The Spiral Model: Rethinking How We See and Support Neurodiverse Learners

In Their Skin: Safety, Trust, and the Real Work of Learning

In this heartfelt conversation on Spiral We Radio, Laura Schonberg shares her journey from alternative education to district leadership, exploring what it truly means for learners to feel safe enough to learn. She speaks with Dr. Karen Arnstein and Dr. Barry Gelston about dysregulation, trauma, and the invisible pressures shaping classrooms today. Together, they unpack the tension between data-driven systems and human connection, the myth of the “ideal student,” and how empathy begins with authenticity. Laura’s stories—from learners under desks to twice-exceptional teens outpacing the curriculum—reveal why safety, trust, and belonging are the first steps toward any meaningful education.

From Stop-Motion to Mozart: Adaptive Connection with Bryan Mishler

In this episode of Spiral We Radio, Dr. Barry Gelston and Dr. Karen Arnstein talk with Bryan Mishler, licensed clinical social worker and doctoral candidate at Bridges Graduate School, about his transformative work at the Treffert Studio in Wisconsin. Bryan specializes in supporting autistic and twice-exceptional learners, helping them discover their strengths, build resilience, and create meaningful paths toward independence. From pairing young musicians with international performers to guiding stop-motion animators toward professional-level portfolios, Bryan’s approach is rooted in connection, creativity, and mutual adaptation. Together, we explore how strength-based support not only changes educational outcomes, but also helps neurodiverse people thrive — in learning, in relationships, and in life. For more information, follow our Substack at https://spiralwe.substack.com/ [https://spiralwe.substack.com/]

The Spiral Adaptive Lens: Seeing Learners Through a New Perspective

In Episode 2 of Spiral We Radio, Dr. Barry Gelston and Dr. Karen Arnsteen dive deep into the Spiral Adaptive Lens, a way of viewing and relating to people that fosters adaptive, meaningful connections — especially for those who are neurodiverse. Building on their decades of experience as educators, researchers, and advocates, Barry and Karen share how curiosity, investigation, and improvisation form the backbone of this approach, and why it matters in classrooms, workplaces, and everyday relationships. With real-life stories, practical insights, and a healthy dose of humor, they unpack how shifting perspective can change outcomes for learners and the people who support them. For more information, follow our Substack at https://spiralwe.substack.com/ [https://spiralwe.substack.com/]

The Spiral Model: Rethinking How We See and Support Neurodiverse Learners

In the very first episode of Spiral We Radio, Dr. Barry Gelston and Dr. Karen Arnstein take listeners inside the origins of the Spiral Model — their shared framework for seeing and supporting neurodiverse people in ways that honor both strengths and needs. Drawing from over eight years of research and collaboration, Barry and Karen explain how the model grew from real-world experiences with learners, families, and educators. They explore the core principles that shape their work — curiosity, investigation, and mutual adaptation — and discuss how the Spiral Model applies not only in classrooms, but also in workplaces, homes, and communities. This episode sets the stage for everything to come on Spiral We Radio, offering a clear, practical, and deeply human way to think about neurodiversity. For more information, follow our Substack at https://spiralwe.substack.com/ [https://spiralwe.substack.com/]