Spark Launch Podcast

Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Ravi R. Iyer, a Harvard-educated physician, entrepreneur, ADHD thought leader, and creator of IR Focal Point, to talk about the one force that turns potential into reality: attention. Ravi unpacks why desire alone is not enough, the hidden mechanics of human potential., and why so many people live as consumers of life instead of creators. We Also Cover: ADHD focus and attention training Dopamine and reward loops Attention as the bridge between desire and action Human potential and self-expression How external validation hijacks identity Parenting as a power dynamic How language shapes a child’s sense of possibility Learning through immersion and multiple senses Quotes: “Desire does not produce success. That is like saying you can cook an A three course meal on a spark. You can’t.” “The entire world is sitting at the restaurant of their lives, eating the menu instead of eating the meal.” “Do you realize the benign indifference that the universe has to your problems?” “They don’t recognize that they have the capacity to create the meal of their life.” About Dr. Ravi R. Iyer: Dr. Ravi R. Iyer is a Harvard-educated physician, entrepreneur, and ADHD thought leader focused on human potential, intentional focus, and neuro-inclusive leadership. He is the founder of the Iyer Clinic, CEO of Active Power Inc., and the creator of IR Focal Point, a consultancy dedicated to helping individuals and organizations harness attention as a tool for performance and transformation. Ravi is also the author of The Reaper’s Dance and shares teachings on neurodiversity, health, and human potential through his online platforms. Connect with Dr. Ravi Iyer Website: iyerclinic.com IR Focal Point: irfocalpoint.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6v-s-lmOlC3m7PTEMp-aXA TEDx Talk: "The Power of Intentional Focus" Book: The Reaper's Dance (available on Amazon) LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/driyermd Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Mindshttps://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunchMike on Instagram: @followshisghostMike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:https://followyourghostcoach.com/As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Sam Mitchell, autistic creator and host of Autism Rocks and Rolls, to talk about autism advocacy, identity, and why special interests can be a gift, not something to erase. Sam shares how years of bullying, depression, and exclusion shaped his early life, and how a creative outlet grew into a nonprofit, a speaking platform, and a mission to help people see autism through a more human, strength-based lens. We Also Cover How bullying and exclusion shaped Sam’s early experience Why podcasting became a creative and personal turning point The reality of autism, ADHD, autistic burnout, and social exhaustion How special interests can become strengths How speaking gigs and social interaction can drain an autistic person’s energy Autism, ADHD, sleep, and the constant challenge of trying to power down a busy brain Why deficit-based autism support falls short for autistic kids and adults What schools and support systems often miss about autistic strengths and support needs The value of family support, gratitude, and self-belief How Autism Rocks and Rolls is creating awareness through speaking, events, and media Quotes "Hang in there because greatness is arriving. You just may not see it yet, but it’s going to come to you." "For one day, screw the deficiencies. Let’s focus on the positive aspects." "After the speaking engagements, I’m exhausted, man. People are exhausting." About Sam Mitchell Sam Mitchell is the creator and host of the podcast and nonprofit Autism Rocks and Rolls. What started as a high‑school hobby has grown into a nonprofit where Sam serves as Executive Director. Through his show, live events, and educational content, Sam works to destigmatize autism, challenge deficit‑based language, and highlight the talents and skills of people on the spectrum. He has recorded well over 100 episodes, been a guest on hundreds of shows, and interviewed notable guests such as Dr. Temple Grandin, multiple WWE wrestlers, NASCAR drivers, and American Idol rocker James Durbin. Beyond podcasting, Sam speaks at conferences across the U.S. and Canada, organizes community events such as his “Success for All and How We Get There” gala, and trains businesses on employment and autism. Together with his mother, Gina, he is also co‑authoring a children’s book that is currently with a publisher. Connect with Sam Mitchell Website: autismrocksandrolls.com Listen to the Autism Rocks and Rolls Podcast Sam’s TEDx Talk on Autism and Structure Read Sam Mitchell’s Flutie Foundation feature Autism Rocks and Rolls – Mental Health News Radio Network Sam on Instagram: @autismrocksandrollspod Watch Autism Rocks and Rolls on YouTube Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Mindshttps://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunchMike on Instagram: @followshisghostMike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:https://followyourghostcoach.com/As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike opens up about his personal history with depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm as an AuDHD individual — from his earliest memories of struggling as a child to his last attempt in 2018. He and Chaya explore what it means to feel "out of frequency" as a neurodivergent person, the coping strategies that kept him alive, and what actually helps (and what doesn't) when someone you love is in crisis. Content Warning: This episode contains frank discussion of suicidality, suicide attempts, and self-harm. Timestamps for specific topics are listed below. We Also Cover: The difference between passive and active suicidal ideation How autistic compartmentalization allows access to painful memories without emotional overwhelm Why the first thought isn't your responsibility — but the second one is Mono no aware, the transience of pain, and sitting with impermanence Using art, media, and small milestones as reasons to stay Why telling someone "all the reasons they have to live" backfires The danger of easy access to lethal means in impulsive moments Masking, self-hatred, and the feedback loop of depression and neurodivergence Finding self-worth through peer support instead of external validation Mental Health First Aid as a practical resource for anyone Quotes: "I always felt out of frequency. That's what I've always called it. I was in a different frequency than everybody else. I'm now looking back — I'm AuDHD, of course I'm out of frequency with everybody else around me." "Don't remind them of all the reasons they have to live, because you have ruined any chance of trying to connect with them at that point. Trust me, they are already kind of aware of all of that." "I needed to get serious about using the information and feelings that I had put towards other people for so long." "Everyone already kind of knows what they need. They just sometimes need a little bit of help — like that ghost that's inside of them that knows the advice they need to hear." Resources: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Call or text 988 Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741 Mental Health First Aid — Training courses available nationwide Connect with Mike: Follow Your Ghost Peer Support & Coaching Email: [email protected] Autism Personal Coach — Book a free 15-minute consultation Hey Peers — ADHD support groups and one-on-one sessions Trigger Warnings & Timestamps This episode contains frank, personal discussions of the following topics. Timestamps are provided so listeners can skip specific sections if needed. Suicidal Ideation & Attempts — [00:06:37] – [00:14:00] Mike describes his history with suicide attempts including methods (discussed broadly) Self-Harm — [00:12:14] – [00:13:32] Discussion of self-harm behaviors including hair pulling, hitting, and the evolution of those behaviors into current coping/stimming strategies Gun Access & Impulsive Attempt — [00:09:38] – [00:11:00] Detailed account of Mike's 2018 attempt Depression & Suicidal Thought Patterns — [00:22:29] – [00:25:32] Mike discusses ongoing depressive thought patterns If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, suicidal ideation, or the mental health challenges of living with autism or ADHD, you are not alone. Spark Launch exists for exactly this conversation. Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Mindshttps://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunchMike on Instagram: @followshisghostMike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:https://followyourghostcoach.com/As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike and Chaya sit down with Stéphane Mousseau, learning strategist and founder of LIX Learning, a framework designed to bring clarity, trust, and neuro-inclusive design to the world of digital course creation. Stéphane opens up about his own ADHD, the years he spent masking it in rigid corporate environments, and how the frustration of broken systems — at work and in learning — drove him to build something better. We Also Cover: Why ADHD brains are wired to reject clunky systems — and what that actually reveals about the system, not the person The interest-based nervous system and how motivation works differently for neurodivergent minds Social integration at work: the overlooked onboarding factor that makes or breaks belonging for neurodivergent employees Psychological safety, trust, and why having a friend across the hall matters more than we admit Why hot desks are quietly destroying workplace connection How leaders can move from “DEI statements” to actual neuro-inclusive leadership standards How LIX Learning helps learning teams build clearer, more trustworthy courses for all minds Why so many ADHD entrepreneurs go independent — creative freedom, or a rejection response to systems that never fit? Quotes: "Clarity helps all minds. Whatever they do for neurodivergent talent is just bringing more clarity into the workplace — and it's beneficial for everyone." — Stéphane "We are not broken. We have so much more to offer. Don't put us into a box." — Chaya "A lot of entrepreneurs have ADHD, right? Is it because ADHD people are so creative? Or is it because that's the response to not being fully accepted in a typical workplace?" — Stéphane About Stéphane Mousseau: Stéphane is a learning strategist who focuses on clarity, accessibility, and how people actually experience work and learning. After years in corporate roles, ADHD was sometimes a challenge within systems that prized speed, ambiguity, and unspoken expectations. Rather than seeing this as a personal limitation, it became a signal. Instead of masking ADHD, Stéphane leaned into it and used it as fuel to question how learning and work are designed in the first place. That experience led him to develop practical approaches for improving learning clarity and reducing cognitive overload. His work helps organizations evaluate how usable, accessible, and action-oriented their learning experiences really are, and redesign them so people can actually apply what they learn. Alongside this, he facilitates neuro-inclusive leadership workshops, supporting leaders in creating clearer expectations, workflows, and communication practices that better support neurodivergent employees while improving performance and psychological safety across teams. Connect with Stéphane Mousseau: LIX Learning: https://lixlearning.com LIX Learning on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lix-learning Stéphane on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/stephanemousseau Recommended Reading: LIX Improves Learning Clarity and Accessibility: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lix-learning_learninganddevelopment-instructionaldesign-activity-7402764958695882752-0VF4 LIX Analysis for Clearer Learning Experiences: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lix-learning_learninganddevelopment-instructionaldesign-activity-7402840449532813312-feeN LIX Live in Early Access: From Chaos to Clarity: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/lix-learning_a-big-moment-for-learning-quality-lix-is-activity-7407502184327581696-4eSM Join the Waitlist for SPARKADE: Games for Children and Families Designed for ADHD Minds, by ADHD Mindshttps://play.sparkade.app/Your neurodivergent child deserves an educational experience that helps them thrive.Join the Sparkade community to give them a gamified learning journey that sparks confidence and curiosity, builds skills, and strengthens your connection — one playful session at a time.Available soon on iOS and Android.  -  Play on any tablet or phone.Stay Connected:Website: https://sparklaunchpodcast.com/All podcast listening methods: https://episodes.fm/1758785803Play Our Game - For ADHD Minds: https://play.sparkade.app/ADHD Learning Solutions: https://www.sparklaunch.org/Chaya on Instagram: @the_sparklaunchMike on Instagram: @followshisghostMike's Neurodivergent & Mental Health Peer Coaching-- Nab a Free Consultation:https://followyourghostcoach.com/As always, thanks for lending us your ears and keep igniting that spark! Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.