Podcast · Kids & Family

The ADHD Parenting Podcast

by The ADHD Parenting Podcast · English · Kids & Family

New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 28 min
Latest: 23 Sep 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

23 Sep 2026 · 16 min

Understanding ADHD medications: What Parents Need to Know - Part Two

ADHD Parenting Podcast – Episode 66: Understanding ADHD Medications: What Parents Need to Know – Part Two Hosts Ryan and Mike continue their two-part deep dive into ADHD medications by walking through the actual medication categories and how they differ. They cover the two stimulant families — methylphenidate-derived (Ritalin, Concerta, Focalin, Jornay PM) and amphetamine-derived (Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine) — and explain why a poor response to one class doesn't mean all stimulants will fail. From there they break down alpha agonists like clonidine and guanfacine, non-stimulants including…

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

E65 · 9 Sep 2026 · 27 min

Understanding ADHD medications: What Parents Need to Know - Part One

Hosts Ryan and Mike tackle one of the most frequently asked questions from parents: Is ADHD medication safe? In this first installment of a two-part series, they break down what the long-term research actually shows about stimulant medications, address common fears around side effects — including appetite suppression, sleep difficulties, growth concerns, personality changes, tics, and cardiovascular risks — and explain how each is typically monitored and managed by prescribers. They also discuss the medication holiday debate, make the case that medication decisions should be adult-guided…
E64 · 26 Aug 2026 · 20 min

Top Three Tips For A Successful School Year (High School)

Hosts Ryan and Mike deliver the high school companion to their elementary and middle school back-to-school episode, focusing on the shift parents need to make from managing their teen to consulting. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [00:04:26] Tip 1: Stop Rescuing Executive Functions [00:06:43] Tip 2: Set Technology Expectations Now [00:10:00] The Phone You Bought Is Your Problem [00:14:01] Tip 3: Build Independence, Not…
E63 · 12 Aug 2026 · 26 min

Top Three Tips For A Successful School Year (Elementary & Middle School)

Hosts Ryan and Mike share the three things that will have the biggest impact on an ADHD child's school year — and none of them involve buying supplies. First, they explain why setting clear, specific expectations before school starts (morning routines, homework, electronics, bedtime, after-school activities) prevents the negotiation battles that derail families every fall. Second, they walk through building routines now rather than scrambling once school begins, with particular emphasis on keeping school-issued laptops out from behind closed doors and advocating with the school when…
E62 · 22 Jul 2026 · 26 min

Competent Roles for Kids with ADHD

Hosts Ryan and Mike make the case that children with ADHD don't need fewer responsibilities — they need better-scaffolded, consistent ones. They introduce the idea of a "competent role": an ongoing, child-owned job that genuinely matters to the family, distinct from a random chore. Along the way they name the "high giving, low expectations" trap that well-meaning parents fall into, explain why learned helplessness gets weaponized to escape non-preferred tasks, and walk through the executive-function skills these roles quietly build. The episode closes with a practical playbook for creating…
E61 · 8 Jul 2026 · 30 min

Answering Parents' Questions

Hosts Ryan and Mike work through five real listener questions covering some of the most common — and most misunderstood — challenges of raising kids with ADHD: a six-year-old with borderline intellectual functioning caught between a cautious school and a hands-off psychiatrist, a ten-year-old with total time blindness for non-preferred activities, sibling conflict where the hosts openly diverge on whether to hold the older child more accountable or redirect the younger one, a physically aggressive first-grader stuck in a cycle of ineffective next-day suspensions, and a fifteen-year-old with…
E60 · 24 Jun 2026 · 15 min

ADHD Medication: What Parents Need to Know | Part 2

In part two of this two-part series, Mike and Ryan discuss why families often abandon medication too quickly after a single difficult trial, the importance of trial-and-error in finding the right medication regimen, and why genetic testing isn't the shortcut many parents hope it will be. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ Timestamps [00:00:00] Start [00:00:46] Why Families Give Up on Medication Too Easily [00:01:30] Two Main Stimulant Categories Explained [00:03:42] Non-Stimulant Medication Options [00:04:22] Why…
E59 · 10 Jun 2026 · 18 min

ADHD Medication: What Parents Need to Know | Part 1

Ryan & Mike take on ADHD kids' medication based on research and doctors, not social media. They cover untreated ADHD risks, debunk the psychiatrist myth, and put decisions with parents and prescribers. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [00:01:05] Why Parents Get Confused About Medication [00:03:40] The Risks of Untreated ADHD [00:06:46] Where Medication Misinformation Comes From [00:10:15] Do You Really Need a Child Psychiatrist? [00:13:34] Who Makes the Medication Decision Citations…
E58 · 27 May 2026 · 19 min

Debunking Four ADHD Parenting Myths

Ryan and Mike take on four of the loudest myths in Facebook ADHD parenting groups: pharmacogenetic ("cheek swab") testing for medication selection, the idea that every ADHD child needs one-to-one talk therapy, the "everything is sensory" framing, and rejection sensitive dysphoria as a discrete diagnosis. For each one, they walk through what the actual research and clinical practice guidelines support — and what they don't. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube⁠⁠⁠…
E57 · 13 May 2026 · 28 min

Stop Lowering The Bar. Why High Expectations Are The Most Loving Thing For ADHD Kids

In this episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Mike and Ryan tackle a provocative but critical topic: why high expectations are the most loving thing you can do for a child with ADHD. They respond to a listener’s experience in which an effective classroom point system—backed by decades of research—was canceled after other parents of children with ADHD complained. Mike and Ryan break down the difference between evidence-based structure and popular social media narratives, explaining why removing consequences and lowering the bar can lead to learned helplessness, prompt dependence, and…
E50 · 29 Apr 2026 · 25 min

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 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00]…
E55 · 15 Apr 2026 · 28 min

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…
E54 · 25 Mar 2026 · 39 min

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…
E53 · 11 Mar 2026 · 37 min

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…
E52 · 25 Feb 2026 · 22 min

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…
E51 · 11 Feb 2026 · 27 min

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…
E50 · 28 Jan 2026 · 33 min

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.…
E49 · 14 Jan 2026 · 28 min

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…
E48 · 24 Dec 2025 · 37 min

The Best Treatments For ADHD Kids, Based on Evidence

This episode breaks down the major misconceptions about ADHD treatment and clarifies what decades of research, major clinical guidelines, and leading experts actually recommend. Ryan and Mike explain why weekly talk therapy is not an evidence-based treatment for ADHD, why parent training and environmental structure are consistently shown to improve outcomes, and how parents can make informed decisions without getting pulled into common myths. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ & on…
E42 · 10 Dec 2025 · 23 min

Your Child Is Not Your Co-Parent | part 2

This is part 2 of "Your Child Is Not Your Co-Parent". Ryan and Mike continue examining why popular “gentle” and heavy emotional-validation parenting approaches often backfire for kids with ADHD. They break down the research, explain the leadership needs of ADHD brains, and outline why overtalking, overprocessing, and overnegotiating increase dysregulation rather than calming it. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [00:00:46] Rise of…
E46 · 26 Nov 2025 · 22 min

Your Child Is Not Your Co-Parent | part 1

In this first half of a two-part episode, Ryan and Mike break down why many modern parenting approaches—especially those centered on constant negotiation and seeking a child’s input for every decision—backfire for kids with ADHD. They outline how clear leadership, predictable structure, and authoritative (not authoritarian) parenting create emotional safety, reduce conflict, and support executive functioning. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}}…
E45 · 12 Nov 2025 · 31 min

When Love and Empathy Turn into Disabling

Today's episode is a re-release of episode 23. I wanted to bring this episode back because it gets to the core of what Mike and I are always trying to teach: helping kids with ADHD move from dependence to independence. This conversation started with a powerful listener comment about how “doing everything out of love” can actually leave kids feeling helpless and incapable. That story stuck with me—it perfectly illustrates what happens when empathy turns into over-accommodation. In this episode, Mike and I talk about why confidence comes from experience, not protection, and how kids only build…
E44 · 22 Oct 2025 · 36 min

Answering Parents' Questions

The ADHD Parenting Podcast returns with another episode to address real-life questions from parents about managing ADHD. Topics include handling therapeutic classroom recommendations, navigating the challenges of a political climate for a curious preteen, managing prompt dependency in routines such as eating and showering, and dealing with lying and exaggeration. They provide practical advice on executive function growth and the importance of appropriate medication regimens. Key takeaways are aimed at equipping parents with effective strategies rather than offering superficial advice. Find…
E43 · 8 Oct 2025 · 38 min

Stepping Into Your Parental Authority

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…
E42 · 24 Sep 2025 · 24 min

Parent Coaching Session with the Father of a 14-Year-Old

In this episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast , Ryan sits down with the father of Rick, a 14-year-old navigating ADHD in the context of a blended family. The conversation explores the challenges of co-parenting across two households with different structures, managing dad guilt while maintaining boundaries, and helping a teen feel both supported and heard. They discuss practical strategies like front-loading transitions, maintaining consistent expectations, and giving kids more voice in decision-making. Rick’s father also shares how ADHD medication has significantly improved Rick’s school…
E41 · 10 Sep 2025 · 33 min

Answering Parents' Questions

Join Mike and Ryan as they tackle listener questions on the ADHD Parenting Podcast. This episode covers practical advice for managing neighborhood conflicts, setting boundaries for young adults with ADHD, and supporting children's reading preferences. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.grownowadhd.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ IG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Find Ryan @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ www.adhddude.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠ & on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Youtube⁠⁠⁠ {{chapters}} [00:00:00] Start [00:05:00] Addressing Neighborhood Conflicts [00:15:00] Young Adult Independence and Boundaries [00:25:00] Scaffolding Social Situations for ADHD…
E40 · 27 Aug 2025 · 40 min

Answering Listener Questions

In this episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Ryan and Michael tackle pressing questions from parents navigating the complexities of raising children with ADHD. How can parents motivate their kids to engage in home therapy exercises without resorting to rewards or threats? What strategies can help a child manage emotional outbursts during sports, especially when medication wears off? As they work through these challenges, they also explore the importance of setting firm boundaries and the role of supporters in fostering self-regulation. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…
13 Aug 2025 · 45 min

The Hidden Heartbreak of Teen ADHD: A Real Story

In this episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Ryan and Mike tackle a question about the complex challenges faced by a high school boy with ADHD, as highlighted in a heartfelt email from a concerned parent. How can parents effectively support their children in navigating emotional intensity and social skills? What role does rejection sensitivity play in their relationships? As they explore the impact of impulsivity on friendships and romantic interests, listeners will discover practical strategies for fostering resilience and self-regulation. Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…
E38 · 23 Jul 2025 · 25 min

How Neurodiverse Parenting Content Can Harm Your Child

In this episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Ryan and Mike look at the troubling impact of misleading neurodiverse parenting content on social media. Are parents unknowingly harming their children by accepting the notion that their child's identity is solely defined by their diagnosis? As they explore the fine line between support and disempowerment, Ryan and Mike provide actionable strategies for discerning credible advice from harmful ideologies. Discover how to empower your child and foster a growth mindset amidst the noise of social media! Find Mike @ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠…
E37 · 9 Jul 2025 · 30 min

Raising Resilient Kids with ADHD: 4 Parenting Shifts That Break the Fragility Cycle

In this enlightening episode of the ADHD Parenting Podcast, hosts Ryan and Mike challenge the conventional approach to parenting children with ADHD. They explore the critical shift from treating kids as fragile to fostering anti-fragility—can children truly thrive through challenges? Discover the importance of building frustration tolerance and setting high expectations while maintaining empathy. What strategies can parents implement to coach their children through stress rather than shield them from it? Listen to uncover actionable insights that will empower both parents and kids to embrace…

About The ADHD Parenting Podcast

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.

The ADHD Parenting Podcast is a English kids & family podcast from The ADHD Parenting Podcast. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: The ADHD Parenting Podcast
Language: English
Category: Kids & Family
New episodes: Every two weeks
Typical length: 28 min
Latest episode: 23 Sep 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1733291140
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