The Gifted Ed Podcast

In this episode, we welcome Michelle Hirschy to continue our digital wellness series and explore how social-emotional learning and digital wellness intersect in the lives of children and adolescents today. Michelle serves as the Director of Wellness at La Jolla Country Day School, where she leads a comprehensive PreK–12 wellness program focused on preventive mental health, student development, and...

In this episode, we welcome Yonty Friesem and returning guest Luke Jacob to continue the series on digital wellness. Together, they unpack the concept of empathy—what it is, how it has evolved, and why it’s more complex than we often assume. The conversation explores empathy as a multi-dimensional skill and examines its critical role in supporting gifted students, especially within today’s digital...

In this second installment of a series on digital wellness and media literacy, we continue our conversation with educator, writer, and scholar Lucas Jacob to explore how these evolving fields intersect with gifted education. Together, we unpack foundational definitions, discuss how rapidly changing digital environments impact learners, and emphasize the importance of cultivating mindsets—not just...

In this first installment of a series on digital wellness and media literacy, we welcome educator, writer, and scholar Lucas Jacob to explore how these evolving fields intersect with gifted education. Together, we unpack foundational definitions, discuss how rapidly changing digital environments impact learners, and emphasize the importance of cultivating mindsets — not just skillsets — to help st...

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Gwen Cooper, Middle School Head and Secondary Placement Director at Avery Coonley School, to unpack the process of evaluating secondary school options for gifted students. We explore how families can thoughtfully navigate public, private, parochial, and boarding school choices—while keeping the individual needs, passions, and social-emotional development of gi...

In this episode, we welcome back Lisa Wiltz and Eric Youngquist, who explore the essential role of play, simulation, and gamification in supporting gifted learners of all ages. This episode reframes play—not as downtime, but as developmentally essential, academically rich, and socially transformative. Lisa Wiltz - With 39 years of experience, Lisa has taught preschool through early elementary and...

In this episode, we welcome Lisa Wiltz and Eric Youngquist, who explore the essential role of play, simulation, and gamification in supporting gifted learners of all ages. This episode reframes play—not as downtime, but as developmentally essential, academically rich, and socially transformative. Lisa Wiltz - With 39 years of experience, Lisa has taught preschool through early elementary and speci...

In this episode, we welcome Allison Yunkun, a doctoral candidate and an elementary educator and from The Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove, Illinois. Allison shares insights about the Leadership Academy, a program designed to develop authentic leadership skills in gifted students from grades 2–4. The conversation explores how the academy helps young learners understand leadership beyond titles...

In this episode, we welcome Dr. Maha Zayed and Lora Dudek of The OCD and Anxiety Center to discuss the many ways anxiety can show up in children and adolescents. Together, we explore a scale of intensity to help distinguish between healthy anxiety and clinical anxiety. We also highlight why it’s so important for parents and teachers to understand anxiety—recognizing the signs early can make a crit...

In this episode, we welcome Darrell Maskell, who shares how he teaches writing to his gifted students. We explore his instructional techniques and process, the executive functioning skills embedded in his approach, and some of the remarkable outcomes that have emerged in his classroom. Darrell Maskell has taught third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students for twenty-seven years in both the UK and th...

In this episode, we sit down with Erin Vanek, founder of The Gifted Perspective, to explore the often misunderstood world of underachievement among gifted students. Erin shares insights into the behavioral and emotional profiles of gifted learners who aren't meeting their potential and helps us unpack the why behind their struggles. From classroom engagement to parent support, she offers pract...

In this episode, we welcome Krista Genovese to explore how giftedness, dyslexia, and hyperlexia intersect. As a first-grade teacher at Quest Academy—an independent school for gifted students in Palatine, Illinois—Krista specializes in foundational literacy skills to ensure that all learners receive the support they need. A certified Orton-Gillingham dyslexia practitioner with a master’s degree in...

How can we design a curriculum that both challenges gifted learners and builds essential skills? In this episode, we welcome educators Sunshine Echevarria and Jennifer Marvel-Gillono to share their expertise on crafting curricular units that foster deep engagement and meaningful learning. They discuss their approach to balancing rigor with foundational skill development while ensuring lessons reso...

In this episode we welcome content specialists Stephanie Butler, Alissa Prestwich, and Elizabeth Foran. Together, we dive into the critical role content specialists play in schools, exploring how they collaborate with educators to enhance learning experiences for all students. Learn how these experts adapt their approach to meet the unique needs of gifted learners and navigate the complexities of...

In this episode we welcome Katie Baldwin, a 3rd grade educator, and Christina Fallstick, a middle school math educator, to the Gifted Ed Podcast to explore the importance of building rapport with their students. We discuss the various strategies that they implement to increase classroom connections and curricular engagement. Host: Meghan McCarthy Co-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff Westbrook Origi...

In this episode, we continue our conversation with Abby Spiwak, educator currently implementing Social Thinking Curriculum, and Kari Zweber Palmer, a social-cognitive therapist at Social Thinking, Stevens Creek and author of several award-winning social emotional learning curricula including: The We Thinkers! series and You are a Social Detective, to the Gifted Ed Podcast to explore a social learn...

In this episode, we welcome Abby Spiwak, educator currently implementing Social Thinking Curriculum, and Kari Zweber Palmer, a social-cognitive therapist at Social Thinking, Stevens Creek and author of several award-winning social emotional learning curricula including: The We Thinkers! series and You are a Social Detective, to the Gifted Ed Podcast to explore a social learning curriculum that tar...

We're thrilled to welcome Dr. Kirsty Montgomery, Head of The Avery Coonley School (an independent school for gifted students), for an insightful conversation on gifted education from a leadership perspective. Dr. Montgomery shares her unique experiences and expertise, delving into the multifaceted roles that administrators play in nurturing gifted learners. We explore the distinctive challenges an...

In this episode, we talk through tips and strategies outlined throughout the book, The Whole-Brain Child by Dr. Daniel Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson. This is a great resource for educators as there is a workbook that accompanies the text that we are going to talk about today. While this book is not explicitly written for gifted children, we have found that the framework can be applicable to gif...

In this episode, we welcome Julie Skolnick, author of Gifted and Distractible, to the Gifted Ed Podcast to explore giftedness and 2E(plus) profiles. We discuss various methods to better understand these profiles, as well as strategies to better support their needs. Co-Hosts: Angel Van Howe and Meghan McCarthy Co-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff Westbrook Original Music by Adam G-F How you can be i...

This episode features our discussion with Dr. Maha Zayed, a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and owner of the OCD & Anxiety Center. She specializes in working with kids, teens, and adults who struggle with anxiety, OCD, and anxiety-related disorders. She provides Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Exposure-Based Therapy and has had the privilege of seeing people get back to living happier, healthi...

In this episode we welcome back Robin Speizman and Katherine Wilkie to the Gifted Ed Podcast to explore classroom strategies and structures that support executive functioning needs. We discuss how to develop tiered levels of intervention within instruction as it pertains to executive functioning. Katie Wilkie is the owner of Imagination Therapy PLLC, a speech-language pathology and executive funct...

In this episode we welcome back Robin Speizman and Katherine Wilkie to the Gifted Ed Podcast to explore classroom strategies and structures that support executive functioning needs (Shifting/Flexibility, Social Awareness/ Perspective Taking, and Organization and Planning). We discuss how to develop tiered levels of intervention within instruction as it pertains to executive functioning. Katie Wilk...

In this episode we invite Robin Speizman and Katherine Wilkie to define and discuss the components of executive functioning and how it presents within our gifted community. Katie Wilkie is the owner of Imagination Therapy PLLC, a speech-language pathology and executive function coaching business serving Forest Park, Oak Park, and the surrounding areas. She is a graduate of Rush Medical Center and...

In this episode, we invite Michael Dixon (he/him), Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, to discuss the role of DEI within our gifted community. Mr. Dixon has served 18 years in higher education at a variety of institutions and administrative positions, most recently as the Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer at Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. He previously served in...