Chaos & Caffeine - ADHD Parenting Podcast

• Self-Regulation Secrets: How Sensory Tools Calm ADHD Kids (and Save Parents’ Sanity) ft. Dr. George Hu

  If you’ve ever wondered why your ADHD kiddo can’t just “calm down” — or why you can’t either — this episode is your new favorite form of therapy.This week on Chaos & Caffeine, host Danielle sits down with Dr. George Hu, a U.S.-licensed clinical psychologist, Director of Counseling & Wellness at Duke Kunshan University, and President of the Shanghai International Mental Health Association — to unpack the real science behind self-regulation and sensory processing.We’re breaking down: 👉 Why some kids need more sensory input to feel calm and focused 👉 How occupational therapy tools (like fidgets, swings, crash pads & weighted blankets) actually rewire the nervous system 👉 How parents can model self-regulation without losing their own cool 👉 Kid-friendly ways to explain why sensory tools work 👉 And what to do when your child refuses the very things that could help themDr. Hu brings warmth, humor, and hardcore neuroscience to help ADHD parents understand what’s happening in those tiny (and sometimes tornado-level) bodies — and how to teach regulation with compassion, not control.If you’ve ever felt alone, overwhelmed, or unsure whether you’re “doing enough,” this episode will remind you that you’re not broken — you’re learning the language of regulation.Grab your iced coffee, your noise-canceling headphones, and maybe your own fidget spinner — because this one’s going to change how you see your child… and yourself.Connect with Dr. Hu 👉 [email protected] and check out the sensory products he referenced!This Month’s Sponsors:👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive! 🧮 Pop Sugar Cafe The printable shop saving ADHD parents everywhere from pure morning meltdown chaos. Their visual schedules, routine charts, and emotion trackers are actually cute and neurodivergent-friendly. Head to Pop Sugar Cafe and grab the tools your kid will actually use — because structure shouldn’t suck. 🪀 Play Therapy Supply A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. 💊 NeuroNeedsA science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. Resources:Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected] the show

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• Screens, Sleep & Soccer: How to Save Your ADHD Kiddo’s Brain

  Are your afternoons filled with gaming, only for bedtime to turn into a wrestling match with your child’s brain? In this no-BS episode, I’m going deep (with laughs and tears) into how screen time, sleep routines, and physical activity are the secret levers behind ADHD symptoms.I share a raw story from my own home—how two hours of gaming ruined bedtime, and how a simple bike ride or soccer kick fixes it. Then I drop the science: • Why 4+ hours of screen time is a red flag for ADHD, anxiety & behavior problems • How movement—especially skill-based activity—is literally brain medicine for ADHD • Why consistent sleep routines are your covert weapon • How parenting style (gentle, directive, not drill sergeant) can buffer symptomsYou’ll walk away with actionable strategies (no fluff) to tweak your child’s routines starting tonight, plus mindset shifts so you don’t lose your sanity fighting every bedtime. This episode is your blueprint for rescuing evenings, saving sleep, and giving your ADHD child a fighting shot.Tune in if you’re an ADHD parent who is done with chaos and ready for real help—but still laughs at your own mess.Resources mentioned 👉 Bark Parental Controls Let’s get your kid (and your brain) off the hamster wheel.Hosted by Danielle, on Chaos & Caffeine—your ADHD parenting lifeline.This Month’s Sponsors:👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive! 🪀 Play Therapy Supply A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. 💊 NeuroNeedsA science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. ✨PTS Coaching Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. Resources:Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected] the show

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• What’s Fueling Your Kid’s ADHD, Anxiety & Sensory Meltdowns? A Deep Dive with Dr. Pejman Katiraei

  Do you ever feel like your child’s ADHD, anxiety, or sensory meltdowns are out of your control — like you’re wandering blind in a world full of triggers? I hear you. In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Pejman Katiraei (of Wholistic Kids / Stella Center background) and we rip the roof off of what mainstream parenting advice isn’t telling you.We unpack how environmental forces — from toxins, food, and unpredictable sensory input to unresolved trauma and nervous system dysregulation — can fuel ADHD, autism traits, anxiety, and sensory overwhelm. Dr. Katiraei brings his unique experience from Stella techniques (yes, that trauma-informed, nervous system work you’ve been hearing whispers of) and gives us real, actionable tools — the ones you can start using tonight.In this conversation, you’ll learn:Why meltdowns might not be “behavior problems” — they’re signals.What to look for in your child’s environment (and body) that may be turning the volume up on their brain chaos.Simple shifts you can make (in diet, daily surroundings, routines, sensory setup) that actually help.How to reframe who’s “in charge” — your child’s nervous system, not you, sometimes.This is not a fluff episode. It’s for parents who are desperate for more than bandaids. It’s for you if you’re ready to be curious, not guilty.👉 Connect with Dr. Katiraei or on Instagram! Products Dr K Mentioned: Spectrum Needs, My Myco Lab, The Dust Test and NeuroProtekThis Month’s Sponsors:👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive! 🪀 Play Therapy Supply A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. 💊 NeuroNeedsA science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. ✨PTS Coaching Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. Resources:Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at Support the show

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• ADHD Parenting Fails I Regret (and What They Taught Me)

  Parenting ADHD is messy, imperfect, and full of mistakes you wish you could undo. In this raw, unfiltered episode of Chaos & Caffeine, host Danielle Kelly shares the biggest ADHD parenting fails she regrets—impatience, homework wars, punishment flops, diet traps, comparison spirals, bribery gone wrong, and more.This isn’t about shame. It’s about honesty, solidarity, and learning together. From meltdowns in Target to failed screen bans and creating a “tiny mob boss” through too many bribes, Danielle opens up about the mistakes that made her a more compassionate, informed ADHD mom.If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I screwing this all up?” this episode is for you. You’ll laugh, cringe, and most importantly—you’ll feel less alone. ADHD parenting doesn’t need perfect parents. It needs parents willing to try again.☕ Tune in for relatable ADHD parenting stories, hard-earned lessons, and tips you can actually use—because laughter is cheaper than therapy, and solidarity is everything.This Month’s Sponsors:👩🏼‍⚕️ Dr. Lorian Phillips Dr. Phillips helps families ditch the chaos and build calm through emotional regulation and practical tools that actually work in real life (you know, the life with homework battles, missing shoes, and bedtime meltdowns). Learn more about her ADHD Parenting Course and how she helps families thrive! ✨PTS Coaching Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. 💊 NeuroNeedsA science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. 🪀 Play Therapy Supply A longtime favorite of parents, teachers, and therapists who want kids to have the tools they need to regulate, focus, and thrive. From fidgets and sensory tools to calming corner essentials, therapeutic games, and classic sand play, they’ve got everything to support kids both at home and in the classroom. Resources:Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected] the show

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• IEPs Without Tears: How Tonya Wollum Empowers Parents to Advocate for Their Neurodivergent Kids

  If you’ve ever ugly-cried in your car after an IEP meeting—welcome, you’re in the right place.Today on Chaos & Caffeine, I’m joined by Tonya Wollum, founder of Water Prairie and host of the Water Prairie Chronicles Podcast. Tonya is a powerhouse advocate for parents raising neurodivergent kids—from ADHD to autism and everything in between. She’s on a mission to arm families with the tools, confidence, and community they need to not just survive the education system, but to flip the script and thrive in it.We’re digging into:How to walk into IEP meetings without fear (and walk out with actual results).The biggest mistakes parents make when advocating for ADHD & neurodivergent kids—and how to fix them.Tonya’s real-life stories that prove you are absolutely NOT alone in this.Practical, doable strategies to help your child shine—without burning yourself out.This is the pep talk, strategy guide, and big-sister hug every ADHD parent needs. So grab your coffee, toss the guilt, and let’s get into it.👉 Learn more about Tonya and her incredible resources at WaterPrairie.comSubscribe, share, and join me in turning homework chaos into something manageable—maybe even fun.This Month’s Sponsors:✨PTS Coaching Founded by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching provides science-backed training, parent coaching, and educator support that’s actually practical in the trenches of real family life. Cindy doesn’t just talk theory — she equips parents with tools to handle meltdowns, homework battles, morning chaos, and all the curveballs that come with raising an ADHD kid. 💊 NeuroNeedsA science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it. Resources:Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! 📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at [email protected] the show

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