coaching practice she offers today through Divine EMP Coaching. Connect with Briana McCallum:

• LMHTEA: https://lmhtea.org/
• Divine Empowerment Coaching: https://divineempowerment.org/
• YouTube and social links: available through https://lmhtea.org/
• TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mccallumbriana
• Facebook (LMH): https://www.facebook.com/lmhtea
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mccallumbriana/
• LinkedIn (LMH): https://www.linkedin.com/company/lmh-custom-tea-herbs/

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Uli K. Chettipally, an emergency medicine physician and autism-tech innovator, who is reimagining what support can look like for non-speaking autistic people. Uli shares how his daughter Siri’s autism diagnosis changed the course of his life and work, leading him from frustration with existing therapies to building new tools rooted in dignity, movement, communication, and belief. We Also Cover:

• What autism looked like in Siri’s early childhood, before reliable communication
• Why Dr. Chettipally questioned the results his family saw from ABA therapy
• How exercise helped Siri with anxiety, regulation, and daily life
• The link between motor planning, speech, and non-speaking autism
• How letter board communication changed Siri’s education and self-advocacy
• Why families are told to doubt communication tools that are working
• What “high needs” can really mean when someone has no reliable way to communicate
• How robotics, VR, and gaming could support autism therapy
• Siri’s college success and her plans for neuroscience
• What Sirica.ai hopes to make easier for non-speaking autistic people and their families

About Dr. Uli K. Chettipally: Dr. Uli K. Chettipally is an award-winning physician, researcher, and entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in emergency medicine, clinical decision support, and digital therapeutics. He is the founder of Sirica Therapeutics, a start-up that is developing a novel device system for autism, using robotics, virtual reality, and video gaming. His mission is to make therapy fun and effective for children with autism and their families. He is also the founder and President of InnovatorMD, the world's largest physician innovation platform that aims to inform, inspire, and ignite solutions that revolutionize patient care. He organizes events, classes, and meetups for physician innovators and startups, and runs a Health Tech pre-seed accelerator in partnership with Founder Institute. He is passionate about leveraging technology to improve healthcare outcomes, quality, and affordability Connect with Dr. Uli K. Chettipally:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulichettipally
• Siri’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amysirichettipally
• Siri's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/siri_speaks_2026
• Sirica Therapeutics: https://www.siricatx.com

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
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Mike and Chaya sit down with Enrique Cachafeiro, an education innovator and serious game designer challenging the industrial-era classroom model. Enrique explains why traditional education systems are fundamentally misaligned with neurodivergent minds, why school accommodations often fall short, and how gamification and immersive learning can help build a system centered on curiosity instead of conformity. We Also Cover:

• Why the traditional education system prioritizes conformity over curiosity
• How standard accommodations leaves neurodivergent students stuck inside a structure that still doesn’t fit
• How grades create false confidence or fixed student identities
• Why neurodivergent learners often thrive through autonomy, curiosity, and deep interest-based exploration
• How gamification reframes failure as feedback, practice, and iteration
• The difference between adding technology to a classroom and actually redesigning education
• Why parents and teachers are often trapped in the same unsupported system as students

Quotes: "If you have a shoe that doesn't fit you, accommodations are like giving you a shoehorn so you can best put your foot in a shoe that doesn't fit you." — Enrique Cachafeiro "School is actively detrimental. And for our special kiddos, it's even worse because the system is really good at putting labels on people." — Enrique Cachafeiro "There isn't failure. There's struggles, and struggles are part of any path." — Enrique Cachafeiro "Stop equating the school system with education. There are other ways, and we just have to get brave enough to try them." — Enrique Cachafeiro About Enrique Cachafeiro: Dr. Enrique Cachafeiro has spent the last decade finding ways to evolve the state of the classroom to take advantage of new instructional technologies and strategies. He specializes in the introduction of technology into the classroom, the use of innovative strategies such as blended learning and gamified learning, and in helping teachers and administration adopt these into their districts and classrooms. Dr. Cachafeiro continues to push the envelope by exploring emerging technologies, such as immersive worlds, virtual reality, and AI, as well as video games and their application to the classroom. He has not only done this in his own classroom but has also presented at various levels to various groups on the use and adoption of the technologies. Presently, he is working for Duke Health as an Education and Training Coordinator and teaches a course on Serious Game Design. He continues to be an advocate for change in education. Connect with Enrique Cachafeiro:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrique-cachafeiro
• The ESCAPE Model: https://escapemodel.com
• Lusory State: http://lusorystate.com
• ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Enrique-Cachafeiro
• Science Circle Profile: https://www.sciencecircle.org/enrique-cachafeiro2

Recommended Reading:

• Karl Kapp’s Books on Gamification and Learning: https://karlkapp.com/books/
• The Multiplayer Classroom by Lee Sheldon: https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Multiplayer_Classroom.html?id=DdLVDwAAQBAJ
• Escape Velocity: Defying the Gravity of “Real Schools” by Enrique Cachafeiro: https://appstate.figshare.com/articles/thesis/Escape_Velocity_Defying_the_Gravity_of_Real_Schools_/30333703

Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Minds
https://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803
• Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunch
• Mike on Instagram: @followshisghost

Mike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:

• https://followyourghostcoach.com/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.