Empowering Exceptional Minds

Dyslexia isn't just a reading challenge — it touches every part of a child's emotional world. In this episode, we sit down with Sara Cuen, founder of Journey 2 Learning, a special education professional and mom of two children with dyslexia, to explore where her professional expertise and personal experience intersect. We dig into the biggest myths about dyslexia, why regulation is such an...

Father's Day may have been a couple of weeks ago, but celebrating the role of fathers shouldn't be limited to just one day. As summer gives families more time together, it's the perfect opportunity to reflect on what it means to be present for our children. In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds , I sit down with Anthony Gracia for an honest and heartfelt conversation about fa...

What happens when the symptoms of perimenopause collide with neurodivergence? Many women find themselves struggling with brain fog, overwhelm, forgetfulness, emotional sensitivity, anxiety, sensory challenges, and executive function difficulties—often wondering, "What's happening to me?" In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds, host Maayan Glaser-Koren sits down with Kara Cru...

What if overeating wasn't about laziness or a lack of self-control? In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds , host, Maayan Glaser-Koren, sits down with Kamy Mousavi, founder of Step Together. Kamy shares his powerful journey from immigrating to Canada to struggling with bullying, body shame, and bulimia—only to discover his relationship with food was rooted in undiagnosed ADHD and unme...

What does it take to turn a big idea into a finished book — especially when your brain won't cooperate? This week we're joined by Rochelle Melander Row-SHELL MUH-lander, an ADHD-trained certified professional coach and bestselling author of Level Up: Quests to Master Mindset, Overcome Procrastination and Increase Productivity and the award-winning children's book Mightier Than the Swor...

For many families, the idea of medication can feel overwhelming, confusing, and even frightening. In this candid and compassionate conversation, Maayan Glaser-Koren sits down with psychiatrist Dr. Sir Norman Melancon to explore the realities of treating OCD and ADHD. Together, they unpack common myths about psychiatric medications, discuss when medication may be helpful, and explain how treatment...

What does it actually cost to fit in? In this episode, we sit down with Kory Andreas, LCSW-C — a clinical social worker, autism and neurodivergent specialist, late-diagnosedautistic adult, and founder of Unmasking Retreats — who brings over 20 years of experience in education and clinical practice to a conversation that is long overdue. We talk about what masking is, why autistic individuals do it...

Can you be highly successful, deeply creative, and still struggle with the day-to-day demands of executive dysfunction? Absolutely. In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds, we are joined by the multi-talented Dr. John Severino, PsyD—CFO, compliance consultant, professional percussionist, and founder of MyAdultADHDCoach.com. Dr. Severino bridges the gap between the corporate world and neuro...

What does school look like when it's built around a child's brilliance instead of their gaps? Sam Young, M.Ed. — Founder of Young Scholars Academy, two-time Fulbright Scholar, TEDx speaker, and neurodivergent educator — joins us to talk about what it really takes to educate gifted, twice-exceptional, and neurodivergent learners well. Sam shares his personal path into education, the philoso...

What really happens behind the scenes when a school suggests moving your child from an IEP to a 504 plan? In this candid and empowering episode, Maayan Glaser-Koren hosts Melinda David-Gillinger, an educational advocate. Melinda pulls back the curtain on educational advocacy—sharing her personal journey into this work and what drives her to support families navigating complex school systems. She b...

If you grew up with ADHD, dyslexia, or any kind of neurodivergence — chances are you also grew up feeling like you were always one step behind socially. Like everyone else had been handed a rulebook you never received. This episode is about what that does to us. And what we can actually do about it. My guest is Caroline Maguire — internationally recognized ADHD coach, social-emotional learning exp...

What does a developmental pediatrician actually do — and how is it different from your child's regular doctor? In this episode, Maayan speaks with Dr. Korb, developmental pediatrician and author of Raising an Organized Child , about early red flags parents often miss, what organization truly means for a developing brain, and when families should stop waiting and seek an evaluation. If your chi...

Your teen isn't lazy. Their brain is just doing something you can't see — and that's exactly the problem. Carrie Bonnett joins us to break down executive function: the invisible mental machinery behind starting, planning, and following through. When it's not working, homework doesn't get touched, assignments get "forgotten," and everyone ends up frustrated. When you f...

If you've ever sat in an IEP meeting and walked out feeling overwhelmed — this episode is for you. So many parents describe the same experience: a room full of professionals using language you don't fully understand, decisions that feel like they've already been made, and a quiet voice inside asking, "Am I doing enough for my kid?" You are not alone. And you deserve someone i...

Is Whole Body Listening outdated? What's replacing it — and why does it matter for your child? In this episode, we welcome Elizabeth Sautter, a licensed speech-language pathologist with nearly 30 years of experience, award-winning author of Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick!, and a mom of two children with additional needs. Elizabeth is passionate about helping families support neurodiv...

You've built the career. You're raising the family. You're crushing it by every measure — so why does it feel like you're running on fumes? In this episode, Wainwright Yu— technology executive, Stanford-trained leadership coach, and mindfulness teacher — gets real about the hidden energy tax neurodivergent adults pay every single day. From masking in meetings to managing a househol...

In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds , we explore Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) —a profile often misunderstood as defiance, avoidance, or oppositional behavior. I’m joined by Dr. Alex Klein to unpack what’s really going on beneath the surface. We talk about how PDA is rooted in the nervous system, why everyday demands can feel overwhelming, and how traditional approaches often bac...

Do you know a bright, capable student who still struggles with reading, attention, or learning—even after passing a school vision screening or getting glasses from the eye doctor? Many families are told their child’s vision is “20/20,” yet something still isn’t clicking in the classroom. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Carole Hong from Family Vision Care and Vision Therapy , who brings over 30 y...

In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds , we sit down with Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC — licensed counselor, author, speaker, and host of The Neurodiversity Podcast — for a conversation that every parent and educator of a twice-exceptional child needs to hear. As a 2e adult with giftedness and ADHD herself, Emily brings rare authenticity to her work. She's the author of Raising Twice-Exc...

In this episode, we sit down with Lori Crowley, a California-based counselor specializing in somatic and sensory-informed approaches to mental health. Lori brings a unique blend of professional expertise and lived experience as a neurodivergent parent, making this conversation both deeply insightful and refreshingly relatable. We dive into polyvagal theory — what it actually means, how our nervous...

Graduate school and post-grad life can be both intellectually stimulating and deeply overwhelming. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Becca Güler, EdD, to explore the executive function demands of advanced education — from coursework to thesis and dissertation completion. We unpack procrastination (and why it’s often a nervous system response rather than laziness), perfectionism, avoidance cycle...

There are so many tools out there—and for many parents, educators, and neurodivergent adults, figuring out where to start can feel overwhelming. New apps, new devices, new AI tools… it’s a lot. In today’s episode, we slow it down and make assistive technology feel practical, accessible, and kinda human. I’m joined by Joan L. Green, M.A., CCC-SLP , Speech-Language Pathologist, Assistive Technology...

In today’s episode, I’m joined by Dr. Michal (Me-hal) Reznizki , professor at UC Berkeley and scholar of writing, rhetoric, and composition. With over 12 years of experience teaching composition, Michal brings powerful insights into how students learn to write—and how educators can better engage them in the process. We talk about why meaningful writing takes time, what students often underestimate...

What does effective collaboration between parents and schools really look like—and how can families advocate without compromising their child’s self-determination? In this episode of Empowering Exceptional Minds , host Maayan Glaser-Koren is joined by Allison Krug, MPH, PCC —epidemiologist, certified professional coach, and founder of TrainMyAIM—to explore how we can move away from rigid labels an...

In this episode, we’re joined by Jana Parker, Licensed Educational Psychologist and founder of Mind by Design, a multidisciplinary private practice in Campbell, California serving children, teens, and young adults. With a background in public education and years in private practice, Jana brings a strengths-based, practical, and deeply human approach to psychoeducational evaluation. Together, we un...