This conversation is for the tired parents who are trying everything, and still feeling stuck.
Our guest is Susie Pettit, certified life and parenting coach and host of The Love Your Life Show. Susie helps moms break generational cycles of codependency and perfectionism so they can raise emotionally healthy kids without losing themselves.
Chapters
00:00 – Welcome and episode preview
01:32 – Susie’s story: breaking free from generational patterns
08:10 – Why trying harder wasn’t working15:45 – Popcorn Parenting explained
24:20 – The trap of overfunctioning and fixing
32:50 – How parents can start simplifying today
41:05 – Final thoughts and where to learn more
Resources
👉 Learn more about Mendability: https://www.mendability.com
👉 Learn more about Susie Pettit: https://smbwell.com
🎁 Get our free guide: How to De-escalate a Meltdown in Seconds without Saying a Word: https://go.mendability.com/start/meltdowns-guide
If someone talked over you, ignored you while you were in the room, or touched you without asking, how would you feel?
Many autistic and non-speaking children experience this every day, even from loving parents who don’t realize the impact.
In this episode, I talk with Hollis Peirce, historian, disability advocate, and creator of 21st Century Disability, about what dignity feels like when you grow up in a body others control.
His experiences offer a direct window into what many of our children go through and how small shifts can change everything.
• Why talking about your child instead of to them erodes trust
• How asking permission before touch increases cooperation and regulation
• What “feeling invisible” looks like from the inside
• How to use eye-level communication to build safety
• Why touch, tone, and presence change a child’s brain chemistry
• How to preserve your child’s dignity even in stressful moments
Chapters:
02:10 – Meet Hollis Peirce
07:00 – The childhood experiences that shaped his advocacy
14:00 – When adults talk over a child in the same room
16:55 – Coaching a parent on how to protect their child’s agency
23:30 – The emotional impact of being handled without permission
27:30 – Why asking before touching your child matters
32:33 – Seeing your child’s world from eye level
41:51 – Loneliness from lack of human touch
45:59 – How touch affects brain chemistry
49:00 – Sensory processing differences in autistic children
52:00 – Helping your child feel seen and safe
53:58 – Final takeaway for parents
Mendability (Sensory Enrichment Therapy): https://www.mendability.com
#autismparenting #sensoryenrichment #respectfulparenting
When a new challenging behavior appears—spitting food, slamming doors, panicking at noise—most parents ask the same thing: “Is there an exercise for this?”
In this episode, Claudie and Kent unpack why that question is more powerful than it seems… and why the real solution rarely looks like what you’d expect.
What you’ll learn
- How to tell when a behavior is stress, anxiety, or simple exploration
- Why some children suddenly fixate on sounds, lights, or repetitive actions
- What to look for when your child reacts to noise, crowds, or outings
- Small sensory moments that help the brain settle (without adding work)
- How to support calmer evenings and better sleep
- What parents often miss when trying to solve “that one annoying behavior”
Chapters
00:00 – Why parents ask “Do you have an exercise for that?”
03:10 – What small behaviors are really telling you
08:40 – How the brain handles overwhelm
15:55 – Calming routines that fit into daily life
23:20 – Hidden triggers you may not realize are stressing your child
30:05 – When sleep gets worse and what to do
39:45 – Music and sound routines that actually help
45:50 – Final encouragement for parents
Resources
Learn more: https://www.mendability.com
Free guides for parents: https://go.mendability.com/start/meltdowns-guide
#autismparenting #sensoryprocessing #childanxiety #sleephelp #parentingstrategies
In this episode, we explore what emotionally intelligent robots are teaching us about presence, emotional safety, and how to become the parent your child still hopes for—even if they can’t say it.
Guest: Peter Fitzpatrick is the co-founder of FunFriends.com, where he leads the creation of emotionally intelligent social robots designed to support children who struggle to connect. With a background in AI, human-computer interaction, and child development, Peter brings a fresh and deeply compassionate lens to helping children feel understood.
What you’ll learn:
• Why children often speak more to a robot than to their parents
• How presence and delight—not performance—build trust
• What makes children feel emotionally safe enough to open up
• The one daily habit that reconnects you with your child
• How to shift from “life manager” to “emotional companion”
• What this robot does right that parents can learn to model
Chapters
02:15 – Why Peter built an emotionally intelligent robot
10:30 – How children connect with robots when they won’t talk to people
19:50 – Emotional safety and how it changes behavior
29:10 – What parents can learn from the way Fawn interacts
37:45 – The one thing that heals disconnection
43:50 – Parenting, regulation, and real emotional safety
49:10 – Final message: What to do today to reconnect
Learn more at https://www.mendability.com
Free meltdowns guide: http://go.mendability.com/start/meltdowns-guide
Feeling stuck in endless therapy routines?
Discover how a few minutes of sensory-based games can lift moods, calm anxiety, and bring peace back to your home.
This episode is for parents of children with autism, ADHD, or sensory challenges who want real progress, without burnout.
Featuring: Sarah, mom of two children with autism, early childhood educator, and Sensory Enrichment Therapy coach, joins Kim Pomares to share practical ways to use brain-boosting sensory activities at home.
🧠 What You’ll Learn
- How Sensory Enrichment Therapy strengthens brain connections naturally
- Simple dopamine-boosting games you can start today
- The Water Game and why it helps kids focus and self-regulate
- How to adapt routines like bath time and bedtime for calmer days
- Ways to make therapy work better through coaching and family integration
- What kinds of smells and textures have the biggest impact
Chapters
00:00 – Welcome and introduction
02:30 – What is Sensory Enrichment Therapy?
07:40 – How it works in the brain (dopamine and serotonin explained)
12:10 – Game #1: Smell + Touch for mood regulation
18:50 – Game #2: The Water Game and brain coordination
25:40 – Everyday sensory routines (bath, meals, bedtime)
34:00 – Why coaching matters for long-term results
42:30 – Sarah’s story: from burnout to hope
52:00 – Q&A with parents
📘 Free guide: How to De-Escalate a Meltdown in Seconds Without Saying a Word → https://go.mendability.com/start/meltdowns-guide
Many parents spend years in behavior management and therapy routines—only to realize those very systems may have damaged their relationship with their child. When every moment becomes a lesson or correction, the joy fades, and both parent and child grow guarded.
In this episode, we talk about how to rebuild that lost trust through play—letting go of control, following your child’s lead, and finding your way back to genuine connection.
Guest: Anastasia Arauz is a licensed therapist, certified family coach, and registered play therapist with over 14 years of experience helping families create calmer, more connected homes.
• How to move from “managing behaviors” to building connection through play
• Why following your child’s lead can reduce anxiety and spark engagement
• What play therapy looks like for nonverbal or highly anxious children
• How posture, tone, and environment affect your child’s ability to feel safe
• What parents can do to rebuild trust and emotional safety at home
• Simple sensory-based tools (like smell and touch) to calm both parent and child
00:45 – Meet Anastasia Arauz: her journey from teacher to play therapist
04:15 – Why so many parents feel disconnected from their child
07:30 – The power of following your child’s lead
12:50 – When “fixing” stops working: meeting your child where they are
18:10 – Playroom setup: safety, structure, and calm
23:10 – Claudie explains why posture and sound affect the brain
27:00 – How scent boosts dopamine and joy in therapy
33:00 – The “Strawberry and Ice” sensory protocol for meltdowns
38:00 – Helping parents get out of fight-or-flight mode
43:30 – A parent success story and closing message of hope
🌐 Learn more about family-centered brain development: https://www.mendability.com
🌐 Connect with Anastasia Arauz: https://www.anastasiaarauz.com (replace with actual link if different)
#ParentingAutism #PlayTherapy #SensoryEnrichment
The holidays can be magical — but for many children with trauma or sensory sensitivities, the lights, noise, and changes in routine can trigger stress instead of joy.
Learn how to make this season calmer and more connected for your family using simple, brain-based strategies.
Featuring: Claudie Pomares, neuroscience pioneer and creator of Sensory Enrichment Therapy, a hands-on method proven to boost brain health and resilience.
What You’ll Learn
• Why holiday overload is especially hard for children with trauma or sensory sensitivities
• How to create calmer environments that support emotional regulation
• Bedtime and bath routines that naturally boost serotonin and oxytocin
• The power of scent and touch to trigger neuroplasticity and relaxation
• Simple family activities that help rewire the brain for resilience
• What to do during meltdowns to help your child feel safe again
Chapters
03:15 – Why holidays overwhelm children with trauma
10:40 – How stress reshapes the developing brain
17:05 – Practical ways to make holidays easier
26:30 – Rewiring the brain for calm and connection
38:20 – Sleep and bedtime routine for better nights
47:00 – Demonstration: smell + touch for dopamine boost
53:45 – Q&A and closing
Resources
• Free meltdowns guide: https://go.mendability.com/start/meltdowns-guide
• Contact: info@mendability.com
#BrainHealth #ParentingTips #SensoryProcessing
Ever feel like constant correction makes things worse?
This episode is for every parent navigating special education, IEPs, or just trying to help their neurodiverse child feel confident again.
Meet Christopher Wyatt, autistic father, educator, and former university lecturer, who shares what really helps autistic students grow—in the classroom and at home.
What you’ll learn:
• Why punishment shuts down learning—and what to do instead
• How praise impacts brain development and risk-taking
• Why “accommodations” often fail—and what works better
• How to prepare your child for a world that still rewards masking
• What inclusive classrooms actually look like
• Where parents should focus their energy (hint: it’s early!)
Chapters
03:35 Why he became an educator after being written off
06:15 The danger of constant correction
08:00 Praise, risk-taking, and how the brain responds
10:45 The illusion of the “perfect” classroom
13:35 Why standardized accommodations fail real students
16:10 What most checklists get wrong
19:40 When designing for autistics helps everyone
21:10 Online learning and the myth of digital comfort
24:40 Early intervention and brain plasticity
27:30 Preparing kids to self-advocate in a biased system
31:00 Why masking is rewarded—and how it harms
34:10 What “merit” really means (and who it excludes)
38:00 A hopeful example: Girl Scouts and STEM
41:30 Final message for parents feeling overwhelmed
43:50 How to connect with Christopher
Resources:
🔗 Learn more about Sensory Enrichment Therapy: https://www.mendability.com
🔗 Follow Christopher Wyatt: https://www.facebook.com/autisticme
🎁 Try a free brain-building activity at home: https://www.mendability.com/start/
#autismadvocacy #specialeducation #neurodiversity
Struggling with autism-related behaviors at home? This episode shows how “fixing” the outside can leave kids lonely on the inside—and what to do instead. Learn connection-first steps that calm meltdowns and build trust.
Guest: MegAnne Ford, parenting coach and creator of the C.L.E.A.R. Method (attachment- and brain-based parenting; Be Kind Coaching).
How “connect before correct” reduces meltdowns
Why external control can create internal loneliness
A simple way to join your child’s world (Alex & the DVD story)
Using C.L.E.A.R. (Connection, Limit, Empowerment, Accountability, Recovery)
How to set limits that protect needs—not escalate conflict
Parent self-regulation strategies you can use today
09:16 Joining the child’s world: Alex & the DVDs
14:25 “Is that enabling?”—reframing the concern
17:36 Bottom-up brain (safety → connection → learning)
20:49 “I don’t have time”—using time vs. chasing behavior
23:32 First resistance = lower brain protection
25:11 Acknowledge → allow → acceptable solutions
26:55 Co-dysregulation & the “gift of pause”
28:11 C.L.E.A.R. explained
30:49 Parent–child power dynamic (asymmetrical)
33:18 Limits that serve the child
37:20 Accountability without shame
42:23 Recovery: repair & reconnection
45:21 Band-Aid story: modeling care
47:42 Grief, empty cups & small wins
50:00 Wrap & key takeaway
Mendability: https://www.mendability.com
Be Kind Coaching (MegAnne): https://www.bekindcoaching.com
Free guide: De-escalate a Meltdown in Seconds (no words) – https://go.mendability.com/start/meltdowns-guide
Next: Watch our episode on parent self-care and calm-first routines.
#AutismParenting #ParentingPodcast #CoRegulation
Struggling to stay connected as a couple while raising a neurodiverse child? You’re not alone—and it doesn’t have to stay this hard. This episode is about rekindling love and strengthening your marriage even under the weight of stress, exhaustion, and survival mode.
Join us as we talk with Melanie Yates, a relationship and dating coach who helps couples find joy and strength in their relationships, even in the most difficult seasons. Using EFT tapping, body language, and emotionally honest conversations, she guides partners back to one another with compassion and practical tools.
What you’ll learn:
How to reconnect when you’re stuck in stress and survival mode
A simple shift in body language that builds confidence and emotional safety
How unspoken resentment sneaks into parenting partnerships—and how to clear it
What EFT tapping looks like in real-time to regulate emotions
Ways to rekindle love and respect when you feel disconnected
Why small wins in a marriage can shift the whole family dynamic
Chapters
00:00 Welcome to season 2
00:32 Why couples need each other more than ever
04:41 Melanie’s journey: from numbing to nurturing relationships
15:25 When self-help doesn’t save the marriage
21:53 Parenting stress and the hidden resentment loop
28:12 Rewiring conflict with curiosity and body awareness
35:15 The bathroom game: playfully rebuilding connection
40:19 Quick wins that shift the family dynamic
44:12 Tapping away old wounds (live EFT demo)
59:20 Emotional breakthroughs and healing patterns
1:04:14 Final thoughts on choosing love again
Resources
• Learn about sensory enrichment for brain development: https://www.mendability.com
• Work with Melanie Yates: https://www.happyjoyousandfree.org
• Free guide: How to De-Escalate a Meltdown Without Saying a Word
Next: Watch our episode on why self-care isn’t selfish for special needs parents.
#parentingmarriage #autismfamilies #emotionalconnection
Struggling with power struggles or meltdowns at home? This episode shows parents how to shift from conflict to connection using simple communication strategies that work with both neurotypical and neurodivergent kids.
Our guest is Jeanine Mouchawar, certified life coach and Stanford graduate, who specializes in helping parents of teens replace conflict-driven approaches with calm, collaborative communication.
What you’ll learn
• How to replace rules and punishments with connection-based parenting
• Why focusing on your child’s needs reduces meltdowns and conflict
• A three-step framework to get kids talking and problem-solving with you
• How the same strategies apply to parenting autistic and neurotypical children
• Ways to reframe behaviors as missing skills you can help build
• Practical shifts that turn daily struggles into opportunities for growth
Chapters
0:00 Welcome to Season 2 & brain health framing
2:35 Why traditional parenting creates power struggles
10:40 Jeanine’s journey parenting a child with ADHD
21:18 Structure vs connection explained for parents
29:00 From meltdowns to meeting needs (autism parallels)
39:15 Reframing behaviors as missing skills
50:24 The 3-step parenting framework explained
53:20 Parenting grief, normalcy, and hope
1:05:26 Final encouragement for parents
Resources
• Learn more about sensory enrichment: https://www.mendability.com
• Connect with Jeanine Mouchawar + free parenting guide: https://www.jeaninemouchawar.com
Next: Watch our episode on helping your child feel safe and reduce daily meltdowns.
#ParentingTips #AutismParenting #FamilyConnection
Turn stressful routines into connection using music, voice, and simple rituals.
Guest
Craig Parks, ParentingHarmony. Music educator and creator of the A-to-E method for parent–child connection.
What you’ll learn
• How parent singing builds bonding even if you “can’t sing”
• Bedtime routine for autistic children that lowers anxiety
• Nonverbal communication that boosts cooperation (eye level, posture, tone)
• How rhythm sets state: upbeat for play, mellow for sleep
• Why foot massage and orchestral music change brain chemistry
Chapters
03:34 From rock and roll to working with kids
05:44 First-grade song that still lasts decades later
08:06 The A-to-E method: Affect → Effect in parenting
10:04 Why parent singing raises serotonin
12:35 “Your voice is the voice of love” – why pitch doesn’t matter
16:35 Creating new dreams after an autism diagnosis
20:59 Bedtime rituals that lower anxiety
23:25 Foot massage, oxytocin, and orchestral music
31:28 Nonverbal cues: eye level and posture for cooperation
34:56 Turning bath time into a calming ritual with song
39:48 Using your voice beyond tasks to say “I love you”
41:49 Songs for play: Dancing on Daddy’s Shoulder, Bubbles
44:42 Rhythm: energize vs calm
47:17 Music, heart rate, and movement in sensory enrichment
49:13 Dopamine, Parkinson’s, and music for mobility
50:43 Closing offers and resources
Resources
Learn about sensory enrichment: https://www.mendability.com
Explore Craig’s course: https://www.parentingharmony.com
Email Craig for $100 off: CraigParks@ParentingHarmony.com
About
Guest: Music-based parenting tools for connection in daily routines.
Claudie Pomares: Sensory Enrichment Therapy and family-centered brain development.
Next
Watch our episode on meltdown de-escalation using sensory enrichment.
#musictherapy #autismparenting #bedtimeroutine
Teen addiction, parental burnout, guilt, and shame—this episode tackles some of the hardest parts of parenting a child in crisis.
Our guest, Austin Davis, is the founder of Clearfork Academy, a residential treatment center helping teens recover from addiction and mental health challenges.
We talk about:
What really causes a child’s crisis to escalate—and how parents miss the early signs
How to tell the difference between what you can change vs. what you need to let go
Why burnout and shame are common—and what to do when you feel both
The role of faith, family values, and daily routines in family recovery
Why relapse happens and how to create an environment that prevents it
Episode Highlights:
00:00 – Austin shares the “clear fork” moments that shaped his calling to help teens and families
03:06 – Kim opens up about her own faith-based calling and the emotional cost of caregiving
04:07 – How stigma and silence keep families stuck longer than they should be
06:15 – What really happens when neurodivergent teens “break” after years of masking
07:48 – “It’s not just a phase”—why patterns of behavior matter more than we think
09:01 – Austin’s baseball vs. golf analogy: how kids get shoehorned into the wrong expectations
11:45 – The caregiver’s dilemma: how to carry your child’s burden without losing yourself
14:08 – When something has to change—how to know where to start
16:00 – A therapist’s trick to stop the last domino from falling
18:00 – What makes family-based therapy work (and when it doesn’t)
21:03 – The difference between fear-based parenting and love-based communication
23:18 – Why asking for help is the first real act of strength
26:09 – How to build family connection even if your child doesn’t talk back
28:35 – Austin’s family value system: HUSTLE + Fun
30:00 – Kim’s My Little Pony mantra and why it worked
This episode features estate planning expert Oscar Vasquez, who breaks down what families really need to know about wills, trusts, probates and protecting your child with additional needs, even if you don't have assets.
We talk about:
• Why a will might not protect your child the way you think
• How a trust can preserve your home and even guide care instructions
• What to do if you don’t have money to leave behind
• How to prevent your child from ending up in the wrong hands
• One thing most lawyers won’t tell you about probate
Episode Highlights
01:52 — Oscar’s story: From orange fields to entrepreneurship
05:48 — Starting his first business at 9
09:48 — Kim: “We had a will—but we got it wrong.”
13:00 — Wills vs. trusts (and the hidden cost of probate)
20:40 — Why some lawyers don’t offer trusts
26:23 — No money? Here’s how a trust can still help
29:45 — The family who included amusement park trips in their trust
36:12 — Kim: “You answered all my questions—except one.”
40:12 — What the setup process looks like with EstateDocPrep
46:25 — The “tattooed son-in-law” and protecting your wishes
49:12 — How to choose guardians the right way
50:18 — “It feels like an 800-pound gorilla is off my back”
In this episode, we explore what Dana Kay calls the “Trash Can Test” — a way to understand your child’s ability to clear toxins and inflammation from their body and how that affects ADHD symptoms and behavior.
Dana Kay, board-certified health and nutrition practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, explains how genetics, diet, and lifestyle determine how “full” your child’s metaphorical trash can is, and why an overflowing trash can can cause brain fog, meltdowns, and learning struggles. She shares the three genes linked to detox capacity, the everyday signs your child’s trash can is overloaded, and the simple changes that can help the brain clear out inflammation so it can learn and adapt more easily.
Episode Highlights
[~7:42] Dana explains the “trash can” analogy for the body’s detox pathways and why some kids can’t empty theirs fast enough.
[~9:53] The three genes (GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1) that determine detox efficiency — and how testing them can guide intervention.
[~11:26] How to tell if your child’s trash can is overflowing without lab tests — looking for behavioral, emotional, and digestive signs.
[~12:55] Why gluten and dairy can overload the trash can, and why Dana can often predict gluten reactivity in ADHD kids without testing.
[~23:42] The gut-brain link: how inflammation travels from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve, impacting behavior and focus.
[~34:08] Steps to reduce the toxic load: removing inflammatory foods, adding antioxidant-rich foods, and supporting detox pathways.
[~43:11] Foods that help “empty the trash can” — berries, cruciferous vegetables, nuts, fatty fish — and creative ways to get kids to eat them.
[~46:11] The Family Food Challenge: turning picky eating into a positive, gradual expansion of diet while supporting detox and brain health.
[~50:11] A family’s transformation: from 36 school suspensions to zero in one year after lowering toxic load and supporting the gut-brain axis.
[~56:17] How to combine nutrition changes with brain-based therapies for lasting, adaptable skills.
[~60:52] Dana’s closing message: “Rome wasn’t built in a day… give yourself permission to go at a pace that is doable for you.”
Criminal defense attorney McCracken Poston Jr. shares the incredible true story of Alvin Ridley—a man accused of murdering his wife, misunderstood for decades, and diagnosed with autism only after his trial was over.
This episode covers how Alvin’s behavior was misread, how the legal system often fails adults with undiagnosed neurodivergence, and what happened when McCracken finally understood the truth.
Claudie Pomares joins the conversation to explore how literal thinking, sensory processing, and communication breakdowns shaped this case—and how families can better support their neurodivergent loved ones.
Episode highlights include:
How a Thanksgiving turkey unlocked a pivotal piece of evidence
The infamous moment Alvin brought cockroaches into the courtroom
Why Alvin thought “the funeral bill” was the right answer on the witness stand
How hypergraphia helped prove Virginia Ridley was alive and writing
The courtroom prayer that wasn’t meant to be a prayer
To learn more about McCracken Poston’s book, Zenith Man, visit Amazon.
To explore Claudie’s brain development work, visit mendability.com.
What if a few loving words at bedtime could change your child’s emotional world?
In this episode, we explore the power of unconditional love, subconscious messaging during sleep, and how the SleepTalk® method helps children feel secure, calm, and deeply connected—especially when they struggle during the day.
Kerre Burley, founder of the International SleepTalk® Training Academy, joins us to share how parents can create lasting change in their child’s confidence and behavior by using short bedtime rituals.
We also look at how the brain responds to emotional safety, what it means to build deep interconnection at a subconscious level, and why tools like this are not just for kids—but for healing the parent-child bond itself.
🎧 Episode Highlights
[00:00:00] Welcome to Season 2 and introducing Kerre Burley
[00:01:18] Why bedtime is the ideal time for emotional rewiring
[00:02:12] “A lot of them were able to start that very night and already felt like their home was lighter the next day.”
[00:04:45] The surprising simplicity of the SleepTalk® method
[00:07:10] What we really mean when we say “unconditional love”
[00:09:52] “Wow. Well, I’m impressed. It was brilliant.”
[00:13:30] How children process loving words during sleep
[00:17:48] Claudie explains how a child’s brain receives subconscious input
[00:22:05] A practical example of pairing SleepTalk® with sensory enrichment
[00:30:15] How the brain interprets safety through familiar voices
[00:37:42] “Even if the day has been awful, you are still deeply loved.”
[00:44:03] Why the right tone matters more than perfect words
[00:49:48] Final thoughts and blessings
This episode covers the following topics:
April, an occupational therapist and mom, shares her journey and expertise in navigating the transition of autistic young adults into adulthood, a topic close to her heart as she created the "Adulting with Autism" podcast to help other families.
April and Z also share their experiences with Mendability's sensory-based sleep program, highlighting its positive impact on Z's sleep and overall well-being.
Episode Highlights
In this episode, we cover:
- Why kids and adults crave sugar—and how to gently reverse it
- The difference between sugar-burning and fat-burning brains
- What to do when your child only eats white foods
- Why broccoli makes your child feel worse before it helps
- Why emotions like sadness and anger need to be felt, not fixed
These are areas close to Dr. Cody Golman’s heart. As a former Army tank commander turned natural health practitioner, Dr. Golman has spent the last two decades helping people reset their hormones and heal their metabolism through food, lifestyle, and emotional awareness.
This episode is not about judging parents—it’s about helping them make sense of their child’s real needs and begin a reset journey without shame.
Episode Highlights
1:13 – “Did you know we’re born fat-burners? And that your IQ, energy, sleep, even behavior is better when your brain runs on fat?” — Cody explains the body’s natural metabolic state and what flips it.
3:23 – “Excess sugar in a child’s brain can look like ADHD. In adults, it can look like dementia.” — Cody reframes sugar’s impact on brain function.
4:50 – “Most kids’ diets are 100% sugar, and so are the parents’.” — Kim recognizes the emotional hit for families.
7:20 – “We’re not trying to make parents feel bad—we’ve all been lied to about food.” — Cody reassures parents it’s not their fault.
11:42 – “Pain is a motivator. You don’t need to feel shame—but don’t fall for the idea that loving your fat means accepting disease.” — Cody on facing hard truths with compassion.
15:44 – “The American government allowed cancer-causing dyes in our food. The same cereals in other countries are made with beet juice.” — Cody exposes food regulation gaps.
17:10 – “Sugar isn’t evil. It’s a powerful fuel. But if it’s your brain’s only fuel, expect meltdowns, mood swings, and poor memory.” — Cody on sugar’s double-edged sword.
21:52 – “You’ll flip into the primitive brain—the part that only avoids pain and seeks pleasure.” — Cody on why chronic sugar turns kids into dopamine chasers.
24:16 – “We had a kid who could tell which brand of canned food he was given, even when the can was swapped.” — Kim on real-world sensory-driven food restrictions.
25:50 – “White foods like bread and pasta break down into sugar. It’s not just candy.” — Cody clarifies hidden sugars.
27:12 – “When we help the brain regulate its chemistry, allergies and food restrictions can disappear.” — Claudie (via Kim) on the brain–gut connection.
28:45 – “The body is not the cause. The body is the loudspeaker. The root is in the brain.” — Cody on treating symptoms by rebalancing perceptions.
30:45 – “Children often express what parents repress.” — Cody opens a controversial and powerful take on emotional projection.
34:26 – “What if you’ve been eating Fruit Loops for 20 years? Where do you even begin?” — Kim prompts Cody for practical advice.
35:08 – “Remove bread, cereal, sugar, pasta—just for 40 days. That’s enough to reset hormones for many people.” — Cody shares his starting point.
37:37 – “Most adults don’t know how to feel an emotion. They just reach for a donut.” — Cody on sugar as emotional avoidance.
41:58 – “We’re not teaching kids to process emotions—we’re teaching them to distract.” — Cody calls out a cultural parenting issue.
43:26 – “In 2019, I couldn’t walk or spell my name. That’s when I learned about gut bacteria.” — Cody shares his personal turning point.
44:28 – “White bread was invented to show wealth—it’s bleached and ‘enriched’ after all nutrients are stripped.” — Cody gives a jaw-dropping food history lesson.
46:55 – “When you eat broccoli and feel sick, it’s not the broccoli—it’s the bad gut bacteria dying off.” — Cody explains the die-off effect.
52:50 – “You can eat a whole box of donuts but not a box of steaks.” — Cody on how fat triggers fullness but sugar tricks hunger.
53:58 – “When you burn fat, you can trust your hunger. When you burn sugar, you can’t.” — Cody’s final mic-drop moment.
Dyslexia, brain plasticity, and how movement and multisensory activities can change how a child reads—this episode with Dr. Rebecca Troy covers it all.
We talk about:
1. What brain scans reveal about dyslexia
2. How to rewire the brain for reading in just 10–15 minutes a day
3. Why traditional literacy programs miss the mark
4. What it really means when a child isn’t “developmentally ready” to read
5. How identity and confidence are shaped by the way we teach
Dr. Rebecca Troy is an expert in educational neuroscience and dyslexia interventions. She explains why typical reading programs fall short, how to build new brain pathways through tactile learning, and how to help children reconnect with their strengths.
Claudie Pomares, co-creator of Sensory Enrichment Therapy, shares practical examples of sensory games that help nonverbal children connect emotionally to letters and sounds.
🔔 Subscribe for more family-centered conversations about neurodevelopment and brain health.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Welcome and intro
00:17 Rebecca’s personal story and family roots in dyslexia
02:43 Why dyslexia doesn’t “go away” without support
05:43 What brain scans reveal about dyslexic readers
07:17 Brain changes from remediation—overcompensation explained
08:51 Repetition lowers stress and builds automaticity
10:19 Why Rebecca’s program starts without letters
13:24 Claudie’s protocol for introducing the letter O through sensory games
14:37 Serotonin, soft touch, and memory
16:04 How Rebecca’s son learned letter sounds with story, sign, and movement
18:43 Patterns vs. rules: why traditional phonics frustrates kids
20:05 Reframing dyslexia as a superpower
21:55 Why parents are often the most effective reading coaches
22:34 Using real-world objects before abstract symbols
23:43 Teaching phonemic awareness with Legos and Cheerios
26:30 Claudie on creating “space” in the brain for new learning
27:56 Anchoring learning through experience, not rote
30:17 Making sure sensory systems are in sync before symbol work
31:57 When and how to add movement for deeper learning
34:07 Comparing whole-brain vs. traditional methods
35:54 Rebecca’s home-based model for parent-led success
38:48 Identity-first reading: confidence before competence
40:40 How repetition without meaning can traumatize a learner
42:22 Why the brain learns through patterns—not rules