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What if mental health and behavior weren’t just about the brain, but also about the body? In this fascinating conversation, Jeff sits down with Dr. Tamara Bodnar, a biological scientist and researcher at the University of Calgary, whose work is changing how we understand FASD from the inside out.

Dr. Bodnar studies the gut–brain axis — the constant communication between our digestive system and our brain — and how prenatal alcohol exposure can disrupt that balance for life. Her groundbreaking research reveals how gut health, inflammation, and stress all shape behavior, mood, and regulation in ways caregivers see every day.

Together, Jeff and Dr. Bodnar explore how small, realistic shifts like balanced meals, hydration, and consistent routines can support both body and brain. They also talk about what’s next in FASD science, including probiotics, personalized medicine, and new collaborations that bring caregivers and researchers together.

In this episode you’ll learn how prenatal alcohol exposure affects gut health and stress regulation, why inflammation can amplify mood and behavior, and how to make simple, guilt-free choices that help create calm from the inside out.

This episode reminds us that behavior isn’t just communication — it’s biology. When we understand how the body and brain talk to each other, we can replace frustration with compassion and find hope in small, steady changes. Dr. Bodnar’s work validates what families have always known in their gut: small steps matter, and progress starts from the inside out.

You’re not alone. You’re doing better than you think.

Resources and Links

Join our FASD Success Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/FASDforever

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @FASDSuccess

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
Follow Jeff on Instagram: @FASDSuccess

Full show notes: fasdsuccess.com/podcast

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Trigger Warning: This episode includes discussions around mental health challenges and suicide. Please listen when you feel ready and take care of yourself as needed.

What if everything you thought you knew about mental health and behavior was flipped on its head? In this powerful conversation, Jeff sits down with Dr. Jacqueline Pei, psychologist, professor at the University of Alberta, and senior research lead with CanFASD, to explore how mental health really shows up for individuals with FASD and how reframing what we see changes everything about how we respond.

Dr. Pei explains why up to 90% of individuals with FASD experience mental-health challenges, how anxiety and depression often hide behind behavior, and why understanding the brain through a “nervous-system-first” lens can completely transform care.

Together, Jeff and Dr. Pei talk about what it means to “sit in the frustration,” the danger of misunderstanding in schools and systems, and the power of empathy to calm chaos and restore hope.

In This Episode You’ll Hear

• Why mental health challenges are so common in FASD — and what’s really driving them
• How anxiety and depression often disguise themselves as “defiance” or “bad behavior”
• Why traditional definitions of depression and anxiety don’t always fit
• How to use the “Pause and Reframe” tool to see behavior through a nervous- system lens
• The emotional toll of systemic misunderstanding on caregivers and families
• Guidance for recognizing mental-health signs and supporting emotional stability
• A compassionate, science-backed discussion about suicidality and safety planning

• Why connection, purpose, and relationships are the strongest protective factors
• The future of FASD research — and how collaboration between families and scientists is changing everything

Why It Matters

This episode is a reminder that behavior is communication, not defiance — and that healing starts with understanding. Through Dr. Pei’s research and Jeff’s lived experience, you’ll walk away with tools to replace judgment with curiosity, fear with empathy, and burnout with hope.

Dr. Pei’s message is clear: we can’t fix everything, but through connection, compassion, and collaboration, we can help individuals with FASD — and their families — thrive.

👉 You’re not alone. You’re doing better than you think.

Resources & Links

📘 Join our FASD Success Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/FASDforever

▶️ Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: @FASDSuccess

🎧 Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts
📸 Follow Jeff on Instagram: @FASDSuccess

📝 Full show notes: fasdsuccess.com/podcast

Support the show

Send us a text

What if you could hear the same family one year apart and actually feel the shift from chaos to connection. In this powerful “before and after” episode, Jeff revisits Angela Freeman and her two kids, Ruby and Elias. Last year, we met them in Toronto when every day felt like triage — school battles, misunderstandings, and constant fires. One year later, everything looks different.

Through sober momentum, the right school fit, and daily co-regulation, the Freemans moved from surviving to thriving. Ruby’s attendance shot up to 97%, she jumped three grade levels in math, and even won a science award. Elias found the right adult in his corner, became a student leader, and learned to love sports again. And Angela — now nearing four years sober — reframed advocacy, focusing on training the teacher in front of her child and protecting routines that bring safety and connection home.

In This Episode You’ll Hear
• What the Freeman family’s “before” looked and felt like when everything was on fire
• How one year of steady sobriety and co-regulation changed the tone of their home
• The power of placement as intervention and why “fit” matters more than label
• How one trusted adult at school can be the difference between crisis and confidence
• Angela’s advocacy reframe: stop fighting systems, start training people
• Real numbers that prove change — better attendance, higher grades, stronger bonds
• Practical home language to keep everyone safe: “cut this, not that”

Why It Matters
The Freeman story proves you don’t need perfect conditions to change a trajectory — just the right fit, one person who gets it, and small daily moves that protect safety and connection. It’s a story of resilience, recovery, and real-world success that reminds every caregiver: you’re not alone, and small changes stack up fast.

👉 You are stronger than you think. Progress starts with fit, relationship, and routine.

Resources and Links
🌐 Angela’s First Appearance (Episode 137): https://www.fasdsuccess.com/blog/podcast-episode-137

📘 Join our FASD Success Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fasdsuccess

▶️ Subscribe to the FASD Success YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FASDSuccess

📸 Follow Jeff on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fasdsuccess

📝 Get full show notes and all episodes here: https://www.fasdsuccess.com/podcast

Support the show