Unmasking Social

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...

On this week’s episode of Unmasking Social, Tara Trievel — special educator, autism specialist, and parent coach — joins us for a powerful conversation about how to best support parents of autistic teens and tweens while balancing the evolving needs of their children.  Tara explores how parental expectations, environmental modifications, and collaboration across home, school, and community can cre...

Jan Stewart is a passionate advocate for the autism and OCD communities whose voice is rooted in lived experience, compassion, and unwavering perseverance. In this heartfelt episode, Jan shares her deeply personal journey as a parent raising children with neurodivergent needs, including autism, OCD, ADHD, and multiple disabilities. Drawing from years of advocacy, collaboration with educators, and...

In this episode, we talk with Renee Attaway Storer, a speech-language pathologist and long-time collaborator with Social Thinking, whose passion for social learning began during her years at The Parish School in Houston. Renee went on to open up the doors to a social learning program there and now trains professionals across North America, but her dream extended beyond the classroom. She envisione...

In this week’s conversation, Sharon sits down with Rebecca Tarrant in a poignant episode of celebration. Rebecca is a Global Ambassador for Autistic Youth International (formerly Autistic Pride) who has made a great impact on Autism and acceptance and pride in her hometown in NC as well as on an international level. Rebecca speaks from a uniquely powerful perspective as an autistic individual, an...

In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation of Unmasking Social, Dr. Stephen Shore, an international autism advocate, professor, and author, explores autism through a global lens. Drawing on his experiences traveling to more than 58 countries, Dr. Shore shares how cultural beliefs, values, and systems shape the way autism is understood, supported, and experienced around the world. Together, the...

In 2018, Rachel was working as an SLP at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, when a traumatic event occurred at her workplace that drew international attention. I had been hoping to bring Rachel onto the podcast for quite some time, as trauma-informed care has always felt foundational to me in any type of therapy- especially speech and language. In this episode, Rachel share...

In this episode of Unmasking Social, Sharon Baum sits down with Sunnia Khan, a psychologist and advocate working in Pakistan and internationally, to explore the realities facing neurodivergent children, teens, and families. Sunnia shares how stigma and shame often force neurodivergent individuals to remain at home and out of sight in her country, leaving them extremely vulnerable and without acces...

In this solo New Year’s episode of Unmasking Social , host Sharon Baum, MA CCC-SLP, reflects on the journey from unmasking to alignment. After a year of deep conversations about neurodivergence, identity, community, and belonging all through the lens of social, Sharon pauses to look inward and reflect. She shares why her word for the new year is alignment, and what it means to live, work, and conn...