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Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

By: Dana Kay
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About this listen

 Here is a place where you will learn how to address your child's ADHD symptoms naturally so you can stop walking on eggshells & bring back peace & calm to your home. Hosted Dana Kay, board certified health & nutrition practitioner, author of the best selling book Thriving with ADHD, leading ADHD expert but most importantly a mom with a child with ADHD who gets it. As a mother of a child with ADHD, she knows firsthand the struggles that come with parenting a neurodiverse child & the freedom that is possible once parents learn to reduce ADHD symptoms. Dana has been featured in Forbes, on Fox & CBS, & various other online media. She has also been a guest at multiple parenting & ADHD summits & podcasts. Her goal with the Soaring child is to give hope & answers to parents of children with ADHD who are looking for alternative (natural) and effective means of helping them learn to thrive at home, at school, and in life. Because children with ADHD deserve to soar, just like every other child. Parenting & Families Relationships
Episodes
  • 197: The Gut-Brain ADHD Link

    197: The Gut-Brain ADHD Link
    Feb 26 2026
    Grab your ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 Over 90–95% of serotonin and nearly half of the body's dopamine are produced in the gut, not the brain, and that one fact explains why so many ADHD meltdowns seem to come out of nowhere. In this episode, Dana Kay breaks down how gut inflammation, immune activation, and nervous system overload can drive ADHD symptoms long before behavior ever appears. This is Part 2 of a 5-part series unpacking the biological stressors behind ADHD. After decoding blood sugar dysregulation in the previous episode, Dana explains why the gut functions as a control panel for emotional regulation, focus, and impulse control and how the vagus nerve sends stress signals straight from the gut to the frontal lobe. Parents will learn why many children show no digestive symptoms despite significant gut dysfunction, how altered gut bacteria affect neurotransmitters, and what questions to start asking when behavior doesn't make sense. Dana also shares a powerful client story and introduces a practical tool designed to help parents stop guessing and start supporting the systems asking for help. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 KEY TAKEAWAYS [00:00] The physical signs before meltdowns begin [03:29] ADHD symptoms often start in the body, not behavior [03:48] Serotonin and dopamine production in the gut [05:15] The vagus nerve and frontal lobe shutdown [06:22] Neuroinflammation vs. misbehavior [07:18] Research linking ADHD and altered gut bacteria [08:05] Why gut symptoms are often invisible [09:48] Questions parents can ask starting today [11:22] Introducing the ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit [13:22] Reframing meltdowns as nervous system overload MEMORABLE MOMENTS "There is a very specific look that kids get right before everything goes sideways." "That moment doesn't start in their brain. It starts in their body." "Over 90 to 95% of serotonin is made in the gut." "The frontal lobe basically goes offline." "Your child isn't being defiant. They're neurologically flooded." "The gut isn't a side issue. It's the control panel." "Once you can see which system is driving behavior, you stop guessing." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping! 🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstituteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS: ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhdADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
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    15 mins
  • 196: The Real Reason Mornings and Afternoons Are a Disaster for Kids With ADHD

    196: The Real Reason Mornings and Afternoons Are a Disaster for Kids With ADHD
    Feb 19 2026
    Grab your ADHD Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 (It's FREE! You just pay shipping!) Mornings before school and afternoons after school pickup aren't chaotic by accident. They follow a predictable biological pattern that almost no one explains to parents of children with ADHD. In this solo episode, Dana Kay breaks down why the most intense meltdowns, hyperactivity, irritability, and emotional shutdowns tend to show up at the same two points every day — and why it's not about willpower, discipline, or "bad behavior." It's about blood sugar, stress hormones, and a nervous system running on empty. Drawing from both personal experience and her work with over 1,600 families, Dana explains how overnight fasting, carb-heavy school lunches, and skipped protein create the same internal crash twice a day. She translates the science in a parent-friendly way and shares one simple, doable rule that can immediately reduce chaos without overhauling your entire diet. This episode also introduces a brand-new resource (available right now at http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123) designed to help parents finally understand what's driving their child's ADHD symptoms beneath the surface and how to start addressing biology instead of just managing behavior. LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 KEY TAKEAWAYS [01:23] Why mornings and afternoons are predictable meltdown windows [03:48] Morning and afternoon behaviors share the same biological cause [06:49] Overnight fasting, cortisol, and morning blood sugar crashes [07:42] How school lunches create afternoon blood sugar crashes [08:41] What blood sugar instability does to focus and emotions [09:48] The "no naked carbs" rule [10:29] Practical food pairings that stabilize blood sugar [11:14] Why small changes calm the nervous system [12:15] Introduction of the ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit [15:08] Why biology — not parenting — is the starting point MEMORABLE MOMENTS "The behavior you're seeing in the morning and at 3:30 PM is the same biological pattern wearing two different outfits." "You didn't get their worst — you got their empty." "Your child's brain is like a fancy electric car." "It's not them being difficult — it's biology running the show." "No naked carbs." "Small biological shifts stack up into massive changes." DANA KAY RESOURCES 🔗 Access your free ADHD Thrive Decoder Kit here: http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/123 It's free for a limited time. You just pay shipping! 🔗 WEBSITES: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/https://dana-kay.com/ 👋 SOCIALS: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstituteLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute 📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK: Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/ 💻 FREE MASTERCLASS: Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://hubs.la/Q042HrjF0 ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS: ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhdADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
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    17 mins
  • 195: Glutathione & ADHD Brains with Dr. Gina Nick

    195: Glutathione & ADHD Brains with Dr. Gina Nick
    Feb 12 2026

    Some children can skip meals, miss sleep, or fight off a cold and barely flinch — while others spiral into meltdowns after the smallest stressor. In this episode, Dana Kay uncovers the hidden biological reason behind that difference: glutathione — the brain's primary antioxidant and stress buffer.

    Joined by world-renowned naturopathic physician and researcher Dr. Gina Nick, this episode breaks down glutathione (or "Vitamin G") in a way parents can finally understand. You'll learn how glutathione protects the brain from toxins and inflammation, why modern kids are more depleted than ever, and how low levels can drive ADHD symptoms, emotional dysregulation, and stress sensitivity.

    Drawing on decades of research, clinical practice, and formulation expertise, Dr. Nick explains detox pathways, NAC vs glutathione, safe supplementation, and why small daily detox actions matter more than extreme protocols. If your child's nervous system feels constantly overwhelmed — even when you're doing everything right — this episode fills in a critical missing piece.

    LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW

    • https://vitaming.com
    • https://bestdailyever.com/ref/294/ - Use the following code for 15% off your first order: DANAKAY15

    KEY TAKEAWAYS
    [00:01] Why some kids melt down faster than others
    [04:08] What glutathione actually is
    [06:31] How toxins deplete brain resilience
    [10:19] Silent brain inflammation explained
    [13:45] Genetic detox vulnerabilities
    [17:07] NAC vs glutathione
    [18:32] Oral glutathione challenges
    [23:09] Safe daily glutathione support
    [28:23] Signs glutathione is working
    [29:51] One daily detox action

    MEMORABLE MOMENTS
    "Glutathione is the mother of all antioxidants."
    "That's when the brain becomes vulnerable."
    "That one extra neurotoxin can put things over the edge."
    "Brain inflammation is often silent."
    "Some kids accumulate toxins faster."
    "I want glutathione to be a household name."

    DANA KAY RESOURCES

    🔗 WEBSITES:

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

    👋 SOCIALS:

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

    📕 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK:

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

    💻 FREE MASTERCLASS:

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

    ⭐ COURSES & PROGRAMS:

    • ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
    • ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
    Show More Show Less
    35 mins
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