Show Notes
In this episode of Healing Tomorrow's Future, Honey Rinicella is joined by autism pioneer, licensed professional counselor, and author Patricia ("Patty") Lemer, M.Ed., LPC, to explore nearly six decades of challenging conventional thinking about autism and other neurodevelopmental conditions. Drawing from the insights in her newest book, Total Load Theory, Patty explains how the cumulative burden of toxic, environmental, immunological, physiological, and other stressors can overwhelm the body's ability to function optimally. Together, Honey and Patty explore the concept of total load and how cumulative stressors can influence neurological function, development, and overall health. For clinicians committed to understanding the root causes of neurodevelopmental conditions, this conversation challenges conventional models of autism and offers a broader framework for thinking about health, development, and healing. Representing the culmination of nearly six decades of work, Total Load Theory brings together Patty's lifetime of learning into a single resource—now paired with an innovative AI companion that makes the book easier to navigate and apply. This is a conversation about curiosity, hope, and redefining what is possible by looking beyond behavior to identify and address the root causes affecting each child.
More from MAPS: Healing Tomorrow's Future
GABA is often called calming, but it depends on what is happening inside the neuron. In this episode, we speak with Bob Miller about GABA, chloride balance, microglia, inflammation, genetics, toxins, EMFs, Lyme, mold, NAD, and functional genomic analysis. We explore why complex kids may need more personalized support instead of one-size-fits-all protocols. - - - - - About the Guest: Bob Miller is a Traditional Naturopath specializing in genetic-specific nutrition. He earned his naturopathic degree from Trinity School of Natural Health and is board certified through the ANMA. In 1993, he opened the Tree of Life practice and has served as a traditional naturopath for 25 years. His work focuses on nutritional genetic variants, functional genomic analysis, and personalized nutritional support for individuals with complex chronic illness, including chronic Lyme disease. Website: https://tolhealth.com - - - - - Medical Academy of Pediatrics & Special Needs (MAPS) Website: https://www.medmaps.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAPSNFP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medmapsofficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maps-medical TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@medmaps.org - - - - - PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com https://drtalks.com/channel-growth/
Behavior begins in biology. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Richard Deth about dopamine, folate, methylation, oxidative stress, attention, and the default mode network in autism. We explore how molecular neuroscience may help explain brain signaling, neurodevelopment, environmental stressors, and why deeper research is needed to understand complex neurological conditions. - - - - - About the Guest: Dr. Richard Deth is a molecular neuroscientist and Professor of Pharmacology at Nova Southeastern University, with more than four decades of academic research experience, including 38 years on the faculty at Northeastern University. He is the author of Molecular Origins of Human Attention: The Dopamine-Folate Connection. His work explores epigenetics, DNA methylation, oxidative stress, glutathione, dopamine signaling, and how molecular pathways may influence neural development, aging, autism, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. - - - - - Social Handles: Website: https://pharmacy.nova.edu/people/deth-richard.html - - - - - Medical Academy of Pediatrics & Special Needs (MAPS) Website: https://www.medmaps.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAPSNFP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medmapsofficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maps-medical TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@medmaps.org - - - - - PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com https://drtalks.com/channel-growth/
In this episode of MAPS Healing Tomorrow’s Future, Dr. William Shaw presents his position that disruption of the developmental protein Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) is a central mechanism underlying autism spectrum disorders and outlines the environmental and biochemical factors he believes contribute to that disruption.
Psychiatry does not have to stop at labels and medication stacking. In this episode, we speak with Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring about autism, ADHD, psychiatric drug side effects, informed consent, safe deprescribing, and why root-cause care matters. We explore how inflammation, toxins, gut health, nutrition, and whole-body medicine can change the way clinicians support complex children and families. - - - - - About the Guest: Dr. Josef Witt-Doerring, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, former FDA Medical Officer, and founder of TaperClinic, a practice dedicated to helping patients safely manage psychiatric drug withdrawal and highly personalized medication tapers. Drawing from his background in regulatory science, pharmaceutical drug safety, and clinical psychiatry, Dr. Josef educates clinicians and the public on drug side effects, informed consent, safe deprescribing practices, and the need for more individualized psychiatric care. - - - - - Social Handles: Website: https://taperclinic.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drjosefwittdoerring LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josef-witt-doerring-667b83a0 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drjosefwittdoerring Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@taperclinic Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2GyJMiBXrkyDckuTlhTLXV Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/side-effects-with-dr-josef/id1701477615 - - - - - Medical Academy of Pediatrics & Special Needs (MAPS) Website: https://www.medmaps.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MAPSNFP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/medmapsofficial/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maps-medical TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@medmaps.org - - - - - PODCAST Thank you for listening. Please subscribe and share. This podcast is produced by DrTalks.com https://drtalks.com/channel-growth/
In this episode of Healing Tomorrow’s Future, MAPS Executive Director Honey Rinicella speaks with Dr. Jodie Dashore, PhD, OTD, about chronic inflammatory response syndrome (CIRS) and its potential role in children with autism—particularly those who have not responded to conventional interventions. Drawing on both her professional expertise and her deeply personal experience as the mother of a son who experienced regression, PANS/PANDAS, Lyme disease, mold exposure and severe physical complications, Dr. Dashore explains how that journey shaped her work. She also discusses findings from a retrospective study of 1,722 children with treatment-resistant autism and CIRS, highlighting the overlap among environmental exposures, neuroimmune inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, mast cell activation and symptoms often attributed solely to autism. The conversation explores why clinicians should look beyond a child’s diagnosis to investigate multisystem symptoms and possible exposure to water-damaged environments—including homes, schools, therapy centers and other frequently visited buildings. Dr. Dashore outlines an individualized, carefully sequenced approach that begins with laboratory assessment, nutritional and gastrointestinal support, and binders before addressing inflammation and underlying infections. Her central message is that identifying and reducing a child’s inflammatory burden may provide the physiological foundation needed for more meaningful and sustained progress—making CIRS an important consideration when autism-related symptoms are accompanied by unexplained physical complaints, developmental regression or resistance to treatment. This conversation is the first in a planned four-part podcast series with Dr. Dashore, based on her recently published four-part research series. This opening episode focuses on CIRS and its neuroimmune pathology in pediatric autism. Future episodes are planned to explore Lyme disease and autism; an entirely herbal approach to treatment; and the connections among autism, PANS and PANDAS.