170: The ADHD Meltdowns Finally Stopped - Karla Shares Her Story
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this week’s episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay speaks with Karla, a courageous mother who transformed her family’s life after years of chaos, tantrums, and emotional turmoil. In this episode, Karla shares her raw, emotional journey—from feeling hopeless and questioning her ability as a mother, to finally discovering the underlying stressors that were exacerbating her daughter’s outbursts and meltdowns. Spoiler alert: the answer wasn’t another parenting strategy! Dana Kay, a Board-Certified Holistic Health and Nutrition Practitioner and mom to a child with ADHD, guides...
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169: Creating Your ADHD Family Playbook with Caz Pringle-Bowden
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay welcomes back counselor, neurodiversity educator, and yoga facilitator Caz Pringle-Bowden for a deep dive into a transformative concept for ADHD families — the Family Operational Manual. If parenting your child with ADHD often feels like chaos without a game plan, this episode offers a unique and practical tool that could change the way your household operates. Dana and Caz explore how understanding each family member’s brain wiring can shift a household from reactive to regulated. With real-life examples, creative metaphors, and small,...
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168: Lunchbox Solutions for ADHD Kids with Andrea Daigle
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay welcomes back Andrea Daigle, a seasoned ADHD coach at the ADHD Thrive Institute. Together, they delve into the challenges parents face when sending their children with ADHD back to school, especially concerning dietary needs and peer interactions. They discuss strategies to empower children to understand and advocate for their unique dietary requirements, ensuring they feel confident and included during school meals. Dana Kay, a board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner, is dedicated to helping families navigate the...
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167: Happiness Tools for ADHD Families with Matt O’Neill
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay sits down with happiness expert Matt O’Neill to explore one of the most transformative—but often overlooked—tools in parenting: cultivating happiness from the inside out. As a father of four, author, and the creator of The Good Mood Revolution podcast, Matt shares actionable insights into how happiness isn't just a fleeting feeling, but a skill that can be built—even in the chaos of daily life with ADHD. From managing meltdowns to reframing negative emotions like fear, overwhelm, and guilt, Matt offers science-backed...
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166: What’s Really Driving ADHD? with Dana Kay
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
Welcome to the debut episode of Crack The Code, a private podcast for parents navigating the often overwhelming world of ADHD. Host Dana Kay, Board-Certified Health and Nutrition Practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, shares her raw, personal journey of raising a child with ADHD, and what she discovered after traditional approaches fell short. This isn’t another list of parenting hacks or behavior charts. It’s a compassionate, science-backed look into what’s really going on inside your child’s body. In this powerful first episode, Dana introduces a groundbreaking new...
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165: Genetics, B Vitamins, & ADHD: What Parents Need to Know with Dana Ka
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this eye-opening episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay explores the connection between B vitamins and ADHD in children. From emotional outbursts and brain fog to poor sleep and focus issues, Dana shares why certain B vitamins—especially B6, B9 (folate), and B12—may be at the root of lingering challenges, even when parents have cleaned up their child’s diet and added supplements. She breaks down how genetics like the MTHFR, SHMT1, and FUT2 mutations can affect how kids process these nutrients and why getting the “wrong” form of a vitamin might be making things worse...
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164: Regulate Yourself to Support Your ADHD Child with Ashley Gobeil
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay welcomes back child and parent therapist Ashley Gobeil to dive into a game-changing conversation for families navigating ADHD. Have you ever found yourself snapping at your child and then immediately feeling guilty? You’re not alone, and it may be more about your nervous system than your parenting skills. Dana and Ashley explore what’s really happening inside your body when you’re triggered and how understanding your own regulation is the foundation for becoming the calmest person in the room, even when your child is not. Ashley brings...
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163: Homeschooling ADHD Kids with Linsey Knerl
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay talks with homeschooling expert and author Linsey Knerl about how homeschooling can be a game-changer for kids with ADHD. Linsey, a mom of six and author of Homeschool Hacks: How to Give Your Kid a Great Education Without Losing Your Job or Your Mind, shares her two decades of experience and wisdom. Together, they explore the flexibility and power of homeschooling for families who feel stuck in traditional education systems that don't serve neurodivergent learners. Dana and Linsey break down common fears around homeschooling, like not being...
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162: How Concussions Mimic ADHD with Nate Pope
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this week’s episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay uncovers a surprising root cause of ADHD symptoms that most parents and even practitioners overlook—past head injuries. Joined by neurological occupational therapist and co-founder of NCX Brain Recovery, Nate Pope, the conversation explores the profound and often hidden impact concussions can have on a child's focus, emotional regulation, and behavior. From post-concussion syndrome to powerful recovery therapies, Nate shares his expertise on how to identify these injuries and why they are frequently misdiagnosed as ADHD....
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161: Could This Gut Bacteria Be Fueling ADHD Symptoms with Dana Kay
Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD
In this eye-opening episode of The Soaring Child, host Dana Kay explores a hidden root cause of ADHD symptoms that most parents (and even doctors) overlook—Clostridia overgrowth, specifically C. diff. If your child struggles with meltdowns, mood swings, anxiety, or sleep issues—and nothing has worked—this episode could be a game-changer. Dana breaks down what C. diff is, how it affects neurotransmitters like dopamine and norepinephrine, and why many kids are being misdiagnosed when the real problem lies in their gut. Dana Kay is an ADHD health practitioner, author, and mom who has helped...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay explores the critical role of Vitamin D in children with ADHD. Often called the Sunshine Vitamin, Vitamin D plays a significant role in brain function, neurodevelopment, dopamine production, and immune health—all essential for children with ADHD. But what happens when kids don’t get enough Vitamin D? And more importantly, is supplementation always the right answer? Dana uncovers both the benefits and the potential risks of supplementing with Vitamin D, especially when Vitamin K2 is missing from the equation.
As an ADHD Health Practitioner, Dana helps families implement natural strategies to support their children’s health. She shares how to get Vitamin D naturally, which foods are rich in this essential nutrient, and how to choose the right supplement to avoid common pitfalls. If you’ve ever wondered whether Vitamin D is the missing piece in your child’s ADHD journey, this episode is packed with research-backed insights and practical tips.
Don’t forget to check the show notes below for Dana’s favorite supplement recommendations, cheat sheets, and resources to help you navigate ADHD naturally!
Links Mentioned in the Show:
Functional Lab Testing Video - https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/lab-testing-for-adhd1
My Favorite Place to Buy Supplements -http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/supplements
Shine Essentials (my favorite Vitamin D supplement) - https://shop.adhdthriveinstitute.com/shine-essentials.html
Vitamin D Cheat Sheet - https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/supplement-for-adhd-vitamin-d
Links to Previous Episodes in this Supplements for ADHD Series:
-Magnesium - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/podcast/soaring-child-episode-93/
-Saffron -https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/podcast/soaring-child-episode-136/
-GABA - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/podcast/soaring-child-episode-137/
-L-Theanine -https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/podcast/soaring-child-episode-142/
-Bio Essentials - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/podcast/soaring-child-episode-144/
-Omegas - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/podcast/soaring-child-episode-146/
-Iron - https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/podcast/soaring-child-episode-148/
Key Takeaways:
[2:24] The Dark Side of Vitamin D Supplementation
[3:54] What is Vitamin D?
[4:46] Common Causes of Vitamin D Deficiency
[4:56] The Connection Between Vitamin D & ADHD
[9:03] How Vitamin D Supports Brain Function and Dopamine Production
[10:26] Why Vitamin K2 is Essential When Supplementing
[11:19] How to Choose the Right Vitamin D Supplement
[12:01] Best Food Sources of Vitamin D
[12:31] Functional Lab Testing: A Targeted Approach
Memorable Moments:
"Sunshine is the best way to get Vitamin D, but sometimes it’s tricky depending on where you live and the time of year."
"Deficiency in Vitamin D is common among children with ADHD, and studies show a significant link between low levels and ADHD symptoms."
"Vitamin D plays a vital role in neurodevelopment and dopamine production, which are key for focus, planning, and emotional regulation."
"You can’t just take Vitamin D without understanding how it works—especially when it comes to Vitamin K2."
"When people supplement with Vitamin D without K2, it can actually create health issues, including cardiovascular problems."
"The best way to get Vitamin D is through food first—then consider supplementation if necessary."
"Most grocery store aisles are lined with Vitamin D options, but not all supplements are created equal."
"If you’re going to supplement with Vitamin D, make sure it’s formulated thoughtfully to avoid depleting your body of other essential nutrients."
"Functional lab testing helps families take a targeted approach instead of just guessing which supplements their child actually needs."
"Supplements should support the body, not create new problems—so be sure to choose wisely."
Dana Kay Resources:
🔗WEBSITES:
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https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/
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https://dana-kay.com/
👋SOCIALS:
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ADHDThriveInstitute/
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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute/
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ADHDThriveInstitute
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/adhd-thrive-institute/mycompany/
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Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/adhdthriveinstitute/
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Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_thriveinstitute
📕INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLING BOOK:
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Thriving with ADHD – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/book/
💻FREE MASTERCLASS
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Free Reduce ADHD Symptoms Naturally Masterclass - https://bit.ly/3GAbFQl
⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS
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ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
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ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/
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Dye-Free for ADHD Course - https://bit.ly/4aFj6TY