Hopelessly Gifted Podcast

Mark sits down with Dani Skiko, producer of the show, to talk about her experiences growing up gifted and the role therapy and her parents played in supporting her and helping her thrive.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Gilda Evans, Founder and President of the Autism Resource Project, joins Mark to share how the lack of resources she found while raising her son with autism prompted her to start her podcast and organization which act as a central database of knowledge and support for parents of children with autism. Gilda and Mark discuss how parents can best suppor their kids with autism and how to go forward with hope and confidence for their child’s future.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Gilda Evans:Program:https://autismresourceproject.org@theautismresourceprojectPodcast:https://autismresourceproject.org/podcast/@autismresourcepodcast

Mark answers a listener question: How can I tell if my child is gifted? He discusses early signs and common struggles that parents can identify, whether testing is appropriate and how to talk with kids about the results of giftedness evaluations.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark is joined by Scott Lutostanski, Executive Director of State Street Education. Scott and his team provide executive function coaching to students, with a focus on high school and college students. Scott and Mark discuss the work of helping college students improve organization, time management, and academic workflow to reduce stress. They also address emotional and cultural pressures on gifted students and their parents and how executive function coaching can support the whole family in navigating challenges students are facing.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected] Website⁠Podcast WebsiteIG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Scott Lutostanski:Website: statestreeteducation.com

Mark is joined by language and dyslexia therapist, Faye Bankler Casell, to discuss the challenges experienced by children who have difficulty reading due to dyslexia and their parents. Mark and Faye explore the crossover of other issues that impact a child's ability to read and how hard it is to catch reading challenges in bright children. They also provide parents with suggestions for advocating for and helping their children who are struggling with reading.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Faye Bankler Casell:Website: https://homereadingcoach.com/IG: @Homereadingacoach | FB: @Homereadingacoach

Mark Talaga talks with writer and parent advocate, Jen Merrill, about how burnout is a common reality for parents of gifted and complex, neurodivergent kids. Jen shares what helps parents of gifted kids, herself included, and discusses the challenges these parents face as they scaffold and support their kids.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Jen Merrill:Website: laughingatchaos.comIG: @jenlaughs | FB: @LaughingAtChaos

Mark is joined by Caroline Gulick & Julie Kastelan to discuss the realities of elevated care for gifted and neurodivergent individuals. They talk through what it means to be in residential treatment, partial-hospitalization, or intensive outpatient programs and how parents can determine what level of care their child may need.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Caroline Gulick:LinkedInContact Julie Kastelan:LinkedIn

Occupational Therapist and Parent Coach, Jen Bluske, joins host Mark Talaga to explore the mind-body connection that often goes overlooked in gifted children and adults. Jen provides wonderful insights into how to practically help create bodily awareness and the lasting impact that has on our children.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Jen Bluske:Children’s Therapy NetworkThriving Parents CollectiveWhere They’re Planted Podcast

Mark Talaga speaks with Teresa Nair, an expert in cognitive diversity education who empowers parents to see their child’s struggles not simply as deficits. Mark and Teresa discuss Teresa’s journey from tech to teaching, her work supporting neurodivergent families, and offer insights on advocacy and community building for parents of neurodiverse kids.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Teresa Nair:Website: https://www.reel2e.org/Instagram: @reel.2e

Mark Talaga is joined by Orion Cooling, the award-winning founder and specialist in project based learning who has found career success by being “eclectically employed” and personal success by advocating for creativity in inclusion. Mark and Orion discuss how to help gifted children follow their own authentic paths while working with and through systems to achieve their goals.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Orion Couling:Website: www.orioncoulingnola.comInstagram: @nawlins_crawlinsEmail: [email protected]: No Easy TargetPodcast: Shadow Carriers

Mark discusses strategies for managing holiday stress when traveling and attending family gatherings with gifted, neurodivergent children. He offers specific strategies to help prepare, set expectations, and support emotional regulation for the whole family to lead to a joyful and fulfilling holiday season.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark is joined by college consultant and business owner, Julie Murphy, to share about college transitions from the perspective of the families at home as their child launches. Mark and Julie discuss how parents and siblings can scaffold to prepare this big family change to set the whole family up for success.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Julie Murphy:Website: www.waverly-consulting.com/

Mark discusses why many kids struggle to answer the question "how was your day?" and how the reasons behind these processing and recall challenges are more developmental than parents may think. He explores the issues of how to help support kids who can't express what they're going through or push people away who are trying to help and offers prompts for reflection to help parents model these skills for their kids.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark Talaga welcomes Pamela Hobart from GT School to discuss the challenges and solutions in educating gifted kids. They discuss the inefficiencies of the traditional school system, and how GT School utilizes A.I.-powered apps to accelerate learning and provide personalized education for high-ability students.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Pamela Hobart:GT School Website: gt.schoolSubstack: abovegradelevel.substack.com

This episode Mark puts ChatGPT to the test. Mark asks A.I. to come up with helpful communication strategies to use to get gifted kids to listen better and evaluates the effectiveness of those responses. He offers both ideas that have a better chance of working and practical advice on how to implement these strategies.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark Talaga is joined by Misti Peppler, occupational therapist and  core specialist in the Masgutova Method of Neurosensory Motor Reflex Integration. Mark and Misti discuss the primitive reflexes that exist in all of us that sometimes get "stuck" and create certain behaviors and movements that can impact a child which can make life much harder. Misti dives into what to look for and how best to create supports for kids with non-integrated primitive reflexes.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website: www.hopelesslygifted.comIG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Misti Peppler:https://www.pepplerot.com/https://masgutovamethod.com/

Mark Talaga addresses the challenges gifted kids face in making and sustaining friendships as well as the complexities of social connection. He offers parents tools for expanding their evaluation of the reasons their children may be finding it difficult to socialize and provides insights for addressing the skill deficits behind their children's social behaviors.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected] Gifted WebsiteIG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark Talaga explores the challenge of sustaining motivation and creating habits, through the lens of improving executive function and nurturing relationships. Mark talks about the importance of utilizing interpersonal accountability to maintain consistency and build the skill of sustaining.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark Talaga tackles the topic of perfectionism in gifted kids. He discusses the emotional and cognitive aspects of perfectionism and shares strategies for parents to support their children in navigating their perfectionistic tendencies.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark Talaga speaks with Dr. Pam McCaskill, an experienced clinical psychologist who specializes in understanding and supporting strong willed children. Mark and Pam discuss underlying causes of these behaviors and explore steps parents can take to set their children up for success at home, at school and in the community.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Dr. Pam McCaskill:Website: www.mccaskillfamilyservices.comInstagram: @mccaskillfamilyservicesWebinar Information

Mark Talaga explores the complexities of a parent’s role in a gifted child’s life and their contributions toward both their child’s challenges and progress. Mark helps parents evaluate whether they are enabling or properly scaffolding their kids and explains how to prioritize connection while also supporting their child as they move into adulthood.Submit a Question for Mark: ⁠⁠Website⁠⁠Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark Talaga discusses how parents can find the right therapist for their gifted and neurodivergent children. Mark covers important considerations such as understanding the need for therapy, assessing therapist approaches, and emphasizing the importance of a collaborative, team-based system, shedding light on what can feel like an overwhelming process.Submit a Question for Mark: www.hopelesslygifted.comHost: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark Talaga discusses the complexities of diagnoses and other labels for developmental and learning differences in gifted kids. Mark emphasizes both the difficulty and the importance of assessing for proper diagnoses and how people can avoid the trap of becoming and deferring to their labels rather than making adjustments in order to be successful.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark Talaga and guest Dr. Eric Endlich discuss supporting gifted and other neurodiverse individuals as they prepare for, apply to and enroll in college. They explore the challenges and supports necessary for neurodivergent students transitioning to college and share insights on evaluating readiness and the importance of finding the right fit for students as they enter higher education.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Dr. Eric Endlich:www.topcollegeconsultants.comIG: @topcollegeconsultantsBook: Older Autistic Adults

State Representative Noah Arbit joins Mark Talaga to discuss the importance of focusing on kids’ mental health and re-envisioning education to support the gifted population. Mark and Representative Arbit discuss how parents can re-envision a successful future for their gifted child by supporting them in thriving within their gifts.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact State Representative Noah Arbit:https://noahformi.com/IG: @repnoaharbitResources:www.perilresearch.com

Mark Talaga is joined by Emmy-nominated writer and producer Vijal Patel. Vijal shares his unconventional journey from a career path in engineering and finance to becoming a successful comedy writer and producer. Mark and Vijal discuss the importance of self-confidence, seizing opportunities when they arise, and being true to oneself even when that defies societal, and perhaps familial, expectations.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Vijal:Instagram: @thevijal

Mark Talaga explores the nuances of communicating with gifted children and why it can be so challenging. He discusses common points of conflict and emphasizes the importance of understanding underlying issues affecting a child's abilities and a family’s communication patterns. Mark gives listeners key questions to ask their child and themselves to take steps toward improvement.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠: www.hopelesslygifted.comIG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Mark Talaga shares his core advice for parents, teachers and administrators on how to ensure 504, IEP and special services meetings produce less anxiety and more results. He explains how to best support gifted students while also meeting the needs of the teachers and school systems. Mark also shares how to make use of evaluations in order to identify and close skill gaps to set all parties up for success.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Host Mark Talaga is joined by pediatric developmental audiologist and auditory processing specialist, Dr. Christy Washkowiak, to discuss the significant impact of Central Auditory Processing Disorder on gifted and asynchronous children. Dr. Christy and Mark discuss comprehensive evaluations and therapeutic interventions and the diverse symptoms of auditory processing disorders and the importance of a holistic approach in addressing these challenges.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Dr. Christy Washkowiak:Website: www.auditoryconnection.comResources:Masgutova MethodMovement Program - Older Kids and Teens

Mark Talaga explores the complex and often misunderstood topic of asynchronous development in gifted children. He explains the concept and the developmental gaps the child experiences as well as explains his approach to best support gifted kids. Mark challenges common misconceptions and advocates for a developmental approach to closing skill gaps in these unique children.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Host Mark Talaga is joined by Marco Braun, the creative mind behind the popular social media account, Eye Spy Antiques to discuss living authentically. Mark and Marco discuss challenges of embracing one's true self, dealing with societal pressures, and the healing power of self-love and community.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Marco Braun:IG @eyespyantiquesTikTok @eyespyantique

Mark Talaga is joined by London-based videographer and photographer, Anthony Rosner, for an insightful conversation about Anthony’s personal journey of balancing a passion for video games with the challenges and aspirations of real life. Mark and Anthony discuss identity, mastery, and the struggles of sustaining creative endeavors. Anthony shares about his experiences as a documentary filmmaker, the acclaim he received, and the continuous process of defining what he truly wants and deciding where to focus his attention and efforts.Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: [email protected]⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygiftedContact Anthony Rosner:Website: https://anthonyrosner.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/antronoid/Bluesky handle: https://bsky.app/profile/anthonyrosner.comThreads handle: https://www.threads.net/@antronoidResources:IRL: In Real LifeIRL 2: In Moderation

Host Mark Talaga explains the complexities of initiation struggles that gifted children often have. He shares why getting started can be challenging and how to evaluate the deeper underlying issues at play. Mark provides practical examples and strategies to help parents understand these challenges and best support gifted kids with this executive function task. Host: Mark Talaga Music: Petren J Music Contact Mark Talaga: Email: [email protected] ⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

In this episode, host Mark Talaga is joined by Jillian Gismondi, parent coach and specialist in neurodiversity. They discuss the challenges parents face with gifted children, including the feeling that their child is manipulating them, as well as the importance of understanding asynchronous skill development. Mark and Jill offer practical tips for managing issues like screen time and morning routine challenges and offer parents suggestions on nurturing the relationship to better meet their gifted child's unique needs. Host: Mark Talaga Music: Petren J Music Contact Mark Talaga: Email: [email protected] ⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted Contact Jillian E. Gismondi, M.A., LPC : Website: childfamilyandsolutionscenter.com

In this episode, Mark Talaga gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look into the backstory of the Hopelessly Gifted podcast and shares his personal journey of exploring the complexities of giftedness. Mark discusses the challenges faced by gifted individuals and their families, and he explains his plans for the podcast. Host: Mark Talaga Music: Petren J Music Contact Mark Talaga: Email: [email protected] ⁠Website⁠ IG:⁠ ⁠⁠@hopelesslygifted⁠ | FB: ⁠@hopelesslygifted

Podcast Trailer Episode: Why can gifted kids excel at the complex but struggle with the simple? Hosted by Mark Talaga, The Hopelessly Gifted Podcast helps families understand how to bridge the developmental gaps gifted children face everyday. Through personal, human stories and conversations with insightful specialists the Hopelessly Gifted Podcast, sometimes irreverently, addresses issues with the gifted that bring parents both pain and joy and offers relief and resources to help find humanness in the extremes. Host: Mark Talaga Music: Petren J Music Contact Mark Talaga: Email: [email protected] WebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted