The Gifted Ed Podcast

• Episode 35: The Importance of Play for Gifted Students (Part 1)

  In this episode, we welcome Lisa Wiltz and Eric Youngquist, who explore the essential role of play, simulation, and gamification in supporting gifted learners of all ages. This episode reframes play—not as downtime, but as developmentally essential, academically rich, and socially transformative.Lisa Wiltz - With 39 years of experience, Lisa has taught preschool through early elementary and specializes in early childhood development and gifted education. She holds degrees from Illinois State University and National Louis University, has presented nationally on play-based learning, and currently teaches Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4. Her passion: helping young learners build the social-emotional and cognitive skills that form the bedrock of future learning.Eric Youngquist - Eric is in his 22nd year of teaching middle school social studies. With degrees from NIU and St. Xavier University, he brings learning to life through strategy, debate, and simulation. He coaches both a strategic gaming club and a debate team and is committed to using games to build communication, reasoning, negotiation, and empathy.Listeners will explore:Why play is the foundation of learningHow games and playful learning support creativity, problem-solving, cognitive flexibility, and emotional developmentWhat empathy development really looks like from preschool through middle schoolHow educators can balance academic demands with meaningful playReal examples of simulations and games that deepen learning, engagement, and rigorHost: Meghan McCarthyCo-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff WestbrookOriginal Music by Adam G-FHow you can be involved:Subscribe to The Gifted Ed PodcastEmail us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to the podcast team to let us know of any topics that you would like discussed. Additionally, you can use this form to let us know that you would like to appear on an episode as a guest and what topic(s) you would like to discuss.

  --------  

  42:19

  --------

  42:19
• Episode 34: Rethinking Leadership in Gifted Education

  In this episode, we welcome Allison Yunkun, a doctoral candidate and an elementary educator and from The Avery Coonley School in Downers Grove, Illinois. Allison shares insights about the Leadership Academy, a program designed to develop authentic leadership skills in gifted students from grades 2–4.The conversation explores how the academy helps young learners understand leadership beyond titles—focusing instead on empathy, collaboration, and purpose-driven action. We also discuss the intentional design behind this initiative, how it supports diverse leadership styles (including introverted leaders), and how social-emotional learning (SEL) connects deeply to leadership development.Later in the episode, a student participant from the Leadership Academy joins to offer a firsthand perspective on what it’s like to learn and practice leadership as a gifted student. Host: Meghan McCarthyCo-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff WestbrookOriginal Music by Adam G-FHow you can be involved:Subscribe to The Gifted Ed PodcastEmail us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to the podcast team to let us know of any topics that you would like discussed. Additionally, you can use this form to let us know that you would like to appear on an episode as a guest and what topic(s) you would like to discuss.

  --------  

  18:22

  --------

  18:22
• Episode 33: Understanding Anxiety in Gifted Youth

  In this episode, we welcome Dr. Maha Zayed and Lora Dudek of The OCD and Anxiety Center to discuss the many ways anxiety can show up in children and adolescents. Together, we explore a scale of intensity to help distinguish between healthy anxiety and clinical anxiety. We also highlight why it’s so important for parents and teachers to understand anxiety—recognizing the signs early can make a critical difference in supporting children’s emotional well-being, learning, and development. Listeners will also gain practical strategies to help students manage anxiety more effectively in both home and school settings.www.theocdandanxietycenter.comHost: Meghan McCarthyCo-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff WestbrookOriginal Music by Adam G-FHow you can be involved:Subscribe to The Gifted Ed PodcastEmail us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to the podcast team to let us know of any topics that you would like discussed. Additionally, you can use this form to let us know that you would like to appear on an episode as a guest and what topic(s) you would like to discuss.

  --------  

  47:37

  --------

  47:37
• Episode 32: Writing Strategies for Gifted Learners

  In this episode, we welcome Darrell Maskell, who shares how he teaches writing to his gifted students. We explore his instructional techniques and process, the executive functioning skills embedded in his approach, and some of the remarkable outcomes that have emerged in his classroom.Darrell Maskell has taught third-, fourth-, and fifth-grade students for twenty-seven years in both the UK and the US. He began his career as an electrical engineer before transitioning into education at the age of twenty-eight. He started teaching in London public schools and has since worked in three private schools for gifted children. In 2007, he was recognized with both the Positive Promotions Midwest Teacher of the Year and the Sam’s Club Teacher of the Year awards.Teacher Resource: Darrell Maskell’s Fantasy Writing Plannerhttps://www.fox32chicago.com/news/class-project-inspires-palatine-fifth-grader-to-publish-her-own-bookHost: Meghan McCarthyCo-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff WestbrookOriginal Music by Adam G-FHow you can be involved:Subscribe to The Gifted Ed PodcastEmail us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to the podcast team to let us know of any topics that you would like discussed. Additionally, you can use this form to let us know that you would like to appear on an episode as a guest and what topic(s) you would like to discuss.

  --------  

  47:09

  --------

  47:09
• Episode 31: Underachievement in Gifted Learners – Erin Vanek from The Gifted Perspective

  In this episode, we sit down with Erin Vanek, founder of The Gifted Perspective, to explore the often misunderstood world of underachievement among gifted students. Erin shares insights into the behavioral and emotional profiles of gifted learners who aren't meeting their potential and helps us unpack the why behind their struggles. From classroom engagement to parent support, she offers practical strategies educators and caregivers can use to reconnect these students with learning and motivation. Whether you're a teacher, parent, or advocate, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways to help gifted students thrive.In this episode, you’ll learn:Common traits of underachieving gifted studentsThe myths surrounding giftedness and motivationTools and techniques to reignite engagement in gifted learnersHow The Gifted Perspective serves as a bridge between educators and gifted kids' unique needsLearn more about Erin's work:https://thegiftedperspective.com/https://www.instagram.com/the.gifted.perspective/Host: Meghan McCarthyCo-Producers: Adam Metcalf and Jeff WestbrookOriginal Music by Adam G-FHow you can be involved:Subscribe to The Gifted Ed PodcastEmail us at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit a ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠feedback form⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to the podcast team to let us know of any topics that you would like discussed. Additionally, you can use this form to let us know that you would like to appear on an episode as a guest and what topic(s) you would like to discuss.

  --------  

  29:50

  --------

  29:50

More Education podcasts

Trending Education podcasts

About The Gifted Ed Podcast