FASD Family Life – Details, episodes & analysis

Send us a text

Welcome to the FASD Family Life Podcast. I am your host, Robbie Seale, FASD specialist, with more than 25 years experience raising kids with prenatal alcohol exposure and trauma . I hope that as we spend this time together, you will know you are not alone and that there is hope for you and your loved one with FASD.
Can I invite you to subscribe right now so you never miss an episode? Season 5 is going to be the best yet! You won't want to miss my conversations with REAL PEOPLE making REAL CHANGE! 
Lauren Richardson, diagnosed with FASD at 27, is an unwaving advocate for FASD awareness. Lauren is a force to be reckoned with! Her passion for FASD awareness inspired her to reach out the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League in 2023.  You will be astonished to hear what she accomplished!
Naill Schofield, diagnosed at 19 with FASD, is a former fashion model and professional BMX racer, turned entrepreneur. Inspired to elevate BMX in Canada, Naill built a world class outdoor BMX track in his hometown. Naill is a highly sought after public speaker, author of 2 books, and entrepreneur with a big heart and even bigger dreams.

If you are new to this podcast you may be asking yourself, "Why?"  Why did you start this podcast?  I am a person who needs to know why too. 
Why is a question that can open doors to worlds that were previously unknown to us.
I asked "why?" in 1987 when I saw 9 and 10 year old children selling themselves in an ally on a freezing cold January night in my city. "Why is this happening?" tore at my soul. 
It also revealed a world to me, that I didn't know existed. It changed the trajectory of my life in ways I could never have imagined. But God knew.  He knew their suffering. He placed a passion in me to step in a world where children suffer trauma.
"Be the change you want to see in the world" are words that ignite passion in me to step into the gap to find a solution or at least a path forward to help another human being.
For me it started with changing my major in college to Child and Youth Care Work. As well as the decision to build my family through foster care and adoption after the birth of my first daughter.
 As our family grew so did my questions. Why? Why is everything I learned about parenting and behaviour management not working? The harder I tried the top down approach of consequences, time outs, sticker charts, tough love, the more my kids struggled and the more frustrated I became.
I got my answer when my 7-year-old twins received a diagnosis of FASD. Later, my son would also receive a diagnosis of FASD.
Hearing those words from a panel of experts knocked me for a loop. I felt like my blood ran cold for a few seconds as a new reality took hold. FASD... a permanent, life altering disability with no cure. That was in 2011.
Since then I have made it my mission to learn everything I can about FASD. The more I learned the more I wanted to share with other parents and caregivers. There is hope! There are many things we can do! And there are countless examples of people with FASD doing amazing things!
Why did I start the FASD Family Life podcast? I wanted to share with you what I have learned. And I wanted to be the friend to you, that I wish I had all those years ago.
I hope I can shine a light on your dark path. And let you know the struggle is real, and so is success! If you haven't already subscribed, click that button right now. You don't have to walk this road alone.
You can reach out to me anytime at FASDfamilylife.ca to ask a question. Let me know your story about real people making real change it just might make it into a future episode. 
Until next time remember...
 The struggle is real, and so it success!

Support the show

Send us a text

Welcome to Season 4, episode 23 of the FASD Family Life Podcast. This is the only show about FASD hosted by an FASD Specialist and parent with 30 years lived experience.  I am Robbie Seale, your host and mom to five incredible people; including three teens diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. As an FASD Specialist it is my passion to help families thrive.  To learn more about me and my work check out my website,  https://fasdfamilylife.ca/

I started this podcast to be the friend I wished I had when my kids were young and to bring hope to weary parents. I wanted to share what I have learned working in residential treatment and raising my own children impacted by trauma and prenatal alcohol exposure. I pour my heart and soul into the production of the FASD Family Life podcast. All that hard work is paying off! Since 2021 the podcast has grown to OVER 51,000 downloads worldwide.

The Intermission  an update from Robbie  

Consider becoming a monthly sponsor. Your gift of $20 per month would enable me to keep sharing HOPE and teach the SKILLS needed to reduce stress and improve lives for people with FASD and the families who love them.  Click here to Support the show

Until next time, remember 
The struggle is real and so is success!

Support the show

Send us a text

Welcome back to Season 4, episode 14 of the FASD Family Life Podcast. This is the only show about FASD hosted by an FASD Specialist and parent with 30 years lived experience.  I am Robbie Seale, your host and mom to five incredible people; including three teens diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. As an FASD Specialist it is my passion to help families thrive.  To learn more about me and my work check out my website,  https://fasdfamilylife.ca/

I started this podcast to be the friend I wished I had when my kids were young and to bring hope to weary parents. I wanted to share what I have learned working in residential treatment and raising my own children impacted by trauma and prenatal alcohol exposure. I pour my heart and soul and hundreds of unpaid hours every month into the production of the FASD Family Life podcast. All that heard work is paying off! Since 2021 the podcast has grown to over 43,000 downloads worldwide. I need your help to keep going and growing. Consider becoming a monthly sponsor. Your gift of $20 per month (or $5 per week)  would enable me to keep sharing HOPE and teach the SKILLS needed to reduce stress and improve lives for people with FASD and the families who love them.  Click here to Support the show

This week we are back with my friend Dr Jerrod Brown to continue our series: Threats to Emotional Health. Today Jerrod will dive into the fascinating topic of Sugar as a threat to Emotional Health.

Did you know that the typical Western (American) diet is low in fruits and vegetables, and high in fat and sodium. This diet consists of large portions, high calories, and excess sugar. This excess sugar accounts for more than 13% of the daily caloric intake with beverages constituting 47% of these added sugars. My friends you will want to grab your notebook and your favourite pen for this informative episode with Dr. Jerrod Brown.

Jerrod Brown, Ph.D., M.A., M.S., M.S., M.S. is a professor, trainer, researcher and consultant with multiple years of experience teaching collegiate courses. Jerrod is also the founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS) and the Editor-in-Chief of Forensic Scholars Today (FST). HTTPS://www.aiafs.com/Jerrod-Brown-asp

Be sure to join me for an upcoming episode of the FASD Family Life Podcast when I continue my World Tour and I take you Down Under to meet Holly Ann Martin to discuss the importance of safe guarding our children in the online world. Click the SUBSCRIBE button now so you never miss another episode. While you are there, leave a comment and rate the show because that helps other people find the podcast too.

Do you want more? Register for my LIVE online FASD parent training course FASD Brain Domain starting January 23. This course will explain the Ten Brain Domains and how they are damaged by prenatal alcohol exposure. You will also gain the knowledge and practical skills you need  to transform your family life from the very first class! Presented by FASD Specialist Robbie Seale and Maryellen McPhail, Executive Director of Oshay's Brain Domain, in Scotland.

Join our community of support! Together we will deepen our understanding of FASD & build a community of support with parents who understand.  The FASD Family Life Community Support Group meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm MST. I hope to meet you there!  Subscribe today, for o

Support the show

Send us a text

Welcome to FASD Family Life the podcast where we get real about raising children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Robbie Seale, podcast host, is the mother of five amazing kids; four of whom were adopted and prenatally exposed to alcohol. Robbie is also an FASD Educator and Advocate passionate to help families raising children with FASD thrive. Robbie knows the struggle is real and so is success.

Support the show

Send us a text

Welcome to the 13th episode of FASD Family Life! In this episode our host, Robbie Seale, answers your questions about transitions and why they are so difficult for child and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  Using her 20+ years experience raising children with FASD Robbie gives parents and caregivers an understanding of what makes transitions so difficult. Robbie also shares practical examples of how parents and caregivers can build "bridges of support" to enable their children with FASD to make transitions safely and confidently.
Do you have children that cannot accept "No" for an answer? Does your child explode like an U.E.D. (Unidentified Explosive Device) when you say, "No"?  Robbie has tip toed through these same minefields. In this episode she shares where those bombs may be hidden and we how we can avoid them; while teaching our children the life skills of accepting, "No." as an answer.

Support the show

Send us a text

In episode 12 of FASD Family Life, a podcast for families by families raising children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder features an expert, Matthew Pakozdy, a 41 yr old with FASD.   Together Matthew and I discuss his experiences of transracial adoption, difficulties in school,  receiving a diagnosis of FASD and the accommodations and supports needed for Matthew to become the success he is today.  Matthew's words will be music to your ears, '" with lifelong supports - it does get better!" Settle in with a hot cup of coffee and enjoy the ride Matthew and I are about to take you on. 

Support the show

Send us a text

In episode 11 of FASD Family Life, the podcast for families by families raising children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder,  host, Robbie Seale, focuses on YOU the grandparent or parent.  A parent herself and an FASD Educator, Robbie knows the struggle and the heavy burdens carried by parents and grandparents raising children with this invisible disability.  What if there is a way to shift perspective, to alleviate some of the burdens and create a life where success is possible? Join Robbie for a cup of coffee and a chat about the possibilities.  

Support the show

Send us a text

Welcome to episode #10 of FASD Family Life, a podcast for families raising children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  This episode features Robbie Seale's guest appearance on the ORPHANS NO MORE podcast, hosted by Sandra Flach.  Orphans No More is a podcast to encourage, educate and equip you to care for children in crisis through adoption, foster care, and family preservation.  Robbie shares with Sandra her personal journey of building her family through foster care and adoption.  Robbie reveals some of the darkest days of her journey and how she found her way out of crisis to stability. Robbie knows the struggle is real, and so is  success.  

Support the show

Send us a text

From my heart to yours, Happy Mother's Day.

You are loved. You are not alone.

Support the show

Send us a text

FASD Family Life episode 9 Dysmaturity Demystified. Want to reduce stress, build you're child's capacity and improve family cohesion?  In this episode Robbie Seale, mother of 5, FASD Educator, Advocate and Podcast Host talks about Dysmaturity; that is the gap between developmental age and chronological age as it relates to children and youth with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. Robbie addresses parent's questions and illuminates the impact that dysmaturity has on the daily life of children and youth with FASD.  Robbie provides effective strategies to setting expectations according to the children's developmental age, rather than chronological age,  to build capacity, reduce stress and improve family cohesion.  Robbie knows, the struggle is real, but so is success!

Support the show