Interviews with Gifted Community Leaders
Take some time for yourself and connect with experts in the community. Professionals, educators, and experienced parents share themselves and their knowledge about parenting gifted, 2e, and 3e children.
The GHF Expert Series was created to engage our community through discussions with experts in a variety of fields as applicable to the gifted experience. We interview Educators, Professionals, and Veteran Parents. GHF gives you the chance to connect with Professionals, Educators, and Veteran Homeschool Parents to answer your concerns, to hear what has happened from them directly, and to know that there are many solutions out there and we help you to find the information that you need.
The live sessions are free. You are welcome to register in the free GHF Forum to join our community and see the events to register yourself. After the interview, the recordings are cleaned up and stored in the membership content area. To view the archive, you will need to become a member.
Heather Gibbons
Special thank you to Heather Gibbons for editing and creating the Expert Series videos. Heather is a valued member of the GHF community.
2023 Expert Series Interviews
S4, E1: Jamie Heston
Jamie Heston, Homeschool Consultant Jamie is a proponent of self-directed learning and is passionate about helping all parents discover how to move away from school-centric thinking in order to embrace the flexibility homeschooling offers. She hosts regular free Homeschool 101 seminars and is available for individual consulting with families and speaker events – her presentation…
S4, E2: Dan Peters
Dan Peters, Ph.D We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Dan Peters, co-founder and Executive Director of the Summit Center. He has devoted his career to the assessment and treatment of children, adolescents, and families, specializing in overcoming worry and fear, learning differences such as dyslexia, and issues related to giftedness and twice-exceptionality. He is passionate…
S4, E3: Karen Arnstein
Dr. Karen Arnstein It’s a pleasure to have Karen B. Arnstein, Ed.D., core faculty member at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity in Education and Post-Doctoral Research Associate at Purdue University. Karen received her doctorate in Curriculum & Instruction with a Specialization for the Gifted from the University of Denver. She has presented to audiences…
S4, E4: Harri James O’Kelley
Harri James O’Kelley It’s always a great time when Harri O’Kelley is involved! Actress (Die Hard, Stumptown), award-winning writer-director, and script supervisor, with more than 30 years’ industry experience, Harri has also devoted herself to raising her three twice-exceptional kids. “I’m passionate about gifted and special needs education, so I created a grassroots effort to…
S4, E5: Jen Merrill
Jen Merrill, Creative Editor of GHF Journey Jen Merrill is an Illinois-based writer, musician, marketing project manager, and gifted family advocate. The mom of two boys, she homeschooled her twice-exceptional teen through high school while happily sending his younger brother off to his high school every morning. Those days now in the past, she is…
S4, E6: Sophia Elliott
Sophia Elliott Who will actually interview who, when Barry sits down with beloved and popular host of the Our Gifted Kids podcast, Sophia Elliott? Sophia is a mom and avid student of all things related to gifted children. She brings this passion and curiosity fully to bear when she interviews parents and experts about their…
S4, E7: Callie Turk
Callie Turk, Co-Founder, REEL/Doctoral Student, Bridges Graduate School REEL (Resilience and Engagement for Every Learner) co-founder & board member, Callie Turk, is the mom of three teens, one of whom is 2e. Callie draws on her 15-plus year career working with ed tech companies and school districts at the cutting edge of educator professional learning.…
S4, E8: Matt Zakreski
Dr. Matt Zakreski – Neurodiversity Collective It’s always a blast when Dr. Matt’s in the house! Matthew Zakreski, PsyD is a high energy, creative clinical psychologist who utilizes an eclectic approach to meet the specific needs of his neurodiverse clients. He is proud to serve as a consultant to schools, a professor, and a researcher…
Expert Series Interviews Archive List
2022 Expert Series Interviews (Click to Open List)
S3, E1: Expert Series Interview with Ben Smith, CEO of OnlineG3
Join us for our first episode of GHF Expert Series Season 3, when Barry sits down with Vice President/COO of Online G3, Ben Smith. After 14 years across multiple disciplines at the second-largest gaming company in the US, Electronic Arts, Ben has spent the last 7 years on a personal mission that marries his love…
Continue Reading S3, E1: Expert Series Interview with Ben Smith, CEO of OnlineG3
S3, E2: Expert Series Interview with Debbie Reber, Founder of TiLT Parenting
Don’t miss our interview with the amazing Debbie Reber! Debbie Reber, MA, is a parenting activist, New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and speaker who moved her career in a more personal direction in 2016 when she founded TiLT Parenting, which has grown to be a top resource for parents who are raising differently wired children…
Continue Reading S3, E2: Expert Series Interview with Debbie Reber, Founder of TiLT Parenting
S3, E3: Expert Series Interview with Julie Skolnick, 2e Activist.
We’re so happy to welcome Julie Skolnick, M.A., J.D. to Experts this month! Founder of With Understanding Comes Calm, LLC, Julie passionately guides parents of gifted and distractible children, mentors 2e adults, trains educators and advises professionals on how to bring out the best and raise self-confidence in their 2e students and clients. A frequent speaker…
Continue Reading S3, E3: Expert Series Interview with Julie Skolnick, 2e Activist.
S3, E4: Expert Series Interview with Bryan Mischler, LCSW.
Bryan Mischler is a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist at the Treffert Center in Fond du Lac, Wi., a program of SSM Health. The Treffert Center is a facility dedicated to diagnosis, treatment, research and advocacy for the autistic community, with the focus of finding strengths and talents of the individual and scaffolding from…
Continue Reading S3, E4: Expert Series Interview with Bryan Mischler, LCSW.
S3, E5: PJ Manney
PJ Manney Interview Summary PJ Manney is the author of the bestselling and Philip K. Dick Award nominated Phoenix Horizon trilogy, (R)EVOLUTION, (ID)ENTITY, and (CON)SCIENCE. Her ghost story “Ours” appeared in the 2021 anthology, DECEMBER TALES. She is on the board of directors of the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, is the futurist, media…
S3, E6: Sam Young, Director of Young Scholars Academy
Sam Young Samuel Young, MEd, is a growth-minded, two-time Fulbright Scholar and Director of Young Scholars Academy, a strength-based, talent-focused virtual enrichment center that supports twice-exceptional students and their families. Samuel is a neurodivergent educator who has ADHD. As an ADHD learner, he has a tremendous understanding of, experience in, and respect for all things…
Continue Reading S3, E6: Sam Young, Director of Young Scholars Academy
S3, E7: MaryGrace Stewart – Sept 16, 2022
Dr. MaryGrace Stewart Ideal4Gifted founder and Chief Education Officer, Dr. MaryGrace Stewart, has been a revered influence in the field of gifted and talented for over 35 years, teaching and leading pre-K-12th grade students in both public and private schools. She has held education certifications in NY, MA, and CT, and has been a presenter…
S3, E8: Lin Lim, Ph.D.
Lin Lim, Ph.D. This month, Barry sits down with our own board Director of Family Education, and SENG President, Lin Lim, Ph.D., a passionate whirlwind of complex ideas and observations that will have you scrambling to take notes! Among other things, they’ll discuss her most recent deep dive: “Seeing the trees AND the forest: holistic…
2021 Expert Series Interviews (Click to Open List)
Parenting Through Development and Collaborative Communication
Dr. Lin Lim speaks on raising neurodiverse children. Join Dr. Lin Lim as she describes her own personal journey raising neurodiverse teenages with flexibility, humor, and reflection. She has begun using translational neuroscience to understand 2E children and has been an advocate of learning to speak their language of verbal and non-verbal communication while teaching…
Continue Reading Parenting Through Development and Collaborative Communication
S2, E1: Conversation with a College Consultant, Brett Kennedy
A Conversation with a College Consultant, Brett Kennedy (Member Content) College planning seems to get more complicated all the time, doesn’t it? From choosing where to apply to finalizing the perfect essay, and from deciding how far away is too far to figuring out how to avoid massive student debt, families have lots of questions…
Continue Reading S2, E1: Conversation with a College Consultant, Brett Kennedy
S2, E1: Diversity and equity in gifted education with Adeyela Albury Bennett
Adeyela Albury Bennett hails from the Bahamas, but considers herself to be a citizen of the world. She has lived in Washington, D.C., Florida and throughout the United Arab Emirates. She is married to Bradley Bennett, an editor with the Southern Poverty Law Center. Their family worships at Dexter Avenue King Memorial Baptist Church in…
Continue Reading S2, E1: Diversity and equity in gifted education with Adeyela Albury Bennett
S2, E10: Cultivating Awareness and Acceptance for the Neurodivergent
Andrea Finnegan, Yale School of Nursing Co-Director of Operation House Call & Doctoral Student at Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity Andrea brings a driven, compassionate approach to her work and teaching philosophy. Much of her desire to create a paradigm shift in society for twice-exceptionality and disability is credited to her ongoing personal experience…
Continue Reading S2, E10: Cultivating Awareness and Acceptance for the Neurodivergent
S2, E11: Understanding 2e and Sensory Processing with Dr. Tam Keith Skye
Dr. Tam Keith Skye Years ago, Dr. Skye was an “accidental” homeschooler who suddenly found herself homeschooling while also needing to work full time. Luckily, she had the advantage of being a certified teacher and instructional designer trained in personalized and mastery-based learning. Add to that, she had years of experience helping “outside the box”…
Continue Reading S2, E11: Understanding 2e and Sensory Processing with Dr. Tam Keith Skye
S2, E12: Discussion of the Reggio Emilia Method
Molly Hood Discusses the Reggio Emilia Method Molly Hood is the founder of Imaginarium Homeschooling. It is a project for student lead project based learning guided by expert mentors. Molly is the parent of two gifted children, boy/girl twins. She hold a Masters Degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania and a Graduate Certificate…
Continue Reading S2, E12: Discussion of the Reggio Emilia Method
S2, E2: A Conversation with the author of Parenting Young Gifted Children: What to Expect When you Have the Unexpected
A Conversation with the author of Parenting Young Gifted Children: What to Expect When you Have the Unexpected (Member Content) Join us as we chat with Catherine Gruener, psychotherapist, consultant, author, parent, and advocate for gifted and 2e kids. We’ll ask Catherine about positive discipline, encouragement parenting, and more. Catherine Gruener, M.A., M.A., LCPC, LCMHC,…
S2, E2: Insight into a Bright Mind with Dr Nicole Tetrault
Dr. Nicole Tetreault Nicole Tetreault, Ph.D., is a compassionate neuroscientist, author, meditation teacher, and international speaker on topics of neurodiversity, neurodevelopment, creativity, mental health, and wellness. Her book, Insight into a Bright Mind, explores groundbreaking research examining the experiences of unique, creative, and intense brains through interviews, storytelling, and literary science, while advocating for new directions of…
Continue Reading S2, E2: Insight into a Bright Mind with Dr Nicole Tetrault
S2, E3: “Discover how Environment and Nutrition Impact a Child’s Behavior” with Joan Cass CTNC, FNP
“Discover how Environment and Nutrition Impact a Child’s Behavior” (Member Content) “We know our children’s health and behavior (and ours) is affected by the food we eat and the world we live in, but the relationship isn’t always as obvious as, say, being on a sugar high or getting hangry. Join us as we talk…
S2, E3: Claudia L’Amoreaux, Educational Consultant and Coach – What is Mindful Digital Life in 2021?
What is Mindful Digital Life in 2021? A global pandemic has dramatically changed many families’ relationship with the online world and digital media. We’ll explore well-being, friendship, connection, play and learning while social distancing and living even more of our lives online. Claudia L’Amoreaux works at the intersection of education, technology, and well-being. A fearless…
S2, E4: Parenting and Education of Black Gifted Children with Joy Lawson Davis, Ed.D
Joy Lawson Davis, Ed.D. is a career educator with over 40 years of experience as a practitioner, scholar, author and consultant. In addition to local district and university experiences, Davis served for five years as the Virginia State Specialist for K-12 Gifted services. A graduate of the College of William & Mary, Dr. Davis holds…
S2, E5: Transitioning your gifted teen to college. Carla Van Devander, Director, Program for the Exceptionally Gifted
Carla Van Devander, Director, Program for the Exceptionally Gifted. Transitioning your gifted teen to college. PEG is a highly selective program for gifted girls age 13 to 16 in the MBU College for Women. Highly motivated 16 and 17 year olds of either gender who are ready for college, but may not be a perfect…
S2, E6: Learning how to think analytically with high school level physics and math with David Chandler
David Chandler, High School Math and Physics Curriculum. High school level physics and math are about learning how to think analytically. For that it is important to have a teacher who is himself or herself an actively engaged problem-solver as a mentor and role model. It’s not about just learning a collection of techniques and…
S2, E7: Dr. Erinn Fears Floyd. Increasing Racial Equity in Gifted Education Programs with Cultural Responsiveness and Social Justice
Dr. Erinn Fears Floyd Dr. Erinn Fears Floyd is a Gifted Education, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Scholar who serves as Director of Training and Partnership Development for The Consortium for Inclusion of Underrepresented Racial Groups in Gifted Education (I-URGGE). Dr. Floyd is former Director of Professional Learning for the National Association for Gifted…
S2, E7: Gail Post, Perspectives on Giftedness from a Psychologist, Writer and Parent.
Gail Post, PhD. Psychologist. Gail Post, Ph.D. is a Clinical Psychologist, parenting coach, workshop leader, and writer. In clinical practice for over 35 years, she provides psychotherapy in the Philadelphia area with a focus on the needs of the intellectually and musically gifted; consultation with educators and psychotherapists; and parent coaching throughout the U.S. and…
S2, E8: Supporting Twice-Exceptional Learners
Emily Kircher-Morris, LPC President and founder of the Gifted Support Network and inspired by her own experience as a twice-exceptional (2e) learner, Emily Kircher- Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC, is dedicated to supporting 2e children in a way she wasn’t during her academic years. Emily has taught in gifted classrooms, has been a school counselor, and…
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S2, E9: Suki Wessling, Writer and Educator. Teaching to strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses.
Suki Wessling, writer and educator. When I was raising my own children, I learned about the special education approach of teaching to strengths rather than focusing on weaknesses. Ever since, this has been my approach, and I believe it results in more confident, self-directed learners. Suki Wessling is a writer of widely published poetry, fiction,…
2020 Expert Series Interviews (Click to Open List)
Pilot: Barry Gelston, GHF President and Math Educator
Barry Gelston, M.Ed. Barry is an experienced educator who is the Principal Educator of Mr. Gelston’s One Room Schoolhouse that focuses solely on providing individualized educational services for Gifted and 2E learners. Mr. Gelston is also the Board President of Gifted Homeschoolers Forum® where he can be reached by email. Join GHF to enjoy these interviews and more
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S1, E1 Celi Trepanier
While giftedness can manifest in different forms, often we all have the same questions relating to educating our own children. Some of them are practical, such as how to get the household chores done while juggling complex topics you can’t just wing and others are more philosophical, such as how much does early academic advancement…
S1, E1: Kathleen Humble Gifted Myths
Is Giftedness a myth? What is a Gifted Child? Why is Giftedness such a hot-button issue? Where does the fear and dislike of ‘gifted’ come from? Join us with guest expert, Kathleen Humble, as we talk about her new book and the myths of giftedness. Kathleen’s blog: http://yellowreadis.com/ Kathleen’s book: Gifted Myths: An Easy-to-Read Guide to Myths…
S1, E1: STEM with Lindsey Nelson
Lindsey Nelson Opportunity Unlocked Lindsey has a training business called opportunity unlocked where Lindsey has been teaching STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), as an early leader in online education. Lindsey has a great background as an engineer, public school teacher, private school teacher, and online STEM Educator. You can find Lindsey’s courses on STEM…
S1, E2 Amanda Campbell
Amanda has been homeschooling 2 of her 3 boys (22, 16 and 11) for six years and will be discussing some of the challenges of raising 2e (twice-exceptional) gifted children. She lives on a farm in Missouri and in addition to being a homeschooling expert, is quickly becoming a chick(en) magnet. She is the Vice-President…
S1, E2: Celi Trepanier, Educating Your Gifted Child
Celi Trépanier is the author of Educating Your Gifted Child: How One Public School Teacher Embraced Homeschooling by GHF Press. It was released in March of 2015 to excellent reviews. She writes for Noodle Education and Fractus Learning, and has also published with Education Week and various other local, state, and international educational publications.Celi is…
Continue Reading S1, E2: Celi Trepanier, Educating Your Gifted Child
S1, E2: Early Childhood Education with Wendy Margo
Wendy Margo Waldorf Lexington MA School DirectorMs. Margo earned a B.A. in Fine Arts at the Massachusetts College of Art and received her Waldorf teaching certification in early childhood education from Sunbridge Institute. She taught art in the Nashville public schools and went on to be a founding teacher at two startup schools, including the…
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S1, E3: Darby Kennedy
If you need a village, build one! In this interview, Darby McClendon Kennedy will talk about the highs and lows of homeschooling her 2 profoundly gifted dyslexic children. She has homeschooled her children for 10 years and her journey from a public school teacher to a parent forced her to step far outside the mainstream…
S1, E3: Teresa Currivan
Helping Visual-spatial Learners Thrive Teresa Currivan is a licensed marriage and family therapist, parent coach, and former school therapist. She speaks about her strength-based approaches for differently tuned-in children to teachers, faculty, and parent groups, and has published extensively on this topic. She uses the Currivan Protocol™, a unique assessment tool designed specifically for differently…
S1, E3: The role of knowledge in learning to read-for 2E students with Lois Letchford
Lois Letchford Lois Letchford considers herself a “literacy problem-solver.” Her non-traditional background, multi-continental experience, and passion for helping vulnerable students have equipped her with a unique skillset and perspective. Reversed: A Memoir is her first book. In it, she details the dramatic journey of her 2E son from failure to success. www.LoisLetchford.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loisletchford/ Twitter: @LetchfordLois Join…
S1, E4: Autum Romano, Follow your passion, watch your child fly
Follow your passion, watch your child fly Autumn lives in Colorado with her neurodiverse family and has been homeschooling her gifted 16 year old son for 7 years. Through the years she has learned to trust that learning will happen if you create a culture of discovery and trust your child’s passion. https://www.autumromano.com Join GHF…
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S1, E4: Chris Wells
Giftedness and Dabrowski’s Theory of Positive Disintegration Christiane Wells, Ph.D., is the director of qualitative research for the Institute for the Study of Advanced Development and a therapist in private practice in Colorado. Chris specializes in Dabrowski’s theory of positive disintegration and its application to the gifted in research and practice. If you’re interested in…
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