The FASD Success Show – Details, episodes & analysis

The scans are in, and they tell a different story.

Dr. Catherine Lebel, Canada’s leading FASD brain imaging researcher, joins Jeff Noble to share what MRI research reveals about how the brain develops after prenatal alcohol exposure and why the story is far more hopeful than most people think.

Through years of ground breaking studies, Dr. Lebel and her team have shown that the FASD brain doesn’t stop growing. It just grows differently and on its own timeline. Her work connects science and lived experience, giving caregivers something we all need more of: evidence-based hope.

In this conversation, Jeff and Dr. Lebel talk about:
 • How brain development continues well into adulthood
 • Why stable, loving environments can support brain growth
 • What slower development really means in everyday life
 • Why interventions are never wasted, even when progress feels slow
 • How families can join the PEACH Study to help move FASD research forward

Dr. Lebel’s message is simple but powerful. The brain is still growing, still learning, and still capable of change. Different doesn’t mean broken. It means still developing.

Watch the full episode
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@FASDSuccess

Listen on
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-fasd-success-show/id1492499195

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ntB51glqYnRPmXCh6lOGq?si=f006bfa2966d4972

Connect with Jeff
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/FASDforever
YouTube: @FASDSuccess
Instagram: @FASDSuccess
Full show notes: fasdsuccess.com/podcast

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What if your loved one with FASD’s brain wasn’t misfiring — it was miss-messaging?

In this powerful episode, Jeff sits down with Dr. Long from the University of Calgary’s Developmental Neuroimaging Lab, one of the key researchers on Dr. Catherine Lebel’s team, to uncover what really happens inside the brain after prenatal alcohol exposure.

Dr. Long explains how the brain’s network — the system that keeps messages moving between regions — changes after prenatal alcohol exposure, and what that means for learning, behavior, and everyday regulation. Together, they unpack how the brain adapts, reroutes, and finds new ways to communicate, even when signals get jammed.

In This Episode You’ll Hear

• Why FASD is less about “broken” wiring and more about “busy” messaging systems
 • How even low levels of prenatal alcohol exposure can alter brain development
 • What “compensation” means — and how the brain finds detours to keep working
 • Why fatigue, frustration, and “I won’t” moments are signs of overload, not defiance
 • How supportive environments and calm routines help the brain stabilize and grow
 • The resilience behind the science — and why hope is more than just a feeling

Why It Matters

This episode is a reminder that behaviors aren’t failures  they’re feedback. Dr. Long’s work helps caregivers, teachers, and professionals see FASD through a brain-based lens, turning frustration into understanding and burnout into compassion.

Different doesn’t mean broken  it means we need to look deeper, respond smarter, and keep believing that change is possible.

Resources & Links

Join our FASD Success Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/FASDforever
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: youtube.com/@FASDSuccess
Follow Jeff on Instagram: instagram.com/FASDSuccess
Full show notes: fasdsuccess.com/podcast

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In this raw and powerful episode of the FASD Success Show, Jeff sits down with his friend and colleague Barb Clark just hours after she received her official FASD diagnosis.

Barb has coached, trained, and supported caregivers for years, but this time she’s on the other side of the story  talking openly about what it feels like to finally have confirmation of something she always suspected.

She shares the shock, the relief, and the validation of putting a name to her lifelong struggles — and how her neuropsych report revealed both surprising strengths and challenging weaknesses.

Here’s what you’ll take away from this episode:

• Why diagnosis brings relief, not doom  even in adulthood.
• What a neuropsychological report actually looks at and why it matters.
• The reality of a “scattered profile” and why uneven abilities can make FASD so hard to spot.
• How harmful character labels (“lazy,” “defiant”) get replaced with accurate ones through diagnosis.
• Why naming FASD changes the conversation  at home, in schools, and in relationships.

We also dig into:

• Barb’s reflections on her mom, and why we need more compassion and less judgment for birth moms.
• The hope a diagnosis brings for individuals and their caregivers.
• How making it official has already changed the way Barb understands herself and the families she works with.

Barb’s story is brave, real, and exactly the kind of conversation caregivers need to hear. Whether you’ve wondered about diagnosis for your child, or even yourself, this episode will show you why naming it matters  and why it’s never too late.

So whether you’re deep in the struggle or standing at a crossroads, this episode is packed with relatable moments and real-world insight you can carry into your own journey.

Show Notes: Stay Connected and Empowered

Connect with Barb!

PRE OREDER HERE: 

• 📖 Raising Kids and Teens with FASD: Advice and Strategies to Help Your Family to Thrive! (October 21, 2025)
  
  
• 🌐 Website: FASDmosaic.com
  
  
• 📧 Email: barbclarkfasd@gmail.com
  
  
• Join our Facebook community: FASD Caregiver Success Group
  
  
• Follow us on Facebook: FASD Success
  
  
• Subscribe to the YouTube Channel: @fasdsuccess
  
  
• Get all show notes and resources here: www.fasdsuccess.com/podcast
  
  

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My good friend Aliy Brown from FASD Hub Scotland reached out to let me know about some interesting research going on right now in Scotland with young people with FASD. And while it may not apply to where you live, I believe we learn from each other and can be inspired to bring this type of research into our own communities. We do talk about the school system and educational assessments and interventions as well which will help you prepare for the next school year no matter where you are.

Miranda Eodanable is an Educational Psychologist in Scotland with responsibility for neurodevelopmental assessment pathways with health services in areas of FASD and Intellectual Disabilities. Miranda has worked in education systems for the last 20 years and has guest lectured on the Scottish Masters in Educational Psychology courses. Currently, she is working on a Ph.D. at the University of Edinburgh on the value and impact of an FASD diagnosis.  

“Lots of research talks about professional views about diagnosis and I was like, where is the balance here? What about parents? Young people with FASD? Where is their research?” 

Miranda’s research project is to understand the experiences and identity of young people with FASD. Scottish youth (ages 12 – 19) with FASD are invited to talk with Miranda and participate in a PhotoVoice Project to take photos of their daily experiences. Her goal is to clarify what an FASD diagnosis means to them and what kind of support they value. 

In addition, we talk about Miranda’s background, her FASD journey and her role in the Scottish education system.

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How do I keep my child/teen/adult safe online is a frequent question I get from caregivers. In fact, just a couple of days ago in our private Facebook Caregiver group, someone asked that very question.  Caregivers responded with everything from, we never allow access, lock it up, only supervised use, to parental controls. I get it. We want to keep our kids safe. And for some this may still be the answer … but today’s guest is going to challenge your thinking a little. She sure did mine. She says the most important parental control is you … but it might not be in the way you think. 

Jess McBeath is an online safety specialist in Scotland, who believes everyone should be empowered to live a good life online. She has trained thousands of people, including teachers, social workers, foster carers, and police across the UK, to keep children, vulnerable adults and themselves safe online.  

“Online safety is so fascinating because we have completely transformed our understanding of what we need to do to be safe online.” 

This episode, like the presentations Jess makes, is about deconstructing and reconstructing our online presence and thinking about digital safety and citizenship. You likely have some expectations or ideas, but I bet many of you are going to leave with different ones. We cover mental health and screen time, pornography, cyberbullying, gaming, sexting, live streaming, FB lives, fake news, examining through a specific set of lenses: 

• Why understanding technology and using technology to fix online safety does not fix online safety. 
• What questions to ask yourself when planning for online use and safety, including examining your own relationship with technology. 
• The motivation for our kids to be online and specific steps you can take to create an online safety plan for your family. 
• What digital resilience is, how we build it and as “digital parents” what types of online skills we should be teaching our kids. 

“If you really want to understand the world, then you want to try and get a wider perspective on it. The problem at the moment is that we are not informed because the technology decides our information for us and that’s what we need to change.” 

Now I get it, this episode might trigger some values clashes and long-held beliefs. But the fact is we live in a digital world. Unless you are living in the woods without access then you really do need a planned and mindful approach. I think Jess provides excellent advice. Let me know what you do to keep your kids safe and if you are going to do anything different after listening to today’s show. 

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We know our active audience has a higher percentage of moms over dads … but we know the dads are out there. Whether they are in the main caregiving role or behind the scenes with their partner, dads or male influences are an important part of the caregiving journey for many families. That’s why I’m super stoked to have my next guest Bill Michaud talk about his FASD journey. And it just happens to be Father's Day when we release this episode!

Bill is a husband (to previous podcast guest Debbie Michaud), a foster and adoptive dad, works in the developmental services sector, and as he reveals on the show today, suspects he is also on the Spectrum. This guy gets it. 

“We don't take on what's going on internally for (our kids) and apply it to what's going on externally, because we don't know and they don't have the ability to tell us. So, everyone is going around assuming...we need to stop making judgements.” 

I suspect if you are a dad or in a role like Bill, you may not give yourself enough credit for helping to create the environment and be the support that your child/teen/adult needs. If so, I invite you (and anyone who wants a unique perspective) to spend some time with Bill and me. 

This is an interesting episode that goes full circle from Bill not having a clue about FASD, to becoming a foster/adoptive dad, to learning about FASD through his kids and clients to contemplating he just may be on the Spectrum.  

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Today’s guest is a little bit different from the others. Her specialty is an area caregivers ask a lot of questions about (eating, food and therapy). Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of specific FASD knowledge about treatment. When we discovered Dr. Federici through a webinar on eating disorders and saw the intersection between FASD and Eating Disorders was so great, we knew we had to get her on the show.   

Dr. Federici is a Clinical Psychologist and the Owner of The Centre for Psychology and Emotion Regulation. She holds an Adjunct Faculty position at York University and is a distinguished Fellow of the Academy for Eating Disorders.  

“You have to be able to combine what you know to be true about working with people who have FASD and what you know to be true about eating disorders and emotion regulation – and that’s what I love to do in my career. Adapting and fine-tuning treatment for people who are often missed.”  

We know FASD is a whole-body disorder. We know there are over 420 co-occurring conditions. What I did not know was how interconnected FASD and Eating Disorders are. Dr. Federici and I explore this as well as:  

• Types of eating disorders, common myths and general signs and symptoms.  
• How emotional regulation, impulsivity, anxiety, and depression are tied to eating disorders.  
• Why the diet culture and social media can be so toxic for individuals.  
• What caregivers can do if they suspect their child/teen/adult has an eating disorder and the importance of a professional assessment.  
• Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, what it is and how it can be helpful for individuals with FASD.  

“Eating disorders are not chosen.”   

FASD is a complex disorder – just like eating disorders. And just like we talk about behaviour as a symptom of FASD, an eating disorder is a symptom or manifestation of something else. It is not about the food. It is what is below the surface that needs to be addressed.   

And just like many doctors do not receive appropriate training and education on FASD, many are not informed enough on recognizing eating disorders. Dr. Federici provides accessible resources on her website. 

I think this may just have to be added to the 10x listen list.   

Let me know what your biggest aha moment was.   

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Anyone that has followed me for a while knows about Amanda Burley – Amanda and her family were the first family I coached after graduating from the FASD Program at the Toronto CAS Child Welfare Institute. Both Tara and I have had the privilege and the honour to become friends with her and her family. I love sharing updates for caregivers so they can follow her journey.  

“I am here for a reason. It’s to help kids with FASD who can’t speak like I speak.” 

Amanda candidly shares some of her struggles, achievements, philosophy and lets us know what is new, including: 

• Sharing the difference between school experiences from those when supported, understood, and accommodated, to those when supports were not provided, and how she advocates for herself. 
• Providing tips and tricks that helped her cope with her disability, including a highly creative PITA and PANDA method. 
• Giving suggestions for how caregivers can support their kids/teens/adults and coping strategies and mantras for individuals on the Spectrum 

Amanda says whenever someone has doubted her, that makes her try even harder to prove them wrong. Whenever she doubts herself, she remembers her reasons for being and the goals she has set that keep her going. She is sweet, enthusiastic and has proven me and others wrong on her road to getting to where she is today. I believe you will be inspired by her journey and her words. 

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Today I am stoked to have a returning guest, Dr. Catherine Lebel. We get down to science today. But don't worry, I help make this accessible.  We are talking about a recent FASD research paper she wrote and a current study she is working on.

Catherine Lebel, PhD is a Principal Investigator,  and Associate Professor | Department of Radiology | University of Calgary

"My research uses magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to study brain development in children and adolescents. Using a variety of MRI techniques, I study how brain structure and function change with age, or in response to treatments and interventions. I am specifically interested in how brain maturation and brain plasticity are related to cognition and behaviour, and how these relationships may be different in children with developmental disorders. The aim of my research is to better understand brain changes, with the ultimate goal of providing earlier identification and more effective treatments for children with developmental disorders."

While this research is valuable, and while the information is interesting, it doesn't necessarily mean it will change practice by itself. But it can be a building block and I felt that people would be interested in finding out what is going on in the research field.

And that is why I wanted to bring this information to you.

Research Paper:

 
Research Study:

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The episode this week is a chat with three cool and awesome advocates who are doing great things for caregivers and individuals with FASD. It may be in my home province of Ontario, but what they have to say and are doing can inspire and help where you are. 

Today I’m talking to Sharron Richards, Mary Hutchings and Mary Ann Bunkowsky about social work, advocating for system change, building support teams and The Parents Helping Parents Project, a phone support resource provided by parent Mentors for parents and caregivers of individuals with FASD in Ontario. 

Sharron Richards received her Master of Social Work degree from Carleton University and worked in child welfare for close to 40 years, primarily as a community development worker. She chairs the Toronto FASD Network and is committed to bringing her knowledge, experience, resources, and social privilege to ensuring that individuals and families affected by FASD have access to the resources and supports they require. 

Mary Hutchings has a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Toronto. She spent 38 years with the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto on the front line and as a Manager. She Co-Chairs the Toronto FASD Leadership Team and is a member of the Toronto FASD Network. She is motivated by the resilience and courage of parents/caregivers as well as an understanding that unresolved grief impacts lives in significant and often overlooked ways.  

Mary Ann Bunkowsky participates in many community activities and FASD-related projects, but most notably is the co-founder of the Halton FASD Parent/Caregiver and Adult Support Groups. She also serves on the Halton FASD Steering Committee and served on the Family Advisory Committee with CanFASD. Mary Ann and her husband Brad have two sons. She often states that her children are her teachers, and they remind her often of the important role we all play in each others’ lives. 

In each podcast, the aim is to not only let you know you are not on this journey alone, provide interesting stories about what is going on around the world but also give you inside tips and knowledge to help you advocate for services to make your life as a caregiver and for your children/teens and adults that much better. Today we talk about: 

• The disconnect with social work and knowledge about fetal alcohol and how caregivers and professionals can help each other to build better-informed teams of support. 

and 

• How the Parents Helping Parents Project (Ontario) came about, how it works, who it serves and how it's evolving to meet the need. 

"You have to be a champion for families and kids. It isn’t bad kids or bad parents. It is they have a lot of diagnoses. They have a list of labels. When we realized that those labels really didn’t fit them, when you realized what the disability was and you learned about the disability those labels just went out the window. If you put in the right supports, give them the right opportunities a lot of that behaviour stops.” 

It is so important to keep talking and connecting. Not only as caregivers but also as professionals. You just never know what you are going to learn – and I learned about some resources that are in Ontario that I wasn’t aware of and some interesting projects the Toronto FASD Network is undertaking.  

Even if you are not in Ontario, there are some great discussions about social work and social workers in this episode that I think are helpful for anyone. We know that when caregivers feel supported, they feel less overwhelmed, less isolated and more hopeful. I hope listening to these podcasts provides that. 

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