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The Brain Development Podcast

The Brain Development Podcast

Written by: Lara Barnes
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The Brain Development Podcast provides parents with a pathway to healing the behavioural and learning symptoms of their Autistic, Dyslexic, ADHD, OCD, Asperger's, Dyspraxic, and Dysgraphic child. This podcast covers topics like building the foundation of the brain, correcting the behavioural and learning issues you see in your child with a neurodiverse child. We shared parent success stories, expert insights, how the brain develops, what causes changes in a child's trajectory, how to help your child, gut health, microbiome, supplements, diet, nutrition, lab testing, visual and auditory systems, correcting the trajectory of a child with primitive reflexes, nervous system, photobiomodulation and so much more. Join us to understand how you can help build your child's brain to let your child shine. Hygiene & Healthy Living Parenting Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships
Episodes
  • Hope From Parents Who've Been There: Real Stories of Brain Development: Parents Share Their Experience.

    Hope From Parents Who've Been There: Real Stories of Brain Development: Parents Share Their Experience.
    Jul 16 2026
    Every week I meet parents who walk into my clinic feeling exhausted, overwhelmed and unsure where to turn next. Today, I wanted to step back and let you hear directly from them. These are real mums and dads sharing what life was like before they began their brain development journey, what they experienced during the programme, and the changes they've seen in their children. My hope is that if you're listening today and wondering whether there's hope for your own child, these stories will remind you that you're not alone. SOCIAL/IMPORTANT LINKS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@braindevelopmentuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/braindevelopmentuk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/larakelly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/www.braindevelopment.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thrive Hub ⁠⁠https://www.thrive-hub.com/⁠⁠ HOST BIO Lara Barnes a successful woman in tech found herself managing behavioural, learning and speech difficulties with her son, she learn functional neurology and how to change the brain to correct his symptoms and build his left brain. The Building the Brain Podcast is for parents needing to understand how to help their children and show them what can be done to change little lives to allow them to shine and be their best version. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    21 mins
  • How Brain Development Helped a Child with Down Syndrome Improve Communication, Learning & Independence

    How Brain Development Helped a Child with Down Syndrome Improve Communication, Learning & Independence
    Jul 9 2026
    In this heartwarming episode of The Brain Development Podcast, Lara sits down with Rachel, mum to twin boys Jack and Andrew, who both have Down syndrome. After years of speech therapy, sensory support and traditional interventions, Rachel felt there was still something deeper holding Jack back. As he became increasingly dysregulated, developed self-injurious behaviours and remained non-verbal, she knew she needed to understand the root cause rather than simply manage the symptoms. Together, Lara and Rachel discuss how primitive reflex integration, sensory stimulation and building the brain from the bottom up transformed Jack's development. Rachel shares the remarkable changes she witnessed after just a few months of consistent home-based brain development work, including: Reduced hand biting and self-injurious behaviours. Improved emotional regulation and a calmer nervous system. Greater body awareness and sensory processing. Better use of his hands during play. Increased awareness of hunger, tiredness and his own body. More stamina and confidence during walking. Improved social connection with family members. Increased engagement with toys and his environment. More independence and communication through body language. The conversation also explores why children with Down syndrome may be more likely to retain primitive reflexes due to hypotonia and delayed early movement, and why strengthening the nervous system's foundations can create opportunities for future development. Rachel also shares how supporting gut health alongside neurological development has benefited both boys and the entire family. This episode is filled with hope, practical insight and a powerful reminder that development does not stop in early childhood. By giving the brain the right foundations, meaningful change is possible. Whether you're a parent of a child with Down syndrome, autism, ADHD or another neurodevelopmental difference, this conversation will help you understand why building the brain from the bottom up can make such a profound difference. Key Takeaways Why primitive reflexes matter in neurological development. The link between nervous system regulation and behaviour. How sensory stimulation can support brain development. Why body awareness often develops before communication. The importance of building neurological foundations before focusing on higher-level skills. How small changes can build into life-changing progress over time. The role of consistency, movement and home-based exercises in supporting neurodevelopment. Why parents should never lose hope—development is always possible. SOCIAL/IMPORTANT LINKS ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@braindevelopmentuk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/braindevelopmentuk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/larakelly/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https:/www.braindevelopment.co.uk⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ HOST BIO Lara Barnes a successful woman in tech found herself managing behavioural, learning and speech difficulties with her son, she learn functional neurology and how to change the brain to correct his symptoms and build his left brain. The Building the Brain Podcast is for parents needing to understand how to help their children and show them what can be done to change little lives to allow them to shine and be their best version. This Podcast has been brought to you by Disruptive Media. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://disruptivemedia.co.uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠
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    23 mins
  • From ADHD Chaos to Calm: A Dad Shares His Daughter’s Transformation” with Cliff Kilmister

    From ADHD Chaos to Calm: A Dad Shares His Daughter’s Transformation” with Cliff Kilmister
    Jul 2 2026
    It is incredibly easy to feel isolated and overwhelmed when navigating a new neurodiverse diagnosis for your child, especially when traditional school environments feel more like trauma than support. This conversation with Cliff Kilominster, host of the Parenting Autism and ADHD podcast, flips the script on conventional coping mechanisms. We dive into the profound shifts that occur when parents move away from trying to "fix" behaviour and start focusing on regulating the nervous system through movement, vibration, and dietary refinement. Cliff shares his powerful 'Calm Reset' framework, explaining why a parent must first anchor their own nervous system before they can expect to co-regulate an anxious or overwhelmed child. From the incredible impact of whole-body vibration on sleep to uncovering the toxic reality of everyday household foods, this episode offers a highly practical, bottom-up roadmap to restoring long-term family harmony. Key Takeaways The Calm Reset Framework: Parental self-regulation is the prerequisite for a child's recovery; you cannot co-regulate an anxious child while dysregulated yourself. Whole-Body Vibration: Incorporating proprioceptive input via a vibrating plate helps calm the brain stem, dramatically improving sleep quality and sensory processing. The Dietary Domino Effect: Gradual reduction of systemic inflammatory triggers like sugar, gluten, and dairy directly diminishes aggressive outbursts and behavioural spikes. Biology Over Behaviour: Actions often deemed behavioural defiance are frequently automated survival mechanisms stemming from an unintegrated nervous system. The Stigma of Hidden Stress: Children often mask their neurological overwhelm in school, leading to massive behavioural collapses once they return to the safety of home. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction & The Dad Gap in Neurodiversity 03:15 – School Trauma and Masking Behaviour 07:10 – Whole-Body Vibration and Restoring Sleep 11:24 – Re-evaluating the Diet: Sugar, Gluten, and Histamines 15:40 – The "Calm Reset" Framework for Parents 19:15 – Gut Health, Environmental Toxins, and Mould
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    33 mins
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