EPISODE · Jun 15, 2026 · 29 MIN
207. Where there is deficit, there is also great strength - with Mark Talaga
from Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners · host Vaish Sarathy
We talk a lot about what our students can't do. But something that educators have found over the years is that there is a scatter to the skills we see in our students. The wildly uneven profile that we see could actually be a blessing. Mark Talaga, counselor, speaker, and founder of the Center for Identity Potential, joins the podcast to talk about asynchronous development in gifted and twice-exceptional learners. And here's what hit me: we're working the same problem from opposite ends. Where there is a sharp strength, there is often a significant deficit, but the opposite is true as well! This conversation got under my skin in the best way. Tune in to this episode to learn: What "asynchrony" actually means in gifted and disabled learners Why IQ tests fail kids on both ends of the bell curve Why labels are meaningless in education Why nurturing a spike / sharp interest (even if it seems "irrelevant") is critical. You can find Mark Talaga's podcast, Hopelessly Gifted, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or visit centerforidentitypotential.com.
What this episode covers
We talk a lot about what our students can't do. But something that educators have found over the years is that there is a scatter to the skills we see in our students. The wildly uneven profile that we see could actually be a blessing. Mark Talaga, counselor, speaker, and founder of the Center for Identity Potential, joins the podcast to talk about asynchronous development in gifted and twice-exceptional learners. And here's what hit me: we're working the same problem from opposite ends. Where there is a sharp strength, there is often a significant deficit, but the opposite is true as well! This conversation got under my skin in the best way. Tune in to this episode to learn: What "asynchrony" actually means in gifted and disabled learners Why IQ tests fail kids on both ends of the bell curve Why labels are meaningless in education Why nurturing a spike / sharp interest (even if it seems "irrelevant") is critical. You can find Mark Talaga's podcast, Hopelessly Gifted, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or visit centerforidentitypotential.com.
NOW PLAYING
207. Where there is deficit, there is also great strength - with Mark Talaga
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Mar 26, 2026 ·1m
Jan 2, 2026 ·47m
Dec 21, 2025 ·46m