Chaos & Caffeine - ADHD Parenting Podcast
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!
Chaos & Caffeine - ADHD Parenting Podcast
The Lecture That Changed My ADHD Parenting Forever: Dr. Barkley, Executive Dysfunction, and Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome
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In this powerful deep dive, I unpack the Dr. Russell Barkley lecture that completely changed how I parent my neurodivergent child. We’re breaking down why ADHD is not a behavioral issue, but a developmental delay in executive function—and what that actually means in real-life moments (like, why your 10-year-old melts down like a kindergartener).
I also share Dr. Barkley's surprising reply to my personal email—and his groundbreaking insight into Cognitive Disengagement Syndrome (CDS), formerly known as Sluggish Cognitive Tempo. Spoiler alert: If your child seems spacey, unmotivated, or not ADHD enough for the diagnosis to make sense, this might be why.
We’ll cover:
- The 5 core executive functions impacted by ADHD
- Why time feels different for neurodivergent kids (hello, Time Blindness)
- What CDS is, and why it matters more than most pediatricians realize
- How I radically shifted from shame-based discipline to skill-building scaffolds
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or five IEP meetings deep—this episode will help you make sense of the chaos, ditch the guilt, and finally feel seen.
🧠 Watch the full Barkley lecture here!
This Month’s Sponsors:
A licensed psychologist and Board Certified-TeleMental Health Provider who works virtually with kids, teens, and adults in NY, DE, VA, and FL. She specializes in anxiety, OCD, ADHD, stress, tics, and insomnia—and offers parent support that actually supports you. Dr. Laura is also a homeschooling mom of two, so yes, she gets it. Explore her children’s book, audio workshops (hello, Behavior Change Ahead!), and therapy services.
A science-backed supplement line created by Dr. Richard Boles, a geneticist and ADHD dad who walked this exact road. These all-natural formulas were developed to support focus, mood, and brain health—and they helped his own son transition off stimulants and thrive in college. So if you’ve ever wished you had a scientist in your back pocket, this is it.
📱 Goally
The tablet built specifically for neurodivergent kids. It’s distraction-free (no YouTube, no internet rabbit holes) and comes loaded with visual schedules, routines, AAC, timers, and even behavior tracking tools.
💌 The Unfiltered ADHD Mom’s Club Newsletter
Danielle is the host of Chaos & Caffeine, a fast-growing ADHD parenting podcast where she interviews leading psychologists, clinicians, researchers, and neurodivergent advocates about what actually helps ADHD kids thrive in the real world. Through science-backed conversations and very real mom-in-the-trenches storytelling, the show helps parents navigate executive function challenges, emotional regulation struggles, learning differences, and the everyday chaos of raising neurodivergent kids.
Each week, Danielle translates complex ADHD research into practical tools parents can actually use — from building routines that support developing brains to helping kids strengthen focus, flexibility, and self-regulation skills.
Listen to the podcast and explore expert interviews at:
https://linktr.ee/chaosandcaffeinepodcast
Danielle frequently speaks and writes about ADHD parenting strategies, executive function development, emotional regulation, screen use and attention, learning challenges like dyslexia, and building resilient neurodivergent families.