Mind Matters

We’ve had mixed results in our efforts to identify 2e kids. It’s a complicated process, and many of the assessment tools used to identify ASD and other disorders need to be utilized differently when working with gifted individuals. Megan Foley-Nicpon joins us on episode 44 to tell us what she’s learned through various research projects about identifying the elusive 2e child. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters

School counselors wear a variety of hats, but “giftedness expert” often isn't one of them. On episode 43, Jean Peterson and Susannah Wood, authors of Counseling Gifted Students: A Guide for School Counselors, join us to talk about ways school counselors can better meet the needs of their gifted students. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters.

Advanced Placement is a good way for many kids to get a head start on college. On episode 42, Andrew Scanlan and Chester E Finn, Jr. of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, answer questions about the history of AP, where it’s going, and where kids may encounter difficulties. You can support the podcast and receive subscriber-only benefits at www.patreon.com/mindmatters.

This is the final installment of our series on suicide among gifted and 2e people. Today, Lisa shares the story of what led to her son’s suicide, and we get a glimpse into her current state of mind, nine months after her Nick’s death. If you need help, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours every day at 1-800-273-8255.

In part two of our series on suicide among high-ability people, we explore some of the signs of depression and suicidal ideation with Lisa Van Gemert, author of Perfectionism, and Living Gifted. We explore ways to identify problems that could lead to self-harm or suicide, and suggest ways to help you work through those problems. If you haven’t listened to episode 39 with Dr. Tracy Cross, we suggest you do. If you need help, the Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours every day at 1-800-273-8255.

Is suicidal ideation more prevalent among the gifted population? Do our beliefs about suicide square with statistics? In part one of our series on suicide among gifted and 2e youth, Dr. Tracy Cross joins us to shed some light on a dark subject, and shares his Spiral Model of the Suicidal Mind. This is a series all parents should hear.

As parents and educators prepare for the start of the new school year, middle schools everywhere are welcoming a new crop of excited, nervous, and sometimes unprepared kids. On episode 38 we talk about the middle school transition, and the changes parents can expect to see as their kids adapt to their new surroundings. Guest Phyllis Fagell is author of Middle School Matters, and she joins us with ideas and advice.

Gifted kids turn into gifted adults, it’s something you live with for your entire life. When adults forget about their own atypical wiring, they open themselves up to social issues, and miss opportunities to continue growing. Guests Aurora Remember-Holtzman and Michelle Benedict talk to us about their experiences, and provide advice for people who may have forgotten they were gifted.

Giftedness can be a double-edged sword when it comes to empathy and compassion. When we help kids realize their emotional potential, their capacity for empathy and kindness will grow. Christine Fonseca is our guest on episode 36.

People with ADHD have to face both the strengths and struggles that come along with their diagnosis. When ADHD is combined with giftedness, a condition known as twice-exceptionality, those struggles can be magnified, or maybe worse, hidden. On episode 35 Dr. Matthew Fugate shares data from his research about ADHD and provides parents and teachers insight into better understanding our kids.

In school districts in the US and around the world, there are programs in place to help gifted and twice-exceptional kids overcome their educational challenges. But one of the least-expensive and easiest tools to utilize, acceleration, is often overlooked. Ann Lupkowski-Shoplik from the Belin-Blank Center at the University of Iowa joins us on episode 34 to talk about most kids’ first option for acceleration, early entrance to Kindergarten.

One thing’s for sure about parenting - it’s hard. Even more so with gifted and twice-exceptional kids. But parents often get so caught up in taking care of their kids they forget the all-important self-care. Jen Torbeck Merrill is the author of If This Is a Gift, Can I Send It Back, and also a parenting self-care advocate. She’s our guest on episode 33 of Mind Matters.

Special education services can make a huge difference in the educational experience of a twice-exceptional child. On episode 32, author and education writer Amanda Morin joins us to discuss some of the services available and share best practices for parents and counselors to effectively advocate on behalf of 2e kids.

When your inner skeptic constantly nags at you saying something’s not right, what should you do? Dr. Brian Housand thinks you should celebrate. On episode 31 Emily Kircher-Morris talks with Brian about how to fight fake news, and the short answer is: question everything.

There is more to giftedness than just intelligence. Dr. James Delisle joins us on episode 30 to talk about what’s below the surface of giftedness, and how parents, counselors, and teachers can dig a little to find out what makes gifted kids tick.