Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition – A Weekly Podcast for Parents of Challenging Children

Season Three – September 2016 to April 2017

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Episode 37 – Tash (Air Date: September 12, 2016)

Season three is here! Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition is here welcoming all new guests, and some returning ones as well. This season has a justice focus, highlighting the issues and struggles that challenging children can face while growing up in the education and (unfortunately sometimes) the justice systems.

Angela sits down with Tash, a manager of Mental Health and Justice Programs in the city of Toronto. This week, Tash talks about the work that she does with some of the most vulnerable members of our communities and how she brings her training in mindfulness and meditation into the workplace. Angela also explores Tash’s journey and asks how parents can work towards remaining centered in their daily lives on the “front line”.

This interview was first recorded August 2015.

Episode 38 – Tash (Part Two) (Air Date: September 19, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition, we welcome back Tash, a manager of Mental Health and Justice Programs in the city of Toronto. She describes how the labels used when talking about mental health can be harmful to having a meaningful discussion. Angela asks about the positive trends in the justice system and what Tash would do if she had $25 million. They also explore strategies to help find balance in a world full of responsibilities.

This interview was first recorded August 2015.

Episode 39 – Maria I. (Air Date: September 26, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition, Angela sits down with Maria, a Coordinator of Police Foundations at Durham College. They discuss the changing educational landscape for prospective police officers and how community outreach has become integrated into the foundational training they undergo. Maria explains how police evaluate and deal with escalating situations and also gives some advice to parents how they can aid police in helping their children.

This interview was first recorded November 2015.

Episode 40 – Jacquie (Air Date: October 3, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition, we welcome back Jacquie. She talks about her son’s ongoing struggles with mental health and addiction issues, and the tragic reality of supporting a loved one when the available resources are inadequate. Jacquie navigates the difficulties of trying to find a psychiatrist who can provide long term monitoring of prescriptions for her own traumas and gives us insight into the disconnect between patients and service providers.

This interview was first recorded October 2015.

Episode 41 – Jacquie (Part Two) (Air Date: October 10, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition, Angela sits down with Jacquie once more as they discuss youth engagement and the power of giving young people a voice. Things as simple as giving input on meals and participating in group activities can have a major impact on how young people come to view themselves and the world they inhabit.

This interview was first recorded October 2015.

Episode 42 – Maria M. (Air Date: October 17, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition Angela introduces Maria M, a mother of a child diagnosed with ADD inattentive type and Aspergers. Angela and Maria explore her daughter’s brilliance with languages and the problems of growing up in a world where mental illness is still very much misunderstood.

The movie referenced in the introduction to this week’s episode is “Letters from Generation Rx” by Kevin P. Miller.

This interview was first recorded February 2016.

Episode 43 – Maria M. (Part Two) (Air Date: October 24, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition Maria tells the rest of her daughter’s story, including her trips abroad and the hard moments back home. Angela talks about the positive impact pets can have on mental illness.

This interview was first recorded February 2016.

Episode 44 – Elizabeth (Air Date: October 31, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition Angela introduces Elizabeth. They discuss the issues that Elizabeth’s daughter has faced with addiction and ADHD, how she hit rock bottom and finally realized that she needed to change her life. Elizabeth’s candid account highlights that mental health is not a life sentence and that through compassion she was able to help her daughter.

This interview was first recorded November 2015.

Episode 45 – Shelley B. (Air Date: November 7, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition Angela sits down with Shelley B. to discuss the big role she played in a very difficult moment of Angela’s life. Shelley then talks about growing up in a household with a parent suffering from mental illness and the skills it taught her from an early age.

This interview was first recorded November 2015.

Episode 46 – Shelley B. (Part Two) (Air Date: November 14, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition Angela continues her conversation with Shelley B. as she dives into the heartbreaking story of trying to find help for her mother. They discuss how hard it is to find help for someone who constantly refuses to be helped.

This interview was first recorded November 2015.

Episode 47 – Shelly B. (Part Three) (Air Date: November 21, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition Angela sits down one last time with Shelley B. as they explore the fear that comes with living with someone with mental illness and living compassionately in spite of it. Shelley talks about how her uncle and his partner were major figures in her life while she was growing up, and how they are still there for her to this day. Shelley also discusses how the day she knew her husband was the right man for her.

This interview was first recorded November 2015.

Episode 48 – Patrick (Air Date: November 28, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition Angela introduces Patrick James, a lawyer with wide-ranging experience. They discuss the intersection of Human Rights and mental illness, and strategies parents can explore when working with schools to best accommodate their children.

This interview was first recorded February 2016.

Episode 49 – Patrick (Part Two) (Air Date: December 5, 2016)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition, Angela finishes her conversation with Patrick. They explore specific strategies and potential barriers to getting children the accommodation they need from their schools.

This interview was first recorded February 2016.

Episode 50 – Shelly S. (Air Date: January 30, 2017)

This week on Different from the Other Kids, Angela and Shelly sit down and have a conversation about Shelly’s son. After a tough break-up, and refusing to go to school, Shelly’s son was eventually diagnosed with anxiety and depression. Shelly discusses how lucky her son was at receiving supports from the school board.

 This interview was first recorded January 2017.

Episode 51 – Shelly S. (Part Two) (February 6, 2017)

On this week’s episode of Different from the Other Kids, Angela welcomes back Shelly. Angela and Shelly discuss the rest of the journey with Shelly’s son, including the moment Shelly knew that her son was “back on track.”  Shelly also discusses some possible avenues for assistance, in case your child becomes involved with the youth justice system.

This interview was first recorded January 2017.

Episode 52 – Julie (Air Date: February 13, 2017)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition, Angela speaks with Julie, about the day to day life when raising with a teenager with mental illness. She describes the types of treatments that have helped her daughter and the variety of individual and family therapies that help her and her family keep their lives balanced too.

This interview was first recorded November 2015.

Episode 53 – Deb F. (Air Date: February 20, 2017)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition, Angela sits down with Deb Flowers to hear the story of her 18-year-old son. In this first episode of two interviews, Deb details the realization that her son struggled with mental health issues and his first long-term stay at the hospital.

This interview was first recorded October 2015.

Episode 54 – Deb F. (Part Two) (Air Date: February 27, 2017)

This week on Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition, Deb Flowers shares the rest of her story. She discusses the strategies for more effectively working with the doctors during her son’s second long-term stay at the hospital and how music helped him to find solid footing in his life.

This interview was first recorded October 2015.

Episode 55 – Julie (Air Date: March 20, 2017)

In this week’s interview, Angela catches up again with Julie, a frequent contributor here at Different from the Other Kids. Julie continues from where we left off and describes how Julie and her daughter Sophie’s lives have changed since then.

This interview was first recorded March 2017.

Episode 55 – Julie (Part Two) (Air Date: March 27, 2017)

In our second part of the return of Julie, she discusses what happens to her daughter after several run-ins with the law. Julie describes how difficult home life had gotten for herself and her husband, all in an attempt to help their daughter. This interview offers some hard truths from a parent stretched to the limit.

This interview was first recorded March 2017.

Episode 57 – Christina (Air Date: April 3, 2017)

Join Angela in welcoming back Christina, Angela’s daughter and frequent guest. This mother/daughter combo sit down to discuss how Christina has been since we last spoke, including new changes in her life and how she keeps balanced.

This episode was first recorded March 2017.

Episode 58 – Christina (Part Two) (Air Date: April 10, 2017)

Check out our second catch-up with Angie and Christina! In this week’s podcast, Angela and Christina discuss some of the strategies Christina uses in her day-to-day life and how much her life has changed for the better.

This episode was first recorded March 2017.

Episode 59 – Sergeant Dave Tutte (Air Date: April 17, 2017)

In this week’s episode of Different from the Other Kids: Law & Disorder Edition, Angela sits down with special guest Sergeant Dave Tutte of the Halton Regional Police Services. Sergeant Tutte oversees the region’s Community Mobilization Bureau, which works with community partners especially in the field of mental health and addictions. Listen to some of the programs that local police are utilising when dealing with a mental health related call.

This episode was first recorded February 2017.

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