In this powerful and eye-opening episode of the Able to Care Podcast, I’m joined by Alison Armstrong - a leading voice in drug education, prevention and community training - to unpack the shocking rise of two substances changing the landscape of youth and adult addiction: vapes and spice.

We explore how synthetic cannabinoids are being misrepresented and misused, why vaping is becoming more dangerous than smoking, and how caregivers, teachers and parents can better respond to these emerging risks.

This is not just a conversation about drugs - it’s a vital discussion about prevention, societal responsibility, and how we create environments where healthier choices are the easier ones.

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1. Spice is not cannabis - it's a highly potent synthetic compound often misrepresented, lacking the natural balance that protects the heart and mind.

2. Vaping isn’t safer - it’s increasing nicotine consumption, making addiction easier, especially among children and young people.

3. Prevention is powerful - models like Planet Youth prove that long-term investment in young people’s environments can change the future of substance misuse.

00:00 - Sponsor: Carers Card UK 01:48 - What this episode covers: Vapes, spice and the risks 02:30 - Meet Alison Armstrong 04:00 - Understanding cannabis: THC vs CBD 08:00 - What is spice and why is it dangerous? 12:00 - Spice vs cannabis dependency 17:00 - Vaping’s impact on drug use and addiction 22:00 - Regulation and the ban on single-use vapes 27:00 - Vaping as a delivery method for other substances 33:00 - Planet Youth: Iceland's revolutionary prevention model 38:00 - Addiction, dopamine and adolescent brain development 42:00 - Prediction error and why teens seek high-reward experiences 45:00 - Why we need a long-term national prevention strategy

Whether you’re a parent, carer, teacher or professional working with young people, this conversation is a must-hear. You’ll come away with:

• A clear understanding of the real dangers of spice and vaping

• Practical knowledge on how to spot signs and start better conversations

• Hopeful insight into what works – and what we can all do to be part of the solution

Let’s keep the conversation going – join us on social media:

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Have you ever caught yourself thinking “What is wrong with them?” when you see challenging behaviour? Whether it’s a teenager shouting in public, a colleague snapping, or a parent glued to their phone while their child cries — we all judge. But what does this habit cost us, and what could happen if we replaced judgment with genuine curiosity? In this solo episode, Andy Baker explores how a trauma-informed, curiosity-driven approach can transform our practice as parents, teachers, and carers.

👉 Learn how stereotypes, confirmation bias, and fundamental attribution errors get in the way of understanding. 👉 Discover why being a better detective rather than a judge helps build trust, empathy, and change. 👉 Walk away with practical tools to rethink the narratives you carry about others — and even about yourself.

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• Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

1️⃣ Judgment is a human survival mechanism — but in caregiving, it can become harmful if left unchecked. 2️⃣ Curiosity and trauma-informed thinking help us see the person rather than the behaviour. 3️⃣ Changing the words and labels we use can build empathy, trust, and genuine connection.

00:00 – Introduction: Why this episode might feel uncomfortable 01:44 – Why we judge: the social psychology of stereotypes 04:00 – The costs of labelling and missing the full story 06:00 – Fundamental Attribution Error and confirmation bias explained 08:48 – Halo/Horn effects & dehumanisation in care and education 11:00 – Real-life examples of misunderstood behaviour 12:30 – Moving from “what’s wrong with them?” to “what happened to them?” 13:45 – Practical reframes and curiosity-driven language 14:52 – Reflection: Who have you written off — and what might change if you got curious?

If you are a carer, teacher, parent, or anyone supporting others, this episode will help you challenge automatic judgments and rethink your approach to behaviour. You’ll gain practical, real-world strategies to build empathy, encourage growth, and connect with others on a deeper level.

👉 Instagram: @AbleTraining 👉 LinkedIn: Able Training 👉 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast 👉 Website: AbleHub.uk

How can schools go beyond buzzwords and box-ticking exercises to truly support mental health, inclusion, and safeguarding? In this insightful episode of the Able to Care podcast, host Andy Baker talks with Dr. Adam McCartney — educational psychologist and national training lead — about how to build school systems that don’t just function, but truly care.

From shifting away from outcome-obsessed models to embedding psychologically informed, trauma-responsive practices, Adam shares his expertise on transforming education into a genuinely nurturing environment. This is a must-listen for parents, teachers, carers, and education leaders seeking meaningful change in how we support children and young people.

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• Dr. Adam McCartney’s website: rmcpsychologicalservices.com

• Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: Dr. Adam McCartney on LinkedIn (search his name directly)

• Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

1️⃣ Schools need to shift from a focus on outcomes to a focus on wellbeing, belonging, and psychological safety. 2️⃣ Collaborative, reflective practice — including supervision for teachers — is vital for sustainable systems change. 3️⃣ Parents and schools must build trusting, validating partnerships to improve outcomes for children with additional needs.

00:00 — Introduction: Moving beyond box-ticking 00:02 — Meet Dr Adam McCartney and his mission 00:06 — Why education needs a nurturing rethink 00:15 — Breaking down trauma-informed and relational practice 00:27 — The challenge of staff roles, collaboration, and defensiveness 00:39 — Building psychologically informed, restorative systems 00:51 — Parental partnerships and advocating for change 00:53 — Final reflections and how to connect with Dr Adam

✅ Gain actionable insights on transforming schools beyond buzzwords ✅ Learn practical strategies for trauma-responsive, relational, and psychologically informed systems ✅ Hear a national expert’s take on the future of safeguarding, mental health, and inclusion ✅ Feel inspired to advocate for change in your school, community, or caregiving role

If you’re a teacher, parent, carer, or education leader, this episode will challenge you to think bigger — and act braver — about supporting our young people.

📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining 📲 LinkedIn: Able Training 📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast 🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk

Welcome to another solo episode of the Able to Care Podcast, hosted by Andy Baker. In this episode, we challenge the traditional mindset of “consequences” — a word that’s too often just punishment dressed up. Instead, Andy invites parents, carers, and teachers to explore purpose-driven, compassionate approaches to managing behaviour. Backed by restorative practices and neuroscience, this episode breaks down why connection, understanding, and growth matter far more than simply controlling behaviour.

Whether you’re working with children in a school, supporting adults in care, or raising your own family, this episode will give you practical, thought-provoking strategies to replace punishment with positive change.

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• Andy’s book Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

• Carers Card UK — official site

• More tools, resources and podcast links: abletocarepodcast.co.uk

1️⃣ Consequences are not learning tools — punishment might stop behaviour short-term, but it rarely helps people grow. 2️⃣ Connection before correction — trust and understanding build long-lasting change. 3️⃣ Ask “why” instead of “how to stop” — curiosity helps unlock more positive and adaptive behaviour patterns.

00:00 — The myth of consequences 00:22 — Sponsor: Carers Card UK 01:42 — Purpose over punishment 03:10 — Restorative practices and neuroscience 05:05 — Positive vs negative punishment explained 08:00 — Connect before you correct 10:00 — Final reflections on building trust 13:45 — Like, comment, and share

If you’re a parent, teacher, or carer who wants to move away from outdated, controlling approaches to behaviour, this episode will empower you with research-backed strategies to create positive change. Andy’s insights will challenge how you think about “discipline” and offer a framework to support healthier, happier, and more resilient relationships.

👉 Instagram: @AbleTraining 👉LinkedIn: Able Training 👉 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast 👉 Website: AbleHub.uk

In this episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker is joined by experienced foster carer Kaye Beatty, who has dedicated over 14 years to fostering, including seven transformative parent and child placements. Together, they unpack the unique challenges and rewards of supporting not only children, but parents learning to care for their babies — a fostering path that helps keep families together whenever possible.

From the emotional highs of seeing parents thrive, to the difficult decisions when placements break down, this conversation gives a raw, honest, and deeply human insight into one of the most impactful forms of foster care.

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• Carers Card UK: 🎟️ Order your card today

• Andy Baker’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

1️⃣ Parent and child placements give families a vital chance to stay together, but require patience, empathy, and consistent boundaries.

2️⃣ Foster carers in these roles are not just providing a safe home, but also coaching, mentoring, and supporting parents to build confidence and skills.

3️⃣ With the right training, supervision, and agency support, more foster carers could help meet the urgent need for parent and child placements.

00:00 — Introduction to Carers Card UK and their mission 01:48 — Welcome to the podcast & introduction to Kaye Beatty 02:15 — What are parent and child placements? 06:00 — How Kaye began fostering 15:00 — The unique challenges of supporting parents 22:00 — Emotional highs and lows of placements 32:00 — Differences between traditional fostering and parent/child placements 44:00 — Reflections on personal growth and seeing parents thrive 51:00 — Why more parent and child foster carers are needed 56:00 — Final thoughts and takeaways

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes of parent and child foster care, this conversation will open your eyes. Hear real-life stories of resilience, challenge, and transformation, and learn how foster carers can empower parents to give their children the best start in life. Whether you’re a social worker, carer, educator, or simply curious about fostering, this episode is a must-listen.

📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining 📲 LinkedIn: Able Training 📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast 🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk

👉 If you found this episode valuable, please like, comment, and share to help us reach more carers and families who might benefit.

What if the praise we give children—meant to build them up—is quietly boxing them in? In this thought-provoking short episode, Andy Baker explores The Jessica Effect, inspired by a story in his book Targeting the Positive. We delve into the hidden impact of praise tied to identity, the psychological roots of fixed vs. growth mindset, and how we can better support resilience in children and adults alike.

If you’ve ever told a child “you’re so clever” or “you’re such a good boy/girl,” this episode will offer powerful insights into why that might be doing more harm than good—and how we can reframe praise to empower rather than limit.

Thousands of discounts, a wellbeing hub, emergency ID card features, and a growing community of carers—all for less than a box of chocolates a year. 🎁 Use our link to get yours today: 🎟️ Order your card today

• Carol Dweck’s Work on Growth Mindset Learn more: https://mindsetonline.com

• Andy’s Book: Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge 📘 Buy it on Amazon

1️⃣ Praise Shapes Identity Labelling children as “smart” or “kind” can lock them into fixed roles that create fear around failure or change.

2️⃣ Process Over Person Shift from praising outcomes or traits to praising effort, persistence, and strategies—this builds genuine resilience.

3️⃣ Mindset Matters Praising for identity reinforces a fixed mindset. Praising for effort promotes growth, adaptability, and long-term motivation.

• 00:00 – Opening: The power (and pitfalls) of praise

• 00:55 – Sponsor: Carers Card UK

• 02:00 – Introducing “The Jessica Effect”

• 02:48 – Why being called “smart” backfires

• 03:57 – The danger of identity-based praise

• 04:53 – Independence, strength & burnout: Adult examples

• 06:07 – What to do instead: Practical praise swaps

• 07:12 – The science: Dweck’s research & mindset theory

• 08:08 – Specific praise that builds behaviour, not ego

• 09:04 – Why generic praise can be harmful in care settings

• 11:06 – Final thoughts and call to action

If you support children—or anyone, really—this episode offers an essential mindset shift. You'll learn:

• Why praise can unintentionally create pressure and fear of failure

• How to make your words more meaningful and supportive

• The science behind mindset, motivation, and self-worth Perfect for parents, foster carers, teachers, support workers, and anyone in a caregiving or developmental role.

📲 Instagram: @AbleTraining 📲 LinkedIn: Able Training 📲 TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast 🌐 Website: AbleHub.uk

In this powerful and deeply moving episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker speaks with Ousha Demello—a bestselling author, international speaker, and experienced foster carer. Together, they explore how fostering, trauma, and mindset intersect to shape the future of young people. Ousha shares her personal story of overcoming domestic abuse, the transformative impact of mindset, and practical strategies she uses daily to support self-worth, self-esteem, and growth in the children she fosters.

Whether you're a parent, caregiver, teacher, or someone passionate about resilience and transformation—this episode is packed with inspiration, honesty, and actionable ideas.

If you've ever wondered how to build resilience in children, support healing after trauma, or shift your own mindset during tough times, Ousha's journey offers hope and clarity. You’ll discover how connection before correction, nurturing over control, and modelling the right mindset can make all the difference.

Are you caring for someone, paid or unpaid? You could be missing out on thousands of pounds in discounts. Carers Card UK offers:

• ID card with emergency info access
• Exclusive discounts on gyms, days out, electrical goods, and more
• Access to a wellbeing hub, Carers Circle tool, and mobile app. All for less than the price of a box of chocolates per year.

🎟️ Order your card today

• 📖 Left in Peace Not Pieces by Ousha Demello – Amazon UK

• 📘 Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge by Andy Baker – Order here

• 🧠 Influence by Robert Cialdini – @AbleTraining

• 💼 LinkedIn: Able Training

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• 📺 YouTube: Able to Care

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📲 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who believes in the power of care, connection, and growth.

In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker reframes a common concern faced by parents, teachers, and carers: regression. Whether you’re supporting a child, an adult with learning disabilities, or someone living with dementia, it can be heartbreaking and frustrating to watch progress unravel.

But what if that step back is actually a call for connection—not control? Andy explains the psychology behind regression and why understanding it as a signal of distress can lead to more compassionate, effective support.

💡 Sponsor Message: Carers Card UK

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📚 Resources & Mentions

• 🧠 Targeting the Positive by Andy Baker – Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge

• 🎓 Over 45 certified courses & exclusive content – Join AbleHub.uk

• 🛠️ Want behaviour support training for your team? – Visit Able Training

💬 3 Key Messages:

1. Regression is not rebellion. It's a safety signal, often triggered by overwhelm, trauma, or change.

2. All behaviour is communication. Ask what’s changed, rather than punish what you see.

3. Connection is the cure. A trusting relationship rebuilds confidence, regulation, and growth.

⏳ Timestamps – Episode Chapters: [00:00] – “He was doing so well…”: Recognising regression [00:46] – Sponsor Message: Carers Card UK [01:54] – Welcome & What Regression Really Means [03:33] – Real-World Example: Charlie and Alex [04:46] – Early Years, Learning Disability & Dementia Contexts [05:52] – The Brain Forest Analogy [07:42] – Behaviour as Communication: Ask what’s changed [08:47] – Why “You’re too old for this” harms, not helps [09:39] – Building Emotional Safety: Regression needs support [10:40] – Stability, Routines, and Rebuilding Trust [11:07] – Think Like They’re 3: Emotional age vs chronological age [12:27] – Suppression vs Self-Management [12:37] – Final Thoughts: Trust over punishment

🎧 Why Listen to This Episode? If you’ve ever felt confused or frustrated when someone suddenly “slips backwards,” this episode will change your perspective. Learn why regression is rarely about manipulation and often about safety—and discover practical ways to support growth through compassion. Perfect for carers, educators, and parents who want to understand behaviour deeply and respond with empathy.

📲 Connect with Us!

Instagram: @AbleTraining LinkedIn: Able Training TikTok: @AbleToCarePodcast Website: AbleHub.uk

🎙️ Subscribe, Share & Review! If this episode helped reframe your view on regression, please share it with a colleague or fellow caregiver. Your reviews and shares help us reach more people who care.