Dyslexia Explored

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with Jack Gillanders, recruitment business owner and co-founder of the LEVEL Foundation, about turning a difficult school experience into practical support for other families. Diagnosed with dyslexia at eight, Jack describes the relief of understanding his struggles, followed by repeated school moves, loneliness and using humour to hide his difficulties in the classroom. He reflects on his parents’ determination, the patient tutor he still hopes to thank, and the employers who recognised strengths that school had overlooked. The conversation explores why calling dyslexia a superpower can miss its real challenges, and how finding his place in recruitment helped Jack build a business and give back. Jack introduces the foundation he created with his mum, explaining how school grants and a toolkit of screening, assistive technology, teacher training and family support help turn funding into practical action. They discuss why money alone is not enough, the importance of involving parents, and helping children discover what they are good at before they lose confidence in themselves.This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.Get ivvi notes now: ⁠https://www.ivvi.app/⁠Links:The LEVEL Foundation Website: ⁠https://www.levelfoundation.co.uk/⁠Contact Carol: ⁠[email protected]⁠The LEVEL Foundation Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/level_foundation/⁠The LEVEL Foundation LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-level-foundation/⁠CMC Partners — About Jack and the Team: ⁠https://cmc-partners.com/about-us⁠ivvi: ⁠https://www.ivvi.app/⁠What is Dyslexia — British Dyslexia Association: ⁠https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia⁠How to Mindmap: ⁠https://www.bulletmapacademy.com/mindmap-beginners⁠AT Superstore: ⁠https://atsuperstore.com/⁠Talamo: ⁠https://www.talamo.co.uk/⁠I Can & I Am — Confidence-Building Bus Workshops: ⁠https://icanandiam.com/how-we-help/the-bus/⁠Inclusive Mainstream Fund — Guidance for School Leaders in England: ⁠https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/inclusive-mainstream-fund-support-for-school-leaders⁠Episode 167 — AT Superstore with Matt Dean: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/167-the-at-superstore-the-significance-of/id1387645599?i=1000740445629⁠Episode 175 — Dyslexia Screening with Jamie Wace: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/175-dyslexia-technology-and-screening-building-a/id1387645599?i=1000756257565⁠Episode 168 — Dyslexia, Text Readers and Empowerment with Jay Giddens: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/168-dyslexia-text-readers-and-empowerment-with-jay-giddens/id1387645599?i=1000743978327⁠Interested in being a guest? Email us at ⁠[email protected]⁠.

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with Kait Feriante, co-founder and CEO of Redwood Literacy, about helping children with dyslexia build confidence and find reading support that fits their needs. Kait shares how teaching bright students who struggled to read led her and her husband Andre to become specialist teachers and establish Redwood. She explains why their approach expanded beyond the Wilson Reading System to include other methods, including SPELL-Links and UFLI. Kait also reflects on Andre’s discovery of his own dyslexia and how parenting their dyslexic daughter deepened her understanding of the emotional challenges behind academic struggles. From stepping back as her daughter’s tutor to seeing dictation unlock her storytelling, Kait offers an honest look at supporting a child without letting school scores define their potential. The conversation explores self-advocacy, recognising strengths, and how mind mapping and assistive technology can help children express their ideas and take ownership of their learning.This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.Get ivvi notes now: https://www.ivvi.app/Links:ivvi: https://www.ivvi.app/What is Dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexiaHow to Mindmap: https://www.bulletmapacademy.com/mindmap-beginnersRedwood Literacy: https://www.redwoodliteracy.com/Redwood Literacy Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redwoodliteracy/Redwood Literacy TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@redwoodlearningRedwood Literacy YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjN-BogTHtaoI9L8wuaHmQgRedwood Literacy Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redwoodliteracychicago/Redwood Literacy LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/redwoodliteracyFree Consultation Booking: https://redwoodliteracyscheduling.as.me/schedule/2c3b1c27/appointment/56124248/calendar/9385168?appointmentTypeIds%5B%5D=56124248Free Starter Access to Writing Our World: https://www.writing-our-world.com/offers/oMAKKrKk/checkoutWriting Our World (for teachers) Website: https://www.writing-our-world.comWriting Our World Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/writing.our.world/Writing Our World TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@writing.our.worldWriting Our World Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/writingourworldAbout Kait, Andre and the Redwood Team: https://www.redwoodliteracy.com/dyslexia-treatment-team/Redwood Parent Support Programme: https://www.redwoodlearning.org/the-8-week-guided-parent-support-programRedwood Blog and Resources: https://www.redwoodliteracy.com/blog/Kait’s Email: [email protected] Reading System: https://www.wilsonlanguage.com/resources/articles/wilson-reading-system-curriculum/SPELL-Links: https://spell-links.com/UFLI Foundations: https://ufli.education.ufl.edu/foundations/Google Docs Voice Typing: https://support.google.com/docs/answer/4492226Episode 126 — Other Ways to Teach Reading with Nora Chahbazi: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4PouYIAxgKZB3att3O6m0CInterested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected]

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with Dr Jennie Guise, Chartered Psychologist, founder of DysGuise and CEO of Dysguise Diagnostics, about the life-changing value of dyslexia assessment and the development of DARA. Jennie traces her journey from teaching health psychology and seeing dyslexic nursing students misunderstood to becoming a full-time assessor. She explains why adults often seek assessment when their established coping strategies stop working, how comprehensive assessments uncover both challenges and hidden strengths, and why good feedback can replace shame with understanding. The conversation also lifts the lid on the time, testing costs and SASC compliance involved in producing a diagnostic report. Jennie introduces DARA, the DysGuise Assessment Reports Assistant, which embeds current guidance, reduces clerical errors and helps assessors focus on professional analysis rather than formatting. They also discuss accessible report summaries, workplace needs assessments, assistive technology and how better tools could ease assessment bottlenecks.This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.Get ivvi notes now: https://www.ivvi.app/Links:ivvi: https://www.ivvi.app/What is Dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexiaHow to Mindmap: https://www.bulletmapacademy.com/mindmap-beginnersDysguise Diagnostics: https://www.dysguisediagnostics.com/Dysguise Diagnostics Facebook: https://www.dysguisediagnostics.com/facebookLearn About DARA: https://www.dysguisediagnostics.com/learn-about-dara/DysGuise Assessments: https://dysguise.com/About Dr Jennie Guise: https://dysguise.com/about/Jennie’s Email: [email protected] Assessment Guidance: https://www.sasc.org.uk/assessment-guidance/Dyslexia Scotland: https://dyslexiascotland.org.uk/Helen Arkell Dyslexia Charity: https://helenarkell.org.uk/Disabled Students’ Allowance: https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsaBritish Dyslexia Association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/Interested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected]

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with JT Mestdagh about his extraordinary journey of living with complex medical challenges and dyslexia. He shares how early health struggles shaped his life, how his learning differences were hidden for years, and how he eventually discovered his strengths. The conversation explores resilience, faith, community, and practical tools such as mind mapping and dyslexic-friendly fonts that support visual thinkers. JT also reflects on overcoming adversity through adventure, demonstrating how challenges can become a path to growth and achievement.This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.Get ivvi notes now: https://www.ivvi.app/Links: Ivvi: https://www.ivvi.app/ what is dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexiaJT’s website: jtmestdaghfoundation.org Unteathered: https://a.co/d/0gq4OvVS No Bad Days: https://a.co/d/02L9PLOn JT’s Social Media Links: https://linktr.ee/JT__Mestdagh Tattum Reading Program: https://www.tattumreading.com/ Linda Mood Bell: https://lindamoodbell.com/ Hooked On Phonics: https://www.hookedonphonics.com/ Dragon Dictation: https://dragon.nuance.com/en-us/dragon Dyslexic Font: https://dyslexiefont.com/en/ Executive Function podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/executive-function-brain-trainer-podcast/id1588400094 What is Executive Function: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/tagged/executive-functioningWhat is Working Memory: https://goodsensorylearning.com/blogs/news/tagged/working-memory BETT Show: https://www.bettshow.com/ British Dyslexia Association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.ukInterested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected]

In this episode of the Dyslexia Explored Podcast, hosts Darius Namdaran and Jo Lee speak with Alex Chaparro, a former realtor of 37 years who became an author and neurodiversity coach. Alex explains how his journal, originally a private operations manual, unexpectedly became his book The Dreamer’s Guide to Achieving in Uncertain Times, rooted in erasing limiting labels and rewriting his own narrative. He describes early school experiences of being unable to read, bullying, and creatively hiding difficulties, then a seventh-grade shift where he rapidly improved his reading level. The conversation explores impostor syndrome, perfectionism, disclosure, and redefining labels’ “small print.” Alex shares returning to finish college with accommodations, his later ADHD diagnosis, and how self-acceptance helped him lose 200 pounds, regain mobility, and find joy and purpose in coaching.This podcast is sponsored by ivvi. Visual Notes for Visual Thinkers.Get ivvi notes now: https://www.ivvi.app/ Links: Ivvi: https://www.ivvi.app/ What is Dyslexia: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/what-is-dyslexia How to Mindmap: https://www.bulletmapacademy.com/mindmap-beginners Alexander Chaparro Website: https://www.powerupcoach.net/ Book Title: The Dreamer’s Guide to Achieving in Uncertain Times  Amazon Link: https://a.co/d/0j2EgSVS Barnes & Nobles Link: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dreamers-guide-to-achieving-in-uncertain-times-alexander-chaparro/1150042091?ean=9781968247157 Social Media Links:  Personal Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/chaparrogroup   Personal Linkedin Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexanderchaparro/   PowerUp Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerupcoachinghub   PowerUp FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566632063013  British Dyslexia Association: https://www.bdadyslexia.org.ukInternational Dyslexia Association: https://dyslexiaida.org/ SEND: https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs SEN Support: https://www.gov.uk/children-with-special-educational-needs/special-educational-needs-supportDisabled Students Allowance: https://www.ivvi.app/dsa-for-dyslexia Interested in being a guest? Email us at [email protected]