The Neurodivergent Connection / The Curious Storyteller

What Helps Neurodivergent Kids Thrive When School Doesn’t Fit?
What happens when a child isn’t failing because they can’t learn, but because the system isn’t built for how they learn? In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman to talk about what truly helps neurodivergent students grow.

We get into the teachers who change everything, why confidence can matter just as much as accommodations, and what families need to hear when they feel worn down. I also share parts of my own school story, because this topic isn’t abstract for me, it’s personal.
You’ll hear why self-advocacy can’t wait until college, what schools still miss about autistic and learning disabled students, and why labels only tell part of the story. Dr. Tiegerman also explains the bigger mission behind his family’s work and the belief that no child should be counted out.
If you’re a parent, educator, caregiver, or someone finding your way after a diagnosis, I think this episode will leave you with hope, and maybe a few hard questions worth sitting with.

About the Guest
Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman is a psychologist and Chief Operating Officer of Tiegerman, an organization that supports children and adults with learning, language, and developmental needs. His work spans assessment, education, advocacy, and family support.

Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Dr. Jeremy Tiegerman and we start with the human side of his story

5:49 - How his family history shaped his work in special education

12:38 - Why strengths matter just as much as struggles

22:48 - What parents need to know about advocacy and support

27:17 - Why self-advocacy becomes critical in college

31:35 - When traditional education falls short for neurodivergent students

42:16 - What schools still misunderstand about autistic students

46:42 - What parents taught him that textbooks never could

55:31 - What gives him hope, and what still needs to change

63:07 - His message for exhausted parents who are scared about the future

Dr. Tiegermen's Resources:
Tiegerman website - www.tiegerman.org. Dr. Tegerman shared this as the main place to learn more about the organization and its programs.

Tiegerman main phone number - 516-609-2000, extension 100 for the receptionist. He said this is a starting point for being directed to the right person or service.

If this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they’re not alone.
#NeurodivergentConnection #AutismSupport #ADHDAwareness #SpecialEducation #ParentAdvocacy

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When You’ve Always Felt Different: Marie on Being Seen Beyond Labels
If you’ve ever felt too sensitive, too different, or too hard to explain, this conversation will likely stay with you.
In this episode, I sit down with Marie to talk about what it’s like to move through life without neat labels, while still knowing you don’t fit the mold. We talk about feeling “other” from a young age, the deep relief that comes from being truly seen, and why so many people spend years thinking something is wrong with them when that may not be the full story.
Marie shares how she makes sense of the space between psychology, education, spirituality, and lived experience. We also get into what happens when schools and mental health systems don’t know how to support people who think, feel, or process the world differently. Along the way, I explore why validation matters so much, and what it can change when someone finally feels understood.
If you’re neurodivergent, newly questioning your experience, or supporting someone who feels outside the usual boxes, you’ll hear ideas here that may raise new questions in the best way.

About the Guest
Marie has a PhD in health psychology and a long background in education, healing work, and guiding people who feel unseen by traditional systems. Her work blends practical insight with a grounded approach to unusual human experiences.

Key Timestamps
0:02 - I welcome Marie and we begin with her story

1:30 - What feeling different looked like before there were words for it

6:23 - How activism, mysticism, and experience shaped her path

15:45 - Where psychology helps, and where it falls short

21:47 - Living between systems that don’t fully fit

27:00 - What people are really searching for when they come to her

34:07 - What she listens for beyond someone’s words

42:01 - Why education and mental health systems often miss the people who need them most

51:20 - What Marie wants you to remember if you’ve never fit the boxes

If this episode speaks to you, listen through to the end and share it with someone who needs the reminder that they’re not broken—they may just need to be seen differently.
#Neurodiversity #AutismAwareness #ADHDSupport #MentalHealth #Podcast

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

When AuDHD, Unmasking, and Perimenopause Collide
What happens when your brain finally makes sense, just as your old coping tools stop working?
In this episode, I sit down with Heather Zimmerman for an honest conversation about late discovery, AuDHD, masking, and the very real shift that can happen during perimenopause. We talk about what it’s like to look back at your life through a new lens, why so many women are missed or misread for years, and what changes when you stop trying to fit into spaces that were never built for you.
Heather shares her perspective with both personal experience and professional insight, which makes this conversation especially powerful. We also get into overstimulation, literal thinking, burnout, identity, and the quiet relief that can come when you finally understand why life has felt harder than it looked from the outside.

Heather Zimmerman has a master’s in psychology and is the founder of Divine Ascension Co. She creates content around neurodivergence, perimenopause, intuition, and self-understanding.
If you’ve ever wondered whether masking is costing you more than you realized, or why certain life stages seem to turn the volume up on everything, this episode will give you a lot to think about.

Timestamps
0:01 - Why AuDHD, unmasking, and perimenopause matter together

1:11 - What life felt like before having the language for it

10:11 - From “something feels off” to understanding how the brain works

13:12 - What perimenopause changed mentally, emotionally, and physically

22:10 - How masking showed up and why it became too exhausting

25:13 - What overstimulation can really look like in daily life

35:27 - What regulation actually means for an AuDHD nervous system

48:56 - What Heather wants overwhelmed listeners to hear right now

Heathers Resources:
Divine Ascension Co - Heather shared this as the main place to find her work, links, and updates. She said the easiest next step is to visit divineascensionco.com.

Facebook: Divine Ascension Co - Heather mentioned her Facebook page as another way to connect with her content. She suggested searching for Divine Ascension Co because her name is common online.

YouTube: Divine Ascension Co - Heather said her YouTube channel includes a series on neurodivergence and perimenopause. It was mentioned as a place where she talks more about underdiagnosis and medical gaslighting, especially for women.

If this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who needs language for what they’re living through.
#AuDHD #Neurodivergent #Perimenopause #AutismAwareness #ADHDSupport

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

How Rhythm Can Calm the Nervous System and Support Neurodivergent Brains
What if something as simple as rhythm could help with stress, focus, and regulation in ways many people never expect?
In this episode, I sit down with Dori to talk about how drumming became more than music. What started as a childhood love of tapping on everything grew into a science-based wellness tool she now uses with neurodivergent kids, teens, and adults. Along the way, we talk about the moments that almost pulled her away from music, the surprising reason she came back to it at 47, and what she began noticing in both her own brain and the people she supported.

You’ll hear how rhythm can help calm the body, support attention, and create space for connection. We also get into a bigger conversation about misunderstood neurodivergent learners, hidden strengths, and why so many kids are judged by what they struggle with instead of what they can do.
If you’ve ever felt scattered, overwhelmed, or unsure how to support a neurodivergent person in your life, I think this conversation will stay with you.

About the Guest
Dori Staley is the founder of Next Stage Drumming. She works with children, teens, and adults using drumming-based wellness programs that support focus, stress relief, confidence, and emotional regulation.

Key Timestamps
0:01 - I welcome Dori and we start with her early love of rhythm

0:31 - How childhood tapping turned into a lifelong pull toward music

7:14 - What rhythm felt like to Dori and why it helped her settle

13:04 - Why she auditioned for a band at 47 with no formal drumming background

15:53 - When she realized rhythm was helping neurodivergent brains

20:56 - What drumming can support: focus, stress, regulation, and more

27:53 - What drumming does to the nervous system

47:58 - A simple way to use rhythm even if you don’t have a drum

58:04 - Where to learn more about Dori and her work

Dori's Resource's
Next Stage Drumming - Dori’s main website for her drum therapy and wellness work. It was mentioned as the best place to learn about her programs, sign up for her newsletter, and access a free video. https://nextstagedrumming.com

Listen in if you want a fresh way to think about neurodiversity, regulation, and the power of meeting people where they are.
#Neurodiversity #ADHD #AutismSupport #EmotionalRegulation #DrummingTherapy

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

What It Really Takes to Keep Going When Life Doesn’t Follow the Plan
What happens when grief, parenting, leadership, and faith all collide in one life story? In this conversation, I sit down with Debbie Simmons to talk about the moments that shaped her most—and the choices that kept her moving when it would’ve been easier to stop.

Debbie’s story doesn’t fit into a neat box. She’s a former engineer, the CEO of Anchor Point, an author, a speaker, and a mother of nine adopted children. Yet what stayed with me most was how honestly she talked about loss, courage, health, family, and the weight of building something meant to serve other people.
We get into what it means to take the next step when you don’t have the full picture, how vulnerability can make room for real community, and why grit alone isn’t always enough. Debbie also shares a few hard-earned lessons about boundaries, trust, adoption, and the kind of legacy that starts long before the end of your life.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re strong enough for the chapter you’re in, this episode may leave you thinking about that in a whole new way.

About the Guest
Debbie Simmons is the CEO of Anchor Point, a nonprofit leader, author, speaker, wife, mother of nine adopted children, and grandmother of fifteen. Her work centers on trust, healing, leadership, and living with intention.

Timestamps
0:50 - I welcome Debbie Simmons and we begin with the story behind the bio

3:27 - Debbie shares the parts of her life that can’t fit into one sentence

9:29 - We talk about nonlinear life paths and the value of every chapter

12:59 - The painful season that became important later

18:49 - How Debbie built a nonprofit one step at a time

23:08 - Why she sees herself as a builder, not a maintainer

41:28 - How adopting nine children changed her understanding of family

48:22 - Where she found her limits and what it cost to ignore them

56:30 - We discuss risk, uncertainty, and trusting without full clarity

73:31 - Debbie explains what legacy means to her now

Debbie's Resources:
anchorpoint.us

https://thedebbiesimmons.com/

Free book, The Heart of Legacy:theheartoflegacy.com

If this conversation speaks to you, listen to the full episode and share it with someone who may need the reminder that tomorrow is a fresh start.
#TheCuriousStoryteller #DebbieSimmons #Legacy #Adoption #FaithAndResilience

Hosted by Reid Miles.
Conversations unfold naturally — no scripts, no rush.
🎧 Subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts
🌐 More about the show and past episodes: https://podcast.ausha.co/neurodivergantconnection-thecuriousstroyteller
📩 Guest inquiries & media: Reid@AspergersStudio.com

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.