The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast

Understanding PDA in Kids: Demand Avoidance, Anxiety, and the Drive for Autonomy (AuDHD/Autism)

If your child looks “fine” at school but falls apart at home, melts down over everyday expectations (homework, transitions, getting out the door), or is sliding into school refusal, this episode will help you make sense of what might be going on, especially when autism, AuDHD, and anxiety are part of the picture.
On this episode of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast, host Kate Brownfield sits down with Diane Gould, founder of PDA North America and co-author of Navigating PDA in America, for a grounded, parent-friendly conversation about Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) (often reframed as a Pervasive Drive for Autonomy). Diane explains why PDA is best understood through a nervous system lens (not “defiance”), why many traditional behavior plans can backfire, and what actually helps kids who experience everyday demands as a threat response.
This episode is especially helpful if you’ve heard “PDA” mentioned in an evaluation, therapy, or online, and you’re trying to understand what’s real, what’s misunderstood, and what supports are most effective at home and at school.
In this episode, we cover:
What PDA is and how the definition has evolved (and why there’s still debate)
Why PDA often overlaps with autism and/or ADHD and why it’s frequently missed or mislabeled
PDA vs. ODD: how “oppositional” behavior can look similar on the surface but be driven by something very different underneath
The common pattern of masking at school and meltdowns or shutdowns at home, and why parents are often told, “They’re an angel here.”
Why school refusal is so common for PDA kids (and what Diane is seeing in families today)
Why rewards, consequences, sticker charts, strict routines, and compliance-based strategies often don’t work and what to try instead
The role of relationship, trust, and co-regulation, especially as kids get older and school support gets more fragmented
Practical ways parents can reduce stress, protect the nervous system, and support learning without crushing autonomy
What PDA can look like in adulthood and why support systems and interdependence matter
Resources mentioned
PDA North America (website): https://pdanorthamerica.org/
Diane Gould: https://dianegouldtherapy.com/
Book: Navigating PDA in America (Diane Gould & Ruth Fidler): Amazon Link
Kate / ADHD Kids Can Thrive: https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/
 
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Hooked: ADHD, Sports Betting, and One Young Man’s Fight for Recovery

If you’re noticing sports betting, fantasy leagues, or “just for fun” gambling creeping into your teen or young adult’s world, especially with ADHD in the mix, this episode is an important listen. Modern betting is fast, private, and built for dopamine… and for some ADHD brains, that combination can become a slippery slope.
Host Kate Brownfield sits down with Saul Malek, an emerging voice on the modern gambling landscape, for a candid conversation about how gambling addiction can escalate quickly, why kids with ADHD may be more vulnerable, and what parents can do to support their child without enabling. Saul shares his personal story: diagnosed with ADHD at age four, pulled in through fantasy sports, and how the shift to digital betting and easy credit accelerated everything, costing him sleep, money, relationships, and nearly his life. Today, he’s been abstinent for more than 5 years and on a mission to educate families and communities.
In this episode, we cover:
Why ADHD can increase risk for addiction (impulsivity, stimulation-seeking, time blindness)
How sports betting evolves from “fun” to compulsion, especially when it’s accessible 24/7
The role of secrecy, shame, and chasing losses (and what it can look like at home)
What helped Saul recover: structure, community, accountability, and ongoing support
How parents can set boundaries, offer support, and avoid enabling, especially with older teens/young adults
Where to start if you’re concerned: meetings, specialized therapy, and reputable resources
Connect to Saul Malek: https://www.saulmalek.com/
Resources mentioned: Gamblers Anonymous (in-person + virtual), gamblersinrecovery.com, and the National Council on Problem Gambling
 
Connect with Kate, certified ADHD/Executive Function Parent Coach: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com 
 
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When Reading Is Hard: Dyslexia, Visual Processing & ADHD Support (with Diane Gutierrez)

If reading turns into tears, avoidance, or exhaustion in your home, this episode offers a fresh, practical angle: instead of forcing the brain to adjust to the text, what if the text adjusted to your child?
Host Kate Brownfield sits down with Diane Gutierrez (co-founder of Cognition Labs and a mom in a neurodiverse family) for a two-part conversation on reducing reading strain for dyslexia/visual-perceptual differences, and on real-life parenting strategies for ADHD families. Diane shares how adjustable text tools can lower cognitive load and improve comprehension, plus the lived wisdom that helped her family navigate school, stress, mental health, and the long haul of raising kids with ADHD and dyslexia.
In this episode, we cover:
Why “the text should adjust to us” (and how that supports comprehension + reduces fatigue)
How Cognition Labs transforms books, PDFs, notes, and scanned images with 15+ adjustable settings
Tools families use most: syllabication support, confusable-letter fixes (b/d/p/q), and visual settings that reduce strain
Why these supports may help kids with ADHD, by reducing cognitive load during reading
Parenting wisdom from a home where ADHD affects nearly everyone: meaning over pressure, consistency over perfection, rest as a requirement
When to consider therapy/coaching support and why it’s okay to switch if it’s not the right fit
Advocacy and testing: how understanding a child’s brain can change the path forward
Resources mentioned: Cognition Labs: https://www.cognitionlabs.com/Connect with Kate, certified ADHD/Executive Function Parent Coach: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com | Coaching inquiries: https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/appointment/
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Julia Ross on Amino Acids, Mood, Cravings, and Attention: Practical Nutrition Ideas for ADHD Families

If you’ve ever wondered whether there are nutrition-based supports to consider when ADHD brings big swings in mood, sleep, cravings, irritability, or focus, especially when medication isn’t preferred, isn’t available, or you’re looking for complementary tools, this episode offers a practical, hopeful starting point.
Host Kate Brownfield sits down with Julia Ross, M.A., N.N.T.S., best-selling author of The Mood Cure, for a grounded conversation about nutritional psychiatry and the role targeted nutrients (including amino acids) may play in supporting attention, stress, sleep, and emotional regulation.
 
In this episode, we cover:
Why foundational nutrition (especially steady fuel + breakfast) can matter for mood, attention, and regulation
How Julia’s work in addiction recovery led her toward nutrient therapy and “brain chemistry” support
The amino acids discussed in The Mood Cure and how they’re framed as potential supports for stress, sleep, cravings, and focus (with a strong emphasis on going slowly and listening to the body)
Why blood sugar dips (hypoglycemia) can show up as irritability, anxiety, “hangry” meltdowns, and intense sugar cravings, especially after school
How to think about trialing changes cautiously, including the importance of collaborating with a licensed clinician (especially for kids and anyone on medication)
Why parents deserve support too, because caregiver stress and sleep matter in the whole family system
Resources mentioned:
JuliaRossCures.com
 
Important note: This episode is educational and is not medical advice. Always consult a licensed clinician before starting supplements or making medication changes, especially for children.
Connect with Kate, certified ADHD/Executive Function Parent Coach |Whole Person Approach:  ADHDKidsCanThrive.com
 
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Step Away: Resilient Parenting Strategies for ADHD Families

Host: Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach Guest: Dr. Kate Lund, clinical psychologist, peak performance coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting
Episode Overview
In this empowering “Kate + Kate” episode, Kate talks with Dr. Kate Lund about what resilient parenting really looks like when you’re raising kids with ADHD, big emotions, or health challenges. Drawing from her own medical journey (hydrocephalus as a child), 20+ years as a psychologist, and parenting 18-year-old twins, Dr. Lund explains resilience not as “pushing through,” but as a lifestyle: managing your stress response daily so you can ride the waves of homework battles, morning chaos, and dysregulated kids. She teaches a simple, science-backed tool, the Relaxation Response, that parents can practice for 5 minutes in the morning and at night to lower reactivity, model calmness, and create a more regulated home.
Suppose your baseline feels higher than that of other parents because your child is more intense or more dysregulated. In that case, this episode will help you stop comparing, honor your unique context, and build steadiness that you can actually sustain.
What We Talk About (Highlights)
Resilience as a lifestyle
Managing your stress response
The Relaxation Response (Herbert Benson)
Modeling regulation
Avoiding the comparison trap
“Step away” moments
Ripple effect for ADHD families: Calm first, then coach skills
Resources & Links
Guest: Dr. Kate Lund https://www.katelundspeaks.com/
Book: Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting https://www.katelundspeaks.com/book
About Your Host, Kate
I’m Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach, author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD, and host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. I help parents understand ADHD through a whole-person lens—because every child is unique, and so is every family.
🌐 Find me: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com
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You Are Not Broken: Reframing Depression and ADHD as Unfinished Business

Host: Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent CoachGuest: Dr. Kate Lund, clinical psychologist, peak performance coach, TEDx speaker, and author of Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting 
Episode Overview
In this empowering “Kate + Kate” episode, Kate talks with Dr. Kate Lund about what resilient parenting really looks like when you’re raising kids with ADHD, big emotions, or health challenges. Drawing from her own medical journey (hydrocephalus as a child), 20+ years as a psychologist, and parenting 18-year-old twins, Dr. Lund explains resilience not as “pushing through,” but as a lifestyle: managing your stress response daily so you can ride the waves of homework battles, morning chaos, and dysregulated kids. She teaches a simple, science-backed tool—the Relaxation Response—that parents can practice for 5 minutes morning and night to lower reactivity, model calm, and create a more regulated home.
If your baseline feels higher than other parents’ because your child is more intense or more dysregulated, this episode will help you stop comparing, honor your real context, and build steadiness you can actually sustain.
What We Talk About (Highlights)
Resilience as a lifestyle: Why it’s daily stress modulation, not one heroic moment.
Managing your stress response: If we start “high,” every challenge spikes us to shutdown.
The Relaxation Response (Herbert Benson): Choose a soothing word/phrase + breathe → practice 5 minutes a.m./p.m.
Modeling regulation: Regulated parent → calmer energy in the house → kids see what’s possible.
Avoiding the comparison trap: Your life, your child, your bandwidth—design for your context.
“Step away” moments: Why parents sometimes need a 5-minute reset before re-engaging.
Ripple effect for ADHD families: Calm first, then coach skills (homework, mornings, transitions).
Resources & Links
Guest: Dr. Kate Lund
Book: Step Away: The Keys to Resilient Parenting
Technique discussed: The Relaxation Response (Herbert Benson)
About Your Host, Kate
I’m Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach, author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD, and host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. I help parents understand ADHD through a whole-person lens—because every child is unique, and so is every family.
🌐 Find me: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com
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ADHD, DBT & Emotional Regulation: Dr. Blaise Aguirre on Mood Tools & Meds

Episode Summary 
Child & adolescent psychiatrist Dr. Blaise Aguirre (McLean Hospital) shares DBT tools that help ADHD kids and their parents build emotional regulation before a crisis. We cover modeling calm, the mantra “regulate before you can reflect,” fast resets (breathing, PMR, ice-dive), and a practical, compassionate look at ADHD medication, what to watch, and how careful prescribing reduces risk.
Guest
Dr. Blaise Aguirre, Mood's leading psychiatrist and Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. With 25+ years of treating over 7,000 children and adolescents at McLean Hospital, Dr. Aguirre has extensive experience helping ADHD kids develop emotional regulation skills and coping strategies for high-stress periods.
Episode Overview
Many kids labeled “misbehaving” are actually missing skills. Dr. Aguirre explains how DBT-based exercises taught early, practiced often, and modeled by parents become second nature and reduce meltdowns. You’ll learn why a parent’s steady nervous system matters (mirror neurons), how to de-escalate in the moment, and how to think about ADHD meds: quick signal checks, side-effect watching, and partnering with a responsive prescriber. Goal: fewer crises, more connection, and a resilient self-story for your child.
What We Talk About (Highlights)
Skills > “misbehavior”: teach what’s missing—don’t shame
Parents first: model regulation; your calm lowers their heat
Practice before you need it (make coping automatic)
Fast resets anywhere: slow breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, ice-dive
Medication basics: quick feedback loop for many stimulants, dose/side-effects to watch, work with a responsive prescriber
Protect the self-story: reduce invalidation (“lazy,” “stupid”) to prevent long-term harm.
Mirror neurons: your agitation amplifies theirs—stay steady
Resources & Links
Dr. Aguirre (McLean Hospital): https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/blaise-aguirre
Mood Tools App (free): https://www.mood.org/app
Books by Dr. Aguirre: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B001JP3X2W
About Your Host
Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach; author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD; host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. Every child with ADHD is unique—so are their strengths and struggles. Website & coaching: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com
Get the first three chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters
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ADHD “Failure to Launch”: Young Adults, Boundaries & Coaching (Part 2 w/ Dr. Tamara Rosier)

Episode Summary
ADHD young adulthood, “slow-to-launch,” and boundaries with Dr. Tamara Rosier. We unpack ages 16–26, the maturity lag, elongated adolescence, and two common patterns (holding out for the “ideal lifestyle” and withdrawal/gaming). You’ll learn how to shift from fixing to scaffolding, set clear boundaries that preserve connection, and use a simple coaching script to build agency plus realistic timelines for later coalescence in the 20s.
Guest
Dr. Tamara Rosier, founder of the ADHD Center of West Michigan, author of Your Brain’s Not Broken and You, Me, and Our ADHD Family. She translates ADHD science into warm, practical strategies for families, teens, and young adults navigating motivation, emotions, and executive function.
Episode Overview
Launching can be bumpy for ADHD teens and young adults, not from laziness, but from skill gaps and a longer developmental runway. Dr. Rosier explains how parents can move from control to calm scaffolding: co-creating structure, aligning expectations, and setting boundaries with connection. We cover language that reduces shame, a step-by-step coaching script (Name → Aim → Plan → Support → Review), and how to think about timelines so families can lower panic and raise progress.
What We Talk About (Highlights)
Why “launching late” is common with ADHD (maturity lag + EF gaps)
Two patterns: idealized lifestyle holdout vs. withdrawal/gaming avoidance
Parents first: calm reassurance + scaffolding > fixing
Boundaries that preserve connection (limits, choices, natural consequences)
A quick coaching script: Name → Aim → Plan → Support → Review
Treatment pillars when needed (meds/therapy/coaching + structure)
Realistic timelines: progress often consolidates later in the 20s
Resources & Links
Dr. Tamara Rosier: https://www.tamararosier.com/
Books: Your Brain’s Not Broken; You, Me, and Our ADHD Family
Part 1 (previous episode): Punishment Fails ADHD Kids—The Pool Metaphor That Calms Emotional Chaos (with Dr. Tamara Rosier)
About Your Host
Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach; author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD; host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. Every child with ADHD is unique—so are their strengths and struggles.Website & coaching: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com
Free Download
Get the first three chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters
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 #ADHDyoungadults #slowtolaunch #scaffolding #ADHDboundaries #executivefunction #gamingavoidance #failure to launch #Tamara Rosier #interview #ADHDparentingteens #transitiontoadulthood
 
 
 
 

OCD vs Anxiety vs ADHD in Kids: ERP, Diagnosis & Next Steps w/ Dr. Tamar Chansky

Episode Summary
OCD vs. anxiety in kids, ERP treatment, and co-regulation for families. Dr. Tamar Chansky explains how to tell OCD from general anxiety, where it overlaps with ADHD, and how parents can lower fear, connect first, and coach skills that stick. We cover PANS/PANDAS (sudden-onset OCD after infections), when to seek medical evaluation, and first-line care like Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) plus hopeful long-term outcomes and “tune-ups” during new life stages.
Guest
Dr. Tamar Chansky, founder of the Children’s and Adult Center for OCD and Anxiety, author of Freeing Your Child from Negative Thinking, Freeing Your Child from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and Freeing Yourself from Anxiety. She’s known for translating evidence-based care into clear, compassionate strategies families can use right away.
Episode Overview
Parents often confuse anxiety (“what-ifs,” future worry) with OCD (intrusive thoughts + compulsions). Dr. Chansky clarifies the difference and shows how naming patterns as “OCD-normal” separates the child from the disorder and lowers shame. You’ll learn why parent nervous-system regulation is step one, how ERP works through stepwise “courage challenges,” when medication may help (especially with co-occurring depression in teens), and how to approach PANS/PANDAS: treat medical triggers first, then layer CBT/ERP as needed. Bottom line: pediatric OCD is highly treatable, and families can expect progress plus occasional “tune-ups” during transitions.
What We Talk About (Highlights)
Language that helps: call patterns “OCD-normal,” separate child from disorder; connect → then problem-solve
Anxiety vs. OCD: anxiety = “what-ifs”; OCD = intrusive thoughts + compulsions (“superstition on steroids”)
Emotional regulation: parent down-regulation enables child co-regulation
PANS/PANDAS: sudden spikes after infections (e.g., strep/Lyme/post-viral); treat medical cause first; add CBT/ERP later
First-line care for pediatric OCD: ERP with stepwise “courage challenges”; meds not first-line for most kids, may help some—especially teens with depression
Parent power: Coaching parent responses can rival direct child therapy
Outlook: highly treatable; skills + neuroplastic change; periodic “tune-ups” during new stages (“last-yearing it”)
Resources & Links
Dr. Tamar Chansky & books: https://tamarchansky.com/
PANDAS Physicians Network: https://www.pandasppn.org/practitioners/
About Your Host
Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach; author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD; host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. Every child with ADHD is unique, so are their strengths and struggles.Website & coaching: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com
Free Download
Get the first 3 chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters
Need Support?
Schedule a free consultation: https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/appointment/
Enjoyed this episode?
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Rewiring Attention: Movement, Sensory & Brain-Based Strategies for ADHD

Episode Summary
A brain-based roadmap for ADHD beyond “attention.” Dr. Rebecca Jackson explains how sensory, motor, and cognitive development shape attention, executive function, and emotional regulation, and how targeted, non-medication interventions (movement, sensory input, nutrition) can build lasting change. We cover bottom-up readiness before top-down strategies, practical daily routines, and assessments that reveal measurable gaps, enabling parents to help kids thrive at school and in life.
Guest
Dr. Rebecca Jackson, brain health expert, board-certified cognitive specialist, and former chiropractor known for her work at Brain Balance, is the author of Back on Track. She focuses on how sensory-motor development underpins attention, executive function, and emotion regulation, translating neuroscience into everyday tools for families.
Episode Overview
ADHD often reflects uneven development across systems—not just lapses in focus. Dr. Jackson walks through a bottom-up approach: strengthen sensory pathways and motor control first, then layer academics and behavior strategies. You’ll learn why movement is medicine (heart-rate spikes, balance, coordination), how sensory inputs raise a child’s tolerance threshold, and what nutrition tweaks (protein-forward mornings, whole-food swaps, lower inflammation) can do. We also discuss screen use with intention and how to start with assessments that identify strengths and track progress.
What We Talk About (Highlights)
ADHD is more than attention: sensory, motor, and cognitive systems develop unevenly
Bottom-up vs. top-down: build brain readiness before piling on strategies
Movement as medicine: heart-rate spikes, balance/coordination, frequent micro-breaks
Emotional regulation: mature sensory pathways (sight, sound, touch) to raise tolerance
Nutrition basics: reduce inflammation/“brain fog,” protein-first breakfasts, whole-food swaps
Screens with intention: entertainment time can crowd out sensory-motor input
Getting started: assessments that reveal strengths and measurable developmental gaps
Resources & Links
Dr. Rebecca Jackson’s book, Back on Track: https://drrebeccajackson.com/
About Your Host
Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent Coach; author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey Raising a Child with ADHD; host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. Every child with ADHD is unique—so are their strengths and struggles.Website & coaching: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com
Free Download
Get the first 3 chapters of How We Roll free: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters
Need Support?
Schedule a free consultation: https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/appointment/
Enjoyed this episode?
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