Conversation Balloons

113. A Child's Environment Making Her Sick w/ Laura McCall

Laura McCall tells the horrifying story of her young daughter's descent into rages, anxiety, and obsessive/compulsive behaviors, the solution emerging with the child's diagnosis with PANDAS: Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections.  The related malady, PANS, Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome, is also discussed.  These disorders have been called the leading hidden causes of mental illness in children.  Beyond this, you'll hear about how parents can handle chronic illness and mysterious health problems in your kids, how mold and mold remediation affect a family, and how a child's room and home can help them cope with physical and psychological problems.  This interview could be lie-changing for some families. Additional resources: collectedinteriors.org "Dr. Scott Antoine:  Why PANS and PANDAS are leading hidden cause of mental illness in children"  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ht_DlPZFso [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ht_DlPZFso] pandasppn.org [http://pandasppn.org/] "What are the symptoms and signs of PANDAS syndrome?" https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23553-pandas-syndrome [https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23553-pandas-syndrome]  "Looking at the Brain of PANS and PANDAS Children"  https://youtu.be/WzA1Pw1xwqM?si=NSVi1XX-xe2n8WOK [https://youtu.be/WzA1Pw1xwqM?si=NSVi1XX-xe2n8WOK] Laura on Instagram:  @collectedinteriors918 *Please note that Leah's camera cuts out from 20:00-20:30 but resumes after*

112. Big Money for Little Kids w/ Walter Clarke

Wealth manager and financial expert Walter Clarke helps us raise financially-literate kids with his insights on talking with youngsters about money--even when it's tricky.  Do we give kids an allowance?  A custodial brokerage account?  The real story on why Dad's in debt?  A doll called Sam the Spender?  You can't afford not to hear this episode! Additional resources:  Instagram @Walterjclarke Familycfo.net By Walter Clarke:401Kid: A Guide to Teaching You and Your Children How to Master Money Lessons from the Magic Penny series By Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter: Rich Dad, Poor Dad

111. Birth Vibes! w/ Jen Hamilton

A pregnant woman has lots of choices today about how she will handle labor and delivery.  An experienced nurse and wildly popular influencer, Jen Hamilton, runs down all kinds of options--the trends in what mothers want, from "marinade-y water" to placenta smoothies, and expert recommendations about aromatherapy, saline locks, and "cascade of interventions."  We two can't resist some candid anecdotes about our own birth experiences, with Jen sharing that she "went into it very naive."  Additional resources: Birth Vibes: Stories and Strategies for an Empowered Birth by Jen Hamilton, available May 5, 2026

110. GenZMaxxing w/ Tim Elmore

Best-selling author Tim Elmore gives gobs of tips, stories, and insights on Gen Z, not just as employees, but as family members and students. Who should listen? Business owners, college administrators, parents--and maybe even Gen Z. Clock us. Additional resources: Book by Tim Elmore: The Future Begins with Z: Nine Strategies to Lead Generation Z as They Disrupt the Workplace

109. Etiquette from the Inside Out w/ Jackie Vernon Thompson

Jackie Vernon Thompson, expert on courtesy, shares very personally how releasing forgiveness toward her absent father launched her into her career in etiquette training--truly from the inside out. Leah asks pesky questions about manners--like at fundraisers, on airplanes, and when meeting new people. Additional resources: From the Inside Out School of Etiquette https://fromtheinsideoutsoe.com/ [https://fromtheinsideoutsoe.com/]www.jointhepolishedsociety.com [http://www.jointhepolishedsociety.com/] https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/local-woman-aims-to-restore-the-art-of-etiquette-one-student-at-a-time/2968090/ [https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/local-woman-aims-to-restore-the-art-of-etiquette-one-student-at-a-time/2968090/] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudest-things-host-overnight-guests_l_6422537ce4b04efaae785b97 [https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rudest-things-host-overnight-guests_l_6422537ce4b04efaae785b97]