Spark Launch Podcast

Spark Launch Podcast

Spark Launch: Neurodiversity Ignited: 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 health, parenting strategies, emotional regulation, workplace dynamics, executive function hacks, and neurodiversity advocacy. Whether you’re navigating life with ADHD, Autism Spectrum, or other neurodevelopmental conditions — or supporting someone who is — this is a space where neurodivergent voices can unmask, embrace their weirdness, and celebrate human diversity.

Episodes

Autism, Sexuality, and the Power of Neuroculture w/ Candice Christiansen (Season 2 Finale)

October 24, 2025 • 47 mins
In the season finale of season 2, Mike and Chaya sit down with Candice Christiansen, a leading voice at the intersection of neurodiversity, trauma, and intimacy, for a conversation that gets existential—and a little bit weird. The three explore the sacred energy of creation, the challenge of healing in a world that isn't always helpful, and what it means to harness your own power when you’ve been taught to ignore it.We Also Cover:<...
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    Montessori Magic: How Freedom-Based Learning Supports ADHD and Autistic Children w/ Rupali Sharma

    October 17, 2025 • 48 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Rupali Sharma, founder and director of The T.E.C. Schools in Worcester, Massachusetts, who shares her journey from architecture to Montessori education, revealing how autonomy, observation, and child-centered learning create environments where neurodivergent children thrive without labels or limitations.We Also Cover:
    • The philosophy behind Think, Explore, Create and its connection to child developmen...
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    One Size Fits One: Derek Crager on Diagnosis, Design, and Doing Different

    October 10, 2025 • 49 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Derek Crager to discuss his journey of being late-diagnosed AuDHDer, how embracing his neurodivergence led him from the manufacturing floor to building transformative accessible AI tools for the neurodivergent community, and what it truly means to create human-centered technology that actually fits. We Also Cover:
    • How receiving his autism and ADHD diagnosis brought self-acceptance and reshaped Derek'...
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    How Generational Trauma Shapes Your Life w/ Anu Dayal-Gulati

    October 3, 2025 • 45 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Anu Dayal-Gulati, a certified ancestral healing practitioner, to explore how inherited emotional patterns can create subconscious blocks in our lives. Anu explains how everything from our relationships to our finances can be impacted by these generational traumas, including how they can uniquely affect neurodivergent minds, and provides practical tools to begin the healing process.We Also Cover:
    • Iden...
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    The Art of Being Kind to Yourself w/ Diana Stelin

    September 26, 2025 • 48 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Diana Stelin, an award-winning artist, educator, TEDx speaker, and founder of The Plein-Air Art Academy. Diana shares her journey and expertise on the connection between art and emotional healing, explaining how anyone can use creativity to manage burnout, connect with their intuition, and foster better confidence.We Also Cover:
    • Art therapy as an accessible tool for emotional expression.
    • The impact of...
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    Accommodation vs. Integration: Why Your Neuro-inclusive Program Isn't Working w/ Gabriela Tardea

    September 19, 2025 • 64 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with neuro-inclusion consultant Gabriela Tardea to get practical about building workplaces where neurodivergent talent can thrive. From auditing culture and rewriting job descriptions to unlearning bias on teams, Gabriela breaks down how to bridge the gap between good intentions and real, embedded change.We Also Cover:
    • Bridging intentions and actions with culture-first audits
    • Rewriting job descriptions wit...
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    Self-Preservation Isn’t Selfish: ADHD and SUD w/ Lisa Modur

    September 12, 2025 • 47 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Austin psychotherapist Lisa Modur to talk about misunderstood childhood ADHD, self‑stigma, perfectionism, and how “mom‑wine culture” became a coping tool before treatment and long‑term recovery reshaped her life, relationships, and parenting.We Also Cover:
    • ADHD and specialized schooling
    • Feeling “less than,” comparison, and confidence erosion
    • Perfectionism, over‑planning, and early motherhood
    • Coping, tra...
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    Beyond Borders: A Cross-Cultural Look at Neurodiversity /w Dr. Pritika Bernice Gonsalves

    September 5, 2025 • 38 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Pritika Bernice Gonsalves, a child psychologist and EAP specialist, to discuss the nuances of neurodiversity and mental health from a cross-cultural perspective between India and the United States. Dr. Gonsalves shares her experiences with the state of ADHD awareness in India, how patriarchal norms affect diagnosis in boys and girls, and why she believes parental counseling is more critical now than...
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    Every Brain Belongs: Teaching The Twice-Exceptional w/ Mandi Davis Skerbetz

    August 29, 2025 • 54 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. Mandi Davis Skerbetz, co-founder of Sage School of Dallas, who has dedicated her career to reshaping how we support neurodivergent and twice-exceptional students. Dr. Skerbetz shares how she identified gaps in public, private, and charter institutions, the hard reality for parents forced to pick between academic or emotional support, and reveals how Sage is rewriting what an effective, compassionate...
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    Parenting Through the Courts: Special Needs, Divorce, and Justice w/ Dr. Margaret 'Pegi' Price

    August 22, 2025 • 56 mins
    Chaya and Mike speak with Dr. Margaret “Pegi” Price, a distinguished professor, legal expert, and program director at National University, about her journey blending personal experience as a parent with her career in family law. Dr. Price shares some eye-opening insights from her book, The Special Needs Child and Divorce, and explains how small changes in legislation and legal practices can make a huge impact for families navigatin...
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    Restless Minds, Clear Patterns w/ Priya Chanduraj

    August 15, 2025 • 54 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Priya Chanduraj, the founder and CEO of FinTeam One, who discusses how her ADHD became an asset in the world of finance. Priya shares her experience of being a "challenged child" in India and how discovering her passion for economics allowed her to excel, and the freedom that comes from finding what you're good at.We Also Cover:
    • The chaos of social dynamics for a neurodivergent kid
    • Navigating neurodiv...
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    Knowing Your Why: Capacity is Key w/ Jane Singleton

    August 8, 2025 • 54 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Jane Singleton, a learning specialist, executive coach, and founder of Launchpad for Life. With over a decade of experience in education, Jane shares how her early experiences advocating for people with disabilities ignited her passion for helping neurodivergent individuals thrive. She discusses the gaps in traditional schooling, the importance of effective communication, and the transformative power of...
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    Late-Realized, Loud and Leading w/ LaToya Hinton, PhD.

    August 1, 2025 • 50 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Dr. LaToya Hinton, an autistic, ADHDer, and passionate advocate for neurodivergent women in leadership. With her experiences as a late-diagnosed adult, LaToya dives into the mental toll of masking, perfectionism, and how accessible environments can unlock untapped potential. She shares strategies for fostering authenticity, creating safe spaces, and leading without apology—all while building community a...
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    Your Child Isn’t Giving You a Hard Time, They’re Having a Hard Time w/ Christian Vinceneux

    July 25, 2025 • 51 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Christian Vinceneux, ADHD advocate, coach (Life Guide Coaching), and former occupational therapist with over 30 years of experience working with neurodivergent families. Diagnosed with ADHD later in life, Christian reflects on growing up as a neurodivergent child in France, navigating challenges without the tools or words to define them, and how his father’s own quirks helped him learn the art of self-r...
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    Boundaries, Burnout, and Belonging /w Michelle Markman

    July 18, 2025 • 50 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Michelle Markman, a late-diagnosed autistic entrepreneur and founder of ND Coach Inc., where she supports high-achieving neurodivergent women in unmasking and thriving on their own terms. Michelle reflects on how her diagnosis transformed her perspective on masking, burnout, and social challenges, and she shares practical tools for building authentic connections, reclaiming energy, and living intentiona...
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    Exploding Trucks, Rock and Roll, and Autism at 65 w/ Peter O'Neil

    July 11, 2025 • 61 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Peter O’Neil, a retired attorney, musician, grandfather, and author of My So-Called Disorder: Autism, Exploding Trucks, and the Big Daddy of Rock and Roll. Diagnosed as autistic at 65, Peter reflects on how that discovery transformed his experiences of masking, social struggles, and professional success. From solitude as a young man to thriving as a relentless advocate, Peter shares captivating stories ...
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    Breaking Free To Be Me w/ Kristin Walker (Mental Health News Radio Network)

    July 4, 2025 • 58 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Kristin Walker, the founder of the Mental Health News Radio Network, to discuss her late-in-life discovery of being autistic and having ADHD.  Kristin opens up about the emotional toll of masking, the powerful shift that came with her diagnosis, and how those experiences inspired her to amplify diverse voices in mental health.We Also Cover:
    • The connection between being highly sensitive and neurodiver...
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    Fighting To Be Seen: The High Cost of Masking w/ Reid Miles

    June 27, 2025 • 50 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Reid Miles, creator and host of Inside the Asperger’s Studio. Reid opens up about his journey from working in the tech industry to becoming a passionate advocate for autism and neurodiversity. He shares the ups and downs of navigating the professional world as a neurodivergent individual and explains how he found his voice through podcasting and blogging.We Also Cover:
    • Reid’s transition from IT to hi...
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    Creativity That Calms: A New Way to Support Autistic Kids /w Jay Goth

    June 20, 2025 • 40 mins
    Mike and Chaya sit down with Jay Goth, CEO of Burble Creativity Inc., to explore how his company is using immersive storytelling to spark imagination, reduce overstimulation, and create calming environments for neurodivergent children. Drawing from ancient storytelling traditions, Jay explains how Burble’s innovative storytelling tents combine sound, lighting, and creativity to encourage kids to connect and express themselves while...
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    Cut From Chaos: Shane Currin’s Story of Bipolar, Addiction, & Purpose

    June 13, 2025 • 57 mins
    Mike and Chaya kick off Season 2 by welcoming Shane Currin, a mental health advocate, writer, and podcast host of Diamonds in the Rough. Shane shares his powerful story of overcoming addiction, navigating bipolar disorder, and finding purpose through vulnerability and service. Together, they unpack the challenges and gifts of being neurodivergent, offering insights for parents, individuals, and anyone seeking growth in the face of ...
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