Advertise on podcast: Finding Hope on the Spectrum

Host Brooke Wagner welcomes Monica Packer, identity coach, About Progress podcast host, and author of Sticky Habits: A Woman’s Guide to Reclaim Happiness, Ditch Perfectionism, and Create Habits That Last to discuss burnout, perfectionism, and self-care for mothers—especially those raising autistic children. Monica shares how years of self-sacrificial motherhood and special needs in her children led her to lose her identity, and how therapy revealed perfectionism as an all-or-nothing, identity-based trap. She explains why women struggle to care for themselves due to invisible labor and cultural expectations, and reframes self-care as “putting yourself on the list,” not necessarily first. Monica emphasizes nervous system regulation, flexible habits with baseline options (e.g., 10 minutes counts), and viewing habits as helpers rather than measures of worth. She highlights failure as necessary for progress, including in parenting regulation skills, and describes her book as a practical, research-based guide designed for women. 00:00 Self Care Tradeoffs 00:50 Show Intro and Guest 02:35 Burnout and Lost Identity 05:07 Perfectionism Patterns 08:45 Why Moms Neglect Themselves 12:48 Do Something List 15:34 Values Creativity and Failure 17:59 Nervous System Regulation 21:54 Put Yourself on List 23:42 Simple Habits Starting Point 26:03 Practical Self Care Time 27:42 Self Help Needs Women 28:52 Modeling Care For Kids 30:30 Habits During Intense Seasons 32:32 Flexibility Beats Perfection 34:14 Habits As Support Nets 36:45 Trust Yourself Again 37:48 Failure Fuels Progress 42:38 Parenting Through Setbacks 45:28 Sticky Habits Book 49:15 Where To Find Monica 49:56 You Can Change Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest:  Monica Packer Habit & Identity Coach Websites: https://www.aboutprogress.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/Aboutprogress  Podcast: https://www.aboutprogress.com/blog

Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews Tanya Jarkoni, a longtime family caregiver, writer, mindfulness teacher, and founder of Integrative Caregiving, about nearly two decades raising her non-speaking autistic daughter, Leia. Tanya describes early developmental concerns, inconclusive genetic testing, and years of trying therapies and approaches (including ABA, DIR, Son-Rise, homeschooling, biomedical supports, and later spelling/text-based communication), alongside cycles of effort and burnout and the realization that much of the responsibility falls on the caregiver. She explains how long-term caregiving without a “finish line” can keep the nervous system in survival mode, fueling hypervigilance and narrowing perspective so self-care feels unrealistic or unsafe, and shares how Vipassana and mindfulness helped her notice thoughts, shift attention, and widen her lens. Tanya also discusses the family’s ongoing travel and worldschooling, their move to Costa Rica, and upcoming webinars, a November retreat with Autistically Inclined, potential residencies, and her forthcoming book on how caregiving reshapes identity and possibility. 00:00 Caregiving as Transformation 01:06 Podcast Welcome and Guest Intro 03:10 Early Signs and Diagnosis Search 07:58 Therapy Quest and Burnout Cycles 10:42 Identity Shift and Rethinking Caregiving 13:45 Traveling and Worldschooling with Leah 18:44 Survival Mode and Hypervigilance 23:20 Vipassana and Mindfulness Breakthrough 29:13 Widening the Lens and New Possibilities 33:48 Manifestation and Creating New Reality 39:23 Offerings Camps Webinars and Book 42:29 Where to Find Tanya Closing Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest:  Tanya Yarkoni Founder, Integrative Caregiving Websites: https://www.integrativecaregiving.co/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya_yarkoni/

Host Brooke Wagner interviews Dr. Stephanie Culler, scientist and CEO/co-founder of Persephone Biosciences, about how the infant gut microbiome develops and why key Bifidobacterium species are missing in many U.S. babies. Culler explains that the gut microbiome supports digestion, immunity (with 70–80% of immune cells in the gut), and brain connections, and describes the seven-year MyBabyBiome study of 400+ infants, which found about 90% of babies missing one or more key Bifidobacterium; less than 8% had B. infantis. Missing these “keystone” microbes was associated with higher undesirable bacteria and higher risk for eczema, food allergies, and asthma by age two. Contributors discussed include antibiotics, C-sections, formula, and diet. They also cover early, non-causal signals relating dysbiosis and certain metabolites to autism, and Koehler details Persephone’s synbiotic product and Artemis trial showing safety and gut colonization. 00:00 Keystone Microbes Hook 00:49 Show Intro and Welcome 02:28 Stephanie’s Science Origin 03:03 Why the Microbiome Matters 04:25 From Cancer to Babies 06:12 Microbiome Basics Explained 07:24 MyBabyBiome Study Findings 08:51 Why Babies Lose Bifido 10:16 C-Section Microbiome Shift 11:20 Study Design and Timeline 13:20 Three Key Bifido Species 16:41 Autism Signals in Data 20:03 Building the Synbiotic 22:23 Poop Samples and Lab Work 23:45 Autism GI and FMT Research 26:39 Probiotic vs Prebiotic 27:14 Artemis Trial Results 28:48 Colonization and Dosing 31:29 Antibiotics and Microbiome 33:47 Practical Family Steps 35:22 What’s Next and Where 36:35 Final Hope Message Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest:  Stephanie Culler, Ph.D. Co-Founder and CEO, Persephone Biosciences, Inc. Get 30% off your first subscription order on our website: Finding30 Website: Persephone.bio  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/persephone.bio  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/persephone-biosciences/ The My Baby Biome Study: https://www.nature.com/articles/s42003-025-08274-7  The ARTEMIS Clinical Trial: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41390-026-05318-4  Restoring a gut Bifidobacterium community in early infancy: https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/abstract/S1931-3128(25)00451-2?rss=yes

Host Brooke interviews Cameron Allen, translational neuroscientist, CEO and co-founder of Neuroprogeny/Sensorium Neurowellness, about optimizing brain and nervous system function for autistic individuals and families. Cameron shares his teen diagnosis (then Asperger’s), school struggles, and how neurotherapy (assessments plus neurofeedback, biofeedback, brain timing, filtered music, and cognition work) cleared his “fog” and enabled academic and social gains, inspiring his work in neuroplasticity. He contrasts traditional approaches (ABA, CBT, OT/sensory integration) with a neuroscience focus on capacity-building, state shifting, and oxytocin-based connection, explaining looping/hyperfixation via dopamine-stress cycles and the role of alpha for shifting gears. He describes supporting parents through assessments, regulation tools, values-based action, and technologies including VR biofeedback, neurofeedback, hyperbaric oxygen, and red light therapy, sharing a story of an 11-year-old using VR to self-regulate and even offering it to his stressed dad. 00:00 Hormesis Curve Teaser 00:44 Show Intro and Welcome 01:26 Meet Cameron Allen 02:47 Cameron’s Teen Struggles 04:41 Neurotherapy Breakthrough 09:03 Limits of Traditional Therapy 15:01 Connection and Oxytocin 18:54 Brain Loops Explained 27:04 Caregiver Regulation Skills 29:57 Neuroplasticity Basics 33:43 VR Biofeedback in Action 37:51 Activation and Calm Balance 38:41 Neuroplasticity for Connection 41:21 Why Kids Sense Dysregulation 44:13 Assessing Family Nervous Systems 47:57 Values Based Regulation Tools 54:15 Presence and Undivided Attention 58:36 VR Program How It Works 01:00:53 Success Story Self Advocacy 01:05:02 Tech as Foundation Not Cure 01:07:03 Results and Closing Resources Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Cameron Allen Translational Neuroscientist Websites: neuroprogeny.com & sensoriumneuro.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuro_cameron/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584563474539   Email: [email protected]

Host Brooke welcomes Faye Bankler Casell, a certified academic language therapist, dyslexia specialist, and founder of Home Reading Coach, to discuss reading struggles and dyslexia. Faye shares her path from early childhood/special education into dyslexia intervention, influenced by her son’s early delays and later diagnosis of ADHD and dysgraphia, and by seeing the psychological toll on students who feel ashamed when reading is hard. They define dyslexia as a neurodivergence rooted in phonological processing, note common misconceptions (not simply letter reversals), and describe warning signs, assessment options (public school testing, private psychologists), and the importance of early intervention. Faye explains multisensory, explicit, systematic instruction, the need for extensive repetition, variability in school services, and her Reading Breakthrough remote program with parent training and resources. 00:00 Why Reading Feels Risky 00:46 Show Intro and Guest 02:41 Faye’s Path to Dyslexia Work 06:20 Emotional Safety in Learning 09:11 What Dyslexia Really Is 12:16 Common Dyslexia Myths 14:41 Early Warning Signs 18:12 Testing and Getting Help 19:57 Who Can Diagnose Dyslexia 25:17 Multisensory Reading Approach 31:17 Why Early Intervention Matters 33:28 Public Schools Must Test 33:57 Why Schools Miss Dyslexia 36:23 IEPs and Service Quality Gaps 38:38 Reading Breakthrough Overview 43:06 Time Commitment and Routine 46:34 Multisensory Lesson Examples 53:18 Empowering Parents at Home 54:41 Advocacy Must Dos 59:02 Where to Find Resources 01:00:14 Closing Thanks and Wrap Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Faye B. Casell Certified Academic Language Therapist Dyslexia Specialist Website: https://homereadingcoach.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homereadingcoach/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/homereadingcoach  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TeachMyChildToRead  Get the FREE Dyslexia Roadmap for Families E-Book https://fayebankler.mysamcart.com/free-dyslexia-roadmap-for-families/

Host Brooke welcomes listeners to Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews neurologically focused chiropractor Dr. Tony about the link between the nervous system, childhood development, behavior, and healing. Dr. Tony explains that chiropractic originally centered on the brain–spine communication system and shares how his daughter’s healthy birth led him into pediatric specialty work and studying autism, ADHD, sensory challenges, and the “Perfect Storm” of maternal stress, birth trauma, and toxic overload. He recounts his son Oliver’s severe premature, traumatic birth and NICU recovery, which he attributes in part to frequent gentle adjustments, and contrasts this with medical skepticism. The conversation covers how birth interventions can injure the neck/brainstem, early infant warning signs (latching, sleep, reflux, constipation, infections, motor delays), how PX Docs uses scans (thermal, EMG, HRV) and gentle, flexible sessions, support for adults on the spectrum, and how families can find PX Docs, intensives, and training, emphasizing that children are not broken and hope guides healing. 00:00 Hope Starts Here 01:13 Meet Brooke And Dr Tony 02:07 Why Neurological Chiropractic 03:45 Addison Changes Everything 07:31 Oliver Birth Trauma Miracle 12:27 Birth Interventions And Brainstem 19:10 Early Infant Warning Signs 22:07 Clearing Congestion And Immunity 25:25 Spectrum Healing Sequence Explained 31:11 Healing Comes in Order 31:47 Soft Signs to Track 32:25 When Connection Returns 33:57 Fix the Foundation First 36:49 What a PX Visit Looks Like 38:14 Gentle Adjustments and Dosing 40:57 Adults and Teens Improve Too 46:54 Spellers and Efficiency Gains 50:55 PX Docs Network and Intensives 56:00 Your Child Is Not Broken Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Dr. Tony Ebel, DC, CPPFC, CCWP Neurologically-Focused Chiropractor Website: https://www.thepediatricexperience.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-tony-ebel-7372ab24a/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pxdocs  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drtonyebel/  Website:  https://pxdocs.com/ (to search for a PX Doc near you + free articles) To inquire about an intensive with Dr. Tony:   https://premierwellnesschiro.com/the-perfect-storm/

Brooke interviews Valeri Tompkins, a Spellers Method provider, and her daughter Lora about Lora’s path from being diagnosed with autism and ADHD at age two through years of speech therapy, OT, ABA, PECS, AAC, and sign language with limited success. Valeri describes discovering letterboard-based spelling after reading “Underestimated” in 2021 and how spelling leverages gross motor pointing to overcome fine-motor challenges and apraxia-related barriers, leading to open communication, increased confidence, and reduced frustration. Lora shares that spelling gave her a voice and meaningful participation in her own life, emphasizes that non-speakers are intelligent and deserve robust, age-appropriate education, and urges people not to write off non-speakers. They discuss presuming competence, vision issues, lesson-based spelling sessions, concerns about influence, and Valeri’s pivotal moment when Lora spelled “Mom and Dad, I love you.” 00:00 Emotional Cold Open 00:41 Podcast Welcome and Mission 01:20 Meet Valeri and Lora 02:24 Valeri’s Autism Journey 04:14 Discovering Spelling 06:05 Hope vs Expert Limits 07:32 Before Spelling Communication 09:05 What Is Spellers Method 10:53 Vision and Apraxia Pieces 12:54 Misconceptions About Nonspeakers 13:59 Lora Finds Her Voice 16:10 Education and Advocacy 19:34 Presuming Competence 22:11 Lora’s Message to World 26:03 Trust Your Parent Gut 28:58 Boards to Keyboard Progress 30:08 Inside a Spelling Lesson 32:26 No Magic Timeline 33:00 Lesson Question Hierarchy 34:06 Defining Open Communication 35:47 Confidence Through Age Level 37:10 Emotional Breakthroughs 40:22 Avoiding Influence 44:38 Nonlinear Progress 48:35 Hope Moment Hawaii 52:17 Presume Competence Daily 56:29 Parent Regulation Tools 59:18 Age Range And Prep 01:01:54 Never Give Up Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Valeri & Lora Tompkins Spellers Method Provider Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tompkinsvaleri/  & https://www.instagram.com/lorasayswithlove/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeri-tompkins-34558115/

Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews Dana Kay, an Australia-born, Seattle-based board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, whose work was inspired by her son’s ADHD diagnosis and a medication cycle that escalated to multiple drugs by age five. Dana explains her view that ADHD symptoms are signals of underlying biological stressors, emphasizing the gut-brain axis, neurotransmitter production (about 90% of serotonin and 50% of dopamine made in the gut), inflammation, and nutrient absorption affecting focus, mood, and sleep. She describes functional lab testing (stool, urine, finger prick) including food sensitivities, leaky gut, organic acids, and cryptopyrrole (linked to zinc and B6 depletion). Practical strategies discussed include reducing common triggers (gluten, dairy, dyes, excess sugar), stabilizing blood sugar with the “no naked carb” rule, improving sleep and screening for sleep apnea, increasing movement and sunlight, limiting screens, and using picky-eating tools like a family food challenge and food chaining. Dana shares her programs, book, and podcast resources. 00:00 Gut Makes Serotonin 00:51 Show Welcome Intro 01:30 Meet Dana Kay 03:22 From Accountant to Advocate 05:08 Medication Spiral Wakeup 08:36 Symptoms Are Signals 10:06 Gut Brain Axis Explained 12:30 Inflammation Nutrients Behavior 15:26 Testing For Root Causes 18:26 Food Triggers To Watch 22:11 Going Gluten Dairy Free 24:03 Organic On A Budget 25:53 Sleep Clues And Apnea 29:44 Sleepwalking and Adenoids 31:41 No Naked Carbs 33:49 Why Kids Are Picky 36:02 Family Food Challenge 38:36 Food Chaining Strategy 41:47 Lifestyle Habits That Help 45:08 ADHD Misconceptions 47:55 Research and Food Policy 50:45 Thrive Institute Program 53:47 Book Podcast and Wrap Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ADHDThriveInstitute  Podcast: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/the-soaring-child-podcast-thriving-with-adhd/

Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews developmental optometrist and expert Dr. Susan Daniel, who shares her groundbreaking work linking vision therapy, motor challenges like apraxia, and communication for non-speaking individuals and spellers. Inspired by her own experience with double vision and her son Matthew's diagnosis of autism and severe apraxia, Dr. Daniel describes her shift from general optometry to specializing in neurodiverse care. She outlines a unique, parent-driven coaching model born out of the COVID-19 pandemic that utilizes tools like syntonic phototherapy (color therapy), prism lenses, and visual-motor exercises to help individuals safely regulate their nervous systems, flatten gait issues like toe walking, and gain the physical visual control needed to reliably access communication methods.  00:00 Double Vision and Fighting the Court Lines  01:01 Podcast Welcome and Introduction  01:40 Meet Dr. Susan Daniel  02:56 From General Optometry to Special Needs Detective  05:38 Matthew’s Journey: Apraxia and Depth Perception  08:07 Collaborating with Spelling Practitioners  10:48 General Eye Exams vs. Developmental Optometry  12:01 High Rates of Ocular Disease in the Autistic Population  13:32 Connecting Body Apraxia to Eye Motor Planning  16:15 The Struggle of Fighting Double Vision Every Day  18:30 Breaking Exercises Down for Communication Desires  20:19 Managing Anxiety and Motion Sensitivity in Public  21:32 Pivoting to a Parent-Driven Coaching Model  22:39 The Power of Repetition and Once-a-Month Visits  24:19 Explaining the "Why" to Motor-Challenged Clients  25:32 Scoring Big Goals: From Letterboards to Pickleball  26:25 Sharing Protocols and Mentoring Global Doctors  29:56 Why Words Aren't Needed for a Complete Eye Exam  32:12 Finding Prescriptions with the Retinoscope Light  33:34 Revealing the Eye Turn Stats: 80% to 90% in Non-Speakers  36:37 Unlocking Purpose: Why Spellers Choose Stencils Over Keyboards  37:59 Balancing the Seesaw of Motor vs. Cognitive Demands  39:21 Syntonic Phototherapy: Balancing the Rest and Digest Spectrum  43:54 Regulating the Nervous System Before Challenging Work  46:30 Taking the Exam Out of the Chair (Floor, Swings, and Trampolines)  48:15 Travel Optometry and Working Across State Borders  51:32 Case Study: Correcting Posture and Mastering the Paragraph Track  52:48 Straightening Up Gait: Fixing Visual Toe Walking with Lenses  54:17 Finding Certified Practitioners Globally via COVD  Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: Website: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com  Email: [email protected]  Facebook: Finding Hope on the Spectrum Facebook Page  LinkedIn: Brooke Wagner on LinkedIn  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: @findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Dr. Susan Daniel Neuro-Developmental Optometrist Website: https://www.susandanieloptometry.com/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-daniel-o-d-4930b726/  YouTube: https://youtube.com/@susandaniel

Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews Pittsburgh-based autism advocate, author, and speaker Harry Psaros, who shares his family’s early autism journey with his son Gus, including missed warning signs, a preschool birthday party turning point, and a fast Cleveland Clinic diagnosis. Psaros describes shifting from anger to a “warrior” mindset rooted in empathy, self-care, and building a supportive village, and he outlines his “2% rule” of focusing on one daily skill to reduce overwhelm amid competing therapy demands. He discusses multiple therapies, highlighting Dr. Robert Melillo’s Brain Balance approach and reported gains in Gus’s presence, self-advocacy, and nutrition. Gus, 22, is graduating from Kent State in exercise science, pursuing a physical therapy assistant degree, and has won a National Courage Award. Psaros also explains founding North Fayette PALS and serving on the Autism Caring Center board, and he details how his book aims to engage fathers worldwide. 00:00 Overwhelm to 2 Percent 01:01 Podcast Welcome Intro 01:40 Meet Harry Passaris 02:56 Before the Diagnosis 05:38 Birthday Party Wake Up 08:07 Mindset Warrior Shift 12:01 Self Care as Strategy 16:15 Therapies and 2 Percent Rule 20:19 Brain Balance Breakthrough 22:39 Gus Today Milestones 26:25 PALS and Community Support 29:56 Why He Wrote the Book 32:12 Where Are the Dads 33:34 Book Impact Stories 36:37 Drop the Ego 37:59 Tandem Kayak Teamwork 39:21 Bestseller and Translations 40:34 Vision Boards for Goals 43:54 Progress Over Levels 46:30 Legacy and Helping Others 48:15 Find Your Village 51:32 Advice to Younger Self 52:48 What Thriving Means 54:17 Where to Find Harry Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: www.harrypsaros.com  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrypsaros/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harrypsaros

Host Brooke welcomes Lisa Richer—an advocate, co-author, leader, and mom of two neurodiverse sons—who shares how being neurodivergent herself connects her experiences as an elite gymnast, corporate leader, and family advocate. Lisa describes growing up undiagnosed, receiving an anxiety label without tools, and later hitting severe burnout after a COVID-era vaccine injury that disrupted her nervous system and led her to therapy, healing, and reclaiming her intuition. She explains why corporate environments often felt combative given her “inside-out” thinking and sensitivity, and why she chose not to return despite a high-level role offer. Lisa discusses her child-led advocacy journey, her collaborative “work with you, not for you” approach at IEP/504 tables using her “three Cs” (clarity, confidence, courage) and RIPE framework, and shares outcomes including improved placements, student self-advocacy, and academic success. She also discusses her chapter in “Confident You: The Raw Conversations,” and upcoming Journey2Bloom workshops and resources. 00:00 Born Too Early 00:49 Meet Brooke And Lisa 02:08 Finding The Thread 03:10 Late Diagnosis And Burnout 06:38 Survival Mode To Service 08:08 Corporate Culture Clash 12:40 Choosing Not Corporate 14:37 Advocacy Begins With Son 16:37 Early Signs And Diagnosis 19:33 IEP Bridge Building 22:16 Three Cs Framework 25:14 Intuition And Trauma Responses 29:53 Authentic Partnership Model 31:30 Middle Ground Advocacy 33:41 Neurodiversity Prism Approach 37:42 Parent Success Stories 43:42 Student Voice and Trust 45:35 Co Authoring Confident You 48:45 Moving Through Fear 50:04 Vision for Journey2Bloom 53:16 Where to Find Lisa 54:36 Closing Thanks and Next Steps Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: https://journey2bloom.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journey2bloom/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisaricher/

In this episode of Finding Hope on the Spectrum, host Brooke talks with teen and parent wellbeing coach Laura Ollinger about why parenting teens is harder in today’s tech-driven, high-pressure world and how parents can better understand teen behavior. Laura shares how her daughter’s early anxiety and her nephew’s suicide shaped her calling to support ages 12–20, and explains teen brain development as a “renovation project,” where the amygdala and emotional sensitivity outpace the still-developing prefrontal cortex, fueling risk-taking and big reactions. They discuss fear of social rejection, healthy individuation and pulling away, red flags for withdrawal, and the need for balanced boundaries plus warmth (authoritative parenting). Laura addresses common misunderstandings like “defiance,” highlights teens’ needs for belonging and significance, notes similar core needs for neurodiverse teens, shares a coaching success story, and describes her Cracking the Parent Code course and HeartMath-based self-regulation tools. 00:00 Why Teens Feel Pressure 01:02 Meet Laura Ollinger 02:04 Her Calling to Coach 03:57 Parenting Four Teens 04:29 Teen Brain Renovation 06:34 Fear and Rejection 08:19 Pulling Away Is Normal 09:55 Red Flags and Check Ins 11:28 Boundaries With Warmth 13:04 Misread Teen Behaviors 17:32 Neurodiverse Teen Overlaps 18:49 Put Relationship First 21:30 A Coaching Success Story 23:53 Programs and HeartMath 27:37 Hope Through Perspective 28:39 Where to Find Laura 28:55 Final Thanks and Wrap Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: https://www.positivelyhealthycoaching.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/positivelyhealthycoaching/  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-ollinger/

Host Brooke interviews counselor, speaker, and consultant Mark Talaga of the Center for Identity Potential, who specializes in supporting gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) individuals and hosts the Hopelessly Gifted Podcast. Mark shares his own path from being an unrecognized gifted student to struggling in a video game job due to executive functioning and processing issues, then shifting into counseling and mentoring under Andy Mahoney. He explains giftedness as developmental extremes, 2e as giftedness plus diagnoses like ADHD, and asynchronous development as the gaps driving challenges such as anxiety, perfectionism, and shame. Mark describes identity work using the FIT Model across life systems, outlines evaluation including possible neuropsychological testing, emphasizes scaffolding and school collaboration for executive-function supports, and frames “Hopelessly Gifted” as accepting who you are and finding hope through difficulty. 00:00 Hopelessly Gifted Meaning 01:06 Meet Mark Talaga 02:18 From Gifted Kid to Counselor 04:22 Failure to Purpose 05:57 Vulnerabilities Not Weaknesses 08:13 What Twice Exceptional Means 11:21 Why Anxiety Shows Up 13:25 Identity as Expression 17:20 The FIT Model Framework 18:59 Building Positive Identities 21:21 Perfection and Self Kindness 21:56 Assessment Process Next 23:10 Intake And Systems View 24:27 When Testing Helps 25:46 Scaffolding In Action 30:25 Ego And Letting Help In 31:08 Breakthrough Case Story 33:23 Finding The Right School 36:32 Classroom Support Playbook 38:59 Why The Podcast Exists 41:32 Hope For Families 43:24 How To Reach Them 44:51 Wrap Up And Thanks Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: Website: https://www.centerforidentitypotential.com/  LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marktalaga

Brooke interviews Dr. Knight, founder of the Autism Wellness Center of Utah, about his path from pre-med studies and business into chiropractic care and then cellular/foundational medicine to better serve children on the autism spectrum. Influenced by early experiences with individuals with special needs and family connections to autism, he pursued extensive training in digestion, nervous system support, cellular healing, and safe detoxification, prioritizing courses that improve his ability to help autistic individuals. He explains cellular inflammation as a barrier to nutrient and hormone signaling and links stressors like toxins, chemicals, mold, infections, and emotional stress to impaired cellular function and regeneration. In practice he starts with dietary changes (avoiding seed/vegetable oils and food dyes), supports detox pathways (liver, kidneys, bowel regularity, lymph), and provides cellular and nervous system support. He describes Health Empowered Families, a remote five-month, four-phase program with weekly access, education videos, phased detox, mitochondrial and gut support, and a lab-informed but cost-conscious approach. 00:00 Continuing Education Mindset 00:48 Welcome and Guest Intro 01:27 From Pre Med to Chiropractic 05:33 Calling to Serve Autism 08:56 Training in Detox and MAPS 13:10 Cellular Healing Explained 19:27 Practical First Steps at Home 23:50 Virtual Program Overview 30:27 Labs and Tracking Progress 33:24 Handling Detox Speed Bumps 35:25 Wrap Up and Resources Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: https://autismwellnesscenter.org/

Brooke hosts an episode of “Finding Hope on the Spectrum” on art therapy with board-certified art therapist and RDI consultant Christine “Kiki,” and guests Debbie Zimmer and her 22-year-old son Ben. Kiki explains how she was drawn to art therapy, how RDI deepened her work through parent involvement, and clarifies misconceptions by distinguishing “art as therapy” from clinical art therapy with a trained mental health professional as a guide and witness. She describes focusing on process over product, observing engagement and family dynamics, and tailoring art materials to sensory and physical needs to support regulation, communication, and growth. Ben shares via his AAC device how art helps him move from frustration to calm, choose colors/tools, and give, sell, or keep his work. Debbie describes Ben’s post-COVID and post-surgery challenges, how art therapy improved family support, confidence, vocabulary, wellbeing, and led to exhibitions, community classes, commissions, and broader family connection through art. 00:00 Art Heals Without Therapy 00:53 Podcast Welcome and Guests 02:54 Kiki Origin Story 06:39 RDI Meets Art Therapy 09:29 Art Therapy Myths 13:08 Not Artistic No Problem 15:32 Brain and Nervous System 17:51 Why It Helps Autism 20:32 Sensory Smart Materials 24:56 Communication and Agency 27:43 Coping Through Sensory Discomfort 28:13 Strength Building With Art 29:28 Ben Joins The Conversation 30:07 Ben Shares His Art Story 31:36 Debbie Preps Ben’s Message 33:31 Before Art Therapy Challenges 34:47 Why They Tried Art Therapy 35:50 Mom’s Mindset Shift 38:31 Art Show Breakthrough 41:06 Confidence And Communication Gains 42:42 Regulation And Wellbeing 43:50 Family Connection Through Art 45:49 Advice For Unsure Parents 49:10 Village Support And Collaboration 52:18 Finding Art Therapy Resources 53:52 Final Thanks And Goodbye Connect with Finding Hope on the Spectrum: www.findinghopeonthespectrum.com Email: [email protected]  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574918739411  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooke-wagner-4819233a/  Instagram: @findinghopeonthespectrum  TikTok: Findinghopeonthespectrum Guest Contact: www.tagforgrowth.com Resources: https://atcb.org/