Wonderfully Wired

Healing with Horses is far more than an equine therapy programme—it is a story of hope, belonging and community. Jill Burgess and Aileen Johnstone share how their Zimbabwean non-profit is restoring confidence in children who have been overlooked, misunderstood or marginalised, while rescued horses, dedicated volunteers and families are transformed along the way. Together, we explore the healing power of relationships, the importance of seeing the whole child, and why some of the most meaningful support happens outside traditional therapy rooms. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that healing flourishes where people, purpose and community come together.

Dr Laurie Faith extends an invitation to teachers "to be wide awake and curious" instead of acting on habit or bias and to let uncomfortable moments lead to intentional conversations with children that grow skills!
This episode is for you if you've been introduced to the idea of Executive Function Skills (See Episode 25 with Dr Peg Dawson if you haven't) and are wondering just how you can start having conversations about them in your classroom.
 Dr Faith says that "whatever is discussable is improvable" and helps the willing, compassionate teacher address the EF limits and immaturity that is the "elephant in every room" for children!
Dr Laurie Faith is an Assistant Professor  at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), where she teaches special education and executive-function-related courses.Her latest book, Executive Function Skills in the Classroom: Overcoming Barriers, Building Strategies, co-authored with Peg Dawson and Carol-Anne Bush, brings together research and practical tools for teachers.

In this episode of Wonderfully Wired, hosts Elle and Juju sit down with ADHD expert and bestselling author Peter Shankman. Peter shares his unique perspective on the ADHD brain, comparing it to the controlled chaos of a Tokyo crosswalk. The conversation dives into the "all or nothing" nature of neurodivergence, covering Peter's "Chicken Genocide Diet" and his "Ironman" approach to managing energy. Peter also provides profound insights for parents, arguing that neurodivergent children are gifted, not broken, and stresses the importance of teaching skills alongside medical support. This episode is a masterclass in high-performance ADHD management, proving that with the right "traffic lights," a fast brain can achieve extraordinary things.

In this episode of the Wonderfully Wired Podcast, host Eloise Leher is joined by author, speaker, and autism dad Will Acuff for a deeply reflective conversation about parenting neurodivergent children.
Will shares how his natural instinct to "fix problems" collided with the reality of parenting his son — and why shifting from fixing to knowing became transformational. Together, they explore what happens when parents take responsibility for their own responses, nervous systems, and expectations, rather than trying to change their child.
This episode will resonate with parents of autistic and neurodivergent children, educators, and professionals interested in executive functioning, emotional regulation, and hope-based parenting approaches. 
Will is a a Christian author but his wisdom extends beyond a narrow faith specific audience

Welcome to Part 2 of our deep dive into Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) with Occupational Therapist Liesel Smal. This vital conversation addresses the challenging question: "What now?" Liesel details the process of adopting Low Demand Parenting (LDP), emphasizing that these accommodating acts (like handing over the remote or helping with hygiene) are life-saving caregiving. However, she explains that LDP as a mere strategy will fail, leading parents to the crucial work of radically accepting the reality of their lives, which often involves significant grief and rage. Liesel shares personal insights on how her child became a "canary in the coal mine" for her own nervous system, forcing her to embrace agency and tend to her inner wounds. The episode stresses that true regulation means flexibility, not constant calm, and highlights the importance of repair in building a deeper, messy, fully human connection.