Shows
Wonderfully WiredAssistive Technology for students, parents and teachers with Joan GreenMeet our tech-savvy friend Joan Green! Joan’s been working with assistive technology since the 80s—and she’s got the tools and stories to prove it. From calendar tricks and color-coded Google Drives to goblin tools and immersive readers, this episode is jam-packed with tips that make learning easier for our wonderfully wired kids (and adults too!). Easy wins with everyday tech Tools that organize your digital chaos Confidence for parents & empowerment for students Joan reminds us: tech doesn’t need to be overwhelming. With a little guidance, it becomes a powerful ally. “I just want t...2025-06-021h 02
Wonderfully WiredAI for Wonderfully Wired students with Dr Arno Louw (part b)This episode, the second of two in a series with Dr. Arno Louw from the University of Johannesburg, focuses on how AI can be a student's best friend and assistant, particularly for wonderfully wired learners. The key takeaway is to use AI to help with the work that is difficult for you, not to do the work for you. This involves prompt engineering, asking the AI better questions by giving it background about yourself, like your age, preferences, and learning style. AI can guide you in writing, explain complex topics simply (like explaining to a 10-year-old), and act as a...2025-05-0234 min
Wonderfully WiredAI for teachers with Dr Arno Louw (Part a)What if AI could help tailor education for every learner? In this Part a of the Wonderfully Wired & UJ partnership episode, Dr. Arno Louw a senior specialist in instructional and e-learning and manager of the CAT lab at UJ, with his incredible knowledge, fun, and enthusiasm inspires us to see AI as a tool to support difference and neurodivergence. We discuss how AI can be your brilliant teachers assistant that never gets tired, helping you earn extra hours and get administrative tasks done faster. Don't miss this insightful discussion on how to navigate AI anxiety and use th...2025-05-0226 min
Wonderfully WiredBurnout and the Wonderfully Wired with Casey AnleyI loved my conversation with Casey Anley talking about burnout in the Wonderfully Wired. What does it look like to acknowledge each person's unique energy and work with the available energy instead overrding each body's need for rest. What should you look out for in yourself and in your child? Casey Anley is an educational psychologist. She wears many hats - neurodiversity advocate, executive function coach trainer and supervisor. She’s built a career in helping neurodivergent minds untangle the chaos, build systems that actually work, and, most importantly, stop beating themselves up in the pro...2025-04-021h 01
Wonderfully WiredSupporting our Smart but Scattered kids with Dr Peg DawsonDr Peg Dawson has had a fruitful career as school psychologist and for over 20 years worked at the Center for Learning and Attention Disorders in New Hampshire for which she received a liftime achievement Award from the American National association of School Psycologists. Her contribution to all of our collective understanding of Executive Functions and how we can help wonderfully wired kids that are clearly Smart but Scattered develop them has been profound. And Dr Dawson is far from done! Smart but Scattered, The Revolutionary Executive Skills Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Pote...2025-02-281h 00
Wonderfully WiredTalking Strength based assessment with Dr Jade Rivera Dr Jade Rivera is professor at the Bridges Gradual School for Cognitive diversity with a passion for 'a strength based world for neurodivergent humans' She's been a force for change in education for wonderfully wired kids for over fifteen year designing 'micro schools' that serve niche communities in creative ways showing ideas like project based learning and grade less classrooms aren't just fanciful dreams. Anyone who spends a bit of time on Dr Rivera's newsletter on Substack will quickly see her depth of knowledge and infectious passion. I've invited her on the show to tal...2025-01-3156 min
Wonderfully WiredIntroducing Southern African Fathers of Children with Neurodiversity (FCN)“There is a prevailing narrative that black dads are deadbeats, that they often abscond their responsibilities.” said Buzwe Mabuza, founder of Black Dad’s are Cool Dads and one of my three guests on the podcast this month “Providing and disciplining. That's all that we were told we can look forward to when we become dads.But I'm a present dad, I'm active and I have a couple of friends who are also active and present. Therefore we decided as opposed to just complaining, let's do something about it.” I interviewed Caleb Chavalala, Buzwe Mabuza and Mosi Molef...2024-12-021h 12
Wonderfully WiredUnderstanding Working Memory with Dr Erica Warren"If the research shows that Working Memory is a better indicator of academic success than IQ, then why aren't we honing in on this skill in education?" This compelling question is posed by Dr. Erica Warren, our guest on this month's Wonderfully Wired podcast. For quite some time, we've understood that IQ isn't the sole predictor of a child's academic success. Children can exhibit areas of extraordinary IQ yet struggle academically. What if enhancing the Executive Functioning skill of working memory is the most practical way to improve academic performance? Dr. Warren certainly thinks so.2024-10-311h 00
Wonderfully WiredTeaching children Social skills with Caroline MaguireFor years, my guest Caroline Maguire wondered why nobody in the industry was serving Wonderfully Wired kids by explicitly teaching them social skills. As a Wonderfully Wired person herself, Caroline thought it was "bonkers," that nobody was acknowledging how hard it was for these kids and teaching them the skills they were lacking. Wonderfully Wired kids often struggle to understand social rules: They may feel like they’ve broken rules they didn’t know existed. Feedback they receive can seem unexpected and confusing. Caroline emphasises that in her 20 years of experience, all...2024-09-301h 06
Wonderfully WiredTalking to Kids about their brains with Dr Liz AngoffThis month we are featuring the incredible insights of Dr. Liz Angoff from ExplainingBrains.com. Dr. Liz's approach to assessments is transformative, focusing on celebrating the strengths of a child's brain, recognising challenges, and using a child's language to understand the uniqueness of their brain. This process is inherently more collaborative and respectful, involving feedback to the child and the family that is empowering and celebratory of neurodiversity right from the very start.2024-08-3158 min
Wonderfully WiredVoice to Writing can do what Speech to Text never could, with Nick KoshnickIn this episode, we dive into the world of AI-powered active listening tools and their potential to support individuals with dyslexia. Our guest, Nick Koshnick, a dyslexic physicist and data scientist, joins us to share his insights and experiences. Key Topics Discussed AI-powered Writing Tools: We explore how AI can assist dyslexic individuals in writing and communicating more effectively, emphasizing tools like Vnote.ai that convert spoken input into written text. Unique Strengths and Adaptability: Nick discusses his journey, emphasizing the significance of recognizing unique brain strengths and weaknesses. He advocates for adaptability...2024-07-301h 01
Wonderfully WiredCoaching Executive Functions with Victoria BagnallIn this episode, I speak with Victoria Bagnell from Connections in Mind. Victoria specializes in training teachers and executive function coaches. Her organization is dedicated to supporting children in developing their executive functioning skills. We begin by understanding what executive functioning is and why children need support in this area. Victoria provides insights into what executive function coaching looks like and discusses the necessary changes in classrooms to address unconscious bias against children struggling with executive functioning. We also explore strategies for creating a sense of belonging to prevent children from masking or acting out. Additionally, we...2024-06-2958 min
Wonderfully WiredWonderfully Wired stories with Zak and Nadine JudgeJoin us for an inspiring conversation in this first episode of the Season 3 of the Wonderfully Wired Podcast, featuring Zak and Nadine Judge. Zak, a university student in his twenties studying computer design, and his mom, Nadine, share their journey with ADHD. They discuss the discovery of Zak's difference, the decisions they made about his schooling, and the strategies that worked and those that didn't. The episode delves into the creation of a supportive family culture, highlighting Nadine's role in helping Zak decide what he truly wants from life and supporting him towards those goals. Additionally, Zak a...2024-05-3144 min
Wonderfully WiredInspiring inclusion by hearing real stories with Scott WhitneyI took what I thought was a diversion into talking about physical disability inclusion with Scott Whitney of All4Inclusion and found that to see difference, to support challenges and to really celebrate gifts we must hear real stories of people with lived experience different to our own. As part of creating teacher training material on inclusion I collaborated with Scott Whitney to talk about living with disability and what it would take to create more inclusive schools. “The strong cannot be brave. Only the weak can be brave; and yet again, in practice, only thos...2024-03-0555 min
Wonderfully WiredGenetic Brain Profiling and seeing each child as unique with Chantal Deacon Daniel Is it helpful to look at which part of the brain is dominant to help us understand our chidren's unique wiring? Is dominance only left or right or are there other modalities that can help us understand how our children process information, feel love or express frustration. Chantal Deacon Daniel introduces us to the Genetic Brain Profiling Tool . Chantal believes the tool can give us insight into our children (and ourselves) that can help families love each other better, discipline wiser and communicate clearer. We talk about the tool but also about Chantal's own story of...2024-02-0158 min
Wonderfully WiredHow to ADHD with Jessica McCabeMeet Jessica McCabe, the force behind "How to ADHD." Seven years ago, Jessica embarked on a transformative journey, evolving from a place of self-doubt to becoming an advocate for understanding and working with the ADHD brain. In her own words, she shares: "Seven years ago, I didn't respect myself; I thought that I just needed to try harder. I dropped the shame, embraced the way my brain works, and developed strategies to accomplish anything I set my mind to. Now, I want this to be the norm—a world where discussing our working memory is as natural as...2024-01-011h 01
Wonderfully WiredMoving our bodies and celebrating our brains with Adell BridgesMy guest on the podcast is Adell Bridges, a movement expert and yoga instructor who often credits her ADHD for the creative way she instructs bodies and brains on the mat. Adell is both a role model of a successful wonderfully wired adult and an infectious brain-body enthusiast and teacher. This episode is a gift to parents of wonderfully wired kids and parents who are wonderfully wired themselves.2023-11-011h 00
Wonderfully WiredSolving behaviour together with my Wonderfully Wired child with Dr Ross GreeneWhilst we know that being "out of the box" is a good thing, it often creates difficulties for both us as parents and our children, when it results in explosive, difficult behaviour. Dr Greene offers so much hope and practical teaching to parents like you and I pulling out our hair, desperate to help a child who is often in trouble (or in distress!) due to his inability to consistently manage his frustration in an adaptive way. “Seeing your kid struggle isn’t fun.” says Dr Ross Greene. “The trick is to pay close attention to whether...2023-10-021h 05
Wonderfully WiredWonderfully Wired babies and becoming a responsive parent with Meg FaureMeg Faure is an Occupational Therapist, author, baby specialist and the founder of Parent Sense. Over the last 25 years, she’s worked with thousands of parents to help them understand their baby's sleep, feeding and sensory needs. In this episode of the podcast, we talk about the sensory needs of babies, the way to create a calm sensory world for a little one and how to read and respond to babies sensory cues. I asked Meg if one can identify wonderful wiring in infants and how to respond wisely to early warning signs and special needs. 2023-09-0156 min
Wonderfully WiredRaising Critical Thinkers with Julie BogartI invited Julie Bogart onto the podcast to discuss how wonderfully wired kids would benefit if education creates good thinkers rather than good test takers. Julie is known for her common sense parenting and education advice. She’s the author of the beloved book, The Brave Learner, which has brought joy and freedom to countless home educators. Her new book, Raising Critical Thinkers, offers parents a lifeline in navigating the complex digital world our kids are confronting. Julie’s also the creator of the award-winning, innovative online writing program called Brave Writer, now 22 years old, serv...2023-08-0157 min
Wonderfully WiredHelping Struggling Students with Dr Jeannine Jannot My guest on the podcast this month is Dr Jeannine Jannot. Dr Jannot is an academic coach and the author of The Disintegrating Student: Struggling But Smart, Falling Apart, and How To Turn It Around. She has over 25 years of experience working with children, teens, and young adults in both public and private school settings. Jeannine has a master's degree in school psychology from The Ohio State University and a doctorate in child and developmental psychology from the University of Connecticut. She began teaching college psychology courses in 2010, and in 2014 she founded The Balanced Student. You...2023-07-031h 06
Wonderfully WiredStop managing behaviour with dr. Mona Delahooke I used to think that good parents nip bad behaviour in the bud to prevent it from escalating into character flaws and discipline problems in kids. When a child of mine acted out, I interpreted defiance and felt a pressure to correct and instruct every-time. “As a psychologist I no longer work on behaviors.” Dr Mona Delahooke explains in her book Brain Body Parenting “I work on supporting nervous systems and looking to the underlying sources of challenges” Dr. Mona Delahooke is a best-selling author and child psychologist who aims to reduce suffering and increase resilience f...2023-05-3155 min
Wonderfully WiredLearning for Tomorrow with Heather Wells Heather Wells is the principle of a Co Ed 4-18 Independent College in a very traditional education context and a struggling economy. She trained and started her career in the UK as teacher and school administrator with a specialization in management in Education and in Special and Inclusive Education. Heather believes education is about learning for tomorrow not just for exams and where individuals are seen and heard, where learning to learn is a process and individual skills and talents are recognized and exploited. I asked Heather: · just how possible she believes it is for Wonder...2023-03-3158 min
Wonderfully WiredWhen Children and Teens battle Anxiety with Natasha DanielsNatasha Daniels has been an anxiety & OCD therapist for over two decades. She combines both her clinical expertise with her lived experience, raising her own three kids with anxiety and OCD. I ask Natasha what causes anxiety in children and we discuss ways a parent can respond to and help our children respond to anxiety. We talk about what it takes to see anxiety as separate from the person who feels anxious by personifying it and how that shift empowers kids and teens to 'talk back' to their anxiety. Join us for a practical discussion th...2023-02-281h 01
Wonderfully WiredSeeing What others Cannot See with Thomas WestI used to think for someone to reach the highest level of education, they needed to be good at the early years of education. If you're going to be great at advanced math or astrophysics, then surely you need to start by being good at the times tables and spelling. And then I came across these words of Thomas West: "If a truly original method is needed, the conventionally successful student may be the last one to find it, sometimes only among those who have repeatedly failed is there a high likelihood of success”. Thomas Wes...2023-01-3158 min
Wonderfully WiredDyslexic Advantage with Fernette Eide I used to think Dyslexia is basically a problem with reading and spelling, and letter reversals. And then I came across the work of Brock and Fernette Eide and realised I was far off the mark. Not only was my understanding of the challenges someone with Dyslexia faces terribly inadequate, but I had no idea of the incredible strengths such a brain inherently has. Who even knew Dyslexia could be an advantage? But that’s exactly what the Drs Brock and Fernette Eide set out to prove twenty years ago …. They are the co-foun...2023-01-0152 min
Wonderfully WiredDifferently Wired with Debbie ReberI used to think that good parenting looks the same for all parents and all kids. And then I came across the work of Deborah Reber. Debbie is a parenting activists best selling author, podcast host and speaker. The TiLT parenting podcast has grown to be a top podcast in the iTunes kids and family category with more than a million downloads, and a slate of guests that include high profile thought leaders across the parenting, and education space. Debbie is the author of Differently Wired, raising an exceptional child in a conventional world. I am convinced that a parent of a...2022-11-3048 min
Wonderfully WiredSeeing Dyslexic Strength with Dean Bragonier"Teach kids what they are good at and they feel better about themselves - it’s not that difficult" says Dean Bragonier Dean is the founder and executive dyslexic of NoticeAbility Incorporated, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping students with dyslexia, identify their unique strengths, and build selfesteem. Dean is a successful restaurant owner turned social entrepreneur who is currently touring the world, helping kids with dyslexia and their teachers understand their strengths. So is Dean right when he says that the advantages of dyslexia far outweigh the associated challenges?2022-10-3139 min
Wonderfully WiredWhat is Giftedness with Mark KluckowElle talks to Clinical Psycologist, Mark Kluckow and asks "How is 'Gifted' different from 'very smart'?" They discuss how gifted kids have special emotional needs and what parents can do today to see the strenghts, support the challenges and celebrate the complexity of their gifted child. 2022-10-0154 min
Wonderfully WiredIntroducing Wonderfully WiredListen to the trailer for Season 1 of Wonderfully Wired. Elle suggests the biggest reason why some kids that think and learn differently become successful adults, when so many do not. She extends an invitation to you to join her in becoming the kind of parent that helps unlock each child's potential by seeing their Neurodivesity as strength and potential. Elle introduces her expert guests in the season, giving a glimpse into the kind of insight and support you can expect Email Elle on elle@wonderfulllywired.online or visit www.wonderfullywired.online from October 1st...2022-09-1904 min