Spark Launch Podcast

Mike and Chaya conclude Spark Launch's first season by sitting down with Dr. Jeff Karp, a biomedical engineer, Harvard Medical School and MIT professor, and passionate neurodiversity advocate. Dr. Karp shares how he went from struggling student to noted innovator with over 175 published papers and 100 patents, calling attention to the ways traditional educational systems fail to support ADHD children and how families can counteract it.We Also Cover:

• Importance of daily rituals for mental wellness
• The vitalness of parental support for neurodivergent children
• Importance of personalized education
• AI tools for neurodiverse students
• The "Pendulum Lifestyle" for personal growth
• How to best nurture areas of interest in children
• Dr. Karp's "LIT: Life Ignition Tools" book and framework
• The significance of self-reflection practices
• Finding mental rejuvenation with ADHD
• Embracing the power of pausing

Quotes:

• "I feel like I was the kid who always had to work, like, two or three times harder than everybody else."
• "Someone asked me, 'Oh, what do you want to be when you grow up?' And I said, 'A doctor.' And they said, 'Oh, you better set your sights lower.'"
• "Once you can connect with what you naturally hyperfocus on what naturally excites you and what you don't have to force, that's where the magic starts to happen."

About Jeff Karp:Dr. Jeff Karp is a professor at Harvard Medical School and MIT, with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Toronto. His life experiences with learning differences, particularly ADHD, have deeply influenced his work and advocacy. He focuses on developing innovative solutions to medical challenges, applying nature-inspired strategies and fostering neurodiversity awareness in education.Connect with Jeff:

• https://jeffkarp.com/
• Purchase "Life Ignition Tools": https://www.harpercollins.com/products/lit-life-ignition-tools-jeff-karpteresa-barker
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkarpboston/
• https://www.karplab.net/
• https://x.com/MrJeffKarp
• https://www.instagram.com/mrjeffkarp/

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram

Mike and Chaya sit down with James Dewar-Haggart, founder of Strong Path, a fitness organization built to prioritize inclusivity for the neurodivergent community. James shares his journey through depression, substance use, and ADHD, and how those experiences shaped his approach to creating a supportive space that acknowledges both emotional and physical well-being.We Also Cover:

• How trauma amplifies neurodivergent struggles
• Fostering inclusivity in gym environments
• Emotional health over physical fitness
• Empathy as a foundation for growth
• Community-building for neurodivergent individuals
• Breaking barriers for underrepresented groups
• The influence of childhood diagnosis gaps
• Addressing societal failure in mental health

Quotes:

• "If you do something out of truth, out of passion, and out of love for the thing that you're doing, especially as someone with ADHD, then you can't really go wrong with it."
• "We are taught to study, get good grades, and make money, but not about how to contribute to this world meaningfully."
• "If you make decisions based on your actual feelings, your actual thoughts, and your actual desires, the likelihood of success is so much higher."
• "You’re teaching that child to repress those feelings, but those feelings aren’t going anywhere—they’re just going to amplify."

About James Dewar-Haggart:James Dewar-Haggart is the Founder of Strong Path CIC, a community interest company dedicated to providing personal training and nutritional advice to the neuro-diverse community. With nearly a decade of experience as a personal trainer, James has a deep understanding of the physical and psychological needs of his clients. He has created a supportive environment in his private gym, where sessions are tailored to small groups to ensure personalized attention. Passionate about breaking down barriers and making fitness accessible to everyone, he continues to work with charities and community organizations to expand his reach and impact.Connect with James:

• James's Website
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-dewar-haggart-430b48315/
• @strongpathcic on Instagram
• James's Facebook page
• James on YouTube

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram

Mike and Chaya sit down with Bradley Lewis Foster, a creative force in the marketing world who discusses his experiences as a neurodivergent entrepreneur and the often-misunderstood traits associated with ADHD. Brad shares on leveraging neurodiverse thinking through different artforms, leading to greater understanding of both himself and the larger world.We Also Cover:

• The power of embracing neurodivergent perspectives in creative industries
• How exploring different mediums leads to discovering your unique talents
• The philosophical nature of neurodivergent thinking and its benefits
• Finding your authentic voice in a world of conformity
• The importance of trying new things to discover your true potential
• Creative outlets leading to self-discovery
• Rethinking failure as a learning tool
• Redefining success on personal terms
• How neurodivergents are natural entrepreneurs

Quotes:

• "For people who are unhappy with their jobs, which is probably most people, go read a bunch of books, go explore, go do things you've never done before, because you may not ever know in your whole life what your passion really is if you don't do that."
• "I think the people who cannot see your vision are actually pushing you to believe in yourself. So I actually am very grateful today to the people who have rejected me."
• "What we're taught in schools is essentially preparing us to be good little workers, but they're not preparing us to be critical thinkers or entrepreneurs."
• "So if you're just constantly listening to what everybody else is telling you to do, 'be like everybody else, take the safe road,' then honestly, you'll likely fail because it's redundant. What is the point of being someone else?"

About Bradley Lewis Foster:Bradley Lewis Foster is originally from a small town in Montana and spent over 15 years in marketing for some of the best brands in the world including companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Disney, AT&T, MillerCoors, and The Oscars. He has also helped hundreds of small businesses and developed a marketing training and mentorship program. He currently runs a full-service ad agency called EPONYMOUS that brings the science and methodologies used by top brands to businesses of all sizes.Connect with Bradley:

• Bradley Lewis's Website
• @BradleyLewisFoster on Instagram
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradley-lewis-foster-5613b29/
• https://bradleylewisfoster.com/books
• Bradley Lewis on YouTube

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram

Mike and Chaya sit down with author J.D. Barker, known for his gripping suspense thrillers, who reveals how being on the autism spectrum has shaped his career. Discover how neurodiversity fuels creativity as he shares his journey from ghostwriter to NYT bestseller, his lifelong passion for storytelling, and how to find your own 'superpower'.We Also Cover:

• The Importance of Supportive Relationships
• Later In Life Autism Diagnosis
• How Autistic Mirroring Aids in Ghostwriting
• Stepping Out of Comfort Zones
• The Influence of Neurodivergent Thinking on Plot Creation
• Finding Ways to Ground Yourself to Avoid Hyperfocus
• Nurturing Creative Outlets at an Early Age
• His Autism Advocacy
• Why AI Cannot Replicate the Human Experience

Quotes:

• "The more often I did something, as uncomfortable as it might be, like putting myself in a social situation, the easier it got."
• "I realized that I could take something that some people would see as a negative and basically turn it into a positive."
• "It takes a lot to walk away from one path, to get on your own path. It takes a lot of guts to do that."

About J.D. Barker:J.D. Barker is the New York Times and international best-selling author of numerous novels, including DRACUL, the wildly popular 4MK series, and frequently collaborates with James Patterson. He began work as a book doctor and ghostwriter, helping others fine tune their writing for publication. He would continue in this profession until 2012 when he wrote a novel of his own, titled Forsaken. Stephen King read portions of Forsaken prior to publication and granted Barker permission to utilize the character of Leland Gaunt (of King’s Needful Things) in the novel. His books have been translated into two dozen languages, sold in more than 150 countries, and optioned for both film and television. Barker resides in coastal New Hampshire with his wife, Dayna, and their daughter, Ember.Connect with J.D.:

• https://jdbarker.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/therealjdbarker
• https://www.instagram.com/jdbarker_author/
• https://x.com/jdbarker
• https://www.tiktok.com/@jdbarker_author
• https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B005FCUYU4
• https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8224327.J_D_Barker
• https://www.youtube.com/@jdbarker_author/featured

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram

Mike and Chaya sit down with Sam Led, a distinguished ADHD coach, podcaster, and the author of "Beyond ADHD," to delve into the multifaceted nature of ADHD; exploring its implications not just for diagnosed individuals but for society at large. Sam brings a treasure trove of insights, from the pressures of conforming, to reframing the "noise" in our minds as a unique cognitive experience rather than a flaw.We Also Cover:

• The Impact of Past Experiences
• Recognizing Emotional Contrasts for Balance
• Moving Beyond Rigid Strategies
• The Failure and Trauma of Punitive Education
• Empathy and Creativity
• Riding the Emotional Wave
• Accepting Your Inner Wisdom
• The Value of Suffering
• The Limitations of Conventional Coaching for ADHD

Quotes:

• "It is our inner self, which is so wise. It knows what to do, what not to do, who to trust, who not to trust. Just allow and drop into that space."
• "So we have to keep going, going and welcome those experiences because it'll teach us and we'll learn so much through those."
• "We're not living in the outside world. We're living in the experience of our inner world."
• "The glory of consciousness, conscious thought. You can change anything with one thought."
• "Because we are all Different and everybody has a right to have their opinion, including myself. But not letting that affect my own emotions has been my life journey."
• "ADHDers and neurodiverse have so often had their agency very much robbed from them by other people who've told them what they're capable of, what they're not capable of, what they should be doing."

About Sam Led:Sam Led, coach, author of Beyond ADHD, and host of The Fearless Now podcast, helps clients worldwide via Zoom discover their innate intelligence and wisdom by taking their thinking less seriously. Through personalized coaching and online programs, Sam guides individuals with ADHD and neurodiversity to understand their minds, drawing on his experience in personal development, human behavior, spirituality, and intuitive gifts. His background includes studies at the University of South Florida and Nova Southeastern University, a graduate degree in conflict resolution, and expertise in change management, enabling him to effectively support clients recovering from setbacks and losses by helping them access insights beyond the "noise" of their thinking.Connect with Sam:

• https://www.samledconsulting.com/
• https://www.samledconsulting.com/podcast
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/samledconsulting/
• https://www.facebook.com/samledconsulting/
• https://www.instagram.com/samled1111/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@samled1111
• https://www.youtube.com/c/samledconsulting

Related Reading:

• Beyond ADHD — Author Sam Led - Check out Sam's book!

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram

Mike and Chaya sit down with Neel Raikar, an 18-year-old trying to plot his own course through the complexities of school life while facing the hurdles associated with dyslexia. Neel doesn't hesitate to give his candid - and very relatable - aversion to the education system and how the pressure to conform to traditional career expectations often stifles the personal pursuit of joy.We Also Cover:

• Learning Difficulties & Concentration Challenges
• The Need For Teaching Real-World Applications of School Subjects
• Building Relevance and Engagement For Inclusive Learning
• Societal and Parental Pressures of Adulthood
• The Importance of Challenging Traditional Paths
• How Conventional Learning Methods Overlook Neurodiverse Students
• Fulfillment Coming From Passion Rather Than Obligation
• Finding Purpose in Living For Joy

Quotes:

• "I want to do my thing, but I want to do what my parents want me to do because I want them to be happy."
• "Sometimes a job is just a means to an end so you can go do the crap you like to do."
• "It's like, 'what do you want to do with your life?' No one ever asks, 'so what would make you happy in life?'"
• "When you're forced to do it, it takes the joy out of learning."
• "We judge people by jobs so often. We're very job obsessed society."

About Neel Raikar:Neel Raikar a straight-talking, school-hating, people-avoiding (you sound like me there), dyslexic 18-year-old Studying the IB program, navigating challenges with dyslexia while staying focused on academics. As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram

Mike and Chaya sit down with ADHD psychotherapist Ahmadreza Tadrisi to discuss how his own diagnosis sparked a desire to broaden the understanding of this neuro-type. In their talk, Ahmadreza debunks some harmful ADHD myths and highlights how the "ADHD as superpower" narrative can unintentionally marginalize those who face more significant struggles.We Also Cover:

• Cultural differences in understanding ADHD, particularly in Iran
• Inattentiveness without hyperactivity
• Misconceptions and stereotypes fueled by pop culture
• Systemic failures in accommodating neurodiversity
• The dual nature of ADHD as strength and challenge
• Limiting Labels vs Empowering Labels
• How social media advice can lead to unrealistic expectations

Quotes:

• "If we are struggling, it's because of the system. So if the systems were set up in the right way, we would be completely fine."
• "When you are forming an identity for yourself, things need to make sense."
• "The problem that we are having today is that the ones that need the most help, their voices are the ones that we hear the less."
• "It's very charmed to educate the public only about the positive aspects. It's more appealing and it sells better. But does it actually change the reality?"
• "But the more and more you train yourself to listen to that intuition, that gut feeling and the way it shows up, everybody has a different way of tapping into that."

About Ahmadreza Tadrisi:Ahmadreza Tadrisi is a psychotherapist with a master's in clinical psychology. Over the last four years, he has conducted over 3000 therapy and counseling sessions with more than 100 clients. His integrative, client-centered approach combines therapy and coaching, particularly focusing on Adult ADHD, inspired by his own diagnosis, and dedicated to creating a safe, inclusive space for all individuals.Connect with Adhamreza:

• @Ahmadrezatadrisi_ on Instagram
• https://www.instagram.com/influential_therapy/ 
• @Therapyforreal on X
• Ahmadreza on YouTube
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/ahmadrezatadrisi

Related Reading:

• Is ADHD a Superpower?
• Ahmadreza's Articles

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram

Parenting is an intricate dance, this is doubly true when you and your child share the same neurodivergence. Joshua Rastetter returns to elaborate further on these complexities, reflecting on the frustrations of a rigid educational system that didn’t accommodate his daughter's needs, and the how this led him to rethink generations of parental strategies, opting for something more... gamified.We Also Cover:

• Intrinsic Motivation and Meaningful Goals
• Overcoming Parenting Hypocrisy
• Appreciating Neurodivergent Children Require Different Approaches
• Creating a Cooperative Environment can Reduce Conflict and Improve Learning
• Recognizing the Unique Lopve Languages of Your Children to Enhance Communication
• A Gamer Approach to Parenting Styles
• The Difficulties of Remote Learning for Neurodivergent Kids During the Pandemic

Quotes:

• "And part of that was my own struggles with focus... projecting a little bit because as hard as it was for her to focus... it was just as hard, if not harder for me to focus enough to help her focus."
• "My mental health improved drastically when I stopped judging myself by the box that I didn't fit in."
• "Are we playing on co-op right now? Are we playing on Versus? It’s not my will versus your will. There’s a challenge that we need to face together."
• "I think as long as they're doing things in a fun way, it's fine. We don't have to get the whole picture. But unfortunately the schools today, the way it works, it doesn't satisfy an ADHD mind."
• "When we stop and ask, 'How do you love this person? How do you love this thing?'—that changes everything. It’s not just about the feeling but the expression."

About Joshua Rastetter:Joshua brings over 15 years of experience in tech and software development to address the real and pressing challenges faced by the neurodivergent community. With a degree in Management Information Systems, Joshua combines his technical expertise and strategic insight to drive innovation and create impactful solutions.At Spark Launch, Joshua is focused on driving the company's mission to empower neurodivergent individuals through innovative and strength-based solutions. His work emphasizes creating accessible and inclusive tools that support diverse thinkers in reaching their full potential.Connect with Joshua:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/jrastetter/
• https://www.rastetterpm.com/

Related Reading:

• The 5 Love Languages of Children by Dr. Gary Chapman and Dr. Ross Campbell - Book mentioned by Josh
• The Explosive Child by Dr. Ross Greene - Book mentioned by Josh

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram

Feeling hopeless amidst recent world events is a sentiment many of us currently relate to. But, as Mike and Chaya discuss in this episode, hopelessness can lead to fearlessness.We Also Cover:

• The cumulative impact of prolonged anxiety on mental health
• Finding connection in collective struggle
• Transforming negative energy into activism, creativity, or support
• The role of meditation in energy and anxiety management
• Love, anger, and compassion in crisis

Quotes:

• "There has been a great many people who, in the face of unrelenting sorrow, have been able to stand up and face something that is greater than them and become greater than that thing."
• "Transformation happens only when you experience deep pain. That pain is so hard that the only way out is to actually become a butterfly from a caterpillar."
• "Love got knocked down. Love can get back up."
• "We have no idea what's going to happen even the very next moment, so carrying the burden of the future is unnecessary."
• "When the world goes dark and cold, keep your fire burning so others may know where to stay warm."

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram

Mike recounts his recent vacation and how it led to a profound realization about neurodiverse travel experiences. He and Chaya reflect on the pressure to conform to typical social activities and how fulfillment can be found off the beaten path by embracing your own unique itinerary.We Also Cover:

• The liberation of discarding societal checklists
• How being neurodivergent allows you to redefine what fun means
• Permission to go at your own pace
• Letting go of external judgements on what you "should" do
• Finding tranquility in simplicity
• Choosing travel companions who respect neurodivergent needs

Quotes:

• "What may seem like nothing to an allistic person is everything to a neurodivergent."
• "Not caring what other people may think about my version of fun, that's the big when you're a neurodivergent."
• "That was me living in who I am as a neurodivergent, doing what is comfortable for me."
• "We always are seeking for that approval, whether knowingly or unknowingly. And because we are a minority, the neurodivergent people, it's way more challenging for us to to be ourselves."

As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark!Stay Connected:

• Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/
• ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/
• Chaya on Instagram
• Mike on Instagram