182 Breath, Burnout, and Beginning Again: Syed Abbas on Meditation, Disability, and Healing
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Release Date: 06/13/2025
203. Your student with Down Syndrome belongs in a mainstream Physics Class
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Most special education systems operate on this premise: Students with disabilities must master small foundational skills before they are allowed access to academic content. In practice, this often means students spend years repeating the same goals - decoding, counting, basic worksheets - while their peers move forward into real subjects like science, history, and mathematics. But what happens when a student with significant disabilities is simply included in a high school physics class? In this episode of Non Linear Learning, I speak with Sruthi Muralidharan, a...
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202. Inflammation, Energy, and Learning: A Functional Medicine Lens with Dr. Kendall Stewart
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Dr. Vaish Sarathy speaks with Dr. Kendall Stewart (former surgeon turned functional medicine + genomics clinician) about the biochemistry of learning: how inflammation, metabolic factors, neurotransmitter balance, and genetics can influence regulation, sensory stability, and why some kids respond to interventions while others don’t. What we cover: Why progress can look like “good days/bad days” when inflammation fluctuates Nutrigenomics vs exome sequencing vs pharmacogenetics (and why personalization matters) A parent-friendly clinical framework: inflammation → autophagy/insulin...
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201. Is School Costing Your Child Too Much? A Homeschooling Conversation
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Homeschooling sometimes begins when parents realize the education system is not serving their child. In this episode of Non Linear Learning, Dr. Vaish Sarathy speaks with Victoria Lenormand, a former detective turned holistic health practitioner and homeschooling parent, about what it takes to trust a child’s internal compass and let go of conventional definitions of success. Victoria brings an evidence-based perspective to homeschooling. Trained to observe patterns and follow facts, she applied that same mindset to her son’s learning and recognized that a linear schooling model was...
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200. Five “Helpful” Parenting Tips That Limit Autistic Learning
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
Parents of Autistic children and children with Down syndrome are often given advice that sounds compassionate, reasonable, and supportive. But much of it slowly limits learning, flexibility, autonomy, and long-term growth. In this milestone Episode 200 of Non Linear Learning, Dr. Vaish Sarathy challenges 5 common pieces of parenting and education advice that unintentionally lower expectations and shift focus away from real learning. In this episode, you’ll learn why Dr. Vaish challenges: • Strict routines and rigid structure — and how too much predictability reduces tolerance for...
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199 Evidence, Rage, and Relief: A Mom–Son Team on Finding Spelled Communication
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
When 8-year-old non-speaking autistic Rafael found text-based communication, he didn’t just start “answering questions.” He started telling the truth about his body, his anxiety, and the frustration of being misunderstood. If you’ve ever looked at your non-speaking child and thought, “I know there’s more in there… I just don’t know how to reach it,” this conversation is for you. Today I’m joined by Daria and her 8-year-old autistic, non-speaking son Rafael, co-creators of on Substack and Instagram. After discovering text-based communication, they...
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198 How Understanding Apraxia changes your child's Education - with Dana Johnson
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
I first spoke with Dana Johnson nearly 4 years ago, and that conversation completely changed how I saw vision and learning. I call it my "ocular motor awakening" when I truly understood that vision has three components, and only one of them is corrected by glasses. Dana is the co-creator of the Spellers Method and the founder of multiple centers dedicated to helping non-speaking individuals communicate and learn with purpose. As both an occupational therapist (OT) and a Spellers Method practitioner, she brings a unique approach to supporting individuals with autism, apraxia, dyspraxia, and...
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197 Beyond Burnout: GABA Support, Mitochondria, and Realistic Help for Parents of Autistic Kids
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
If you're parenting an Autistic child and living in a state of constant alert (sensory overwhelm, dysregulation, sleepless nights, meltdowns, and the never-ending to-do list), this episode gives you a concrete biochemical map for how to get back to baseline. In today’s conversation,I’m joined by Dr. Scott Sherr board certified internal medicine physician, certified practitioner of Health Optimization Medicine, and COO of Troscriptions, a company making physician formulated, precision-dosed buccal troches for focus, stress, sleep, and immune function. We talk about: What is the...
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196 Oxytocin, Autism, and how Autism Research works
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
In this episode, psychiatrist and researcher Dr. Eric Strobl joins Dr. Vaish Sarathy to talk about a new re-analysis of the SOARS-B trial on oxytocin and autism. While earlier studies found no clear benefit, Dr. Strobl’s fine-grained, item-level analysis using machine learning uncovered consistent evidence that oxytocin can enhance social-emotional reciprocity the ability to engage, connect, and respond in social contexts. Together, they discuss: Why most autism drug trials fail to show benefit What “blunt outcome measures” really mean in clinical research How machine...
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195 What’s Your Excuse? Lessons on Problem-Solving, Asking for Help, and Doing the Next Thing
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
This may be the most heartfelt episode I’ve ever recorded. In this deeply human conversation, Maxwell Ivey: The Blind Blogger, and I talk about what it means to keep moving when life doesn’t hand you easy options. Maxwell lost his sight as a child, taught himself to code, built a business, and learned to ask for help without shame. We talk about the quiet power of asking, the courage to act before conditions are perfect, and a rare take on gratitude-not as politeness, but as the willingness to use what’s been given. Somewhere along the way, we find ourselves...
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194 Every Skill Can Be Built: Inside Non Linear Education with Daria Kotenko
Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners
before doors close (Friday 11:59 PM PT)
info_outlineIn this deeply honest episode, I talk with Syed Abbas—global meditation teacher, disability advocate, and father—about how a life-altering diagnosis of muscular dystrophy pushed him into the world of breathwork, mindfulness, and inner transformation.
We talk about:
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His journey from depression and chronic medication use to mental clarity and peace
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What it’s like to live with a progressive disability—and find pride and power in it
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The science and simplicity of breathwork
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Why caregivers, especially parents of children with disabilities, are stuck in constant fight-or-flight—and what they can actually do about it
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How just a few deep breaths can shift your nervous system, your energy, and your life
🔗 Resources Mentioned:
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Learn Sudarshan Kriya (SKY Breath Meditation)
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Sahaj Samadhi Meditation course info: Sahaj Samadhi
🧪 Studies & Science Behind Breathwork and Pranayama
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Breath-based meditation can reduce anxiety and enhance well-being:
Streeter, C.C., et al. (2020). Effects of Yoga on the Autonomic Nervous System, Gamma-aminobutyric-acid, and Allostasis in Epilepsy, Depression, and Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 11: 782.
Read the full study on PubMed Central -
Pranayama improves cardio-respiratory efficiency and endurance in healthy young adults:
Satheesh, R., & Bindu, C.B. (2020). Pranayama improves cardio-respiratory efficiency and physical endurance in young healthy volunteers. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 8(7), 2421–2425.
Read the full article on MSJOnline.org -
Pranayama and aerobic exercise enhance heart rate variability and VO₂ max in sedentary middle-aged men:
Hariprasad, R., Prabhu, N., & Karishma, S. (2024). Effect of Aerobic Exercise and Pranayama on Heart Rate Variability and Maximal Oxygen Consumption in Sedentary Middle Aged Males. International Journal of Current Medical and Applied Sciences, 42(2), 20–25.
Read the full article on IJCMAA