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161: Could This Gut Bacteria Be Fueling ADHD Symptoms with Dana Kay

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Release Date: 06/05/2025

189: 3 ADHD Podcasts Every Parent Needs to Hear show art 189: 3 ADHD Podcasts Every Parent Needs to Hear

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

If you’re trying to support your child with ADHD naturally and feel overwhelmed by where to start, this episode is for you. ADHD health practitioner Dana Kay shares the three podcast episodes every parent should listen to first. She explains exactly where she would send you if you were sitting together over coffee asking one simple question: “Where do I even start?” Dana breaks down why understanding what’s really driving ADHD is the foundation, why traditional ADHD treatments don’t always lead to lasting change, and why hearing another parent’s real journey can shift everything....

info_outline 188: Homeschooling ADHD Kids: How to Build Education That Fits with Leslee Dirnberger show art 188: Homeschooling ADHD Kids: How to Build Education That Fits with Leslee Dirnberger

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Let’s be honest,  public school wasn’t designed for kids with ADHD. Too often, these kids are labeled, misunderstood, and pushed into systems that don’t fit how their brains learn best. But what if the problem isn’t your child, but the system itself? In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay, ADHD health practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Method for Kids speaks with Leslie Dernberger, founder of Aspire Education, mom of four, and one of the nation’s leading experts in K–12 education for neurodiverse learners. Drawing on her legal background and over...

info_outline 187: Is It Normal or Is It ADHD? with Dana Kay show art 187: Is It Normal or Is It ADHD? with Dana Kay

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Is it normal…or is it ADHD? That’s the question that keeps so many parents of neurodivergent kids up at night, especially when old behaviors resurface after months or years of progress.  In this episode of The Soaring Child podcast, Dana Kay, board certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner, 2X international bestselling author, and mom of a child with ADHD, opens up about the emotional whiplash that can come with raising a neurodiverse child.  She shares what it’s like to second-guess every behavior, even the ones that might just be typical childhood moments. Tune...

info_outline 186: Repairing Parent-Child Connections with Ashley Gobeil show art 186: Repairing Parent-Child Connections with Ashley Gobeil

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

What if the words you speak in frustration are slowly eroding the relationship you most want to protect? In this deeply honest episode, Dana Kay welcomes back Ashley Gobeil, our resident child and family therapist, to explore how parents can repair, reconnect, and rebuild trust after conflict. Ashley shares why ADHD behaviors are rooted in nervous-system dysregulation and why healing begins when parents learn to co-regulate and model emotional accountability. Together, they unpack why traditional reward and punishment systems backfire, how to set firm yet compassionate boundaries, and what...

info_outline 185: Raising Holistic Kids Naturally show art 185: Raising Holistic Kids Naturally

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Ultra-processed food isn’t just junk. It’s engineered to hijack kids’ brains, emotions, and habits. But what happens when kids themselves decide to fight back? In this powerful episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay sits down with four inspiring brothers,  Abdullah, Zain, Emaad, and Qasim Ansari, known as The Holistic Kids. They are leading a wellness revolution for their generation. These young changemakers, ages 10 to 17, have ditched junk food, launched their own health podcast, and co-authored The Teen Health Revolution, a guidebook helping kids reclaim their...

info_outline 184: Cain Runyan’s Story: A 10-Year-Old’s ADHD Transformation show art 184: Cain Runyan’s Story: A 10-Year-Old’s ADHD Transformation

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

What if your child could tell you, in their own words, what it feels like to thrive with ADHD? In this inspiring episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay sits down with 10-year-old Cain Runyan, a graduate of the ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids, to hear his firsthand story of transformation — from daily meltdowns and dysregulation to calm, confidence, and joy. Cain shares what it was like before the program, at the age of 6, how changing his diet and learning about his body helped him feel more in control, and how he navigates social moments when others eat foods he can’t. His honesty...

info_outline 183: The Toxic Truth About ADHD: How Hidden Heavy Metals Impact Kids with Dr. Wendy Myers show art 183: The Toxic Truth About ADHD: How Hidden Heavy Metals Impact Kids with Dr. Wendy Myers

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

You can have the perfect ADHD diet, remove every allergen, and stack the best supplements… yet your child may still struggle if heavy metals are silently clogging their system. In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay, ADHD health practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Method for Kids, welcomes Dr. Wendy Myers, naturopathic doctor, #1 bestselling author, and founder of MyersDetox.com. Known worldwide as the “detox expert,” Dr. Wendy has helped thousands of families understand the hidden dangers of heavy metals and toxins. Together, Dana and Dr. Wendy reveal how...

info_outline 182: From Chaos to Calm: The Hogan Family’s ADHD Breakthrough show art 182: From Chaos to Calm: The Hogan Family’s ADHD Breakthrough

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

What if your child’s ADHD challenges weren’t a life sentence — but a signal that something deeper is going on in the body? In this deeply inspiring episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay sits down with Zac and Caitlin Hogan, two parents who went from constant chaos, meltdowns, and hopelessness to calm, connection, and confidence — all through natural strategies that got to the root of their child’s ADHD. The Hogans share the emotional highs and lows of their journey: the daily struggles that pushed them to the edge, the discovery of the ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids, and how...

info_outline 181: The Truth About Artificial Dyes and ADHD with Dr. Ana-Maria Temple show art 181: The Truth About Artificial Dyes and ADHD with Dr. Ana-Maria Temple

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Artificial dyes are in so many of the foods marketed to children,—cereals, candies, sports drinks, and even some everyday snacks. While they may make foods look “fun,” for sensitive kids, these chemicals can trigger tantrums, mood swings, hyperactivity, brain fog, and full-on emotional chaos. In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay, ADHD health practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Method for Kids, welcomes back Dr. Ana-Maria Temple, board-certified pediatrician, functional medicine practitioner, and author of Healthy Kids in an Unhealthy World. With over 20...

info_outline 180: ADHD-Friendly Halloween Hacks with Andrea Daigle show art 180: ADHD-Friendly Halloween Hacks with Andrea Daigle

Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

Halloween can feel like chaos on steroids for families of children with ADHD. Sugar highs, late nights, artificial dyes, and the inevitable meltdowns can make the holiday overwhelming. But it doesn’t have to be that way. In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, host Dana Kay, ADHD health practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Method for Kids, is joined by regular guest, expert practitioner and mom, Andrea Daigle. Together, they unpack practical, creative ways to enjoy Halloween without sacrificing your child’s health, progress, or your sanity. From managing candy swaps to...

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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 over 1,500 families through her ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids program. In this episode, she shares real-life stories, scientific explanations, and actionable solutions—including the power of the Organic Acids Test and a gut-healing probiotic blend called Gut Restore Essentials. Whether you're just beginning your ADHD journey or feeling stuck, this episode will give you practical next steps and a renewed sense of hope.

Link Mentioned in the Show: 

My Favorite Place to Buy Supplements - http://adhdthriveinstitute.com/supplements 

Functional Lab Testing Video -  https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/lab-testing-for-adhd1 

Gut Restore Essentials Cheat Sheet - https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/supplement-for-adhd-gut-restore-essentials 

Gut Restore Essentials - https://shop.adhdthriveinstitute.com/gut-restore-essentials.html 

Links to Previous Episodes in this Supplements for ADHD Series:

Key Takeaways:

[3:40] The Hidden Role of C. diff in ADHD

[3:52] What Is Clostridia and Why It Matters

[4:56] Symptoms That Point to Gut Imbalance

[7:23] The Dopamine–Norepinephrine Connection

[9:37] Why OAT Testing Is So Powerful

[15:04] Gut Restore Essentials and Natural Support

[18:07] Action Steps for Parents

[18:46] The Importance of Functional Testing

[19:14] Final Encouragement and Where to Go Next

Memorable Moments:

What if your child’s explosive meltdowns had nothing to do with behavior and everything to do with a hidden bacteria in their gut?

C. diff is like a bully in the gut—pushing around the good bacteria and creating chaos.

Many of these symptoms are misdiagnosed as behavioral or emotional problems—but the real issue is sometimes biological.

This exact scenario has been observed on Organic Acids Tests.

Dopamine xcess can be linked to hyperactivity, agitation, or even psychotic-like behavior.

No amount of parenting strategies or therapy will work until we address what’s happening in the gut.

The OAT test gives us a window into gut bacteria, neurotransmitter imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, and more.

This test is a simple urine test you can do from home.

Most pediatricians are not looking at the gut when it comes to ADHD symptoms.

You are not imagining things. Their body may be sending out very real distress signals.

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