FASD Podcasts
One of the most important things I need to do in this position and on this blog is to share information about FASD that I have found to be useful. It was a challenge to figure out want I would tackle first. I know that we all have limited time to read, listen and learn. So, my first tip is to try podcasts. I search for them on my phone app, and save them so that I can listen when driving, waiting for the kids at therapy appointments and the like. I also listen when I am in the shower, folding laundry or doing mundane household chores. I constantly have ear buds in! The ear bud cords get stuck on drawer pulls, or fall on the ground because I forget that I have them in! I do get to listen more often this way, though.
There is no way to rank these because they are each different and unique. You will notice that there are many guests who are on all these podcasts. The perspectives are slightly different, and so I learn more. Some of the interviews are with the same people, but with a different line of questions, which makes it worth a listen. I also think that once you find some of the people that are interviewed, their contact information is shared, and you then find more resources that are applicable. I will give some information about what is unique about each podcast in case that is helpful.
Jeff Noble’s FASD Success Show: The FASD Success Show , Caregiver Kickstart Coaching Program, and Noble Initiatives.
If you google FASD Podcasts, Jeff Noble comes up first, probably because it has been around for longer and he has a huge following. He is a very charismatic, upbeat, and friendly guy. I am not lying, I actually know him. He was a foster dad to a now adult foster son with FASD and worked as an FASD support worker in Canada. For that job, he trained with some of the leading researchers and educators in Canada in the field of FASD. He has created a large network of support and educational resources for caregivers, families, and professionals. I find that he has a keen sense of what we are dealing with and gives sound advice.
His podcast has 108 interviews with people with some connection to the FASD world. He interviews caregivers, birth moms, FASD organization leaders, Professionals (doctors, social workers, researchers etc.), as well as people with an FASD diagnosis. He is based in Canada, but interviews people from all over the world about FASD in every country that he can find. His podcast page describes him this way:
“Jeff Noble is the Founder and CEO of an organization that provides hope and education to people caring for someone living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) through online applications and in-person training sessions, demonstrations, and consultations.
Jeff is a helper, a leader, and an innovator. His focus is FASD, but his expertise is building community through social media. Using an interactive, yet personal approach, Jeff delivers relevant, useful, and need-to-know information to help and support front line workers, educators, and caregivers of those living with FASD.”
I am sharing information here about his podcasts because that is the topic for this blog, but he provides many varied supports through books, virtual and in-person trainings (just restarting after the pandemic) and social media. He has a free, closed Facebook group that is a great start to find more information and to begin to learn about who is in this community and what it has to offer. He also provides an intensive training for caregivers called the Caregiver Kick Start Coaching program, of which I am a member. In this program, members get intensive training about what FASD is, and strategies to help families. He reminds caregivers to find and celebrate their children’s strengths and abilities, while also learning to navigate their challenges and struggles. I have found this to be invaluable. He has collected a talented, knowledgeable group of coaches who are available for group coaching calls which are held twice a week. These have been a huge lifeline for me, because I get to chat and learn from a large group of parents who “get it,” and are in the same situation as I am. There is a cost for this coaching group.
FASD Family Life with Robbie Seale
Robbie sent massFAS a message after our first blog post. I guess we run in the same circles! She asked Laura and I if we would like to do an interview for her podcast. The first time we met with her, we chatted for over an hour without even doing an episode for her podcast! We just chatted as parents with a lot in common. She then offered to come to one of our parent support groups and was a wonderful guest for us! We have done an interview for her podcast, but it is not scheduled to air yet. She is a wonderful, caring, and knowledgeable lady, who I now would call a friend. Her podcast page describes her podcast this way:
“FASD Family Life podcast is where we get REAL about raising children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Host and FASD Educator, Robbie Seale, synergizes her 20 years of lived experience, in-depth knowledge of FASD and the best research to educate, encourage, equip parents and caregivers raising children and youth with FASD. Robbie’s passion is to help families thrive, because she knows the struggle is real and so is success. Weekly episodes discuss the challenges families experience and deliver effective strategies to improve family cohesion and increase understanding of this complex disability.”
She truly means it when she says the struggle is real, but so is success! She is practical, and experienced. Robbie started the podcast just over a year ago, and yet it is packed with great interviews and information. If you start from the beginning, she has great education about FASD in general, but then also about specific challenging times, situations along with strategies. She has interviews with various people in the FASD world, from educators to caregivers of people with an FASD diagnosis. She also has a research angle on a regular basis which shares truly relevant updated research on FASD.
She has also just embarked on a support group as well. It is called the FASD Family Life membership community. I want to join but have too much on my plate right now! There is a nominal cost for this group.
FASD Hope with Natalie Vecchione
Natalie Vecchione also sent a message to massFAS when we started our blog. We have scheduled a time to chat with her for her podcast in July. I had already listened to her podcasts, too. She, like Robbie, is sweet and calm in her tone, and has a wealth of information to share. She has also co-authored a book about homeschooling called “Blazing New Homeschool Trails, Educating and Launching Teens with Developmental Disabilities,” about her homeschooling journey with her two adopted children. Her podcast always focuses on Hope, and often features her husband John as well, so it has that different angle. The podcast page has this message from them:
“Hi! We’re John & Natalie Vecchione. We met in college, and we’ve been married for 26 years. We’re a homeschool family in the farm country of North Carolina. We’re the parents of two kids, both of whom were blessed to us through domestic adoption. Our son is 19 years old and has Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). He studied carpentry and woodworking and he has graduated from homeschool. Our daughter is on her homeschool adventure.
We started FASD Hope as a podcast/website/resource about Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder to share our viewpoint as parent advocates with over 19 years of lived experience. We like to say that our podcast is about awareness, information & inspiration for our listeners. You are not alone in your journey of FASD.”
The biggest focus that they stress in all their podcasts is HOPE, so they share strengths and give all listeners hope for the future for those with or caring for people with an FASD diagnosis. They have great guests and also feature a Dad’s Perspective podcast every so often. That perspective is great to hear for both me and for my husband as well. Natalie’s homeschooling expertise is also a wonderful and valuable piece of this podcast for anyone who is homeschooling or considering this as an option.
I have a goal to try to add a new blog post every week, so I can keep sharing resources websites and information about FASD. Future topics will be book reviews, other FASD Education Sources and Advocates, Run FASD, FASD Day (September 9th) to name a few. Again, feel free to visit our website at massFAS or reach out to us at FASD@healthrecovery.org.
Love to all!
Kristen