Parenting a Disabled Child: Systems, Services, and Supports with guest Kelley Coleman

On this episode of The Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy and Sandy are joined by Kelley Coleman, a feature film development executive turned author and advocate for parents and caregivers of individuals with disabilities. Kelley is here to talk about the concepts and information in her book, “Everything No One Tells You About Parenting a Disabled Child: Your Guide to the Essential Systems, Services, and Supports.” Kelley is the mother of two boys, one of whom has multiple disabilities and a service dog, and she shares her own experiences about learning to navigate the world in a new way to best support the journey for her entire family. You’ll hear her advice for other parents who are parenting a disabled child, including where to find support, tips for advocating for your child, and how the process of getting a service dog works. Whether you’re new to the caregiving journey or are just looking for inspiration, don’t miss this jam-packed episode!

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How Visual Processing Impacts Learning and Life with guest Kim Hanson

Continuing our series on cognitive skills, Dr. Amy and Sandy welcomed LearningRx CEO Kim Hanson to the Brainy Moms podcast. Kim explains for our listeners what visual processing is (hint: it’s more about the brain than the eyes), why we need it to be strong learners and readers, and how parents can help boost the skill at home. Kim shares examples of ways that weak processing skills can impact everything from driving and reading comprehension to using maps and doing math problems. Tune in to learn what red flags may indicate that your child or teen has challenges with visual processing and a potential intervention to target and train the skill to help your student live up to their full potential in school, work, sports, and life in general.

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Improving Sleep for Children and Adults: A Dentist’s Surprising Method with Dr. Blaine Leeds

In one of our most fascinating episodes of the Brainy Moms podcast to date, dentist and author Dr. Blaine Leeds joins Dr. Amy and Teri to talk about a novel way to significantly improve the quality and quantity of sleep for children, teens, and adults. To our surprise, oral sleep apnea impedes restorative sleep, which experts are now determining to be the root cause of so many mental, emotional, cognitive, and physical issues. Learn how a simple DIY device is revolutionizing not only how we treat common conditions, but also how we think about their root cause. From depression to high blood pressure to memory issues, Dr. Leeds shares some of the dramatic results he’s seeing in his practice and across the country. Tune in to hear more about a pioneering device and its potential in uprooting how we address and possibly prevent a multitude of common disorders, ailments, and even diseases.

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Shattering Homeschooling Myths: The Truth About Opting Out of the School System with guest Christy Faith

On this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast, Dr. Amy is joined by Sandy and Teri—who have both been homeschool moms—to talk with Christy Faith about homeschooling. Christy shares topics from her new book, “Homeschool Rising: Shattering Myths, Finding Courage, and Opting Out of the School System,” and her flourishing online community of homeschooling families. You’ll hear how homeschooling has changed significantly over the years to evolve into a truly diverse and sustainable undertaking for all types of students, regardless of income, religion, setting, and individual needs. Learn how and why the American school system was launched and why so many families are now turning to this growing movement to educate their kids. Christy shares statistics from her research to dispel the myths many of us have heard about homeschooling, from socialization and sports to getting into college and going to prom. If you’ve ever considered homeschooling but thought it would be too hard or that your student would miss out on too much of the traditional schooling experience, tune in for this truly eye-opening conversation from someone on the front lines.

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Bedwetting, Constipation, & Accidents: Debunking Myths with Dr. Steve Hodges

Forget everything you think you know about bedwetting, poop accidents, and potty training. Dr. Steve Hodges, a professor of Pediatric Urology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine joined Dr. Amy and Sandy on this episode of Brainy Moms to drop some serious truth bombs about what’s really going on with most kids and teens who have accidents. (HINT: It’s not about bad behavior, deep sleep, or an underdeveloped bladder…and it’s never the kid’s fault.) You’ll hear what he stumbled upon during surgery as a pediatric urologist, what he recommends that parents do and don’t do, and why we’ve missed the mark on accidents for so many years. Learn what myths to let go of and the latest ways to treat bedwetting, daytime wetting, constipation and poop accidents, as well as things to consider during potty training. From Botox and InterStim to stool softeners, enemas, and diet, he shares the best options available, depending on the severity of the issues your child or teen is experiencing. He also touches on IBS, children with autism, and the value of x-rays in confirming the best approach. Tune in for this conversation with a leading expert who’s working on the cutting edge of these common medical conditions.

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Understanding Auditory Processing: How to Help the Brain “Hear” Better with Dr. Jody Jedlicka and Sandy Zamalis

If your child or teen has every struggled in school, your first instinct might have been to enroll them in tutoring. It makes sense, as that’s the intervention most parents are familiar with. But there are two parts to smart: the knowledge you acquire (e.g., history facts or math formulas) and how we process that information (e.g., learning, memorizing, understanding how and when to apply that math formula). Brain training helps with the latter. Today, cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and board-certified cognitive specialist Sandy Zamalis sit down to explain how to determine which intervention might best help your student based on their specific struggles, as well as how cognitive skills training addresses the root cause of learning challenges. They also offer some insight to help boost cognitive skills at home, including some free resources being offered to listeners. Whether you’ve tried tutoring with little (or temporary) results or are just starting your research into interventions to help your struggling student, you won’t want to miss this important episode.

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A Whole-Child Approach to Autism with guest Dr. Suzanne Goh

In this two-part series, Dr. Suzanne Goh shares her latest insights on autism with Dr. Amy and Teri. As one of the top experts in the field, Dr. Goh brings a wealth of new information on everything from early signs of autism and getting a diagnosis to pattern-seeking behaviors and the gut-brain connection. Tune in to hear more about what your first steps might be if you’re concerned your child has autism, how to support your child’s unique developmental trajectory, why food elimination shouldn’t be your initial attempt to rule out sensitivities or allergies, and the role schools may or may not play in supporting your child or teen. You’ll also hear Dr. Goh explain the five elements of a whole-child approach to care and why parents’ observations and input are so vitally important in the overall process of diagnosing and support your child with autism. If you have a child or teen with autism, you won’t want to miss this two-part series!

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Autism and Neurodivergence: New Research, Insights, and Approaches with guest Dr. Suzanne Goh

If you or someone you love has autism or a neurodivergent brain, you don’t want to miss this episode of the Brainy Moms podcast when Dr. Amy and Teri interview one of the top experts in the field, Dr. Suzanne Goh. Working at the forefront of comprehensive health services for autism, Dr. Goh shares research, statistics, and insights from the autism community. From nutrition and biofeedback to communication skills and the shift toward identity-first language, there’s so much new information to learn about neurodiversity-affirming care and supporting those we love. More than just a doctor or scientist, Dr. Goh offers front-line experience working with a variety of people with differently wired minds, something to which she brings curiosity, compassion, and a commitment to helping each individual thrive and feel respected. She also shares insights from her book, “Magnificent Minds: The New Whole-Child Approach to Autism”. Join us for this in-depth conversation that may completely turn the tables on how you think about neurodiversity.

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Tutoring vs. Brain Training: Interventions for Students Who Struggle with Dr. Amy Moore and Sandy Zamalis

If your child or teen has every struggled in school, your first instinct might have been to enroll them in tutoring. It makes sense, as that’s the intervention most parents are familiar with. But there are two parts to smart: the knowledge you acquire (e.g., history facts or math formulas) and how we process that information (e.g., learning, memorizing, understanding how and when to apply that math formula). Brain training helps with the latter. Today, cognitive psychologist Dr. Amy Moore and board-certified cognitive specialist Sandy Zamalis sit down to explain how to determine which intervention might best help your student based on their specific struggles, as well as how cognitive skills training addresses the root cause of learning challenges. They also offer some insight to help boost cognitive skills at home, including some free resources being offered to listeners. Whether you’ve tried tutoring with little (or temporary) results or are just starting your research into interventions to help your struggling student, you won’t want to miss this important episode.

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What Research Really Says About Birth Control with guest Dr. Mariza Snyder

Our previous episode with women’s hormone expert Dr. Mariza Snyder was so jam-packed with great information that we invited her back! This time on the Brainy Moms podcast, we’re talking about birth control, periods, perimenopause, PCOS, and menopause. This latest episode is equally full of valuable information, statistics, new research, and personal stories. Whether you’ve been thinking about getting your daughter on the pill, if and when you should take hormones for perimenopause, or just want to understand how women’s hormones affect every aspect of our lives, tune in for this in-depth discussion Dr. Amy and Sandy had with a leading hormone expert. Dr. Mariza is passionate about helping women understand what’s happening in their bodies—from their first period to their last and beyond—and she even shares insights on the types of experts to see. (HINT: It’s not an OB/GYN!) Grab a pen and paper because you’re going to want to take notes!

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