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Imagine being told a first-grade reading level will define your future—then deciding to rewrite the script. That’s the spark behind our conversation with Russell, a New York State–funded dyslexia researcher who turned personal roadblocks into a practical method that helps students jump from frustration to fluency without elite price tags.

We dig into the brain science that actually moves the needle: stop hammering the back of the brain where dyslexic readers show low activity and start training the frontal systems where activity surges. Russell explains a deceptively simple routine that blends word analysis and articulation: build three-word sentences grounded in the learner’s real interests, read them aloud to ensure they sound right, then retype each misspelled word until it sticks. It’s a 10-minute fix that compounds into stronger grammar, better spelling, and—crucially—confidence. If they can write it, they can read it. And as sentences become body paragraphs and paragraphs become essays, organization emerges from a fast, creative mind.

You’ll hear vivid case studies. High schoolers in his pilot went from near-zero percentiles to college-ready performance in a single school year. A homeschooled fifth grader climbed from the 11th to the 64th percentile in reading and from the 4th to 65th in writing, with grammar hitting the 97th percentile. The common thread is motivation: specificity beats slog. Start with a student’s genuine specialty, then use targeted questions to move from the specific to the general, borrowing the “context, problem, solution” frame from The Craft of Research to teach structure early. We even map how a 10-year-old building a Mars literature review can learn the peer-review process years ahead of schedule.

We also talk access. Russell’s program pairs weekly expert guidance with a full curriculum—from corrected sentences to publishable work—at a price families can manage. The goal isn’t endless accommodation; it’s training that respects how neurodiverse brains learn and transfers to real classrooms. If you’re a parent, teacher, or curious learner ready for tools that work, tune in, try the sentence routine, and see what shifts for your student this week. If it helps, share the episode, subscribe for more practical strategies, and leave a review to tell us what changed for you.

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What if the words you needed were waiting inside the moments you try to rush past? We sit down with Australian poet and radiographer Nadine Ellis to explore late autism diagnosis, the quiet injuries of daily life, and the craft of turning hard feelings into language that heals. Nadine was diagnosed at 58, alongside her daughters and husband, and that clarity reframed decades of masking, missed cues, and misplaced shame. Instead of pathologizing sensitivity, she treats it as guidance—and her poems channel that signal into lines that land with precision.

Across our conversation, we map the practical tools that helped her build resilience: journaling as a pressure valve and memory archive, compact poetry that cuts through noise for a dyslexic mind, and the steady discipline of noticing. We talk about creating a home where each person’s decompression needs are honored, and how shared understanding replaces friction with ease. Nadine’s perspective is generous and grounded: you don’t need to be a “writer” to express yourself. If words aren’t your medium, paint, stitch, cook, garden, sing, or use voice-to-text. The point is contact, not perfection.

You’ll also hear two live readings from her collection The Gray Between: Caustic Comments, a searing piece about the long echo of a teacher’s cruelty and the alchemy of reclaiming it, and Solitary Confinement, a tender meditation on laundry, motherhood, and the sweetness packed into small domestic rituals. Each poem shows how everyday micro-traumas and quiet joys shape identity—and how art can metabolize both into strength.

If you’re navigating neurodivergence, seeking healthier boundaries, or just craving a way to make sense of what you feel, this conversation offers language, validation, and tangible next steps. Check out Nadine’s work on Amazon, visit nadineellis.com for poems and interviews, and follow @nadineellispoetry on Instagram for new pieces. If this resonated, share it with a friend, subscribe for more thoughtful conversations, and leave a review so others can find the show.

Support the show

SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST

WEBSITES

- Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org

- The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com

YOUTUBE

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow

- Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou

FACEBOOK

- Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford

- Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow

INSTAGRAM

- https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/

TIKTOK

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- Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291

CONTACT EMAIL

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What if the hardest moments with your child weren’t proof you’re failing, but signals pointing to the support they need? We sit down with autism mom coach and attorney Lisa Candera to explore a practical, compassionate approach to parenting through crisis, burnout, and the daily unknowns. Lisa shares how “regulation starts with us,” why reframing behavior as information changes everything, and the simple steps that turn school chaos into a clearer plan.

We dig into real-world tactics without the jargon: how to call an IEP meeting, request a functional behavioral assessment, and build a behavior plan that actually serves your child. Lisa also opens up about letting go of rigid “shoulds,” rethinking inclusion through the lens of fit, and witnessing her son’s leap in maturity after years of acute challenges. The result is a roadmap grounded in clarity and grace—less panic, more agency, and a steadier path forward.

You’ll hear about one-on-one and small-group coaching focused on moms, the power of online access, and the community networks that help families stop navigating alone. Along the way, we talk about self-compassion, checking in with our kids, and zooming out to the five-month and fifteen-year views that keep hope alive. If you’ve ever dreaded a school call, questioned your instincts, or felt ashamed for being exhausted, this conversation is your permission slip to breathe, regroup, and try again with better tools.

Listen now, share with a friend who needs encouragement, and subscribe for more honest, practical conversations. If this episode helped you, leave a review and tell us your biggest school or home challenge—we’re listening.

Support the show

SJ CHILDS - SOCIALS & WEBSITE MASTER LIST

WEBSITES

- Stream-Able Live — https://www.streamable.live-COMING SOON

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.sjchilds.org

- The SJ Childs Show Podcast Page — https://www.sjchildsshow.com

YOUTUBE

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.youtube.com/@sjchildsshow

- Louie Lou (Cats Channel) — https://www.youtube.com/@2catslouielou

FACEBOOK

- Personal Profile — https://www.facebook.com/sara.gullihur.bradford

- Business Page — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsllc

- The SJ Childs Global Network — https://www.facebook.com/sjchildsglobalnetwork

- The SJ Childs Show — https://www.facebook.com/SJChildsShow

INSTAGRAM

- https://www.instagram.com/sjchildsllc/

TIKTOK

- https://www.tiktok.com/@sjchildsllc

LINKEDIN

- https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjchilds/

PODCAST PLATFORMS

- Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/4qgD3ZMOB2unfPxqacu3cC

- Apple Podcasts — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sj-childs-show/id1548143291

CONTACT EMAIL

- sjchildsllc@gmail.com