The ADHD Parenting Podcast

The ADHD Parenting Podcast
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  • EVERY TWO WEEKS

The ADHD Parenting Podcast helps parents of children and teens with ADHD improve behavior, emotional regulation, executive function, and cooperation at home and school. Hosted by Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW, founder of ADHD Dude, and Mike McLeod, SLP, executive function specialist and author of The Executive Function Playbook, each episode delivers practical, evidence-informed strategies for reducing conflict, strengthening routines, supporting school success, and helping kids with ADHD build independence and confidence.

  1. Why ADHD Kids Struggle with Reading and Writing

    3 HR AGO

    Why ADHD Kids Struggle with Reading and Writing

    In this episode, Ryan and Mike explore the real reason children with ADHD struggle with reading comprehension and written expression—working memory issues, not laziness or oppositional behavior. They explain the role of nonverbal working memory (mental movies) and verbal working memory (inner voice) , share key research findings, and offer practical strategies to support children at home and school. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [01:38] The real problem is working memory, not laziness [06:14] The mental movie that never gets made (nonverbal working memory) [13:36] The inner voice goes quiet during writing (verbal working memory) [17:29] The blank page: oppositional behavior or working memory failure? [20:06] What actually helps: make external what other kids do internally [23:00] Closing takeaways Episode 56 Citations: Gray, C., Rogers, M., London, K., et al. (2016). Children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and reading disability: A review of the efficacy of medication treatments. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 988.Miller, A. C., Keenan, J. M., Betjemann, R. S., et al. (2013). Reading comprehension in children with ADHD: Cognitive underpinnings of the centrality deficit. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 41, 473–483.Soto, E. F., Kofler, M. J., Irwin, L. N., et al. (2021). Executive functions and writing skills in children with ADHD. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology.Molitor, S. J., Langberg, J. M., Evans, S. W., et al. (2016). The written expression abilities of adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 51–52, 49–59.Re, A. M., Pedron, M., & Cornoldi, C. (2007). Expressive writing difficulties in children described as exhibiting ADHD symptoms. Journal of Learning Disabilities, 40(3), 244–255.

    25 min
  2. ADHD Kids and Consequences – What the Research Says

    15 APR

    ADHD Kids and Consequences – What the Research Says

    In this episode, Ryan and Mike take on one of the most hotly debated topics in the ADHD parenting space: do kids with ADHD actually need consequences? Social media influencers say no — just connection, co-regulation, and emotional validation. Ryan and Mike push back hard with decades of research showing the opposite: ADHD is a disorder of performance, not knowledge, meaning behavior is governed by immediate consequences far more than by understanding or insight, and kids with ADHD need more consequences, not fewer — clearer, more consistent, and delivered in the moment. They also dismantle popular labels being used to justify removing consequences altogether — masking, rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD), pathological demand avoidance (PDA), and vague "nervous system disorder" language — and explain why these frameworks, however emotionally compelling, leave parents stuck without real strategies. The takeaway: authoritative parenting, warmth plus structure, is what the evidence supports, and parents can step into that authority with confidence. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [00:00:39] Research vs. Social Media Parenting Myths [00:02:41] ADHD as a Disorder of Performance, Not Knowledge [00:04:21] Connection Is Not the Problem [00:07:39] Why Parents Are Over-Connecting and Over-Functioning [00:08:48] Authoritative Parenting: Warmth Plus Structure [00:11:08] Feelings Talk vs. Behavior Change [00:13:53] Why Therapy Alone Doesn't Work for ADHD [00:15:10] Masking, RSD, PDA, and Nervous System Labels Debunked [00:19:03] Real Reasons Kids Act Out at Home [00:20:31] Help vs. a Hug: What Parents Actually Need [00:21:09] Act Don't Yak: What Keeps Parents Stuck [00:23:41] The Bottom Line on Consequences and Praise [00:25:05] School Accountability and the Principal Strategy Research Citations: Wolraich, M. L., Hagan, J. F., Allan, C., et al. (2019). Clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in children and adolescents. Pediatrics, 144(4), e20192528. Doffer, D. P. A., et al. (2023). Sustained improvements by behavioural parent training for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A meta-analytic review of longer-term child and parental outcomes. JCPP Advances, 3(4). Dekkers, T. J., Hornstra, R., van der Oord, S., et al. (2022). Meta-analysis: Which components of parent training work for children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder? Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Luman, M., van Meel, C. S., Oosterlaan, J., & Geurts, H. M. (2009). Are ADHD symptoms associated with delay aversion after controlling for neuropsychological functioning? Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 37, 587–598. Hulsbosch, A. K., et al. (2024). Behavioral and emotional responding to punishment in ADHD.

    28 min
  3. Stepping Into Your Parental Authority

    25 MAR

    Stepping Into Your Parental Authority

    Today's episode is a re-release of Episode 43, because the message is just that important. In this episode of The ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Ryan Wexelblatt and Mike McLeod explore what it means to “step into your parental authority.” Drawing from research and clinical experience, they discuss how authoritative parenting—balancing warmth with structure—helps children with ADHD develop self-regulation, emotional safety, and independence. The hosts challenge social media’s rebranding of permissive parenting as “gentle” or “compassionate” and explain why consistency, clear expectations, and calm modeling are key. They also tackle the fears many parents have about being “too firm,” offering practical examples of how to set limits with empathy and predictability while nurturing connection and confidence in their children. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠

    39 min
  4. Answering Parents' Questions

    11 MAR

    Answering Parents' Questions

    In this episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast, Mike and Ryan answer several listener questions about common challenges parents face when raising children with ADHD. They discuss why some children struggle to initiate friendships despite wanting them, the role of social anxiety and executive functioning in social behavior, and why screen time can reinforce avoidance of real-world interaction. The hosts also address sibling conflict when children are at different developmental stages, explain why brain scans and “types of ADHD” promoted by certain authors lack scientific support, and offer strategies for parents dealing with teens who claim to feel sick to avoid responsibilities. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [00:01:01] Podcast Intro And Updates [00:04:10] Question: Child Struggles Making Friends [00:09:00] Social Anxiety And ADHD [00:13:00] Path Of Least Resistance Brain [00:15:55] Sibling Conflict And Age Gaps [00:23:20] Brain Scans And ADHD Myths [00:28:55] Teen Avoidance And “Feeling Sick”

    37 min
  5. What New Research Says About Screen Time & ADHD (And Why Online Advice Gets It Wrong)

    25 FEB

    What New Research Says About Screen Time & ADHD (And Why Online Advice Gets It Wrong)

    In this episode, Ryan and Mike discuss how screen time impacts the executive functioning skills already delayed in kids with ADHD — things like impulse control, attention shifting, and cognitive flexibility. They challenge the popular online messaging that frames screens as "social" or "regulating" for neurodivergent kids, arguing that these messages make parents feel better but don't actually build skills in children. They also cover practical advice for managing school-issued devices, why parents don't need their child's buy-in to set screen limits, and why short-term calm from screens comes at the cost of long-term development. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [00:00:34] Screen Time Realities for Working Parents [00:03:44] The 2025 Longitudinal Brain Study [00:04:28] How Screens Alter Executive Function Development [00:05:45] Why In-Person Interaction Builds Skills [00:08:05] The Myth That Screens Are Social [00:10:19] Why "Screens Are Regulating" Appeals to Parents [00:11:30] Your Child Is Not Your Co-Parent [00:14:13] Addressing Screen Use on School Devices [00:16:20] Best Predictors of Future Success [00:17:51] Key Takeaways and Closing Thoughts CITATIONS: Shou, Q., Yamashita, M., & Mizuno, Y. (2025). Association of screen time with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms and their development: The mediating role of brain structure. Translational Psychiatry, 15, Article 447. Diamond, A. (2013). Executive functions. Annual Review of Psychology, 64, 135–168. Diamond, A., & Ling, D. S. (2016). Conclusions about interventions, programs, and approaches for improving executive functions that appear justified and those that do not. Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, 18, 34–48. Doebel, S. (2020). Rethinking executive function and its development. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 15(4), 942–956. Nigg, J. T. (2017). Annual research review: On the relations among self-regulation, self-control, executive functioning, effortful control, cognitive control, impulsivity, risk-taking, and inhibition for developmental psychopathology. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 58(4), 361–383.

    22 min
  6. The Executive Function Playbook

    11 FEB

    The Executive Function Playbook

    In this episode, Mike and Ryan walk through the core questions parents often ask about independence, responsibility, and executive functioning in kids with ADHD—using the framework developed in Mike’s recent book and workbook. Rather than focusing on behavior management or short-term strategies, the conversation centers on how internal skills develop over time and how parents can support that development in realistic, age-appropriate ways. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [00:03:33] Executive Functioning Playbook Framework [00:07:00] Internal Skills Vs Behavior [00:12:55] Self-Awareness, Social Skills, Screens [00:16:57] Motivation, Burnout, Expectations [00:18:40] Mental Movies And Self-Evaluation

    27 min
  7. Answering Parents' Questions

    28 JAN

    Answering Parents' Questions

    In this listener Q&A episode, Ryan and Mike tackle some of the most challenging real-life situations parents of kids with ADHD face at home. From bedtime anxiety that spirals into nightly meltdowns, to medication concerns around mood changes and irritability, to constant attention-seeking and dysregulation at home, this episode focuses on what’s really driving these behaviors—and how well-intentioned parenting can sometimes make them worse. They also discuss how to think about summer camps for kids with ADHD, especially when explosive behavior has led to removals from programs in the past. As always, the emphasis is on practical, research-informed strategies that help kids build independence while protecting parents’ sanity. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube {{chapters}}[00:00:00] Start[00:02:12] Listener Q&A Overview[00:05:45] Bedtime Anxiety And Sleep Struggles[00:07:24] Parental Accommodation And Anxiety[00:12:15] Medication And Mood Changes[00:14:12] Inconsistent Medication Effects[00:19:13] Child Dysregulation And Attention Seeking[00:22:45] Teaching Self-Regulation At Home[00:27:13] Summer Camp Decisions For ADHD[00:31:18] How To Submit Questions

    33 min
  8. Debunking Four Common ADHD Parenting Myths

    14 JAN

    Debunking Four Common ADHD Parenting Myths

    In this episode of the Mike and Ryan break down four widespread myths about ADHD that continue to circulate on social media, in parent groups, and even in professional settings. Using research-based evidence and clinical experience, they explain what’s accurate, what’s not, and why these misconceptions can be unhelpful for families. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [00:00:48] Mike’s Book Announcement [00:01:42] Ryan’s Certification Program [00:02:53] Myth One: Seven Types Of ADHD [00:06:45] Myth Two: Genetic Testing For Medication [00:10:29] Myth Three: AuDHD As A Diagnosis [00:14:08] Myth Four: Masking At School [00:15:15] Why ADHD Behavior Is Context Dependent [00:24:46] Final Takeaways And Closing Thoughts

    28 min
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About

The ADHD Parenting Podcast helps parents of children and teens with ADHD improve behavior, emotional regulation, executive function, and cooperation at home and school. Hosted by Ryan Wexelblatt, LCSW, founder of ADHD Dude, and Mike McLeod, SLP, executive function specialist and author of The Executive Function Playbook, each episode delivers practical, evidence-informed strategies for reducing conflict, strengthening routines, supporting school success, and helping kids with ADHD build independence and confidence.

Information

  • Creator
    The ADHD Parenting Podcast
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © The ADHD Parenting Podcast
  • Show Website
    The ADHD Parenting Podcast

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