Beautifully Complex
Penny Williams
Join parenting coach and mom-in-the-trenches, Penny Williams, as she helps parents, caregivers, and educators harness the realization that we are all beautifully complex and marvelously imperfect. Each week she delivers insights and actionable strategies on parenting and educating neurodivergent kids — those with ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning disabilities... Her approach to decoding behavior while honoring neurodiversity, and parenting the individual child you have will provide you with the tools to help you understand and transform behavior, reduce your own stress, increase parenting confidence, and create the joyful family life you crave. Penny has helped thousands of families worldwide to help their kids feel good so they can do good.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 6, 2023 • 32min
216: Helping Kids & Teens Develop a Strengths-Based OS, with Matthew Zakreski, Psy.D.
Instead of viewing ADHD and autism through the medical model, we need to view them through a strengths-based model as the neurodiversity movement does. A strengths-based model uses interests and strengths to help with challenges. We talk a lot about it in terms of parenting and educating, but now it’s time to teach our kids to operate through a strengths-based lens. In this episode, Dr. Matt outlines the steps to help your child develop a strengths-based perspective specific to their own strengths and weaknesses. This puts challenges and non-preferred tasks through a lens that the child or teen cares about, making it much more doable. As Dr. Matt reminds us, “Rising tides raise all boats.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Mar 30, 2023 • 38min
215: IEP Strategies for Parents, with Catherine Whitcher, M.Ed.
If there’s one thing parents of struggling learners understand, it’s that the IEP process is complex. Between the law (IDEA), qualifications, the IEP document, goals, measurements, and formal meetings, there’s a lot to know and navigate to ensure that your neurodivergent child receives the education they deserve (and have a right to). In this episode, I’m joined by Master IEP Coach, Catherine Whitcher. Catherine shares insights on the IEP process, two main strategies for IEP meetings and what to expect in those meetings, and all the facets of a student should be addressed with special education, not just grades and test scores. Join us to discover your voice of advocacy for your child. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Mar 23, 2023 • 33min
214: Helping Teachers Understand Behavior & Neurodivergence, with Emily W. King, Ph.D.
Biology influences behavior. Being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world does, too. The challenges neurodivergent kids experience at school and in their classrooms are tied to their neurological differences and how their bodies interpret their environment and gauge their safety. When kids don’t feel safe, they cannot regulate and they cannot learn. In this episode, Dr. Emily King helps us understand the added layer of complexity that neurodivergence adds to a student’s school experience. We discuss the importance of regulation, choice, and interests in helping kids feel safe and helping their bodies be available to learn.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Mar 16, 2023 • 32min
213: Relationship Reset withThe Behavior Revolution
It’s easy to fall into bad patterns with our interactions with others, especially our kids. But a better relationship is always possible, as long as you make changes and do the work. In this episode, Sarah Wayland, Ph.D. is back with me to talk about making amends, repairing the relationship, and pivoting to more healthy and rewarding interactions.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Mar 9, 2023 • 33min
212: Twice-Exceptionality & Asynchronous Development, with Emily Kircher-Morris, M.A., M.Ed., LPC
Intelligence and learning and doing are different things. An individual can be highly intelligent and also struggle with getting things done or even with learning itself. When someone has both a high IQ and a learning disability, they’re referred to as twice-exceptional, or 2e. As you can imagine, this can be a struggle in school, as well as other aspects of life, because people tend to automatically think that an intelligent person is a highly capable person. I’m joined by 2e expert and counselor, Emily Kircher-Morris, to discuss the asynchronous development that leads to twice-exceptionality and how we can help 2e kids and teens self-advocate and create an environment for their success.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Mar 2, 2023 • 32min
211: My 6 Biggest Aha’s in 6 Years of the Podcast, with Penny Williams
It’s the 6 year anniversary of the Beautifully Complex podcast so I’m looking back at some of the most pivotal lessons I’ve had about parenting neurodivergent kids. I’ve interviewed nearly 150 experts and also parented my son from young teen to young adult during that time. I’ve learned a lot! Listen in as I explain my six biggest aha’s and what they could mean for you and your child — the interconnectedness of biology and behavior, pressure is actually a demotivator, rejection sensitive dysphoria, giving kids control, compassionate parenting, and asking for help.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Feb 23, 2023 • 40min
210: What to Do When Your Child is Aggressive, with Tosha Schore
Many neurodivergent kids — including those with ADHD, autism, and anxiety — can be quite aggressive at home or at school. To cope with and improve aggressive behavior, you have to understand why it happens. In a global sense, the child doesn’t feel safe, and acknowledging this is a great place to start. Tosha Schore of Parenting Boys Peacefully is my guest on this episode. In her work with families, Tosha helps parents discover the root of the aggression and work to diffuse it. Listen in to learn the three things you must understand if your child (or student) is aggressive, common mistakes to avoid, and how to restore peace.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Feb 16, 2023 • 28min
209: Foundational Principles of Behavior, with The Behavior Revolution
We’ve been busy recording the sessions for the upcoming Decoding Behavior Summit, March 3-5, 2023. In this episode of the podcast, Sarah and I reflect on the common principles and strategies we heard from the experts in this Summit, including your role in your child’s behavior, the importance of adult regulation, the transformative properties of a sense of control for kids, and more. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Feb 9, 2023 • 31min
208: The Parenting Long Game, with Rachel Bailey
The parenting long game is all about putting the right mindset and strategies in play so that kids can succeed and thrive. As parents, we often spend a lot of time in the “yuk,” overwhelmed by what’s hard and negative. And we’re wired to focus on the negative as a means of protection. However, to parent with the long game, Rachel Bailey tells us that we have to shift from judgment to understanding. Judgment is often followed by a negative narrative we create. Understanding is often followed by the narrative that our child needs help. Listen in to get Rachel’s strategies to go from chaos and overwhelm to setting your child — and yourself — up for success.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
Feb 2, 2023 • 40min
207: Finding Your Own Path When Neurodivergent, with David Bizzaro
It can be hard for our neurodivergent kids to find their path into adulthood. They often don’t yet know what they’re interested in pursuing long term, even after graduating from high school. The key is to support kids, teens, and young adults in exploring their interests, as actor and puppeteer David Bizarro illustrates as he shares his story with us. You’ll gain insights on the ADHD brain and that journey and leave with a sense of hope for your child’s future.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/beautifully-complex--6137613/support.
