Claim OwnershipExceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebrated
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© 2025 Exceptional Girls Podcast: Helping our smart but struggling girls feel seen, supported, and celebrated
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Raising girls is no joke. Add exceptionalities like giftedness, autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, learning differences, and anxiety into the mix, and you may feel like you're the only one struggling to figure it all out. You're not.
As a mom myself, I know what it's like to help your neurodivergent child navigate the challenges of school, friendships, and family dynamics. Once my kiddo and I finally figured out her unique wiring, life got so much better. But it took almost 15 years, and that’s way too long.
I created this podcast to shorten the learning curve for others and increase awareness and understanding of female neurodiversity. Join me as we learn together how we can help our exceptional girls be seen, supported, and celebrated.
Want to learn more? Visit www.exceptionalgirlspodcast.com.
13 Episodes
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In this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, host Julie Withrow is joined by Dawn Friedman, founder of Open Book Parenting, to talk about child anxiety and how families can navigate the challenges it presents. Anxiety and anxious avoidance can be tricky to manage, especially in neurodivergent kids. Dawn is quick to point out that parents aren't to blame and needn't feel ashamed if they've made some missteps along the way. But they do have a responsibility to help their children overcome...
As any parent of a gifted or twice exceptional child knows, finding a learning environment that's capable of meeting your child's particular needs can be a long and difficult journey. Traditional schools often fall short of providing the academic challenge, learning accommodations, or social-emotional support your child needs to be successful. In this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, host Julie Withrow sits down with Dr. Jessica Potts, curriculum coordinator at Davidson Academy...
When most people picture a gifted child, they imagine a straight-A student who thrives in school and loves a challenge. But what happens when giftedness looks more like meltdowns after school, daydreaming in class, or a deep interest in fashion design? In this episode of the Exceptional Girls podcast, host Julie Withrow welcomes Megan Cannella, Director of Outreach at the Davidson Institute, to unpack the most common myths and misperceptions surrounding giftedness—especially in girls. L...
In this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, host Julie Withrow sits down with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Gail Post to unpack the complex relationship between neurodivergence and eating disorders. Drawing from decades of experience, Gail offers professional insights and practical advice for parents and caregivers navigating these challenges. 🔑 Listen in as Gail shares: The surprising connections between autism, ADHD, and various eating disorders, and how neurodivergence ...
In this episode of the Exceptional Girls podcast, I’m thrilled to be joined by Dr. Melinda Edwards. As the mother of an autistic daughter and a practicing physician, Dr. Edwards’ views on autism may surprise you. Listen in as Dr. Edwards shares: How her initial feelings of grief and loss about her daughter's diagnosis shifted in a dramatic wayThe profound insights she's learned about being autistic from her daughter SaachiHow she rectifies the typical medical definition of autism with ...
In this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Alexis Bitting, a licensed mental health counselor who holds a Ph.D. in clinical sexology. Dr. Alexis has extensive experience working with neurodivergent young people, as well as those who are questioning their gender identity and sexuality. Listen in as Dr. Alexis shares her expertise and insights: Is this just a phase? How to know if your child's gender questioning is a special interest, if they're being influenced by their friends, or if ...
In this episode of the Exceptional Girls podcast, you're invited to listen in as I talk with Dr. Nicole Tetreault. A neuroscientist, meditation teacher, international speaker, and author of Insight into a Bright Mind, Dr. Nicole shares: Personal and poignant stories of growing up as a sensitive and precocious girl who later learned she had dyslexiaThe pivotal experience that led her to become a neuroscientistHow to differentiate between healthy and unhealthy perfectionismA simple but n...
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 strugglingWhy the middle school years are often challenging for exce...
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 girlsHow to spot the signs of underachievement, which can look different in girls than boysHow to evaluate learning environme...
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 boysWhat you really need to know about IQ test...
In this episode of the Exceptional Girls Podcast, you can listen in as I continue my conversation with Maddie, my neurodivergent and twice exceptional daughter. In episode 3, we talked about the challenges we faced as we tried to understand why why things seemed harder for her than other kids. Listen in on the second half of our no-holds-barred conversation, where Maddie and I talk about: My regrettable reaction to the results of her neuropsychological evaluationThe light bulb moment for me ...
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 understan...
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 girlThe two things I hope you get from this podcastI...
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