PODCAST · health
Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited
by SparkLaunch.org, Mike Cornell, Chaya Mallavaram
You’ve landed at Spark Launch — the guide star for embracing what it means to be neurodiverse. Hosted by Chaya Mallavaram (the artsy ADHD brain behind Spark Launch) and Mike Cornell (a peer support specialist who reminds us that imperfection is where the magic happens), this podcast dives deep into the messy, beautiful, and often challenging realities of neurodivergent life.Each episode blends personal stories with expert insights to tackle issues affecting our community, such as mental health, parenting strategies, emotional regulation, workplace dynamics, executive function hacks, and neurodiversity advocacy.Whether you’re navigating life with ADHD, Autism Spectrum, or other neurodevelopmental conditions — or supporting someone who is — this is a space where neurodivergent voices can unmask, embrace their weirdness, and celebrate human diversity.Subscribe now to ignite your mind, elevate your essence, and spark something extraordinary.https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/Join the Wai
Episodes
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Big Feelings & Calm Parenting w/ Devora Segall
Mike and Chaya sit down with Devora Segall, therapist, parenting coach, and founder of Segall Coaching, who helps overwhelmed parents build calmer, more connected relationships at home. Devora opens up about her own experience of overwhelmed parenting, shares trauma-informed and DBT-based tools…
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Finding Your Fit: Tailoring Education to Neurodiverse Needs w/ Cassie Olguin
Mike and Chaya sit down with Cassie Olguin, a Partnerships Specialist at Outschool and homeschool mom of 11+ years. Cassie shares how her family moved from a traditional-school mindset to homeschooling, and then navigated a new layer of needs as one of her twins was diagnosed with OCD, autism…
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The Unedited Self: Dropping the Script on Late-Diagnosed Autism w/ Kristin Walker
Mike and Chaya sit down with Kristin Walker, founder and CEO of Mental Health News Radio Network, who returns to the show to share the profound impact of receiving an autism and ADHD diagnosis in her 50s. Kristin opens up about the strange and beautiful work of unmasking after a later-in-life...
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You Can't Out-Hustle Your ADHD (But You Can Team Up With It) w/ Ryan Mayer
Mike and Chaya sit down with Ryan Mayer, a certified ADHD coach who helps neurodivergent adults stop trying to “discipline” their brains and start building systems that actually work. Ryan shares how drowning in corporate burnout, overwhelm, and the constant pressure to “try harder” pushed him...
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Fix The System: Neal Glendenning on ADHD Burnout, Neuroinclusion, and Care That Actually Works
Mike and Chaya sit down with Neal Glendenning, founder of The Neuro Inclusion Project and NdCare Group, who is building neurodivergent care systems rooted in lived experience, compassion, and real-world support. Neal opens up about ADHD burnout, hospitalization, and the moment he realized that...
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Burnout & Balance: Reciprocity and Resilience in Healthcare w/ Katy Johnson
Mike and Chaya sit down with Katy Johnson, a registered nurse and founder of Reciprocity KC, who brings vital wellness support directly to burned-out healthcare professionals. Katy opens up about her late-in-life ADHD and social-phobia diagnosis, unpacks the reality of compassion fatigue, and...
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Regulate, Restore, Remember: Unmasking the Neurodivergent Nervous System w/ Briana McCallum
Mike and Chaya sit down with Briana McCallum, founder of Divine Empowerment Coaching, who helps neurodivergent people and caregivers build regulation, self-trust, and resilience. Briana opens up about her path from an medication-resistant kid to becoming a Reiki master, how alternative healing...
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Nonspeaking Autism and the Right to Communicate w/ Dr. Uli K. Chettipally
Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Uli K. Chettipally, an emergency medicine physician and autism-tech innovator, who is reimagining what support can look like for non-speaking autistic people. Uli shares how his daughter Siri’s autism diagnosis changed the course of his life and work, leading him...
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Game Over for Traditional Education: Neurodivergence For The Win w/ Enrique Cachafeiro
Mike and Chaya sit down with Enrique Cachafeiro, an education innovator and serious game designer challenging the industrial-era classroom model. Enrique explains why traditional education systems are fundamentally misaligned with neurodivergent minds, why school accommodations often fall short,...
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Belonging From The Inside-Out: Stop Performing, Start Living w/ Jodi Davidson
Mike and Chaya sit down with Jodi Davidson, founder of Leader Within coaching and consulting, who opens up about how shame, perfectionism, and masking can quietly run the show. She shares the story behind her Kintsugi-inspired approach (release, repair, renew), plus the reality of late-diagnosed...
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CuriouslyDivergent: Masking, Misdiagnosis, and Knowing Your Rights w/ Laney Hills
Mike and Chaya sit down with Lainey Hills, founder of Curiously Divergent and Neuro Curiosity, to talk about why neurodivergent employees struggle at work because of workplace design—not lack of capability. Lainey shares her experiences with autism, ADHD, masking, and workplace discrimination,...
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Beyond Words: Selective Mutism, Autism, and How Speech Works w/ Elissa Renee Mandel
Mike and Chaya sit down with Elissa Renee—speech-language pathologist, autism clinical specialist, and the founder of Speech Works by Elissa—for a conversation that challenges what we assume “communication” looks like. Elissa shares how her own experience with selective mutism and speech apraxia...
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Your Brain Isn't Broken... It's Quantum w/ Candace Gillhoolley
Mike and Chaya sit down with Candace Gillhoolley: author, and co-host of the #1-rated quantum computing podcast Impact Quantum. The daughter of an IBM inventor who was working on quantum algorithms decades before the world caught up, and someone who didn't learn to read until she was 10, Candace...
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Autism, Sexuality, and the Power of Neuroculture w/ Candice Christiansen (Season 2 Finale)
In the season finale of season 2, Mike and Chaya sit down with Candice Christiansen, a leading voice at the intersection of neurodiversity, trauma, and intimacy, for a conversation that gets existential—and a little bit weird. The three explore the sacred energy of creation, the challenge of...
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Montessori Magic: How Freedom-Based Learning Supports ADHD and Autistic Children w/ Rupali Sharma
Mike and Chaya sit down with Rupali Sharma, founder and director of The T.E.C. Schools in Worcester, Massachusetts, who shares her journey from architecture to Montessori education, revealing how autonomy, observation, and child-centered learning create environments where neurodivergent children...
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One Size Fits One: Derek Crager on Diagnosis, Design, and Doing Different
Mike and Chaya sit down with Derek Crager to discuss his journey of being late-diagnosed AuDHDer, how embracing his neurodivergence led him from the manufacturing floor to building transformative accessible AI tools for the neurodivergent community, and what it truly means to create…
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How Generational Trauma Shapes Your Life w/ Anu Dayal-Gulati
Mike and Chaya sit down with Anu Dayal-Gulati, a certified ancestral healing practitioner, to explore how inherited emotional patterns can create subconscious blocks in our lives. Anu explains how everything from our relationships to our finances can be impacted by these generational traumas,...
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The Art of Being Kind to Yourself w/ Diana Stelin
Mike and Chaya sit down with Diana Stelin, an award-winning artist, educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of The Plein-Air Art Academy. Diana shares her journey and expertise on the connection between art and emotional healing, explaining how anyone can use creativity to manage burnout, connect…
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Accommodation vs. Integration: Why Your Neuro-inclusive Program Isn't Working w/ Gabriela Tardea
Mike and Chaya sit down with neuro-inclusion consultant Gabriela Tardea to get practical about building workplaces where neurodivergent talent can thrive. From auditing culture and rewriting job descriptions to unlearning bias on teams, Gabriela breaks down how to bridge the gap between good...
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Self-Preservation Isn’t Selfish: ADHD and SUD w/ Lisa Modur
Mike and Chaya sit down with Austin psychotherapist Lisa Modur to talk about misunderstood childhood ADHD, self‑stigma, perfectionism, and how “mom‑wine culture” became a coping tool before treatment and long‑term recovery reshaped her life, relationships, and parenting. We Also Cover: ADHD and...
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Beyond Borders: A Cross-Cultural Look at Neurodiversity w/ Dr. Pritika Bernice Gonsalves
Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Pritika Bernice Gonsalves, a child psychologist and EAP specialist, to discuss the nuances of neurodiversity and mental health from a cross-cultural perspective between India and the United States. Dr. Gonsalves shares her experiences with the state of ADHD...
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Every Brain Belongs: Teaching The Twice-Exceptional w/ Mandi Davis Skerbetz
Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Mandi Davis Skerbetz, co-founder of Sage School of Dallas, who has dedicated her career to reshaping how we support neurodivergent and twice-exceptional students. Dr. Skerbetz shares how she identified gaps in public, private, and charter institutions, the hard...
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Parenting Through the Courts: Special Needs, Divorce, and Justice w/ Dr. Margaret 'Pegi' Price
Chaya and Mike speak with Dr. Margaret “Pegi” Price, a distinguished professor, legal expert, and program director at National University, about her journey blending personal experience as a parent with her career in family law. Dr. Price shares some eye-opening insights from her book, The…
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Restless Minds, Clear Patterns w/ Priya Chanduraj
Mike and Chaya sit down with Priya Chanduraj, the founder and CEO of FinTeam One, who discusses how her ADHD became an asset in the world of finance. Priya shares her experience of being a "challenged child" in India and how discovering her passion for economics allowed her to excel, and the...
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Knowing Your Why: Capacity is Key w/ Jane Singleton
Mike and Chaya sit down with Jane Singleton, a learning specialist, executive coach, and founder of Launchpad for Life. With over a decade of experience in education, Jane shares how her early experiences advocating for people with disabilities ignited her passion for helping neurodivergent...
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Late-Realized, Loud and Leading w/ LaToya Hinton, PhD.
Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. LaToya Hinton, an autistic, ADHDer, and passionate advocate for neurodivergent women in leadership. With her experiences as a late-diagnosed adult, LaToya dives into the mental toll of masking, perfectionism, and how accessible environments can unlock untapped...
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Your Child Isn’t Giving You a Hard Time, They’re Having a Hard Time w/ Christian Vinceneux
Mike and Chaya sit down with Christian Vinceneux, ADHD advocate, coach (Life Guide Coaching), and former occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience working with neurodivergent families. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Christian reflects on growing up as a neurodivergent child in...
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Boundaries, Burnout, and Belonging /w Michelle Markman
Mike and Chaya sit down with Michelle Markman, a late-diagnosed autistic entrepreneur and founder of ND Coach Inc., where she supports high-achieving neurodivergent women in unmasking and thriving on their own terms. Michelle reflects on how her diagnosis transformed her perspective on masking,...
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Exploding Trucks, Rock and Roll, and Autism at 65 w/ Peter O'Neil
Mike and Chaya sit down with Peter O’Neil, a retired attorney, musician, grandfather, and author of My So-Called Disorder: Autism, Exploding Trucks, and the Big Daddy of Rock and Roll. Diagnosed as autistic at 65, Peter reflects on how that discovery transformed his experiences of masking, social...
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Breaking Free To Be Me w/ Kristin Walker (Mental Health News Radio Network)
Mike and Chaya sit down with Kristin Walker, the founder of the Mental Health News Radio Network, to discuss her late-in-life discovery of being autistic and having ADHD. Kristin opens up about the emotional toll of masking, the powerful shift that came with her diagnosis, and how those…
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Fighting To Be Seen: The High Cost of Masking w/ Reid Miles
Mike and Chaya sit down with Reid Miles, creator and host of Inside the Asperger’s Studio. Reid opens up about his journey from working in the tech industry to becoming a passionate advocate for autism and neurodiversity. He shares the ups and downs of navigating the professional world as a...
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Creativity That Calms: A New Way to Support Autistic Kids /w Jay Goth
Mike and Chaya sit down with Jay Goth, CEO of Burble Creativity Inc., to explore how his company is using immersive storytelling to spark imagination, reduce overstimulation, and create calming environments for neurodivergent children. Drawing from ancient storytelling traditions, Jay explains…
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Cut From Chaos: Shane Currin’s Story of Bipolar, Addiction, & Purpose
Mike and Chaya kick off Season 2 by welcoming Shane Currin, a mental health advocate, writer, and podcast host of Diamonds in the Rough. Shane shares his powerful story of overcoming addiction, navigating bipolar disorder, and finding purpose through vulnerability and service. Together, they…
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Nature, Nurture, and Neurodiversity w/ Dr. Jeff Karp (Season 1 Finale)
Mike and Chaya conclude Spark Launch's first season by sitting down with Dr. Jeff Karp, a biomedical engineer, Harvard Medical School and MIT professor, and passionate neurodiversity advocate. Dr. Karp shares how he went from struggling student to noted innovator with over 175 published papers…
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Walk The Strong Path: Compassion Breeds Resilience w/ James Dewar-Haggart
Mike and Chaya sit down with James Dewar-Haggart, founder of Strong Path, a fitness organization built to prioritize inclusivity for the neurodivergent community. James shares his journey through depression, substance use, and ADHD, and how those experiences shaped his approach to creating a...
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Living Eponymously: Creativity Over Conformity w/ Bradley Lewis Foster
Mike and Chaya sit down with Bradley Lewis Foster, a creative force in the marketing world who discusses his experiences as a neurodivergent entrepreneur and the often-misunderstood traits associated with ADHD. Brad shares on leveraging neurodiverse thinking through different artforms, leading to...
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The Autism Advantage: Author J.D. Barker Talks Crafting Stories & Taking Chances
Mike and Chaya sit down with author J.D. Barker, known for his gripping suspense thrillers, who reveals how being on the autism spectrum has shaped his career. Discover how neurodiversity fuels creativity as he shares his journey from ghostwriter to NYT bestseller, his lifelong passion for...
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Beyond ADHD: Finding Peace Amid the Noise w/ Sam Led
Mike and Chaya sit down with Sam Led, a distinguished ADHD coach, podcaster, and the author of "Beyond ADHD," to delve into the multifaceted nature of ADHD; exploring its implications not just for diagnosed individuals but for society at large. Sam brings a treasure trove of insights, from the...
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Passion Over Profession: A Teen Perspective on Dyslexia, Adulthood, and Happiness w/ Neel Raikar
Mike and Chaya sit down with Neel Raikar, an 18-year-old trying to plot his own course through the complexities of school life while facing the hurdles associated with dyslexia. Neel doesn't hesitate to give his candid - and very relatable - aversion to the education system and how the pressure…
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Superpower or Struggle? The ADHD Spectrum of Experience w/ Ahmadreza Tadrisi
Mike and Chaya sit down with ADHD psychotherapist Ahmadreza Tadrisi to discuss how his own diagnosis sparked a desire to broaden the understanding of this neuro-type. In their talk, Ahmadreza debunks some harmful ADHD myths and highlights how the "ADHD as superpower" narrative can unintentionally...
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Level Up Your ADHD Parenting Strategies w/ Joshua Rastetter
Parenting is an intricate dance, this is doubly true when you and your child share the same neurodivergence. Joshua Rastetter returns to elaborate further on these complexities, reflecting on the frustrations of a rigid educational system that didn’t accommodate his daughter's needs, and the how...
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When The World Is Dark and Cold...
Feeling hopeless amidst recent world events is a sentiment many of us currently relate to. But, as Mike and Chaya discuss in this episode, hopelessness can lead to fearlessness. We Also Cover: The cumulative impact of prolonged anxiety on mental health Finding connection in collective struggle...
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How I Spent (And Learned To Love) My Neurodivergent Vacation
Mike recounts his recent vacation and how it led to a profound realization about neurodiverse travel experiences. He and Chaya reflect on the pressure to conform to typical social activities and how fulfillment can be found off the beaten path by embracing your own unique itinerary. We Also…
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Heal The Collective: Indigenous Insights & Gender Equity w/ Michele Price
Mike and Chaya sit down with Michele Price, a seasoned leadership development expert who specializes in empowering women and non-binary individuals. Through the lens of her indigenous heritage and identity, Michele shares insights on dismantling biases and the challenges women face in the current...
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Mind The Risk: ADHD & Self-Acceptance with Jon Cunningham
Mike and Chaya sit down for an existential and suuuper ADHD conversation with entrepreneur Jon Cunningham - a conversation that is the sheer definition of "going with the flow." Together, they unravel the complexities of navigating a world misaligned with the neurodivergent experience, managing...
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Proud To Learn Differently: Diving Deep into Neurodivergent Education
Mike and Chaya sit down with Lindsay Rice, a passionate educator and advocate, to explore some often-overlooked complexities in the classroom. Delving into Lindsay's personal experiences as a neurodivergent individual and as a parent of neurodiverse children, she shines a light on an education...
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Be Your Best Neurospicy Self with Holistic Healer Mia Love
Mike and Chaya welcome Mia Love, a holistic health practitioner and dedicated neurodiversity advocate, to discuss how she promotes harmony between traditional western medical practices and holistic healing to foster greater self-efficacy She also details her journey from years of misdiagnosis to...
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Attachment Styles & Trauma: Healing The Hurts That Bind with Shoshana Cook
Mike and Chaya chat with trauma-informed therapist Shoshana Cook, who delves into Attachment Theory, shedding light on the shortcomings in mental health treatment related to it and advocating for a more comprehensive approach. We Also Cover: Incorporating Multiple Treatment Modalities (CBT, DBT,...
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Empathy Unlimited: The Future of Neurodiverse Employment with Mark Fister
Chaya and Mike sit down with Mark Fister, CTO of Haystack Unlimited and proud ADHDer. Mark sheds light on the challenges that neurodivergent individuals face during the interview process and day-to-day job duties, what kind of necessary accommodations foster success, and how his company is…
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Embracing Stripes: Dyscalculia and Neurodiverse Parenting with Joshua Rastetter
Mike and Chaya chat with Joshua Rastetter, who shares an insightful perspective on navigating neurodiversity mindfully, along with valuable advice for parents navigating the spectrum alongside their children. Josh opens up about his journey with Dyscalculia and how discovering his ADHD through…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
You’ve landed at Spark Launch — the guide star for embracing what it means to be neurodiverse. Hosted by Chaya Mallavaram (the artsy ADHD brain behind Spark Launch) and Mike Cornell (a peer support specialist who reminds us that imperfection is where the magic happens), this podcast dives deep into the messy, beautiful, and often challenging realities of neurodivergent life.Each episode blends personal stories with expert insights to tackle issues affecting our community, such as mental health, parenting strategies, emotional regulation, workplace dynamics, executive function hacks, and neurodiversity advocacy.Whether you’re navigating life with ADHD, Autism Spectrum, or other neurodevelopmental conditions — or supporting someone who is — this is a space where neurodivergent voices can unmask, embrace their weirdness, and celebrate human diversity.Subscribe now to ignite your mind, elevate your essence, and spark something extraordinary.https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/Join the Wai
HOSTED BY
SparkLaunch.org, Mike Cornell, Chaya Mallavaram
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited have?
Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited about?
You’ve landed at Spark Launch — the guide star for embracing what it means to be neurodiverse. Hosted by Chaya Mallavaram (the artsy ADHD brain behind Spark Launch) and Mike Cornell (a peer support specialist who reminds us that imperfection is where the magic happens), this podcast dives deep into...
How often does Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited release new episodes?
Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited?
You can listen to Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited?
Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited is created and hosted by SparkLaunch.org, Mike Cornell, Chaya Mallavaram.
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