Summary of "A Special Interview With Emily Kircher-Morris"

In this special episode of the Neurodiversity Podcast, host Dave Morris interviews Emily Kircher-Morris, his wife and the author of the newly released book Teaching Twice Exceptional Learners in Today's Classroom. The conversation offers a warm, candid look into Emily’s personal and professional journey as a twice-exceptional (2e) individual—gifted and neurodivergent—and her passion for supporting neurodiverse students.

Emily shares a memorable childhood mantra, “Just let me do what I want to do,” which shaped her approach to learning and life. She recounts early school experiences where her ADHD and giftedness made her stand out, including a humorous but embarrassing moment when a teacher publicly asked if she had taken her medication. Despite challenges, Emily embraced her neurodiversity with pride rather than shame, a perspective that deeply informs her work today.

The interview dives into Emily’s path from gifted education teacher to clinical mental health counselor, highlighting her growing focus on the social-emotional needs of twice-exceptional learners. She explains how the term “twice exceptional” and awareness of masking behaviors have only become mainstream in the last decade or so, emphasizing the ongoing need for better understanding and support in schools.

Emily describes the genesis of her book, sparked by a chance meeting at a gifted education conference and fueled by her ADHD-driven enthusiasm and the motivation of a publishing deadline. The book is designed primarily for educators, providing practical strategies, insights into various diagnoses (like dyslexia, ADHD, autism), and tools to foster emotional literacy, motivation, and self-advocacy in 2e students. She also mentions a forthcoming book aimed at parents of neurodivergent gifted children.

Throughout the interview, Emily shares touching stories of students she’s worked with, illustrating the struggles and triumphs of twice-exceptional learners, and the importance of flexible, individualized teaching approaches. She also discusses how her counseling career grew out of a desire to fill gaps in support for these kids outside the classroom.

The episode closes on a lighthearted note with Dave asking if there’s any question he missed—Emily jokingly replies that the only thing left is what kind of champagne to toast the book release. The conversation is a heartfelt tribute to the challenges and joys of embracing neurodiversity, and a call to action for educators and parents alike.

Personalities in the video:

Emily Kircher-Morris – Author, educator, clinical mental health counselor, and podcast host
Dave Morris – Executive producer of the Neurodiversity Podcast and Emily’s husband