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Welcome to 2025 and a new season of the FASD Life Podcast!

Join me for a fascinating conversation about the unique stressors and strengths of caregivers with Professor Anita Gibbs from New Zealand. Anita is a social worker, associate professor, researcher, and parent of three children, including two with FASD. Anita discusses her research on FASD Caregiving, revealing emotional, social, and practical challenges while highlighting critical for understanding, support, and systemic change.

• The emotional toll of caregiving and its impact on mental health
• Experiences of social and feeling blamed
• Importance of spiritual well-being in managing stress
• Challenges in accessing appropriate services for children with FASD
• Resilience showcased through advocacy and support networks
• Empowerment found in sharing experiences among caregivers
• Need for systemic reform to provide adequate support and services
• Emphasis on community and the significance of finding your tribe

I'd love to hear from you! If you've got a question or a success story that you'd like to share text the show at the link above, or email me at [email protected]. I will respond personally to you.

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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!

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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!

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Welcome to Season 4, episode 22 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.  It is my passion to help families thrive.  To learn more about me and my work check out my website,  https://fasdfamilylife.ca/

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) refers to a constellation of disorders resulting from prenatal exposure to alcohol; the manifestations include birth defects, developmental disabilities, and neurological and behavioral problems.

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder is a common disability impacting 1 in 20 people in the general population in the US, which is nearly 3 times more common than Autism.

This week I am in the Netherlands where it is estimated that 2000 babies annually are born with FASD.

I am speaking with Nienke Peters and Luke Schut to learn about an innovative photo book project that they have been involved in to raise awareness of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder in Holland.

Luke Schut is the Project coordinator of the FAS-project. Her background is in pedagogics. She came in contact with the FAS-project through her Masters program.  Luke says "I am the most inspired by all these parents and caregivers, and the warm and caring FASD community. Let’s keep sharing stories with each other to make FASD more visible."

Nienke Peters is mother of 4 bio kids and grandmother of 4. Fostered 12 children with FASD and still fostering a boy with FASD and NAS. Met Allard de Witte in 2014 when he photographed one of our foster sons. Her family has been part of the Buddy Project of Witte Bos for over 4 years now.

‘Het Witte Bos’ is a non-profit organization, which initiates transmedia project on the cutting edge of journalism, art and society. The FAS-project started as a journalistic initiative, but eventually developed into a big multimedia awareness campaign, showing the potentially dangerous consequences of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. By storytelling, the project raises attention to a relatively unknown problem in a personal way. The FAS-project started in 2013 and launched with the book FAS-kinderen (Children with FAS).

After this the fas-project continued under the name FAS2025. In the past years the project developed and gained a wider reach & more impact. FAS2025 tells the story of Isiah, Lorenzo, Marcella, Mila and Jasmijn, following their journey towards adulthood for ten years. Their stories are told by a collection of stories, portraits and mini-documentaries. To give children with FAS(D) a face, make FAS(D) less abstract and to tell what FAS(D) means to them and how it impacts their lives. The project also consists of expositions, books, a podcast, a college tour to inform future professionals about FAS, readings at professional organizations who (may) come in contact with FAS(D), and a buddy project in which children/youngsters with FAS(D) are matched to a buddy to have a nice time together.

Link to purchase the book Children with FAS/Kinder mit FAS
https://fasproject.nl/en/product/children-with-fasd/
The English website: https://fasproject.nl/en

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Welcome to Season 4, episode 21 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 46,000 downloads worldwide.

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

My FASD world tour continues. This week I am back in Canada where I am speaking with Dr Jacqueline Pei about the profound impact of relationships on the lives of our loved ones with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.  Dr Jacqueline Pei (R. Psych., PhD) is a Professor in the Department of Educational Psychology and Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Alberta. Also a practicing Registered Psychologist for the past eighteen years, Dr. Pei began her career as a criminologist and forensic counselor working with incarcerated youth. Motivated by this early work, she returned to academia to study youth at risk, child development, and neuropsychology. Her current focus includes identification and evaluation of interventions to support healthy outcomes for youth put at risk, and in particular individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. Dr. Pei has over 75 peer reviewed publications, but places the greatest value on her work with various community and government agencies. To this end, Dr. Pei currently leads the Intervention Network Action Team (iNAT), and is Senior Research Lead for the Canada FASD Research Network, roles that facilitates the link between research, policy, and practice.

 

Questions or comments about this or other episodes of the FASD Family Life Podcast, email: [email protected]

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FASD is a significant global health issue that needs attention which is why I decided to go on a WORLD TOUR to highlight the issue of FASD around the world as well as the tremendous work being done to re-educate society of the risks of consuming alcohol during pregnancy, to advocate for systemic changes that would recognize FASD as a permanent disability, and provide support for individuals, and their families, impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure.

Kia Ora and welcome to 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 45,000 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 the FASD World Tour continues in New Zealand as I stop by to have a  conversation with Dr. Anita Gibbs about her research that examines the FASD Caregiver experience and the impact on the social, emotional, physical, and spiritual health of the caregiver.  Anita is a professor, social worker, and a parent of two boys with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, so she knows first-hand that the struggle is real and so is success. 

Do you have a topic suggestion or a question? Write to me at [email protected]

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Welcome to Season 4, episode 19 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 47,000 downloads worldwide.

My FASD world tour continues. This week I am back in Canada where I am speaking with Melissa Arseneau, Licensed Psychologist, and Monette Saulnier,  Wellness Mentor, R.M.T., YTT 300.

Melissa is the owner and lead psychologist at Balance Psychology Clinic in Fredericton NB. Since opening the clinic in 2015,  it has evolved into a multi-disciplinary practice offering comprehensive mental health services including FASD assessments and support.

Throughout her career, Monette has worked with  youth in many capacities. As a wellness mentor in the public school system, Monette is dedicated to providing learning opportunities in a safe environment. In recent years, she has applied her extensive experience working with youth to be able to work  with parents, caregivers, and other adults through ACTing Mindfully training and yoga.

Somatic approaches have played a key part in creating balance in Monette’s life, especially after experiencing injuries in the spinal column. 

Monette aspires to keep learning and share self care strategies with others.

 Throughout the year, Melissa and Monnet offer Acceptance & Commitment Therapy, they call ACTing Mindfully, in different formats to meet various needs and schedules.

I was so excited to learn about their ACTing Mindfully sessions that are starting this Saturday that  I dropped this episode early to let you know about it too. This 3-week online version of ACTing Mindfully starts Feb 18th from 9:00 am to 11:00 am EST and it is available to you no matter where in the world you are. To register email [email protected]

To learn more go to their webpage  https://www.facebook.com/BalancePsychologyClinic


Questions or comments about this or other episodes of the FASD Family Life Podcast, email: [email protected] 

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Kia Ora and welcome to Season 4, episode 18 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 45,000 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 I am speaking with Leigh Henderson of FASD-CAN (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder - Caregiver Action Network) which was founded in 2013 by a group of parents with children with FASD, and professionals who were FASD experts. The founding chair, Claire Gyde, together with a group of other parents, saw the need for an organisation that would unite caregivers and advocate for improved awareness, services, and greater support for caregivers and whānau of individuals coping with FASD. https://www.fasd-can.org.nz/

FAS-CAN is a New Zealand-based, non-profit incorporated society made up of parents, caregivers, extended whānau and health professionals, including our clinical advisor, Dr Valerie McGinn (Clinical Neuropsychologist and Clinical Director of the FASD Centre, Aotearoa), and our Patron, Judge Tony Fitzgerald. Our purpose is to unite caregivers, support whānau and individuals, strengthen communities and educate about FASD across Aotearoa.

We aim to pool our knowledge, strength and collective wisdom so that those living with FASD can grow and achieve. Our goal is to educate and provide strategies for those living with FASD. We want better access to Disability Support Services for those whose lives are impacted by FASD. 

Become a FAS-CAN member and you'll be sent a free printed copy of our Handbook. https://www.fasd-can.org.nz/the_handbook_caregiver_toolkit

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Welcome back to Season 4, episode 17 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 45,000 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 I am speaking with Holly-ann Martin, Founder and Managing Director of Safe4Kids. With over 30 years experience in teaching child abuse prevention education, Holly-ann has a wealth of knowledge and is able to provide valuable information and strategies that you can implement straight away to help protect the children in your lives from sexual abuse / exploitation.

We understand that child protection education is a sensitive topic and parents, carers, teachers and educators can find it quite daunting when faced with the challenge of having to teach it to their children.  But it is imperative that we are informed and equipped to protect the children in our care. 

EPISODE RESOURCES
Youtube channel - https://www.youtube.com/user/Thesafe4kids

 What to do if a child discloses
https://safe4kids.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Safe4Kids-Disclosure.pdf

All my books on Amazon
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=holly-ann+martin&crid=OTNM6ZB3PM73&sprefix=holly-ann+martin%2Caps%2C309&ref=nb_sb_noss_2

Talk soon, talk often
https://www.healthywa.wa.gov.au/~/media/HWA/Documents/Healthy-living/Sexual-health/talk-soon-talk-often.pdf

Safe 4 Kids Parents Course
https://safe4kids-protective-education.thinkific.com/courses/parents-workshop

Link to a song about grooming (friending up)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4fUFRC_opA

The FASD Family Life Community Support Group meets on the
3 Tuesday of every month at 6:00 pm MST
I hope to meet you there! Subscribe today at https://fasdfamilylife.ca/

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Welcome back to Season 4, episode 16 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 hard work is paying off! Since 2021 the podcast has grown to nearly 45,000 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 I am speaking with Darlene, a Registered Early Childhood Educator and part time professor at a local College in the ECE program, and mom of a 15 year old daughter with FASD.  Finding ways to guide and support her daughter with strength-based modalities has driven Darlene’s advocacy in the community and most recently in the Healthcare system alongside her daughter. A medical crisis 10 years ago prompted Darlene's search for solutions. Her late night google search brought her to  Nutritional Interventions for Children with FASD, by Diane Black, PhD.
( http://come-over.to/FAS/FASDnutrition.htm )  In response Darlene radically  changed her family's diet and was astounded by the results. Ten years on, Darlene's family still hold fast to their allergen free diet for the health and wellbeing of the whole family.

WARNING: THIS IS NOT MEDICAL ADVICE. Check with your primary health care provider before making any changes to your child's diet/medication.

EPISODE RESOURCES:
YumEarth for fun alternatives
https://yumearth.com/
Food Journal
https://www.albertahealthservices.ca/assets/info/nutrition/if-nfs-3-day-food-journal.pdf
  Darlene's Facebook Group
(1) Team LOVE - Connecting Families Affected by FASD | Facebook

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 only $10 / month or $100 for an annual subscription.  https://fasdfamilylife.ca/

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