Autism Parenting Secrets

Welcome to Episode 182 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

Our guest this week is Brian S. Hooker, Ph.D.

Brian S. Hooker, Ph.D., is the Senior Director of Science and Research at Children’s Health Defense, an organization committed to the best health for children in the U.S. and worldwide. He is also a former Professor of Biology at Simpson University in Redding, California, where he specialized in microbiology and biotechnology. Dr. Hooker coauthored, with Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the New York Times best-selling book Vax-Unvax: Let the Science Speak.

In 1985, Dr. Hooker earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California. He earned his Master of Science degree in 1988 and his doctorate in 1990, both in biochemical engineering, from Washington State University in Pullman, Washington.

Brian Hooker has many accomplishments to his credit, including co-inventor for five patents, recipient of the Battelle Entrepreneurial Award in 2001, and a Federal Laboratory Consortium Recognition Award in 1999 for his work on “Reactive Transport in 3-Dimensions.” The breadth of Hooker’s over 70 science and engineering papers have been published in internationally recognized, peer-reviewed journals.

Dr. Hooker has been active in vaccine safety since 2001 and has a 25-year-old son with autism. In 2013 and 2014, Dr. Hooker worked with the CDC Whistleblower, Dr. William Thompson, to expose fraud and corruption within vaccine safety research in the CDC, which led to the release of over 10,000 pages of documents.

https://childrenshealthdefense.org/conference-bios/brian-hooker-ph-d/

You'll Discover:

• What You Never Want To Do If Your Child Is Sick (6:36)
• The Importance of Critical Thinking (11:14)
• Why You Don’t Want To Take The Easy Way Out (15:00)
• The Issue With Seminal Studies (21:40)
• Concerns Regarding Acetaminophen (29:04)
• Why Defending Against Toxins Matters So Much (33:56)

References in This Episode:

• Children's Health Defense
• Vax-Unvax: Let the Science Speak by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Brian Hooker
• Outsmarting Autism by Patricia Lemer
• Autism Parenting Secrets, Episode 20 The Sequence Truly Matters

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 181 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

Our guest this week is Tracy Slepcevic.  

Tracy is a Certified Integrative Health Practitioner, Speaker, Air Force Veteran, and the bestselling author of Warrior Mom: A Mother’s Journey In Healing Her Son with Autism. 

She is educated in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and has dedicated over 14 years to researching various treatments and therapies for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. 

Her mission is to educate families on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. 

The secret this week is…

Be WILLING To Go The Distance

You'll Discover:

• The Backstory Of A Book Long In The Making (2:57)
• Why Giving Up Is Never An Option (7:27)
• The Importance of the Gut/Brain Connection (14:30)
• A Powerful Opportunity To Get Informed And Be In Community (18:50)
• The Three Types of Parents (29:08)

About Our Guest

Tracy Slepcevic is a Certified Integrative Health Practitioner, Speaker, Air Force Veteran, and the bestselling author of Warrior Mom: A Mother’s Journey In Healing Her Son with Autism. She is educated in the field of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and has dedicated over 14 years to researching various treatments and therapies for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Over the years, she has worked with various doctors, scientists, advocates, and researchers, and she has made it her mission to educate families on the importance of living a healthy lifestyle.

https://autismhealth.com/

References in The Episode:

• Autism Health Summit - February 2-3, 2024, San Antonio, Texas
• Warrior Mom - A Mother’s Journey in Healing Her Son with Autism by Tracy Slepcevic
• Environmental Working Group
• Yuka App
• SPELLERS Movie
• Protocol 7 Movie

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 180 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This episode sheds light on why you will want to pay extra close attention to the cleaning products you use in your home.

We’re joined by Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, President and CEO of ECOS.

ECOS offers eco-conscious cleaning products made with safer ingredients.

Kelly has been widely recognized for her influential voice in the green movement, corporate social responsibility, and sustainable manufacturing.

Under her leadership, ECOS has become a model for green businesses in the U.S. and has won many awards for its innovations in safer green chemistry, including the EPA’s Safer Choice Partner of the Year five times.

Also joining this conversation is Kristine Waldren, Sr. Director of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs at ECOS.  Kristine shares her insights from her journey to support her child on the spectrum.

These two powerful women make the case for ACTION.

Because cleaning your home with toxic chemicals is NOT OK.

The secret this week is…

A Healthy Home Starts With SAFE Cleaning Products

You'll Discover:

• A Big Assumption That You CAN’T Make (4:51)
• The Logo You Want To See on Cleaning Products (8:09)
• The Color That Does NOT Mean Clean (14:12)
• The Link Between Chemicals and Behaviors In Kids (17:35)
• The Origin Story of ECOS (24:00)
• How You Can Make Your Voice Heard (27:12)
• The Many Ways ECOS Is Leading The Way (33:12)

About Our Guest

KELLY VLAHAKIS-HANKS

As President and CEO of ECOS plant-powered cleaning products, Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks is passionate about human and planetary health. She leads four manufacturing facilities across the U.S. as well as a European manufacturing platform. Kelly is widely recognized for her highly effective leadership at ECOS and her influential voice in corporate social responsibility, safer chemistry, and sustainable manufacturing. Kelly led ECOS to become a climate-positive company in 2021 after achieving carbon neutrality, water neutrality, and TRUE Platinum Zero Waste certification. ECOS is also the first manufacturer to receive LEED® Zero certifications in net-zero energy, carbon, and waste. She’s been featured on CNN, CBS News, ABC News, FOX News, NBC News, Bloomberg, and MarketWatch and in publications such as Fortune, Entrepreneur, and the Los Angeles Times. 

KRISTINE WALDREN

Kristine Waldren is the Sr. Director of Corporate Communications and Government Affairs at ECOS®, the maker of plant-powered cleaning products, where she blends her experience in communications and public policy with her passion for protecting the health of people and the planet.  

https://www.ecos.com/

References in The Episode:

• Feature film A Green Story tells the story of Kelly’s father, Van Vlahakis.

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 179 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

Our guest this week is Brigitte Shipman.

She’s a mom to two adult sons, an author, speaker, and certified Martha Beck Life Coach. 

She helps moms of autistic kids move through challenging emotions and areas of difficulty so that they can feel more joyful and at peace and fully present with their kids on the spectrum.

Brigitte's autism parenting journey began three decades ago, and her son Joseph is now 31 years old and thriving. 

Brigitte and Joseph recently published their book A Mother's Guide Through Autism to share their hope, knowledge, and inspiration with mothers raising children with autism. 

Brigitte has 20 years of experience as an educator in the public school system and holds a Master's Degree in Education.

The secret this week is…

Make Room For JOY

You'll Discover:

• A BIG Life Lesson (4:59) 
• The Magic Of Letting Go (11:19)
• A Powerful Poem The Reframes Everything (22:41)
• Something To Never Forget (31:10)
• The Practice That Unlocks Joy (35:33)

About Our Guest

Brigitte Shipman is a mom to two adult sons, an author, speaker, and certified Martha Beck Life Coach. 

She helps moms of autistic kids move through challenging emotions and areas of difficulty so that they can feel more joyful and at peace and fully present with their kids on the spectrum.

Brigitte started out her autism parenting journey 31 years ago— and her son Joseph is now 31 years old and thriving. 

Brigitte and Joseph recently published their book A Mother's Guide Through Autism to share their hope, knowledge, and inspiration with mothers raising children with autism. 

Brigitte has 20 years of experience as an educator in the public school system and holds a Master's Degree in Education.

https://www.mothersguidethroughautism.com/

References in The Episode:

• A Mother's Guide Through Autism, Through The Eyes of The Guided by Brigitte Shipman and Joseph Shipman
• Welcome to Holland
• Martha Beck

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 178 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

Today, we’re focusing on the case for non-toxic health and beauty care with our guest, Nadine Artemis.

She is the creator of Living Libations, a luxury line of organic wild-crafted non-GMO serums, elixirs, and essential oils for those seeking the purest of the pure botanical natural health and beauty products on the planet.

Nadine is also the author of two books, including Renegade Beauty and Holistic Dental Care: The Complete Guide to Healthy Teeth and Gums.

Avoiding toxic products is a MUST for you, your child, and your entire family.

The secret this week is…

Go For HIGH-VIBE Health & Beauty

You'll Discover:

• Why It Makes Sense To Cleanse With OIL (6:22)
• How To Protect Your Largest Organ (8:06)
• The Case For Peppermint (18:50)
• Options To Address High-Oxalates (20:32)
• A Science Experiment In Your Mouth and Other Oral Care Tips (26:29)
• Why Organic Isn’t A Guarantee (32:34)
• The Many Applications For Essential Oils (34:14)
• The Hazards Of Municipal Water (38:01)
• Tips To Promote Calm And Restful Sleep (41:01)

About Our Guest

Nadine is a key speaker at health and wellness conferences and a frequent commentator on health and beauty for media outlets.  She has received glowing reviews for her work in the Hollywood Reporter, GOOP, Vogue, People, Elle, Yoga Journal, Natural Health, W Magazine, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and National Post.

Celebrity fans include Shailene Woodley, Renee Zellweger, Julianne Moore, Carrie Anne Moss, Mandy Moore, First Lady of Canada Sophie Trudeau, and many others. 

Alanis Morissette describes  Nadine as “a true sense-visionary."

Aveda founder Horst Rechelbacher calls Nadine “a pure flower of creativity.”

Fun Fact: She opened the first full-concept aromatherapy store in North America at just 22 years old. 

Living Libations

Living Libations On Instagram

Living Libations On Facebook

Living Libations On YouTube

References in The Episode:

• Living Libations (10% discount with this link)
• Aqua Tru Water Purifiers

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 177 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This week’s episode focuses on alcohol consumption by the parent. 

Our guest is Todd White, Founder of Dry Farm Wines and a leader in the Natural Wine movement.  

He’s dedicated to educating and helping people make better choices about food, nutrition, and how they think about consuming Alcohol. 

If you don’t drink, there’s no good reason to start.

But if you do choose to consume alcohol, this episode will reveal a much better option.

This may seem like an odd topic for this podcast.

But we’re all about helping parent improve HOW they navigate the journey to support their child.

The truth is most parents drink alcohol.

And that’s even more likely to be true if they are facing challenging situations day after day.

There is a case to be made for low-alcohol, sugar-free, natural wine.

But just like with food, exactly what you consume matters.  

There are better options that won’t wreak havoc on your body.

The secret this week is…

Go For CONSCIOUS Consumption

You'll Discover:

• The Benefits Of Lower Alcohol Wines (7:50)
• What Makes 0.001% Of Wines So Special (10:45)
• A Surprising Fact About U.S. Wines (12:47)
• What Natural Wine Is (20:44)
• The Farmer’s Market Difference (24:49)
• The Three Components of Natural Wine (27:07)
• The Two Collusions (31:44)
• How Wine Can Become Sugar-Free (41:27)
• The Problem With Irrigation (47:53)

About Our Guest

Todd White has been a serial entrepreneur and creator since he was 17. Today, after 15 years in the wine business, his life is dedicated to educating and helping people make better choices about food, nutrition, and how they think about consuming alcohol – what he calls conscious consumption. 

As the Founder of Dry Farm Wines, a writer, speaker, and a leader in the Natural Wine movement, Todd is deeply passionate about educating people on what’s in their wine and sharing Natural Wine with the world. Today, he’s considered the preeminent national voice on health, wellness, and Natural Wine.

Todd’s health journey is just as important as his love of wine. He is a self-described wellness and longevity lifestyle architect who practices daily meditation, journaling, Wim Hof

breathing, cold thermogenesis, a ketogenic diet, and daily 22-hour intermittent fasting. He

wears a glucose monitor and works out every day, optimizing a lifestyle built on increasing

wellness, health span, and longevity. He’s an eloquent speaker on topics including wine and

health, conscious consumption, low-carb diets, ketogenic lifestyle, meditation, and fasting.

Built on this foundation of health, Dry Farm Wines has seen remarkable growth in the last

five years, making it one of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

Dry Farm Wines

Wine Club Penny Bottle Offer

Dry Farm Wines on Facebook

Dry Farm Wines On Instagram

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 176 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This week’s episode is all about reducing toxic exposure - focusing on one of the most prevalent and pervasive chemicals: Glyphosate.  

We’re joined by Kelly Ryerson, who started the news site Glyphosate Facts, which explains the link between chemical agriculture and the explosion in chronic disease. 

If your goal is to help your child thrive in this increasingly toxic environment, you HAVE to play defense.

All kids are negatively impacted by toxic exposures of all kinds.

But kids on the spectrum may be even more susceptible to harm.

Zero exposure is not possible, but you CAN minimize the impact on you and your family.

The secret this week is…

The Food Supply Is TOXIC


You'll Discover:

• The Very First Thing To Do To Minimize Toxins (4:21)
• Why Glyphosate Isn’t Just Another Chemical (15:12)
• How To Make More Mindful Choices (23:12)
• What Was Revealed In The Cancer Trials And The Parallels With Cigarettes (29:15)
• What Bees Can Teach Us About The Microbiome (36:35)
• Why The Farm Bill Matters More Than You Think (40:44)
• Common Foods That Are High In Glyphosate (44:12)

About Our Guest

Kelly Ryerson works at the intersection of agriculture and health. She regularly collaborates with farmers, scientists, policymakers, and media to address agrochemical damage to our soil and bodies. She also started the news site Glyphosate Facts, which explains the link between chemical agriculture and the explosion in chronic disease. Kelly has contributed to several documentaries and news publications, co-hosts the morning show on CHDtv, and is a frequent speaker on podcasts. She is an Ambassador for The Rodale Institute. She has a BA from Dartmouth College, an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and completed training in integrative health coaching at Duke Integrative Medicine.

https://glyphosatefacts.com/

https://www.instagram.com/glyphosategirl/

https://twitter.com/GlyphosateGirl

References in The Episode:

• Glyphosate Facts

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 175 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This week, we focus on how you can upgrade the way you manage, organize, and use your child’s health data.  

Our guest is Dave Korsunsky, CEO and Founder of Heads Up.

Dave recognized an opportunity to build a software solution that makes it easier for anyone to take control of their health through better use of their data.

It’s impossible to feel good about the decisions you’re making for your child if you feel unclear, lost, or confused about what’s happening right now.

Understanding your child’s health biomarkers is important.

And paying for labwork and other testing, while expensive, can be very useful.

But not doing anything with the data you have is a waste of time, energy, and money. 

The secret this week is…

Better DATA = Better DECISIONS

You'll Discover:

• How To Reduce The Overwhelm (4:43)
• The Power of the TREND LINE (8:58)
• Why Centralization Is Essential (13:32)
• How Tracking Helps Improve Sleep (18:18)
• Arguably THE Top Biomarker To Measure (25:08)
• How To Leverage Wearables Safely (29:37)
• The Habit That’s Disasterous For Sleep (31:17)
• How You Can Make PDFs Come To Life (33:17)

About Our Guest

CEO and Founder of Heads Up. Dave has fifteen years of experience working for industry-leading technology firms and most recently served as Director of Technical Alliances at VMware (NYSE: VMW), Inc., where he led strategic partnerships with global EHR companies, including EPIC, Cerner, McKesson, GE, Allscripts and many more. Dave went on to lead sales engineering at CloudPhysics, a big data firm collecting and analyzing over 80B data points per day. As an avid health enthusiast, he recognized an opportunity to build a software solution that makes it easier for anyone to take control of their health through better use of their data.

Heads Up Health

References in The Episode:

• For 30 Day Free Trial, go to Heads Up Health
• Breathe: The Science Of A Lost Art by James Nestor

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 174 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

We’re joined this week by Suzy Miller.  

She’s a speaker, author, telepathic communicator, multidimensional seer, and founder of the groundbreaking Autism Integration Series.

A former Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist with a Master’s Degree in Education, Suzy pioneered a shift in the perception of autism from an individual “disorder” to a collective revolution in human consciousness and has been playing in the field of leading-edge consciousness ever since.

The secret this week is…

INTEGRATION Is The BRIDGE

You'll Discover:

• Riley’s Amazing Story (3:08)
• The Mode You Don’t Want To Be In (8:58)
• The Parents That Get The Best Results (12:00)
• Why Kids On The Spectrum Won’t Comply (15:25)
• The Big Energy Shift That Took Place in 1986 (18:21)
• How To Covey Positive Energy To Your Child (27:18)
• The Message You Don’t Want To Send Your Child (34:00)
• The Profound Impact of Spelling To Communicate (39:58)
• What is INTEGRATION and Why It Matters (50:25)
• The Triad To Default To (55:28)

About Our Guest

Suzy Miller is a visionary speaker, author, telepathic communicator, multidimensional seer, and founder of the groundbreaking Autism Integration Series.

A former Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist with a Master’s Degree in Education, Suzy pioneered a shift in the perception of autism from an individual “disorder” to a collective revolution in human consciousness and has been playing in the field of leading edge consciousness ever since.

Throughout her long career, Suzy has collaborated with professionals in a variety of fields, from psychology, social work, mainstream education, and medicine to leading-edge scientists, metaphysicians, healers, and new thought leaders.

She twice collaborated with Dr. William Tiller, Professor Emeritus at Stanford University, and featured physicist in the movie “What The Bleep…” spearheading both The Autism Intention Healing Experiment as well as an experiment for the elevation of collective human consciousness.

A lifelong student of consciousness, Suzy has personally facilitated the growth and mastery of hundreds of practitioners and thousands of private clients worldwide. She currently supports the integration of unintegrated aspects of Self through private sessions, courses, a six-month mentorship, workshops, articles, speaking engagements, and live events! She specializes in the integration of autism, childhood traumas, and heightened spiritual experiences.

www.suzymiller.com

References in The Episode:

• Autism Parenting Secrets, Episode 14 - Your Child Is Your Teacher! with Dr. Stephen Cowan
• Spelling To Communicate
• Autism Parenting Secrets, Episode 38 - Your Child Understands Everything with J.B. Handley
• The Presence Process: A Journey into Present Moment Awareness by Michael Brown
• Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior by David R. Hawkins

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.

Welcome to Episode 173 of Autism Parenting Secrets. 

This week, we explore Nutrigenomics with Dr. Heather Way, Director and Head Researcher at The Australian Centre for Genomic Analysis.  

Dr. Way is also a mom to two boys who have both recovered from Autism, and she has helped almost 1,000 children dramatically improve their quality of life, often going from non-verbal to being mainstreamed...

She was the inspiration for the IntellxxDNA Neurodevelopmental Genomics Report, which is geared toward helping individuals with Autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.

As a researcher, scientist, and mother, Heather has many insights to share.

The secret this week is…

Embrace Autism NUTRIGENOMICS

You'll Discover:

• What Exactly Is NUTRIGENOMICS (2:57)
• What are SNPs and Which Ones Cause The Biggest Issues (5:36)
• There Are Over 700 “Autism Genes” (9:21)
• Why MTHFR Isn’t Worth Obsessing Over (15:53)
• The Magic Of The HOT SPOT Report (20:07)
• Why You’re NOT What You Eat (25:23)
• It’s About Genetic Predispositions + Environmental Triggers (32:54)
• The Double Whammy To Focus On (36:08)
• Why It All Comes Down To NUTRIENTS (40:15)
• An Incredibly Important Thing To Remember (43:48)

About Our Guest

Dr. Heather Way (PhD) is the Director and Head Researcher at The Australian Centre for Genomic Analysis (TACGA).

Dr. Way holds a Ph.D. in molecular pathology and is an expert in the field of nutrigenomics and microbiome sequencing. 

Prior to clinical practice, Dr. Way worked as a scientist with The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) for 25 years. 

Nutrigenomics enables genetic predispositions to be understood and managed via epigenetics and nutrition. 

Dr. Way has two teenagers who were on the spectrum and fully recovered using her protocol. 

The missing piece for her children came through addressing gene expression via Nutrigenomics and Microbiome sequencing. 

Dr. Way’s team produces personalized programs for ASD/ADHD clients all over the world, tailored to results from a specialist neurodevelopmental DNA profile that Dr. Way helped develop.

She regularly presents her research at Autism conferences around the world and she’s the lead researcher for a number of world-leading genetics and microbiome companies working on autism. 

http://tacga.com.au/landing-page/

References in The Episode:

• The Australian Centre for Genomic Analysis
• IntellxxDNA.com

Additional Resources:

• Take The Quiz: What’s YOUR Top Autism Parenting Blindspot?
• To learn more about Cass & Len, visit us at www.autismparentingsecrets.com
• Be sure to follow Cass & Len on Instagram
•  

If you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends.