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Nerding out on Neurodiversity

Nerding out on Neurodiversity

Written by: Dr. Matt Zakreski
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About this listen

 This podcast is hosted by myself, Dr. Matt Zakreski, a clinical psychologist and speaker, alongside our co-host and producer Jake Noonan, an educational coach and humanities teacher. We are here to leverage our personal and professional experiences as neurodivergent specialists to inform and entertain the world around us. And, since we can’t do that on our own, we’ve collected an incredible group of professionals from all walks of life who use their time and talent to support the neurodivergent community. When we know more, we do better, and the goal of the #NooN podcast is to provide our listeners with as much information as possible to make your lives better. Because, as Dr. Matt always says, we can’t always make your lives EASY, but we can make them EASIER – and that is just as important! If you’re neurodivergent, someone who loves a neurodivergent person, or works with neurodivergent people, then Nerding out on Neurodiversity is the show for you. Come on this journey with us! We’ll laugh, cry, learn, and make obscure nerdy pop culture references, we’ll have fun – we promise!Copyright 2025 Hygiene & Healthy Living Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Ep 47 -- A Movement of Hope, with Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge

    Ep 47 -- A Movement of Hope, with Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge
    Feb 17 2026
    This episode, we have the pleasure of hearing from Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge! She is the co-founder of The Modern Asian Parent, as well as Gramercy Psychology. Professionally, Dr. Laura specializes in working with teenagers and adults in navigating neurodiversity through therapy. With a deep understanding and appreciation towards cultural identities, and how multiculturality manifests, Dr. Laura encourages curiosity and vulnerability, understanding and celebrating that things are fluid! For her, everyone's experience deserves to be validated, seen, and respected -- that is foundational. Throughout our conversation, Dr. Laura dives into the broad socio-cultural history throughout human experience -- and how we are all impacted as a result. We loved being able to discuss such nuanced and complex topic with Dr. Laura. What does the future look like for the upcoming generations? How can we culturally internalize hope as a movement? Dr. Laura reminds us that we can all empower ourselves to find strength within our personal values, something foundational to what it is to be you, and how we can anchor ourselves to those values. Dr. Laura, thank you so incredibly much for your perspective, positivity, and insight. We are beyond grateful for your vulnerabilities and we know that everyone will immensely benefit from hearing from you: the Capricious Capricorn!🦄🥳🦄 -- Remember: You affect change. Every. Single. Day. -- Dr. Laura Berssenbrugge can be found on LinkedIn and Instagram, as well as through the websites for Gramercy Psychology and The Modern Asian Parent! Thank you for listening to the NooN Podcast! The NooN Podcast is brought to you by the Neurodiversity Collective, one of the foremost leaders in serving the mental health and social-emotional needs of the neurodivergent community. To learn more, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Neurodiversity Collective's website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have any questions, comments, or you'd like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jake@theneurodiversitycollective.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you'd like to learn more, please follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    58 mins
  • Ep 46 -- Loud? Brash? And Badass? It's Dr. Naz!

    Ep 46 -- Loud? Brash? And Badass? It's Dr. Naz!
    Feb 10 2026
    Ready for an emotional sledgehammer of an episode? 'Cause we are! 🥳 This episode, we are privileged to be joined by none other than the Dr. Nazeer T. Zerka. More colloquially known by Dr. Naz, he founded the national nonprofit, Different Spectrums. Through his role as a specialized therapist, Dr. Naz intentionally designed Different Spectrums to be dedicated to supporting autistic, ADHD, and neurodivergent communities, especially within Black and Brown populations. Dr. Naz leads with authenticity, making it known that he is an autistic and neurodivergent clinician -- as such, he brings a level of understanding, cultural context, and lived empathy that traditional therapy often lacks. Perhaps most admirably, Dr. Naz's work is rooted not just in his doctorate and clinical training, but also in his upbringing in Flint and Saginaw, Michigan -- where he learned resilience, humor, and how to show up authentically for others. Together, we get very personal while opening up on topics within systemic struggles and how Dr. Naz has been personally impacted. He shares about his unique journey to becoming a caring and valued therapist. We delve into how protective he is (with the occasional consequence), how joyful and appreciative he is, and all of the intense, nuanced, "let's be ourselves" mentality with which he approaches the world, his practice, and our entire conversation. It was a genuine pleasure to speak with Dr. Naz -- especially with his frequent jabs at Dr. Matt! We had immense fun talking with Dr. Naz and we know you will too!🦄🥳🦄 -- Take care of yourselves. Or don't... jackasses. 💝 -- Dr. Naz can be found on any and all social media platforms via his LinkTree, as through the Different Spectrums website! Thank you for listening to the NooN Podcast! The NooN Podcast is brought to you by the Neurodiversity Collective, one of the foremost leaders in serving the mental health and social-emotional needs of the neurodivergent community. To learn more, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Neurodiversity Collective's website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have any questions, comments, or you'd like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jake@theneurodiversitycollective.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you'd like to learn more, please follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Ep 45 -- Ostensibly Meme, with Bella!

    Ep 45 -- Ostensibly Meme, with Bella!
    Feb 3 2026
    This episode, we have the joy of talking with Bella -- a full-time dog foster parent, Yakuza enthusiast, Discord server admin, and overall inspirational person. Together, we dive into her experiences growing up neurodivergent and what navigating that looked and felt like. From family history to dating struggles, Bella embodies authenticity in growth and introspection. We also loved being able to take the time to trace some of Bella and Jake's friendship through the years! What starts off with semi-catching up quickly becomes a deep appreciation for Bella's fostering passions. We loved hearing about the infamous Meme* (featured picture) and her Viagra prescription -- not to mention the joys that she brought to Bella and the world. At the same time, we meander through endless pop-culture connections and references! We loved talking with you Bella, and we know you, our audience will, too! Thank you for your time, authenticity, and vulnerabilities!🦄🥳🦄 -- Try to be curious! -- Thank you for listening to the NooN Podcast! The NooN Podcast is brought to you by the Neurodiversity Collective, one of the foremost leaders in serving the mental health and social-emotional needs of the neurodivergent community. To learn more, please visit us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The Neurodiversity Collective's website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. If you have any questions, comments, or you'd like to be a guest on the podcast, please email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jake@theneurodiversitycollective.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you'd like to learn more, please follow us on social media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    57 mins
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