Soaring Child: Thriving with ADHD

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/

Most parents are told ADHD lives only in the brain, but what if the real issue starts much deeper? In this episode, we explore a powerful and often overlooked driver of ADHD symptoms: mineral depletion at the cellular level. You'll hear why calm, focus, sleep, and emotional regulation are literally built from minerals and how many kids are trying to regulate big emotions while running on empty batteries.
Dana Kay is joined by Caroline Alan, co-founder of Beam Minerals and author of The Mineral Reset, to break down complex biology into parent-friendly language. Caroline explains how minerals fuel the mitochondria — the tiny "campfires" inside every cell — and why children who lack proper mineral support can appear anxious, wired, exhausted, or stuck in fight-or-flight, even when they eat a "healthy" diet.
This conversation helps parents understand why food quality, soil depletion, filtered water, and modern stressors have created a widespread mineral gap — and what gentle, practical steps families can take to support their child's nervous system without overwhelm. If your child struggles with meltdowns, sleep issues, anxiety, or focus, this episode offers a new lens grounded in biology, not behavior.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
https://beamminerals.com/adhdthrive
https://mineralresetbook.com
Discount Code: ADHDTHRIVE
Connect with Caroline Alan
Website: www.carolinealan.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/carolinealan.official/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@carolinealan.official
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[00:00] ADHD symptoms as signs of depletion
[03:48] Why minerals matter beyond bones and teeth
[08:41] Mitochondria, energy, and brain function
[11:05] Low energy cells and nervous system stress
[21:10] Soil depletion and food mineral loss
[23:31] How filtered water worsens deficiency
[30:22] Humic vs. fulvic minerals explained
[38:05] Minerals as spark plugs for the brain
[44:51] One simple step parents can take today
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"Our kids are not being difficult — they're depleted."
"Calm is built from minerals."
"Minerals are the spark plugs for the brain."
"That equals a kid who cannot sit down."
"You cannot eat your way out of mineral deficiency."
"This isn't ADHD behavior — it's biology."
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/mycompany/
▶ 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://bit.ly/3GAbFQl
⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS
▶ ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
▶ ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

Many parents worry that talking about sex, boundaries, consent, or online exposure will open doors too early—but real-world clinical experience shows the opposite. In this episode, Logan McIlwain explains why ongoing, everyday conversations actually reduce risky behavior and help kids feel safer turning to their parents instead of the internet.
Dana Kay brings a deeply personal perspective as a mom of a teen and a tween, naming the fear so many parents quietly carry: "Am I too early… or already too late?" Logan gently dismantles the pressure to get it perfect and replaces it with a more sustainable truth—presence matters more than perfection.
You'll learn how to use everyday "micro-moments" to build trust, how to respond calmly to sensitive questions, and how to reset conversations even if you feel behind. This episode is especially meaningful for parents of neurodivergent kids, where impulsivity and online exposure can make these conversations feel even heavier.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Logan McIlwain: https://loganlcsw.com/
Parent Parkway Book - https://amzn.to/4b2R1cD
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[03:00] Why this episode isn't about biology—but real-world parenting
[05:46] How inherited discomfort shapes today's parenting fears
[07:16] Why parents don't need all the answers
[08:30] What happens when parents stay silent
[12:30] Why micro-conversations beat "the big talk"
[16:15] The myth that talking leads to risky behavior
[19:27] Handling unexpected, sensitive questions calmly
[28:50] Resetting conversations when you feel behind
[29:26] Logan's one actionable parenting tip
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"If you don't talk about these things with your children, Instagram will."
"We don't have to be perfect."
"Kids feel like parents talk at them."
"Circle back. That matters."
"You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be present."
"Understanding comes before teaching."
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/mycompany/
▶ 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://bit.ly/3GAbFQl
⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS
▶ ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
▶ ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

Many parents worry that talking about sex, boundaries, consent, or online exposure will open doors too early—but real-world clinical experience shows the opposite. In this episode, Logan McIlwain explains why ongoing, everyday conversations actually reduce risky behavior and help kids feel safer turning to their parents instead of the internet.
Dana Kay brings a deeply personal perspective as a mom of a teen and a tween, naming the fear so many parents quietly carry: "Am I too early… or already too late?" Logan gently dismantles the pressure to get it perfect and replaces it with a more sustainable truth—presence matters more than perfection.
You'll learn how to use everyday "micro-moments" to build trust, how to respond calmly to sensitive questions, and how to reset conversations even if you feel behind. This episode is especially meaningful for parents of neurodivergent kids, where impulsivity and online exposure can make these conversations feel even heavier.
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
Logan McIlwain: https://loganlcsw.com/
Parent Parkway Book - https://amzn.to/4b2R1cD
KEY TAKEAWAYS
[03:00] Why this episode isn't about biology—but real-world parenting
[05:46] How inherited discomfort shapes today's parenting fears
[07:16] Why parents don't need all the answers
[08:30] What happens when parents stay silent
[12:30] Why micro-conversations beat "the big talk"
[16:15] The myth that talking leads to risky behavior
[19:27] Handling unexpected, sensitive questions calmly
[28:50] Resetting conversations when you feel behind
[29:26] Logan's one actionable parenting tip
MEMORABLE MOMENTS
"If you don't talk about these things with your children, Instagram will."
"We don't have to be perfect."
"Kids feel like parents talk at them."
"Circle back. That matters."
"You don't have to be perfect. You just have to be present."
"Understanding comes before teaching."
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/mycompany/
▶ 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://bit.ly/3GAbFQl
⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS
▶ ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
▶ ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/

A child can appear calm on a screen and unravel seconds after it turns off. That reaction isn't bad behavior or poor discipline — it's a nervous system crash driven by dopamine, overstimulation, and an abrupt loss of regulation.
In this episode of The Soaring Child Podcast, Dana Kay sits down with Sondra Bakinde and Mariana Gordon, co-founders of Mindful Mantis, to unpack what's really happening in a child's brain and body during screen time. They explain why screens activate the sympathetic nervous system, how dopamine crashes trigger fight-flight-freeze responses, and why kids with ADHD feel these shifts even more intensely.
You'll learn how to spot early signs of dysregulation before meltdowns erupt, why restriction alone often backfires, and how simple transitions can support a child's nervous system instead of overwhelming it. Sondra and Mariana share practical, realistic tools — including bridging the dopamine gap, predictable transitions, connection before direction, and their Pause & Play Method — all designed for real families, not perfect ones.
If screen time feels like a daily struggle in your home, this episode will help you reframe what's happening and respond with more calm, clarity, and confidence.
Links Mentioned in the Show
https://www.themindfulmantis.com
https://www.instagram.com/themindfulmantisinc 
Key Takeaways
[01:21] Why parents immediately blame themselves
[02:13] Why this isn't a discipline issue
[04:39] How screens pull energy out of the body
[06:04] The dopamine crash explained
[08:27] Fight, flight, or freeze in kids
[11:16] Why ADHD intensifies screen reactions
[14:42] Early warning signs parents often miss
[18:11] Recovery vs restriction after screens
[20:06] Bridging the dopamine gap
[29:56] The Pause & Play Method introduced
[36:53] One grounding step parents can try today
Memorable Moments
"I am literally dealing with a feral raccoon in a human body."
"Screens pull energy outward into the eyes, the mind, the nervous system."
"That sudden shift can feel very threatening."
 "The body whispers before it shouts."
 "We focus less on restriction and more on recovery."
"Urgency feels like danger. Slowness feels like safety."
"Never end stimulation without grounding."
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/mycompany/
▶ 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://bit.ly/3GAbFQl
⭐COURSES & PROGRAMS
▶ ADHD Parenting Course – https://info.adhdthriveinstitute.com/parentingadhd
▶ ADHD Thrive Method 4 Kids Program – https://adhdthriveinstitute.com/packages/