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 wh...
Jul 07, 2025•58 min•Ep. 126
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...
Jul 03, 2025•13 min•Ep. 125
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...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 124
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 co...
Jun 26, 2025•13 min•Ep. 123
In this powerful episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker is joined by care professional Nadine Sutton to explore one of the most personal, sensitive, and often overlooked areas of support: personal care and dignity. Together, they reflect on real-life experiences, the emotional weight of providing personal care, and what true dignity looks like in practice. From missed moments of empathy to heartwarming stories of connection, this episode is a must-listen for anyone supporting other...
Jun 23, 2025•27 min•Ep. 122
Have you ever overreacted to someone’s behaviour—and later realised it wasn’t really about them at all? In this powerful solo episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker introduces The 90% Rule: the idea that most of our emotional reactions are shaped by our own wiring, history, and unmet needs. Drawing from psychology, trauma theory, and real-life care scenarios, Andy explores how self-awareness is the key to better relationships, improved emotional regulation, and compassionate caregi...
Jun 19, 2025•13 min•Ep. 121
In this powerful episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker is joined by childhood trauma expert Shahana Knight, founder of TPC Therapy and the visionary behind the Therapeutic Schools approach. Together, they unpack how childhood trauma affects learning, behaviour, and wellbeing—and why traditional classroom models often fall short. Shahana shares her deeply personal story, how her father’s struggles with trauma inspired her work, and the evidence-backed changes schools can make to cr...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 5 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In this powerful solo episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker explores why shame—while still commonly used to manage behaviour in homes, classrooms, and care settings—often does more harm than good. From outdated scripts to emotional reactions, we dive into how shame suppresses learning, damages trust, and diminishes self-esteem in children and adults alike. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or carer, this episode offers practical insights on how to shift away from shame-based respo...
Jun 12, 2025•16 min•Season 3Ep. 4
In this second episode of the our third season, host Andy Baker is joined by Jill Quinn MBE, founder and CEO of Dementia Forward, a Yorkshire-based charity that has grown from a small, passionate team into a nationally recognised organisation supporting nearly 5,000 families affected by dementia. Together, Andy and Jill explore how grassroots action, community values, and wraparound support are shaping a new standard for dementia care—and how Able Training and Dementia Forward are partnering to ...
Jun 09, 2025•55 min•Season 3Ep. 1
In this powerful solo episode, host Andy Baker tackles an experience so many carers, parents, teachers and support workers know too well—but often don’t have a name for: compassion fatigue. You may have heard of burnout. But what happens when it’s not the workload, it’s the emotional toll? When your ability to care feels like it’s vanishing—even though you haven’t stopped caring? Andy breaks down: What compassion fatigue is (and how it differs from burnout) The emotional warning signs to look ou...
Jun 05, 2025•22 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In this powerful season opener, Andy Baker speaks with Dr. Daniel Weisberg to uncover the value of cognitive assessments in understanding and supporting children. Daniel shares real-world insights from his work at CAYP Psychology , a national psychological service supporting children, young people, and families. This episode is a must-listen for parents, carers, and educators who want to better understand behaviour, unmet needs, and how early assessment can open doors—not just to diagnoses, but ...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 14 min•Ep. 120
🎙️ In this solo episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker dives into the topic of negative thinking — why our brains are wired to focus on threats, criticism, and worst-case scenarios, and how we can train ourselves to see the positive. We all know the feeling: ten compliments in a day, and we still can't stop thinking about that one bit of criticism. But it's not a flaw — it's evolution. Andy explores the science behind our negativity bias, its impact on self-esteem, caregiving, rel...
Apr 24, 2025•20 min•Ep. 119
🎙️ In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker speaks with safeguarding and Prevent specialist Sabera to explore radicalisation, online extremism, and how we can better protect and empower young people. Together, they unpack what Prevent and Channel really are, how the safeguarding model works, and why early intervention is crucial. They dive deep into online grooming, far-right and incel movements, violent misogyny, and why understanding history, identity, and values matters m...
Apr 21, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 118
🎙️ In this solo episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker unpacks the powerful – and sometimes harmful – role of risk aversion in caregiving, parenting, and education. From overprotective instincts to the long-term consequences of shielding people from life’s challenges, Andy explores why positive risk-taking is crucial for building confidence, self-esteem, and resilience – whether you’re raising a child or supporting someone in care. With powerful stories, psychological insights, an...
Apr 17, 2025•20 min•Ep. 117
🎙️ In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker speaks with Steve Baron – a social worker, practice educator, and founder of Reframe Wandsworth. Steve brings his powerful lived and professional experience into a conversation about the realities of growing up in care, being separated from siblings, and the emotional toll of the care system. Together, Andy and Steve unpack what it really means to be trauma-informed – and why labels, procedures, and tick-box approaches often miss t...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 116
In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker explores one of the most misunderstood tools in caregiving, parenting, and professional relationships: boundaries. Are boundaries about control? Far from it. Andy breaks down how healthy boundaries build trust, predictability, and safety, both at home and at work. From the challenges of setting boundaries with loved ones to the importance of consistency in professional care settings, this episode is packed with practical advice for any...
Apr 10, 2025•20 min•Ep. 115
🎙️ In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker speaks with Jeremy Indika – a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and founder of Something to Say. Jeremy bravely shares his story of being groomed as a child, the confusion and silence that followed, and why so many survivors don’t come forward until much later in life. Together, Andy and Jeremy explore the myths around abuse, the challenges survivors face when seeking justice, and what carers, teachers, and professionals can do to...
Apr 07, 2025•58 min•Ep. 114
In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker explores why we sometimes react in unhelpful ways when confronted with challenging behavior. From snapping and withdrawing to going into full lecture mode, Andy breaks down the five most common default reactions and shares practical strategies to shift our responses for better outcomes. Learn how self-awareness and small shifts in mindset can help caregivers, educators, and parents respond more positively when stress levels rise. Wheth...
Apr 03, 2025•21 min•Ep. 113
In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker sits down with Julia Daunt and Ruth Fidler, co-authors of Being Julia. Together, they explore the realities of living with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), how it intersects with ADHD and psychotic episodes, and the challenges of navigating life with this often misunderstood condition. Julia shares her personal journey from childhood to adulthood, discussing the obstacles she faced and the strategies that helped her thrive. Ruth, a...
Mar 31, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 112
In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker explores the hidden complexities of praise. While we often use praise to encourage positive behavior—whether in children, adults, or those we support in care—it can sometimes have unintended consequences. Could the way we praise actually increase anxiety, foster dependency on external validation, or even reinforce behaviors we aim to reduce? Andy breaks down: ✅ When praise works—and when it doesn’t ✅ The difference between intrinsic &a...
Mar 28, 2025•25 min•Ep. 110
In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker is joined by Dr. Karen Treisman, MBE, an award-winning clinical psychologist, author, and internationally recognized trauma specialist. Karen's work has revolutionized how trauma is understood and supported in caregiving, education, and organizational culture. From classrooms to care systems, trauma-informed practice is often discussed—but is it truly embedded, or just another tick-box exercise? Together, Andy and Karen explore what be...
Mar 25, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 111
Think about the last time you saw a behavior that stood out to you. Maybe a child flapping their hands, someone repeating a phrase, or a person refusing to follow an instruction. Did you immediately see that behavior as a problem to be fixed? For years, behaviorist models have focused on modifying behaviors—rewarding the “good” and discouraging the “bad.” But what if some of the behaviors we try to change are actually essential coping strategies? In this episode, host Andy Baker explores the dif...
Mar 21, 2025•20 min•Ep. 108
How does childhood trauma shape our adult lives? How can therapy help us navigate past wounds and reclaim our future? In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker is joined by Wendy Castellino, a psychotherapist with over 35 years of experience in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Mindfulness. Wendy has dedicated her career to helping individuals heal from trauma, build emotional resilience, and transform their lives. Together,...
Mar 18, 2025•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 109
In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker explores the crucial role workplace culture plays in behavior management. Have you ever walked into a workplace and immediately felt the atmosphere shift? Whether warm and supportive or tense and chaotic, workplace culture shapes everything—including how we manage behavior, support staff, and create thriving environments for both caregivers and those they support. Andy breaks down the impact of organizational culture on behavior manage...
Mar 14, 2025•23 min•Ep. 106
🎙 A Neurodiversity Week Special Episode In this special episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker explores the fascinating world of the teenage brain with Dr. Bettina Hohnen, a clinical psychologist, educator, and author of The Incredible Teenage Brain. Have you ever wondered why teenagers seem to take more risks, struggle with emotions, or prioritize friendships over family? Bettina shares groundbreaking insights into adolescent brain development, revealing why this stage of life is...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr•Ep. 107
In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker is joined by Alison McCormack, a leading advocate and expert in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). Alison has spent years raising awareness, supporting families, and training professionals on the complexities of FASD and its impact on individuals and caregivers. Alison shares her personal journey into FASD advocacy, the challenges families face when seeking a diagnosis, and the misconceptions surrounding FASD. She also highlights ...
Mar 11, 2025•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 105
In this episode of Able to Care, host Andy Baker is joined by Paula Cashmore, an independent Care Quality Consultant with over 40 years of experience in healthcare and social care. From nursing on a tropical disease ward to becoming a trusted expert in care quality improvement, Paula shares her insights into best practices in social care, supporting care managers, and promoting collaboration in the sector. Why is she called the Mary Poppins of Social Care? Tune in to find out how Paula helps car...
Mar 04, 2025•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 103
Ever found yourself in a conversation that escalated quickly, leaving you frustrated and unheard? Whether you're a carer, teacher, or parent, the way we communicate can either build connection or fuel conflict. In today’s episode of Able to Care, host Andy Baker shares the simple but powerful tool of ‘I’ Statements—a game-changing technique to express feelings, needs, and concerns without triggering defensiveness. You'll learn: ✅ Why ‘I’ Statements reduce conflict and encourage problem-solving ✅...
Feb 28, 2025•15 min•Ep. 102
In this episode of the Able to Care Podcast, host Andy Baker is joined by Kaelynn Partlow, an autistic therapist, advocate, and author who has dedicated her life to supporting the neurodivergent community. Kaelynn gained international recognition through Netflix’s Love on the Spectrum US, where she shared her journey navigating relationships as an autistic woman. Kaelynn is a lead technician at Project HOPE Foundation, a published author, and a social media influencer with a powerful presence in...
Feb 25, 2025•57 min•Ep. 100
In this episode of Able to Care, Andy Baker explores the transformative power of mood monitoring—a simple yet effective tool for improving emotional regulation, self-awareness, and resilience. Whether you're a caregiver, teacher, or professional supporting others, understanding mood patterns can help prevent emotional burnout, identify triggers, and support better behaviour management. Drawing from his book Targeting the Positive with Behaviours That Challenge, Andy shares practical strategies f...
Feb 21, 2025•16 min•Ep. 101
