Claim OwnershipKitchen Table Conversations with Angela Geddes
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© 2025 Kitchen Table Conversations with Angela Geddes
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Short and shareable conversation starters to support you or your loved ones with a complicated and beautiful brain.
111 Episodes
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October 10th marks World Mental Health Day, a global reminder that mental health is a universal human right. In this special episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela Geddes explores what mental health really means — beyond hashtags and online labels. She discusses how overdiagnosis can sometimes overshadow those living with complex, lifelong conditions and highlights the importance of prevention, evidence-informed treatment, and compassion. Angela also draws attention to a missing piece...
Misinformation about a lot of things these days and certainly around FASD is widespread — and it hurts families and communities. In this episode, Angela shares her personal reflections on how outdated language and statistics perpetuate stigma and confusion. She also offers a hopeful path forward, calling for collaboration, evidence-based messaging, and compassion. She proudly announces that her commitment to this continues and is evident in her recently updated 2nd edition books, "A Com...
In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela shines a light on one of the most overlooked issues in prenatal health: unplanned pregnancies and the invisible window of risk. With over half of pregnancies unplanned, many people are unknowingly exposing developing babies to alcohol, tobacco, or other substances in those critical first weeks. Angela discusses how this early exposure can lead to lifelong impacts on mental health, learning, and behaviour—not just FASD—and why outdated adv...
Breaking the Myths of FASD (and Beyond) In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela tackles one of the biggest misconceptions about pregnancy: that small amounts of alcohol are harmless. She explores the reality that prenatal health begins long before conception—and includes both parents. From the role of fathers’ health and substance use to the link between prenatal exposures and lifelong mental health, behavioural, and learning challenges, this episode brings a compassionate, sci...
Why This Summer Was BIG Join Angela Geddes, MSW, RSW, as she kicks off FASD Awareness Month and International FASD Awareness Day (Sept 9) with an inspiring look at the work being done to prevent prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and support those living with the impacts of prenatal alcohol and substance exposure and FASD. This episode highlights: New book releases, resources, and partnershipsCreative prevention campaigns, including radio PSAs, a new song, and community projectsWhy preco...
In this summer episode, Angela offers compassionate insight for families navigating the season with children, youth, or adults who have complex and beautiful brains. Whether your loved one is dealing with impulsivity, transitions, rigid thinking, or emotional dysregulation, this episode shares practical strategies for structure, regulation, nourishment, nature, and self-care. Plus: Podcast summer break update!Weekly episodes return in September for FASD Awareness MonthBi-weekly schedule resum...
In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela takes a deep and compassionate look at the critical—but often ignored—link between prenatal health and mental health across the lifespan. Drawing on research, clinical experience, and personal stories, she unpacks how even low levels of alcohol or substance exposure during pregnancy can impact brain development, increasing the risk for conditions like anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Angela also addresses the systemic gaps in diagnosis, esp...
In this heartfelt episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela shares the excitement of receiving the updated editions of her two books—A Complicated and Beautiful Brain and Not Your Typical Parenting Guide. She reflects on the inspiration behind the books, shares a moving quote from a teen with FASD, and explores the very real challenges faced by caregivers raising children with complex needs. Angela also introduces a vital new resource by Dr. Maude Champagne, Decoding Complex Behaviour in...
In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela reflects on the emotional fallout of Canada’s recent federal election—and the importance of healthy dialogue. Drawing from her mental health background, she unpacks 10 common cognitive distortions (like all-or-nothing thinking and emotional reasoning) and encourages listeners to return to the table with more curiosity and less judgment. This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling disillusioned by political division and searching for ...
This episode challenges recent claims made by RFK Jr. around autism and explores why Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) is being left out of the conversation. While autism is valid and deserves attention, the known risk of prenatal alcohol exposure is too often ignored. Let's shift the focus to prevention and evidence-based care. Resources to Learn More: Science.org | Claiming autism ‘epidemic,’ RFK Jr. describes NIH initiative to find environmental causesProof Alliance | What are ...
This year’s FASD International Research Conference was both powerful and deeply human. Key themes included: The insidious impact of stigma — and how it blocks access to diagnosis and careThe importance of naming FASD to open doors, not close themNew research on paternal alcohol exposure at the time of conceptionThe call for interdisciplinary support, trauma-informed care, and early interventionHeartfelt reminders that every diagnosis is a family story — and every story deserves compassi...
Celebrating 100 Episodes! From our very first episode on September 9th, International FASD Awareness Day, to now—this podcast has been about starting the hard conversations, uncovering hidden conditions, and pushing for change. In this milestone episode, I reflect on what we’ve achieved, the impact of our discussions, and how my practice-based research is now being validated by empirical studies. In this episode, we talk about: The urgency of FASD awareness and better assessment accessThe hid...
In this episode, I want to share some reflections from the last few weeks—weeks that have reaffirmed why I do this work and why these conversations are so important. For the past 25 years, I’ve worked alongside individuals with what I call complicated and beautiful brains—people living with complex mental health conditions, trauma histories, and neurodevelopmental disabilities like FASD. Many of them have experienced family disruptions, multiple placements, and deep struggles with feeling und...
A Practical Guide for Educators Supporting Neurodiverse Learners with Compassion and Practical Strategies At Geddes Specialized Support & Integrative Wellness Inc., we are committed to helping educators, school social workers, and child and youth workers develop a deeper understanding of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and how to effectively support students with complex neurodevelopmental needs. Our latest podcast episode explores "Understanding and Supporting Students with...
At Kitchen Table Conversations, my goal is to plant seeds—ideas that make us think about how we can prevent common health conditions and improve overall well-being. While some people argue that we’re living longer than past generations, I’d challenge that by asking: Are we living healthier? The diseases we face today may be different, but many of them can be preventable. I’m not a scientist, and I stay in my lane as a social worker. But I’ve read and learned enough to know that when we feed o...
Welcome to today’s episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, where we dive into pressing issues in mental health, neurodiversity, and the incredible work being done to support individuals and families with complex needs. Today, we’re talking about an urgent issue: the need for more Social Workers—and other front-line professionals—to be trained, confident, and competent in identifying and supporting individuals impacted by prenatal alcohol exposure. Listen in and let me paint a pict...
The most wonderful time of the year for some… yet not for others. In this episode, Angela talks about ways to reduce both the impact of and the incidents of prenatal alcohol/substance exposed pregnancies. She encourages consideration for more broad and informal prevention efforts regarding healthy pregnancies now that we have just learned that prevalence rates of FASD in North America have increased to a still conservative estimate of 8%! Angela also shares some thought provoking ...
Join Angela as she explores the balance between research, analytical thought, and lived perspectives. Together, we'll bring complex topics back to your kitchen table for meaningful discussion and debate. Are we mitigating risk at the cost of stifling free thought, creativity, and problem-solving? Through open dialogue and a critical cost-benefit lens, let’s make sense of what truly works for us in a world of evolving ideas and challenges. Resources to learn more: Psychology Today | What's Wro...
In this episode of Kitchen Table Conversations, Angela Geddes dives into the critical need for ongoing training to empower communities and clinicians in identifying, assessing, and supporting individuals who may have been prenatally exposed to alcohol or other substances. Angela emphasizes that building community capacity means developing clinicians who are not only competent, but also confident in their ability to screen and address the nuanced needs of people with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Dis...
In this episode, Angela reflects on her journey as a social worker, highlighting key insights and lessons learned over the years. Join her as she celebrates the wisdom shared by like-minded professionals who continue to inspire and guide her practice. Angela also shares exciting updates, including her collaboration with Dr. Clare Mitchell, and discusses how honoured she feels to participate in the London Conference and other professional development and caregiver support opportunities d...
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