The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast

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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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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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
Enjoyed this episode?
Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast
Share this with a parent who’s parenting from a high baseline and needs a 5-minute tool today 

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
Enjoyed this episode?
Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast
Share with a parent who needs encouragement today.
Leave a quick rating/review—it helps other ADHD families find the show.

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
Enjoyed this episode?
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Leave a quick rating/review—it helps other ADHD families find the show
 
 #ADHDyoungadults #slowtolaunch #scaffolding #ADHDboundaries #executivefunction #gamingavoidance #failure to launch #Tamara Rosier #interview #ADHDparentingteens #transitiontoadulthood
 
 
 
 

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?
Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast
Share with a parent who needs encouragement today
Leave a quick rating/review—it helps other ADHD families find the show

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?
Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast
Share with a parent who needs encouragement today
Leave a quick rating/review, as it helps other ADHD families find the show

Host: Kate Brownfield, Certified Whole Person & ADHD Parent CoachGuest: Aimee Kaufman, author of No One Else I’d Rather Be: Loving a Daughter with ADHD for Who She Is
Episode Overview
In this profoundly moving conversation, Kate sits down with author and parent Aimee Kaufman to talk about her memoir and the 10-year journey to her daughter’s ADHD diagnosis. Aimee shares the hard moments, misunderstandings, criticism, school challenges, and the hope that carried her family forward: unconditional love, advocacy, and support that matched her daughter’s needs over time.
If you’re a parent who feels overwhelmed, second-guessed, or unsure how to keep leading with love during tough seasons, Aimee’s story will encourage and steady you.
What We Talk About (Highlights)
A long road to clarity: Why it took 10 years to get an ADHD diagnosis—and what finally helped.
When behavior says “I can’t,” not “I won’t”: How Aimee learned to interpret her daughter’s words and actions.
Unconditional love in the messy middle: Loving firmly and fully when emotions run high.
School Support That Actually Helps: 504 Accommodations, When They’re Ignored, and How to Advocate.
Medication as one tool (not the only one): The trial-and-error reality and finding the right fit over time.
Siblings & family dynamics: Moving from rivalry and rupture to healing and closeness.
Parent grounding: How Aimee stayed steady—community, practical support, and protecting her own well-being.
A hopeful ending: From crisis to connection—college, career, marriage, and a growing family.
Resources & Links
Aimee Kaufman’s Book: No One Else I’d Rather Be: Loving a Daughter with ADHD for Who She Is — https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/No-One-Else-Id-Rather-Be/Aimee-Kaufman/9781647428280
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. It’s honestly my pleasure to help you understand ADHD more deeply—because every child with ADHD is unique, and so are their strengths and struggles.
🌐 Find me: ADHDKidsCanThrive.com
📘 Free Download: Get the first 3 chapters of my book—free—https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters
🤝 Need support? Schedule a free consultation https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/appointment/
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Subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast
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Thank you for listening.
 

In this episode of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast, Kate Brownfield, ACC, talks with licensed clinical social worker Ryan Wexelblatt, known as ADHD Dude, about how parents can help children with ADHD build stronger executive-function, behavioral, and social skills through clear expectations, consistent routines, real-world practice, and calm parental authority.
Ryan explains why children with ADHD often need skills to be taught and practiced rather than being told to “try harder.” Kate and Ryan discuss how parents can shift from correcting behavior to coaching skills, when CBT may help children with ADHD, why social skills are built through experience rather than lectures, and how predictable structure can reduce conflict around homework, mornings, transitions, and follow-through.
In This Episode
Why repeated reminders often do not build executive-function skills
How parents can coach skills instead of constantly correcting behavior
What calm, confident parental authority can look like
When CBT may be useful for children with ADHD
Why social skills develop through real-life practice
How routines and clear expectations can reduce family conflict
How to help a child with ADHD experience themselves as increasingly capable
About Ryan Wexelblatt
Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW, ADHD-CCSP, is a licensed clinical social worker, certified school social worker, and founder of ADHD Dude. His work focuses on helping parents support children with ADHD through practical skill-building, clear expectations, and parent-led approaches.
Learn more about Ryan at:https://adhddude.com/
Need ADHD Parent Coaching for Your Family?
Listening to ADHD strategies is one thing. Figuring out what actually applies to your child and your family is another.
Anchor Your ADHD Family offers ongoing ADHD parent support, a monthly recorded class, community, and live parent coaching where you can bring your own questions, challenges, and family situations.
Learn more or join Anchor Your ADHD Family at:https://adhdkidscanthrive.com/
For parents who want more individualized support, Kate also offers private ADHD parent coaching.
Free ADHD Parent Reset
Download The ADHD Parent Reset: 7 Things to Do Differently When What You’re Trying Isn’t Working:
https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/IUVgRZz
About Kate Brownfield
Kate Brownfield, ACC, is an ICF Associate Certified Coach and Certified ADHD & Executive Function Parent Coach, author of How We Roll: A Parent’s Journey of Raising a Child with ADHD, and host of The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast. She helps parents better understand what may be driving their child’s struggles and find practical ways to respond with more clarity, confidence, and connection.
If this episode helped you, subscribe to The ADHD Kids Can Thrive Podcast, share it with another parent, and leave a rating or review to help more ADHD families find the show.

Learn kind and practical tips to support your ADHD child by downloading the First 3 Chapters of Kate's book for FREE here:https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/On1ABRH/first3chapters
      -----------------------------------------------------------
My guest today is Kristen McNeely, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Kristen serves as a Behavior Specialist in a local school district and runs a private practice where she supports parents of children navigating behavior challenges and anxiety.
I invited Kristen to the podcast to unpack a big topic: how parents can support children who have both ADHD and anxiety—a combination that often gets misunderstood or overlooked.
You can learn more about Kristen and her work at 👉 www.kristenmcneely.com
In this episode, we explore:
What anxiety looks like in a child with ADHD
Strategies to help anxious ADHD kids start and complete tasks
How to support academic demands without increasing anxiety
What to do when your school district isn’t offering support
How to navigate social-emotional challenges in school
What to do when school refusal starts showing up
How to build emotional coping skills and motivation
Kristen’s words of wisdom for parenting through it all
This episode is brought to you by Kate at  ADHDKidsCanThrive.com 💛Please listen, share, and let us know what resonates with you!