Complex Kids, Simple Solutions
Complex Kid, Simple Solutions is the go-to podcast for parents raising neurodivergent and medically complex kids. Hosted by Michelle Choairy, a seasoned advocate and mom of a complex child, this podcast delivers clear, actionable strategies to help you navigate the chaos with confidence.
Each episode breaks down overwhelming challenges into simple, practical solutions—whether it’s advocating for your child, navigating the school system, or finding the right support team. You’ll hear expert insights, real-life stories, and empowering advice to help you become your child’s best advocate while keeping your own sanity intact.
Because raising a complex kid is hard—but finding solutions doesn’t have to be.
🎧 Subscribe now and start turning challenges into victories!
Episodes
36 episodes
Sharon Dunlevy — Trauma-Wise Parenting for Foster (and All) Families
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with educational advocate Sharon Dunlevy to demystify foster-care realities—what licensing really takes, why trauma shows up like “behavior,” and how schools can (and should) support healing with ...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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34:44
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Constance Lewis — Miles & the Colorful Capes of Feelings
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with nurse practitioner and mom-author Constance Lewis to share the story behind Miles and the Colorful Capes of Feelings—a playful, powerful system that helps kids name big emotions usin...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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28:56
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C. S. Wyatt — From Checklists to Conversations: Preparing Neurodivergent Students for College
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with educator and accessibility advocate Dr. C. S. Wyatt to demystify the leap from K–12 supports to college reality—and how listening (not just checklists) drives real inclusion online and in the...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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42:04
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Russell Van Brocklen — Rethinking Dyslexia: Why Typing, Not Tracing, Unlocks Reading and Writing
In this conversation, Michelle Choairy sits down with Russell Van Brocklen, founder of Dyslexia Classes, to uncover a radically different way of helping kids with dyslexia, ADHD, and learning di...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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54:56
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Dr. Emily Levy — Unlocking Every Child’s Learning Potential with Orton-Gillingham
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Dr. Emily Levy, founder and director of EBL Coaching, to explore how customized, multi-sensory instruction can transform outcomes for students with dyslexia, ADHD, executive functioning challenges, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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35:12
Jeanine Mouchawar — Talking to Teens When “I Don’t Know” Is Every Answer
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with parenting coach Jeanine Mouchawar to unpack why the strategies that worked for little kids fall apart in the teen years—especially for neurodivergent teens—and how small shifts in tone, timin...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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37:09
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Nicole Runyon — Why Screens Are Rewiring Our Kids (and What We Can Do About It)
In this powerful episode, Michelle sits down with former child psychotherapist and author Nicole Runyon to tackle a controversial question every modern parent faces: Is technology quietly hijacking our kids’ mental health—and what...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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38:09
Dr. Karalynn Royster — Co-Parenting Through Chaos Without Breaking Your Kid
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with clinical psychologist and co-parenting coach Dr. Karalynn Royster to unpack one of the most loaded questions parents of complex kids face: What happens when the marriage isn’t working—bu...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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50:39
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Andréane Gaulin — When It’s Not “Just a Speech Delay”
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Andréane Gaulin, a rare dual-licensed SLP + BCBA, to unpack the gut-wrenching moment many parents of neurodivergent kids face: when their toddler still isn’t talking—and no one seems t...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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45:43
Samantha Foote — Music, Meltdowns & the Magic of Neurodivergent Parenting
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Samantha Foote—music therapist, mom of three autistic children, and host of the Every Brain Is Different Summit—to explore how sound, structure, and self-compassion can transform the neurod...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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41:01
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Ryann Watkin — Rediscovering Your Feminine Energy While Raising Complex Kids
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with speaker, podcaster, and creator of the Raising Wild Hearts podcast, Ryann Watkin, to unpack the tug-of-war between strength and softness that every mom of complex kids knows too well...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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35:25
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Jeaneen Tang — Play Dumb & Sabotage: Tiny Habits that Unlock Speech
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Los Angeles speech-language pathologist and author Jeaneen Tang to unpack why some kids stay stuck at “grunts and grabs”—and the everyday tweaks that turn requests into real words. Jeaneen sh...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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46:59
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Amanda Trisdale — Building a Dance Floor for the Kids Everyone Else Overlooked
In this heartfelt episode, Michelle sits down with Amanda Trisdale, CEO of Autistic Wings Dance Company, to spotlight what happens when a fierce mom, a fiercely talented daughter, and a fiercely broken system collide—and how they built...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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38:38
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Kanika Vasudeva — Tapping Earth & Sun to Calm Neuro-Spicy Storms
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with energy & consciousness coach Kanika Vasudeva to explore why many complex kids arrive as hyper-sensitive “old souls”—and how a one-minute grounding ritual can steady the whole household.
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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53:27
Rebecca McAllister — Turning Playtime into Phonics Power
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Active Reader co-founder and former classroom teacher Rebecca McAllister to unpack why so many complex kids (and even their teachers!) still struggle with reading—and how a multi-sensory, five-minut...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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34:02
Dr. Kristen Williamson — Rewriting the Neuro-Spicy Rulebook for Parents and Late-Diagnosed Adults
In this conversation, Michelle welcomes therapist and EmpowerMind Solutions founder Dr. Kristen Williamson to bust the myth that ADHD and autism are deficits—and to show both parents and late-diagnosed adults how to turn “weird” traits i...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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44:31
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Michael Israel — Turning Back-Seat Checks into a Life-Saving Habit
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Cleverely operations lead Michael Israel to unpack the hidden reason babies and complex kids are still left in hot cars—and the 15-second fix that turns back-seat checks into second nature.Mi...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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32:07
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TL McCoy — Turning Genetic “What-Ifs” Into Page-Turning Superpowers
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with author and psych-nurse T.L. McCoy to unpack how a single genetic mutation—and a determined grandma—sparked the inclusive middle-grade adventure Delilah versus the Ghastly Grimm
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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43:36
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Dinalynn Rosenbush – The Language of Play: Brave Parenting, Early Words & School-Home Teamwork
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with veteran speech-language pathologist Dinalynn Rosenbush—creator of the Language of Play podcast—to unpack what happens when an over-worked school SLP, a fired-up mom, and a “mama-gut”...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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34:13
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Maxwell Ivey – The Blind Blogger: Resilience, Accessibility & the Power of Asking for Help
In this conversation, Michelle sits down with Maxwell Ivey—better known online as The Blind Blogger—to explore what true adaptability looks like when you’re navigating life without sight and without excuses.Max shares:<...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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47:25
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Barbara Ann Mojica – Little Miss History: Multisensory Learning, Critical Thinking & Curiosity for Complex Kids
In this episode of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, host Michelle Choairy sits down with Barbara Ann Mojica—historian, retired special-education administrator, and award-winning creator of the Little Miss History® c...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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51:01
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Betsy Holmberg – Unkind Mind: Rewiring Self-Doubt and Silencing the Inner Critic for Parents of Complex Kids
In Episode 14 of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, host Michelle Choairy is joined by Dr. Betsy Holmberg—clinical psychologist and author of Unkind Mind—for an eye-opening conversation on what’s really going on inside our heads ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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45:18
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Katie Jones – Redeeming Your Finances: Faith, Stewardship, and Simplicity for Special Needs Families
In Episode 13 of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, Michelle Choairy welcomes Katie Jones—Christian financial counselor, foster mom, and founder of Redeeming Your Finances—for a refreshing conversation about money, motherhood, and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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43:28
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Sam Mitchell – From Advocate to Advocate: A Self-Advocate’s Journey Through Autism, School, and Self-Discovery
In Episode 12 of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, Michelle Choairy welcomes Sam Mitchell, the dynamic host of Autism Rocks and Rolls and a proud self-advocate on the autism spectrum. Diagnosed at age four, Sam has gone from rec...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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28:47
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Elissa Green Kaustinen: Bridging Medical and School Systems for IEP Success
In this episode of Complex Kids, Simple Solutions, Michelle welcomes back Elissa Green Kaustinen, FAST Director at Chapman University’s Thompson Policy Institute and a trusted expert on navigating IEPs and special education systems. Elis...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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45:50
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