Chaos & Caffeine - ADHD Parenting Podcast

Danielle Kelly
  • 5.0 (4)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Chaos and Caffeine, where parenting gets real, messy, and fueled by endless coffee refills. Hosted by ADHD parent coach Danielle Kelly, this podcast dives into the beautiful chaos of raising neurodivergent kids, balancing life, and finding joy in the middle of the madness. From ADHD hacks and emotional management tips to stories that’ll make you laugh, cry, or say awesome Chaos and Caffeine is your go-to resource for navigating the unpredictable world of parenting. Whether you’re looking for expert advice, relatable stories, or just someone who gets it, grab your mug and join the conversation. Parenting isn’t perfect, but with a little caffeine and a lot of community, we’ll get through it together. New episodes every week!

  1. Trauma-Informed ADHD Parenting: Nervous System Regulation, Burnout & Brainspotting with Dr. Marivi “Dr. Ivi” Acuna

    6D AGO

    Trauma-Informed ADHD Parenting: Nervous System Regulation, Burnout & Brainspotting with Dr. Marivi “Dr. Ivi” Acuna

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! ADHD parenting is hard. But what if it’s not just about behavior charts, consistency, or “trying harder”? What if it’s about nervous systems? In this episode of Chaos & Caffeine, I sit down with Dr. Marivi Acuna (Dr. Ivi), a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in ADHD, trauma-informed care, Brainspotting, CBT, DBT, and culturally responsive mental health support for neurodivergent families. We dive deep into: Trauma-informed ADHD parentingADHD burnout and chronic overwhelmEmotional dysregulation and meltdownsThe connection between ADHD and traumaHow Brainspotting can help stuck patternsWhat ADHD parents are getting rightWhere we can grow without shameSupporting neurodivergent parents (yes, you)Dr. Ivi explains why ADHD rarely shows up alone — and how anxiety, trauma history, cultural expectations, and generational stress shape the way we parent. If you’ve ever felt: Overstimulated and snappyGuilty after yellingCompletely fried by 4pmLike you’re parenting on hard modeThis conversation will feel like a nervous system reset. Because ADHD parenting isn’t about fixing your child.  It’s about understanding regulation, connection, and compassion — for both of you. 🎧 Hit follow, leave a review, and share this with another ADHD parent who needs to hear: you are not broken. Connect with Dr. Ivi 👉 THRIVE! with Dr. Ivi  This Month's Sponsors: 📱 Talkspace  Therapy that fits real life. With Talkspace, you can message or chat with a licensed therapist right from your phone, no face-to-face required. Perfect if you’re shy, anxious, overwhelmed, or just communicate better in writing.  🎒 Miacademy  An online learning platform that makes school feel less like a daily power struggle. With engaging videos, games, quizzes, and built-in rewards, Miacademy helps K-8 kids stay motivated while giving parents tools to track progress without hovering.  🛒 Insight Family Market A thoughtfully curated marketplace created by an educator and parent who actually gets neurodivergent families. Insight Family Market brings together sensory-friendly clothing, adaptive tools, educational supports, and wellness essentials that are chosen with real life in mind — not trends or quick fixes.  Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at chaosandcaffeinepodcast@gmail.com. Support the show

    53 min
  2. School Advocacy for ADHD Kids: How to Stop Fighting the System and Get Real Support (IEPs, 504s & Parent Rights)

    FEB 24

    School Advocacy for ADHD Kids: How to Stop Fighting the System and Get Real Support (IEPs, 504s & Parent Rights)

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! Advocating for an ADHD child in the school system can feel like a full-time job—one with confusing acronyms, shifting expectations, and power dynamics that leave parents exhausted and second-guessing themselves. In this episode of Chaos & Caffeine, part of our New Year, Less Chaos series, I’m joined by Natalie McCabe, an educational advocate with experience on both sides of the education system. Natalie breaks down what ADHD parents need to know about school advocacy, IEPs, 504 plans, and parent rights—without the jargon or the guilt. We talk about: Why ADHD kids so often fall through the cracks at schoolWhat schools can legally offer vs. what parents are told is “not possible”How to prepare for IEP and 504 meetings with confidenceThe most common mistakes well-meaning parents make—and how to avoid themHow to advocate effectively without becoming “that parent” or burning outIf you’ve ever been told to “wait and see,” felt intimidated in a school meeting, or wondered if you’re asking for too much—this episode will help you understand the system, reclaim your voice, and show up for your child with clarity and strategy. Because less chaos doesn’t mean less advocacy.  It means knowing how to play the game—so your kid doesn’t lose. Connect with Natalie 👉 Natalie McCabe  This Month's Sponsors: 📱 Talkspace  Therapy that fits real life. With Talkspace, you can message or chat with a licensed therapist right from your phone, no face-to-face required. Perfect if you’re shy, anxious, overwhelmed, or just communicate better in writing.  🎒 Miacademy  An online learning platform that makes school feel less like a daily power struggle. With engaging videos, games, quizzes, and built-in rewards, Miacademy helps K-8 kids stay motivated while giving parents tools to track progress without hovering.  🛒 Insight Family Market A thoughtfully curated marketplace created by an educator and parent who actually gets neurodivergent families. Insight Family Market brings together sensory-friendly clothing, adaptive tools, educational supports, and wellness essentials that are chosen with real life in mind — not trends or quick fixes.  Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at chaosandcaffeinepodcast@gmail.com. Support the show

    49 min
  3. ADHD Parenting & Mental Load: How to Create Less Chaos Without Burning Out (with Amy Briggs of Aviva)

    FEB 17

    ADHD Parenting & Mental Load: How to Create Less Chaos Without Burning Out (with Amy Briggs of Aviva)

    If you’re an ADHD parent who feels constantly overwhelmed — even on days when “nothing big” happens — this episode is for you. In this New Year, Less Chaos conversation, Danielle sits down with Amy Briggs, a speech-language pathologist turned tech founder, to talk about the invisible weight parents carry every single day: the mental load. Amy shares what she saw firsthand while working with families — parents drowning in schedules, emails, school portals, and unspoken responsibilities — and why traditional organization advice fails neurodivergent families. That insight led her to create Aviva, an app designed to reduce cognitive overload instead of adding another thing to manage. In this episode, we talk about: What mental load actually is — and why ADHD parents feel it more intenselyWhy “just get organized” doesn’t work for neurodivergent brainsHow parental overwhelm impacts kids’ emotional regulation and developmentWhat real support systems look like (hint: not more planners)How to create less chaos without chasing perfection or burning outThis episode isn’t about becoming a better parent.  It’s about building systems that hold you when your brain is already maxed out. 🎧 Perfect for ADHD moms, neurodivergent parents, and anyone craving less chaos and more capacity this year. Connect with Aviva 👉 Aviva App This Month's Sponsors: 📱 Talkspace  Therapy that fits real life. With Talkspace, you can message or chat with a licensed therapist right from your phone, no face-to-face required. Perfect if you’re shy, anxious, overwhelmed, or just communicate better in writing.  🎒 Miacademy  An online learning platform that makes school feel less like a daily power struggle. With engaging videos, games, quizzes, and built-in rewards, Miacademy helps K-8 kids stay motivated while giving parents tools to track progress without hovering.  🛒 Insight Family Market A thoughtfully curated marketplace created by an educator and parent who actually gets neurodivergent families. Insight Family Market brings together sensory-friendly clothing, adaptive tools, educational supports, and wellness essentials that are chosen with real life in mind — not trends or quick fixes.  Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at chaosandcaffeinepodcast@gmail.com. Support the show

    39 min
  4. Body Doubling Explained: The ADHD Strategy That Helps Kids (and Parents) Actually Get Things Done | Maria DelCorso

    FEB 10

    Body Doubling Explained: The ADHD Strategy That Helps Kids (and Parents) Actually Get Things Done | Maria DelCorso

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! Ever notice how your ADHD kid can’t start homework alone—but magically focuses the second you sit nearby? Or how you suddenly become productive when someone else is in the room? That’s not coincidence. That’s body doubling—and it’s one of the most powerful (and misunderstood) tools for ADHD brains. In this episode of Chaos & Caffeine, I’m joined by Maria DelCorso, ADHD coach and founder of New Agenda Coaching, to break down what body doubling really is, why it works for both kids and adults with ADHD, and how ADHD parents can use it without micromanaging, nagging, or burning themselves out. We talk about: What body doubling is (and what it’s definitely not)The neuroscience behind why ADHD brains regulate better with another person presentHow body doubling supports executive function, emotional regulation, and task initiationPractical ways to use body doubling with ADHD kids for homework, chores, and routinesWhy body doubling isn’t “dependency”—it’s scaffolding successHow parents with ADHD can finally stop doing everything the hard wayIf you’re parenting a child with ADHD—or realizing you might have ADHD yourself—this episode will change how you think about productivity, support, and success. Because sometimes the solution isn’t another strategy… it’s not doing it alone. Connect with Maria 👉 New Agenda Coaching This Month's Sponsors: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Hallowell Todaro ADHD & Behavioral Health Center  A strength-based practice co-founded by Dr. Edward Hallowell that actually gets ADHD. They offer evaluations, therapy, coaching, medication management, and parent support that focuses on what’s strong about your kid, not just what’s hard.   ✨ Social Thinking  Social learning that helps kids, teens, and adults understand the why behind social behavior, not just memorize a checklist of “correct” moves. Their tools, curricula, and resources teach social cognition, perspective-taking, flexible thinking, and real-world problem-solving. 📱 Talkspace  Therapy that fits real life. With Talkspace, you can message or chat with a licensed therapist right from your phone, no face-to-face required. Perfect if you’re shy, anxious, overwhelmed, or just communicate better in writing.  🎒 Miacademy  An online learning platform that makes school feel less like a daily power struggle. With engaging videos, games, quizzes, and built-in rewards, Miacademy helps K-8 kids stay motivated while giving parents tools to track progress without hovering.  🛒 Insight Family Market A thoughtfully curated marketplace created by an educator and parent who actually gets neurodivergent families. Insight Family Market brings together sensory-friendly clothing, adaptive tools, educational supports, and wellness essentials that are chosen with real life in mind — not trends or quick fixes.  Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at chaosandcaffeinepodcast@gmail.com. Support the show

    48 min
  5. ADHD Without Medication? What Parents Can Try First (Functional Medicine with Dr. Amber Brooks)

    FEB 3

    ADHD Without Medication? What Parents Can Try First (Functional Medicine with Dr. Amber Brooks)

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! What if medication wasn’t the first step—but one of many options? In this episode of Chaos & Caffeine, I’m joined by Dr. Amber Brooks, a pediatric functional medicine expert who helps families understand what’s really happening beneath their child’s ADHD symptoms. We talk about why so many parents hesitate to start medication, what steps families can take before going that route, and how a more natural, integrative approach can reduce chaos without adding pressure, guilt, or unrealistic expectations. Dr. Brooks breaks down how nervous system regulation, brain function, and root-cause support can play a powerful role in helping ADHD kids feel calmer, more regulated, and better supported—at home and at school. This episode is especially for parents who: Want to explore ADHD support beyond medicationFeel overwhelmed by conflicting adviceAre trying to make thoughtful, informed decisions for their childNeed reassurance that there is no “right” or “wrong” path—only the one that fits their familyWe also discuss how to know when it may be time to bring medication into the conversation—and why that choice doesn’t mean you failed or gave up. If you’re craving clarity, calm, and a plan that actually respects your child’s brain, this conversation is for you. Connect with Dr. Brooks 👉 Healing Roots Pediatrics This Month's Sponsors: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Hallowell Todaro ADHD & Behavioral Health Center  A strength-based practice co-founded by Dr. Edward Hallowell that actually gets ADHD. They offer evaluations, therapy, coaching, medication management, and parent support that focuses on what’s strong about your kid, not just what’s hard.   ✨ Social Thinking  Social learning that helps kids, teens, and adults understand the why behind social behavior, not just memorize a checklist of “correct” moves. Their tools, curricula, and resources teach social cognition, perspective-taking, flexible thinking, and real-world problem-solving. 📱 Talkspace  Therapy that fits real life. With Talkspace, you can message or chat with a licensed therapist right from your phone, no face-to-face required. Perfect if you’re shy, anxious, overwhelmed, or just communicate better in writing.  🎒 Miacademy  An online learning platform that makes school feel less like a daily power struggle. With engaging videos, games, quizzes, and built-in rewards, Miacademy helps K-8 kids stay motivated while giving parents tools to track progress without hovering.  🛒 Insight Family Market A thoughtfully curated marketplace created by an educator and parent who actually gets neurodivergent families. Insight Family Market brings together sensory-friendly clothing, adaptive tools, educational supports, and wellness essentials that are chosen with real life in mind — not trends or quick fixes.  Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at chaosandcaffeinepodcast@gmail.com. Support the show

    1h 7m
  6. Late-Diagnosed ADHD Moms: Discovering Your ADHD After Your Child’s Diagnosis (And Why It’s All Going to Work Out) | ft. Tracy Otsuka

    JAN 27

    Late-Diagnosed ADHD Moms: Discovering Your ADHD After Your Child’s Diagnosis (And Why It’s All Going to Work Out) | ft. Tracy Otsuka

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  What happens when your child is diagnosed with ADHD… and suddenly everything about your own life starts making sense? In this episode of Chaos & Caffeine, I’m joined by Tracy Otsuka, ADHD coach, podcast host, and fellow late-diagnosed ADHD mom, for a conversation that so many parents don’t even realize they’re about to have. We talk about: Discovering your own ADHD after your child’s diagnosisWhy so many moms—especially high-achieving, high-masking women—are diagnosed lastThe grief, relief, rage, and validation that come with a late ADHD diagnosisLetting go of shame, perfectionism, and “why can’t I just handle this?”And the reminder every overwhelmed ADHD parent needs to hear: it’s all going to work outThis episode is for the parent who: Was “fine” until their kid was diagnosedSuddenly sees their childhood, burnout, anxiety, and coping strategies in a whole new lightIs trying to parent an ADHD child while re-parenting themselvesWhether you’re newly diagnosed, self-identified, or quietly wondering if ADHD has been the missing piece all along—this conversation will make you feel seen, steadied, and hopeful. Grab your coffee. Take a breath. You didn’t miss the boat. You’re right on time. Connect with Tracy 👉 Tracy Otsuka This Month's Sponsors: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Hallowell Todaro ADHD & Behavioral Health Center  A strength-based practice co-founded by Dr. Edward Hallowell that actually gets ADHD. They offer evaluations, therapy, coaching, medication management, and parent support that focuses on what’s strong about your kid, not just what’s hard.   ✨ Social Thinking  Social learning that helps kids, teens, and adults understand the why behind social behavior, not just memorize a checklist of “correct” moves. Their tools, curricula, and resources teach social cognition, perspective-taking, flexible thinking, and real-world problem-solving. 📱 Talkspace  Therapy that fits real life. With Talkspace, you can message or chat with a licensed therapist right from your phone, no face-to-face required. Perfect if you’re shy, anxious, overwhelmed, or just communicate better in writing.  🎒 Miacademy  An online learning platform that makes school feel less like a daily power struggle. With engaging videos, games, quizzes, and built-in rewards, Miacademy helps K-8 kids stay motivated while giving parents tools to track progress without hovering.  Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at chaosandcaffeinepodcast@gmail.com. Support the show

    55 min
  7. Permission Over Control: The ADHD Parenting Shift That Actually Reduces Chaos (With Dana Crews)

    JAN 20

    Permission Over Control: The ADHD Parenting Shift That Actually Reduces Chaos (With Dana Crews)

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! What if the missing piece in ADHD parenting isn’t more structure, stricter consequences, or better behavior charts—but permission? In this powerful, grounding conversation, I’m joined by ADHD-informed parent coach and educator Dana Crews to talk about what it really means to see ADHD in full permission—for our kids and ourselves. Inspired by Dana’s work with CHADD, this episode explores how permission-based ADHD care helps parents move out of constant crisis mode and into something far more sustainable: connection, regulation, and trust. We unpack:  – Why control-based parenting often increases meltdowns and power struggles in ADHD kids  – The difference between permissive parenting and permission-based care  – How nervous system regulation—not compliance—is the foundation of effective ADHD support  – What “letting go” actually looks like without sacrificing boundaries This episode is part of the New Year, Less Chaos campaign—a series designed to help ADHD families reduce overwhelm, lower stress, and build rhythms that actually work in real life. If you’re parenting a child with ADHD and feel exhausted by advice that sounds good but collapses under pressure, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. 🎧 Connect with Dana 👉 Second Arrow Coaching  This Month's Sponsors: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Hallowell Todaro ADHD & Behavioral Health Center  A strength-based practice co-founded by Dr. Edward Hallowell that actually gets ADHD. They offer evaluations, therapy, coaching, medication management, and parent support that focuses on what’s strong about your kid, not just what’s hard.   ✨ Social Thinking  Social learning that helps kids, teens, and adults understand the why behind social behavior, not just memorize a checklist of “correct” moves. Their tools, curricula, and resources teach social cognition, perspective-taking, flexible thinking, and real-world problem-solving. 📱 Talkspace  Therapy that fits real life. With Talkspace, you can message or chat with a licensed therapist right from your phone, no face-to-face required. Perfect if you’re shy, anxious, overwhelmed, or just communicate better in writing.  🎒 Miacademy  An online learning platform that makes school feel less like a daily power struggle. With engaging videos, games, quizzes, and built-in rewards, Miacademy helps K-8 kids stay motivated while giving parents tools to track progress without hovering.  Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at chaosandcaffeinepodcast@gmail.com. Support the show

    58 min
  8. How to Reset ADHD Routines After Holidays (Connection Over Correction with Peggy Gomula)

    JAN 13

    How to Reset ADHD Routines After Holidays (Connection Over Correction with Peggy Gomula)

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! If your ADHD household completely unraveled after the holidays, school breaks, or time off, this episode is for you. In this kickoff episode of the New Year, Less Chaos series, ADHD educator and parent coach Peggy Gomula joins Chaos & Caffeine to break down why ADHD routines fall apart after breaks and how parents can reset without punishment, power struggles, or burnout. Peggy’s approach to ADHD parenting is refreshingly different. Instead of focusing on compliance and correction, she teaches families how to lead with connection over correction, understand how ADHD brains actually work, and rebuild routines in a way that sticks — not just in January, but all year long. In this episode, we cover: Why transitions and breaks are especially hard for ADHD kidsHow to reset routines after holidays, school breaks, and chaotic weeksWhat “connection over correction” actually looks like in real lifePractical, ADHD-friendly strategies that work beyond the New YearThese strategies aren’t about perfection. They’re about understanding, flexibility, and creating systems that support ADHD brains even when life interrupts your routines (because it always does). If you’re an ADHD parent looking for realistic tools, science-backed insight, and zero shame, this episode will help you start your year — or your reset — with more confidence and less chaos. 🎧  This Month's Sponsors: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Hallowell Todaro ADHD & Behavioral Health Center  A strength-based practice co-founded by Dr. Edward Hallowell that actually gets ADHD. They offer evaluations, therapy, coaching, medication management, and parent support that focuses on what’s strong about your kid, not just what’s hard.  If you’re done with shame-based care and ready for science-backed, human-first support for neurodivergent families, head to hallowelltodaro.com. Because ADHD doesn’t need fixing, it needs understanding and the right tools. ✨ Social Thinking  Social learning that helps kids, teens, and adults understand the why behind social behavior, not just memorize a checklist of “correct” moves. Their tools, curricula, and resources teach social cognition, perspective-taking, flexible thinking, and real-world problem-solving, so your neurodivergent kiddo can navigate friendships, conversations, and social stress with more awareness and less guessing. If you want practical frameworks and language to help your child think socially (not just act like they’re supposed to), check out socialthinking.com. 📱 Talkspace  Therapy that fits real life. With Talkspace, you can message or chat with a licensed therapist right from your phone, no face-to-face required. Perfect if you’re shy, anxious, overwhelmed, or just communicate better in writing. No waiting rooms. No pressure to perform. Just support that meets you where you are. Visit talkspace.com to start therapy on your terms, because help shouldn’t feel harder than the problem. Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  📧 Have questions or ideas for future episodes? Email us at chaosandcaffeinepodcast@gmail.com. Support the show

    43 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Welcome to Chaos and Caffeine, where parenting gets real, messy, and fueled by endless coffee refills. Hosted by ADHD parent coach Danielle Kelly, this podcast dives into the beautiful chaos of raising neurodivergent kids, balancing life, and finding joy in the middle of the madness. From ADHD hacks and emotional management tips to stories that’ll make you laugh, cry, or say awesome Chaos and Caffeine is your go-to resource for navigating the unpredictable world of parenting. Whether you’re looking for expert advice, relatable stories, or just someone who gets it, grab your mug and join the conversation. Parenting isn’t perfect, but with a little caffeine and a lot of community, we’ll get through it together. New episodes every week!

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