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

    3D AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. The One Change That Will Make 2026 Less Chaotic (You’ll Love It or Hate It) | ADHD Parenting w/ Dr. Michael Elice, MD

    JAN 6

    The One Change That Will Make 2026 Less Chaotic (You’ll Love It or Hate It) | ADHD Parenting w/ Dr. Michael Elice, MD

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  What if the secret to less chaos in 2026 isn’t another planner, routine, reward chart, or parenting hack — but a fundamental shift you may not be ready to hear? In this episode of Chaos & Caffeine, Danielle sits down with Dr. Michael W. Elice, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and internationally recognized expert in complex neurodevelopmental conditions, to unpack the one change that could radically reduce chaos in your home — and fair warning: you’re either going to love it… or absolutely hate it. Dr. Elice brings decades of experience working with children and families navigating ADHD, autism, immune dysfunction, PANDAS, metabolic and mitochondrial disorders, and the messy gray areas that don’t fit neatly into a diagnosis. He’s taught at NYU Medical School and Albert Einstein College of Medicine, lectured globally through MAPS and the Autism Research Institute, and contributed to cutting-edge research and clinical education in pediatric neurodevelopment. In this conversation, we talk about: Why chaos persists even when parents “do everything right”The biggest mindset mistake neurodivergent families are taught to believeWhat actually reduces overwhelm — for kids and parentsWhy this change feels uncomfortable (and why that matters)How to approach 2026 with less reactivity and more regulationThis episode is part of our New Year, Less Chaos series — created for parents who are done chasing perfection and ready for something that actually works. 🎧 Listen now — and don’t be surprised if this episode sticks with you long after it ends. Connect with Dr Elice 👉 Aim Integrative Medicine  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  A strength-based approach to 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. 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 10m
  7. Connect Before You Correct: Parenting ADHD Kids with Dr. Nerissa Bauer, MD

    12/30/2025

    Connect Before You Correct: Parenting ADHD Kids with Dr. Nerissa Bauer, MD

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves! If Christmas break has turned into nonstop power struggles, emotional blowups, and you wondering how did we get here before noon, this episode is your reset. In this powerful replay, I’m joined by Dr. Nerissa Bauer, MD, a board-certified pediatrician and ADHD expert, to talk about one of the most game-changing shifts in ADHD parenting: connection before correction. Because when routines disappear, screens increase, and everyone’s nervous system is fried, traditional discipline strategies stop working — especially for ADHD kids. Dr. Bauer explains why our neurodivergent kids struggle most during unstructured time and how parents can respond in ways that actually calm the brain instead of escalating the chaos. This episode is packed with science-backed, compassionate tools for parents who are exhausted from correcting behaviors and ready to reconnect with their kids — without permissiveness, guilt, or losing authority. This is not about being a perfect parent. It’s about understanding the ADHD brain, regulating yourself first, and building the kind of relationship that actually leads to cooperation — especially when everyone is running on sugar, no sleep, and vibes. If you’re parenting an ADHD child and feel stuck in a cycle of correcting, lecturing, and yelling — this episode will remind you that connection isn’t the soft option. It’s the most effective one. Connect with Dr Bauer 👉 Let's Talk Kids Health This Month’s Sponsors: 🧮 Pop Sugar Cafe  The printable shop saving ADHD parents everywhere from pure morning meltdown chaos. Their visual schedules, routine charts, and emotion trackers are actually cute and neurodivergent-friendly.  🎁 Play Therapy Supply Because sometimes the best gifts aren’t found in the toy aisle. Play Therapy Supply curates sensory-friendly tools, fidgets, and therapeutic toys that actually help kids calm their bodies and connect with their feelings. 🪑 Ted Kangaroo A line of science-backed sensory furniture and tools designed for kids who feel everything — loudly, quickly, and all at once. Ted Kangaroo’s patented chairs, vests, and rockers give your child a safe, calming, multi-sensory space to refocus, self-soothe, and regulate their emotions.  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
  8. ADHD Across Generations: How Undiagnosed ADHD Shapes Families with Jami Shapiro

    12/23/2025

    ADHD Across Generations: How Undiagnosed ADHD Shapes Families with Jami Shapiro

    Join Our Newsletter and Find All of Our Faves!  If your family feels like a beautifully chaotic ADHD ecosystem — grandparents, parents, kids, everyone with big feelings and lost keys — this episode is going to hit home in the best, most validating way. In this must-listen replay, I sit down with Jami Goldfarb Shapiro, ADHD expert, coach, and author of the brand-new book This Explains So Much: Understanding Undiagnosed ADHD for People Who Have Too Much, Feel Too Much, or Have Been Told They Are Too Much. Together, we dive into what ADHD looks like across generations, why so many adults were missed or misunderstood growing up, and how those undiagnosed patterns shape parenting, communication, emotional triggers, and family dynamics today. This conversation is funny, real, and wildly eye-opening — especially if you're spending the holidays surrounded by multiple generations of neurodivergent energy under one roof. We talk about: The signs of ADHD in parents and grandparents who were never diagnosedHow undiagnosed ADHD impacts family relationships, communication, and conflictThe emotional inheritance ADHD families carry (and how to break the cycle)Why understanding your own ADHD helps you parent differentlyHow to build connection and compassion across the ADHD family treeWhether you're navigating holiday chaos, reflecting on your own late diagnosis, or raising ADHD kids while healing your own childhood, this episode will feel like a warm, “ohhhh THAT makes sense now” hug for your brain. Grab a cozy drink, hide in the laundry room if you must, and let’s unpack the generational ADHD story no one ever told you — until now. Connect with Jami 👉 Grandma has ADHD This Month’s Sponsors: 🧮 Pop Sugar Cafe  The printable shop saving ADHD parents everywhere from pure morning meltdown chaos. Their visual schedules, routine charts, and emotion trackers are actually cute and neurodivergent-friendly.  🎁 Play Therapy Supply Because sometimes the best gifts aren’t found in the toy aisle. Play Therapy Supply curates sensory-friendly tools, fidgets, and therapeutic toys that actually help kids calm their bodies and connect with their feelings. 🪑 Ted Kangaroo A line of science-backed sensory furniture and tools designed for kids who feel everything — loudly, quickly, and all at once. Ted Kangaroo’s patented chairs, vests, and rockers give your child a safe, calming, multi-sensory space to refocus, self-soothe, and regulate their emotions.  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

    44 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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