Episodes

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Suicide and SA was discussed. What if everything we think we know about the Gen Z mental health crisis is incomplete? In this eye-opening conversation, suicide survivor, author, and mental health advocate Aly Vredenberg challenges conventional wisdom by revealing four interconnected factors driving declining mental health among young people: economics, isolation, environment, and meaning. Aly shares her deeply personal journey, beginning with a suicide attempt...

Send us a text By now, everybody has heard of traditional going to therapy and taking medications, if necessary. However, what role does neurofeedback play in treating mental health? Meet Meg Stuppy, founder of the Los Angeles Neurofeedback Center and co-founder of Clarity Direct Neurofeedback, who joins us to illuminate how neurofeedback technology is transforming mental health treatment by helping rebalance the brain's natural rhythms. With 13 years of experience in the field, Meg ex...

Send us a text What if neurodivergence isn't just something to be accommodated, but a powerful gift that can transform leadership? Rita Ramakrishnan, a person with Autism Spectrum and ADHD, found strengths behind her diagnosis, and she used it to excel in executive leadership. Amongst the strengths Rita found was her remarkable hunger for knowledge that stemmed with her voracious appetite of curiosity. Rita, unlike others who would make assumptions based off what they feel other people ...

Send us a text As many may know, May is mental health awareness month. However, what still needs more conversation about mental health is the fact that men too have mental health challenges. Men too deserve to share their stories and be heard. Men too deserve to be vulnerable without being told to "man up" or "suck it up." Aaron Ash bravely shares his challenges of having undergone complex trauma through incidents with his family. As a lot of people tend to do, Aaron tried to find solac...

Send us a text Andrea Andree takes us on a transformative journey from being a corporate Engineer to becoming a leadership and embodiment coach for high-achieving women who want to get out of their heads and into their bodies. • Former project manager with two engineering degrees who felt unfulfilled despite checking all the boxes of success • High achievement often stems from childhood wounds and patterns of seeking validation or attention • Achievement becomes an identity and unconscious d...

Send us a text Sam Mitchell shares his journey of being diagnosed with autism at age four and transforming his experiences into a platform for advocacy through podcasting and motivational speaking. Sam turned his pain into purpose by giving back and helping others. • Diagnosed with classic autism symptoms including repetitive behaviors, restricted interests, and sensory sensitivities • Found understanding at age six through a book that explained his autism, helping him make sense of social excl...

Send us a text "Pigs are for eating, not for dating." This powerful metaphor emerged from my journey through unhelpful therapy, where I was repeatedly told to lose weight because "thin girls get away with more." During this special Autism Acceptance Month episode, I'm sharing raw, personal chapters from my book "Dropped in a Maze" to illuminate the unique challenges faced by those of us on the spectrum. My story takes you through therapy sessions with Dr. Grey, who despite his expertise in auti...

Send us a text What if your DNA could guide you on how to better handle your health? What if genetic testing could guide you on how certain medications would work? Len May, founder and CEO of EndoDNA, does just that: helps people navigate their health through genetic testing. The road to lead Len May to where he is today has been anything but easy. Len May was kicked out of his home when he was in his later teens for recreational use of cannabis. Len's parents strongly frowned upon his use of c...

Send us a text Michael Pereira, an insurance specialist and father of a son with autism, shares critical financial planning strategies for families with special needs children. He offers insight into comprehensive insurance planning that protects dependents with special needs if something happens to their caregivers. • Michael's strong passion is helping special needs families after his son's autism diagnosis • Three key areas of focus: income protection, funding special needs trusts, and long-...

Send us a text What happens when a devastating diagnosis becomes a pivotal turning point in someone's life? In this episode, we explore the remarkable journey of Heather Krueger, who transformed adversity into her calling. Diagnosed with stage four liver disease just before her 25th birthday, Heather's strong faith and determination led her down a path where she was able to receive a living donation of a liver. However, Heather's story didn't end there. Her living donation ended up turning into ...

Send us a text What happens when the magic of books become a lifeline for children in need? We welcome the extraordinary Seena Jacobs, founder and CEO of Bookwallah, a nonprofit that is dedicated to setting up libraries for underprivileged children. Seena Jacobs knows well about how the power of reading stories has the ability to impact someone's life. Seena herself turned to book reading as a young child as a way to cope with her own traumas. Stories like Cinderella, Chronicles of Narnia, and B...

Send us a text Trigger Warning: Past Suicidal Ideations Discussed After experiencing the crushing weight of societal expectations, Molly Booker found her path to self-acceptance through embracing her individuality and passions. On this episode of "On the Spectrum with Sonia," Molly, the author of "Magic in the Mess," takes us on her inspiring journey of breaking free from the chains of conformity Her story highlights the difficulties that present when one feels that they don't fit in like every...

Send us a text Just imagine you are living your life and going about your day to only have the course of your whole life change in a flash. This is what happened to Brian P. Swift back on December 26, 1979. Brian was just a gregarious 17 year old off school on winter break. He just finished celebrating Christmas with his family, and he was looking forward to spending the rest of the winter break relaxing and having some fun. He called his buddies to go play some football, and there was a group o...

Send us a text Tom Smith, a retired NYPD officer and current host of the Gold Shield Show, joins me on "On the Spectrum with Sonia" to discuss the often unseen intersection of law enforcement and mental health. Inspired to follow his father's footsteps and seeing the strong camaraderie and "family" formed within the community, Tom aimed to recreate that for his own life and found just that. The conversation takes a deeper look at the intricacies of mental health in policing, emphasizing the vit...

Send us a text Get ready to unlock the secrets of visionary thinking with Justin Breen, a best-selling author and innovator with a unique talent for connecting patterns across various fields. Join us as we journey through Justin's transition from journalism to entrepreneurship, revealing how neurodivergence, such as ADHD and autism, can often lead to groundbreaking ideas. Learn more about how Justin used his talents and gifts to not only help others realize their potential, but he also was able ...

Send us a text What if awakening in a psychiatric ward could be the catalyst for a transformative life change? Join us as Deborah Griffiths courageously shares her journey from a toxic marriage to becoming an empowered single mother and advocate. Her story is a testament to the strength and resilience required to break free from an abusive environment and rebuild a life filled with purpose and hope. Alongside Deborah, we explore the deeply complex layers of emotional abuse, highlighting the crit...

Send us a text Join us as we sit down with Brittany Benavides-Smith, a devoted music teacher from Georgetown, Texas. Brittany bravely shares her inspirational story of navigating the complexities of living with bipolar disorder, being faced with traumatic loss at a young age of both of her parents, overcoming a toxic first marriage, and tackling binge eating. Brittney today is a thriving individual who uses her passion for music to become a successful creative entrepreneur and talented player f...

Send us a text Navigating the holidays can be challenging, especially for those on the autism spectrum. Picture yourself at a festive family gathering, overwhelmed by the hustle and bustle, and struggling to interpret social cues. Through personal stories and therapist-tested strategies, I explore how to manage the emotional intricacies of holiday events—from overwhelming public displays of affection to the pitfalls of love bombing. My goal is to provide you with actionable advice to feel more c...

Send us a text After grappling with the realities of bipolar disorder, Sarah I Fox invites us into her world, sharing her transformative journey through mental health challenges. Growing up in Brooklyn and identifying as a woman of color, Sarah discusses the intersectionality between mental health, being a person of color, and the role of her faith. Even though bipolar disorder turned an ugly head towards Sarah, Sarah never in turn chose to turn an ugly head back. Instead, Sarah used having bip...

Send us a text Please tune in as Shannon Freedman shares her harrowing journey of surviving a horrible car crash that landed her in a coma. Shannon details her experience of still being able to hear while in a coma what people were saying and shares what she was able to remember, despite being in a debilitating state. Shannon ended up losing a 1/4 of her brain due to the injury from the car accident. However, do you think Shannon let this stop her from living her life and going after her goals a...

Send us a text Have you ever felt trapped by societal expectations? Meet Dr. Seema Desai, one of the inspiring hosts of the "Happy and Human" podcast, who candidly shares her journey from a structured career in dentistry to embracing her true calling as a coach, podcast host where various topics with regard to mental heath are discussed , and author of the book "Connected: Discovering Your Inner Guides." "Connected:Discovering Your Inner Guides" is a powerful book that discusses enhancing relati...

Please give it up for Caralyn Dreyer, whom for the very first time, spoke out loud her journey of surviving the trauma of sexual assault. As anybody knows, being vulnerable is a courageous act in and of itself, but when we are speaking the trauma of being sexually assaulted, the amount of courage and vulnerability is at a whole new level. Caralyn, not only discusses what she had to overcome, but also touches upon other areas that make her story relatable on multiple levels.

Navigating the maze of autism diagnosis can be overwhelming and isolating. Today’s episode of "On the Spectrum with Sonia" features Nikki Shipp, the courageous host of Pieces for my Puzzle podcast, sharing her personal journey from the initial shock of her son Drayson's diagnosis to the joyous moment he first called her "mom." Nikki’s story is one of resilience and unwavering belief in her son's potential, a tale that resonates with many parents facing similar challenges. Together, we dissect th...

Please tune in to listen as Luna discusses how Autism not only allowed her to focus on her intense interests and creativity, but how it allowed her to thrive. Luna discusses the challenges she went through being on the Autism Spectrum, but she also discusses her immense successes. It is amazing how at 12 years old, Luna is a way forward thinker and will go so far in her life! GOOOOO LUNA!!!