Podcast
Hopelessly Gifted Podcast
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.
- Episodes
- 42
- Releases
- Every two weeks
- Typical length
- 36 min
- On air since
- 2024
- Latest episode
- 1 week ago
Episodes
42 episodes, newest first
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26 min
41: What Are the Lies We Need to Stop Telling Young Adults? with Lisa Marker-Robbins
Season 2, Episode 41
Show notes
Mark talks with Flourish Coaching founder Lisa Marker-Robbins about helping gifted and capable young people find meaningful career direction without expecting them to have their entire lives figured out. Lisa challenges common career advice young adults are often given and explains how these messages can overwhelm young people or stall their development.
Host: Mark Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
Website IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Lisa Marker-Robbins:
Website: https://flourishcoachingco.com/
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47 min
40: How (and Why) Should I Help My Child Be a Flexible Thinker?
Season 2, Episode 40
Show notes
Mark sits down with author and Imagination Project founder Wylde Scott (Brad Scheel) to explore why creativity, imagination, and flexible thinking may become some of the most valuable skills children can develop in the age of AI. They challenge traditional ideas about education and success, and they discuss how creativity can be intentionally taught through play, experimentation, risk-taking, resilience, and giving kids opportunities to turn their ideas into something real.
Host: Mark Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Wylde Scott:
Website: https://www.wyldescott.com/
IG: @wyldescott | FB: @wyldescott
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36 min
39: Could My Child Have ADHD Even When it’s Not Obvious? with Brooke Schnittman
Season 1, Episode 39
Show notes
Mark Talaga sits down with ADHD coach and author Brooke Schnittman to explore what ADHD looks like beyond the stereotypical “squeaky wheel,” especially in gifted, twice-exceptional, and otherwise high-functioning kids whose struggles can easily fly under the radar.
Host: Mark Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Brooke Schnittman:
Website: http://coachingwithbrooke.com/
IG: @coachingwithbrooke | FB: @coachingwithbrooke
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2 min
Summer Break Announcement! See you in Fall!
Season 1
Show notes
The podcast is taking a summer break with an amazing batch of new episodes in the lineup for Fall!
Host: Mark Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
Website IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
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34 min
38: My Gifted Child and I Are Burned Out. Now What? with Dr. Liz Evans
Season 1, Episode 38
Show notes
Liz Evans, OT, joins Liz shares her story of isolation in trying to find help for her gifted child and how her parenting experiences influenced her work in which she helps parents experiencing burnout from raising complex kids.
Host: Mark Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Liz Evans:
Instagram: @the_untypical_ot
Website: https://the-untypical-ot.co.uk
-
47 min
37: What Role Should Assessment Play for My Gifted Kid? with Dr. Rebecca Resnik
Season 1, Episode 37
Show notes
Mark is joined by licensed psychologist Dr. Rebecca Resnik to discuss assessment for gifted children, how gifted brains differ, and when testing may be helpful or may not be necessary. Resnik also addresses misconceptions about gifted kids and explains how computational linguistics and clinician expertise can be supportive for understanding and addressing issues gifted kids are having.
Host: Mark Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Dr. Rebecca Resnik:
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46 min
36: How Can I Be an Amazing Parent to My Child Who is Growing Up Gifted? with Dani Skiko
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
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29 min
35: How Can The Autism Resource Project Help Me and My Child? with Gilda Evans
Season 1, Episode 35
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
Website IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Gilda Evans:
Program:
https://autismresourceproject.org
Podcast:
-
37 min
34: Listener Question: How Can I Tell if My Child is Gifted?
Season 1, Episode 34
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
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40 min
33: What Should I Do If My Gifted Kid is Really Struggling in College? with Scott Lutostanski
Season 1, Episode 33
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Scott Lutostanski:Website: https://statestreeteducation.com/
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45 min
32: My Gifted Child is Struggling with Reading. Could it be Dyslexia? with Faye Bankler Casell
Season 1, Episode 32
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Faye Bankler Casell:
Website: https://homereadingcoach.com/
IG: @Homereadingacoach | FB: @Homereadingacoach
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36 min
31: How Do Parents of Gifted Kids Reduce Burnout? with Jen Merrill
Season 1, Episode 31
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Jen Merrill:
Website: http://laughingatchaos.com/
IG: @jenlaughs | FB: @LaughingAtChaos
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42 min
30: What If My Complex Kid Needs an Escalated Level of Care? with Caroline Gulick and Julie Kastelan
Season 1, Episode 30
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Caroline Gulick:
Contact Julie Kastelan:
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35 min
29: What Role Does the Mind-Body Connection Play in My Gifted Kid’s Progress? with Jen Bluske
Season 1, Episode 29
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
Website IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Jen Bluske:
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33 min
28: How Can I Feel Less Alone While Parenting My Gifted Kid? with Teresa Nair
Season 1, Episode 28
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Teresa Nair:
Website: https://www.reel2e.org/
Instagram: @reel.2e
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53 min
27: How Can I Support My Gifted Child's Unique Path? with Orion Couling
Season 1, Episode 27
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
Website IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Orion Couling:
Website: https://www.orioncoulingnola.com/
Instagram: @nawlins_crawlins
Email: orion.cooling@gmail.com
Movie: No Easy Target
Podcast: Shadow Carriers
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27 min
26: How Do I Navigate the Holidays with My Gifted Kid?
Season 1, Episode 26
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
-
36 min
25: How Can Parents Plan for the Big Transition to College? with Julie Murphy
Season 1, Episode 25
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Julie Murphy:
Website: https://www.waverly-consulting.com/
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29 min
24: Why Won’t My Kid Talk About Their Day?
Season 1, Episode 24
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
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40 min
23: Is Academic Acceleration through Tech Right for My Gifted Kid? with Pamela Hobart
Season 1, Episode 23
Show notes
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 Talaga
Music: Petren J Music
Contact Mark Talaga:
Email: marktalaga@live.com
IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
Contact Pamela Hobart:
GT School Website: http://gt.school
Substack: http://abovegradelevel.substack.com/
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