Spark Launch Podcast

Mike and Chaya sit down with Jodi Davidson, founder of Leader Within coaching and consulting, who opens up about how shame, perfectionism, and masking can quietly run the show. She shares the story behind her Kintsugi-inspired approach (release, repair, renew), plus the reality of late-diagnosed neurodivergence, the exhausting weight of masking, and how growing up as a sibling to someone with auti...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Lainey Hills, founder of Curiously Divergent and Neuro Curiosity, to talk about why neurodivergent employees struggle at work because of workplace design—not lack of capability. Lainey shares her experiences with autism, ADHD, masking, and workplace discrimination, leading to greater understanding of practical accommodations, EEOC rights, and what supportive leadership...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Elissa Renee—speech-language pathologist, autism clinical specialist, and the founder of Speech Works by Elissa—for a conversation that challenges what we assume “communication” looks like. Elissa shares how her own experience with selective mutism and speech apraxia shaped the way she supports non-speaking kids today, and what changed when she later realized she’s aut...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Candace Gillhoolley: author, and co-host of the #1-rated quantum computing podcast Impact Quantum. The daughter of an IBM inventor who was working on quantum algorithms decades before the world caught up, and someone who didn't learn to read until she was 10, Candace makes a compelling case that the neurodivergent brain doesn't just navigate complexity — it's built for...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Ravi R. Iyer, a Harvard-educated physician, entrepreneur, ADHD thought leader, and creator of IR Focal Point, to talk about the one force that turns potential into reality: attention. Ravi unpacks why desire alone is not enough, the hidden mechanics of human potential., and why so many people live as consumers of life instead of creators. We Also Cover: ADHD focus...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Sam Mitchell, autistic creator and host of Autism Rocks and Rolls, to talk about autism advocacy, identity, and why special interests can be a gift, not something to erase. Sam shares how years of bullying, depression, and exclusion shaped his early life, and how a creative outlet grew into a nonprofit, a speaking platform, and a mission to help people see autism throu...

Mike opens up about his personal history with depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm as an AuDHD individual — from his earliest memories of struggling as a child to his last attempt in 2018. He and Chaya explore what it means to feel "out of frequency" as a neurodivergent person, the coping strategies that kept him alive, and what actually helps (and what doesn't) when someone you love is in...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Stéphane Mousseau, learning strategist and founder of LIX Learning, a framework designed to bring clarity, trust, and neuro-inclusive design to the world of digital course creation. Stéphane opens up about his own ADHD, the years he spent masking it in rigid corporate environments, and how the frustration of broken systems — at work and in learning — drove him to build...

In the season finale of season 2, Mike and Chaya sit down with Candice Christiansen, a leading voice at the intersection of neurodiversity, trauma, and intimacy, for a conversation that gets existential—and a little bit weird. The three explore the sacred energy of creation, the challenge of healing in a world that isn't always helpful, and what it means to harness your own power when you’ve been...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Rupali Sharma, founder and director of The T.E.C. Schools in Worcester, Massachusetts, who shares her journey from architecture to Montessori education, revealing how autonomy, observation, and child-centered learning create environments where neurodivergent children thrive without labels or limitations. We Also Cover: The philosophy behind Think, Explore, Create and i...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Derek Crager to discuss his journey of being late-diagnosed AuDHDer, how embracing his neurodivergence led him from the manufacturing floor to building transformative accessible AI tools for the neurodivergent community, and what it truly means to create human-centered technology that actually fits. We Also Cover: How receiving his autism and ADHD diagnosis brought sel...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Anu Dayal-Gulati, a certified ancestral healing practitioner, to explore how inherited emotional patterns can create subconscious blocks in our lives. Anu explains how everything from our relationships to our finances can be impacted by these generational traumas, including how they can uniquely affect neurodivergent minds, and provides practical tools to begin the hea...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Diana Stelin, an award-winning artist, educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of The Plein-Air Art Academy. Diana shares her journey and expertise on the connection between art and emotional healing, explaining how anyone can use creativity to manage burnout, connect with their intuition, and foster better confidence. We Also Cover: Art therapy as an accessible tool for e...

Mike and Chaya sit down with neuro-inclusion consultant Gabriela Tardea to get practical about building workplaces where neurodivergent talent can thrive. From auditing culture and rewriting job descriptions to unlearning bias on teams, Gabriela breaks down how to bridge the gap between good intentions and real, embedded change. We Also Cover: Bridging intentions and actions with culture-first aud...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Austin psychotherapist Lisa Modur to talk about misunderstood childhood ADHD, self‑stigma, perfectionism, and how “mom‑wine culture” became a coping tool before treatment and long‑term recovery reshaped her life, relationships, and parenting. We Also Cover: ADHD and specialized schooling Feeling “less than,” comparison, and confidence erosion Perfectionism, over‑planni...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Pritika Bernice Gonsalves, a child psychologist and EAP specialist, to discuss the nuances of neurodiversity and mental health from a cross-cultural perspective between India and the United States. Dr. Gonsalves shares her experiences with the state of ADHD awareness in India, how patriarchal norms affect diagnosis in boys and girls, and why she believes parental c...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Mandi Davis Skerbetz, co-founder of Sage School of Dallas, who has dedicated her career to reshaping how we support neurodivergent and twice-exceptional students. Dr. Skerbetz shares how she identified gaps in public, private, and charter institutions, the hard reality for parents forced to pick between academic or emotional support, and reveals how Sage is rewriti...

Chaya and Mike speak with Dr. Margaret “Pegi” Price, a distinguished professor, legal expert, and program director at National University, about her journey blending personal experience as a parent with her career in family law. Dr. Price shares some eye-opening insights from her book, The Special Needs Child and Divorce , and explains how small changes in legislation and legal practices can make...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Priya Chanduraj, the founder and CEO of FinTeam One, who discusses how her ADHD became an asset in the world of finance. Priya shares her experience of being a "challenged child" in India and how discovering her passion for economics allowed her to excel, and the freedom that comes from finding what you're good at. We Also Cover: The chaos of social dynamics for a neur...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Jane Singleton, a learning specialist, executive coach, and founder of Launchpad for Life. With over a decade of experience in education, Jane shares how her early experiences advocating for people with disabilities ignited her passion for helping neurodivergent individuals thrive. She discusses the gaps in traditional schooling, the importance of effective communicati...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. LaToya Hinton, an autistic, ADHDer, and passionate advocate for neurodivergent women in leadership. With her experiences as a late-diagnosed adult, LaToya dives into the mental toll of masking, perfectionism, and how accessible environments can unlock untapped potential. She shares strategies for fostering authenticity, creating safe spaces, and leading without apo...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Christian Vinceneux, ADHD advocate, coach (Life Guide Coaching), and former occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience working with neurodivergent families. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Christian reflects on growing up as a neurodivergent child in France, navigating challenges without the tools or words to define them, and how his father’s own quirks...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Michelle Markman, a late-diagnosed autistic entrepreneur and founder of ND Coach Inc., where she supports high-achieving neurodivergent women in unmasking and thriving on their own terms. Michelle reflects on how her diagnosis transformed her perspective on masking, burnout, and social challenges, and she shares practical tools for building authentic connections, recla...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Peter O’Neil, a retired attorney, musician, grandfather, and author of My So-Called Disorder: Autism, Exploding Trucks, and the Big Daddy of Rock and Roll. Diagnosed as autistic at 65, Peter reflects on how that discovery transformed his experiences of masking, social struggles, and professional success. From solitude as a young man to thriving as a relentless advocate...

Mike and Chaya sit down with Kristin Walker, the founder of the Mental Health News Radio Network, to discuss her late-in-life discovery of being autistic and having ADHD.  Kristin opens up about the emotional toll of masking, the powerful shift that came with her diagnosis, and how those experiences inspired her to amplify diverse voices in mental health. We Also Cover: The connection between bein...