The Brain Development Podcast

Lara and Vicky discuss the critical connection between immune dysregulation and neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. They emphasise the importance of early detection of red flags in children's health, including symptoms like cradle cap, reflux, and chronic infections, which may indicate underlying gut and immune issues. Vicky shares her personal experiences with her dau...

Lara engages in a heartfelt conversation with Alison, a retired speech and language therapist with extensive experience working with children facing speech and language difficulties. Alison shares her insights on the unique communication paths of children, emphasizing the importance of empowering parents to foster their child's communication skills through play and interaction. The discussion high...

Lara and Vicky delve into the intricate journey of healing behavioural and learning symptoms in children with autism and related conditions. Vicky from The Healthy Happy Unicorn shares a personal case study involving her daughter Rose, highlighting the significant insights gained from a stool test that revealed severe maldigestion, gut imbalances, and the impact of specific bacteria on Rose's heal...

In this episode of the Brain Development Podcast, Lara and Vicky discuss the recent controversial statements made by Trump regarding vaccines and the use of Leucovorin for autistic children. Vicky from the Healthy Happy Unicorn shares her insights on the complexities of autism and the multifactorial causes behind it, emphasising that while folate is essential for brain development, autism cannot b...

Lara engages in a heartfelt conversation with a parent, named Emily, who shares her transformative journey over the past six months with her son, Johnny. The discussion highlights the challenges they faced before starting the program, including communication difficulties, emotional regulation, and struggles in school. Emily recounts how they sought help through speech development and occupational...

Lara and Vicky discuss the underlying causes of various behavioural and learning symptoms in children with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Vicky Finlayson from the Happy Healthy Unicorn joins the conversation to explore how surface-level behaviours, such as stimming and pica, are often driven by biological imbalances, including gut health issues and nutrient deficiencies. Th...

Lara is joined by Vicky Finlayson from Happy Healthy Unicorn to discuss the impact of Clostridia, a type of bacteria found in the gut, on children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Vicky explains how Clostridia can contribute to various symptoms by disrupting the microbiome and affecting brain health, particularly through the inhibition of dopamine processing. The conversation de...

DESCRIPTION Lara and Vicky explore the connection between autoimmunity and autism, discussing how parental autoimmune conditions may influence a child’s neural development. Vicky explains how the immune system can mistakenly attack the body’s own cells, with autoantibodies potentially crossing the placenta and affecting the developing brain. The conversation highlights the importance of understand...

In this episode of the Brain Development Podcast, hosts discuss the challenges parents face with picky eaters, particularly in children with neurodiversity. They welcome Vicky Finlayson from Happy, Healthy Unicorn, who shares her insights on the gut-brain connection and the importance of a healthy diet for improving behaviour and learning outcomes. Vicky emphasises the need for a tailored approach...

DESCRIPTION Lara welcomes Dr. Michael Trayford, a board-certified chiropractic neurologist and neurofeedback specialist, to explore innovative ways to address the neurological challenges faced by neurodiverse children. Drawing on his work at Apex Brain Centers, Dr. Trayford emphasizes finding root causes rather than chasing symptoms. They discuss modern diagnostics—including QEEG and sLORETA—and w...

Lara speaks with Jen, a mother navigating the challenges of raising her son Will, who was born with a cleft lip and palate and later received an autism diagnosis. Jen shares her unique journey, detailing the struggles they faced, including Will's early feeding issues and communication delays. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding and addressing underlying developmental factor...

In this episode of the Brain Development Podcast, Lara is joined by Jinal and Vicky to discuss how parents can prepare for a healthy pregnancy and reduce risks linked to child development and neurodiversity. The conversation highlights: The impact of oral health during pregnancy, including how hormonal changes affect the gums and the risks of untreated dental issues. The role of the gut microbiome...

DESCRIPTION Lara welcomes Jinal, a dentist and mother of an 11-year-old son with ASD, PANDAS, ADHD, and ODD, to share her inspiring journey of healing and empowerment. Jinal recounts challenges from her son’s traumatic birth and early health issues to behavioural regressions and the limits of conventional therapies. Alongside Vicky, a naturopathic nutritionist specialising in neurodevelopmental di...

In this episode of the Brain Development Podcast, Lara explores the intricate subject of methylation and its vital role in supporting the health and development of neurodiverse children, including those with autism, ADHD, and OCD. She is joined by Vicky from The Happy Healthy Unicorn, who breaks down methylation using the analogy of interconnected cogs, highlighting its role in activating neurotra...

Lara Barnes engages in a compelling conversation with Dr. Kyle Daigle, a leading expert in functional neurology and author of Cracking the Code of Autism. Together, they explore the intricate relationship between brain health, gut function, and environmental influences that affect neurodiverse children, including those with autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. Drawing from years of clinical experience, Dr....

In this episode of the Brain Development Podcast, Lara delves into the impact of yeast on gut health, particularly in children with autism, ADHD, and other learning differences. She welcomes Vicky Finlayson from Healthy Happy Unicorn, who shares her expertise on how yeast overgrowth can lead to inflammation and various behavioural symptoms. Vicky explains the mechanisms behind yeast's opportunisti...

Lara engages in a transformative conversation with Dr. Josh Madsen, a neurodevelopmental chiropractor who is changing how we approach learning and behavioural challenges in children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. Dr. Madsen stresses a bottom-up approach to brain development, targeting foundational neurological gaps rather than just managing symptoms. He explores the critical role of energy...

Lara is joined by Vicky, a naturopathic nutritionist specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders, shares an inspiring case study of a child named Warner who was once diagnosed with severe non-verbal autism. Over three years of dedicated work, Vicky and Warner's mother implemented personalized dietary changes and holistic therapies, leading to remarkable improvements in Warner's behaviour and cogn...

Lara engages in a heartfelt conversation with Sri, a dedicated mother navigating the challenges of raising her six-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Guri, who was diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Sri shares their journey over the past three years, detailing the initial confusion and lack of support following Guri's diagnosis, the exploration of various therapies, and the significant changes they bega...

In this episode of the Brain Development Podcast, Lara welcomes Dr. Robert Melillo, a renowned clinician, professor, and brain researcher, to discuss the groundbreaking Melillo Method for addressing behavioural and learning challenges in children with autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. The conversation delves into the importance of understanding brain development from...

Lara welcomes Sharik Peck, the founder of Rezzimax, to discuss the innovative PainTuner Pro device and its impact on healing behavioural and learning symptoms in children with autism, ADHD, and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Sharik shares his personal journey through chronic pain and his extensive research into resonance and its effects on the human nervous system. He explains how the Rezzima...

Welcome to The Brain Development Podcast Are you a parent navigating the challenges of Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, OCD, or other neurodiverse conditions with your child? You're not alone — and you're in the right place. Welcome to The Brain Development Podcast, where we empower parents with knowledge, tools, and hope to help their children thrive. Hosted by Lara Barnes — a successful tech p...