Non Linear Learning - Rethinking Education for Neurodivergent Learners

207. Where there is deficit, there is also great strength - with Mark Talaga

June 15, 2026·29 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

We talk a lot about what our students can't do. But something that educators have found over the years is that there is a scatter to the skills we see in our students. The wildly uneven profile that we see could actually be a blessing. Mark Talaga, counselor, speaker, and founder of the Center for Identity Potential, joins the podcast to talk about asynchronous development in gifted and twice-exceptional learners. And here's what hit me: we're working the same problem from opposite ends. Where there is a sharp strength, there is often a significant deficit, but the opposite is true as well! This conversation got under my skin in the best way. Tune in to this episode to learn:   What "asynchrony" actually means in gifted and disabled learners  Why IQ tests fail kids on both ends of the bell curve  Why labels are meaningless in education  Why nurturing a spike / sharp interest (even if it seems "irrelevant") is critical. You can find Mark Talaga's podcast, Hopelessly Gifted, on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or visit centerforidentitypotential.com.

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