Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebrated

If 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 girl
• The two things I hope you get from this podcast

I'm not embarrassed to admit that creating this podcast took almost two years. As the mom of my own exceptional daughter, I want to be certain I handle the topic of female neurodiversity with the care and thoughtfulness it deserves. (And like many of us who experience neurodiversity, I may be prone to overthinking and perfectionism.)
To be clear, I'm not an expert on female neurodiversity. But I am a passionate advocate for helping our exceptional girls be seen for all that they are, supported with their challenges, and celebrated for their strengths and talents. I've experienced firsthand what it's like to raise a neurodiverse girl, and I've come to understand how I am one myself.

Want to learn more about the podcast? Visit our website at: www.exceptionalgirlspodcast.com.

If 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 this candid and intimate conversation as Maddie and I discuss:

• What led us to explore why things seemed harder for her than other kids
• The challenges she's experienced as both a student and a daughter
• The mistakes and missteps I made as a mom, despite my best intentions
  

Want to learn more about the podcast? Visit our website at: www.exceptionalgirlspodcast.com.

In 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 boys
• What you really need to know about IQ tests
• Why gifted and neurodivergent girls can easily slip through the cracks
• The critical clues that your daughter may be gifted or twice exceptional
• Why early identification of neurodivergence in girls is so important

Dr. Silverman also shares helpful insights about gifted adult women at the end that you won't want to miss.
About the Exceptional Girls podcast
If 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, self-advocate, accept, and love herself — just as she is.
To learn more, visit our website at: www.exceptionalgirlspodcast.com.

In 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 girls
• How to spot the signs of underachievement, which can look different in girls than boys
• How to evaluate learning environments and talk with teachers to set your daughter up for success
• What you can do to support an underachieving girl — and why it's a problem worth prioritizing

About Brianne Hudak
Brianne has served in public, private, and charter schools for over 16 years, including teaching gifted and talented students, teaching STEM and theatre classes, and holding several administrative leadership positions.
She earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education with a minor in communications and theater, a certification in gifted and talented education, a master’s in educational administration and supervision, and she’s currently pursuing a doctoral degree in educational leadership.
She is an active member of several state, federal, and international organizations serving gifted and exceptional children, including the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children, the National Association for Gifted Children, and the North Carolina Association for the Gifted and She’s also the North Caroline state liaison for SENG.
A vocal advocate for gifted learners, Brianne is especially passionate about overcoming underachievement in gifted and twice exceptional (2e) girls.
About the Exceptional Girls podcast
If 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, self-advocate, accept, and love herself — just as she is.
To learn more, visit www.exceptionalgirlspodcast.com.

In 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 struggling
• Why the middle school years are often challenging for exceptional girls
• Eye-opening statistics that explain why being a neurodivergent girl can be especially challenging
• Advice for supporting your daughter through the transition to middle school and beyond

If you're the parent of a tween or middle-school aged exceptional girl, this episode is a must-listen.

About Dr. Gail Post
Gail is a Clinical Psychologist, a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, a workshop leader, and writer.
Gail raised two gifted kids of her own, and she's been in practice for over 35 years, providing psychotherapy and parent coaching with a focus on the needs of the intellectually and musically gifted, and the twice-exceptional.
In addition to contributing articles and chapters to several books, Gail is the author of the Gifted Challenges blog and a book on parenting gifted kids called The Gifted Parenting Journey: A Guide to Self-discovery and Support for Families of Gifted Children.
About the Exceptional Girls podcast
If 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, self-advocate, accept, and love herself — just as she is.
To learn more, visit www.exceptionalgirlspodcast.com.