Unmasking Social

On this week's episode of Unmasking Social, Harry Voulgarakis, PhD, BCBA-D joins us for a conversation exploring how  a diagnosis can explain a person. It should never define them. We speak about the overlap between neuropsychology, behavior analysis, and ACT, and what stood out most was how deeply human his approach is. What is this person's life actually like? What are they trying to d...

I share a deeply personal solo episode about feeling stuck, grieving, and trying to reset during a season filled with reflection. I connect my own emotional rut, the approach of Rosh Hashanah, and the anniversary of 9/11 to a broader conversation about trauma, gratitude, and why it is okay to feel it all. In this episode, I talk through the tension between feeling grateful and still feeling sad, t...

Charlie Keeble returns to Unmasking Social to talk about how his activism has evolved since their last conversation.  We discuss how his fierce advocacy in the UK has shifted to a broader, more personal form of political and social advocacy, specifically around autism, Jewish life, and what Zionism means to him as someone who is not Jewish. We discuss how Charlie’s work with his company, NeuroZion...

What happens when our desire to keep children safe hinders their growth?  In this episode, Lenore Skenazy - an author, speaker, and advocate who has become a leading voice in the movement toward giving children greater independence - discusses the inadvertent consequences of overprotective parenting, from limiting free play to making children feel they must be safe at all times, with not allowing...

In this episode, we explore the world of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) with Rose Griffin, both and SLP and BCBA and through heartfelt stories, professional insights, and practical tools to be used.  Join us as we unpack common misconceptions, highlight the importance of collaboration among therapists, educators, and families, and discuss strategies for supporting regulation across all ages and s...

In this episode, Shellee  Howard, founder and CEO of College Ready, discusses how families can navigate the complex college admission process, negotiate effectively, and prepare students for lifelong success. Her insights challenge common misconceptions and provide practical strategies to optimize college choices, scholarships, and career planning. This formula is not based on a checklist, but rat...

In this episode, we explore the vital importance of emotional regulation through the Zones of Regulation, for neurodivergent and neurotypical youth and adults with OT Leah Kuypers. She offers practical strategies to foster regulation and emotional self-awareness in children, teens, and educators alike.  A key aspect of this is addressed: differentiating between dysregulation caused by trauma, sens...

Hallie Bulkin, an SLP and expert in pediatric feeding and myofunctional therapy, reveals the interconnected web of mouth, airway, and systemic health that often goes unnoticed but impacts children and adults deeply. This episode isn't just about feeding ; it's about transforming how we see health from the inside out! It's about terapy that heals the entire system from the airway to...

Are we mistaking dyspraxia for mere clumsiness? Absolutely. But the real truth? Dyspraxia is a profound neurological difference that affects million, yet it's misunderstood, overlooked, and often dismissed. Rosemary Richings, a fierce advocate diagnosed with dyspraxia at four, exposes the myths and reveals what truly lies beneath the surface - how sensory overload, stress, and neurodivergence...

In this heartfelt episode, Chris Coulter shares the raw truth behind his inspiring journey of advocacy after losing his daughter Maddie to suicide. He reflects on the warning signs parents and professionals often miss, the importance of trusting your gut instincts, and how we can help families and employers recognize when something is off before it becomes a crisis. The conversation also explores...

🎓 Special Re-Release Episode As summer begins and students prepare for the transition from high school to college, we're bringing back one of the most important conversations from the archives. Whether you're an incoming college student, a parent, educator, or clinician, the transition to college involves much more than academics. Success often depends on executive functioning, self-adv...

In this heartfelt solo episode, I dive deep into the heart of a silent crisis impacting teens, tweens, adults, and entire communities - loneliness. It's not just about being alone; it's about feeling unseen, unheard, and disconnected even amidst a sea of people. The invisibility.  You will hear about practical insights will move you to re-evaluate how we connect and care for one another....

In this episode with Dr. Daniel Wendler , we dive deeply into the world of mental health and authentic connections. Dr. Daniel Wendler is a proudly autistic clinical psychologist, two-time TEDx speaker, best-selling author, and workplace mental health expert. He combines  hisclinical expertise with personal lived experience to help audiences better understand neurodivergent burnout, mental wellnes...

In this deeply emotional and thought-provoking conversation, Dr. Randolph Schiffer, neurologist, psychiatrist, author and former founding director of the Cleveland Clinic Centre for Brain Health.and  shares his extraordinary journey from enlisting in the Vietnam War to becoming a pioneering neurologist, psychiatrist, and advocate for resilience, responsibility, and ultimately courage. Through pers...

Nicole Kolenda (Lead SLP DTTC Treatment Research and Adjunct Professor) joins us for a powerful conversation exploring the world of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS), from groundbreaking research and evidence-based treatment approaches to the deeper impact communication has on every aspect of our life. Throughout the episode, Nicole shares how her passion for apraxia evolved over more than 24 year...

Dive into the powerful story of  Enachu "Frederick" Edmos, a true changemaker from Lira City, Uganda. From childhood struggles, orphanhood, and witnessing the suffering of children with autism and disabilities  in the refugee campe in Northern Uganda, he’s on a mission to revolutionize education and societal perceptions. This episode sparks a call for action, ecause every child deserves...

Tune in for an emotional, eye-opening journey with two passionate  (and funny) professionals breaking down the complexities of literacy, executive functioning, and what it truly means to support neurodivergent learners. This episode is raw, real, and packed with insights you need to hear. If you're tired of surface-level advice, this conversation with Jennifer Volpe, a speech and language pat...

In this episode of Unmasking Social , I speak with Mark Talaga about his journey from professional gaming to counseling gifted and neurodivergent youth. We explore asynchronous development, emotional intensity, and why giftedness is about far more than intelligence alone; often the struggles are invisible. Mark shares why authentic connection matters more than behavior correction, the risks of lab...

In this episode of Unmasking Social , I sit down with Hallie Sherman, founder of Speech Time Fun, to talk about what happens when speech and language therapy truly meets teens and tweens where they are. Hallie shares why so many middle and high school students disengage from therapy, and how honoring their interests, voice, and goals can completely change the experience. We explore how making ther...

Passover tells a story about freedom. But how many Jews left Egypt? Why did so many fear the comfort of leaving slavery? Liberation always comes at a cost - leaning into the discomfort of the newness of it ALL. In this solo episode, I reflect on the idea of a modern-day exodus-  not from a physical place, but from patterns, expectations, and internal narratives that takes away our peace in exchang...

Boundaries don’t start with rules- they start with the language we use. In this episode of Unmasking Social , we’re joined by parent coach Jillian Bober, a SEIT, Kindergarten teacher and parent coach at Coachable Change. She brings a grounded and compassionate lens to setting boundaries, creating structure, and supporting children in a way that actually feels safe and sustainable. Jillian shares h...

In this episode, Logan shares his journey from being underestimated because of his autism to building his own path as an entrepreneur in the video game world. He opens up about what it felt like when others assumed he had limited abilities, how those messages affected him, and what helped him keep going even when the path forward was not easy. His message is consistently about getting back up and...

In this candid episode of Unmasking Social , Michael McLeoud, an ADHD and executive functioning spalist, who has devoted his professional time to a broader mission of supporting families and children with ADHD/AuDHD by always keeping it honest. The hard truths are explored in this episode where Michael tells us how dopamines hits executive functioning, debilitating this system that is dysregulated...

This episode originally aired on Liv Label Free hosted by Livia Sara.  In this vulnerable episode, Liv opens up about how her OCD has resurfaced since moving back home. Liv and Sharon also discuss how traditional treatments for OCD and eating disorders fail neurodivergent people when the approach isn’t person-centered. To connect with Liv: Contact Liv Label Free and Autism and anorexia books – Liv...

In this episode of Unmasking Social, Sharon sits down with Maureen Nguyen- a lifelong math teacher whose path has led her into meaningful work supporting neurodivergent college students in Perth, Australia. Maureen works at Kiara College, a specialized college uniquely embedded within a neurotypical university, where inclusion isn’t an add-on- it’s the heartbeat of the campus. What truly sets Kiar...