The Uncommon Minds Experience

Russell Van Brocklen is widely known as the Dyslexia Professor. He transforms daily reading struggles into confident academic breakthroughs for students with dyslexia . He is a New York State Senate‑funded dyslexia researcher and creator of The Writing Method, a neuroscience-based approach that helps struggling students become confident writers .

Dyslexia affects 15–20% of all learners, yet most families still hear "wait and see" . Russell flips that script. He translates structured literacy methods proven most effective for struggling readers into bite-size actions parents can use tonight .

His journey began with a first-grade reading and writing level at the end of university. He went on to dominate law school using the Socratic method, then returned to the New York State Senate to secure funding for dyslexia research .

What makes this conversation different:

This isn't another "how to help your dyslexic child" episode. It's a conversation about why the system is broken, why dyslexic kids aren't the problem, and what actually works when you teach to their strengths instead of their weaknesses.

What we explore in this conversation:

· How Russell went from a first-grade reading level to law school

· Why traditional teaching methods fail dyslexic students

· The neuroscience: why the back of the dyslexic brain has "next to nothing" while the front is 2.5x overactive

· Why dyslexic learners are "specialists, not generalists"

· The writing-first approach that helps students organize fast-moving ideas

· Why you shouldn't give Michael Jordan a hockey stick—teaching to strengths, not weaknesses

· How passion and specialization unlock learning

· Practical strategies parents can use tonight

· How Russell's free guide helps families get started

Connect with Russell:

· Website: dyslexiaclasses.com

· Free Guide: https://mailchi.mp/dcacd9a6f9ae/3-reasons-ebook

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses/

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87

About The Uncommon Minds Experience:

A podcast for people who refuse to accept broken systems. Featuring founders, physicians, engineers, and innovators who sit at the intersection of technology, medicine, and entrepreneurial thinking—unpacking how they identify problems others overlook and build solutions that actually work.

Subscribe for more conversations that challenge how you think about education, neurodiversity, and what it means to learn differently.

Website & Social

· Website: dyslexiaclasses.com

· Free Guide: https://mailchi.mp/dcacd9a6f9ae/3-reasons-ebook

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dyslexiaclasses/

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_cqwfxn9FqFx1Idl0YbeHg

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dyslexiaclassesus/

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/russell-van-brocklen-2007ab87

Book

· Writing to Read: A Proven Dyslexia Method for Turning Struggling Writers into Confident Readers

Katie Rizzo is an author, educator, and "accidental poet" with a master's from Yale University and postgraduate medical studies from the University of Colorado School of Medicine . She taught high school biology and anatomy for over fifteen years . Her life was upended on September 17, 2024, when her firstborn son Nicholas died from an accidental overdose involving oxycodone and Xanax after years of struggling with addiction .

In the aftermath, she began journaling and, eventually, writing poetry—something she had never done before . She describes grief as a process that mirrors pregnancy: a first trimester of nausea and disorientation, a second trimester of numbness as the world moves on, and a third trimester where grief becomes visible and must be "delivered" . She was inspired by musician Nick Cave's essay on asking grief to sit beside you rather than fighting it .

What makes this conversation different:

This isn't a "how to grieve" guide. It's a conversation about what happens when grief changes your body, your identity, and your way of seeing the world—and how creativity becomes a bridge between love and loss.

What we explore in this conversation:

· Losing a child to addiction and the shame that surrounds it

· The "Trimesters of Grief" framework—how grief mirrors pregnancy

· Breaking the stigma: "My son is an addict and I love him"

· How creativity and poetry became a lifeline

· What Al-Anon taught her about the "three Cs": you didn't cause it, you can't cure it, you can't control it

· Nick Cave's influence—asking grief to sit beside you

· The physical toll of grief on the body (cardiovascular and nervous system)

· How to support a grieving parent

· Why community and connection are essential

· The ongoing work of living with loss

Connect with Katie:

· Website: katierizzo.com

· Book: The Trimesters of Grief (Koehler Books, Oct 6, 2026; audio via Blackstone Publishing)

· Poetry: None of Them Are You (Extra Extra Publishing, Nov 1, 2026)

· Instagram: @katierizzo007

· TikTok: @katie.rizzo007

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rizzoboysandagirl/

· LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/katie-rizzo-098978280

About The Uncommon Minds Experience:

A podcast for people who refuse to accept broken systems. Featuring founders, physicians, engineers, and innovators who sit at the intersection of technology, medicine, and entrepreneurial thinking—unpacking how they identify problems others overlook and build solutions that actually work.

Subscribe for more conversations that challenge how you think about grief, addiction, and what it means to keep living after loss.

Books

· The Trimesters of Grief (Memoir) – Available Oct 6, 2026 via Koehler Books; audio via Blackstone Publishing

· None of Them Are You (Poetry Collection) – Available Nov 1, 2026 via Extra Extra Publishing

Website & Social

· Website: katierizzo.com

· Instagram: @katierizzo007

· TikTok: @katie.rizzo007

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rizzoboysandagirl/

· LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/katie-rizzo-098978280

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Jason Lange is a men's embodiment coach, group facilitator, and evolutionary guide who helps men drop in and wake up to deeper clarity in their life's purpose and relationships . He believes every man should be in a men's group for the growth and support opportunities they provide .

He is a certified No More Mr. Nice Guy coach and has trained and studied with leaders such as John Wineland, Dr. Robert Glover, Jun Po Roshi, Tripp Lanier, and Ken Wilber .

Many men are struggling right now as the old paradigms of what a "man" is supposed to be are no longer relevant or even appropriate . Men's work is where we discover healthier ways to be in the world and shed the old "lone wolf" way of being .

What makes this conversation different:

This isn't another "how to be a better man" episode. It's a conversation about why the old models of masculinity are crumbling, what happens when men don't have a framework for who they are, and what it actually looks like to build a healthier, more connected way of being.

What we explore in this conversation:

· The loneliness and discomfort that started his journey

· Why every man should be in a men's group

· The "manbox" and how it traps men

· What healthy masculinity actually looks like

· What women truly crave from men

· Why the lone wolf model fails

· What shadow work is—and how it can improve a man's life

· The common challenges men face today

· How to build emotional literacy

· What happens when men don't have a framework for who they are

Connect with Jason:

· Website: evolutionary.men

· Free Exploratory Call: evolutionary.men/talk

About The Uncommon Minds Experience:

A podcast for people who refuse to accept broken systems. Featuring founders, physicians, engineers, and innovators who sit at the intersection of technology, medicine, and entrepreneurial thinking—unpacking how they identify problems others overlook and build solutions that actually work.

Subscribe for more conversations that challenge how you think about masculinity, connection, and what it means to be a man today.

Website & Contact

· Website: evolutionary.men

· Free Exploratory Call: evolutionary.men/talk

Training & Certifications

· Certified No More Mr. Nice Guy Coach

· Trained with John Wineland, Dr. Robert Glover, Jun Po Roshi, Tripp Lanier, Ken Wilber

Dr. Christiane Schroeter is a behavioral economist, TEDx speaker, and leadership strategist known as The Small Steps Doctor. She is the host of Happy Healthy Hustle, a Top 1% global podcast named 2025 Woman Podcaster of the Year in the education category . She has taught and advised more than 10,000 students and professionals over 20+ years and has spoken on stages across five countries .

Her TEDx talk, How Small Steps Create Big Change, introduced her Petite Practice® framework—a simple, repeatable system built on small actions that compound into lasting momentum . She is also a published scholar with 24 papers and over 329 indexed citations, focusing on public health, behavioral economics, and nutrition .

What makes this conversation different:

This isn't another "hustle harder" episode. It's a research-backed conversation about why small steps actually work, how the brain processes change, and what it really takes to build confidence and leadership that lasts.

What we explore in this conversation:

· Coming to America as a Fulbright Scholar and building a career in a second language

· The Petite Practice® framework: Simplify, Tell, Examine, Praise, Repeat

· Why small steps beat big resolutions every time

· The difference between confidence and hustle

· How to create momentum without overload

· What teaching 10,000+ professionals has revealed about leadership under pressure

· The behavioral economics of change—and why small steps work

· How to lead with clarity, not pressure

· The STEP System: the engine behind Petite Practice®

Connect with Dr. Christiane:

· Website: doctorchristiane.com

· Podcast: Happy Healthy Hustle

· Book: Petite Practice®: Small, Steady Steps to a Life of Momentum and Real Change (August 2026)

· YouTube: @doctor.christiane

· Instagram: @doctor.christiane

· LinkedIn: [Link]

· Free Resource: Take the Petite Practice Power Quiz at doctorchristiane.com/quiz

About The Uncommon Minds Experience:

A podcast for people who refuse to accept broken systems. Featuring founders, physicians, engineers, and innovators who sit at the intersection of technology, medicine, and entrepreneurial thinking—unpacking how they identify problems others overlook and build solutions that actually work.

Subscribe for more conversations that challenge how you think about confidence, leadership, and the small steps that create lasting change.Website & Social

· Website: doctorchristiane.com

· Podcast: Happy Healthy Hustle

· Book: Petite Practice®: Small, Steady Steps to a Life of Momentum and Real Change (August 2026)

· YouTube: @doctor.christiane

· Instagram: @doctor.christiane

· LinkedIn: [Link]

· Free Quiz: doctorchristiane.com/quiz

Research

· 24 papers and 329 indexed citations

· Published in PLoS ONE, Neuropsychologia, Journal of Health Economics

Karen Kendra Holmes is a transgender advocate, author, TEDx speaker, and dedicated public servant whose life story is a testament to the power of authenticity, courage, and self-belief .

She retired from the Federal Government after serving for 24 years as a Trust and Safety Officer, served with the Maryland Defense Force, and now serves with the U.S. Veterans Reserve Corps . She volunteers with the Red Cross Disaster Action Team and the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) . She's been recognized twice as "Soldier of the Year" and named one of the Top 50 Transgender Americans You Need to Know .

She speaks across the country to the military, law enforcement, the medical community, federal agencies, and students—building a bridge between the transgender and cisgender communities .

What makes this conversation different:

This isn't just a "transition story." It's a conversation about what it means to serve your country while navigating your identity, the cost of hiding for four decades, and the courage it takes to finally become who you were always meant to be.

What we explore in this conversation:

· Growing up as a pastor's kid who loved art

· The lifelong journey to learn artistic skills

· What it means to "test" works of art

· The spiritual nature of creativity

· Why adults carry hidden fears about creativity

· How fear blocks creative expression

· Releasing the creativity you were born with

· The connection between art and faith

· The Bhutanese paper business and its spiritual lessons

· Helping kids embrace creativity

· Why art is more than visual—it's all the arts

· Political art and propaganda

· Identity and creativity

Connect with Karen:

· Website: karenkendraholmes.com

· Book: 40 Years and Wandering No More: Loving My Life Being Transgender

· Podcast: The Fireplace Chat

· TEDx Talk: "40 Years and Wandering No More"

· Instagram: @karenkendraholmes

About The Uncommon Minds Experience:

A podcast for people who refuse to accept broken systems. Featuring founders, physicians, engineers, and innovators who sit at the intersection of technology, medicine, and entrepreneurial thinking—unpacking how they identify problems others overlook and build solutions that actually work.

Subscribe for more conversations that challenge how you think about identity, service, and what it means to live authentically

Book

· 40 Years and Wandering No More: Loving My Life Being Transgender

· Available on Amazon

Website & Social

· Website: karenkendraholmes.com

· TEDx Talk: "40 Years and Wandering No More"

· Podcast: The Fireplace Chat

· Instagram: @karenkendraholmes

Rebecca Maff is a cancer biologist with over a decade of experience working in healthcare . She has worked on projects involving chronic diseases while leveraging data and artificial intelligence to solve complex problems in healthcare . Her research interests include what health problems are plaguing us in our modern world with a focus on cancer, autoimmune conditions, preventative medicine, longevity, population health, chronic pain, mental health, and understanding the root cause of disease .

She is a TEDx speaker and the "healthy biologist" who helps people understand what's making us sick and how we can heal . She experienced her own burnout and health crisis during graduate school—and had to figure out her own path to healing . From her lived experience, she gained wisdom on what the human body truly needs to be well .

She has facilitated workshops that focus on stress reduction and helps others understand the early warning signs of how stress shows up in the body and how stress impacts our health . She shares her perspective on what got her through her own burnout and health crisis—and what helped her heal and recover will shock you .

What makes this conversation different:

This isn't another "health tips" episode. It's a conversation about why we're getting sicker despite medical advances, what stress actually does to the body, and what it takes to truly heal.

What we explore in this conversation:

· The burnout and health crisis that changed everything

· What the human body truly needs to be well

· Why we're getting sicker in the age of advanced medicine

· How stress feeds into the disease model and pathway

· The alarming trends in cancer and autoimmune diagnoses

· The early warning signs of stress that people miss

· How AI and data will reshape healthcare

· The connection between women's health and hormones

· Easy ways to reduce stress

· Brain retraining techniques for self-empowerment

· Preventative medicine and longevity

· How to motivate positive change

Connect with Rebecca:

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D7Wq3zj92/

· Instagram: @rebeccamaff

· YouTube: [Link]

About The Uncommon Minds Experience:

A podcast for people who refuse to accept broken systems. Featuring founders, physicians, engineers, and innovators who sit at the intersection of technology, medicine, and entrepreneurial thinking—unpacking how they identify problems others overlook and build solutions that actually work.

Subscribe for more conversations that challenge how you think about health, healing, and what it means to truly be well.Social & Website

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1D7Wq3zj92/

· Instagram: @rebeccamaff

· YouTube: [Link]

Rick Sorenson is an artist, teacher, author, and creativity coach who grew up as a pastor's kid and has always been interested in art . He first learned to draw in seventh grade, which began a lifelong journey to learn the skills of art in drawing, painting, printmaking, and clay . He graduated from Monserrat College of Art with a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts .

He wrote a book, Art: The Church's Response, which explores what the biblical perspective is towards creativity and the arts by examining the Hebrew and Greek words the Bible uses touching on various art concepts . He taught seminars in creativity, drawing, and art's spiritual nature .

After graduating from art school, Rick became an international businessman, importing handmade papers from Bhutan and selling them to artists and art stores around the US . He introduced the Bhutanese papers to the US market and had this business for 13 years .

When he began teaching private classes to adults, he discovered that the process often brought out hidden fears that were suppressed since childhood . He helped many adults let go of fears that kept them from releasing their God-given creativity .

What makes this conversation different:

This isn't another "how to be creative" episode. It's a conversation about why we suppress our creativity, how fear blocks our creative expression, and what it actually takes to release the creativity we were born with.

What we explore in this conversation:

· Growing up as a pastor's kid who loved art

· The lifelong journey to learn artistic skills

· What it means to "test" works of art

· The spiritual nature of creativity

· Why adults carry hidden fears about creativity

· How fear blocks creative expression

· Releasing the creativity you were born with

· The connection between art and faith

· The Bhutanese paper business and its spiritual lessons

· Helping kids embrace creativity

· Why art is more than visual—it's all the arts

· Political art and propaganda

· Identity and creativity

Connect with Rick:

· Website: ricksorenson.com

· Substack: rick sorenson.substack.com

· Book: Art: The Church's Response (Available on Amazon)

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-sorenson-0801a28/

About The Uncommon Minds Experience:

A podcast for people who refuse to accept broken systems. Featuring founders, physicians, engineers, and innovators who sit at the intersection of technology, medicine, and entrepreneurial thinking—unpacking how they identify problems others overlook and build solutions that actually work.

Subscribe for more conversations that challenge how you think about creativity, faith, and what it means to express yourself authentically.

Book

· Art: The Church's Response

· Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Art-Churchs-Response-Rick-Sorenson-ebook/dp/B0BV19G3KK/

Website & Social

· Website: ricksorenson.com

· Substack: rick sorenson.substack.com

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-sorenson-0801a28/

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ricksorenson/

Steve Ward is the founder and Executive Director of STEPS Ministries, a nonprofit ministry with the goals of helping people improve their lives, grow closer to God, and prevent addiction . He spent 38 years at IBM in management and leadership positions across engineering, sales, and global marketing—all while struggling with alcoholism . His wife and two sons dealt with substance use disorder as well .

Those dark times led him to leave the business world after 38 years and found a new nonprofit ministry to help people improve their lives . He is the author of STEPS: A Daily Journey to a Better Life and Next Right Steps: How to Live Life Better . He has spoken to, taught, coached, and shared content with thousands of people to help them take steps toward a positive future .

His core message: everyone is addicted to something. And that's an opportunity to live life better .

What makes this conversation different:

This isn't another "recovery story." It's a conversation about why addiction doesn't look the way we think it does, why high-functioning people are often the most isolated in their struggles, and what it actually takes to take the next right step .

What we explore in this conversation:

· The 38-year journey at IBM while struggling with alcoholism

· What it means to be a "high-functioning" addict

· How addiction affects entire families—not just individuals

· The CHAINS framework: Compulsive Habits, Addictions, and Idols; Negative Self‑Talk

· Proactive parenting and protecting kids from substance abuse

· The STEPS framework and the Twelve Steps adapted for everyone

· The role of faith in recovery

· Why community and connection are essential for healing

· The difference between shame and accountability

· How to help someone who doesn't think they have a problem

Connect with Steve:

· Website: lifeimprovementsteps.com

· Books: STEPS: A Daily Journey to a Better Life and Next Right Steps: How to Live Life Better

· Podcast: Next Right Steps

· Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lifeimprovementsteps

· Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lifeimprovementsteps/

· YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLZmEBeBHIRw5U7TGmbGJaA

· LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-c-ward-4a010396/

About The Uncommon Minds Experience:

A podcast for people who refuse to accept broken systems. Featuring founders, physicians, engineers, and innovators who sit at the intersection of technology, medicine, and entrepreneurial thinking—unpacking how they identify problems others overlook and build solutions that actually work.

Subscribe for more conversations that challenge how you think about addiction, recovery, and what it means to live life better.

Books

· STEPS: A Daily Journey to a Better Life

· Available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble

· Paperback ISBN: 9781628718928

· Hardcover ISBN: 9781629521817

· eBook ISBN: 9781628718935

· Next Right Steps: How to Live Life Better

· Available on Amazon and AbeBooks

· ISBN: 9798762512916

This conversation is for anyone who has ever felt like they're just going through the motions—and wondered how to find their way back to themselves.

David Alan Brown has been teaching personal empowerment, leadership, and spirituality to audiences across the country for more than thirty years . He is the author of many books, including Answer the Call and The Self-Help Paradox . But his journey wasn't always one of clarity and purpose.

For years, he was the "good guy"—the supportive partner, the present dad, the dependable friend—until one pandemic night he drove in circles, ideating, and realized he needed help . He had been living in functional depression, a kind of emotional numbness that had slowly eroded his sense of self . Therapy, awareness, and a surprising validation—"anger is the appropriate reaction here"—reopened his emotional life .

From there, David rebuilt with a simple framework: cultivate awareness, honor emotion (without judgment), and take aligned action . That framework became Convergence, his program for weaving three voices—instinct/emotion, active intellect, and a higher-power "I got you" presence—into one integrated way of living.

In this episode, we explore:

🧠 The Three Inner Voices – David introduces the three voices that live inside each of us: the emotional/instinctual voice, the active/intellectual voice, and the inspired/spiritual voice. He explains why most people are unknowingly led by these voices rather than learning to lead them .

🔄 The Convergent Conversation – He shares his framework for integrating these three voices into a "committee meeting" that honors the needs, wants, and gifts of each voice. He explains how to move from autopilot to authorship—on purpose, one step at a time .

🛑 The "Good Guy" Identity Trap – David opens up about his personal journey of self-erasure—how being the supportive partner, dependable friend, and present dad led to a slow loss of self that eventually spiraled into suicidal ideation .

💡 The Gift Inside Every Emotion – He shares a powerful insight: "the gift of anger is motivation" . He explains how he learned to honor emotions without judgment and use them as fuel for aligned action.

🔮 Manifestation as Aligned Energy – David reframes manifestation as cultivating general aligned energy rather than chasing specific outcomes. He explains how his Convergent Energy approach differs from commercialized manifestation methods .

What Listeners Gain:

· A new understanding of the conversation happening inside your own mind

· Practical tools for recognizing and regulating your three inner voices

· Permission to honor emotions without being controlled by them

· A framework for moving from drifting to authoring your own life

· The reminder that the most important conversation you have is the one happening internally

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with David Alan Brown

🌐 Website: davidalanbrown.com

📖 Convergence Program: davidalanbrown.com/convergence

📱 Instagram: @theauthordavidalanbrown

🔗 LinkedIn: David Alan Brown

📘 Facebook: David Alan Brown

This conversation is for anyone tired of shouting matches and ready for thoughtful, nuanced dialogue on the issues that divide us.

Elias Martin knows this terrain intimately. He is a Native New Yorker, history buff, and host of the Politically High-Tech podcast, a show with over 250 episodes exploring politics, policy, technology, AI, spirituality, and personal development . His mission is to restore the ability to have difficult conversations—on politics, religion, and the complex issues shaping our world .

He describes himself as a researcher who seeks to provide the most nuanced and clear answers to complex events, exploring why so many people have become disengaged from politics and why hostility toward differing opinions has increased .

In this episode, we explore:

🗳️ America's Tribalism and Political Divide – Elias explores the roots of division and why simple narratives create emotional reactions rather than real solutions . He shares his experience as an independent voter who has switched parties multiple times and what that journey taught him.

📚 Why History Matters – He explains his deep interest in history, how it shapes his understanding of current events, and why he believes we must study the past to navigate the present.

🤖 Technology's Role in Polarization – Elias discusses how social media algorithms reinforce beliefs and deepen divides, and how AI is reshaping politics and public discourse .

🕊️ The Need for Nuance and Independent Voices – He advocates for a return to respectful disagreement and the importance of listening—not just debating—as a path to understanding .

🙏 Spirituality in Modern Discourse – Elias explores how inner work and faith can create real understanding, and why he believes God is needed in America and around the world.

What Listeners Gain:

· A more balanced, nuanced perspective on today's political divides

· Tools for engaging in difficult conversations without hostility

· Insight into the intersection of technology, politics, and spirituality

· The reminder that most people sit in the space between extremes

· A renewed openness to thoughtful discussion and independent thinking

This isn't motivation. It's methodology.

Connect with Elias Martin

🌐 Website: politicallyhightech.buzzsprout.com

🎙️ Podcast: Politically High-Tech (250+ episodes)

📱 YouTube: Elias Martin

📱 Rumble: Elias Martin

📱 Facebook: EliasEllusion

📱 Apple Podcasts: Politically High-Tech

📱 Spotify: Politically High-Tech