In this powerful solo episode of the Able to Care podcast, Andy Baker challenges the way society responds to behaviour across ages. Why do we offer compassion to crying babies but demand self-control from teens, adults, and elders in distress?

Drawing on attachment theory, trauma, neurodiversity, and polyvagal theory, Andy explores how the instincts we have for infants could (and should) shape how we support older children and adults. This is a free, thought-provoking resource for parents, teachers, and carers looking to better understand behaviour, promote emotional safety, and respond with empathy instead of judgement.

This episode is proudly sponsored by Order your card today

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

• More resources at: www.andybaker.xyz

1. Behaviour is communication, not manipulation. Whether it’s a baby crying or an adult shouting, it’s a signal – not a moral failing.

2. Use regulation before reasoning. Emotional states need soothing before language or logic can be effective.

3. Ask better questions. Shift from “Why are they doing this?” to “What need might they be trying to express?”

• 00:00 - The crying baby analogy that changes everything

• 00:48 - Sponsor: Carers Card UK

• 01:56 - Why this approach matters in behaviour training and care

• 02:19 - Babies = compassion. Adults = control?

• 03:05 - Reframing tantrums, shutdowns, and aggression

• 04:25 - Attachment theory, trauma, and the brain

• 05:58 - Real-world examples: school, care homes, and beyond

• 07:02 - Expectations vs. actual ability

• 08:07 - Knowing better isn’t the same as being able to do better

• 08:47 - Rethinking “attention seeking” and “manipulation”

• 09:27 - What if they were two years old? Try that lens

• 10:03 - Calm first, logic later

• 10:49 - Create space for emotion; model empathy

• 11:24 - A reflection challenge: how do your expectations shape your reactions?

• 12:04 - Closing thoughts: honouring the humanity behind behaviour

Whether you're raising children, teaching pupils, or supporting vulnerable adults, this episode invites you to rethink your response to distress. If you’ve ever wondered why someone’s reaction feels "too much", this will shift your lens from judgement to compassionate curiosity.

You’ll leave with a simple but powerful framework to approach behaviour not as something to “fix”, but as something to understand – because what we call difficult behaviour is often a difficult experience in disguise.

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

Designed to support all those who care – paid or unpaid, in schools, homes or workplaces.

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Let’s rewrite the rulebook together – one episode at a time.

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.

The Able to Care Podcast is proudly sponsored by Order your card today

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

• AbleHub.uk – Free & low-cost resources for carers and educators

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:

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

🎙️ Don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review – it really helps us reach more carers and changemakers like you.

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.

We’re proud to have this episode sponsored by Order your card today

• 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