School is hard for so many students, and especially for children with learning differences like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, or ADHD. However, academic challenges aren't necessarily an indicator of a child's potential for success. Unfortunately, this is a message that these students (and their parents!) don't hear nearly often enough! Richard Branson struggled his way through school, as did Barbara Corcoran and Henry Ford. Thomas Edison and Andy Warhol had dyslexia, just like George Washington and Nelson Rockefeller. The list of incredibly accomplished people with learning disabilities is endless. The reality is that a diagnosis of a learning disability is only evidence of learning differently, and that is certainly true of chef Marc Murphy.

You might know him from Chopped on the Food Network. Or maybe you’ve eaten at one of Murphy’s restaurants or use his cookbook in your own kitchen. He’s built a successful career based on incredible experiences in kitchens around the world, and his dyslexia was an instrumental part of his path. This week, we’re sharing Mara’s conversation with Chef Murphy, covering his journey from the classroom to the kitchen and the lessons he’s learned along the way.