In this episode of The Curious Incident, NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan welcomes Dr. Evan Flamenbaum, Co-Founder and Head of School at Academics West, to explore the connection between mental health and academic success. Drawing on his personal and professional experiences, Dr. Flamenbaum discusses individualized education, executive functioning, and the importance of integrating therapeutic support into the classroom to help students build resilience, develop independence, and reach their full potential.

In this deeply personal episode of Curious Incident, NYC Special Education Attorney Adam Dayan sits down with bestselling author, entrepreneur, and transformational leadership expert Dr. Kary Oberbrunner for a candid conversation about self-harm, depression, identity, and healing. Kary shares his experience growing up with a severe stutter and turning to self-injury as a way to express emotional pain he could not put into words, offering insight into the psychology behind self-harm and the role that control, shame, and the need to feel seen can play. Today, Kary helps others bring their ideas and purpose into the world, drawing in part from his own journey of transformation. Together, Adam and Kary explore the importance of creating space for difficult conversations, responding with compassion, and helping young people understand that their struggles do not define who they are or who they can become.

In this episode of The Curious Incident Podcast, NYC special education attorney Adam Dayan sits down with Jonah Ratner to explore the often-overlooked perspective of growing up as the sibling of a child with significant special needs. Jonah shares how life alongside his older brother, Ben, who has severe autism, and his family's fight to secure the right educational environment shaped his understanding of advocacy from an early age. He reflects on the challenges and joys of their relationship, the complicated emotions siblings can experience, and how witnessing the difference an appropriate placement made in Ben's life ultimately inspired Jonah to pursue a career in special education law and advocate for children who may not be able to advocate for themselves.