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You’ve landed at Spark Launch — the guide star for embracing what it means to be neurodiverse. Hosted by Chaya Mallavaram (the artsy ADHD brain behind Spark Launch) and Mike Cornell (a peer support specialist who reminds us that imperfection is where the magic happens), this podcast dives deep into the messy, beautiful, and often challenging realities of neurodivergent life. Each episode blends personal stories with expert insights to tackle issues affecting our community, such as mental hea ...
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Nature, Nurture, and Neurodiversity w/ Dr. Jeff Karp (Season 1 Finale)
51:40
51:40
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51:40
Mike and Chaya conclude Spark Launch's first season by sitting down with Dr. Jeff Karp, a biomedical engineer, Harvard Medical School and MIT professor, and passionate neurodiversity advocate. Dr. Karp shares how he went from struggling student to noted innovator with over 175 published papers and 100 patents, calling attention to the ways traditio…
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Walk The Strong Path: Compassion Breeds Resilience w/ James Dewar-Haggart
56:53
56:53
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56:53
Mike and Chaya sit down with James Dewar-Haggart, founder of Strong Path, a fitness organization built to prioritize inclusivity for the neurodivergent community. James shares his journey through depression, substance use, and ADHD, and how those experiences shaped his approach to creating a supportive space that acknowledges both emotional and phy…
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Living Eponymously: Creativity Over Conformity w/ Bradley Lewis Foster
46:22
46:22
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46:22
Mike and Chaya sit down with Bradley Lewis Foster, a creative force in the marketing world who discusses his experiences as a neurodivergent entrepreneur and the often-misunderstood traits associated with ADHD. Brad shares on leveraging neurodiverse thinking through different artforms, leading to greater understanding of both himself and the larger…
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The Autism Advantage: Author J.D. Barker Talks Crafting Stories & Taking Chances
42:01
42:01
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42:01
Mike and Chaya sit down with author J.D. Barker, known for his gripping suspense thrillers, who reveals how being on the autism spectrum has shaped his career. Discover how neurodiversity fuels creativity as he shares his journey from ghostwriter to NYT bestseller, his lifelong passion for storytelling, and how to find your own 'superpower'. We Als…
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Beyond ADHD: Finding Peace Amid the Noise w/ Sam Led
1:06:39
1:06:39
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1:06:39
Mike and Chaya sit down with Sam Led, a distinguished ADHD coach, podcaster, and the author of "Beyond ADHD," to delve into the multifaceted nature of ADHD; exploring its implications not just for diagnosed individuals but for society at large. Sam brings a treasure trove of insights, from the pressures of conforming, to reframing the "noise" in ou…
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Passion Over Profession: A Teen Perspective on Dyslexia, Adulthood, and Happiness w/ Neel Raikar
26:57
26:57
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26:57
Mike and Chaya sit down with Neel Raikar, an 18-year-old trying to plot his own course through the complexities of school life while facing the hurdles associated with dyslexia. Neel doesn't hesitate to give his candid - and very relatable - aversion to the education system and how the pressure to conform to traditional career expectations often st…
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Superpower or Struggle? The ADHD Spectrum of Experience w/ Ahmadreza Tadrisi
41:26
41:26
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41:26
Mike and Chaya sit down with ADHD psychotherapist Ahmadreza Tadrisi to discuss how his own diagnosis sparked a desire to broaden the understanding of this neuro-type. In their talk, Ahmadreza debunks some harmful ADHD myths and highlights how the "ADHD as superpower" narrative can unintentionally marginalize those who face more significant struggle…
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Level Up Your ADHD Parenting Strategies w/ Joshua Rastetter
29:48
29:48
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Parenting is an intricate dance, this is doubly true when you and your child share the same neurodivergence. Joshua Rastetter returns to elaborate further on these complexities, reflecting on the frustrations of a rigid educational system that didn’t accommodate his daughter's needs, and the how this led him to rethink generations of parental strat…
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Feeling hopeless amidst recent world events is a sentiment many of us currently relate to. But, as Mike and Chaya discuss in this episode, hopelessness can lead to fearlessness. We Also Cover: The cumulative impact of prolonged anxiety on mental health Finding connection in collective struggle Transforming negative energy into activism, creativity,…
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How I Spent (And Learned To Love) My Neurodivergent Vacation
22:35
22:35
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Mike recounts his recent vacation and how it led to a profound realization about neurodiverse travel experiences. He and Chaya reflect on the pressure to conform to typical social activities and how fulfillment can be found off the beaten path by embracing your own unique itinerary. We Also Cover: The liberation of discarding societal checklists Ho…
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Heal The Collective: Indigenous Insights & Gender Equity w/ Michele Price
43:54
43:54
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Mike and Chaya sit down with Michele Price, a seasoned leadership development expert who specializes in empowering women and non-binary individuals. Through the lens of her indigenous heritage and identity, Michele shares insights on dismantling biases and the challenges women face in the current socio-political climate. We Also Cover: The evolutio…
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Mind The Risk: ADHD & Self-Acceptance with Jon Cunningham
50:17
50:17
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50:17
Mike and Chaya sit down for an existential and suuuper ADHD conversation with entrepreneur Jon Cunningham - a conversation that is the sheer definition of "going with the flow." Together, they unravel the complexities of navigating a world misaligned with the neurodivergent experience, managing judgement, and the existential fear of failure that of…
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Proud To Learn Differently: Diving Deep into Neurodivergent Education
1:06:29
1:06:29
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Mike and Chaya sit down with Lindsay Rice, a passionate educator and advocate, to explore some often-overlooked complexities in the classroom. Delving into Lindsay's personal experiences as a neurodivergent individual and as a parent of neurodiverse children, she shines a light on an education system that often fails to accommodate diverse minds, a…
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Be Your Best Neurospicy Self with Holistic Healer Mia Love
48:38
48:38
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48:38
Mike and Chaya welcome Mia Love, a holistic health practitioner and dedicated neurodiversity advocate, to discuss how she promotes harmony between traditional western medical practices and holistic healing to foster greater self-efficacy She also details her journey from years of misdiagnosis to neurodivergent realization. We Also Cover: Societal P…
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Attachment Styles & Trauma: Healing The Hurts That Bind with Shoshana Cook
1:13:01
1:13:01
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1:13:01
Mike and Chaya chat with trauma-informed therapist Shoshana Cook, who delves into Attachment Theory, shedding light on the shortcomings in mental health treatment related to it and advocating for a more comprehensive approach. We Also Cover: Incorporating Multiple Treatment Modalities (CBT, DBT, etc) A "One-Size-Fits-All" Approach to Mental Recover…
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Empathy Unlimited: The Future of Neurodiverse Employment with Mark Fister
1:02:47
1:02:47
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Chaya and Mike sit down with Mark Fister, CTO of Haystack Unlimited and proud ADHDer. Mark sheds light on the challenges that neurodivergent individuals face during the interview process and day-to-day job duties, what kind of necessary accommodations foster success, and how his company is building a supportive future for neurodiverse workers. We A…
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Embracing Stripes: Dyscalculia and Neurodiverse Parenting with Joshua Rastetter
45:21
45:21
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45:21
Mike and Chaya chat with Joshua Rastetter, who shares an insightful perspective on navigating neurodiversity mindfully, along with valuable advice for parents navigating the spectrum alongside their children. Josh opens up about his journey with Dyscalculia and how discovering his ADHD through his daughter’s diagnosis led to a profound shift in the…
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The Macho Myth: Dismantling Toxic Masculinity
33:19
33:19
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Toxic masculinity, a pervasive and damaging set of behaviors and expectations associated with traditional masculinity, negatively impacts both men and society as a whole. In this episode, Mike and Chaya explore and expose the complexities of this poisonous patriarchy, the theory of "the man box," and the ways rigid social definitions of masculine c…
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Gifted Neurodivergence: Twice Exceptional, Twice To Give
1:12:20
1:12:20
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In this episode, Mike and Chaya chat with Youssef Sleiman, a neurodivergent writer and gifted individual. Yousef details his personal journey with understanding 2e (Twice Exceptional), how he leverages his differently thinking brain to the cause of neurodiversity, the transformative power of storytelling on self-discovery, and deep dives the neuros…
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Find Your Tribe, Find Your Identity: An Autistic ADHDer Tale
46:15
46:15
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46:15
We sit down with Navya Adhikarla, an autistic ADHDer who shares her story of social isolation and alienation both in the U.S. and India. Her lifelong struggle with identity, coupled with the roadblocks she experienced in education and business, led her to becom a champion of psychological safety and advocate for neurodiverse accommodations -- trans…
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How Sophia Randall (Neuro)Diverged Corporate Complacency
1:24:02
1:24:02
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We welcome "Head Boss Woman" Sophia Randall onto the show to share her personal journey of navigating an unkind corporate world, how she honed her neurodivergent traits to thrive, and the impact mirroring behaviors had on her mental, emotional, and physical well-being. We Also Cover: Building Neuro-inclusive Work Environments Self-Acceptance and Le…
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"Everything happens for a reason." Or does it? Mike and Chaya dissect this common idiom and its negative impact on individuals facing challenging situations. They explore the meaning of toxic positivity, importance of personal agency, and how Mike's experiences with depression led to creating supportive spaces for neurodivergence. TW: Talk of Suici…
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Asynchronous Academia with ADHD Coach Craig Maier, PhD
58:17
58:17
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58:17
Chaya and Mike chat with Craig Maier, a dedicated ADHD Coach at Spark Launch, who shares his story of alienation and bullying while growing up neurodivergent in a small town. Craig details how these negative experiences aid in nurturing his son's own neurodivergence, provides some jaw-dropping insights into the differences between the U.S. and Germ…
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"Why Are We Here?" Our Neurodivergent Journey
36:51
36:51
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Ever wonder why we're here? Why we exist? In our debut episode, hosts Mike and Chaya aim to explain why they've created this podcast along with how it ties into the grander question of finding your neurodivergent place in a neurotypical world. They share their personal stories of unmasking, learning to fight the societal status quo, shedding extern…
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Welcome to Spark Launch, a new vibrant space for the neurodivergent mind! Subscribe today to hear insightful stories from an assorted range of neurodiverse and neurotypical voices, discover effective mental health strategies, and embrace a person-first approach to building resilience while reveling in your unique strengths. Each week, we take you t…
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