Libsyn Directory

Ep. 236: Beyond Racial Stress: Empowering Teens to Navigate Cultural Identity and Build Resilience with Dr. Ryan DeLapp

Release Date: 05/20/2025

Ep. 258: Dyscalculia, Dyslexia, and ADHD: Why Math Feels So Overwhelming for Some Kids with Adrianne Meldrum & Heather Brand

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are so thrilled to have not just one guest this episode but two - Adrianne Meldrum and Heather Brand! Adrianne Meldrum founded and owns Made for Math, a fully online math center that supports students with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and other math-related learning challenges. She is a certified Multisensory Math Instructor and holds a master’s degree from Bridges Graduate School of Cognitive Diversity. Adrianne lives in Arizona with her husband and three sons, where she enjoys the beautiful sunsets. Heather Brand, M.Ed., is a licensed educator with two decades of experience teaching...

Ep. 257: Helping Kids with Dyslexia and ADHD Build Confidence Through Stories with Lynn Greenberg

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are so excited to have Lynn Greenberg join us for this edition of the show. Lynn has devoted her life to being an advocate for children as a trained attorney specializing in family law and pro bono work. When her youngest son, Jonathan, was diagnosed with dyslexia and ADHD, she stepped into the role of being his advocate, using her expertise to help carve a path toward his success. The experience inspired her to support neurodivergent children more broadly, and she discusses how co-writing the children’s book with Jonathan became a natural next step, allowing her to create characters in...

Ep. 256: How to Help Neurodivergent Teens and Young Adults Navigate Dating with Dr. Elina Veytsman

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are so happy to have Dr. Elina Veytsman join us for this episode of the show! Dr. Elina Veytsman is a licensed psychologist and the Director of Training at the UCLA PEERS® Clinic, where she leads groups for neurodivergent youth and their caregivers while also training interns, postdocs, and professionals. She earned her Psychology degrees at UCLA and UC Riverside, researching developmental disabilities and transition experiences for youth and parents, and completed her doctoral internship providing therapy, parent training, and diagnostic assessment services. Since joining the UCLA PEERS®...

Ep. 255: How to Talk to Siblings About Neurodiversity with Liz Angoff, Ph.D.

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

Join us for this episode of Diverse Thinking, Different Learning as we welcome Liz Angoff Ph.D. to the podcast. Dr. Angoff is a Licensed Educational Psychologist and Diplomate in School Neuropsychology who offers assessment and consultation services for children and families in the Bay Area, California. She wrote the Brain Building Books series and Our Brains, which help neurodivergent children better understand, appreciate, and advocate for their unique minds. Learn more about Dr. Liz and her work at her . Throughout our conversation, we talk about how when one child in a family is identified...

Ep. 254: Why Handwriting Is So Hard for Neurodivergent Kids (and Why Practice Isn’t the Answer) with Leslie Catlett

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

Please join us in welcoming Leslie Catlett, MS, OTR/L to the podcast! Leslie is the founder of , where she helps children develop confident, functional handwriting skills that support real learning. As a pediatric occupational therapist and mom of two, she approaches handwriting challenges by looking beyond neatness to understand the deeper factors affecting each child. Leslie specializes in working with children with ADHD, dysgraphia, dyslexia, and autism, creating individualized, engaging strategies that make writing more accessible and meaningful. She holds a Master’s degree in...

Ep. 253: When Motivation Disappears: How to Help Tweens and Teens Reconnect with Dr. Ellen Braaten

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

I am so happy to welcome back for her third time on the show! In case you missed those episodes and/or need a refresher, Dr. Ellen Braaten is the founding director of the Learning and Emotional Assessment Program at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. She is a prolific researcher and author whose work focuses on ADHD, learning disorders, child psychopathology, processing speed, intelligence, and children’s motivation, including bestselling books for parents and professionals. Deeply committed to public education, she frequently speaks on...

Ep. 252: How to Make the School System Work for Your Child with Stacey Shubitz

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are joined in this episode by , K-6 literacy consultant, a former elementary school teacher, and the co-founder of the blog and podcast. Her forthcoming book, empowers parents to navigate the special education system. In this episode, we talk openly about what it really takes to support a child with learning challenges in today’s school system. Drawing from decades of experience on both sides of the table, Stacey shares why she wrote Make the School System Work for Your Child with Disabilities and what she wishes someone had told her when she was first trying to make sense of...

Ep. 251: Sensory Processing & Regulation: How Play Rewires the Brain with Dr. Allie Ticktin, MA, OTD, OTR/L

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We happily welcome Dr. Allie Ticktin to Diverse Thinking Different Learning! Dr. Ticktin is dedicated to helping children and their families thrive through sensory-based play, having founded Play 2 Progress and writing Play to Progress, introducing parents to all eight senses and offering practical ways to support them at home. Blending child development science with playful learning, Dr. Ticktin focuses on building kids’ confidence and supporting their growth across emotional, social, physical, and academic areas. At the core of her philosophy is the belief that empowering parents from the...

Ep. 250: Reimagining Learning: The Evolving Power of 1:1 Learning in 2025 with Jaime Porras

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

We are happy to welcome Jaime Porras for this episode! Jaime Porras is the District Vice President for , overseeing nine campuses across Los Angeles and Santa Barbara. With more than two decades in education (including fourteen years at Fusion), he has held roles from teacher to Head of School and is passionate about fostering student-centered, relationship-driven learning environments. He holds an MA in Education with a focus on Social Justice from Antioch University Los Angeles and a BA in English from Ohio State University. A proud Buckeye and Culver City resident, Jaime enjoys sports,...

Ep. 249: Using Technology to Support Neurodivergent Students with Joan Green

Diverse Thinking Different Learning

For this edition of the show, we warmly welcome Joan Green! Joan Green, M.A., CCC-SLP, is a speech-language pathologist, assistive technology specialist, and founder of in the Washington, DC area. For nearly 40 years, she has helped people of all ages (especially neurodiverse learners) use technology to enhance communication, learning, and independence. Passionate about accessibility and innovation, Joan also educates families and professionals on how everyday tech and AI can change our daily lives. Our conversation explores how technology, including AI-powered tools, can be used to help...

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We warmly welcome Dr. Ryan DeLapp to Diverse Thinking Different Learning to discuss how to help teens manage and overcome racial stress. Dr. Ryan C.T. DeLapp is a licensed psychologist and the founder of the REACH program at The Ross Center, specializing in helping individuals cope with racial and cultural stress. With more than ten years of research and clinical practice, he has developed evidence-based treatments to build resilience in teens and adults. Dr. DeLapp has also authored more than twenty publications and delivered over 100 presentations on assessing and treating racial and cultural stress. His insights are also compiled in his workbook, Empower Yourself Against Racial and Cultural Stress.

Dr. DeLapp joins us for this episode to discuss the challenges young people face when coping with racial and cultural stress. Drawing from his experience working with teens and young adults in the Bronx, Dr. DeLapp shares how his REACH program (Racial, Ethnic, and Cultural Healing) was born from a need to address the emotional and psychological impacts of discrimination, particularly during the social upheavals of 2020.

Dr. DeLapp breaks down three types of stress: emotional, agency, and identity stress. He explains why it is so crucial to identify and address each one, and he highlights the fact that stressors related to race and culture often go unrecognized, manifesting instead as behavioral issues like school refusal or disengagement. Our conversation also covers practical approaches to helping young people recognize and manage their experiences with cultural stress. Via storytelling and community involvement, Dr. DeLapp’s methods encourage youth and caregivers to build resilience.

This episode of the show also stresses the importance of celebrating cultural identity, not just addressing stress, with Dr. DeLapp advocating for community-driven healing and support that go beyond crisis management, highlighting empowerment via knowledge and cultural pride.

This episode is essential listening for educators, caregivers, and anyone invested in the mental well-being of young people navigating cultural stress.

Show Notes:

[2:44] - Dr. Ryan DeLapp reveals how he created the REACH program to address cultural stress affecting youth and adults.
[5:25] - Dr. DeLapp's book helps young people recognize and manage the impact of racism and cultural stress.
[7:34] - Emotional, agency, and identity stress are examined.
[10:34] - Dr. DeLapp encourages clinicians to explore cultural stress as a root cause of problematic behaviors.
[13:10] - Dr. DeLapp designed the book to empower youth and families to help them articulate racial stress.
[14:48] - Inspired by racial coping models, the book guides youth to clarify, cope, and heal effectively.
[17:46] - Dr. DeLapp asserts that community healing involves using support networks to take on racial and cultural stress.
[19:51] - Bridging generational divides helps adults empathize with youth facing cultural stress.
[22:02] - Storytelling leads to solidarity among communities of color by sharing diverse experiences.
[25:05] - Dr. DeLapp argues that educators need to reflect on cultural stress to better support their students.
[28:48] - Celebrating cultural heritage can ultimately build pride (not just resilience) against discrimination.
[30:54] - Thriving means embracing strengths while healing from and coping with cultural stress.

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