Today’s episode is one of our most fun and meaningful conversations yet.

We are joined by the one and only Frank Lee, also known as the Iron Man suit guy. Frank is a wildly successful 3D printer, cosplayer, content creator, military veteran, and educator who turned a passion discovered during COVID into a full-time career reaching millions.

Frank shares his journey through the military, the grief of losing his father, and how therapy helped him process pain instead of suppressing it. We talk openly about mental health advocacy and why seeking professional help matters.

We also nerd out over Captain America: Civil War and break down the iconic scene where Tony Stark learns the truth about his father’s death. We explore rage, grief, emotional blackouts, and how trauma can hijack the nervous system in moments of betrayal and loss.

Topics we cover include

3D printing as creativity and regulation

Military experiences and mental health

Grief and therapy

Building a career during COVID

The psychology of Civil War

Anger and emotional overwhelm

Cosplay education and community outreach

And the correct way to put on ChapStick

This episode is funny, emotional, inspiring, and chaotic in the best way.

Follow Frank Lee on YouTube and Instagram.

Watch the full episode now.

Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of mental health, nerd culture, and humanity.

Thanks for checking out Different Spectrums! 🎙️ We're a podcast led by licensed therapists and neurodivergent individuals who explore emotions in movies and shows. Our mission is to normalize mental health challenges and promote understanding.

Join your founders and hosts, Dr. Nazeer Zerka and Spencer Srnec, as we process key scenes to help you better understand your emotions and perhaps find some validation in them.

To find our new guest: Frank Lee

@FranklyBuilt

https://linktr.ee/Frankly_Built

https://www.instagram.com/frankly_built/

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 Attention

0:59 Intro

10:17 Scenes

20:51 Interview

1:37:04 Discussion

We'd love to hear your ideas for future episodes and connect with you on social media. You can find all our links here: https://linktr.ee/different_spectrums

⚠️ Reminder: Our podcast isn't a substitute for therapy. If you need help, please seek professional assistance or call 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 911 in case of an emergency.

Don't forget to use our links for discounts with our partner companies:

ONO Roller

https://onoroller.com?sca_ref=5082016.VIt4Svd8Ng

Bubs Naturals

https://www.bubsnaturals.com/?discount=DSP20

Two Nerds Candle

https://twonerdscandle.com/DSP

Toynk

https://toynk.com/DIFFERENTSPECTRUMSPODCAST

#podcast #therapy #psychology #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillness #mentalhealthmatters #autismawareness #actuallyautistic #autism #neurodiversity #selfcare #selflove #anxietyawareness #depressionawareness

Today’s episode is a keynote speech delivered for the Indiana School Social Workers Association. In this conversation, we break down the entire landscape of autism, what the research says, what clinicians miss, how comorbidities mask symptoms, and how schools can better identify and affirm autistic youth.

We especially focus on women and BIPOC students who are diagnosed years later than their peers and often misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, OCD, or behavioral issues.

This keynote teaches professionals how to shift from an outdated model to a neurodivergent affirming approach grounded in compassion, curiosity, and science.

Topics covered

Understanding modern autism research

Hidden autistic traits in women and BIPOC youth

Eating disorders, ADHD, OCD hypomobility, and masking

Why misdiagnosis happens

How early intervention actually helps

How to assess autism through a biopsychosocial lens

How to create safe, affirming school environments

Thank you to the Indiana School Social Workers Association for the honor of speaking. Please share this episode with fellow clinicians, educators, and mental health teams supporting neurodivergent students.

To find the INSSWA folks:

https://www.insswa.org/events/fall-conference

Thanks for checking out Different Spectrums! 🎙️ We're a podcast led by licensed therapists and neurodivergent individuals who explore emotions in movies and shows. Our mission is to normalize mental health challenges and promote understanding.

Join your founders and hosts, Dr. Nazeer Zerka and Spencer Srnec, as we process key scenes to help you better understand your emotions and perhaps find some validation in them.

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 Attention

0:59 Intro

2:24 Keynote Talk

1:24:24 Sugested Content

We’d love to hear your ideas for future episodes and connect with you on social media. You can find all our links here: https://linktr.ee/different_spectrums

⚠️ Reminder: Our podcast isn’t a substitute for therapy. If you need help, please seek professional assistance or call 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 911 in case of an emergency.

Don’t forget to use our links for discounts with our partner companies:

ONO Roller

https://onoroller.com?sca_ref=5082016.VIt4Svd8Ng

Bubs Naturals

https://www.bubsnaturals.com/?discount=DSP20

Two Nerds Candle

https://twonerdscandle.com/DSP

Toynk

https://toynk.com/DIFFERENTSPECTRUMSPODCAST

#podcast #therapy #psychology #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillness #mentalhealthmatters #autismawareness #actuallyautistic #autism #neurodiversity #selfcare #selflove #anxietyawareness #depressionawareness

In today’s episode, we are joined by Dr Erin Hayford, naturopathic doctor and somatic practitioner, to explore somatic healing through the lens of Star Wars: A New Hope.

This is one of our deepest, most transformative conversations about trauma, chronic illness, intuition, and the journey back to your authentic self.

We talk about Luke Skywalker’s loss of his family, the grief he carries, the fear he faces, and how he finally trusts himself enough to turn off the targeting system and rely on the Force.

Dr Erin explains how illness can become a call to adventure, an invitation to step onto a new path, and reconnect with your true identity.

She shares her personal healing journey with Crohn’s disease the decade she spent rebuilding her health and the creation of her Sacred Illness Blueprint a somatic framework that has helped many people heal their bodies and regulate their nervous systems.

🧠 In this episode, we explore

What somatic healing really is

How trauma lives inside the body

How chronic illness is often a spiritual and emotional awakening

Why intuition becomes one of our greatest healing tools

How grounding breathwork and body awareness regulate the nervous system

Luke Skywalker is an example of the hero’s journey

the moment you must trust yourself over everything else

If you have ever struggled with chronic pain, panic shutdown, depression, anxiety, or a sense of disconnection from your body, this episode is for you.

🎧 Watch now and follow Dr Erin Hayford for somatic training programs and healing content.

💬 questions for you

Do you feel connected or disconnected from your body

Has illness ever changed the direction of your life

What helps you trust your intuition

To find our new guest: Dr. Erin Hayford ⁨@sacredillness⁩

https://www.aurorasomatic.com/about

https://www.aurorasomatic.com/begin

https://www.instagram.com/drerinhayford/

Thanks for checking out Different Spectrums! 🎙️ We're a podcast led by licensed therapists and neurodivergent individuals who explore emotions in movies and shows. Our mission is to normalize mental health challenges and promote understanding.

Join your founders and hosts, Dr. Nazeer Zerka and Spencer Srnec, as we process some key scenes to help you better understand your emotions and maybe even find some validation in them.

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 Attention

0:59 Intro

6:32 Scenes

15:40 Interview

56:54 Scene Discussion

We’d love to hear your ideas for future episodes and connect with you on social media. You can find all our links here: https://linktr.ee/different_spectrums

⚠️ Reminder: Our podcast isn’t a substitute for therapy. If you need help, please seek professional assistance or call 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 911 in case of an emergency.

Don’t forget to use our links for discounts with our partner companies:

ONO Roller

https://onoroller.com?sca_ref=5082016.VIt4Svd8Ng

Bubs Naturals

https://www.bubsnaturals.com/?discount=DSP20

Two Nerds Candle

https://twonerdscandle.com/DSP

Toynk

https://toynk.com/DIFFERENTSPECTRUMSPODCAST

#podcast #therapy #psychology #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillness #mentalhealthmatters #autismawareness #actuallyautistic #autism #neurodiversity #selfcare #selflove #anxietyawareness #depressionawareness

Today’s episode is something special. We’re joined by Stephanie Mitchell — a former Division I track and field athlete, brilliant geologist, proud Black woman, and fellow neurodivergent friend of the show.

Together we explore All American and dive deep into the emotional themes it portrays — identity, anger, loss, resilience, and the constant search for belonging. Stephanie brings her unique perspective as both an athlete and a neurodivergent woman to unpack what these moments mean for those who have felt unseen, unheard, or misunderstood.

💬 In this episode, we explore:

🏃‍♀️ The pressure on athletes, especially Black women, to push through pain and perfectionism

🎭 The exhaustion of masking and code-switching to fit into spaces that were not built for us

💔 The complexity of anger and grief when we lose people we love

🧠 Hypervigilance and the trauma of constantly reading and reacting to unsafe environments

🤝 The importance of mentorship, community, and having someone remind you that rest is not weakness

This episode is about being human in all its forms — breaking down the barriers between pain and healing, between anger and love, and between loneliness and belonging.

Stephanie reminds us that community is what saves us, that even in our hardest moments, connection is where we find hope again.

💭 Questions for You

Have you ever struggled with anger or grief after loss

Do you ever feel pressure to keep pushing even when you’re exhausted

What helps you find peace or support when you feel disconnected

🎧 Watch the full episode now on YouTube and listen anywhere you get your podcasts

🔗 Link in bio

Follow @Differentspectrumspodcast and connect with Stephanie Mitchell to support more incredible neurodivergent and Black creators in STEM and sports

Thanks for checking out Different Spectrums! 🎙️ We're a podcast led by licensed therapists and neurodivergent individuals who explore emotions in movies and shows. Our mission is to normalize mental health challenges and promote understanding.

Join your founders and hosts, Dr. Nazeer Zerka and Spencer Srnec, as we process some key scenes to help you better understand your emotions and maybe even find some validation in them.

To find our new guest: Stephanie Mitchell

https://www.instagram.com/steph_a_b15/

Episode Breakdown:

0:00 Attention

0:59 Intro

4:34 Scenes

11:42 Interview

1:01:00 Discussion

We’d love to hear your ideas for future episodes and connect with you on social media. You can find all our links here: https://linktr.ee/different_spectrums

⚠️ Reminder: Our podcast isn’t a substitute for therapy. If you need help, please seek professional assistance or call 988 for the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline or 911 in case of an emergency.

Don’t forget to use our links for discounts with our partner companies:

ONO Roller

https://onoroller.com?sca_ref=5082016.VIt4Svd8Ng

Bubs Naturals

https://www.bubsnaturals.com/?discount=DSP20

Two Nerds Candle

https://twonerdscandle.com/DSP

Toynk

https://toynk.com/DIFFERENTSPECTRUMSPODCAST

#podcast #therapy #psychology #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #mentalillness #mentalhealthmatters #autismawareness #actuallyautistic #autism #neurodiversity #selfcare #selflove #anxietyawareness #depressionawareness