Abundant Wellness With Andrea- From Surviving to Thriving in Mind, Body and Spirit

Episode 131: When Smart Kids Struggle: Understanding Giftedness Beyond IQ with guest Mark Talaga

What if your child is incredibly bright... but still struggles with emotional regulation, friendships, executive functioning, or everyday life?
In this eye-opening conversation, Andrea sits down with Mark Talaga, counselor, founder of the Center for Identity Potential, and host of the Hopelessly Gifted podcast, to unpack one of the most misunderstood forms of neurodivergence: giftedness.
Together, they explore why highly intelligent children are often overlooked, misunderstood, or even misdiagnosed—and why exceptional intelligence doesn't automatically translate into emotional maturity, flexibility, or executive functioning.
You'll learn why many gifted children experience "asynchronous development," where advanced abilities in one area coexist with significant challenges in another. Mark shares how comprehensive assessment, understanding a child's unique developmental profile, and shifting away from behavior-based assumptions can completely change the way parents support their children.
Andrea also shares personal insights from parenting her own neurodivergent daughter, highlighting the importance of trusting parental intuition, embracing individualized support, and remembering that children do well when they can—not simply when they choose to.
Whether you're raising a gifted child, navigating autism, ADHD, sensory processing challenges, or simply trying to better understand your child's unique brain, this episode offers practical wisdom, hope, and reassurance that there is always a path forward.
In this episode you'll learn:
What giftedness really means—and why the label is often misunderstood
The concept of asynchronous development and how it impacts behavior
Why gifted children are frequently misdiagnosed with other conditions
How executive functioning, sensory processing, and emotional regulation fit into the picture
Why comprehensive testing can be one of the most therapeutic steps a family takes
How to trust your instincts as a parent while building the right support team
Why children aren't choosing to struggle—and how that perspective changes everything
If you've ever looked at your child and thought, "I know something is going on, but I can't quite explain it," this conversation is for you.
Connect with Mark Talaga:
Center for Identity Potential: https://centerforidentitypotential.com
Hopelessly Gifted Podcast: https://hopelesslygifted.com

Episode 130: Breastfeeding, Mental Health & the Hidden Gaps in Postpartum Care with Andrea Ippolito

Bringing home a new baby is supposed to be one of life's happiest moments—but for many moms, it's also one of the loneliest. In this episode, Andrea sits down with Andrea Ippolito, founder and CEO of Simply Fed, to discuss the hidden gaps in postpartum care and why so many women feel unsupported after birth.
 
Together they explore why breastfeeding is often far more challenging than expected, how postpartum care extends far beyond a six-week checkup, and why maternal mental health deserves to be part of every conversation.
 
Andrea also shares how SimpliFed is helping families access insurance-covered lactation and feeding support while improving outcomes for both moms and babies.
In this episode, you'll learn:• Why so many mothers feel unprepared for the postpartum experience• The connection between feeding support and maternal mental health• Common barriers preventing families from receiving postpartum care• How virtual lactation support is changing maternal healthcare• Why pregnancy and postpartum offer important clues about long-term health• How to access insurance-covered breastfeeding and baby-feeding support
Whether you're expecting your first baby, navigating the newborn stage, or supporting new mothers in your practice, this conversation offers hope, practical resources, and encouragement.
Connect with Andrea Ippolito and learn more about SimpliFed:https://simplifed.com

Episode 129: Stretch Your Grocery Budget Without Sacrificing Your Time with Andy Ellwood

Groceries are more expensive than ever, and for many families, the mental load of meal planning, budgeting, and shopping has become overwhelming. In this episode, Andrea sits down with entrepreneur and Stretch founder Andy Ellwood to discuss why grocery prices vary so dramatically, how shoppers can make more informed decisions, and why pricing transparency matters.
Andy shares his journey from building tech companies like Waze to creating Stretch, a free app that compares grocery prices across thousands of stores so families can save both time and money. They explore grocery store pricing strategies, loyalty programs, convenience vs. savings, and how technology can help reduce the stress of feeding a family in today's economy.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why grocery prices can vary so much between stores
How loyalty programs and coupons impact pricing
The hidden strategies retailers use to attract shoppers
Ways to reduce the mental load of grocery shopping
How Stretch helps families compare prices and save money
Why consumer transparency matters
Resources Mentioned:
Stretch Groceries App
StretchGroceries.com
Connect with Andy:
Website: www.StretchGroceries.com
Social Media: @AndyEllwood
If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone looking to stretch their grocery budget a little further.

Episode 128: ADHD, Blood Sugar & Emotional Meltdowns: What Parents Need to Know with Guest Amy Jones

Raising a neurodivergent child often comes with questions that traditional parenting advice doesn't answer—especially when it comes to food, sensory sensitivities, emotional regulation, and mealtime struggles.
In this episode, Andrea sits down with ADHD Life Coach, Certified Teacher, and Functional Nutrition Practitioner Amy Jones to explore the powerful connection between ADHD, autism, nervous system regulation, blood sugar balance, and eating behaviors.
Together, they discuss why picky eating is rarely just a behavior problem, how metabolic demands impact neurodivergent brains, and practical ways parents can reduce stress around meals while supporting their child's health and regulation.
In this episode, you'll learn:
Why picky eating is often a nervous system issue—not a behavior problem
The connection between ADHD, emotional regulation, and blood sugar balance
How sensory sensitivities influence food choices and mealtime challenges
Why traditional mealtime expectations often don't work for neurodivergent children
Practical strategies for expanding food variety without pressure or power struggles
How to navigate comments and criticism from family members around your child's eating habits
The importance of honoring capacity, flexibility, and nervous-system safety around food
Why neurodivergent brains often require a different approach to nutrition and daily routines
Connect with Amy Jones:Website: www.amyjonesnutrition.comInstagram: @amyjonesnutrition
If this episode encouraged you, be sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share it with another parent who could use some reassurance that they're not doing it wrong—they may just need a different roadmap.

Episode 127: Mothering Through Perimenopause: Why Neurodivergent Parenting Hits Differently

Mothering Through Perimenopause: Why Neurodivergent Parenting Hits Differently
If you've found yourself feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering why perimenopause seems to be hitting you harder than everyone else, this episode is for you.
Andrea explores the unique challenges of raising neurodivergent and medically complex children while navigating the hormonal shifts of midlife. She explains how years of chronic stress, caregiving demands, disrupted sleep, and the invisible mental load can leave mothers depleted long before they realize they're in burnout.
In this episode, you'll learn why hormones are often responding to deeper issues like nervous system dysregulation, cortisol imbalance, poor nutrient absorption, and chronic stress—and why waiting until your child is "better" before taking care of yourself may be keeping you stuck.
Andrea shares practical mindset shifts and simple strategies to help you begin prioritizing your own healing, so you can continue showing up for the people who need you most.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why parents of neurodivergent children experience a different type of chronic stress
The connection between burnout, perimenopause, and nervous system depletion
How chronic stress impacts hormones, digestion, and the microbiome
The belief that keeps many mothers from prioritizing their own health
Why self-care is a necessity—not a luxury
Practical ways to begin supporting your nervous system today
If you're ready to stop surviving and start thriving, this conversation will remind you that your healing matters too.
 
Ready for more support? Hop into the Thriving Together community here 

Episode 126: The ADHD Airway Connection with Dr. Kathy Cantwell

In this powerful conversation, Andrea sits down with pediatric chiropractor and airway-focused practitioner Dr. Kathy Cantwell to discuss one of the most overlooked contributors to behavior issues, sleep struggles, nervous system dysregulation, ADHD symptoms, and long-term health concerns in children: airway dysfunction.
Dr. Cantwell shares her own personal journey with severe sleep-disordered breathing and explains how mouth breathing, tongue ties, narrow palates, and poor airway development can affect everything from emotional regulation to brain development.
This episode is a must-listen for parents of children struggling with:
ADHD or focus issues
Chronic congestion or mouth breathing
Snoring
Bedwetting
Poor sleep
Behavioral challenges
Picky eating
Frequent illness
Anxiety or nervous system dysregulation
In This Episode, We Discuss:
Why snoring in children is never “normal” or “cute”
The connection between airway issues and ADHD-like symptoms
How tongue ties can impact feeding, sleep, and nervous system development
Signs of airway dysfunction in infants, toddlers, and older children
Why open-mouth breathing changes facial development over time
The relationship between airway issues, sleep deprivation, cortisol, and behavior
How poor oxygenation impacts the developing brain
The connection between sleep-disordered breathing and bedwetting
Why many children with airway dysfunction crave carbs and struggle with picky eating
How airway issues affect growth hormone, blood sugar regulation, and emotional regulation
What parents can look for at home
Why this issue is so commonly missed by providers
The importance of a team approach when supporting children with airway dysfunction
Key Signs Parents Should Watch For:
Mouth breathing
Snoring
Dark circles under the eyes (“allergic shiners”)
Chronic congestion
Poor sleep quality
Frequent waking
Bedwetting past typical potty-training age
Picky eating or gagging on tougher foods
Hyperactivity or behavioral dysregulation
Daytime fatigue
Head-forward posture
Recessed jaw or narrow palate
Connect with Dr. Kathy Cantwell
Follow Dr. Cantwell on Instagram
 
Connect with Andrea 
Not sure where to start with your child's behavioral issues, mood and sleep? Schedule a discovery call with Andrea HERE
Get a FREE airway consultation with Toothpillow by using the code ABUNDANTWELLNESS

Episode 125: Stories that Help Children Overcome Fear with Randolph Schiffer

Every child experiences fear at some point in their lives, but how we as their parents, help them through it can make all the difference in their emotional development. 
 
In this episode, guest Randolph Schiffer shares his personal journey of helping children overcoming fear as a pediatrician and father. 
 
Grab a copy of his book here

Episode 124: Pregnancy, Postpartum and Their Impact on Early Childhood Development with Guest Emily Roper

Today we are talking with Emily Roper, Certified Midwife Assistant and Neuro Developmental Delay Specialist all about how the brain develops in early pregnancy, how postpartum changes impact early childhood development and how we can prevent developmental issues from happening AND fix them with the right support.
 
You can find out more about Emily on INSTAGRAM    And 
or on her website https://www.earlyrootstherapy.com/
 
To schedule a Strong Start Discovery Call, find a time here 

Episode 123: The Mistake Conventional Pediatrics is Making that is Setting You Up for Failure

Conventional Pediatrics is a necessity for all children, however, there is one thing it does that might be setting you and your child up for failure and you don't even realize it! 
 
In this episode, Andrea, RN, BSN and former Pediatric bedside nurse shares how the microwave culture creates unrealistic expectations for true healing, and what she is doing to change it. 
 
To set up a Strong Start Discovery Call, find a time here! 

Episode 122: Being SuperMom is costing you more than you think

Maybe you got thrust into the "super Mom" role against your will when your child was diagnosed with a complex medical diagnosis or chronic illness.
 
Maybe you've been trying to get out of "Super Mom" mode for years but still keep getting stuck in the cycle...
 
If this sounds like you, then listen up!
 
In this episode, Andrea explains why “super mom” parenting is unsustainable for parents of children with neurodevelopmental, mental health, or complex medical needs.
 
She describes how long-term overfunctioning keeps caregivers in fight-or-flight and can lead to burnout (dorsal vagal shutdown), sometimes showing up as overwhelm or doom scrolling, especially when a parent’s body stays in emergency mode even after a child improves.
 
She outlines common barriers to prioritizing needs—believing the child’s needs always come first, financial strain, and postponing self-support until the next medical hurdle passes—and shares practical ways to rebalance by seeking outside help, adjusting appointment frequency, using insurance-covered counseling, leveraging community resources, and asking friends for predictable respite. 
 
00:00 Stop Being Super Mom
01:04 Special Needs Reality
01:36 Caregiver Limits Story
03:33 Why Self Care Fails
04:17 Needs Above Yours
06:15 Burnout Nervous System
08:41 Care Is Not Optional
10:17 Money Pressure Trap
11:37 When Child Gets Better
12:26 Rebalancing Resources
15:46 Creative Support Systems
17:27 Know Your Nervous State
18:07 Final Encouragement
 
You'll find several useful trainings in the Thriving Together community   
Access for free and stay around if the vibe fits!