Childrens Health

Chris Wang, Shimmer CEO: How ADHD Can Be Your Superpower

 
 
Chris Wang, the CEO of Shimmer, an affordable, ADHD coaching app which announced its launch out of beta earlier this year joins eHealth Radio and the Health News and Mental Health Channels. Shimmer coaches people with ADHD the strategies and skills needed to live with ADHD every day.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Chris Wang discuss the following:
Today we’re talking about how ADHD can be your superpower. Most of our listeners have probably heard different things about ADHD. Can you give us a concise, clinical definition of ADHD in layman’s terms? What is it like for someone to have ADHD?
Your organization Shimmer describes how “ADHD can be your superpower.” What are some of the more positive aspects of having ADHD?
How do people find out that they have ADHD? And what are the benefits / drawbacks of getting diagnosed?
You actually were in the middle of getting a Master of Business Administration and a Master of Public Health Degrees when you paused both to start Shimmer. What was the vision behind Shimmer that made you think, “I have to start this now”?
Describe for us the journey of a typical Shimmer app user. How much does it cost, and what does it entail? And what do they get out of it?
This last question relates to your background: as someone who has worked in consulting roles for many social impact organizations, in your experience, what is the biggest deterrent to social impact, and how do you get around it?
Chris Wang was pursuing her dual degree (MBA & MPH) from the University of California Berkeley Haas when she was diagnosed with ADHD. Wang took a leave to start Shimmer, an ADHD coaching app which announced its launch out of beta in October 2022. Shimmer teaches people with ADHD the strategies and skills needed to live with ADHD every day and how ADHD can be their superpower in a neurodiverse world.
Wang and Shimmer recently raised its $1.3 million seed round from investors such as Y Combinator, Honeystone Ventures, Koa Labs, CVS Health Vice President Megan Hall and Gaingels. Prior to Shimmer, Wang worked at Bain & Co. advising fortune 100 companies on social impact strategy and helping to launch consumer startups all over the world.
Website: https://www.shimmer.care
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://facebook.com/shimmer.health  Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/wangchristal  Twitter: https://twitter.com/chriswangstal 

Thriving with ADHD: A Guide to Naturally Reducing ADHD Symptoms in Your Child

 
 
Dana Kay, best selling author of "Thriving with ADHD: A Guide to Naturally Reducing ADHD Symptoms in Your Child", an international bestseller in five countries across multiple categories joins eHealth Radio and the Children's Health and Health News Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Dana Kay discuss the following:
How is your book different from other books about ADHD?
You advocate for a food first approach to support children with ADHD. Tell us about it.
What are the worst foods for children with ADHD and why are they the worst?
What is the gut-brain connection and its impact on ADHD?
What are some other natural strategies that can help?
What overall message do you have for the parents of children with ADHD?
Dana Kay is a board-certified holistic health and nutrition practitioner, two times International best selling author, and the CEO and founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute. As a mother of a child with ADHD, she knows firsthand the struggles that come with parenting a neurodiverse child and the freedom that is possible once parents learn to reduce ADHD symptoms. Dana has been featured in Forbes and Authority Magazine and on Medium, Influencive, Thrive Global, and various other online media. She has also been a guest at multiple parenting and ADHD summits and podcasts. Her mission is to help families reduce ADHD symptoms naturally so that children with ADHD can thrive at home, at school, and in life.
Website: https://adhdthriveinstitute.com
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://facebook.com/adhdthriveinstitute  Instagram: https://instagram.com/adhdthriveinstitute 

Author Kimberly Plante debuts her true story about child abuse in her new memoir, ’Worthy’

 
 
Author Kimberly Plante who debuts her new memoir, Worthy, a true story about her child abuse starting at the age of three, at the hands of her mother joins eHealth Radio and the Health News Channel.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Kimberly Plante discuss the following:
Kimberly, I am shocked at the level of abuse you suffered from as a toddler and then a child. Can you tell our listeners how you came to live with your mother, who abused you?
Can you share a story from the book for our audience?
It’s unfathomable to me that no-one noticed your child abuse and stepped in to rescue you. Did you ever tell anyone about what was happening to you, in school or to a friend’s parents?
Tell us how you kept a glimmer of hope alive, and survived such a terrifying ordeal that took up your entire childhood?
You wrote this book as an adult. How long did it take to write and then get the book published, and which was harder: writing the book or getting it published? Also where is the book available?
What tips can you share for survivors of abuse who would like to tell their story in a memoir?
Plot synopsis
Kimberly is just three years old and living peacefully with her grandmother in Connecticut, when her mother unexpectedly appears and turns her world upside down. Kimberly quickly realizes that life with her mother is going to be very different from anything she’d ever known.
Ridiculed, beaten, locked up, and neglected daily, Kimberly is denied food, bathroom privileges, and other basic necessities. She’s often left alone to look after her infant brother and faces regular beatings for nonexistent infractions. She grows up hearing and believing her mother’s lies and that she should have been aborted. Throughout her life, she faces not just abuse, but also loss, rejection, exclusion, and failure. But just when things finally seem to settle down, she uncovers a truth she had never counted on, and it changes her life forever.
Kimberly Plante is currently the Director of Respiratory Therapy at a children’s hospital in Boston. She has completed many levels of education, including a master’s degree in healthcare administration. Because she loves bedside patient care, she also works part time as a respiratory therapist in Fall River, Massachusetts. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, taking her three dogs for long walks, and spending time with her family.
Website: https://worthymemoir.com 
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Worthy-A-Memoir Instagram: @worthy_memoir

How Grief and Trauma Can be a Catalyst for a Renewed Life

 
 
Dr. Cara Lee Barker, a popular public speaker, who has a private international practice that helps individuals transform their secret suffering into greater strength joins eHealth Radio and Emotional Health Channel. Dr. Barker is the author of three books including her latest release Nightlight: My Soul Calling, Body Listening, Heart Speaking.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Dr. Cara Lee Barker discuss the following:
How are loss, grief, and trauma seedbeds for renewed life?
What are the four major conflicts people face in their lives?
What is the relationship between children’s distress and their parents?
How do you convert self-doubt to self-compassion?
Dr. Cara Lee Barker is an international keynote speaker, Analytical Psychologist, Nurse Practitioner, and still practicing Zurich-trained Jungian Analyst. Dr. Barker has helped thousands of individuals transform their suffering into greater strength through the process of Post Traumatic Growth. Dr. Barker is the author of three books including her latest release Nightlight: My Soul Calling, Body Listening, Heart Speaking.
Website: https://www.carabarker.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cara-barker

Proven Travel Tweaks for Families with Children on the Autism Spectrum

 
 
Dawn M. Barclay, an award-winning author who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry joins eHealth Radio and the Autism Information & Family Channels. Her new book is Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Dawn M. Barclay discuss the following:
What inspired you to write this book?
How can parents "start small" to introduce the concept of travel to children?
How can they best prepare for their vacation?
How can parents create a child-centric vacation?
What are some safety tips you recommend when traveling?
How can readers get updates to the information contained in the book?
Dawn M. Barclay is an award-winning author who has spent a career working in different aspects of the travel industry. She started as an agent with her parents’ firms, Barclay Travel Ltd., and Barclay International Group Short-Term Apartment Rentals, and then branched out into travel trade reporting with senior or contributing editor positions at Travel Agent Magazine, Travel Life, Travel Market Report, and most recently, Insider Travel Report. Her new book is Traveling Different: Vacation Strategies for Parents of the Anxious, the Inflexible, and the Neurodiverse (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers; Aug. 15, 2022).
 
 
Website: https://travelingdifferent.com
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://facebook.com/travelingdifferent Instagram: https://instagram.com/traveling_different  Twitter: @travelingdiff

Undoing the Damage from Adverse Childhood Experiences

 
 
Ronni Tichenor who has a PhD in sociology, specializing in family studies, from the University of Michigan, and Jennie Weaver, who received her degree from the Vanderbilt School of Nursing and is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience in family practice and mental health joins eHealth Radio and the Mental Health & Health News Channels. Their new book, Healing Begins with Us: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Abuse and Rebuilding the Sibling Bond.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guests Ronni Tichenor & Jennie Weaver discuss the following:
Why did you feel called to write this book?
What do you mean when you use the term "childhood trauma?"
How can siblings help each other heal from childhood trauma?
What advice do you have for people trying to support someone who is healing from childhood trauma?
What do you want people to take away from your story? 
Ronni Tichenor has a PhD in sociology, specializing in family studies, from the University of Michigan. Jennie Weaver received her degree from the Vanderbilt School of Nursing and is a board-certified family nurse practitioner with over 25 years of experience in family practice and mental health. Their new book, Healing Begins with Us: Breaking the Cycle of Trauma and Abuse and Rebuilding the Sibling Bond (HeartWisdom LLC, April 5, 2022), shares their inspiring and hopeful story of healing from their painful upbringing.
Website: ronniandjennie.com
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://facebook.com/theheartandsoulsistersInstagram: https://instagram.com/ronni_and_jennie

Ava Otto Helps Other Kids Keep a Healthy Mindset

 
 
Ava Otto, the 12 year old daughter of Limp Bizkit's John Otto and recently also appeared on the CBS dance show, Come Dance With Me who is a big advocate for anti-bullying and is using her voice to help other young kids' mindsets joins eHealth Radio and the Bully Information Channel. 
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Ava Otto discuss the following:
Growing up with a famous father, how did that play on your mental state as a child and being around kids or even parents who may have been jealous of your lifestyle?
You were bullied by other parents. How did you overcome this? What is your advice to other kids today?
You also give back through your own foundation, Passion Project X, tell us more.
Why do you love to inspire and bring joy to others via social media? Why does that keep you in a healthy mindset overall?
Ava Otto is a Los Angeles-based professional actress, dancer and model. When she was 5 years old, Ava performed a song and dance for her elementary school talent show. That was the moment she fell in love with performing. That same year, 2015, Ava booked her first job singing with Grammy award winner Darlene Koldenhoven. The following year she began her acting career and joined her first competition team at the local dance studio. Ava has earned numerous national titles, top placements, and top scholarships.
Ava excels in many forms of dance, including contemporary, ballet/pointe, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical, as well as in musical theater. She also studies ballroom and aerial arts. She is a natural contortionist and intermediate/advanced tumbler. Ava has choreographed with and danced in various concept videos with industry leaders. She has appeared in commercials, an independent film, various print campaigns, TV interviews, podcasts, and more.
Currently, she is dancing alongside her famous dad, John Otto, drummer of Limp Bizkit on a new CBS television show Come Dance With Me. The show is produced by LL Cool J and Chris O’Donnell.
Ava is a highly sought-after dance photography model. In 2020, she was chosen to be an AS Dancewear Mentee by brand owner and renowned ballerina Alison Stroming. She enjoys modeling for the brand and supporting other young artists. Ava is passionate about empowering others through her nonprofit Passion Project X. The organization focuses on providing various forms of support to others who are pursuing their dreams.
Ava is equally ambitious about her academic career. She is in her final year of middle school and is currently enrolled in college courses. In her free time, Ava enjoys gaming, shopping, and spending time with friends, family, and beloved pups. She also enjoys vlogging, cooking, long road trips, and even longer naps!
Website: https://www.avaotto.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/avalillianaotto 

Changing the Way Kids Learn to Read and Write

 
Carina Powers, the CEO of Phonics in Motion that is on a mission to change the way kids learn to read and write joins eHealth Radio and the Children's Health and Education Channels. Their comprehensive literacy instructional method engages kids in their learning process by teaching reading and writing skills through a set of unique motions.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels and guest Carina Powers discuss the following:
What is the inspiration for Phonics in Motion?
What distinguishes Phonics in Motion from the competition?
Why is it important to both educate and entertain?
What advice do you have for a parent whose child is, say, dyslexic or learning challenged?
What can parents and teachers expect to see by using Phonics in Motion?
Phonics in Motion (PIM) is a wildly-fun and effective, multi-modal method of teaching literacy.
PIM engages kids in their learning process by immersing them in the understanding of sounds with unique motions for each sound/phoneme, and by continually mapping sounds to letters. The program teaches reading and writing. PIM's four multisensory routines offer integrated instruction of every pillar of early literacy, while keeping kids engaged and having fun.
Coordinating the sounds of letters, letter combinations, and words together with visual and tactile motions, the PIM system has developed thousands of young readers and writers at all skill levels.
Phonics in Motion offers solutions for individual teachers, schools and groups, homeschool families, and parents with kids in school.
Website: https://phonicsinmotion.com 
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://facebook.com/phonicsinmotion  Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/company/phonics-in-motion  Instagram: https://instagram.com/phonicsinmotion 

ADHD. Where Did It Come From and How Can We Treat It?

 
 
Dr. Walt Karniski, MD, a developmental pediatrician, trained at Boston Children’s Hospital joins eHealth Radio and the Children's Health & Health News Channels. Over the forty years he has been practicing, Dr. Karniski approaches each child as a unique individual, with distinctive strengths and weaknesses, where the diagnosis does not matter as much as understanding the specific needs of that child. His new book is ADHD Medication: Does It Work and Is It Safe?
Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Dr. Walt Karniski discuss the following:
Many people have suggested that ADHD is a fabricated diagnosis, invented by doctors and pharmaceutical companies to sell more drugs or invented by schools that can’t teach or by parents who can’t parent. How do you respond to that
What should be done to confirm the diagnosis of ADHD?
What causes ADHD? Is it too much time on their phones? Not enough sleep? Poor diet?
You imply that medication should be used in almost all cases of ADHD. Shouldn’t counselling or behavioral management strategies be used first? And instead of medication, couldn’t ADHD be treated with changes in diet?
Do children outgrow ADHD? Do they outgrow their need for medication?
With so many different medications available, how does a doctor choose which medication is right for a child?
Dr. Walt Karniski, MD is a developmental pediatrician, trained at Boston Children’s Hospital. He was director of the Division of Developmental Pediatrics at the University of South Florida in Tampa, Florida, for fifteen years. He then opened a private practice and for twenty years, evaluated and treated children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, learning disabilities, and other developmental difficulties. During that time, he developed and operated three private schools for children with ADHD, anxiety, and learning disabilities.
Over the forty years he has been practicing, he has evaluated and treated close to ten thousand children, conducted numerous studies of brain activity in children, and has been director of a child abuse program and a program for enhancing development in children born prematurely.
Dr. Karniski approaches each child as a unique individual, with distinctive strengths and weaknesses, where the diagnosis does not matter as much as understanding the specific needs of that child. His new book is ADHD Medication: Does It Work and Is It Safe? (Roman & Littlefield, May 15, 2022).
Website: https://adhdmedicationbook.com 

The Benefits of Genetic Counseling during Pregnancy

 
Katie Sagaser, Director of Genetic Counseling at Juno Diagnostics, a women’s health company focused on improving equitable access to prenatal care joins eHealth Radio and the Female Health and Health News Channels.
Listen to interview with host Eric Michaels & guest Katie Sagaser discuss the following:
The company you work for, Juno Diagnostics, develops innovative solutions to improve access to health information, especially surrounding pregnancy. Can you tell us a little more about what the company does?
You’re the Director of Genetic Counseling at Juno Diagnostics. Tell us more about your role and what a genetic counselor does?
Why is genetic screening so important for pregnant women or parents trying to conceive?
We hear Juno Diagnostics will be launching the Juno Birch™ Fetal Gender Test soon. What does this test do?
Does Juno Diagnostics have any other products available?
Katie Sagaser, MS, LCGC, is the director of genetic counseling at Juno Diagnostics where she specializes in genetic testing and is devoted to advocating for equitable access to reproductive health services for all women.
Prior to joining JunoDx, she was an assistant professor of Gynecology & Obstetrics in the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she worked as a reproductive genetic counselor for 6.5 years.
As a clinician, Katie provided comprehensive counseling to patients with a wide variety of prenatal and preconception genetics indications within the Johns Hopkins Prenatal Diagnosis and Treatment Center as well as within the Johns Hopkins Center for Fetal Therapy. She is also a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), the International Society of Prenatal Diagnosis (ISPD), and the Inter-Society Coordinating Committee for Practitioner Education in Genomics (ISCC-PEG).
 
 
Website: https://junodx.com
Social Media Links: Facebook: https://facebook.com/junodiagnostics Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/katiesagaser  Instagram: https://instagram.com/junodiagnostics