Finding Hope on the Spectrum

Brooke interviews Valeri Tompkins, a Spellers Method provider, and her daughter Lora about Lora’s path from being diagnosed with autism and ADHD at age two through years of speech therapy, OT, ABA, PECS, AAC, and sign language with limited success. Valeri describes discovering letterboard-based spelling after reading “Underestimated” in 2021 and how spelling leverages gross motor pointing to overc...

Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews Dana Kay, an Australia-born, Seattle-based board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, whose work was inspired by her son’s ADHD diagnosis and a medication cycle that escalated to multiple drugs by age five. Dana explains her view that ADHD symptoms are signals of underlying biological...

Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews developmental optometrist and expert Dr. Susan Daniel, who shares her groundbreaking work linking vision therapy, motor challenges like apraxia, and communication for non-speaking individuals and spellers. Inspired by her own experience with double vision and her son Matthew's diagnosis of autism and severe apraxia, Dr. Daniel describes...

Brooke hosts Finding Hope on the Spectrum and interviews Pittsburgh-based autism advocate, author, and speaker Harry Psaros, who shares his family’s early autism journey with his son Gus, including missed warning signs, a preschool birthday party turning point, and a fast Cleveland Clinic diagnosis. Psaros describes shifting from anger to a “warrior” mindset rooted in empathy, self-care, and build...

Host Brooke welcomes Lisa Richer—an advocate, co-author, leader, and mom of two neurodiverse sons—who shares how being neurodivergent herself connects her experiences as an elite gymnast, corporate leader, and family advocate. Lisa describes growing up undiagnosed, receiving an anxiety label without tools, and later hitting severe burnout after a COVID-era vaccine injury that disrupted her nervous...

In this episode of Finding Hope on the Spectrum, host Brooke talks with teen and parent wellbeing coach Laura Ollinger about why parenting teens is harder in today’s tech-driven, high-pressure world and how parents can better understand teen behavior. Laura shares how her daughter’s early anxiety and her nephew’s suicide shaped her calling to support ages 12–20, and explains teen brain development...

Host Brooke interviews counselor, speaker, and consultant Mark Talaga of the Center for Identity Potential, who specializes in supporting gifted and twice-exceptional (2e) individuals and hosts the Hopelessly Gifted Podcast. Mark shares his own path from being an unrecognized gifted student to struggling in a video game job due to executive functioning and processing issues, then shifting into cou...

Brooke interviews Dr. Knight, founder of the Autism Wellness Center of Utah, about his path from pre-med studies and business into chiropractic care and then cellular/foundational medicine to better serve children on the autism spectrum. Influenced by early experiences with individuals with special needs and family connections to autism, he pursued extensive training in digestion, nervous system s...

Brooke hosts an episode of “Finding Hope on the Spectrum” on art therapy with board-certified art therapist and RDI consultant Christine “Kiki,” and guests Debbie Zimmer and her 22-year-old son Ben. Kiki explains how she was drawn to art therapy, how RDI deepened her work through parent involvement, and clarifies misconceptions by distinguishing “art as therapy” from clinical art therapy with a tr...

Brooke interviews Vicki Christensen, founder of Blue Glasses Advocacy and mother of 21-year-old Luke, who has a rare partial trisomy of chromosome 14 and global developmental delays, and 17-year-old Everett, who has ADHD and an IEP. Vicki describes Luke’s early diagnosis, intensive therapies, and how he defied early “he may never” predictions, developing walking and verbal communication in his own...

Host Brooke introduces “Finding Hope on the Spectrum” and interviews Steven Roberts, an RDI consultant at Therapeutic Approach to Growth who specializes in supporting neurodivergent teens and adults. They discuss the unmet need for supports beyond early intervention, emphasizing community integration, independence, and quality of life. Steven explains that meaningful, trusting relationships are th...

Brooke interviews educator, consultant, speaker, and author Lisa Riegel about using brain science to improve behavior, inclusion, and school systems. Lisa Riegel explains how exclusionary discipline (sending students out) worsens problems by leaving conflicts unresolved and making classrooms feel unsafe. Drawing on her experiences with ineffective leadership and parenting a twice-exceptional son,...

In this powerful episode of Finding Hope on the Spectrum , Brooke sits down with Sarah Ward, M.S., CCC-SLP — a speech-language pathologist with over 25 years of experience specializing in executive dysfunction and co-creator of the 360 Thinking Executive Function Program and Time Tracker tools. Drawing from her work with traumatic brain injury as well as her own family’s experiences, Sarah explain...

Brooke hosts “Finding Hope on the Spectrum” with Dr. Nima, a former engineer who turned to holistic healing after a heart crisis. Facing a pacemaker recommendation for severe palpitations, he discovered Kirlian photography in Russia. By scanning himself daily, he resolved his symptoms within six months by balancing body systems and emotions. He views humans as layered energetic systems and discuss...

Brooke hosts an episode of "Finding Hope on the Spectrum" featuring Kat Lee, an RDI consultant and mother of an autistic adult son. Kat recounts her son’s "severe autism" diagnosis 30 years ago, a time when services were scarce and parents relied on each other for mentorship. After starting with ABA to build regulation and trust, Kat eventually discovered RDI, which became the...

In this episode of 'Finding Hope on the Spectrum,' host Brooke converses with Dr. Deb Budding, a board-certified neuropsychologist, about the impact of video games on neurodivergent children. They explore the balance between healthy and unhealthy gaming, emphasizing self-regulation over obedience. Dr. Budding shares insights on the evolving gaming landscape, the importance of understanding...

In this episode of Finding Hope on the Spectrum, host Brooke welcomes back Dr. Lisa Loegering, an integrative developmental pediatrician, for an in-depth discussion on leucovorin and gut therapies. They explore the FDA's approval of leucovorin for cerebral folate deficiency, its off-label use for autism, and how it differs from other forms of folate supplements. Dr. Loegering also discusses th...

In this episode of 'Finding Hope on the Spectrum,' Brooke hosts Dr. Deborah Budding, a board-certified neuropsychologist with a rich background in neurodiversity, neuroscience, and sensory sensitivities. The conversation dives deep into topics such as the role of the cerebellum in autism, the importance of understanding sensory sensitivities, and the dynamic nature of neurodivergent experi...

In this episode of 'Finding Hope on the Spectrum,' host Brooke dives into an enlightening conversation with Chris Carus, a Paraguayan American writer and autistic adult. Diagnosed with autism in adulthood, Chris shares his profound journey through years of masking, the emotional toll it took, and the inevitable burnout that followed. Through his memoir 'Now that I'm Still Here: A Memoir of Ruin an...

In this heartwarming and insightful episode of Finding Hope on the Spectrum, host Brooke converses with Zack Ponder, a former special education teacher, small business owner, writer, and host of the Unspecial podcast. Zack shares his personal journey of discovering a natural passion for life skills classrooms and the intense behavior needs of his students, which led him to obtain his teaching cred...

In this heartwarming and thought-provoking episode of Finding Hope on the Spectrum , host Brooke sits down with Dr. Hedayat , a Stanford-trained physician specializing in integrative and developmental medicine. Dr. Hedayat shares his personal journey working with children on the autism spectrum and explains how he developed unique mathematical formulas to analyze bloodwork—allowing for highly pers...

In this episode of 'Finding Hope on the Spectrum,' host Brooke invites Dr. Lisa Loegering, an integrative developmental pediatrician specializing in autism, anxiety, and ADHD, to discuss holistic approaches to childhood developmental issues. Dr. Loegering shares insights on dietary interventions, including the benefits of a gluten-free and dairy-free diet and the importance of whole foods. She hig...

In this episode of 'Finding Hope on the Spectrum,' host Brooke Wagner has an enlightening conversation with Nancy Marin, a seasoned occupational therapist with over 40 years of experience. Nancy shares her extensive background in Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT), sensory processing, yoga, reiki, and the listening program (TLP) and discusses how she weaves these modalities together in her privat...

In this episode of 'Finding Hope on the Spectrum,' host Brooke interviews Jessica Richards, a clinical expert with over 15 years of experience, about selective mutism. They delve into what selective mutism is, distinguishing it from trauma-based mutism, and discuss its prevalence and symptoms. Jessica shares insights into how sensory processing and a child's nervous system play crucial roles in ma...