Raising ADHD: Real Talk For Parents & Educators

Dr. Brian Bradford & Apryl Bradford
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Raising a child with ADHD can feel overwhelming—meltdowns, school struggles, medication decisions, and the constant fear you’re doing it wrong. Raising ADHD is the podcast for parents and teachers who want clarity, strategies, and real-life support. Hosted by Apryl Bradford, M.Ed. (former teacher and ADHD mom) and Dr. Brian Bradford, D.O. (Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist), this show cuts through the myths and misinformation about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Together, Apryl and Dr. Bradford bring both lived experience and clinical expertise to help you: Understand what ADHD really is (and isn’t)Navigate school challenges and partner with teachersMake sense of medication options without the jargonSupport your child’s strengths while tackling everyday strugglesFeel less alone and more empowered on this journey Each week, you’ll hear practical tips, the latest insights from the field, and conversations that validate what you’re living through. Whether you’re dealing with emotional outbursts, executive function challenges, or the stigma that still surrounds ADHD, you’ll find real talk and real help here. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I doing this right?”—this podcast is your answer.  Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical or psychiatric advice and should not replace professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed professional with any questions you may have regarding your child’s health or behavior.

  1. 3D AGO

    ADHD School Behavior Problems: Why Nothing's Changing and the Framework That Will

    Send a text Your child's behavior card comes home negative every day. It's not a character issue—it's a design issue. Learn the REACT framework that actually works. ____________________________________________________ It's 3:07 pm. The dismissal bell rings. And somewhere across town, your phone lights up with the same behavior report you got yesterday. Had difficulty staying in seat. Called out repeatedly. Before you even open it, your stomach drops—because nothing is changing. Here's what no one is telling you: if the same behavior is being corrected every single day with no improvement, that's not a kid problem. That's a systems problem. And the research on what actually works for ADHD kids in the classroom? It's not thin. Teachers just haven't been trained on it. In this solo episode, Apryl breaks down the REACT framework—a simple, research-backed system that organizes everything we already know works for ADHD behavior at school. Then she walks you through exactly how to apply it to two of the most disruptive classroom behaviors. In this episode, you'll learn: Why daily behavior report cards fail when used the way most schools use themThe core reframe: ADHD is a performance regulation disorder, not a rule-knowledge problemHow to apply the REACT framework to shouting out and bothering classmatesThe "parking lot notepad" strategy that reduces blurting without suppressing your childWhy constant frowny faces mean the task is too hard—not that your child isn't tryingSpecific questions you can bring to your child's teacher (without it feeling like an attack)How to scaffold behavior in baby steps that actually build real skills over timeYou'll walk away with a framework you can share with your child's teacher this week and finally replace that broken loop with something that works. RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Workshop: You Love Your Child, But You Don't Love Who You're Becoming – Live workshop on breaking the yelling cycle and creating a calmer home REACT Framework Download – RaisingADHD.org/school

    48 min

  2. FEB 3

    ADHD Without Medication: What Actually Works (According to the Highest-Quality Research)

    Send us a text Overwhelmed by conflicting ADHD advice? Discover what actually works (and doesn't) for managing ADHD without medication, backed by top-tier research. ______________________________________ If you've ever found yourself Googling "ADHD help without medication" at midnight, wondering if anything actually works, or if you're just failing your kid, this episode is for you. Here's the truth most people won't tell you: the research is clear about what helps and what's just wishful thinking. But that clarity? It's actually freeing. Today, Apryl and Dr. Brian break down what the highest-quality research, from the Lancet, NIMH, Cochrane, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, actually says about non-medication strategies. No TikTok trends. No miracle supplements. Just honest, evidence-based guidance you can actually use. In this episode, you'll learn: The single most effective non-medication intervention (and why it focuses on YOU, not your child)How 20 minutes of exercise creates a 60-minute window of improved focusThe surprising research on sleep interventions and lasting symptom reductionWhich supplements have real evidence (and which are wasting your money)A 3-tier action plan you can start this weekWhy the "multimodal approach" outperforms any single strategyFree tools to track progress like a scientistWalk away with a research-backed plan, and permission to stop chasing every new "cure" that pops up on your feed. RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Workshop: You Love Your Child, But You Don't Love Who You're Becoming – Live workshop on breaking the yelling cycle and creating a calmer home Related Episode: Should I Get My Child Tested for ADHD? – Includes medication discussion and what to ask your doctor Free Tracking Tools (from AACAP): Vanderbilt ADHD Follow-Up Scale – PARENT FormVanderbilt ADHD Follow-Up Scale – TEACHER FormResearch Sources Referenced: The Lancet (systematic review on non-pharmacological treatments)National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)Cochrane ReviewsAmerican Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)CDC guidelinesMTA Study (multimodal treatment)

    33 min

  3. JAN 26

    ADHD Morning Routine Chaos? How to Find Your Battle Zone and Fix It Without Changing Your Child

    Send us a text ADHD mornings don't have to be chaos. Learn how to identify your household's biggest battle zone and make one environmental shift that changes everything. _______________________________________ Someone's crying. You're already running late. The shoes are right there but somehow invisible—and suddenly you're not just tired, you're angry. Before you've even had your coffee, you're yelling. Sound familiar? Here's the thing: the problem isn't your child. It's not that they're not trying hard enough, and it's not that you're failing as a parent. The problem is that we keep asking kids with developing executive function to do things their brains aren't ready for—especially before medication kicks in. In this episode, Apryl breaks down exactly how she transformed their chaotic ADHD mornings into something actually... calm. No 5 AM wake-up overhauls. No Pinterest-perfect systems. Just one strategic shift that changed everything. What you'll learn: How to identify your household's biggest "battle zone" (and why you only fix ONE at a time)The reframe that changes everything: scaffolding isn't creating dependenceApryl's exact morning setup that eliminated the "go upstairs" problemWhy removing decisions beats adding reminders every timeThe Alexa alarm system that took nagging completely off her plateYou'll walk away knowing exactly where to start—and finally believing calm mornings are possible for your family too. RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Workshop: "When You Love Your Child But Don't Like Who You're Becoming" Register at: raisingadhd.org/workshop

    16 min

  4. JAN 19

    ADHD School Behavior Problems: 3 Moves Parents and Teachers Both Need to Know

    Send us a text Your phone buzzes: another behavior report. Learn why punishment fails ADHD kids and get scripts to build a real school-home team. ____________________________________ It's 2:47 PM. Your phone buzzes. You already know what it is before you look. Behavior update. Today was difficult. Please discuss consequences at home. Your stomach drops—because this isn't information. It's a verdict. Here's what no one tells you: There are three people drowning in that moment. Your child, who's overwhelmed and has no words for it. The teacher, who's exhausted and out of tools. And you, already hanging on by a thread, now expected to be the enforcer. This episode is for that moment. Not the Pinterest version of ADHD support—the real one. Apryl breaks down why traditional classroom discipline fails ADHD brains and what actually works, backed by research and her decade of classroom experience. You'll learn: Why taking away recess is one of the worst things you can do for an ADHD kidThe one phrase that changes everything: "Praise the positive opposite"3 research-aligned moves teachers can use in the moment of meltdownA word-for-word email script to send your child's teacher (without sounding like you're blaming)How to ask for a two-goal plan that both school and home can actually sustainThe simple template that replaces behavior crime reports with trust-building communicationWhy ADHD kids change through in-the-moment support—not 8 PM lecturesAfter listening, you'll finally have language for what you've been feeling and a concrete plan to share with your child's school. The Email Script for Parents Ask for: Please don't remove recess for behavior—movement helps them regulateCan we pick two school goals only? (Example: raise hand during math, start work within 2 minutes)Can we add one positive note daily, even one sentence?Close with: "I'm not asking for perfection, just a plan we can both sustain." The Template for Teachers Replace behavior crime reports with: One win: He came back after a reset / helped a classmate / tried againToday's trigger: Transition from math to libraryWhat helped: Movement break / smaller task / private cue RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Mini Course: Calm the Chaos: The ADHD Parent Reset — raisingadhd.org/calm

    31 min

  5. JAN 12

    Why Your ADHD Child Thinks "I'm the Problem" (And How Repair Changes Their Identity)

    Send us a text ADHD kids hear "I'm the problem" on repeat. Learn why repairing after yelling rewrites that story—and what to do when your child won't engage. ________________________________________ There's a sentence ADHD kids learn really early. They don't usually say it out loud, but they're living it internally: I'm the problem. Not "that was hard." Not "that didn't go well." But something is wrong with me. Here's what the research says: it's not the conflict that damages your relationship—it's the unrepaired conflict. And for kids with ADHD, who've already received thousands more corrections than their peers by elementary school, those unrepaired moments stack into an identity. In part two of our repair series, we're going deeper into why repair matters so much for the ADHD brain—especially when rejection sensitivity makes yelling feel like proof they're unlovable. In this episode, you'll learn: The critical difference between shame and guilt (and why it matters for ADHD)Why your child refuses to accept your apology (it's protection, not defiance)How to repair when your kid shuts down or says "I don't care"The nonverbal repairs that count just as much as wordsLanguage shifts that protect your child's identitySigns that your repair actually workedWalk away knowing that every repair—even the ones your child doesn't respond to—becomes data they'll use to trust you again. KEY TAKEAWAYS The Shame vs. Guilt DistinctionWhy Kids Refuse Repair (3 Reasons)How to Repair When They Won't EngageNonverbal Repairs That CountThe Identity-Protecting Language ShiftWhy This Matters for ADHD By late elementary school, kids with ADHD have received thousands more negative corrections than their peers. These aren't neutral—they stack into an identity of "I am the problem." Consistent repair doesn't erase consequences; it changes the story from "I am bad" to "that was hard." RESOURCES MENTIONED Free Mini Course: Calm the Chaos: The ADHD Parent Reset  Related Episode: Part 1 – Stop Sitting in Mom Guilt: How to Repair with Your ADHD Child After You Lose ItRelated Episode: Why Small Things Trigger Big Meltdowns: How Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria Hijacks ADHD BrainsRelated Episode: When ADHD Anger Turns Destructive: Why Punishment Makes It Worse (And What Actually Works)

    27 min

  6. JAN 7

    Stop Sitting in Mom Guilt: How to Repair with Your ADHD Child After You Lose It

    Send us a text Yelled at your ADHD child and feel awful? Learn the 5-step repair system that protects your child's self-esteem and actually strengthens your relationship. _______________________ The explosion is over. The house is quiet. Your kid has disappeared into their room, and you're standing there with a pit in your stomach, replaying the look on their face and asking yourself the question no parenting book prepared you for: Am I ruining my kid? Here's what you were never taught: the yelling isn't what damages the relationship. It's what happens—or doesn't happen—afterward. In this episode, Apryl and Dr. Brian Bradford break down the neuroscience behind why your child can't "learn their lesson" during a blowup (spoiler: their thinking brain is literally offline), and walk you through the exact 5-step repair process that protects your child from developing a shame-based identity. Because ADHD kids already hear thousands more corrections than their peers by elementary school. They don't need perfection from you. They need repair. You'll learn: Why secure attachment is built through rupture AND repair—not by never messing upThe brain science behind why consequences don't work when your child is dysregulatedThe 5-part repair system you can use tonight (with exact scripts)How to apologize without giving in on your boundariesThe "do-over" technique for catching yourself before it escalatesWhy this one shift can change your child's internal story from "I'm bad" to "I'm learning"If you've been carrying guilt about losing your temper, this episode will feel like someone finally handed you the missing manual. RESOURCES MENTIONED Free course: "3-Second Calm Reset" at raisingadhd.org/calmPrevious episode: When ADHD Anger Turns Destructive: Why Punishment Makes It Worse (And What Actually Works)ADHD Alien comic

    23 min

  7. 12/29/2025

    When ADHD Anger Turns Destructive: Why Punishment Makes It Worse (And What Actually Works)

    Send us a text Destructive anger in ADHD kids is one of the most misunderstood, shame-loaded experiences parents face. The advice most families are given — harsher consequences, bigger punishments, “making it stop” — often makes these episodes happen more often, not less. In this episode, Apryl and Dr. Brian walk through what’s actually happening in the ADHD brain during these moments — and the system that helps families stop the cycle without becoming permissive or powerless. Thoughts parents have that this episode answers “If I don’t punish this hard, am I raising a future adult who can’t control themselves?”“Why does my kid destroy things over something so small?”“Nothing works — consequences, lectures, taking things away.”“Am I being too soft… or am I missing something?”You’re not weak for asking those questions. You’re responding to a nervous system problem with tools that were never designed for ADHD brains. What This Episode Walks You Through 1. Why logic disappears during ADHD anger explosions What’s happening in the amygdala vs. the prefrontal cortexWhy reasoning, lecturing, and threats cannot work in the momentThe difference between knowing better and being able to do better2. The system that reduces destructive behavior over time How to interrupt explosions before they happenWhy antecedents matter more than consequencesThe “positive opposite” strategy that teaches replacement behaviors3. Consequences that teach — without escalating the fire Why harsh punishment increases aggression and dysregulationWhat accountability looks like for ADHD kidsHow small, boring, predictable consequences actually stick4. How this changes for teenagers Why dignity, privacy, and agency matter more as kids get olderHow to collaborate instead of controlWhat repair sounds like after the storm — without shaming5. What teachers can do to prevent public blowups Simple classroom strategies that protect regulation and self-esteemHow to intervene quietly before the explosionWhy predictability lowers threat for ADHD studentsWhy this approach works when others fail Most parenting advice treats explosive anger as a behavior problem. This episode treats it as a nervous system overload — and responds with strategies that work with ADHD brains instead of against them. This isn’t permissive parenting.  It isn’t “being soft.”  It’s strategic, research-aligned, and focused on building skills your child will carry into adulthood. Want to go deeper? Share this episode with a partner, teacher, or caregiver who needs the full pictureSubscribe so you don’t miss the next episode on repairing after blowupsLeave a review — it helps other ADHD families find support that actually helpsYou’re not failing. You’re learning a different way to lead — because you have a different kid.

    35 min

  8. 12/15/2025

    [Part 5 of 5] The ADHD Holiday Survival System: The 3-Phase Plan That Stops Meltdowns, Sensory Overload & Dopamine Crashes

    Send us a text This is the holiday episode every ADHD parent needs. After five weeks of dismantling holiday myths, decoding meltdowns, and rebuilding your confidence piece-by-piece…we’re finally here. In this episode of Raising ADHD, Apryl (former teacher + ADHD mom) and Dr. Brian Bradford (child & adolescent psychiatrist) reveal the complete, step-by-step ADHD Holiday Survival System — the exact 3-phase plan that helps your child stay regulated, reduces sensory overload, prevents RSD spirals, and finally lets your family enjoy the holidays again. If you’ve ever thought: “Why do the holidays always end in tears?”“Why does my ADHD child fall apart at family gatherings?”“Why is the week after Christmas the hardest week of the year?”“Why does my kid get overstimulated so fast — and how do I help?”…this episode is your roadmap back to calm, connection, and actual joy. 🎄 What You’ll Learn (and Why It Works for ADHD Brains) PHASE 1 — The Setup (Outsourcing Executive Function Before the Holidays Even Start) ✔ The Visual Preview Strategy that solves ADHD time blindness ✔ The No-Surprises Gift Rule that prevents meltdowns and RSD ✔ The Body-Doubling Wrapping Method that eliminates last-minute stress ✔ Why neurodivergent families need predictability, not “magic” ✔ How ADHD adults benefit from these same tools too PHASE 2 — The Event (Regulating Sensory + Social Load in Real Time) ✔ How to create a Sensory Safe Zone before you even walk in the door ✔ What belongs in your ADHD Regulation Kit ✔ The Two-Car Rule that stops the “I’m trapped here” panic spiral ✔ Social Scripts to avoid overexplaining, awkwardness, or unsolicited advice ✔ The Dopamine Menu that stabilizes mood + behavior without restricting joy These strategies don’t just help your child stay regulated — they help YOU stay regulated, which makes the whole day smoother. PHASE 3 — The Landing (Preventing the Dopamine Crash After the Holidays) ✔ Why the post-holiday crash is biological, not behavioral  ✔ The Buffer Day Rule that protects your family’s nervous system ✔ Why every ADHD family needs a Bridge Event 2–3 weeks after Christmas ✔ How to rebuild joy through connection, not perfection ✔ “Good Enough Traditions” that reduce overwhelm and increase bonding This phase alone will change your January. 🌟 Why This Episode Matters The holidays were built for neurotypical brains — not ADHD ones. If you’ve ever felt like you were failing…you weren’t. The system was failing you. But with the right structure, sensory strategies, and dopamine-aware planning, your holidays can go from barely surviving to: peaceful morningsfewer meltdownsmore connectionactual joy…for both you and your ADHD kiddo. 🔗 FREE Holiday Survival PDF (Your Step-By-Step Plan) Grab the full holiday system as a printable PDF:  👉 raisingadhd.org/holiday 🎙️ Have a Question You Want Us to Answer on the Show? Submit it here and we may feature it in an upcoming episode:  👉 raisingadhd.org/question ❤️ If This Episode Helped You… The best gift you can give us this season is: leaving a reviewtapping subscribesharing this with another parent or teacher who needs itYour support helps more families find the ADHD clarity they’ve been searching for.

    32 min
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About

Raising a child with ADHD can feel overwhelming—meltdowns, school struggles, medication decisions, and the constant fear you’re doing it wrong. Raising ADHD is the podcast for parents and teachers who want clarity, strategies, and real-life support. Hosted by Apryl Bradford, M.Ed. (former teacher and ADHD mom) and Dr. Brian Bradford, D.O. (Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist), this show cuts through the myths and misinformation about Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Together, Apryl and Dr. Bradford bring both lived experience and clinical expertise to help you: Understand what ADHD really is (and isn’t)Navigate school challenges and partner with teachersMake sense of medication options without the jargonSupport your child’s strengths while tackling everyday strugglesFeel less alone and more empowered on this journey Each week, you’ll hear practical tips, the latest insights from the field, and conversations that validate what you’re living through. Whether you’re dealing with emotional outbursts, executive function challenges, or the stigma that still surrounds ADHD, you’ll find real talk and real help here. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “Am I doing this right?”—this podcast is your answer.  Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not medical or psychiatric advice and should not replace professional consultation with a qualified healthcare provider. Always seek the advice of your physician or other licensed professional with any questions you may have regarding your child’s health or behavior.

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