Shows
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 15: What It's Really Like to Be a Gifted Girl with Kaia Vernon-OliveiraIn this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, I’m talking with Kaia Vernon-Oliveira. This episode is a departure from my recent episodes in that I’m not talking with a clinician or recognized professional, but with an actual exceptional girl. Kaia is a profoundly gifted 11-year-old storyteller and performer who loves making people think. One of the ways she’s doing this is through her TedxLasVegas talk called The Myth of the Gifted Girl. 🎧 Listen in as Kaia shares:What inspired her to present a TED TalkEye-opening insights from her research into gifte...
2025-11-1128 min
What Are You Watching?170: Shampoo (1975)“Hey, listen, baby, I'm a star.” Alex and Nick discuss the ‘70s hangout movie masterpiece, “Shampoo.” Alex explains why star/writer/producer Warren Beatty set the film on Election Day 1968, before the guys break down the film’s production design, costumes, and hair, the unique charms of Julie Christie, Goldie Hawn, and Jack Warden, how the great Lee Grant was blacklisted from Hollywood and came back to win an Academy Award for the film, and much more.Part 7 of the WAYW New Hollywood Film Project.Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Instagram / Letterboxd / XSend m...
2025-10-151h 33
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 14: Managing Child Anxiety with Dawn FriedmanIn this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, host Julie Withrow is joined by Dawn Friedman, founder of Open Book Parenting, to talk about child anxiety and how families can navigate the challenges it presents. Anxiety and anxious avoidance can be tricky to manage, especially in neurodivergent kids. Dawn is quick to point out that parents aren't to blame and needn't feel ashamed if they've made some missteps along the way. But they do have a responsibility to help their children overcome avoidance and get to readiness. This episode will give them a taste of how to...
2025-09-0341 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 13: Finding the Right School for Your Gifted or 2e Child with Dr. Jessica PottsAs any parent of a gifted or twice exceptional child knows, finding a learning environment that's capable of meeting your child's particular needs can be a long and difficult journey. Traditional schools often fall short of providing the academic challenge, learning accommodations, or social-emotional support your child needs to be successful. In this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, host Julie Withrow sits down with Dr. Jessica Potts, curriculum coordinator at Davidson Academy Online, to get research-informed advice and practical tips your family can use to evaluate your educational options.🎧 Listen in as Dr. Pott...
2025-08-1839 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 12: Debunking Misperceptions about Giftedness with Megan CannellaWhen most people picture a gifted child, they imagine a straight-A student who thrives in school and loves a challenge. But what happens when giftedness looks more like meltdowns after school, daydreaming in class, or a deep interest in fashion design?In this episode of the Exceptional Girls podcast, host Julie Withrow welcomes Megan Cannella, Director of Outreach at the Davidson Institute, to unpack the most common myths and misperceptions surrounding giftedness—especially in girls. Listen in as Megan shares:What to look for if you suspect your child is giftedThe foolproof way to kno...
2025-06-1657 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 11: Understanding Eating Disorders with Dr. Gail PostIn this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, host Julie Withrow sits down with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Gail Post to unpack the complex relationship between neurodivergence and eating disorders. Drawing from decades of experience, Gail offers professional insights and practical advice for parents and caregivers navigating these challenges.🔑 Listen in as Gail shares:The surprising connections between autism, ADHD, and various eating disorders, and how neurodivergence may contribute to disordered eating patterns.The key signs and symptoms parents should look for if they suspect their child is struggling with an eati...
2025-01-2644 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 10: Reframing What It Means to Be Autistic with Dr. Melinda EdwardsIn this episode of the Exceptional Girls podcast, I’m thrilled to be joined by Dr. Melinda Edwards. As the mother of an autistic daughter and a practicing physician, Dr. Edwards’ views on autism may surprise you. Listen in as Dr. Edwards shares:How her initial feelings of grief and loss about her daughter's diagnosis shifted in a dramatic wayThe profound insights she's learned about being autistic from her daughter SaachiHow she rectifies the typical medical definition of autism with her own spiritual understanding of itHer comforting advice for those who are still coming to terms with...
2024-09-2249 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 9: Navigating Gender Questioning & Exploration with Dr. Alexis BittingIn this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Alexis Bitting, a licensed mental health counselor who holds a Ph.D. in clinical sexology. Dr. Alexis has extensive experience working with neurodivergent young people, as well as those who are questioning their gender identity and sexuality. Listen in as Dr. Alexis shares her expertise and insights:Is this just a phase? How to know if your child's gender questioning is a special interest, if they're being influenced by their friends, or if it's "real."Cis and trans and nonbinary — oh my! Understanding gender vocabulary and...
2024-04-1148 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 8: Growing Up Smart, Sensitive & Dyslexic with Dr. Nicole TetreaultIn this episode of the Exceptional Girls podcast, you're invited to listen in as I talk with Dr. Nicole Tetreault.A neuroscientist, meditation teacher, international speaker, and author of Insight into a Bright Mind, Dr. Nicole shares: Personal and poignant stories of growing up as a sensitive and precocious girl who later learned she had dyslexiaThe pivotal experience that led her to become a neuroscientistHow to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy perfectionismA simple but not always easy way to identify people pleasing and tap into what we really wantHer one-word advice to parents about how to s...
2024-04-0158 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 7: How Parents Can Support Their Exceptional Girls with Dr. Gail PostIn this episode of the Exceptional Girls podcast, you're invited to listen in as I talk with Dr. Gail Post, a clinical psychologist, professor, and author of The Gifted Parenting Journey: A Guide to Self-discovery and Support for Families of Gifted Children.Based on her many years of experience working with gifted and twice exceptional women and girls, Gail shares:Some of the not-so-obvious signs that your daughter may be strugglingWhy the middle school years are often challenging for exceptional girlsEye-opening statistics that explain why being a neurodivergent girl can be especially challengingAdvice for supporting your...
2024-01-2840 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 6: The Prevalence—and Price—of Underachievement with Brianne HudakIn this episode of the Exceptional Girls podcast, you're invited to listen in as I talk with Brianne Hudak, a veteran educator, about the prevalence of underachievement in gifted and neurodivergent girls. A veteran teacher certified in gifted and talented education, as well as a school leader, Brianne shares:Why underachievement poses unique problems for girlsHow to spot the signs of underachievement, which can look different in girls than boysHow to evaluate learning environments and talk with teachers to set your daughter up for successWhat you can do to support an underachieving girl — and why it's a pr...
2024-01-2340 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 5: Giftedness and Early Identification in Girls with Dr. Linda SilvermanIn this episode of the Exceptional Girls podcast, you're invited to listen in as I talk with Dr. Linda Silverman, a well-known and respected expert in giftedness in both girls and adult women. Dr. Silverman shares invaluable information for parents and caregivers of girls who are gifted, or who they suspect may be. You'll come away with a deeper understanding of:What giftedness really is and how it presents in girls differently than boysWhat you really need to know about IQ testsWhy gifted and neurodivergent girls can easily slip through the cracksThe critical clues that your da...
2023-10-0658 minWhat Are You Watching?70: Three Colors Trilogy: Blue, White, Red"Three Colors: Blue" (starring Juliette Binoche), "Three Colors: White" (starring Julie Delpy), and "Three Colors: Red" (starring Irène Jacob) are three of the best films released in the 1990s. Polish filmmaker, Krzysztof Kieślowski, made this groundbreaking trilogy that should be seen by any fan of cinema. Alex and Nick spend 90 minutes trying to convince you why.Follow @WAYW_Podcast on Twitter and Instagram.Watch Alex's films at http://alexwithrow.com/Watch Nick's films at https://www.nicholasdostal.com/Send us mailbag questions at whatareyouwatchingpodcast@gmail.com
2022-09-081h 32
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 4: A Candid Mother and Daughter Conversation, Part 2In this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, you can listen in as I continue my conversation with Maddie, my neurodivergent and twice exceptional daughter. In episode 3, we talked about the challenges we faced as we tried to understand why why things seemed harder for her than other kids.Listen in on the second half of our no-holds-barred conversation, where Maddie and I talk about:My regrettable reaction to the results of her neuropsychological evaluationThe light bulb moment for me — and how I found the missing link we neededHow the female experience of neurodiversity is different th...
2022-08-0544 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 3: A Candid Mother and Daughter Conversation, Part 1If you know and care deeply about a girl who learns, thinks, and experiences the world differently, I invite you to journey with me as we learn how we as parents, adults, and role models can help her understand, advocate for, and accept and love herself — just as she is.This episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, you'll hear part 1 of a two-part conversation I had with my twice exceptional daughter, Maddie. We talk about our experiences over the past several years as we grew to understand her unique wiring. Listen in to thi...
2022-08-0137 min
FilmwhysFilmwhys #22 Before Sunrise and The Incredibles**Originally released 1-18-14**Episode 22 of Filmwhys aka the Why Haven't You Seen This Film Podcast. Host Bubbawheat is introduced to the first film in the Before Trilogy from Richard Linklater 1995's Before Sunrise following Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy on a day's long conversation/spark of a romance. And in return, he introduces guest JD Duran from InSession Film to the 2004 Pixar film the Incredibles featuring a troubled family dynamic combined with fun superhero action.
2021-08-1658 min
Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebratedEpisode 1: Two Wishes for Our Smart but Struggling GirlsIf you know and care deeply about a girl who learns, thinks, and experiences the world differently, I invite you to journey with me as we learn how we as parents, adults, and role models can help her understand, advocate for, and accept and love herself — just as she is.In this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, you'll learn:The "why" behind the creation of this podcast More about my personal experience raising an exceptional girlThe two things I hope you get from this podcastI'm not embarrassed to admit that creating this podcast too...
2021-06-2912 min