Hopelessly Gifted Podcast
Mark Talaga
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The Hopelessly Gifted Podcast explores why gifted children can handle complex ideas while struggling with everyday tasks. Host Mark Talaga speaks with families and specialists about the developmental gaps gifted kids face. Through personal stories and conversations, the show examines the pain and joy these extremes can bring to parents. It also offers practical resources and a sometimes irreverent perspective on supporting gifted children with humanity.
Episodes
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41: What Are the Lies We Need to Stop Telling Young Adults? with Lisa Marker-Robbins 26.10.2026 26mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsite IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Lisa Marker-Robbins:Website: https://flourishcoachingco.com/IG: @flourishcoachingco -
40: How (and Why) Should I Help My Child Be a Flexible Thinker? 12.10.2026 47mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Wylde Scott:Website: https://www.wyldescott.com/IG: @wyldescott | FB: @wyldescott
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39: Could My Child Have ADHD Even When it’s Not Obvious? with Brooke Schnittman 28.09.2026 36mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsite IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Brooke Schnittman:Website: coachingwithbrooke.comIG: @coachingwithbrooke | FB: @coachingwithbrookeBook Link
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Summer Break Announcement! See you in Fall! 06.07.2026 1mThe podcast is taking a summer break with an amazing batch of new episodes in the lineup for Fall!Host: Mark TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsite IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
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38: My Gifted Child and I Are Burned Out. Now What? with Dr. Liz Evans 08.06.2026 33mLiz 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Liz Evans:Instagram: @the_untypical_otWebsite: https://the-untypical-ot.co.uk
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37: What Role Should Assessment Play for My Gifted Kid? with Dr. Rebecca Resnik 25.05.2026 46mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Dr. Rebecca Resnik:resnikpsychology.com
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36: How Can I Be an Amazing Parent to My Child Who is Growing Up Gifted? with Dani Skiko 11.05.2026 46mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
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35: How Can The Autism Resource Project Help Me and My Child? with Gilda Evans 27.04.2026 28mGilda 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsite IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Gilda Evans:Program:https://autismresourceproject.org@theautismresourceprojectPodcast:https://autismresourceproject.org/podcast/@autismresourcepodcast
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34: Listener Question: How Can I Tell if My Child is Gifted? 13.04.2026 36mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
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33: What Should I Do If My Gifted Kid is Really Struggling in College? with Scott Lutostanski 30.03.2026 39mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comClinic WebsitePodcast WebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Scott Lutostanski:Website: statestreeteducation.com
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32: My Gifted Child is Struggling with Reading. Could it be Dyslexia? with Faye Bankler Casell 16.03.2026 44mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Faye Bankler Casell:Website: https://homereadingcoach.com/IG: @Homereadingacoach | FB: @Homereadingacoach
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31: How Do Parents of Gifted Kids Reduce Burnout? with Jen Merrill 02.03.2026 35mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Jen Merrill:Website: laughingatchaos.comIG: @jenlaughs | FB: @LaughingAtChaos
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30: What If My Complex Kid Needs an Escalated Level of Care? with Caroline Gulick and Julie Kastelan 16.02.2026 41mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Caroline Gulick:LinkedInContact Julie Kastelan:LinkedIn
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29: What Role Does the Mind-Body Connection Play in My Gifted Kid’s Progress? with Jen Bluske 02.02.2026 35mOccupational 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsite IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Jen Bluske:Children’s Therapy NetworkThriving Parents CollectiveWhere They’re Planted Podcast
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28: How Can I Feel Less Alone While Parenting My Gifted Kid? with Teresa Nair 19.01.2026 32mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsite IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Teresa Nair:Website: https://www.reel2e.org/Instagram: @reel.2e
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27: How Can I Support My Gifted Child's Unique Path? with Orion Couling 22.12.2025 53mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsite IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Orion Couling:Website: www.orioncoulingnola.comInstagram: @nawlins_crawlinsEmail: orion.cooling@gmail.comMovie: No Easy TargetPodcast: Shadow Carriers
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26: How Do I Navigate the Holidays with My Gifted Kid? 08.12.2025 27mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
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25: How Can Parents Plan for the Big Transition to College? with Julie Murphy 24.11.2025 36mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsite IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Julie Murphy:Website: www.waverly-consulting.com/
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24: Why Won’t My Kid Talk About Their Day? 10.11.2025 28mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsite IG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygifted
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23: Is Academic Acceleration through Tech Right for My Gifted Kid? with Pamela Hobart 27.10.2025 40mMark 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 TalagaMusic: Petren J MusicContact Mark Talaga:Email: marktalaga@live.comWebsiteIG: @hopelesslygifted | FB: @hopelesslygiftedContact Pamela Hobart:GT School Website: gt.schoolSubstack: abovegradelevel.substack.com
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