This episode: Trusting Her Gut: How Kristan Weisdack Turned Motherhood, Neurodivergence, and Adversity into Empowered Action.

Here’s what you’ll learn about:

Introduction and Purpose of the Meeting (0:12)

• Host Drew Deraney expresses gratitude for the opportunity to meet on a Sunday morning, appreciating Guest Kristan Weisdack's busy schedule.
• Drew thanks Sajad Hussein for introducing Kristan, hinting at the importance of their meeting.
• He discusses the concept of life being non-linear, introducing the idea of different types of women: Woman number one, Woman number two, and Woman number three.
• Drew describes Woman number three as someone who sees adversity as an opportunity for growth and takes massive action to become stronger.

Kristen's Journey to Self-Awareness (3:53)

• Drew invites Kristan to share her defining moments that transformed her thinking and behavior.
• Kristan shares that her defining moment came at age 40, during COVID, when she realized she had the tools and resources to take control of her life.
• She recounts a coworker's observation that her interactions with people were different, leading her to explore her neurodivergent traits.
• Kristan emphasizes the importance of trusting her gut instincts and learning to listen to her inner voice.

Empowerment Through Motherhood (6:25)

• Kristan recounts the transformative experience of her son's premature birth and his time in the NICU.
• She describes how she took charge of her son's care, advocating for his feeding protocol and working with occupational therapists.
• Kristan explains the impact of her son's condition on her self-trust and the importance of breaking down barriers to trust her instincts.
• Drew highlights the empowering nature of Kristan's actions and the positive outcomes for her son.

Understanding Occupational Therapy (11:54)

• Kristan explains the different aspects of occupational therapy, including feeding therapies, fine and gross motor skills, and sensory integration.
• She describes her work with primitive reflex integration, which helps children work through trauma on a physical level.
• Kristan emphasizes the importance of addressing the root cause of issues rather than just treating symptoms.
• Drew expresses appreciation for occupational therapists and their role in helping people relearn and adapt after traumatic experiences.

Kristan’s Son's Progress (16:14)

• Kristan shares...

• (00:00:00) - Behavior Works of Southwestern Pennsylvan
• (00:01:36) - An introduction to Kristen
• (00:02:18) - There's Three Types of Women
• (00:08:24) - When You Finally Learned To Trust Your Own Gut
• (00:13:35) - What is Occupational Therapy? (
• (00:17:32) - Discerning the causes of autism in children's behavior
• (00:25:57) - How to Choose the Right Pediatrician for Your Child
• (00:32:24) - Taking Care of Your Car
• (00:32:38) - Trust Your Gutsy Parents
• (00:34:23) - Give Your Daughter Advice
• (00:35:07) - Kristen's advice for business and life
• (00:37:57) - Living the Life You Want to Live