Kitchen Table Conversations with Angela Geddes

Soutenir les élèves ayant un TSAF ou des différences neurocognitives : Pourquoi une mise à jour des connaissances est essentielle

Cet épisode explore le travail crucial — et souvent invisible — que les éducateur·trices accomplissent pour soutenir des élèves ayant des « cerveaux compliqués et merveilleux ». En Ontario, de nombreux·euses enseignant·es doivent composer avec des profils d’apprentissage complexes tout en s’appuyant sur u...

Supporting Students with FASD and Neurocognitive Differences: Why Updated Knowledge Matters

This episode explores the essential, often invisible work educators do to support students with “complicated and beautiful brains.” Many Ontario teachers are navigating complex learning profiles with outdated or incorrect information—especially regarding Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

In this episode, we break down:

• Why older terms...

Pour certains, c’est la période la plus merveilleuse de l’année… mais pas pour tout le monde.
Dans cet épisode, Angela parle de façons de réduire à la fois l’impact et l’incidence des grossesses exposées à l’alcool ou à d’autres substances. Elle encourage à envisager des efforts de prévention plus larges et informels pour soutenir des grossesses en santé, surtout depuis que nous avons appris que les taux de prévalence du TSAF e...

Understanding Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders with Compassion

In this special Deep Dive episode, Angela Geddes explores the key concepts from her updated Not Your Typical Parenting Guide, 2nd Edition. Instead of a traditional audiobook, this conversation-style episode offers a warm, accessible walkthrough of the book’s main ideas for caregivers, educators, and clinicians supporting children and youth with Complex Neurodevelopme...

Comprendre les troubles neurodéveloppementaux complexes avec compassion

Dans cet épisode spécial de Plongée en profondeur, Angela Geddes explore les concepts clés de la version mise à jour de son guide Ceci n’est pas votre guide de la parentalité typique, 2e édition. Plutôt qu’un livre audio traditionnel, Angela propose une conversation chaleureuse et accessible qui accompagne les parents, éducateur·trice·s et intervenant·...

Joignez-vous à nous pour une nouvelle édition de Plongée en profondeur de Kitchen Table Conversations, où, grâce à la technologie et à notre incroyable équipe, nous pouvons offrir un survol audio et un examen approfondi des principaux points d’apprentissage du premier livre d'Angela, Un cerveau compliqué et merveilleux.

Cette conversation explore à quoi peuvent ressembler le trouble du spectre de l’alcoolisation fœtale (TSAF) e...

Join us for a new Deep Dive edition of Kitchen Table Conversations, where with the help of technology and our amazing team, we are able to provide an audio overview and a close look at the key learning points within her first book, A Complicated and Beautiful Brain.

This conversation explores what Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) can look like across the lifespan — in children, teens, and ad...

This year’s CanFASD International Research Conference reinforced what many of us have known for years: To truly support individuals and families, we must acknowledge prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE) when discussing trauma and attachment.

Researchers Dr. Alan Price and Dr. Raja Mukherjee presented groundbreaking findings confirming that when PAE is ignored, individuals are often misunderstood, and caregivers are unfairly blamed. Their...

October 10th marks World Mental Health Day, a global reminder that mental health is a universal human right.

In this special episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela Geddes explores what mental health really means — beyond hashtags and online labels. She discusses how overdiagnosis can sometimes overshadow those living with complex, lifelong conditions and highlights the importance of prevention, evidence-informed treatment, a...

Misinformation about a lot of things these days and certainly around FASD is widespread — and it hurts families and communities. In this episode, Angela shares her personal reflections on how outdated language and statistics perpetuate stigma and confusion. She also offers a hopeful path forward, calling for collaboration, evidence-based messaging, and compassion. 

She proudly announces that her commitment to this continues and is e...

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela shines a light on one of the most overlooked issues in prenatal health: unplanned pregnancies and the invisible window of risk. With over half of pregnancies unplanned, many people are unknowingly exposing developing babies to alcohol, tobacco, or other substances in those critical first weeks.

Angela discusses how this early exposure can lead to lifelong impacts on mental healt...

Breaking the Myths of FASD (and Beyond)

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela tackles one of the biggest misconceptions about pregnancy: that small amounts of alcohol are harmless. She explores the reality that prenatal health begins long before conception—and includes both parents. From the role of fathers’ health and substance use to the link between prenatal exposures and lifelong mental health, behavioural, and ...

Why This Summer Was BIG

Join Angela Geddes, MSW, RSW, as she kicks off FASD Awareness Month and International FASD Awareness Day (Sept 9) with an inspiring look at the work being done to prevent prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and support those living with the impacts of prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and FASD.

This episode highlights:

• New book releases, resources, and partnerships
• Creative prevention campaigns, in...

In this summer episode, Angela offers compassionate insight for families navigating the season with children, youth, or adults who have complex and beautiful brains. Whether your loved one is dealing with impulsivity, transitions, rigid thinking, or emotional dysregulation, this episode shares practical strategies for structure, regulation, nourishment, nature, and self-care.

• Plus: Podcast summer break update!
• Weekly episodes ret...

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela takes a deep and compassionate look at the critical—but often ignored—link between prenatal health and mental health across the lifespan. Drawing on research, clinical experience, and personal stories, she unpacks how even low levels of alcohol or substance exposure during pregnancy can impact brain development, increasing the risk for conditions like anxiety, depression, and A...

In this heartfelt episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela shares the excitement of receiving the updated editions of her two books—A Complicated and Beautiful Brain and Not Your Typical Parenting Guide. She reflects on the inspiration behind the books, shares a moving quote from a teen with FASD, and explores the very real challenges faced by caregivers raising children with complex needs.

Angela also introduces a vital new r...

In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela reflects on the emotional fallout of Canada’s recent federal election—and the importance of healthy dialogue. Drawing from her mental health background, she unpacks 10 common cognitive distortions (like all-or-nothing thinking and emotional reasoning) and encourages listeners to return to the table with more curiosity and less judgment. This episode is a must-listen for anyone ...

This episode challenges recent claims made by RFK Jr. around autism and explores why Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is being left out of the conversation. While autism is valid and deserves attention, the known risk of prenatal alcohol exposure is too often ignored. 

Let's shift the focus to prevention and evidence-based care.

Resources to Learn More:

• Science.org | Claiming autism ‘epidemic,’ RFK Jr. describes NI...

This year’s FASD International Research Conference was both powerful and deeply human. 

Key themes included:

• The insidious impact of stigma — and how it blocks access to diagnosis and care
• The importance of naming FASD to open doors, not close them
• New research on paternal alcohol exposure at the time of conception
• The call for interdisciplinary support, trauma-informed care, and early intervention
• Heartfelt reminders that every diag...