Gifted Unleashed

Beyond Gifted: Helping Gifted and 2E Adults Design Meaningful Careers - Meet Emmaly Perks

In this episode, Nadja sits down with Emmaly Perks, founder of Beyond Gifted Services, for a conversation about what it actually takes to design a meaningful career as a gifted or twice-exceptional adult. Emmaly shares how she moved through gifted programming without ever being formally tested, how a psychology degree followed by a master's in gifted education finally gave her language for a lifetime of feeling "not the rule follower," and how a childhood spent choosing Gloria Steinem over George Washington for a fifth-grade history project was an early, comic signal of a mind that could never leave things at their simplest version. She talks candidly about being the verbal, argumentative, justice-sensitive girl who was seen as disrespectful rather than understood, and about the particular way gifted women learn to weaponize or mask their intellect depending on what the room will tolerate. The conversation turns toward Emmaly's own career, which she describes as a portfolio career built from neuroscience research, K-12 gifted education, academic administration, and now a full-time practice that includes a weekly Substack newsletter, family and IEP advocacy, teacher training, and SENG-facilitated community groups for gifted adults that she co-runs with Erin Krellwitz. Nadja and Emmaly spend real time on the particular career trap of identity foreclosure, the pattern where a child prodigy or "the math kid" gets locked into an identity before they've had the chance to choose it, and how that shows up decades later in doctors, engineers, and other high achievers who feel stuck in a path they never fully consented to. Emmaly's antidote, drawn from her book The Curious Career Workbook, is iteration: small, low stakes tries before another degree or another decade gets spent on work that no longer fits. A significant part of the episode addresses who gets to call themselves gifted, and why that question matters for career design specifically. Emmaly is direct that no one needs a 130 IQ score or a formal assessment to take these ideas seriously; self-identification is enough, and she notes that a test score reflects opportunity, schooling, and privilege as much as it reflects innate ability, which is part of why she works from what she calls a biopsychosocial model of giftedness rather than a single number. She and Nadja also spend time on the distinction between giftedness and high achievement, pushing back on the idea that eminence is required to be considered gifted, and naming the many gifted people who build quiet, modest careers without that changing what they are. Nadja brings her own scientist's skepticism into the conversation, describing how the gifted space initially felt "a little woo-hoo" to her epidemiologist brain, and how she worked through the impostor feeling that she needed a psychology credential before she could host these conversations at all. Emmaly reframes this directly, pointing out that inviting experts onto the podcast is itself a form of borrowed credibility and effective knowledge translation, echoing her own frustration with paywalled academic journals that gifted educators and families never actually get to read. The episode closes on two concrete resources Emmaly has built out of exactly this gap: a free, worldwide gifted provider directory at Beyond Gifted Services for anyone looking for a therapist, coach, or doctor who actually understands giftedness, and her ongoing work with the Mensa Foundation's steering committee, focused on connecting researchers, providers, and the lived experience community that so rarely get to speak to one another directly. Emmaly leaves listeners with a simple reassurance: designing a meaningful career as a gifted adult is possible at any age, and being rare doesn't mean being an outsider. Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Autism, Not Attitude: Embracing Neurodivergence at Work and in Relationships - Meet Felicia M. L. Davis and Nancy Wainscott

Felicia M. L. Davis and Nancy Wainscott join Nadja to talk about their book Autism, Not Attitude and why so many women get misdiagnosed before finally landing on autism and/or ADHD. Felicia, an autistic ADHD female leader with over fifteen years of leadership experience, was diagnosed with autism, ADHD, and a high IQ in her late twenties, after years of assuming she just thought differently than everyone else. Nancy is a licensed professional counselor who grew up with an undiagnosed autistic mother and has spent the last thirty years working with neurodivergent adults. Together they talk about why most autism resources are written for parents and caregivers instead of the adult actually living it, why women are so often misdiagnosed with anxiety, bipolar disorder, or borderline personality disorder before anyone considers autism, and why self-diagnosis is a valid starting point even before an official one. They also get into masking at work, the loneliness of being a small statistical minority looking for people who truly relate, and the small shared language, like the "socks on, socks off" test, that lets neurodivergent people recognize each other instantly. Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Finding Your People: Friendship, Belonging, and Authentic Connection as a Gifted Adult - Meet Dr. Erin Krellwitz

Feeling “too much” for friendship is a quiet ache many gifted and twice-exceptional adults carry. We unpack why connection can feel risky, how masking erodes trust, and what it takes to find people who welcome your full volume: curiosity, intensity, joy and all. With Dr. Erin Krellwitz back on the mic, we share honest stories of belonging at SENG and BloomCon, the relief of being mirrored, and the nervous-system signals that tell you a room is safe: deeper breaths, easier laughter, and energy that rises instead of drains. We dig into values-driven friendship - humor, play, humility, curiosity, and authenticity - as a sturdier compass than checklists like shared hobbies or geography. You’ll hear how to set non-negotiables without gatekeeping, why 80 percent alignment often beats perfect boxes, and how forgiveness for missed birthdays or different interests protects the core. We also explore neurodivergent “love languages”: pebbling with memes or articles, doing research as care, and parallel play that builds closeness without pressure. If starting conversations feels daunting, we offer gentle openers and a mindset reframe: introverts aren’t failing at small talk, they’re often waiting for a genuine on-ramp. We talk energy management: planning recovery time, choosing low-stakes hangs, and noticing which spaces regulate you, so connection feels sustainable. And we point to moderated community groups and workshops as bridges that make first steps less scary and far more fruitful. Whether you’ve been called too intense, too sensitive, or just too curious, this conversation invites you to stop editing your edges and start looking for rooms that expand to fit you. If the episode resonates, share it with someone who needs that reminder, then subscribe and leave a review so more gifted minds can find their people. What value matters most to you in a friend? Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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From “Too Much” to Just Right: Embracing your gifted and 2e identity - Meet Dr. Erin Krellwitz

Gifted adults often carry a quiet ache: the sense of being “too much” for most rooms and somehow not enough for the ones that matter. In our conversation with neurodivergent coach Erin Krellwitz, we unpack what it means to be gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) beyond grades and test scores. Giftedness shows up as intensity, sensitivity, divergent curiosity, and deep moral drive, not just perfect homework. Erin’s path—PhD in molecular systematics, science education, research labs, then a deliberate pivot to parenting and later to coaching—reveals a pattern many gifted adults know well: dive deep, master the game, then redesign life to match values. She shows how belonging starts when we stop shrinking and start naming what actually fits our brains, our bodies, and our lives. A major theme is how executive function hides in plain sight, especially in caregiving. Parenting isn’t just love; it’s thousands of micro-decisions while sleep-deprived, from clothes to meals to schedules, all filtered through a heightened gifted or ADHD brain. That cognitive load adds up. Erin’s story of choosing low-stakes, tactile work illustrates a compassionate strategy: ease the decision burden to recover bandwidth. We discuss how standardized tests miss complex minds, especially for twice-exceptional kids whose ADHD or sensory differences mask their ability. A perfect worksheet tells nothing about boredom, meaning, or misfit curriculum. Many adults carry the false story that poor test scores equal low intellect; it’s often a measurement problem, not an ability problem. We go practical with sensory needs. Fidgets, discreet rings, loop-style earplugs, and comfortable clothing aren’t indulgences; they’re tools that protect focus and regulate overwhelm. Choosing earrings by weight, setting hair to avoid tactile fatigue, and wearing shoes that don’t hijack attention are small moves with huge returns. In open offices or loud conferences, earplugs that lower ambient noise while preserving voices extend social stamina. These adjustments aren’t about fragility; they’re precision engineering for a sensitive nervous system. When we normalize tools, we normalize access to our best thinking and most generous attention. Community turns the lights on. At SENG and other gifted spaces, the traits often labeled “too much” become cheered. A teenager told to stop raising his hand becomes the person who sparks richer dialogue. Adults who have learned to tidy away their joy can visibly relax, ask better questions, and form real friendships. That shift—being seen without contorting—is both healing and catalytic. It changes how we work, parent, and choose. Erin’s coaching approach starts from a powerful premise: clients are naturally creative, resourceful, and whole. The work is iterative experimentation—try, observe, adjust—guided by what you want now, not what you “should” want forever. We close on choice and seasons. Gifted multipotentialites often face a different problem: too many appealing paths. The answer isn’t finding your one true calling; it’s choosing the next chapter with intention. You can love science and love caregiving. You can switch careers at 40 or 55 and still be on time. And remember the family lens: neurodivergence often runs in clusters, so your personal baseline of “normal” may be skewed. If everyone around you shares early readers, sock sensitivities, and favorite spoons, you’re not imagining things—you’re in a neurodivergent ecosystem. Rewriting your story starts with noticing that, then building habits, tools, and communities that let you be fully you. About the guest: After earning her PhD in Botany, Dr. Erin Krellwitz developed science education materials, then managed a nephrology research lab. She worked part-time as a photographer’s assistant while raising 2e kids. She started training as a life coach in 2023, specializing in neurodivergent adults. Her intent as a coach is to hold a safe space for her cli Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Empowering highly sensitive & gifted adults through coaching & energy healing! Meet Gloria Jensen

What if the essence of giftedness extends far beyond a number on an IQ test? Join us on "Gifted Unleashed" as I chat with Gloria Jensen, an inspiring coach and energy healer with a mission to uplift highly sensitive and gifted adults. Gloria opens up about discovering her giftedness as an adult with a cultural background where such conversations were virtually non-existent. Her candid reflections on societal stereotypes and the emotional hurdles of embracing her unique traits offer a fresh perspective on what it means to be gifted. You'll hear how qualitative assessments and the support of professionals help redefine giftedness beyond mere test scores. Gifted individuals often navigate a turbulent sea of emotions and self-perception challenges. In exploring these emotional landscapes, we'll uncover how connecting the mind with the body can be enormously transformative. Gloria shares insights on how gifted people frequently attempt to think through emotions, only to find true integration through physical awareness. The episode emphasizes the importance of acknowledging intense feelings and developing strategies to manage them, advocating for a holistic approach that combines cognitive understanding with sensory experience. Gloria's journey reveals how creative outlets and body-level work can foster profound growth, empowerment, and perhaps a touch of joy along the way. As we round out the episode, Gloria introduces her blog and new podcast "The Inner Space," which serves as a beacon for those seeking self-discovery and personal growth. Through shared stories and free coaching sessions for her upcoming podcast, Gloria creates a platform for individuals to explore their gifted identity without the constraints of labels or test scores. Be sure to connect with me through giftedunleashed.com for more resources and community engagement. Your journey into understanding giftedness and tapping into your potential starts here, and we're thrilled to have you along for the ride. Support the show Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashe.com/coaching MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Gloria helps neurodivergent adults to deal with their intense mind and emotions, develop deep self-knowledge of their "user's manual", and create a fulfilling and serene life. To discover how to develop emotional and mental serenity, click HERE and to create a fulfilling professional path, click HERE. Learn more about Gloria Jensen at gloriajensen.com and her blog Would you like to be part of the podcast and receive a free coaching session? You can fill out this form. Please note that spots are limited and new sessions might only be available again starting in spring 2025. Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Self-discovery through the Gifted (Parenting) Journey! Meet Gail Post

Unlock the secrets to understanding and supporting gifted and twice exceptional individuals in our latest episode with Gail Post, a clinical psychologist with over 35 years of experience. Gail's expertise in intellectual and musical giftedness, coupled with her personal journey as a parent of two gifted children, brings invaluable insights to our discussion. We promise you'll gain a deeper understanding of the emotional and practical challenges faced by gifted individuals and their families, and learn strategies to foster their unique talents. We explore the broad spectrum of giftedness, dispelling the myth that it’s solely about high IQ. Gail shares her expertise on recognizing talents in areas like creativity, mechanics, and the arts, and the critical importance of identifying twice exceptional children, who may also have ADHD, autism, or other learning differences. The conversation covers the emotional struggles gifted individuals face, such as social awkwardness and existential issues, and emphasizes the importance of validating these experiences. We'll also discuss the difficulties in identifying giftedness in girls and children from diverse backgrounds, and the challenges parents encounter during this journey. Our deep dive into self-discovery for gifted adults and parents reveals how crucial it is to understand one's own needs and emotions to better support gifted children. We'll discuss the parallels between parenting and professional leadership, strategies for managing sensitivities in work environments, and the pressure to conform to societal expectations. Gail provides practical advice on self-advocacy and the importance of finding supportive communities. This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and anyone navigating the world of giftedness, offering compassion, guidance, and reassurance. Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Navigating Giftedness and ADHD! Meet Alícia Couto

What if the traditional education system isn't just failing students with ADHD, but also those who are gifted? This week on Gifted Unleashed, we welcome Alícia Couto from Brazil, a twice-exceptional adult who navigates the complex world of ADHD and giftedness. Alícia opens up about her transformative journey, from her sister's initial research into ADHD to her own discovery and acceptance of her neurodivergence. She shares her struggles in college, often misattributed to personal failings, and sheds light on the pervasive underdiagnosis of ADHD in women, particularly those who are gifted. Join us as we unpack the emotional and educational challenges that come with being gifted and having ADHD. Through my personal encounters with mental health professionals—ranging from validating to deeply frustrating—we underscore the critical need for the right support systems. Alícia offers a candid perspective on how traditional education often overlooks the emotional well-being of gifted students, focusing solely on intellectual capabilities. Together, we emphasize the importance of comprehensive support that addresses both intellectual and emotional needs, and the impact of a proper diagnosis on personal validation and family dynamics. Alicia also takes us through her career journey, revealing the disillusionment she faced in the profit-driven engineering industry and the significance of developing soft skills. Her story is a powerful reminder of the necessity for workplace accommodations for neurodivergent individuals. Alícia's insights into alternative career paths, her sensory challenges in corporate settings, and the importance of community engagement make this episode a must-listen. We conclude by expressing our heartfelt gratitude to our engaged audience, encouraging everyone to stay connected by subscribing to the podcast and the Gifted Unleashed newsletter. Follow Alícia on Instagram @aliciacouto.english for English Classes or email her for English Classes and Translation Services: aliciacouto.english@gmail.com Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Overcoming the Curse of Competence and Embracing Failure! Meet Dr. Matt Zakreski

Unlock the secrets to navigating the maze of giftedness with our guest, Matthew Zakreski, affectionately known as Dr. Matt. As a clinical psychologist and professional speaker, Dr. Matt sheds light on his personal journey from being identified as gifted in second grade to becoming an advocate for neurodivergent individuals. Together, we explore the trials and triumphs of gifted education, the concept of the performance cliff, and the challenges of imposter syndrome. Dr. Matt’s unique insights provide a compelling look into the often misunderstood world of the gifted community. Discover the critical role of failure in the learning process, especially for those grappling with the "curse of competence." Drawing from his experience as a professional speaker, Dr. Matt shares how embracing failure has been paramount in pushing beyond comfort zones and achieving meaningful progress. We also examine the Yerkes-Dodson law, which highlights the necessity of optimal engagement at varying levels of difficulty. Through personal stories and relatable examples, we illustrate how gifted individuals can turn struggles into stepping stones. Join us as we dive deep into the intensity and interconnectedness of the gifted mind. Hear the moving story of a child's emotional response to the Australian wildfires and learn why self-care is essential. We address imposter syndrome head-on, offering strategies for overcoming it through self-compassion and recognizing one’s unique strengths. Our candid discussion includes real-time experiences, such as a technical mishap during recording, to underscore the power of vulnerability. Stay connected with our podcast community, and learn how you can support and grow with us at giftedunleashed.com. Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Shaping the Future of Neurodivergent Coaching Practices

Ever felt like your mind runs on a different operating system than everyone else's? Discover the powerful connection between neurodiversity and their specific coaching needs with my guests, Kate Arms and Tracy Winter, the dynamic duo behind the Neurodiversity Coaching Academy. As we unpack their personal narratives, we illuminate the emotional rollercoaster of living at the intersection of intense intellect and divergent thinking. Kate and Tracy’s candid sharing reveals the often-overlooked psychosomatic layers of giftedness, and their mission to address the unique coaching needs of this underserved community. This episode takes us behind the scenes of the Neurodiversity Coaching Academy, where Kate and Tracy have crafted an inclusive coaching environment that's all about embracing the rapid learning and distinct needs of neurodivergent minds. Their approach, backed by the International Coaching Federation (ICF), is more than just a service—it's a lifeline for those who may have previously encountered the harm of ill-informed professional guidance. From monthly masterclasses to mentor coaching and coaching supervision , we delve into the academy's offerings and discuss the value of our coaching philosophy, designed to resonate with the fabric of neurodivergent thinking. As the conversation unfolds, we examine the nuances of coaching neurodivergent clients, from navigating their unique 'stuckness' to leveraging their out-of-the-box solutions. We highlight how coaching diverges from therapy, focusing on the forward momentum and actionable change that clients can enact in their lives. Kate and Tracy also reflect on the profound impact that earlier awareness of gifted complexities could have had and the transformative power of coaching informed by their own journeys. For those eager to learn more about our Neurodiversity Coaching Academy’s resources, the episode wraps up with where to find our masterclasses and how to connect for mentorship opportunities. Resources: neurodiversitycoachingacademy.com Sign up for the Neurodiversity Coaching Academy Newsletter Kate Arms at katearms.com Tracy Winter at nerdcoa.ch Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Our Wild Minds: Creating Sanctuaries for gifted and BIPOC adults - Meet Kaitlin Smith

When Kaitlin Smith and I sat down to unravel the complex world of giftedness and twice-exceptionality (2e), our conversation ventured deep into the heart of what it means to be labeled 'gifted,' particularly for those navigating the dual challenges of exceptional intellect and being part of a minority. Kaitlin shares her battle against the stereotypes that sought to undermine her journey during her studies in psychotherapy. This episode promises to be a beacon for anyone who's felt too intense, too passionate, or simply too much for the mainstream narrative. The path to self-empowerment is often obscured by the fog of cultural misconceptions. A moment of stark confrontation during Kaitlin's psychotherapeutic training brought the issues of race and identity to the forefront, leading to the creation of Our Wild Minds. This venture seeks to celebrate and uplift gifted and BIPOC adults. Our discussion peels back the layers of cultural competency, urging a move beyond broad-stroke assumptions to embrace the unique stories that shape every individual's experience. Join us as we confront these issues head-on, championing the rich interior lives of those who don't fit comfortably into society's predefined boxes (or dare I say stereotypes). Our final thoughts cluster around the creation of sanctuaries for underrepresented voices, specifically black adults in the gifted community. Kaitlin shines a light on the Our Wild Minds Community and the Black Brilliant Circle, spaces designed to offer refuge and fellowship for gifted adults of color. Inspired by the work of Dr. Joy Lawson Davis and Dr. Donna Ford, these platforms offer twice-weekly calls, networking opportunities, and a guided journey to help members navigate giftedness and racial trauma. By sharing these stories and resources, we hope to offer a tapestry of support that recognizes the full spectrum of giftedness, fostering inclusive environments where intellectual and emotional growth can thrive. https://www.ourwildminds.com/ Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Gifted and Distractible: Understanding, Supporting & Advocating for your Twice Exceptional (inner ) Child! Meet Julie Skolnick

Feeling misunderstood or out of place can be a common experience for twice-exceptional (2e) individuals. This episode of Gifted Unleashed welcomes Julie Skolnick, author of "Gifted and Distractible," to shed light on the unique challenges faced by this remarkable group. Driven by self-love and understanding, Julie navigates us through the wide spectrum of conditions under the 2e umbrella and the importance of focusing on the strengths of these individuals. Through an enriching conversation, we delve into the fascinating concept of 'masking', a coping mechanism often adopted by 2e individuals. Julie generously shares her "cycle for success" and provides a checklist that can help you find professionals who truly understand and support 2e individuals. We also discuss her much-anticipated book dedicated to adults in the 2e community, a beacon of hope and understanding for many. Julie's passion for supporting and advocating for 2e individuals is further reflected in her website, withunderstandingcomescalm.com, offering free resources and a membership program for 2e adults. She also shares her upcoming course for parents, a priceless resource for those seeking guidance. As we round off our discussion, Julie emphasizes the importance of validating effort over outcomes or external motivation, a mantra not only for 2e individuals but applicable to all. So, join us on this journey of understanding and loving the twice exceptional individuals in our lives. Don't forget to follow the podcast, leave a review, and stay connected with our newsletter for all things Gifted Unleashed. WithUnderstandingComesCalm.com GiftedandDistractible.com The Hay Stack A community for 2e adults Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Gifted Unleashed: We went through a "Positive Disintegration"

Ever felt like a square peg in a round hole? Maybe it's not you, maybe it's your giftedness. I, Nadja, once wrestled with this notion, but through my journey of self-discovery, I've come to embrace my giftedness and ADHD, viewing them as unique strengths rather than limitations. Join me on this exciting journey of Gifted Unleashed, where we talk about personal experiences of how we navigate the world as gifted and 2e individuals. The Gifted Unleashed podcast is not just about me and my guests sharing our stories. It's a platform for all of us to connect, support, and be our authentic selves. I'm thrilled to announce the relaunch of our space, where we'll explore thought-provoking topics that challenge stereotypes and stigma surrounding giftedness and twice exceptionality. Here's a little teaser for you: the upcoming episodes include an intriguing conversation with Julie Skolnick about her book "Gifted and Distractable". So, gear up for some insightful dialogues that promise to inspire and enlighten your perspectives about giftedness. https://www.mytrudesign.com Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Reframing Overexcitabilites as a Super Power! Meet Eshwari

Eshwari is a young woman who grew up in India, feeling out of place and intense. She learned about giftedness and Overexcitabilities through the Unleash Monday podcast and got inspired to learn more about the topic and is on her journey of finding her way in the space and field of neurodiversity. TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: Your job title doesn't define you Currently there is no gifted psychologist in India (yet!) (Existential) Depression is not just in your head! And you need support from like minded minded is critical. Gifted brains are not better but they are wired differently from the majority. Overexcitabilites are your supper powers, not a faults! Learning about your own (gifted) needs is essential and existential! Giftedness needs are not about being smarter but it is about being able to live according to your values. Gifted people usually doubt that they are gifted in the beginning. It is not something that is obvious or comfortable to embrace. As a gifted person we try and do a lot of things, make sure you don’t overwhelm yourself with tasks. Take take to recharge! Make sure your energy level as a gifted person does not run low. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: If you would like to send Eshwari a message, you can send it to hello@unleashmonday.com, I will pass it forward. Julia Cameron’s book The Artist’s Way More about Overexcitabilites in episode 33 with Chris Well Join the Unleash Monday Community UnleashMonday.com Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Making Neurodiversity Work at Work! Meet Organizational Psychologist Ludmila Praslova

Ludmila N. Praslova, Ph.D., SHRM-SCP uses her extensive experience with global, cultural, demographic, and ability diversity to help create inclusive and equitable workplaces. She is a Professor of Psychology and the founding Director of Graduate Programs in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Vanguard University of Southern California. Prior to her academic career, she built and led successful intercultural relations programs in global organizations. Her current consulting is focused on supporting organizations in creating systemic inclusion informed by an understanding of neurodiversity. Her other areas of expertise include organizational culture assessment and change, workplace justice and civility, and training and training evaluation. She is a contributor to Fast Company, Harvard Business Review and SHRM blog, the editor of the upcoming book “Evidence-Based Organizational Practices for Diversity, Inclusion, Belonging and Equity” (Cambridge Scholars), and the editor of upcoming special issue of the Consulting Psychology Journal: Practice and Research on Disability inclusion in the workplace: From “accommodation” to inclusive organizational design. TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: Diversity at work includes different aspects such as race, gender but also neurodiversity. Autism Autism Doesn’t Hold People Back at Work. Discrimination Does. (HRB) The unemployment rate amongst college graduates with Autism in the US is 85 %! The discrimination might not be intentional but it is systemic! If you met one Autistic person, you have met one Autistic person. There is a misconception that autistic people are not empathic. However, autistic people might be so overwhelmed with empathy that they don’t have energy to express it or it might be too overwhelming to express. Autistic people might develop trauma patterns due to the way people react to them over and over again. Having an Autistic diagnosis can be empowering and helpful for self advocacy. Moral injury can happen at work and we need to address it! This might be more prevalent in neurodivergent people. Sign up for the newsletter to be updated on the results on the study! Even if you didn’t now things earlier, you know now and you can implement and change from this day forward! Your life experience is what it is and now you can move from this point forward! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Connect and learn more about Ludmila and her work on LinkedIn | Twitter Organizational Psychology at Vanguard University Read her articles: Autism does’t hold people back at work. Discrimination does. - Harvard Business Review | Neurodivergent people make great leaders, not just employees - Fast Company | Feeling distressed at work? It might be more than burnout - Fast Company | Moral injury at work: Reclaiming our agency through bettering | Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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What is your Hybrid Professional Identity? Meet Sarabeth Berk

Dr. Sarabeth Berk is the leading expert on hybrid professional identity, and a hybrid professional herself. She was featured in Forbes, and is a TEDx speaker, author of More Than My Title, and recipient of a Colorado Inno on Fire award for her innovative work. Her hybrid title is Creative Disruptor because she works at the intersection of being an artist, researcher, educator, and designer. Through groundbreaking research, Sarabeth developed a one-of-a-kind approach that takes personal branding and career development to a whole new level. Today, she helps professionals discover and articulate their hybrid professional identity and unique value in the workforce. As a result, her clients feel more seen, empowered and confident, and teams recognize each other as more than their job titles, valuing the critical yet different roles of experts, generalists, and hybrids in the workforce. TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: What is your professional identity? This is different from your job title! There are three different types of worker identities: Singularity: Single professional identity Multiplicity: Having many different but separate professional identities Hybrid: Having intersections of different professional identities which form a new identity (as a result from reintegration via Debrowski’s positive disintegration) Having a hybrid career personality is common in gifted people It takes a bit of work to identify your primary set of identities vs. your non primary identities (secondary and tertiary identities) Vann Diagrams help to visualize and understand the intersectionalities of your hybrid professional identity You have the permission to have a hybrid professional identity! We go through multiple cycles of (career) identities throughout our lives: Phases of explorations followed by achievements of a certain identity. a/r/t (artist, researcher, teacher) Hybridity is a choice and it is developmental. Work is like a three legged stool: 1. Knowing your passion 2. Your purpose, why you do what you do 3. Your identity, who are you when you fallow your passion and purpose. You need to make sense of yourself first! No one is going to make sense for you. Especially in the gifted space. Prefixes: Intra discipline = single Cross and multi disciplinary = separate Inter (between) and trans (beyond) disciplinary = hybridity MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Learn more about Sarabeth Berk and her work: morethanmytitle.com | TEDx Talk Connect on Instagram: @morethanmytitle | LinkedIn Venn Diagram Learn more about Dabrowski’s theories: Episode 33 Join the Unleash Monday Community UnleashMonday.com Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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How teaching critical thinking can improve equity. Meet ThinkLaw Founder Colin Seale

Colin Seale was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where struggles in his upbringing gave birth to his passion for educational equity. Tracked early into gifted and talented programs, Colin was afforded opportunities his neighborhood peers were not. Using lessons from his experience as a math teacher, later as an attorney, and now as a keynote speaker, contributor to Forbes and author of Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students and Tangible Equity: A Guide for Leveraging Student Identity, Culture, and Power to Unlock Excellence In and Beyond the Classroom, Colin founded thinkLaw, to help educators leverage inquiry-based instructional strategies to close the critical thinking gap and ensure they teach and reach all students, regardless of race, zip code or what side of the poverty line they are born into. In 2021, Colin launched The BEE Project, a non-profit organization redefining who qualifies as gifted and who gets to teach gifted children by inspiring, training, and certifying Black and Latinx educators to equitably design and lead gifted programs. These programs identify and meet the unique needs of brilliant Black and Latinx children and their families who have been overlooked and underestimated by our current system. When he’s not serving as the world’s most fervent critical thinking advocate, Colin proudly serves as the world’s greatest entertainer to his two young children. TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: We are all neurodivergent. But some of us are part of the outliers. Children can have behavioural challenges because they are not being challenged at school! The order of being identified can have a big impact of how we get support! The label doesn’t matter, the support matters! High achieving is not the same as being gifted. It’s not about the achievement, it’s about the performance of the achievement! Critical thinking skills is crucial but we treat it like a luxury good! What if we gave all kids access to critical thinking? Recognising that none of our learning was actually objective. Although brilliance is distributed equally, opportunity is not! Doing right is more important than being right! We came to normalise inequity There is no master plan. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Learn more about Coline Seale and ThinkLaw here: thinklaw.us and raisingcriticalthinkers.us Follow Colin on Twitter @ColinESeale @thinkLawUS | Instagram @ColinSeale @thinkLawUS | facebook thinklawUS and the facebook group tangibleequity | LinkedIn Colin Seale and his company ThinkLaw Colin Seale’s books: Thinking like a Lawyer and Tangible Equity Join the Unleash Monday Community UnleashMonday.com Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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How tidying your space helps you organise your thoughts! Meet Alice Bauer

Alice Bauer was born under the zodiac sign of Virgo and she is an orderly and organized type of person by nature. She is curious, inquisitive and likes to develop herself in all areas of life. Her interests are wide-ranging, including yoga, travel, art and music, but she is particularly fond of interior design. Already in her childhood she was constantly browsing through her mother's home magazines only to rearrange and reorganize her room afterwards. In 2007 she graduated university as an interior designer. In spring 2017, she had a very enriching, life-changing experience decluttering her life by listening to the audiobook "The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up" by Marie Kondo. While she had a wonderful, beautifully decorated apartment and had accumulated all sorts of possessions from the various decades of her life so far, she still always felt like she was living like a student, not like an adult. She wanted to live the way she had always dreamed of: like a lady. She decided to give her apartment a drastic detox. Within two weeks, she took every single item she owned into her hands and examined it for its importance in her future. She has parted with half of her belongings and it still feels great! She wanted to give others this revelation of satisfaction and order in their lives and therefore she completed the KonMari Consultant Trainee Course in Los Angeles in 2017. She is now officially a Certified Master KonMari™ Consultant and is working in Switzerland and Austria. TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: Tidying is an act of self love. The process of tidying can support you to figure out who you want to be and what brings you joy in your life. Tidying can be a form of meditation. Most people do not ask themselves how they want to live in their space. Create a vision to help you stay focused and motivated to get through the tidying festival. The KonMari Method™ is simple but not easy. It follows 6 basic principles: Commit yourself to tidying, start by creating a vision, declutter first, tidy by category not location, follow the right order and always make the decision based on the question does it “spark joy? Tidying helps you to get to know who you are. In order to love yourself you need to embrace all sides of you, the good and the ugly. Tidying can be freeing and empowering. If you need support, hire a tidying coach! Sometimes chaos is needed for a creative process. But sometimes we need to tidy in order to organize our thoughts. Understanding where the balance lies for you is the goal. Only keep in your home and in your life what “sparks joy”, let go of all the rest! Life is too short! MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: konali.ch | Alice on instagram The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo Atomic Habits by James Clear | The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron | Bullet Journal by Ryder Carroll Messy - How To be Creative and Resilient in a Tidy-Minded World by Tom Hardford Join the Unleash Monday Community UnleashMonday.com Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

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Connecting the Body & Mind. Meet Self-Attunement and Somatic Coach Ilana Grostern

Ilana Grostern is a Montreal-based Self-Attunement and Somatic Coach. Her early career took her from graphic design to the launch of a sustainable business venture – a cloth diaper company that she ran for fifteen years. Her sensorial over-excitability attuned her to the needs of the body, leading her to pursue a certification as Canada’s first Whole30 coach. TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: People who don’t know about their own giftedness lack information about themselves. Lack of self-understanding leads to frustration and being misunderstood. Therefore, it’s important to know who we are in order to have a better relationship with ourselves but also with others. The giftedness theme is completely missing from the mainstream. The giftedness angle gives a lot of clarity in the coaching realm. Somatic coaching is about healing the somatic-mind (Cartesian) split. No more “I think, therefore I am!” A lot of chronic illnesses in the gifted population due to the resonance between the body and mind. Ilana shows you to value neutral experiences of the body (soma) and map out what’s in the physical realm. The mind is a “meaning making machine”! The mind will jump to mental conclusion about the body from learned paste experiences without actually tuning in. We need to break this jumping to conclusion cycle. You are encouraged to flip the right with the left side! Ilana gives you the space to try new things without making you feel stupid. Coaching is about accepting where you are in this moment and learning a new way of doing something. The parents need to feel and relate to what their children go through. We start with our own healing first before we can support anyone else. People who are in chronic survival mode, are dis-regulated and might feel overwhelmed by this approach. Learning to increase the tolerance in the uncomfortable somatic moments will allow you to learn what the body is trying to tell you. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: ilanagrostern.com Ilana Grostern on instagram | facebook and LinkedIn PDF “Gifted people and their problems” by Francis Heylighen Overexcitabilities (OEs) Mind-body dualism Join the Unleash Monday Community UnleashMonday.com Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

Purpose Driven Self-Awareness! Meet Bayo Moses

Bayo Moses has 8+ years as a Book Coach and Developmental Editor. When he's not looking into manuscripts, you can find him on Google Meet catching fun as a personal development coach. He shares his story growing up neurodivergent in rural Northern Nigeria and how he learned about autism in adulthood. TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: Bayo could not connect with his peers in school but was able to connect with older people. Realising there is nothing wrong with yourself but with your audience. Sometimes there is nothing wrong with you but with the teaching method. A hearing issue can be a sensory processing difference. Being neurodivergent is not a curse, being neurodivergent is not a problem that need fixing! It is not a disease that needs curing! Not fitting in socially can be a pain but can also work to your advantage! It depends on how you approach it. Being neurodivergent can be your personal super power! The journey of self-awareness is not about happiness, it is about helping yourself! The presentation of your story needs to be simple and audience centred! The idea might be simple but the impact can be profoundly. We don’t need to balance things! Things are already balanced, we simply need to find what the balance is. You are OK the way you are! There is nothing wrong with you. Your happiness does not depend on social approval. Purpose Driven Self-Awareness: The best way to help yourself is to help others! Social experiences the same but the personal experience is divergent for autistic people Let’s Talk 2e adults’ conference is the first of it’s kind you can purchase access forever, use my affiliate link MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: Connect with Bayo on LinkedIn Book The Gifted Adult by Mary-Elaine Jacobsen Join the Let’s talk 2e adult conference with my affiliate link here Unleash Monday Community - Join the waitlist to be the first to know when doors open! UnleashMonday.com Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com

Live Life Authentically! Meet John Syc

John Syc’s background includes his own 2eAm (twice-exceptional autism male) discovery leading to his own call to action for integration and a life commitment to the path of higher levels of consciousness in tandem with psychological wholeness. His lifelong personal journey, a psychological and social work advanced educational background, and over ten years of being a psychotherapist provide insight that he shares with his clients on their journey. Presently, John offers 60-minute or 90-minute coaching sessions Internationally through a video-conference-based medium (e.g., Zoom). You can reach out to John if you are ready to begin your journey’s call to action at john@johnsyc.com. TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE: Neurodivergent children and adults may have a hard time fitting in and might be subject to bulling. Not all gifted people do well on a standardised IQ test. Some people have very spiky gifted profiles. Trauma can mask giftedness and it influences how you present yourself fin the world An neurodivergent diagnosis (such as autism) can give answers on why your life is the way it is! The DSM 5 is the standard for mental health and is a pathological assessment. However, not all divergent thinking patterns are pathological. Gifted psychology is not a thing in the mainstream psychology (yet). There is autism burnout and autism fatigue. Energy management is therefore very important for people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) The world is a socially constructed system. If you do not fit in it doesn’t mean it’s pathological! John created online service to serve 2/e autism male (2eAm). Let’s Talk 2e adults’ conference is the first of it’s kind you can purchase access forever, use my affiliate link MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: John’s website: johnsyc.com Dabrowski's theory of Overexcitabilities (OEs) InterGifted.com Join the Let’s talk 2e adult conference with my affiliate link here Unleash Monday Community - Join the waitlist to be the first to know when doors open! UnleashMonday.com Send us Fan Mail Would you like to work with me 1:1 as your gifted and 2e coach? Please send me an email at hello@giftedunleashed.com or find more information about my coaching offer on my website giftedunleashed.com/coaching Support the show https://www.giftedunleashed.com