Helping Our Kids Today Episodes

Send a text We dig into the real-life supports that help neurodivergent brains thrive, from the hard science of FASD to daily tools for executive function, transitions, sensory needs, and affect regulation. RJ Formanek and Ann Kagarise share candid stories, and swap strategies that trade shame for …

Ever watch someone recite the rules and still miss the first step? We dive into that gap with FASD advocate RJ Formanek to reveal what’s actually happening under the surface —and why replacing blame with understanding can change a life. We’re talking brain wiring, not character flaws; symptoms, not…

Send us a text Today on Real Talk with Tina and Ann we are talking about neurodivergence and share a raw, practical look at “diagnosis day,” advocacy, and the tools that actually help our kids thrive. Nothing about our kids changed with labels; only our map did, and that map guides support with les…

Send us a text A teenage girl finds her way through the stage door and into the inner life of a great orchestra, learning how courage, craft and attention can open rooms that seem shut. Nancy Shear reflects on mentors, trauma, Stokowski’s charisma and the quiet work that shapes sound. • sneaking in…

Send us a text Tina and Ann explore gratitude that tells the truth in crisis: not a list, but a lifeline beside cancer, caregiving, and long grief. Kara Lockwood’s story and Robert Emmons’ research anchor practical ways to find small joys that help us keep showing up. • Cara Lockwood’s remission st…

Send us a text Some stories don’t fit inside neat arcs. Rebecca Galli’s life holds a brother gone at 17, a son who passed at 15, two children with special needs, and sudden paralysis nine days after divorce. What unfolds is not a list of tragedies but a blueprint for living when certainty disappear…

We follow a wrong turn that became a mission and explore how dignity-based service transforms both givers and receivers. Gil shows how housing, education, and reciprocity can turn charity into equity, and why true joy is found when we serve. • enlightened self-interest and why service elevates the …

We bring the border into focus as a lived place, not a line, and confront how wealth disparity, US demand, and policy choices shape human lives. Gil Gillenwater shows why enlightened self interest, housing with dignity, and education beat walls and fear. • wealth disparity between $18 an hour and $…

Send us a text We share real, lived experiences from someone navigating life with FASD: the diagnosis, the data, and the dignity that often get lost in the conversation. Together, we unpack the daily struggles and the deep relief that comes from hearing the words, “It’s not your fault.” What follow…

Send us a text What if the love you learned was never love at all—but performance, peacekeeping, and fear dressed up as care? Ann sits down with Denise Bard to tell the truth about growing up inside conditional love, the survival roles that helped them get through, and the slow, stubborn work of bu…

Send us a text Randi Crawford, certified life coach and TEDx speaker, joins us to share her “Pickleball Parenting” philosophy. It is a fresh, practical approach to raising resilient kids who can face challenges with confidence and independence. In this episode, Randi talks about the ways modern par…

Send us a text Ron Souers joins us to explore how ADHD minds can transform perceived weaknesses into remarkable strengths through self-discovery, mindfulness, and acceptance. We examine the experience of navigating a neurotypical world with a neurodivergent brain and uncover practical strategies fo…

Send us a text Miss Betty Smith shares her incredible journey from childhood poverty to creating a state-of-the-art arts education center that transforms young lives in Canton, Ohio. At 84, she dances in parades, leads drumlines, and builds programs that give children alternatives to gang recruitme…

Deborah Weed, creator of The Luckiest Penny musical and founder of the Self-Worth Initiative, went from being bedridden and broken to becoming a fierce advocate for self-worth. After learning that a rare 1943 copper penny was worth over a million dollars, she had a powerful realization: even things…

Send us a text What happens when a devastating brain injury leads to an unexpected creative breakthrough? For Sarah Sparks, it meant birthing the "Monsters on Mill Street" series – vibrant, heartfelt stories that are transforming how children handle big emotions and life's challenges. Sarah's journ…

What does resilience look like after losing your brother, your son, your marriage, your ability to walk, and raising a child with autism? Rebecca Galli knows this terrain intimately. As a bestselling author of over 400 column...

The resilient spirit refuses to be broken. Autumn Star Canterbury embodies this truth in ways that will leave you breathless. When you've been traded for a horse, abandoned at a homeless shelter, and told repeatedly that your...

Tom LaGrave shares his remarkable journey from Navy SEAL to licensed clinical social worker, revealing how personal struggle and recovery led him to create Honor Bound Academy, a transformative program for youth transitioning...

Can a children's book change a life? In this inspiring episode, author Sasha Saidman reveals how stories about adoption, differences, and self-acceptance meet kids exactly where they are—sparking empathy, imagination, and con...

Can a children's book change a life? In this inspiring episode, author Sasha Saidman reveals how stories about adoption, differences, and self-acceptance meet kids exactly where they are—sparking empathy, imagination, and con...

Victoria Ellen's extraordinary journey from terror to triumph is the heart of this episode. Eight months pregnant and seeking refuge from an abusive marriage, Victoria's tale is a powerful testament to courage and resilience....

What if the person who vowed to love and protect you was the very one orchestrating your pain? Join us on Real Talk with Tina and Ann as Ann sits down with Victoria Ellen, the courageous author of "Painting in the Rain: A Tru...

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kari Baker as we dive into the complexities and triumphs of parenting children with invisible neurological differences. Kari shares invaluable insights on navigating special education systems, mastering IEP meetings, and understanding parental rights. From…

Join us for an inspiring and heartfelt exploration into the world of parenting children with neurological differences. Our guest, Kari Baker, shares her courageous journey from a thriving career in financial services to her n...