Nimble Youth

Nimble Youth Podcast — Episode 28 Show Notes

Autism, Then and Now: Patrick’s Story and the Power of Community

Host: Matt Butterman
Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, MD — Pediatrician with 25 years of clinical practice
Series: Growing Up with Mental Health Conditions

🎧 Episode Overview

In Episode 28 of Nimble Youth, we launch a new series exploring the lives of people who grew up with mental health or developmental differences — and how family, community, and changing knowledge shaped their journeys.

We begin with autism, seen throug...

Nimble Youth Podcast — Episode 27 Show Notes

“Adolescence”: Why a British Crime Drama About a 13-Year-Old Boy Is Resonating Worldwide

Host: Matt Butterman
Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, MD — Pediatrician with 25 years of clinical practice
 Series: Nimble Youth: Conversations in Pediatric Mental Health

📺 Episode Overview

In Episode 27, Matt and Dr. Gretchen Hoyle dive into the British Netflix sensation Adolescence, a four-episode psychological crime drama that has captured global attention and sparked urgent conversations about boys, mental health, peer dynamics, and the pres...

🎧 Nimble Youth Podcast

Episode 26: The Vanderbilt Form Explained – A Teacher’s Guide to ADHD Diagnosis

Host: Matt Butterman
Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, MD – Pediatrician, 25+ years clinical experience
Length: ~35 minutes

🧠 Episode Overview

Teachers play a critical role in helping pediatricians diagnose and manage ADHD — and one of the most important tools in that process is the Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Rating Scale.
In this episode, Dr. Gretchen Hoyle breaks down how the Vanderbilt form works, what the scores mean, and why honest, detailed teacher feedback is essential for accurate diagnosis and effective...

🎧 Episode 25: Growing Up with Type 1 Diabetes

Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, Pediatrician
Host: Matt Butterman
Duration: ~35 minutes

Episode Overview

In this heartfelt and deeply personal episode, host Matt Butterman and pediatrician Dr. Gretchen Hoyle explore the realities of growing up with Type 1 diabetes — from teenage independence and risk-taking to resilience, technology, and hope for the future.

The conversation begins with a powerful moment: Matt shares his experience receiving a 50-year medal for living with Type 1 diabetes at the American Academy of Pediatrics Confe...

🎧 Episode 24: “Sandpaper Moments, Part 2 — Helping Kids Build Grit by Getting Comfortable with Discomfort”

Guest: Martha Metzler, Author and Counselor
Host: Matt Butterman
Length: ~35 minutes
Series: Nimble Youth Podcast

🌿 Episode Overview

In this follow-up to one of the season’s most powerful conversations, author and counselor Martha Metzler returns to Nimble Youth to expand on her “Sandpaper Moments” philosophy — the idea that both parents and kids grow through the rough, gritty experiences that shape character and resilience.

Host Matt Butterman and Martha explore how real health isn’t about eliminating discomfort...

🎧 Episode 23: “Disconnected: Understanding NEET Youth and the Struggle to Launch”

Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, MD, Pediatrician
Host: Matt Butterman
Length: ~35 minutes
Series: Nimble Youth Podcast

🌐 Episode Overview

In this episode of Nimble Youth, host Matt Butterman and returning guest Dr. Gretchen Hoyle explore a growing phenomenon among young people known as NEETs — youth not in education, employment, or training. Often highly online, socially withdrawn, and anxious about adulthood, these young adults represent a rising and concerning pattern in pediatric and mental health care.

Dr. Hoyle draws on her 25 ye...

Episode 22: ACEs – Invisible Wounds

Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, Pediatrician

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in children and adolescents is often overlooked, yet it can profoundly shape mental, emotional, and even physical health for years to come. In this episode of Nimble Youth, host Matt Butterman is joined by pediatrician Dr. Gretchen Hoyle to explore the hidden scars of trauma and the role of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in long-term well-being.

Children and teens experience trauma differently than adults, and their symptoms don’t always look like what we might expect. From sleep dist...

🎙️ Episode 21: Parenting with Purpose Through “Sandpaper Moments”

Guest: Martha B. Metzler, Therapist & Author of Sandpaper Moments
Host: Matt Butterman

Every parent knows the rough edges — those moments of tension, anxiety, or overwhelm when raising kids. Therapist and author Martha B. Metzler calls these “sandpaper moments,” and in her new book of the same name, she explores how parents can respond with purpose instead of fear.

In this episode, Martha and host Matt Butterman discuss how parents can use the “sandpaper” analogy to guide their responses to their children’s anxiety...

🎙️ Episode 20: School Shootings and Their Associated Trauma

Guest: Nicole Beale, M.Ed., High School Counselor
Host: Matt Butterman

School shootings have become an all-too-frequent reality in the U.S., leaving behind not only immediate victims but also a ripple effect of collective trauma among students, parents, and educators. In this sobering episode, host Matt Butterman and public high school counselor Nicole Beale discuss how schools are navigating the psychological toll of this violence, the preparedness measures educators are trained in, and the ways that desensitization has quietly reshaped the student exper...

🎙 Episode 19: Building Stability — Supporting Students Through Transitions and Stress

Guests:

Overview:

 When students face instability at home, frequent school moves, or life transitions, the impact often shows up in the classroom. How can schools, families, and healthcare providers work together to meet both academic and emotional needs?

In this episode, host Matt Butterman talks with counselor Nicole Beale and pediatrician Dr. Gretch...

🎙 Episode 18: Always More — Anxiety in High-Achieving Teens

Guest: Nicole Beale, M.Ed., High School Counselor
Host: Matt Butterman
Duration: ~45 minutes

Overview:
Today’s high school students are taking more AP courses, joining more extracurriculars, and aiming higher than ever — but it’s taking a toll. In this episode, we explore the hidden cost of high achievement and the anxiety that often lurks behind perfect GPAs and packed résumés.

Matt Butterman speaks with veteran public high school counselor Nicole Beale about the growing mental health strain on ambitious teens and the press...

🎙️ Episode 17: “When Tantrums Go Too Far: Understanding Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)”
 Host: Matt Butterman
Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, MD, Pediatrician
Duration: ~35 minutes

Episode Summary:
 Chronic irritability, frequent temper outbursts, and emotional volatility—these behaviors may go far beyond typical childhood tantrums. In this episode, host Matt Butterman is joined by pediatrician Dr. Gretchen Hoyle to unpack Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD), a relatively new but critical diagnosis that helps explain persistent mood and behavior challenges in some children and adolescents.

Dr. Hoyle explains what sets DMDD apart from ordinary...

This episode explores how to help kids with anxiety and OCD by changing not their behavior—but the parent’s. Our conversation centers around Dr. Eli Lebowitz's book, Breaking Free of Child Anxiety and OCD.

In this episode of Nimble Youth, host Matt Butterman is joined by pediatrician Dr. Gretchen Hoyle for an in-depth look at Pediatric Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)—a condition that’s often misunderstood and underdiagnosed in children and adolescents.

Together, they explore the early signs of OCD, common misconceptions, and the deeply disruptive impact OCD can have on school performance, social life, sleep, and family dynamics. Dr. Hoyle also walks through the screening tools clinicians use and outlines a range of treatment strategies—including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), exposure and response prevention (ERP), SSRIs, and emerging therapies like digital platfo...

🎙️ Episode 14 – Screens, Scores & Students: How Technology Is Transforming the Classroom

Guest: Wyatt Hoyle, High School Math Teacher
Host: Matt Butterman
Duration: ~40 minutes
Listen at: www.nimbleyouthpodcast.com

📘 Episode Summary

In this insightful conversation, host Matt Butterman sits down with Wyatt Hoyle, a high school math teacher in rural Colorado, to explore the promises and pitfalls of technology in the modern classroom. From learning platforms like Google Classroom and Canvas to AI-assisted testing and the growing challenge of cell phone distraction, we take a gro...

🎧 Episode 13 – The Youth Mental Health Crisis: A Therapist’s Perspective

Host: Matt Butterman
Guest: Michael Hayes, LCMHC – Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, Pathways Counseling, Winston-Salem, NC
Duration: ~40 minutes

In this powerful and timely episode of The Nimble Youth Podcast, host Matt Butterman sits down with Michael Hayes, a licensed clinical mental health counselor who works directly with teens and young adults navigating the growing mental health challenges of our time.

From skyrocketing anxiety and depression to digital overload and disconnection, Michael brings a therapist’s front-line insight into the emotion...

🎧 Episode 12: Spotting the Signs – A Pediatrician’s Frontline Role in Eating Disorders

Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, MD, Pediatrician
Host: Matt Butterman
Duration: 30–40 minutes

Eating disorders often begin quietly—but their impact is serious and, in some cases, life-threatening. In this episode, host Matt Butterman speaks with returning guest Dr. Gretchen Hoyle about how pediatricians play a critical role in identifying eating disorders early and helping families take action before things become more severe.

While Dr. Hoyle is not an eating disorder specialist, her position on the front l...

🎧 Nimble Youth – Episode 11

“The Absenteeism Spiral: Understanding and Addressing Chronic Absenteeism”
Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, Pediatrician

Chronic school absenteeism is surging—and it’s not just about skipping class. In this episode, pediatrician Dr. Gretchen Hoyle joins us to unpack the many factors driving today’s absenteeism crisis. From the long shadow of the pandemic to rising anxiety, screen-time habits, and shifting cultural norms, Dr. Hoyle shares practical insights for families navigating this complex issue.

Whether your child has begun missing days here and there or is already caught in a cycle of extended abs...

Episode 10: A Gut Feeling—Constipation, Anxiety, and ADHD in Children
 Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle

In this enlightening episode of Nimble Youth, pediatrician Dr. Gretchen Hoyle returns to tackle a topic that’s both common and frequently misunderstood: chronic constipation and stool withholding in children. What may seem like a simple digestive issue is often a complex interplay between physical discomfort, behavioral habits, and underlying mental health challenges such as anxiety and ADHD.

Dr. Hoyle unpacks how children can fall into a cycle of withholding stool—often due to discomfort, embarrassment, or fear—wh...

🩹 Episode 9: Understanding Cutting and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in Youth

Guest: Dr. Gretchen Hoyle | Host: Nimble Youth Podcast

Cutting and other forms of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are difficult topics for any parent or caregiver to confront—but they’re more common than many realize. In this episode, Dr. Gretchen Hoyle returns to guide us through understanding this complex behavior. We explore why some kids turn to self-injury as a coping mechanism, how to spot signs of it, and most importantly, how to respond with empathy, structure, and support.

🧠 What We Cover in This Episode:

If you’ve ever felt like you’re the one doing all the care coordination for your child—between doctors, therapists, teachers, and insurance companies—you’re not alone. The mental health system hasn’t always made it easy. But there’s a new model that’s starting to change that: it’s called the Psychiatric Collaborative Care Model, or Collaborative Care for short.

In this powerful episode of Nimble Youth, Dr. Gretchen Hoyle returns to explore how digital media, social disconnection, and untreated mental health challenges are affecting adolescent boys. The discussion zeroes in on how behavioral changes—especially in boys who seem withdrawn, anxious, or addicted to screen time—can be early indicators of deeper mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, or even previously undiagnosed ADHD.

Dr. Hoyle breaks down how clinicians differentiate between common behavioral concerns and diagnosable conditions using screening tools like the GAD-7, PHQ-9, and the SCARED questionnaire. She explains the layered approach to trea...

In this episode, we’re talking about a mental health crisis that is quietly, and sometimes invisibly, reshaping the lives of millions of young people—particularly adolescent girls. Anxiety and depression have been on the rise among teens for over a decade, but the numbers for girls are especially stark—and deeply concerning. Our guest today is Dr. Gretchen Hoyle, a pediatrician with 25 years of experience and a focus on child and adolescent mental health.

In this episode of Nimble Youth, host Matt Butterman and pediatrician Dr. Gretchen Hoyle explore how anxiety presents in young children — often in ways that can be mistaken for defiance, avoidance, or behavioral issues. Dr. Hoyle discusses how anxiety can show up as tummy aches, refusal to go to school, or resistance to routine activities, and why understanding the root of these behaviors is so important.

Topics Covered:

In the final installment of our three-part ADHD series, we explore the real-world challenges and decision-making processes behind ADHD medication management in children. Dr. Gretchen Hoyle returns to guide us through:

🧠 Topics Covered

Episode Summary:

In this third episode of our special series on ADHD, we’re back with Dr. Gretchen Hoyle to explore the collaborative care model—a modern, team-based approach to managing ADHD in children. Dr. Hoyle walks us through how pediatricians, behavioral health care managers, and mental health specialists work together to provide holistic, accessible, and proactive care for families navigating ADHD.

We discuss the real-world challenges parents face—like communicating with schools, accessing therapists, and getting insurance to cooperate—and how collaborative care lifts the burden. Dr. Hoyle shares actionable tips for pare...

🔍 Episode Summary
In this episode, we dive into what ADHD looks like in real life, how it shows up in kids at different ages, and the importance of early identification. Dr. Hoyle shares practical insights from the clinic, discusses the challenges of diagnosis, and addresses common fears—like whether treatment might change a child's personality. We explore how to strike a balance between classroom functionality and preserving a child’s unique essence.

🧠 Key Themes & Takeaways

Episode Summary

Welcome to the very first episode of Nimble Youth—a podcast for parents navigating the complex mental health landscape of modern childhood. Host Matt Butterman introduces the mission and meaning behind the show’s title, drawn from Shakespeare’s reflection on the vitality of youth. But in today’s world, “nimbleness” is more than physical—it's about adaptability, resilience, and mental agility.

Matt explores why pediatric mental health is at a breaking point, discussing how social media, academic pressure, and the lingering impact of COVID-19 are reshaping childhood. He highlights...