Shows
On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthEscaping Toxic Love with Lindsay AbernathySend us a textLindsay Abernathy shares her powerful journey through domestic abuse and offers practical guidance for survivors trying to rebuild their lives after toxic relationships.• Abuse can hide behind the appearance of a perfect life with fancy houses and cars• Many victims don't identify their situation as abuse because it doesn't match stereotypical portrayals• Abusers collect vulnerabilities early in relationships to weaponize them later• Warning signs include love bombing followed by devaluation, criticism, and control• Financial abuse keeps many victims trapped with no access to money or resources• Trauma creat...2025-08-051h 15On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthWhy Gen Z's Struggle Isn't Just About Social MediaSend us a textTrigger Warning: Suicide and SA was discussed.What if everything we think we know about the Gen Z mental health crisis is incomplete? In this eye-opening conversation, suicide survivor, author, and mental health advocate Aly Vredenberg challenges conventional wisdom by revealing four interconnected factors driving declining mental health among young people: economics, isolation, environment, and meaning.Aly shares her deeply personal journey, beginning with a suicide attempt at age 14 following sexual assault and severe bullying. After surviving this darkest moment, she dedicated herself to understanding mental health...2025-07-101h 03On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthRewiring the Brain: The Power of NeurofeedbackSend us a textBy now, everybody has heard of traditional going to therapy and taking medications, if necessary. However, what role does neurofeedback play in treating mental health? Meet Meg Stuppy, founder of the Los Angeles Neurofeedback Center and co-founder of Clarity Direct Neurofeedback, who joins us to illuminate how neurofeedback technology is transforming mental health treatment by helping rebalance the brain's natural rhythms. With 13 years of experience in the field, Meg explains in accessible terms how this brain-based approach works and why it's gaining recognition as a powerful complement to traditional therapies.2025-07-0130 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthFrom Masking to Leading: Navigating the World as a Neurodivergent WomanSend us a textWhat if neurodivergence isn't just something to be accommodated, but a powerful gift that can transform leadership? Rita Ramakrishnan, a person with Autism Spectrum and ADHD, found strengths behind her diagnosis, and she used it to excel in executive leadership. Amongst the strengths Rita found was her remarkable hunger for knowledge that stemmed with her voracious appetite of curiosity. Rita, unlike others who would make assumptions based off what they feel other people are thinking or feeling through social cues, doesn't make such assumptions and is not shy about asking others t...2025-06-1734 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthYou're Not a Body with a Soul, You're a Soul with a Body with Aaron AshSend us a textAs many may know, May is mental health awareness month. However, what still needs more conversation about mental health is the fact that men too have mental health challenges. Men too deserve to share their stories and be heard. Men too deserve to be vulnerable without being told to "man up" or "suck it up." Aaron Ash bravely shares his challenges of having undergone complex trauma through incidents with his family. As a lot of people tend to do, Aaron tried to find solace in chasing extrinsic things versus turning the m...2025-05-3041 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthWhen Your Inner Child Drives Your Success Bus with Andrea AndreeSend us a textAndrea Andree takes us on a transformative journey from being a corporate Engineer to becoming a leadership and embodiment coach for high-achieving women who want to get out of their heads and into their bodies.• Former project manager with two engineering degrees who felt unfulfilled despite checking all the boxes of success• High achievement often stems from childhood wounds and patterns of seeking validation or attention• Achievement becomes an identity and unconscious driver when it's how we learned to receive love• 90% of our behaviors are driven by unconscious patterns...2025-05-1651 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthBreaking Autism Stereotypes with Sam MitchellSend us a textSam Mitchell shares his journey of being diagnosed with autism at age four and transforming his experiences into a platform for advocacy through podcasting and motivational speaking. Sam turned his pain into purpose by giving back and helping others.• Diagnosed with classic autism symptoms including repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and sensory sensitivities• Found understanding at age six through a book that explained his autism, helping him make sense of social exclusion• Struggled with peer relationships throughout school, experiencing exclusion rather than direct bullying• Made breakthrough at sixteen when he stopp...2025-04-2226 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthPigs Are For Eating, Not For Dating: Lessons on Self-Worth and AcceptanceSend us a text"Pigs are for eating, not for dating." This powerful metaphor emerged from my journey through unhelpful therapy, where I was repeatedly told to lose weight because "thin girls get away with more." During this special Autism Acceptance Month episode, I'm sharing raw, personal chapters from my book "Dropped in a Maze" to illuminate the unique challenges faced by those of us on the spectrum.My story takes you through therapy sessions with Dr. Grey, who despite his expertise in autism, focused more on changing my appearance than addressing my emotional needs...2025-04-0739 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthEndoDNA....Using Genetic Testing to Guide your HealthSend us a textWhat if your DNA could guide you on how to better handle your health? What if genetic testing could guide you on how certain medications would work? Len May, founder and CEO of EndoDNA, does just that: helps people navigate their health through genetic testing. The road to lead Len May to where he is today has been anything but easy. Len May was kicked out of his home when he was in his later teens for recreational use of cannabis. Len's parents strongly frowned upon his use of cannabis.Le...2025-03-3050 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthBeyond the Diagnosis: Financial Planning for Special Needs FamiliesSend us a textMichael Pereira, an insurance specialist and father of a son with autism, shares critical financial planning strategies for families with special needs children. He offers insight into comprehensive insurance planning that protects dependents with special needs if something happens to their caregivers.• Michael's strong passion is helping special needs families after his son's autism diagnosis• Three key areas of focus: income protection, funding special needs trusts, and long-term care planning• Financial planning gets more expensive and difficult to qualify for as you age• Special needs trusts protect government benefits...2025-03-1724 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthHallmark, Healing, and Heartache: The Real Story Behind the MovieSend us a textWhat happens when a devastating diagnosis becomes a pivotal turning point in someone's life? In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Heather Krueger, who transformed adversity into her calling. Diagnosed with stage four liver disease just before her 25th birthday, Heather's strong faith and determination led her down a path where she was able to receive a living donation of a liver. However, Heather's story didn't end there. Her living donation ended up turning into a love story; a story that was picked up by Hallmark. Heather Krueger's story was behind...2025-03-061h 03On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthStories of Hope: Changing Lives One Book at a TimeSend us a textWhat happens when the magic of books become a lifeline for children in need? We welcome the extraordinary Seena Jacob, founder and CEO of Bookwallah, a nonprofit that is dedicated to setting up libraries for underprivileged children who survived traumatic events but didn't have kind of resources available for support. Seena Jacob knows well about how the power of reading stories has the ability to impact someone's life. Seena herself turned to book reading as a young child as a way to cope with her own traumas. Stories like Cinderella, Chronicles of Narnia...2025-02-2454 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthEmbracing Your Unique Path with Molly BookerSend us a textTrigger Warning: Past Suicidal Ideations DiscussedAfter experiencing the crushing weight of societal expectations, Molly Booker found her path to self-acceptance through embracing her individuality and passions. On this episode of "On the Spectrum with Sonia," Molly, the author of "Magic in the Mess," takes us on her inspiring journey of breaking free from the chains of conformity Her story highlights the difficulties that present when one feels that they don't fit in like everybody else, and the difficulties with learning to embrace one's own uniqueness.Throughout the episode, Mo...2025-02-161h 01On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthGetting UP with Brian P. SwiftSend us a textJust imagine you are living your life and going about your day to only have the course of your whole life change in a flash. This is what happened to Brian P. Swift back on December 26, 1979. Brian was just a gregarious 17 year old off school on winter break. He just finished celebrating Christmas with his family, and he was looking forward to spending the rest of the winter break relaxing and having some fun. He called his buddies to go play some football, and there was a group of guys who got together...2025-02-021h 02On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthExploring the Intersection of Policing and Mental Health with Tom SmithSend us a textTom Smith, a retired NYPD officer and current host of the Gold Shield Show, joins me on "On the Spectrum with Sonia" to discuss the often unseen intersection of law enforcement and mental health. Inspired to follow his father's footsteps and seeing the strong camaraderie and "family" formed within the community, Tom aimed to recreate that for his own life and found just that. The conversation takes a deeper look at the intricacies of mental health in policing, emphasizing the vital role of mental health support within the justice system. We di...2025-01-2545 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthVisionaries and the Art of Authentic Self-ExpressionSend us a textGet ready to unlock the secrets of visionary thinking with Justin Breen, a best-selling author and innovator with a unique talent for connecting patterns across various fields. Join us as we journey through Justin's transition from journalism to entrepreneurship, revealing how neurodivergence, such as ADHD and autism, can often lead to groundbreaking ideas. Learn more about how Justin used his talents and gifts to not only help others realize their potential, but he also was able to tap into his own talents and creativity. One of the most remarkable talents Justin has is...2025-01-1149 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthDeborah's Courageous Journey: From Emotional Abuse to Empowerment and AdvocacySend us a textWhat if awakening in a psychiatric ward could be the catalyst for a transformative life change? Join us as Deborah Griffiths courageously shares her journey from a toxic marriage to becoming an empowered single mother and advocate. Her story is a testament to the strength and resilience required to break free from an abusive environment and rebuild a life filled with purpose and hope. Alongside Deborah, we explore the deeply complex layers of emotional abuse, highlighting the critical importance of recognizing the subtler signs of control and manipulation.As we navigate...2024-12-1553 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthBrittney's Journey to Becoming a Successful Creative Entrepreneur Alongside Navigating Trauma and a Bipolar DiagnosisSend us a text Join us as we sit down with Brittney Benavides-Smith, a devoted music teacher from Georgetown, Texas. Britteny bravely shares her inspirational story of navigating the complexities of living with bipolar disorder, being faced with traumatic loss at a young age of both of her parents, overcoming a toxic first marriage, and tackling binge eating. Brittney today is a thriving individual who uses her passion for music to become a successful creative entrepreneur and talented player for piano, guitar, and ukulele. Brittney also uses music as her way to release emotions continue with...2024-12-0852 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthNavigating Holiday Dynamics with AutismSend us a textNavigating the holidays can be challenging, especially for those on the autism spectrum. Picture yourself at a festive family gathering, overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, and struggling to interpret social cues. Through personal stories and therapist-tested strategies, I explore how to manage the emotional intricacies of holiday events—from overwhelming public displays of affection to the pitfalls of love bombing. My goal is to provide you with actionable advice to feel more connected and supported during this season of togetherness.Romantic and social relationships pose their own set of challenges fo...2024-11-2543 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthFaith and Bipolar Disorder: Sarah's StorySend us a textAfter grappling with the realities of bipolar disorder, Sarah I Fox invites us into her world, sharing her transformative journey through mental health challenges. Growing up in Brooklyn and identifying as a woman of color, Sarah discusses the intersectionality between mental health, being a person of color, and the role of her faith. Even though bipolar disorder turned an ugly head towards Sarah, Sarah never in turn chose to turn an ugly head back. Instead, Sarah used having bipolar disorder as a way to dig deeper into her faith, become more c...2024-11-1253 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthShannon's Resilient Journey: Healing and Empowerment After a Brain InjurySend us a textPlease tune in as Shannon Freedman shares her harrowing journey of surviving a horrible car crash that landed her in a coma. Shannon details her experience of still being able to hear while in a coma what people were saying and shares what she was able to remember, despite being in a debilitating state. Shannon ended up losing a 1/4 of her brain due to the injury from the car accident. However, do you think Shannon let this stop her from living her life and going after her goals and aspirations? ABSOLUTELY NOT!!2024-11-0544 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthEmpowering Transformation and Breathwork Insights with Dr. SeemaSend us a textHave you ever felt trapped by societal expectations? Meet Dr. Seema Desai, one of the inspiring hosts of the "Happy and Human" podcast, who candidly shares her journey from a structured career in dentistry to embracing her true calling as a coach, podcast host where various topics with regard to mental heath are discussed , and author of the book "Connected: Discovering Your Inner Guides." "Connected:Discovering Your Inner Guides" is a powerful book that discusses enhancing relationships first from within and those outward. The book discusses emotions and how to embrace and navigate s...2024-10-1854 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthCaralyn's Journey of Healing and Empowerment After TraumaSend us a textPlease give it up for Caralyn Dreyer, whom for the very first time, spoke out loud her journey of surviving the trauma of sexual assault. As anybody knows, being vulnerable is a courageous act in and of itself, but when we are speaking the trauma of being sexually assaulted, the amount of courage and vulnerability is at a whole new level. Caralyn, not only discusses what she had to overcome, but also touches upon other areas that make her story relatable on multiple levels. 2024-10-0458 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthEmpowering Drayson: A Mother's AdvocacySend us a textNavigating the maze of autism diagnosis can be overwhelming and isolating. Today’s episode of "On the Spectrum with Sonia" features Nikki Shipp, the courageous host of Pieces for my Puzzle podcast, sharing her personal journey from the initial shock of her son Drayson's diagnosis to the joyous moment he first called her "mom." Nikki’s story is one of resilience and unwavering belief in her son's potential, a tale that resonates with many parents facing similar challenges. Together, we dissect the emotional highs and lows and the proactive steps Nikki and her husb...2024-09-131h 01On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthLuna's Entrepreneurial Way of Thinking and Creativity Sparked Because of her AutismSend us a textPlease tune in to listen as Luna discusses how Autism not only allowed her to focus on her intense interests and creativity, but how it allowed her to thrive. Luna discusses the challenges she went through being on the Autism Spectrum, but she also discusses her immense successes. It is amazing how at 12 years old, Luna is a way forward thinker and will go so far in her life! GOOOOO LUNA!!!2024-08-2825 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthFrom Misdiagnosed to Diagnosed to School Drop Out to Success Story...Life of Dave KoteraSend us a textPlease tune in as Dave Kotera shares his journey from being misdiagnosed to diagnosed, mistreated at school to ending up dropping out of school, struggles with addiction to living a clean and sober life, and ultimately becoming a success story. Dave shares his account of the power of ignorance and better need for understanding and education around autism. Dave shares the importance of learning to have self-belief and not buy into the naysayers who try their best to tear a person with Autism down at every chance. Dave illustrates the power of rising...2024-08-101h 17On the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthAutism from a Sibling PerspectiveSend us a textPlease tune in as we listen to Lauren Erickson discuss how she experienced Autism from the lens of having a sibling who is on the spectrum. Through Lauren's story, you will see how she was taught many valuable life lessons; life lessons that many didn't get the opportunity to be taught. Lauren discusses the importance of not just quickly judging someone by a label, but rather, the importance of opening up minds to knowledge, ears to listen, and hearts to love and provide compassion.2024-07-2953 minOn the Spectrum Empowerment Stories with Sonia Krishna Chand: Autism, Neurodivergence, and Mental HealthMona's Autism JourneySend us a textPlease tune in as Mona Isreal discusses her journey with Autism, how she uses her voice to advocate for women on the Autism Spectrum, and her abundance of positivity around Autism. Not only has Mona accomplished what people never thought she would be able to do, which was graduate high school, Mona went on to become a financial analyst and a tutor for neurodivergent kids. It is because of Mona's Autism, she is able to be amazing in her career as both a financial analyst and tutor. Also, Mona is a podcaster who c...2024-07-231h 21