The CEO Birth Mom: From FASD Diagnosis to National Leadership

The CEO Birth Mom: From FASD Diagnosis to National Leadership

Episode 180 of The FASD Success Show

What if the holidays feel heavy not because you’re doing too little, but because you’re trying to do it all?

In this powerful episode of The FASD Success Show, Jeff Noble sits down with Sophie Harrington, CEO of NOFASD Australia, to explore what happens when caregivers stop chasing perfection and start leading with truth — at home, in advocacy, and across entire systems.

Sophie’s journey is one of courage and transformation. From navigating an FASD diagnosis as a birth mom to becoming the head of Australia’s national FASD organization, her story shows what happens when lived experience meets leadership.

And because this episode is part of Jeff’s Holiday Sanity Series, the conversation digs deeper into why this season can feel so heavy — and how understanding the neuroscience of guilt and regulation can help caregivers create holidays that actually work for their families.

Meet Sophie Harrington

Sophie Harrington is the CEO of NOFASD Australia, a national organization providing support, education, and advocacy for families affected by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Before becoming CEO, Sophie’s connection to FASD was personal. She is a birth mom, a caregiver, and a passionate advocate who knows firsthand what it means to live inside systems that don’t always understand.

Through her leadership, Sophie has turned her lived experience into large-scale change — helping reframe how professionals, policymakers, and caregivers think about FASD.

In This Episode You’ll Hear

1. You Have Permission to Parent Differently
Sophie reminds caregivers that you don’t owe anyone an explanation for how you parent. If your holidays look smaller, calmer, or quieter, that’s not failure — it’s regulation.
Research on neurodevelopmental disorders shows that consistent routines and reduced sensory input lower cortisol and improve self-regulation (Porges, 2011; Beauchaine, 2015).
Your child’s brain thrives on predictability. Protecting that isn’t being overprotective — it’s being smart.

2. Guilt Feels Like Pain — and It Hijacks Connection
Sophie and Jeff talk about the invisible weight caregivers carry: guilt for not doing enough, for saying no, for needing a break.
According to a 2017 study by Gifuni et al., guilt activates the same brain regions that process physical pain — the anterior cingulate cortex and insula.
That means guilt literally hurts, and it pushes your nervous system into fight-or-flight, making empathy and connection harder to access.
Recognizing this isn’t weakness; it’s biology.

3. Leadership Looks Like Honesty, Not Perfection
Sophie models transparent leadership — showing that lived experience and vulnerability create more impact than pretending to have it all together.
When caregivers and professionals admit what they don’t know, it opens the door for collaboration and real understanding.

4. Advocacy That Starts at Home
Sophie’s story shows that change doesn’t always start in a boardroom — it starts in the kitchen, at the school meeting, or during those late-night “what now?” moments.
Her work reminds caregivers that speaking up for your child is leadership. Every small step toward understanding shapes how the world sees FASD.

Why It Matters

For caregivers, the holidays often amplify guilt, grief, and pressure to perform.
Sophie’s story is proof that the path forward isn’t about doing more — it’s about doing what matters.

When you understand how the brain works under stress — yours and your child’s — you can start building routines, expectations, and traditions that fit your reality, not someone else’s.

That’s the foundation of FASD Success: less performance, more presence.

Watch or Listen to the Full Episode

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEko0ghA4iw
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/the-fasd-success-show/id1492499195
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6ntB51glqYnRPmXCh6lOGq?si=f006bfa2966d4972

Resources and Links

Join our Free Caregiver Community: facebook.com/groups/FASDFOREVER
Follow Jeff on Instagram: instagram.com/FASDSuccess
Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@FASDSUCCESS
Full Show Notes and Resources: fasdsuccess.com/podcast