Kitchen Table Conversations with Angela Geddes: Recent Episodes

Angela Geddes

Short and shareable conversation starters to support you or your loved ones with a complicated and beautiful brain.

What does a fastball team have to do with brain health?

More than you might think.

In this special episode, Angela introduces Play Well. Live Well. Grow Well.—a new community awareness campaign created to promote healthy brains, healthy pregnancies, and healthier futures. Inspired by the leadership of the UTM Bandits U19 Fastball Team, this initiative demonstrates how everyday conversations can create lasting change.

Drawing parallels between athletic training and lifelong brain health, Angela explores how the small choices we make every day—from sleep and nutrition to movement, relationships, and learning—help build resilient brains across the lifespan. She also shares why evidence-informed education about prenatal alcohol exposure matters, not to create guilt or shame, but to empower people with knowledge before important decisions are made.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why brain health is built through everyday habits—not just genetics or luck.
How mental health, healthy pregnancies, and community well-being are deeply connected.
What current research tells us about prenatal alcohol exposure and why early education matters.
Why understanding how the brain works can replace blame with compassion and better support.
How one team of young athletes is using its platform to spark meaningful conversations that can strengthen entire communities.

Whether you're a parent, educator, coach, healthcare professional, or someone who simply wants to support healthier communities, this episode is an invitation to join the conversation.

Because healthy brains don't happen by chance—they're built together.

Learn more about the Play Well. Live Well. Grow Well. campaign, explore resources, and discover how you can help spread the message.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela Geddes shares reflections and key takeaways from the 10th International Conference on Adolescents and Adults with FASD in Seattle.

Angela discusses:

the nervous system and brain-body connection
why behaviour is often misunderstood
the impact of shame and misdiagnosis
supporting neurodivergent youth and adults through compassionate, brain-based approaches
the importance of regulation, safety, and connection
why meaningful support should not wait for diagnosis

Angela also shares highlights from the two workshops she co-facilitated:
✨ Seeing More Clearly Together
✨ Not Your Typical Growing Up Guide

This episode offers practical insight, hope, and encouragement for caregivers, educators, professionals, and individuals navigating complicated and beautiful brains.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

When we think about oral health, most of us think about brushing, flossing, and fresh breath. But what if we’ve been missing the bigger picture?

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela Geddes reflects on her early work with the West Elgin Community Health Centre, where she participated in research and community consultations exploring access to dental care and the real-life impact of oral health challenges.

Through powerful stories of young mothers, grandparents, and families navigating poverty, stigma, and complex needs, Angela highlights how oral health is deeply connected to dignity, relationships, and mental wellness.

She also brings forward emerging research showing that oral health is linked to:

Heart disease
Diabetes
Dementia
Stroke risk
Hospital-acquired infections

We now understand that the mouth is not separate from the body—it is a gateway to it.

This episode also explores the added challenges for individuals with sensory sensitivities, trauma histories, and neurodevelopmental differences such as FASD, ADHD, and ASD—where daily oral care is not simply a routine, but a complex, supported task.

This conversation invites us to shift from blame to understanding, and from routine care to whole-person support.

👉 Because oral health is not about vanity.
👉 It is about safety, dignity, and lifelong health.

Recommended Resources:

NHS Borders | Meeting Your Child’s Sensory Needs – Toothbrushing
Toronto Kids Dental | Is Your Child Avoiding Brushing? It Might Be Sensory Overload

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela Geddes shares insights from her clinical work supporting veterans, OPP personnel, and individuals and families navigating complex mental health and neurodevelopmental challenges.

With a focus on Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), this episode highlights a critical system gap: most individuals affected remain unrecognized and unsupported, with fewer than 1% receiving a diagnosis.

Angela shares a clear call to action and the need for a collaborative approach for professionals and communities of all kinds to :

Move beyond diagnosis-dependent systems
Build capacity across all sectors
Support individuals based on functional needs
Prioritize safety, dignity, and understanding

Blending lived experience, research, and policy advocacy, this episode challenges listeners to rethink how we respond when traditional approaches fail.

Recommended Resources:

Training for Social Workers & Allied Health Practitioners
10th International Conference on Adolescents and Adults with FASD
National FASD Program (Australian Prevention Efforts)

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode, Angela Geddes invites listeners into a gentle, grounding conversation about her latest resource, which highlights what happens when we stop fighting our neurodivergent wiring — and begin to understand it.

This episode is especially for people who have grown up feeling “out of step,” misunderstood, or blamed for struggles that are actually rooted in how their brain works - and for the people who love and support them. This episode speaks directly to those living with ADHD, FASD, trauma, substance use impacts, learning differences, and complicated mental health profiles — particularly when life feels overwhelming, uncertain, or high-stakes.

Through a compassionate, brain-based lens, this "Deep Dive" explores:

Why fear and misinformation often surround assessment, diagnosis, and systems
How increased stress, substance use, prenatal alcohol/substance exposure and trauma can change how our brain functions
Why understanding your brain is not about labels or punishment — but about safety, advocacy, and better outcomes
How slowing down and getting curious can open the door to relief and self-compassion

This episode is not about fixing people or telling them what to do.

It’s about offering clarity, reassurance, and a reminder that you are not broken — you are wired differently.

This conversation provides an overview of Angela’s book, Not Your Typical Growing Up & Adulting Guide, and companion workbook which offers further language, tools, and validation for navigating growing up and adulting with a complicated and beautiful brain.

Listeners are encouraged to listen at their own pace, return to it when needed, and share it with someone who might finally feel seen.

🌸 Rising up through muddy waters.

This episode features a rich, brain-based conversation with Lisa Riegel, a school transformation specialist who uses brain science as a foundation for building culture and practices that align to the way our brain works. This conversation explores how schools and families can better support students by understanding behaviour as the intersection of biology and context.

A central theme is the widespread misunderstanding of “manipulation.” For individuals with FASD and other neurodevelopmental profiles related to prenatal alcohol or substance exposure, behaviour can appear manipulative because they often know expectations but lack the executive functioning, emotional regulation, and problem-solving skills needed to consistently meet them or repair mistakes. When situations unravel, they may keep talking, reacting, or shifting direction — not to deceive, but because they are overwhelmed and don’t yet have the tools to navigate the moment effectively.

The conversation also explores why stress is normal, but how modern pressures — including social media, changing family routines, fewer shared meals, reduced idle time, and less opportunity to observe and practice nonverbal communication in safe settings — can amplify regulation challenges for vulnerable learners.

Rather than pathologizing behaviour or blaming parents, this discussion emphasizes the importance of:

Focusing on brain and context
Teaching skills instead of assuming intent
Using “when–then” strategies and clear structure
Helping students link skill development with positive outcomes
Supporting self-understanding and self-advocacy, especially for those with hidden disabilities

The episode ultimately invites educators, caregivers, and systems to shift from reactive responses to proactive skill-building environments that help students learn how to manage their symptoms and thrive.

Educators looking to apply these concepts in real classrooms can explore Not Your Typical Teaching Guide, which offers practical, brain-based strategies.

Not Your Typical Growing Up and Adulting Guide (coming soon) continues this work by supporting teens and young adults to understand their brains, advocate for support, and build meaningful, capable lives. Books can be found here.

To learn more about Lisa Riegel’s work, speaking, and books on improving school climates through neuroscience, visit lisariegel.com.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

This episode originally aired as Episode 95 on December 5, 2024.

The most wonderful time of the year for some… yet not for others.

In this episode, Angela talks about ways to reduce both the impact of and the incidents of prenatal alcohol/substance exposed pregnancies. She encourages consideration for more broad and informal prevention efforts regarding healthy pregnancies now that we have just learned that prevalence rates of FASD in North America have increased to a still conservative estimate of 8%!

Angela also shares some thought provoking ideas around ensuring the holidays are the best they can be for you and your circle. This may mean re-evaluating traditions and creating new ones, and also creating some compassionate boundaries.

🎙️ BONUS | Listen into this episode in French

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

Soutenir les élèves ayant un TSAF ou des différences neurocognitives : Pourquoi une mise à jour des connaissances est essentielle

Cet épisode explore le travail crucial — et souvent invisible — que les éducateur·trices accomplissent pour soutenir des élèves ayant des « cerveaux compliqués et merveilleux ». En Ontario, de nombreux·euses enseignant·es doivent composer avec des profils d’apprentissage complexes tout en s’appuyant sur une information dépassée ou inexacte, particulièrement en ce qui concerne le Trouble du spectre de l’alcoolisation fœtale (TSAF).

Nous expliquons :

Pourquoi des termes comme « SAF » ne sont plus utilisés
Pourquoi le TSAF est beaucoup plus fréquent qu’on le croit
Comment l’invisibilité et le sous-diagnostic mènent à des malentendus
Pourquoi les approches comportementales traditionnelles échouent souvent
Et comment les mises à jour du curriculum permettront aux enseignant·es d’intervenir avec clarté et compassion

Cette conversation met en lumière la résilience des éducateur·trices, l’importance d’outils fiables basés sur les neurosciences, ainsi que la bonne nouvelle que des changements sont déjà en cours. En comprenant les racines neurologiques du comportement, nous pouvons remplacer le jugement par l’observation éclairée et créer des environnements scolaires fondés sur la sécurité, la dignité et l’apprentissage.

📚 Découvrez le livre >>

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

Supporting Students with FASD and Neurocognitive Differences: Why Updated Knowledge Matters

This episode explores the essential, often invisible work educators do to support students with “complicated and beautiful brains.” Many Ontario teachers are navigating complex learning profiles with outdated or incorrect information—especially regarding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

In this episode, we break down:

Why older terms like “FAS” are no longer used
Why FASD is far more common than most educators realize
How invisibility and underdiagnosis lead to misunderstanding
Why traditional behavioural approaches often fail these learners
And how updated curriculum guidance will better equip teachers to respond with clarity and compassion

The conversation highlights the resilience of educators, the importance of accurate neuroscience-informed tools, and the encouraging reality that change is already underway. By understanding the neurological roots of behaviour, we can replace judgment with insight and create classroom environments grounded in safety, dignity, and learning.

📚 Explore the book >>

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Pour certains, c’est la période la plus merveilleuse de l’année… mais pas pour tout le monde.
Dans cet épisode, Angela parle de façons de réduire à la fois l’impact et l’incidence des grossesses exposées à l’alcool ou à d’autres substances. Elle encourage à envisager des efforts de prévention plus larges et informels pour soutenir des grossesses en santé, surtout depuis que nous avons appris que les taux de prévalence du TSAF en Amérique du Nord ont augmenté pour atteindre une estimation encore conservatrice de 8 %!

Angela partage également des idées qui portent à réflexion sur la manière de faire en sorte que le temps des Fêtes soit le meilleur possible pour vous et votre entourage. Cela peut vouloir dire réévaluer certaines traditions et en créer de nouvelles, ainsi qu’établir des limites empreintes de compassion.

RESSOURCES POUR EN SAVOIR PLUS :

CANFASD | La prévalence du trouble du spectre de l’alcoolisation fœtale (PDF)
Angela Geddes Website | Annonce d’intérêt public sur le TSAF 60 secondes (à partager) (link to https://www.angelageddes.ca/resources/mip-2025-60sec)
- Angela Geddes Website | Annonce d’intérêt public sur le TSAF 30 secondes (à partager) (link to https://www.angelageddes.ca/resources/mip-2025-30sec)

N’hésitez pas à partager ce balado avec votre communauté et les personnes dans votre entourage qui pourraient bénéficier de ces importantes conversations de table de cuisine. Votre soutien compte énormément pour nous.

Comprendre les troubles neurodéveloppementaux complexes avec compassion

Dans cet épisode spécial de Plongée en profondeur, Angela Geddes explore les concepts clés de la version mise à jour de son guide Ceci n’est pas votre guide de la parentalité typique, 2e édition. Plutôt qu’un livre audio traditionnel, Angela propose une conversation chaleureuse et accessible qui accompagne les parents, éducateur·trice·s et intervenant·e·s soutenant des enfants et des jeunes ayant des troubles neurodéveloppementaux complexes (TND), dont le TSAF, le TDAH, l’autisme, les traumatismes développementaux et les difficultés liées aux fonctions exécutives.

Angela aborde :

les approches axées sur le cerveau plutôt que sur le comportement
la dysmaturité et la différence entre l’âge réel et l’âge développemental
la mémoire, l’impulsivité et la régulation émotionnelle
les limites, les routines et la planification de la sécurité
la compréhension des vulnérabilités
la co-régulation et la communication bienveillante
la nutrition, le sommeil et les besoins sensoriels
le bien-être de la personne aidante et l’importance de l’autocompassion

Cet épisode offre des stratégies concrètes, des explications compassionnelles et des pistes de réflexion qui complètent le format interactif du livre.

Parfait pour toute personne aidante qui cherche de la clarté, de la validation et des outils qui fonctionnent réellement.

📚 Découvrez le livre >>

Partagez ce balado avec les personnes de votre entourage et de votre communauté qui pourraient bénéficier de ces importantes conversations autour de la table de cuisine. Votre soutien compte énormément pour nous.

Understanding Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders with Compassion

In this special Deep Dive episode, Angela Geddes explores the key concepts from her updated Not Your Typical Parenting Guide, 2nd Edition. Instead of a traditional audiobook, this conversation-style episode offers a warm, accessible walkthrough of the book’s main ideas for caregivers, educators, and clinicians supporting children and youth with Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders (CNDs) including FASD, ADHD, autism, trauma-related challenges, and executive functioning differences.

This deep dive episode discusses:

brain-based approaches to behaviour
dysmaturity and developmental age
memory, impulsivity, and emotional regulation
boundaries, routines, and safety planning
understanding vulnerability
co-regulation and connected communication
nutrition, sleep, and sensory needs
caregiver wellness and self-compassion

This episode offers practical strategies, compassionate guidance, and reflection prompts that complement the interactive format of the book.

Perfect for caregivers seeking clarity, validation, and tools that actually work.

📚 Explore the book >>

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

Joignez-vous à nous pour une nouvelle édition de Plongée en profondeur de Kitchen Table Conversations, où, grâce à la technologie et à notre incroyable équipe, nous pouvons offrir un survol audio et un examen approfondi des principaux points d’apprentissage du premier livre d'Angela, Un cerveau compliqué et merveilleux.

Cette conversation explore à quoi peuvent ressembler le trouble du spectre de l’alcoolisation fœtale (TSAF) et l’exposition prénatale à l’alcool (EPA) tout au long de la vie — chez les enfants, les adolescent·es et les adultes — et pourquoi comprendre le cerveau est plus important que juger le comportement.

À travers des histoires réelles et des réflexions empreintes de compassion, Angela aide les auditeurs et auditrices à reconnaître que ces défis sont de nature neurodéveloppementale et ne sont pas simplement des “choix” posés. L’épisode met en lumière l’urgence d’en apprendre davantage, puisque le TSAF est beaucoup plus fréquent qu’on ne le pense généralement.

Le livre va encore plus loin, offrant des stratégies, de la recherche et des codes QR interactifs qui donnent directement accès à des outils fondés sur les données probantes ainsi qu’à des expériences vécues.

Écoutez, réfléchissez, et laissez-vous inspirer à en apprendre davantage — parce que lorsque l'onsait mieux, on fait mieux.

📚 Découvrez le livre >>

Partagez ce balado avec les personnes de votre entourage et de votre communauté qui pourraient bénéficier de ces importantes conversations autour de la table de cuisine. Votre soutien compte énormément pour nous.

Join us for a new Deep Dive edition of Kitchen Table Conversations, where with the help of technology and our amazing team, we are able to provide an audio overview and a close look at the key learning points within her first book, A Complicated and Beautiful Brain.

This conversation explores what Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can look like across the lifespan — in children, teens, and adults — and why understanding the brain matters more than judging behaviour.

Through real stories and compassionate insight, Angela helps listeners recognize that these challenges are neurodevelopmental in nature and not simply ‘choices’ made. The episode highlights the urgent need to learn more, as FASD is far more common than most people realize.

The book itself goes even deeper, offering strategies, research, and interactive QR codes that connect readers directly to evidence-based tools and lived experiences.

Listen, reflect, and be inspired to learn more — because when we know better, we do better.

📚 Explore the book >>

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

This year’s CanFASD International Research Conference reinforced what many of us have known for years: To truly support individuals and families, we must acknowledge prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) when discussing trauma and attachment.

Researchers Dr. Alan Price and Dr. Raja Mukherjee presented groundbreaking findings confirming that when PAE is ignored, individuals are often misunderstood, and caregivers are unfairly blamed. Their work highlights that many behavioural and emotional challenges are symptoms of brain-based differences, not intentional acts or relational deficits.

Angela Geddes also shared reflections from her one-on-one conversation with Dr. Gabor Maté, emphasizing the need for trauma-informed models to explicitly include PAE in both assessment and intervention.

“These are symptoms, not choices. Families deserve understanding, not blame.” — Angela Geddes

The week concluded at Queen’s Park with meaningful conversations among MPPs eager to advance coordinated, compassionate systems change — ensuring every person has the right to thrive.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

October 10th marks World Mental Health Day, a global reminder that mental health is a universal human right.

In this special episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela Geddes explores what mental health really means — beyond hashtags and online labels. She discusses how overdiagnosis can sometimes overshadow those living with complex, lifelong conditions and highlights the importance of prevention, evidence-informed treatment, and compassion.

Angela also draws attention to a missing piece in many global conversations: the link between prenatal health, early brain development, and lifelong mental wellness.

Featuring the beautiful and heartfelt song “Open a Window” by Jamie Warren and “I’m fine” by Jessie T., this episode is a reminder that you’re not alone — and that hope, help, and understanding are possible.

🌐 Learn more about the WHO campaign: World Mental Health Day

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

Misinformation about a lot of things these days and certainly around FASD is widespread — and it hurts families and communities. In this episode, Angela shares her personal reflections on how outdated language and statistics perpetuate stigma and confusion. She also offers a hopeful path forward, calling for collaboration, evidence-based messaging, and compassion.

She proudly announces that her commitment to this continues and is evident in her recently updated 2nd edition books, "A Complicated and Beautiful Brain" and "Not Your Typical Parenting Guide" – these books are less than 5 and 2 years old respectively, but needed to be updated because the research has changed and there are even more improved strategies and approaches as the learning from families continues. More up to date research and strategies for educators of all kinds can be found in her most recent brand-new book, “Not Your Typical Teaching Guide”.

📚 Explore Angela’s Books

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela shines a light on one of the most overlooked issues in prenatal health: unplanned pregnancies and the invisible window of risk. With over half of pregnancies unplanned, many people are unknowingly exposing developing babies to alcohol, tobacco, or other substances in those critical first weeks.

Angela discusses how this early exposure can lead to lifelong impacts on mental health, learning, and behaviour—not just FASD—and why outdated advice like “a little is fine” is still causing harm. This episode calls for truth without blame, empowering individuals and families with evidence-based information that can prevent harm and reduce stigma.

Listen Now & Share the PSAs ➡️ ACCESS HERE!

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

Breaking the Myths of FASD (and Beyond)

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela tackles one of the biggest misconceptions about pregnancy: that small amounts of alcohol are harmless. She explores the reality that prenatal health begins long before conception—and includes both parents. From the role of fathers’ health and substance use to the link between prenatal exposures and lifelong mental health, behavioural, and learning challenges, this episode brings a compassionate, science-based perspective to an often misunderstood topic. Join the conversation and help us create a future where every child has the best start possible.

Listen Now & Share the PSAs ➡️ ACCESS HERE!

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

Why This Summer Was BIG

Join Angela Geddes, MSW, RSW, as she kicks off FASD Awareness Month and International FASD Awareness Day (Sept 9) with an inspiring look at the work being done to prevent prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and support those living with the impacts of prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and FASD.

This episode highlights:

New book releases, resources, and partnerships
Creative prevention campaigns, including radio PSAs, a new song, and community projects
Why preconception health matters – for both parents
How you can take action this September

Listen now and be part of the movement for awareness, prevention, and inclusive support.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this summer episode, Angela offers compassionate insight for families navigating the season with children, youth, or adults who have complex and beautiful brains. Whether your loved one is dealing with impulsivity, transitions, rigid thinking, or emotional dysregulation, this episode shares practical strategies for structure, regulation, nourishment, nature, and self-care.

Plus: Podcast summer break update!
Weekly episodes return in September for FASD Awareness Month
Bi-weekly schedule resumes in October

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela takes a deep and compassionate look at the critical—but often ignored—link between prenatal health and mental health across the lifespan. Drawing on research, clinical experience, and personal stories, she unpacks how even low levels of alcohol or substance exposure during pregnancy can impact brain development, increasing the risk for conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD.

Angela also addresses the systemic gaps in diagnosis, especially around Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), and the cultural silence that prevents honest conversations about prevention. With a focus on education, support—not shame—and practical action, this episode is a call to bring these conversations to the forefront, because when we know better, we can do better.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this heartfelt episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela shares the excitement of receiving the updated editions of her two books—A Complicated and Beautiful Brain and Not Your Typical Parenting Guide. She reflects on the inspiration behind the books, shares a moving quote from a teen with FASD, and explores the very real challenges faced by caregivers raising children with complex needs.

Angela also introduces a vital new resource by Dr. Maude Champagne, Decoding Complex Behaviour in Brain-Based Disabilities, and teases an upcoming group for caregivers navigating child-to-caregiver reactive and aggressive symptoms.

Listen now and find links to both of Angela's books on Amazon at www.angelageddes.ca.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela reflects on the emotional fallout of Canada’s recent federal election—and the importance of healthy dialogue. Drawing from her mental health background, she unpacks 10 common cognitive distortions (like all-or-nothing thinking and emotional reasoning) and encourages listeners to return to the table with more curiosity and less judgment. This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling disillusioned by political division and searching for ways to reconnect with community and common ground.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

This episode challenges recent claims made by RFK Jr. around autism and explores why Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is being left out of the conversation. While autism is valid and deserves attention, the known risk of prenatal alcohol exposure is too often ignored.

Let's shift the focus to prevention and evidence-based care.

Resources to Learn More:

Science.org | Claiming autism ‘epidemic,’ RFK Jr. describes NIH initiative to find environmental causes
Proof Alliance | What are the differences between FASD and autism?

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

This year’s FASD International Research Conference was both powerful and deeply human.

Key themes included:

The insidious impact of stigma — and how it blocks access to diagnosis and care
The importance of naming FASD to open doors, not close them
New research on paternal alcohol exposure at the time of conception
The call for interdisciplinary support, trauma-informed care, and early intervention
Heartfelt reminders that every diagnosis is a family story — and every story deserves compassion

I ended the trip beside someone whose mother had FASD — a lovely woman who relinquished custody when overwhelmed by the demands of parenting. Their story reminded me: we must humanize this diagnosis, and the families living it.

Let’s continue shifting the conversation toward hope, healing, and justice.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

Celebrating 100 Episodes!

From our very first episode on September 9th, International FASD Awareness Day, to now—this podcast has been about starting the hard conversations, uncovering hidden conditions, and pushing for change. In this milestone episode, I reflect on what we’ve achieved, the impact of our discussions, and how my practice-based research is now being validated by empirical studies.

In this episode, we talk about:

The urgency of FASD awareness and better assessment access
The hidden struggles of neurodevelopmental conditions and why so many are misdiagnosed
How my most popular episode on anxiety resonated with listeners, reframing it as a strength
The critical need for fewer "wrong doors" in mental health and education

The work isn’t done—we’re just getting started. Join me as we push for better awareness, better support, and a future where fewer people are left without answers.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

Neurowise | This Valentines Day it’s time to rethink our approach to attachment
CanFASD | Global Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Among Children and Youth: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PDF)
ADVANCES IN DUAL DIAGNOSIS | Hearing the voice of child welfare social workers: planning safe care for a child with or suspected of having fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (PDF)
Taylor & Francis Online | Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and Social Work Practice in Australia: A Narrative Literature Review

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode, I want to share some reflections from the last few weeks—weeks that have reaffirmed why I do this work and why these conversations are so important.

For the past 25 years, I’ve worked alongside individuals with what I call complicated and beautiful brains—people living with complex mental health conditions, trauma histories, and neurodevelopmental disabilities like FASD. Many of them have experienced family disruptions, multiple placements, and deep struggles with feeling understood.

And yet, despite the challenges, the most profound learning I’ve done has come directly from the individuals and families I support.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

A Practical Guide for EducatorsSupporting Neurodiverse Learners with Compassion and Practical Strategies

At Geddes Specialized Support & Integrative Wellness Inc., we are committed to helping educators, school social workers, and child and youth workers develop a deeper understanding of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and how to effectively support students with complex neurodevelopmental needs.

Our latest podcast episode explores "Understanding and Supporting Students with FASD: A Practical Guide for Educators," offering real-world strategies to foster emotional regulation, reduce stigma, and create classroom environments where students feel safe, understood, and empowered.

Interested in learning more?

We offer training sessions for educators, school social workers, and child and youth workers to help build FASD-informed, inclusive learning environments. Whether you’re an administrator, teacher, or frontline support worker, our workshops provide the knowledge and tools you need to make a difference in the lives of neurodiverse students.

Get in touch with us today to discuss training opportunities for your school or organization.

At Kitchen Table Conversations, my goal is to plant seeds—ideas that make us think about how we can prevent common health conditions and improve overall well-being. While some people argue that we’re living longer than past generations, I’d challenge that by asking: Are we living healthier? The diseases we face today may be different, but many of them can be preventable.

I’m not a scientist, and I stay in my lane as a social worker. But I’ve read and learned enough to know that when we feed our bodies better, they function better and I truly believe that we can do better when we know better. I don't think enough of us talk about our food choices and the link to common physical and mental health conditions. Dr. Casey Means shared in her book, Good Energy, that as a surgeon, she was not offered one course in Nutrition in all her medical training. That is astounding to me.

So, as you sit around your own kitchen table, I encourage you to have these conversations. Talk about food, health, and how we can make choices that benefit both ourselves and future generations. Thank you for tuning in. Until next time, take care!

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Welcome to today’s episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, where we dive into pressing issues in mental health, neurodiversity, and the incredible work being done to support individuals and families with complex needs.

Today, we’re talking about an urgent issue: the need for more Social Workers—and other front-line professionals—to be trained, confident, and competent in identifying and supporting individuals impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure.

Listen in and let me paint a picture for you.

For more information on Training for Social Workers and to register, please click here!

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The most wonderful time of the year for some… yet not for others.

In this episode, Angela talks about ways to reduce both the impact of and the incidents of prenatal alcohol/substance exposed pregnancies. She encourages consideration for more broad and informal prevention efforts regarding healthy pregnancies now that we have just learned that prevalence rates of FASD in North America have increased to a still conservative estimate of 8%!

Angela also shares some thought provoking ideas around ensuring the holidays are the best they can be for you and your circle. This may mean re-evaluating traditions and creating new ones, and also creating some compassionate boundaries.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

CANFASD | The Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (PDF)
YouTube | FASD Public Service Announcement (please share)

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Join Angela as she explores the balance between research, analytical thought, and lived perspectives. Together, we'll bring complex topics back to your kitchen table for meaningful discussion and debate. Are we mitigating risk at the cost of stifling free thought, creativity, and problem-solving? Through open dialogue and a critical cost-benefit lens, let’s make sense of what truly works for us in a world of evolving ideas and challenges.

Resources to learn more:

Psychology Today | What's Wrong With Gentle Parenting?
Psychology Today | When Gentle Parenting Feels Phony
Feeding Your Baby | Caffeine, Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs and Breastfeeding (PDF)
Book | Not Your Typical Parenting Guide by Angela Geddes
Book | Now I Know Why Tigers Eat Their Young: Surviving a New Generation of Teenagers by Dr. Peter Marshall

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela Geddes dives into the critical need for ongoing training to empower communities and clinicians in identifying, assessing, and supporting individuals who may have been prenatally exposed to alcohol or other substances. Angela emphasizes that building community capacity means developing clinicians who are not only competent, but also confident in their ability to screen and address the nuanced needs of people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

Angela tackles the pervasive stigma surrounding FASD, highlighting how many adults living with this condition wish for a more direct and honest dialogue about the risks of alcohol or substance use during pregnancy. Many of them have shared that they feel it’s time to move past the fear of offending people and instead focus on delivering the powerful message: there is no safe amount, time, or type of alcohol for use during pregnancy. For Angela, framing this message as a “gift” can help prevent avoidable harm.

She also discusses how rising rates of alcohol consumption and sexually transmitted diseases bring new challenges to prevention efforts. Angela touches on the concept of "research fatigue," explaining that skepticism toward health warnings may cause some people to downplay these risks. For her, the solution lies in offering accurate information in a balanced and relatable way—exactly the goal of the Kitchen Table Conversations podcast. This platform serves as a space for open, honest discussions that help individuals make informed choices without shying away from hard truths.

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In this episode, Angela reflects on her journey as a social worker, highlighting key insights and lessons learned over the years. Join her as she celebrates the wisdom shared by like-minded professionals who continue to inspire and guide her practice.

Angela also shares exciting updates, including her collaboration with Dr. Clare Mitchell, and discusses how honoured she feels to participate in the London Conference and other professional development and caregiver support opportunities during the past and coming weeks.

Head to her website to learn more about Angela's latest book, Not Your Typical Parenting Guide, a booklet co-authored by Dr. Clare Mitchell, A Practical Approach to Neurodevelopmental Disorders, and other free resources including safety plans, and info sheets for family and friends, etc. Angela also offers Training for Social Workers to enhance our assessment and support services.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this podcast episode, Angela tackles a significant issue surrounding the term "FASD" (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) and whether the name itself contributes to the stigma faced by many who experience misdiagnosis and misunderstanding. While FASD has traditionally been linked to maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy, recent insights highlight the complexity of the diagnosis. Angela emphasizes the growing understanding of epigenetics and the role of paternal alcohol use at conception, as well as the intergenerational impact of alcohol exposure that may manifest even if no alcohol was consumed during pregnancy.

This discussion encourages us to reconsider our approach to supporting individuals by moving beyond judgment and focusing on recognizing organic, brain-based difficulties. Angela calls for better screening to identify when behaviors are neurologically rooted rather than the result of parenting or poor decisions. She is pleased and honoured that people are calling on her more frequently to share what she has learned in this area and specifically the training for Social Workers that we now know is so critical.

Listeners are invited to explore related research articles, which make the case for a possible name change to FASD, to better reflect the complexity of the condition. Additionally, the episode revisits the song "Dusty Road to Home," celebrating the creative talents often found in individuals with neurodivergent and "complicated, beautiful brains."

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of FASD and the need for compassionate, informed approaches to support.

Check out these research articles, as well and link to the SW training page please and to the video for Dusty Road to home.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

FASD United | Addressing the Recommended Changes to FASD Diagnosis Published in The Lancet
Social work and fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) (PDF)
Time to move on from FASD diagnosis? (PDF)
Hearing the voice of child welfare social workers: planning safe care for a child with or suspected of having fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) (PDF)
Training for Social Workers | Facilitated by Angela Geddes

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In this episode, Angela opens up about her recent work and candidly addresses the challenges she's faced in raising awareness about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). She reflects on the resistance she has encountered in spreading the message and poses important questions about why this crucial issue isn't receiving the attention needed to drive meaningful change.

Please visit the CanFASD website to learn what Canadians have been up to, and check out the upcoming training dates below. If you would like additional information on any of these events, please reach out to us at infogeddes@gmail.com.

Upcoming Training Sessions:

Windsor - October 1st
North Bay - October 9th
Port Huron - October 17th - Event Details
Brantford - November 5th
London Conference - October 22nd & 23rd
Fanshawe College - Fall Semester

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

We all have a role to play in supporting/preventing FASD. It's up to all of us to support healthy pregnancies.

As we mark FASD Awareness Month, we are thrilled to share a project that holds a special place in our hearts. A small group of young adults, collectively, with lived experiences of family disruptions, grief, loss, trauma, FASD, learning disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, domestic violence, and other adverse childhood experiences, came together to form new connections and explore hidden talents. What emerged from this collaboration is nothing short of magical in our humble view. With the incredible support of CCMA award-winning artist Jamie Warren—who also happens to be Angela's husband—we created a powerful and inspirational song, Dusty Road to Home.

Please check out our website for the videos and ways you can help share and spread this important message.

In today's episode of The Power of Kitchen Table Conversations: Making a Difference in Prenatal Health, we'll explore the critical and often overlooked issue of alcohol use during pregnancy.

Despite clear evidence showing that no amount of alcohol is safe, conflicting messages from the media and medical field continue to confuse expectant mothers. We'll share personal stories, like that of my niece, who made the informed decision to go alcohol-free during her pregnancy, inspired by years of family discussions.

This episode highlights the importance of honest, compassionate conversations in preventing prenatal alcohol exposure and ensuring the healthiest start for the next generation.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

CanFASD Journal on Developmental Disabilities | Are Rural and Urban Ontario Health Care Professionals Aware of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder? A Secondary Data Analysis of the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Survey for Health Professionals (PDF)
Today.com | Mandy Moore compares giving birth to 'acid trip'
CanFASD | Reporting on Alcohol Use During Pregnancy and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (PDF)
CanFASD | Breastfeeding and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (PDF)
US News | Drinking Among Pregnant Women Up in U.S.
CEWH.com | Why do girls and women drink alcohol during pregnancy? (PDF)

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There is compelling evidence that effective learning is deeply tied to human connection, focused attention, and the internalization of knowledge—areas where technology, especially AI, falls short.

As parents and caregivers, it’s important to consider these findings when managing technology use at home. Technology for some can be a game changer and there are so many obvious benefits. However, deeper, long lasting and foundational learning develops over time and requires a few things that technology cannot provide. Listen in to learn more and check out the resources below for further learning. (The irony is not lost on me with that last suggestion!!)

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

Psychology Today | 5 Ways to Help Your Brain Learn Better
My Health Alberta | Cutting Back on Your Child's Screen Time: Care Instructions
Mayo Clinic | Screen time and children: How to guide your child

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Advocacy is a cornerstone of social work, essential in helping others learn to voice their needs. Yet, navigating the fine line between assertiveness and finesse is crucial. In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, we delve into strategies for advocating effectively while maintaining respect and avoiding further stigmatization.

Join us as we explore the nuances of this vital aspect of our profession.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

Psychology Today | Practice Assertiveness
Psychology Today | How, and How Not, to Stand Up for Yourself
Youth Employment | How To Stand Up For Yourself Without Putting Other People Down

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This week, Angela is heading away for a family holiday and felt that it would be fitting to discuss some tips and strategies that can help to make summertime as enjoyable and relaxing as possible; even for people who are experiencing the impact of complex neurodevelopmental conditions like Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Cerebral Palsy, Tourtett's Syndrome, Autism, and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

It is so important to realize that FASD is the most common Developmental Disability in Canada, and with the right support and information, it can be prevented. Let's talk about this and some strategies that help us accept the condition and to learn new caregiving approaches that can help everyone in the family.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

AMA Queensland | Glimmers for Mental Health
NOFASD Australia | Let’s Travel Guide
Angela Geddes’ Monthly Newsletter | Subscribe

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In this episode, Angela shares her thoughts on our broad understanding of neurodivergence and how the opportunity for inclusivity is there, but we seem to continue to miss the most common developmental disorder there is which is Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Angela highlights the reason why she wrote her book, A Complicated and Beautiful Brain,(including an audio endorsement from Dr. Peter Choate recommending this book alongside Dr. Bruce Perry and Oprah Winfrey's book, What Happened To You?). She highlights how different her book is from others in that it aims to help people see the more subtle yet impactful symptoms that largely go unrecognized as brain based and are misunderstood more often to be associated with poor parenting, poor decision making and behaviour!

There is so much blame and shame associated with this condition, which is unfair and unhelpful. We can do better!

She asks for your help to keep spreading this very important message because the symptoms that we see as neurodivergence and mental health conditions are also directly linked to prenatal substance exposures. As much as we want neurodivergent affirming communities and supports, we also want to prevent unnecessary variances in brain function if we can. I see every single day how challenging these conditions can be. Everyone wants a healthy pregnancy, and it is necessary to clarify information in order for this to happen more often.

Remember, more people are confirming alcohol use during pregnancy now than a decade ago. Our prevention efforts need to adjust.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

Very Well Mind | What Are Neurodevelopmental Disorders?
Public Health Agency of Canada | Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) Prevention: Canadian Perspectives
eMentalHealth.ca | Fetal Alcohol and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD)

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In this episode, Angela discusses the risks of alcohol in pregnancy and provides some evidence once again that our communication around this issue needs to change.

Check out the resources below for more statistics and position papers on this subject and her social media posts to help spread these important messages. We really can make such a difference.

“When we know better, we can do better.” Let's make some of this information go viral!!

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

CanFASD | The Prevalence of Alcohol Use During Pregnancy in Canada
CanFASD | Reporting on Alcohol Use During Pregnancy and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
CDC | Alcohol Consumption and Binge Drinking During Pregnancy Among Adults Aged 18–49 Years

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In this episode, Angela reviews the 5 common senses and then explores a little more deeply some less widely understood senses and how so many of our children/youth and adults struggle with sensory overload.

The 8th sense in particular is interoception. Angela discusses what this means and how difficulties in this area can manifest and impact day to day life.

Please check out the resources below for more information and feel free to reach out to us to learn more. Angela and her team focus on both self and co-regulation every day in their practice and many are finding this to be very helpful for individuals and families.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

Pathways.org | Sensory Integration: Know the Basics
Kelly Mahler | Interoception Assessment: Dilemmas and Practical Solutions
Sarah Brown, Occupational Therapist

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In this episode, Angela chats about the consequences of social isolation and some of what we have learned from our COVID experience. She also discusses the importance of feeling understood and a sense of belonging and folks are reminded of some strategies to support wellness, and specific programs and services that can be helpful.

Check out Psychology Today to read an article on How Social Isolation Affects the Brain and our program offerings for the Building Connections Workshops.

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In this episode, Angela shares her gratitude for the work she is honoured to do and the people she supports and walks alongside. She shares her passion for reducing both the impact and incidences of prenatal exposures and thanks you for your ongoing support of this message by listening to this podcast and taking these important topics back to your kitchen table.

By taking care of our own little corners of the world, we can create real change that will spread and, one day, have a global effect.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode, Angela shares some of her recent kitchen table conversations regarding Individual Education Plans and when and how we support students in the way that they need in order to reach their potential. Sometimes our efforts are shortsighted and not as helpful as they are intended to be, and sometimes it's simply not possible to make the accommodations that people are looking for.

Angela shares how it takes a community to raise a child and we need to extend ourselves to others rather than judge people harshly, recognizing that everyone is doing their best.

Check out these resources to learn more about IEPs and the frequency of misdiagnosis which makes helpful accommodations even harder to offer.

Resources to Learn More:

Special Needs Ontario | Individualized Education Plan
National Library of Medicine | Misdiagnosis and missed diagnoses in foster and adopted children with prenatal alcohol exposure

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Angela is proud to be trained in Mindfulness Yoga Acceptance Commitment Therapy/training and sees the improved outcomes in individuals and families every single day in her small but growing practice. She uses elements of the modality in her personal and professional life.

Angela is pleased to be able to speak to the research and the practice based evidence at the 9th International Research Conference of FASD for Adults and Adolescents in Seattle Washington. She is also participating in a poster session to highlight what we've learned after offering training specific for Social Workers and front line clinicians involved in screening and assessment services! So far the feedback has been great and she is excited to share and contribute to reducing both the incidents, and the impact of prenatal (alcohol) exposures.

Resources to Learn More:

The Oxford Scientist | More than a diagnosis: recognizing FASD
Seattle Conference | 9th International Research Conference of FASD

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

To follow up on our last conversation, where we discussed the holes in our social safety net, Angela focuses on the need to increase awareness within our system and within our communities regarding the incidents and the consequences that result from prenatal substance exposures. She gives examples of how misinformation and resistance does harm to those who we are passionately supporting - just often in unhelpful and irrelevant ways.

We also need to know that families are struggling and conditions like FASD can be prevented with the right supports and information shared.

Angela is hoping these messages go viral - what could be more important than helping our youngest community members being born as healthy as they can be? :)

Resources to Learn More:

FASD ONE | New release of 4 PSA’s on FASD ONE YouTube Channel
FASD ONE | Press Release (PFD)

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode, Angela shares information about programs and services aimed to support people in need. She also discusses how sometimes these programs and services fall short and that we all can help to clarify the myths associated with income and disability support and realize that the system is not always easy to navigate, and oftentimes it is not utilized to its full potential; meaning that we are not seeing the improved outcomes that we are all hoping for with the financial investments made. Angela gives examples of our attempts made to create an inclusive society, actually doing the opposite.

Have a listen and check out the resources below to learn more and to consider how we all can do a little more to support people with significant challenges in their day to day life.

Resources to Learn More:

Ontario.ca | Income Support from ODSP
Developmental Services Ontario
L'Arche London, Ontario

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In this episode, Angela shares a few tips and strategies that may be helpful when supporting our children with ADHD, and she also discusses some overlapping characteristics for other mental health and learning difficulties that should be considered and talked about around our Kitchen tables.

Resources to Learn More:

PsychCentral | Parenting Kids with ADHD: 12 Tips to Tackle Common Challenges
DOWNLOAD | Not Your Typical Parenting Guide (PDF)
Community Networks | Overlapping Behavioral Characteristics of FASD & Related Mental Health Diagnoses in Children (PDF)

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

A chance to reflect and evaluate.

In this episode, Angela talks about different needs and approaches to special days like Valentine’s Day and acknowledges that for some this can be a very difficult day, and there are no rules; no 'right' or 'wrong' way of doing things. She discusses the power of music and messaging that can help to inspire us and highlights a couple of good songs that she recommends.

Angela also discusses grief, and loss, and the benefit of seeking out support systems and exploring ways to change things up if needed in order to live our best lives.

If you'd like, have a listen to:

Flowers by Miley Cyrus
Standing Room Only by Tim McGraw

Read more about Navigating Valentine’s Day by Psychology Today.

And if you or someone you know may benefit from some additional and professional support, feel free to reach out to a recommended person in your area, or connect with us through our website here.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode, we are chatting about prioritizing our efforts, keeping busy and meeting our kids and the people we love and support where they are at and without so many assumptions and blame. We will discuss how important prevention efforts are, but also, how important it is to just be helpful no matter what the diagnosis is or what caused it. If parents and providers can do a better job identifying when people are struggling with some things that are legitimately more difficult for them to manage, then we can be more helpful and supportive.

When we know better, we can do better.

Please bring this conversation home to your kitchen tables. Angela is also sharing that her practice is growing, and things are getting busier so the podcast may slow down to every other week or once a month. It's all about balance and making sure you can focus on the things that are in line with your values.

Right now, helping families directly and contributing to system capacity are the most important things she feels she needs to do. Families are in urgent need for CND/FASD informed therapists and she and her team are honoured to do this work. Check out our website for a new resource called "Not Your Typical Parenting Guide" and to connect with us for support.

Thanks for sharing and walking alongside us here!

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

Let's all see what we can do to bring these conversations home to our kitchen tables so we can all do our part to reduce the stigma and deepen our understanding of how we can support mental wellness beyond just a superficial level. In this episode, Angela touches on how Bell media is doing wonderful things to keep the conversation going, but also, reportedly blindsided one of their major news anchor's with an abrupt dismissal.

Regardless of the reason's for the termination, which are not for us here to judge, the approach left a lot of negative fallout. Workplaces do not always put into practice their 'commitment' to workplace safety. Angela gives a few examples and encourages these discussions to continue. We only know what we know, and together, we can continue to work towards positive change.

Check out the free mental health 101 course available through CAMH.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

CMHA | Mental Health Statistics (PDF)
BELL Let’s Talk | Bell Let’s Talk Toolkit

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What are we really looking for?

In this episode, Angela chats about how we define and understand happiness, and how sometimes the quest for happiness can be counterproductive. It can leave us feeling like our efforts are not working and that we must be doing something wrong.

Angela also points out that these elements are in line with ACT and highlights how pleased and proud she is to be presenting at the conference and the workshop.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

Psychology Today | What is Happiness?
9th International Research Conference on Adolescents and Adults with FASD
Winter 2024 | FASD Learning Series

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode, Angela chats about why there continues to be such resistance in communities and within systems to learn more and share more of this important messaging that could really be game changing in terms of the health and wellbeing of future generations.

Angela encourages you to check out training opportunities from FASD ONE and CanFASD to learn more, including her Social Work Training aimed to build our current system capacity without much more in the way of financial investment.

When we know better we can do better. Thanks for coming along with me and for doing what you can to support healthy pregnancies.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

CBC Radio | 'You're weird, you're different and nobody wants to be your friend': the loneliness of FASD
CBC News | Years-long wait for Manitoba FASD diagnosis highlights 'critical' need for more resources
VIDEO | FASD Public Service Announcement
VIDEO | My Adult FASD Diagnosis: Clarity for a Man and his Mom
Best Start by Health Nexus | Childbirth Preparation and Support Tool

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

A new year is a time to reflect and often involves the opportunity to look ahead and set some new intentions/resolutions. It's also o.k. to not and to just keep plugging away and working towards living our best life. There are no 'rules' here but we all can do little things that can increase our overall wellness.

This episode has some tips to support emotional intelligence and to build resilience because sometimes "bad things happen to good people" and we can focus more on "bouncing back" rather than the "set back".

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

Breifer Books | When Bad Things Happen to Good People Summary by Harold Kushner
Psychology Today | 7 Tips to Raise Your Emotional Intelligence

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Our final podcast for the year!! Hoping it finds you well and looking forward to some quiet time with family and friends. We're also mindful of those who do not celebrate or find this time of year as peaceful as they would like for a number of reasons. Our thoughts are with you.

In today's episode, we are reminded of the importance of community and connections, and we offer some ideas in this area. We are also reminded of the importance of supporting healthy choices and offering non alcoholic options at gatherings for all and to do so without questions, assumptions, etc.

We are also sharing our Public Service Announcement and asking that you go to our socials to share with your circle because we all have a role to play when it comes to supporting healthy pregnancies.

From our home to yours, Happy Holidays and we look forward to you listening in again in the new year.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

CANFASD | 12 Days of Mocktails
Free Download | Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder: Information for Family & Friends
YouTube | FASD Public Service Announcement (please share)

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode, we’re going to take some time to talk about happiness and the thing we can be doing to experience more of it. Please take a time some time to read the article I mention by Psychology Today that shares 23 ways to be happier.

Take time to reflect on what’s most important to you. While happiness all day every day is not a realistic goal, find moments in everyday life and appreciate them as they come.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

ARTICLE | How to be Happy: 23 Ways to be Happier by Psychology Today
SUPPORT GROUP | Acceptance Commitment Therapy/Training (ACT): An on-line group for Parents and Caregivers facilitated by Angela Geddes

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

This episode reminds us all of where the most meaningful learning takes place and there are times when we need to challenge historical understandings, and approaches particularly when it comes to relationships and parenting strategies. Research is evolving, and this means that there are things for us to learn and bring home.

My focus continues to be around the misinformation about prenatal alcohol/substance exposure because there is an URGENT need for us to do things differently. Even when I get referrals to support mood and relationship issues, we so very often (not always) learn that PAE has been a part of the history... Last week during one session we learned that 11 family members were exposed and struggling with mental health issues. That was a surprise... and our approach needs to be different.

Typical mental health services would not know how to offer a different and more helpful approach. When we know better, we can do better.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

ARTICLE | Empowering Future Helpers by Angela Geddes
BOOK | A Complicated & Beautiful Brain by Angela Geddes

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

This episode originally aired as EPISODE #17 on December 21, 2022.

In this repeat episode, today's conversation will centre around the holiday season as we explore all the 'feels' and consider the needs of people who may find the season particularly stressful. These tips and considerations will be helpful to all of us, but in particular for people with complicated mental health, learning and sensory needs. Let's do our best to challenge the 'rules' we have in our heads about what we need to do, what the holidays 'should' look like, and adapt in order to best position ourselves for the most meaningful experiences.

In terms of hope for the future, we will share important information about upcoming training in our ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive service delivery system.

Please visit the website to access the resources referenced in this episode.

This episode addresses the urgent need for us to do things differently; to consider things like the impact of financial stress, housing issues, and overall mental wellness of the family when considering ways to improve children's mental health. We also need to consider one concrete way that we all can mitigate the risk of children's mental illness, and that is by talking about the risks associated with drinking during pregnancy.

Let's keep this conversation going!

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT | Training for Social Workers facilitated by Angela Geddes
CMHO Conference | Infant and Mental Health Promotion (The only talk at the CMHO Conference this year that mentioned prenatal health and exposures in terms of children's mental health)

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

I am excited to be presenting at the Canadian Mental Health Ontario Conference. My goal is to broaden the audience and invite more people to explore training opportunities to become more competent and confident in their ability to screen and identify when what people are presenting with is more than Mental Health, trauma and parenting issues and may be directly related to prenatal trauma including exposures to alcohol and other polysubstances.

With prevalence rates being conservatively understood to be 5% and with fewer than 1% of Ontarians who would qualify for an FASD diagnosis actually having access to an assessment, we know that folks are utilizing our children's mental health services, but most often not seeing the outcomes we are all hoping for.

To use the words of the wise Maya Angelou once again, "When we know better, we can do better." I’m honoured to share what I have learned so far with a sold out audience!

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

CONFERENCE | 2023 CMHO In-Person Conference
ARTICLE | The Integral Role of Social Workers with People Impacted by PAE/FASD

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode, we’ll look at some surprising statistics and what people do not know about some of our most complicated and beautiful brains. Listen in to hear of some of Angela’s recent and upcoming efforts to increase awareness and build system capacity.

A shout out to MPP Rob Flack for giving us so much of his valuable time to listen to the needs and opportunities. Many many thanks.

RESOURCES TO LEARN MORE:

FASD Assessment Team Training, in partnership with FASD ONE
Training for Social Workers, facilitated by Angela Geddes

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode we will look at the passing of a ‘friend’ and have further discussion about complicated mental health and addictions from the real experts.

Check out the links below for Rebecca Tillou's work and we recommend Matthew Perry's book, Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing. We feel that hearing from people with lived experience is so important and we encourage all to take these conversations back to our kitchen tables and to share the podcast broadly.

We can really make an impact regarding mental health support, housing issues, poverty, employment, etc. When we know better, we can do better... and we all need 'helpers' from time to time.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

Today's episode centres once again around the role of prenatal exposure to alcohol and how so few of us understand the impact on individuals and families every day. Angela speaks of what she learned while attending and presenting at the London Region FASD Conference (Learn more by following #LFASD and @FASDLondon). Our goal here is to broaden the audience and increase understanding.

It takes a community to raise a child. We need your help to share these important messages.

Please share this podcast with those in your circle and community who would benefit from these important Kitchen Table Conversations. Your support means the world to us.

In this episode we look at the importance of checking our biases once again, and realizing that when typical parenting, or mental health supports are not working as expected, we need to be open to trying things differently. There is resistance to change, and families feel the blame and shame everyday. So do some of the service providers who are trying to help build new understanding and capacity. Another very important kitchen table conversation!

Join us for a short mindfulness practice.

This episode explores acceptance commitment therapy and ways that we can both settle and evaluate our thoughts in order to learn and move forward in ways that bring us closer to the things and people that are important to us.

Check out the Programs section on our website to learn more about individual and group opportunities aimed at helping people reconnect with our values and to live our best lives - even amidst some real challenges and even crisis situations.

This podcast discusses the importance of being able to identify when we have a problem and how best to get diagnostic clarification. We also discuss how, in our efforts to build more inclusive supports and services, we sometimes become more exclusionary by requiring prenatal exposures to be confirmed before getting a full assessment. We discuss the importance of this in terms of prevention and resources etc.

We also explore how we can still seek comprehensive assessment and mitigate risk of added stigma and in some cases doing more harm than good when we just address symptoms and the complex neurodevelopmental disorder rather than the specific cause. There are also other times when we simply will not have access to pregnancy records… some will never know... so then what?

Something to think about!

Please check out our Caregiver Education and Support Group for those who are living with or loving spirited children and/or someone with complex mental health, learning and social difficulties. Feel free to share. :)

In this episode, we’ll look at the responsibility to provide accurate information around alcohol use and pregnancy. I remain passionate about reducing both the incidents and the impact of prenatal exposures. We can do better and we have a responsibility to provide people with evidence based information.

Listen in to this episode and please feel free to share. It's up to all of us to support healthy pregnancies.

Head to the website to access the resources referenced in this episode.

In the spirit of FASD awareness month, let's keep these important conversations going! Did you know that so many people with FASD have been misdiagnosed with ASD and ADHD? Listen in to find out more facts about FASD and head to the website to learn more.

We've known about FASD since the 1600's - What????

Why are we still so confused about this largely preventable condition? Listen in to hear why we continue to get so many mixed messages and how we can contribute directly to healthier pregnancies, people and communities by bringing this conversation home to our own kitchen tables.

Head to the website to learn more.

This episode of Kitchen Table Conversations focuses on our ongoing efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding complicated mental health and learning difficulties that are often associated with prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) and FASD. We will also discuss ongoing opportunities to reduce both the impact and incidents of prenatal alcohol exposure and how we all can support healthy pregnancies, people, families and communities by bringing these conversations back home to our kitchen tables.

Check out my free resources for individuals and families with Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders here.

September, which is FASD awareness month, is fast approaching. Let's get a head start!! Listen to this episode where we discuss opportunities to learn more about the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE), and hear more about some surprising statistics. We will also learn more about what we all can do to improve our prevention efforts and to support people who are currently living with the effects of PAE.

Let's do this! With the right information and support, the most common developmental disability can be prevented. Think about that for a minute.

Visit the website for a wealth of resources to learn more, include an FASD Awareness Public Service Announcement video that we would love for you to share.

Today's episode will touch on how we can make the transition back to school as good as it can be. We have to be mindful and creative when addressing resistance about going back to school.

We will discuss how important it is for us as parents and caregivers to be mindful of our mood and messaging, and how we can support and validate feelings while expressing confidence in our kids ability to overcome difficulties and experience success.

We also share an important reminder that it's o.k. to ask for help!

Visit the website to learn more.

In this episode, we aim to normalize the benefit of therapy/counselling and doing our best to provide early access that can really help to lighten the load, and to prevent chronic difficulties or illness.

Let's bring this conversation back home to our kitchen tables so others who struggle with feeling stuck, low energy, high stress or anxiety and maybe other work or relationship difficulties, can seek some objective and evidence informed support in order to help them live their best lives!

Visit the website for more information about the purpose and kinds of therapies available! We are ACT trained therapists and the evidence is clear that this can be very helpful!

In this episode, we’re talking about supporting healthy pregnancies and clarifying some language and messaging. When we know better, we can do better!

Feel free to send me some ideas on how to share messages in ways that help people realize that FASD can happen to anyone, not just for those who struggle with “problem drinking."

Head to the website to reach out or access resources to learn more.

The theme for this year's World Breastfeeding Week is "Let's make breastfeeding and work, work!"

We still have some work to do to support working mothers in their breastfeeding efforts.

Visit my website to read an article by the WHO outlining their research regarding children's health and how breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition, and how children's health is impacted by poor nutrition.

In this episode, we also discuss some of the myths that get passed down and ways to change that by bringing important information back to our kitchen tables.

This is a repeat episode that originally aired as EPISODE #12: A Positive Look at Anxiety. We think it’s worth another listen.

People with anxiety often really struggle with many things, and often with their view of themselves. They often find themselves frustrated with their perceived shortcomings and often with inability to deal more effectively with their intense worry and anxiousness. In this episode, we’ll take a look at some of the really positive qualities and characteristics for anxious people in the spirit of a strength based and hopeful approach to treatment and support!

Using music as a medium. Let’s take another listen to this episode, which originally aired as EPISODE #44: Challenging Our Biases Around People Who Don't 'Work', and the song recently released by Dean Brody called Broke. I think it warrants another listen with a little more explanation as to why this discussion should come home to your Kitchen Tables.

Here is a link to his song and I encourage you to have a listen. He refers to things that don’t work as “Broke”. The metaphor is brilliant and it’s no surprise coming from such a gifted songwriter, but how would you feel if you struggled with employment and no matter how hard you tried, you didn’t fit in, or it just didn’t work out as you had planned?

With all we say we are doing to reduce the stigma around mental health, I believe we can do better. I caution all to me mindful of intention, and to not be too judgemental. I’m not a fan of cancelling people we don’t agree with, and I realize that “we only know what we know.” I began these Kitchen Table Conversations to promote healthy and curious discussion with the hope to allow people to see things from “the other side of the tree” to quote one of my dear Canadian Veteran’s that I am supporting, who ironically was quite broke following his time spent in the Military.

Once again, I love Dean Brody and so many of his brilliant songs. I don’t know him personally but know many who do; all of which have nothing but great things to say about him. He has every right to express his opinion about working hard for ourselves and our family. I get it. But… I see people in my studio every single day, who would love to work and go to school, but experience significant and legitimate challenges in their efforts to be successful due to their hidden disabilities. We need to understand that if ‘laziness’ was the reason for people to not work, it would be an easy solution. Let’s re-think this please and do what we can to reduce the stigma for people experiencing complex mental health conditions.

Pink said it best when she said, "you wanna talk about hard work... building a bed out of a cardboard box is hard work..." From the song, Dear Mr. President.

There are other thoughts that sometimes perpetuate our negative biases and harsh judgements. Have a listen and take these chats back to your tables.

In this episode, Angela discusses the importance of noticing, honouring and learning from our feelings and evaluating whether or not our responses help or hinder us. Listeners are invited to take a few minutes to breathe and imagine a temporary button and explore ways to help us avoid getting stuck when things get very difficult.

Angela and her team use many principles from Acceptance Commitment Therapy/Training within their practice. Visit the website to find recommended books and resources for further reading if this spikes your curiosity.

Using music as a medium, this episode challenges the listener to bring this discussion back to our kitchen tables to explore the unique challenges that people with hidden disabilities experience. People do want to work; and they do work very hard... But there are many times when this is impossible within our communities. We can do better, and when more people understand why some people don't work, we will judge less harshly and build more inclusive communities that allow more to contribute in good ways.

Pink said it best when she said, "you wanna talk about hard work... building a bed out of a cardboard box is hard work..."

There are other thoughts that sometimes perpetuate our negative biases and harsh judgements. Have a listen and take these chats back to your tables.

Parliament passed Bill C-22; establishing the first ever Canada Disability Benefit.

This is fantastic news and a result of much advocacy from Inclusion Canada, various organizations, families and individuals who know that 40% of people with a disability live in poverty. The work continues, and much more advocacy is necessary to help clarify who qualifies especially with more 'hidden' disabilities.

Let's bring this home to our kitchen tables to discuss!

Welcome to summer! In today’s episode, I’m sharing tips for good health, plus some reviews on my book (thank you!) and the need to raise awareness; all in an effort to help people and communities be as healthy as they can be.

Today's episode is highlighting an upcoming FASD Conference scheduled for the Fall which focuses on breaking stigma and supporting success in a complex world.

Angela is honoured to be a part of this amazing event to help share information from the frontline and family perspective in our effort to build more inclusive service delivery systems and communities.

Check out the website for more details on the conference and please pay attention to the call for art to celebrate the beauty and creativity that comes from people with complicated and beautiful brains.

So many times our past continues to interfere with our day to day existence in disruptive ways. Often we allow our distressing past experiences to continue to alter our world view and our view of our self.

Have a listen to this episode to hear about some of the ways that we can make peace with our past and move towards our values with more wisdom and resilience.

Check out the website for more details and tips that we all can benefit from.

In this episode, I will share my experience from the Newfoundland FASD Conference that I was honoured to speak at this past week. We had an amazing time meeting so many people who are so committed to making a difference: reducing stigma and raising awareness for people with complicated and beautiful brains.

We met so many resilient people with some traumatic yet hopeful and inspiring stories to tell.

Visit my website to read and share the CBC article mentioned in this episode, because it’s a story that needs to be told!

In this episode, as Angela heads to Newfoundland to speak at a conference on FASD, we recognize the impact proper education and awareness can have on prevention when it comes to prenatal alcohol expose. Increasing awareness can dramatically change the landscape of FASD in a relatively short period of time.

It’s so important to have these conversations and to bring them home to your own kitchen table.

Today's episode is focused on how many people struggle with life's challenges and mental illness alone, and so often their method involves self medicating with substances.

Addictions often result from untreated trauma or mental illness. In fact, I've been in this helping profession for a very long time, and I've never seen addiction without an underlying mental health issue that has been left unattended.

Let's keep the conversation going around what can be very helpful and do what we can to prevent our loved ones from 'going it alone' and taking longer to recover than maybe they would have if help was sought after sooner.

We're including a powerful song in here by Katy Topham who speaks to this issue in a beautiful and compassionate way. I believe that this song will play a role in bringing these conversations back to our kitchen tables.

Head to the website to listen to the full song and to access additional resources.

Can finding joy in other peoples successes be the secret to our own happiness?

I learned a new word! Freudenfreude - the opposite of Schadenfreude. Let's talk about the mental health benefit of being genuinely happy for others when they experience joy or success.

“Acts of service, being happy for others, all some of the little things to help bring us joy and peace in this busy hectic and unbalanced life!” ~ Toronto Star April 20, 2023 - By Christine Sismondo

May is mental health awareness month. Let's take some time to learn a few facts and stats, and to further understand the ongoing impact of poverty and stigma on overall wellbeing. We will also explore opportunities to promote mental wellness while doing what we can to prevent both the impact and the instances of mental illness and other hidden complex neurodevelopmental disorders.

Check out the website for additional resources to learn more.

How much is too much when it comes to screen time? Yet another pressure we put on parents that is so hard to define and sometimes manage. Let's talk about quality and not quantity. Four things to consider; mitigate, mindful usage, modelling healthy usage, and minimizing.

This episode focuses on the results of an article published by Futurity.org which shares the findings of mice studies indicating direct impact from male alcohol consumption on the pregnancy including "a profound shift in the organization of the face."

Let's bring this topic home to our Kitchen Table Conversations because it's up to all of us to support healthy pregnancies, and there is no wiser investment in the world.

Visit the website to read the article.

This episode looks at the compounded vulnerability for people with Complex Neurodevelopmental disorders. When we know better… we can do better; whether we are impacted directly or if we love and support people who are.

Please check out the additional resources available on my website.

Today's podcast is focusing on some tips and strategies to develop skills and a family 'team' approach getting everyday tasks completed and the importance of taking care of ourselves and each other.

Check out the website for links to Mama Systems by Laura Hernandez and her podcast, Mama Advocate, for more info and support in helping to keep our homes organized so we have time for other important things including the extra time we need to be available for our kids with special needs.

This episode focuses on challenging some of the myths that are often shared and understood with regards to cannabis use. Many view cannabis use as natural, healthy, and without significant risks. However, research is indicating that there are risks from long term use to the individual and risks from any use during pregnancy and breastfeeding. This comes as a surprise to many, so we feel it's a conversation to bring back to your kitchen table.

Listen in for more information and check out the resources on the website for articles that will provide more details.

This episode focuses on a practical approach to learning more about and supporting our children, youth, and adults with a complicated and beautiful brain... a Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorder (CND). Angela offers some strategies to help keep us all on track when we begin to understand that we or our children are struggling with mood, concentration, social and learning difficulties, and/or physical health in one way or another.

Head to the the website for the downloadable booklet, A Practical Approach, which provides us with a framework to get started and shares concrete ways that we can keep organized and prepared to find diagnostic clarity and a path towards relevant and helpful supports and services.

The end game is the same... we may just have to try a different approach to get there.

We are in the middle of neurodiversity celebration week which is a worldwide initiative aimed to challenge some of our biases and our misconceptions around neurological conditions. It is a time where we can acknowledge and celebrate neurodivergence and to begin and continue conversations that will lead to better understanding and inclusion!

Today we are celebrating International Women's Day. In this episode, I would like to acknowledge what this day means, focusing on equal opportunity and inclusion all the while celebrating freedom of choice, as well as pay special attention to caregivers of those who have been impacted by PAE and FASD.

I would like to all to take a moment and listen to a song by Jessie T called Just a Number. It’s a beautiful message that challenges bias and stereotypes, and acknowledges that one size does not fit all. Please listen in wherever you steam your music, or visit my website to watch the video.

In this episode, we will discuss the role Social Workers play in our communities. As a social worker, I work for the people that I support; I have always been a ‘helper’ and explore creative ways to make things happen, to reduce or remove barriers. Social workers believe people are capable, resourceful, creative and resilient… until they are misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

We are a diverse group of practitioners, working in a variety of sectors. I have completed informal research working in different sectors to see for myself what kind of opportunities there are to build on what we do and become more inclusive. Recgognizing that we can’t all be experts in all things, for me personally, PAE/FASD is a part of everything I do as a social worker.

Visit the website for more information.

Angela was honoured to have participated in a Conference over the past weekend. Listen in to this episode about the focus on making connections, the need for helpers, and where we discussed the importance of accurate diagnosis and how it provided clarity and freedom, after so often being misunderstood and misdiagnosed.

For more training opportunities and tips for friends and family to help support individuals with complex mental health and developmental conditions, please check out the many Resources and Programs available through our website.

In this episode, a special guest with FASD walks us through what impulse control issues looks like from her perspective and Angela offers some additional tips and strategies that can lead to decision making that is less impulsive and more in line with our values.

Please visit the website to access the additional resources referenced in this episode.

This episode focuses on the benefit of learning new information, from the new drinking guidelines to developmental screens. How learning and change can often be met with resistance, and how we can keep conversations going that will lead to prevention, earlier intervention, and improved outcomes for individuals and families.

Visit the website to access the additional resources referenced in this episode.

As a follow up to last week's Bell Let’s Talk focus, we thought we would discuss some tips that can help all of us address pressure and stressors in a healthy and helpful way. Listen in for a discussion around sitting with our emotions and challenging our self talk and our thoughts if they are no longer serving us well.

To access the additional resources referenced in this article, please visit the website.

Let’s talk about mental health conditions of all kinds; some of the contributing factors; why the problems are becoming worse and opportunity for some rather straightforward prevention opportunities. There is a correlation between increased alcohol use, increased incidents of alcohol exposed pregnancies, and mental health conditions.

Please check out the resources referenced in this episode to learn more and to hopefully become inspired to keep these conversations going around your kitchen tables.

This episode was a special request, and one that I feel is so important. I appreciate the requests for kitchen table conversation starters, and this one impacts so many.

I really do believe that as with any transition, doing your homework, consulting with others with lived and professional experience can be so helpful. As can establishing mutual understanding, goals and clear communication in terms of what is most likely to lead to success! Same needs to be applied when taking a leap and blending a new family. Not all turn out to be the Brady Bunch, and this episode helps to identify a few potential areas of difficulty and what we can do to help things go as well as they can.

To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

Following up from last week's episode where we spoke of personal growth and New Year's resolutions, we thought we would focus on how much easier these things can be accomplished when we connect with our values and really understand our purpose. Finding purpose and meaning in our lives can be so beneficial in terms of our overall health and wellness, but it's not easy for all of us to do. Have a listen for some tips for yourselves and to keep the conversation going around your kitchen table.

To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

This episode will focus on the importance of learning new things, challenging ourselves to live our healthiest of lives, and things we can do to make it most likely that we will stick to our goals and resolutions.

In our efforts to support individuals and families to live their best lives free of stigma and with more understanding and clarity, we are pleased to be offering training for social workers in the New Year.

This episode shares a few details about that as well so we encourage you to share with people you feel may benefit from the training either directly, or indirectly.

To access the resources referenced in this episode, or learn more about the training program for Social Workers, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

Today's episode will centre around the holiday season as we explore all the 'feels' and consider the needs of people who may find the season particularly stressful. These tips and considerations will be helpful to all of us, but in particular for people with complicated mental health, learning and sensory needs. Let's do our best to challenge the 'rules' we have in our heads about what we need to do, what the holidays 'should' look like, and adapt in order to best position ourselves for the most meaningful experiences.

In terms of hope for the future, we will share important information about upcoming training in our ongoing efforts to build a more inclusive service delivery system.

To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

Today, we are talking about parenting kids, youth and adults with complicated and beautiful brains. We’ll focus on our need for safety planning in order to prevent critical issues and to protect people from making dangerous or poor decisions.

Have a listen as we firmly believe that it takes a community to raise a child.

Visit www.angelageddes.ca to download a free copy of the Safety Plan for Families and Caregivers and access the other resources referenced in this episode.

Everyday I am reminded of how important my work is, and how we need to keep prevention conversations going. This week, we offered some training to Crisis Mental Health workers and police officers who were very curious about how best to support people with complicated and beautiful brains in a crisis.

The training always includes stats for context and the conversation around alcohol use and pregnancy. There are always people in the room who express concerns regarding their own alcohol use during pregnancy, maybe an unplanned pregnancy and the frequent incorrect and mixed messaging that they hear from medical and social service providers and the media about alcohol use. With the holidays coming up, we thought we would keep the conversation going around some of the risks of alcohol use overall and, in particular, share how to support pregnancies to be as healthy as they can be.

Visit www.angelageddes.ca for mocktail recipes, a preconception booklet, and a new safety plan created to support people with very complicated and beautiful brains in times of crisis.

In today's episode, let's keep the conversation going around wellness and what we can do personally to keep us (specifically our brains) as healthy as possible. This means all across the lifespan beginning with pregnancy and well into our later years. In this Kitchen Table Conversation, I'll share some tips and ideas to inspire you. It’s about doing whatever you can to live your best life!

To access the additional resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

Keeping it simple as we work towards living our best life.

This episode is a follow up to our last conversation which focused on the positive attributes of people who are experiencing anxiety or would consider themselves to be anxious people. We will discuss ways to keep us grounded in nature and many mental health and wellness benefits that we can find from spending time outdoors. We will be reminded of the benefits of living in this moment and spending time 'worrying' about the things we can control while letting go of the things that are outside of our control.

To access the additional resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

People with anxiety often really struggle with many things, and often with their view of themselves. They often find themselves frustrated with their perceived shortcomings and often with inability to deal more effectively with their intense worry and anxiousness. In this episode, we’ll take a look at some of the really positive qualities and characteristics for anxious people in the spirit of a strength based and hopeful approach to treatment and support!

To access additional resource on anxiety, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

In this episode, we will take some time to acknowledge the contributions of our Military Veteran’s and their role in all conflicts, as well as those who have made sacrifices on the home-front. We encourage people to learn more about the role of our Indigenous and Black Veterans and the extra obstacles they faced as they proudly and bravely served our country.

We also would like to take some time to explore how many of our Veteran’s struggle with the transitions to civilian life and specifically with PTSD. We used to refer to this as ‘shell shock’ but it was rarely discussed. Instead, many people suffered in silence and opted to self-medicate with alcohol and other substance use and misuse. There are consequences of this type of self-medicating; obviously, on individuals themselves and also intergenerationally when we consider prenatal alcohol exposures; the direct impact on the child’s development, and also for children who grow up in homes where Mental Health and addictions are left untreated.

Please take the time to learn more through the resources available at www.angelageddes.ca.

Happiness or contentment, can in many cases be a choice. Today's episode is focussing on ways to keep things a little 'lighter'. We're talking about how so much of our time is spent in the past, wishing that things were different, or in the future worrying about what might be coming rather than focussing on being 'right here, right now'. In many cases, we can do better when we recognize that there is a problem, big or small, and then taking time to consider if our response is going to make the problem bigger or smaller.

The goal is not to prevent or avoid all problems. The goal is to accept them and be more intentional with our response so that we manage them with grace.

To watch the video by Jamie Warren and access more tips for wellness, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

Inspired by a poem written by Joy Harjo, The World Begins at the Kitchen Table, which was recently shared with me, I reflect personally with gratitude at the many days spent at my kitchen table. I'm also aware that many people have not had the same experiences. For those of us who are called upon for support or assistance, whether that be with family members and friends and/or for those of us who work in the system, that's something we all need to remember. The most important thing we can all do is to build relationships with the people that we walk alongside.

To access the resources reference in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

In this episode, we'll explore what it means and who qualifies as neurodiverse, and the need, ironically, to be more inclusive of FASD when discussing neurodivergent conditions. We are also discussing the need for assessment for everyone who is struggling with day to day interactions and activities and we are highlighting the importance of Occupational Therapists as an integral part of assessing people with mental health and developmental challenges.

October is Occupational Therapy Month in Canada!

To access additional resources, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

Global Mental Health Awareness Day was on October 10, 2022, so was Canadian Thanksgiving Day. I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that sometimes it’s healthy to take a pause and reflect, and ask ourselves if the rules we have created still make sense for us.

To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

In this episode, we are discussing The Social Determinants of Health and the impact of alcohol in marginalized communities - the much higher rates of PAE/FASD, as well as Canada's 2nd Annual Truth and Reconciliation Day on September 30, 2022.

To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

As we near the end of the month of September, which is International Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness month, we've dedicated this episode to providing listeners with upcoming opportunities to learn more about what many of us are recognizing to be a hidden epidemic.

Angela will be speaking at two upcoming conferences and we'd love for you to participate. For complete detail on these events and more, please visit www.angelageddes.com.

Even with all of the information out there, there continues to be a gap in service providers understanding that would enable more of us to offer support in relevant and helpful ways.

As well, there is plenty of outdated and inaccurate information out there in ‘google land’, so we need to be creative in the ways that our clear, concise and accurate messages get sent and received.

What does the effects of PAE look like across the lifespan? It’s complicated and everyone is different. Although there are some commonalities, the presentations are unique to the individual because there are different protective factors, and the amount and timing of the alcohol consumption is different for each… meaning that what gets impacted is different and to different degrees as well.

To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

The cost of misdiagnosis. FASD affects 4% of the general population which is more than Autism, Tourette’s Syndrome, Down’s Syndrome and Cerebral Palsy combined, yet it is still so misunderstood... Let’s change this, and keep the conversations going.

To access resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.

An introduction to Kitchen Table Conversations with the goal being to share important facts and stats to inspire further learning and conversations among family and friends to make impact where it matters most.

To access the resources referenced in this episode, please visit www.angelageddes.ca.