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Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

By: Dana Kay
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About this listen

 Here is a place where you will learn how to address your child's ADHD symptoms naturally so you can stop walking on eggshells & bring back peace & calm to your home. Hosted Dana Kay, board certified health & nutrition practitioner, author of the best selling book Thriving with ADHD, leading ADHD expert but most importantly a mom with a child with ADHD who gets it. As a mother of a child with ADHD, she knows firsthand the struggles that come with parenting a neurodiverse child & the freedom that is possible once parents learn to reduce ADHD symptoms. Dana has been featured in Forbes, on Fox & CBS, & various other online media. She has also been a guest at multiple parenting & ADHD summits & podcasts. Her goal with the Soaring child is to give hope & answers to parents of children with ADHD who are looking for alternative (natural) and effective means of helping them learn to thrive at home, at school, and in life. Because children with ADHD deserve to soar, just like every other child. Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • 202: Why ADHD Kids Don't Listen: Executive Function Explained with Cindy Goldrich

    202: Why ADHD Kids Don't Listen: Executive Function Explained with Cindy Goldrich
    Apr 2 2026
    Many children with ADHD know exactly what they're supposed to do but still struggle to do it. That frustrating gap between knowing and doing is one of the most misunderstood parts of ADHD, and it can leave parents feeling confused, exhausted, and questioning their child's behavior. In this episode, Dana Kay sits down with ADHD parenting expert and coach Cindy Goldrich to unpack what's really happening in the ADHD brain when children don't follow through on simple requests. Cindy explains why ADHD is not a problem of knowledge, but a challenge with executive function, and how factors like working memory, hyperfocus, processing speed, and transitions can all impact a child's ability to act. Throughout the conversation, Cindy shares practical strategies that help parents move away from constant reminders and power struggles and instead support their child's developing executive function skills. She encourages parents to shift from seeing behavior as defiance to recognizing the underlying skills that may still be developing. When parents understand the brain behind the behavior, it creates space for more patience, better communication, and stronger connection with their child. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Free Gift: First Chapter + Parenting Resources- https://ptscoaching.com/soaringPTS Coaching Website - https://ptscoaching.comCindy Goldrich Substack - https://adhdparentandteacherexpert.substack.com 📒 Show Notes and Resources 📒 📘 Connect with Cindy Goldrich Website - https://ptscoaching.comFacebook - https://www.facebook.com/PTScoachingInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/PTScoachingSubstack - https://adhdparentandteacherexpert.substack.comFree Gift - https://ptscoaching.com/soaring KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] The everyday parenting scenario where a child agrees to do something but doesn't follow through. [03:56] Parents often feel confused when kids know what to do but still don't do it. [04:26] ADHD is explained as the gap between knowing and doing. [06:48] Hyperfocus can prevent kids from shifting attention to a new task. [08:41] Multiple brain-based factors can explain why kids don't follow through. [12:57] Processing speed challenges can make kids appear resistant. [16:20] Understanding executive function helps parents shift their expectations. [18:14] Misinterpreting behavior as defiance can damage connection. [22:55] Parenting mindset plays a major role in how kids respond. [26:28] Instead of labeling weaknesses, parents should look for ways to support skills. [30:18] Executive function development is similar to learning any other skill. [31:37] Kids improve with practice, structure, and guidance. MEMORABLE MOMENTS "You ask your kid to put their shoes on. They say okay… and then they don't." "What if the problem isn't defiance, but executive function?" "ADHD is not a problem of knowing what to do. It's a problem of doing what you know." "Maybe this kid is so hyper-focused on what he's doing that his mind is nowhere near what you're asking." "They're basically saying, slow down. I can't process this fast enough." "When we assume our kids are being difficult, we miss the opportunity to understand what their brain actually needs." "It's not about labeling the weakness. It's about asking, how are we going to support this?" "Why would this be any different than learning any other skill?" "These are skills that develop with support and practice." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstituteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS: ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhdADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
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    36 mins
  • 201: 5 Biological Stressors of ADHD

    201: 5 Biological Stressors of ADHD
    Mar 26 2026

    Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123

    You know what I wish someone had told me years ago when my son was diagnosed with ADHD? That ADHD isn't one neat little story.

    ADHD isn't one problem. It's often driven by five biological stressors stacked inside the same child. And depending on the day, a different stressor shouts loudest.

    In this powerful solo episode, Dana Kay reframes ADHD in a way that instantly relieves shame and confusion for parents. If you've ever felt like you're parenting a different child by 4 p.m. than you were at 8 a.m., this episode explains why.

    Dana walks listeners through the five biological stressors inside the ADHD Thrive framework: blood sugar dysregulation, gut-brain dysfunction, food reactions, poor detox pathways, and the nutrient deficiencies. Instead of asking, "Why are they doing this?" she teaches parents to ask a better question: "Which layer is loud today?"

    If your child's symptoms fluctuate, if some days feel manageable and others feel impossible, this episode will help you understand the biology underneath the behavior.

    Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

    Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123

    KEY TAKEAWAYS
    [00:00] ADHD is not one story — it's five layers.
    [00:23] Parenting a "different kid" by 4 p.m.
    [00:50] The wrong question vs. the right question.
    [02:10] Introduction to biological stressor layers.
    [04:30] Blood sugar dysregulation explained.
    [07:15] Gut-brain dysfunction overview.
    [10:40] Food reactions layer.
    [13:20] Detox overload layer.
    [16:30] The final layer connecting impulsivity and picky eating.
    [19:45] Identifying which layer is loud.

    MEMORABLE MOMENTS
    "ADHD isn't one neat little story."
    "It's five stories all squashed into the same kid wearing the same jumper."
    "Depending on the day, you're parenting a different kid in the same body."
    "By 4 p.m. you're Googling boarding schools in Switzerland…"
    "We end up asking the wrong question."
    "Which layer is loud today?"

    DANA KAY RESOURCES

    🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123

    It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping!

    🔗 WEBSITES:

    • https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
    • https://dana-kay.com/

    👋 SOCIALS:

    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/
    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/
    • YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute
    • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/
    • Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/
    • Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute

    📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK:

    • Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/

    💻 FREE MASTERCLASS:

    • Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0

    ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:

    • ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
    • ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
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    13 mins
  • 200: Picky Eating, Nutrient Deficiencies, and ADHD

    200: Picky Eating, Nutrient Deficiencies, and ADHD
    Mar 19 2026
    What if picky eating and impulsive ADHD behavior aren't separate problems at all—but signals coming from the same biological root? In a special milestone for the podcast — our 200th episode of The Soaring Child Podcast — Dana Kay explains how nutrient deficiencies can directly affect the brain systems responsible for focus, emotional regulation, impulse control, and sleep. Iron supports dopamine production. Magnesium and B6 calm the nervous system. Zinc shapes taste perception. Omega-3s carry the brain's messages. And vitamin D helps regulate serotonin and sleep cycles. When these nutrients are depleted, the brain struggles to function properly. The result can look like impulsivity, hyperactivity, emotional outbursts, sleep struggles, and extreme picky eating. Dana shares the story of a young boy expelled from four preschools whose behavior transformed after severe nutrient deficiencies were identified and supported. This episode helps parents understand how what looks like "behavior" may actually be a biological signal. Dana walks listeners through the nutrients most commonly involved in ADHD regulation, the signs that the brain may be running on empty, and how parents can begin identifying which biological stressors may be affecting their child. If you're trying to understand the biological drivers behind your child's symptoms, start here: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 The ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit helps parents translate symptoms into biology and identify which underlying stressors may be affecting their child. Get the Decoder Kit here to learn more about how ADHD symptoms connect to biology here: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] Picky eating and impulsive ADHD behaviors may come from the same biological root. [01:15] Case story of a child expelled from four preschools due to extreme behavior. [02:10] Severe nutrient depletion revealed through lab testing. [03:40] The concept of the "starving brain." [05:00] Iron's role in dopamine production and emotional regulation. [06:10] Magnesium and B6 supporting nervous system calm and sleep. [07:00] Zinc deficiency affecting taste perception and picky eating. [08:10] Omega-3s and brain communication. [09:00] Vitamin D and its connection to serotonin and sleep. [10:45] The Ferrari fuel analogy for brain nutrients. [12:15] Signs that the brain may be running low on nutrients. [14:30] Introducing the ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit MEMORABLE MOMENTS "Picky eating and hyperactive and impulsive behavior are not two separate problems. They're the same conversation happening in different rooms." "What if the brain isn't being difficult? What if it's just hungry?" "A brain that's running on empty cannot do manners, patience or waiting turns." "When the brain is starving, no amount of behavioral strategies will actually feed the brain." "These nutrients are literally the wiring for the brain." "You can parent beautifully, but if that fuel is not there, their system stalls." "You're asking a Ferrari to run on cordial." "A hungry brain cannot be polite." "Feed the brain and the behavior follows." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping! 🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstituteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS: ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhdADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
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    14 mins
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