Neuroshambles
- Épisodes
- 65
- Parution
- toutes les deux semaines
- Dernier épisode
- 11 Nov 2026
À propos du podcast
Neuroshambles is a UK parenting podcast that shines a light on the absurdities and challenges of raising neurodivergent children. Hosted by lapsed comedian Mark Allen, this show explores autism parenting, ADHD, PDA, SEND, school struggles, family life and parental wellbeing through honest, relatable conversations.
Mark is raising three neurodivergent children and chats with parents, carers, advocates and professionals about the everyday challenges some families face. These aren’t lectures or masterclasses, but candid tales from the front line of parenting neurodivergent kids, as guests swap stories about what works for them - and just as importantly, what definitely doesn’t.
Topics range from meltdowns, difficulties with transitions, masking, and dealing with sceptical authorities, to holidays, mealtimes and the logistical chaos of daily life. If you're looking for a candid, honest and surprisingly uplifting podcast about raising neurodivergent kids... embrace the shambles.
Épisodes 65
Rejection sensitivity in our neurodivergent kids | Pete Wharmby
Mark is joined once more by Neuroshambles favourite Pete Wharmby as they take a deep dive into rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD). They look at what RSD actually is, why it isn't an official diagnosis, and …
Notes de l’épisode
Mark is joined once more by Neuroshambles favourite Pete Wharmby as they take a deep dive into rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD). They look at what RSD actually is, why it isn't an official diagnosis, and why it's most famously linked with ADHD but seems to show up across other neurodivergent people too.
Pete shares how RSD plays out for him, from avoiding his own Amazon reviews to the rumination that can write off a whole week, and why he suspects much of what gets called RSD is really a trauma response to a lifetime of corrective criticism. Mark brings tales from the trenches of his own neurochaotic setup to discuss how RSD could be showing up differently in his three kids.
Along the way they unpick perfectionism, people pleasing, the class clown and what we can do to help reduce the impact of RSD for our neurodivergent kids.
Chapter Timestamps (Estimated)
- 00:00 – Intro to episode 64
- 00:53 – Meet the guest: Pete Wharmby returns (and starting secondary school)
- 03:35 – Topic of the week: what is RSD, and why isn't it an official diagnosis?
- 08:42 – ADHD, autism or both?
- 11:19 – Is RSD its own thing, or a trauma response to being neurodivergent?
- 14:16 – "Everyone hates criticism": scepticism, a one-star review and Pete's Amazon pages
- 19:20 – Self-esteem, the scales of criticism and a lifetime of micro-corrections
- 25:32 – How RSD shows up in kids: school, meltdowns, rumination and monotropism
- 31:38 – Avoidance: Otto, table tennis and the football trial
- 42:35 – Perfectionism, people pleasing and the class clown
- 50:22 – Denial: India and the spilt water
- 57:46 – Bad losers: Jay, rage-quitting and the table tennis club
- 1:06:07 – How parents can respond: kid gloves, picking battles and specific feedback
- 1:12:54 – Praise that gets through the RSD shield
- 1:17:47 – It's not all rubbish
- 1:20:36 – Neurodiversity Champions
- 1:25:05 – Tiny Epic Wins
- 1:29:29 – What the Flip Moments
- 1:32:53 – Wrap-up
Links to stuff we mention in this episode
Different Minds: How We Can Help Our Autistic School Children Thrive, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/06eJRnUX
Pete Wharmby’s website: https://petewharmby.com/
Emily Katy’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/itsemilykaty/
Emily Katy Substack - https://itsemilykaty.substack.com/p/i-walked-300-miles-on-the-south-west
Spilling the Tea on Autism and ADHD, Michaela Silsby - https://www.instagram.com/spilling_the_tea_on_autism/
Rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) - https://www.additudemag.com/rejection-sensitive-dysphoria-and-adhd/
The double empathy problem - https://www.autism.org.uk/learn/knowledge-hub/professional-practice/double-empathy
📣 CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES
📧 Email: [email protected]
✨ MORE FROM NEUROSHAMBLES
🌐 Website: https://www.neuroshambles.com
📬 Mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Neuroshambles
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by OctoSound on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/users/octosound-39205072/
Taking Our Neurodivergent Kids Abroad | Rebecca Huseyin
To kick off season four of Neuroshambles, Mark is joined by returning guest Rebecca Huseyin, as they discuss their recent experiences of taking neurodivergent kids abroad. Turns out, neither trip was for the …
Notes de l’épisode
To kick off season four of Neuroshambles, Mark is joined by returning guest Rebecca Huseyin, as they discuss their recent experiences of taking neurodivergent kids abroad. Turns out, neither trip was for the faint hearted, but they have both sufficiently recovered to be able to compare notes and look at the highs and lows of their respective adventures.
They dig into the challenges of holidaying with autistic, ADHD and PDA kids: choosing a destination when everyone needs to be on board, the nightmares of packing, surviving airports, flights and working out what your kids are able to manage when you actually get there. Mark and Rebecca swap honest autistic parenting advice on special assistance, sunflower lanyards, feeding kids when the food is unfamiliar and what happens when the end of the holiday goes disastrously wrong.
It’s not all bad though, Mark and Rebecca look at the positives, shout out some neurodiversity champions, share their tiny epic wins and round things off with some classic What the Flip moments from the holiday. It’s a candid, funny and relatable listen for any neurodivergent parenting podcast fan, and for anyone who has ever wondered whether a family trip is even possible.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:00:00 Welcome to season four
00:01:40 Meet the Guest
00:05:17 The Topic of the Week: Taking Neurodivergent Kids Abroad
00:10:33 Choosing where to go
00:19:15 The nightmare of packing for neurodivergent kids
00:26:10 Navigating airports and the lifeline of special assistance
00:40:14 Sunflower lanyards and arriving abroad
00:44:41 Feeding the kids in a different country
00:54:22 Itineraries, control and planning with PDA
00:58:04 Choosing activities on holiday
01:03:30 Mark’s penultimate day shit show
01:16:59 Rebecca’s nightmare at 40,000 feet
01:28:58 The Positives
01:31:38 Neurodiversity Champions
01:34:02 Tiny Epic Wins
01:37:52 What the Flip Moments
01:40:42 Wrapping upLINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Neuroshambles YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@Neuroshambles
A Boy Less Ordinary (Rebecca’s blog) - https://aboylessordinary.com/
PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
Lalandia - https://www.lalandia.dk/en/billund
Airport special assistance - https://hdsunflower.com/uk/insights/post/the-autistic-traveller
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower - https://hdsunflower.com/
Google Translate (camera translation feature) - https://translate.google.com/
📣 CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES
📧 Email: [email protected]
✨ MORE FROM NEUROSHAMBLES
🌐 Website: https://www.neuroshambles.com
📬 Mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
▶️ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Neuroshambles
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by OctoSound on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/users/octosound-39205072/
Being a neurodivergent parent of neurodivergent kids: LIVE | Lisa Lloyd
The final episode of season 3 marks a first for Neuroshambles, as it’s the first ever live recording, performed in front of an audience. Mark is joined by returning guest Lisa Lloyd (@asd_with_a_g_and_t) for a …
Notes de l’épisode
The final episode of season 3 marks a first for Neuroshambles, as it’s the first ever live recording, performed in front of an audience. Mark is joined by returning guest Lisa Lloyd (@asd_with_a_g_and_t) for a raucous and laughter-filled discussion around what it's like to be a neurodivergent parent raising neurodivergent kids.
They examine a wide range of autistic, ADHD and PDA traits, and discuss how each of these can impact a neurodivergent parents’ experience of raising neurodivergent kids. They shine light onto sensory sensitivity, touch aversion, and the chaos that unplanned changes can cause in a home that runs on routine. They also talk candidly about masking, difficulty with social interactions with other parents, executive functioning, rejection sensitivity and the challenge of navigating your own overwhelm while supporting a child through meltdown.
There are plenty of positives too, as Mark and Lisa find the upside of autism parenting in shared understanding, a healthy disregard for authority, and the sense of injustice that fuels so many neurodivergent parents’ advocacy work. This warm, insightful and hilarious episode is a must listen for anyone navigating parenting through the lens of their own neurodivergency.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:01:26 - Meet the guest: Lisa Lloyd
00:06:07 - Topic of the week: parenting neurodivergent kids as a neurodivergent parent
00:13:24 - A shared neurotype and a closer bond with the kids
00:15:48 - Sensory sensitivity and touch aversion
00:21:22 - Coping with changes of plan
00:27:13 - Masking, social struggles and finding your tribe
00:35:10 - Executive function and the never-ending admin
00:40:36 - Rejection sensitivity
00:47:13 - Navigating overwhelm and meltdowns together
00:58:39 - The Positives: the upsides of neurodivergent parenting
01:07:09 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:13:31 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:18:08 - What The Flip Moments
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Neuroshambles mailing list sign-up (with free PDF of What the Flip moments) - https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
Unmasking Mum by Lisa Lloyd - https://amzn.eu/d/0gbnKiwm
Lisa Lloyd (ASD with a G&T) on the socials:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/asd_with_a_g_and_t/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@asd.with.a.g.and.t
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ASDwithGandT
Includes Us Too - https://includesustoo.org.uk/
Spinning World of Autism (Laura Brown) - https://www.spinningworldofautism.com/
Speak Up for Autism petition - https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/764248
PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
📬 Sign up to the Neuroshambles mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
CREDITS
🎧 Sound recording by CRT Audiotech: https://www.instagram.com/crtaudiotech/
🎥 Video recording by Brown Bear Studios, Brighton: https://brownbearstudios.co.uk/
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Understanding meltdowns and what we can do to help | Lisa Galley
Mark welcomes back a Neuroshambles favourite Lisa Galley, for a deep dive into one of the topics every family raising neurodivergent kids will recognise: meltdowns. As an autism family consultant and mum to …
Notes de l’épisode
Mark welcomes back a Neuroshambles favourite Lisa Galley, for a deep dive into one of the topics every family raising neurodivergent kids will recognise: meltdowns. As an autism family consultant and mum to three of her own, fully grown neurodivergent humans, Lisa brings a wealth of lived experience to help unpick what is really going on in a child's brain and body when their nervous system tips beyond its limits.
Mark and Lisa explore the three main contributing factors to meltdowns, before working through the four main survival responses that PDA and other neurodivergent kids can show when overwhelmed: fight, flight, freeze and fawn. They also tackle one of the most frustrating bugbears for parents of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids - the assumption that a meltdown is simply a tantrum. They dissect exactly why the two are worlds apart and why treating one like the other often makes things worse.
They share honest, sometimes hair-raising stories from their own households, from the most extreme of flight responses to an epic meltdown triggered by an Easter egg hunt and they offer a genuinely practical rundown of what can help before, during and after a meltdown happens. It's the kind of grounded, funny, non-judgemental chat about parenting neurodivergent kids that Neuroshambles listeners are looking - whether they're seeking autistic parenting advice for the first time or simply want to feel a little less alone in the chaos.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:01:10 - Meet the guest: Lisa Galley returns
00:03:02 - Topic of the week: what actually is a meltdown?
00:04:48 - The window of tolerance and the nervous system
00:13:37 - Three main causes of meltdown: sensory, communication and unpredictability
00:23:15 - Fight, flight, freeze and fawn: the four meltdown responses
00:43:00 - Tantrums vs meltdowns: what's the difference?
00:49:31 - Common misconceptions about meltdowns
00:50:55 - Public meltdowns and dealing with judgement
00:57:53 - Spotting the signs before a meltdown happens
01:06:43 - What actually helps during a meltdown
01:18:39 - The Positives
01:21:48 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:26:31 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:30:39 - What The Flip? MomentsLINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Parenting Your Autistic Child: Permission to Do It Differently, by Lisa Galley - https://amzn.eu/d/09LMvRVR
Lisa Galley's website - https://lisagalley.com
Lisa Galley's free Autism Parenting Guide to Meltdowns (plus bonus meltdown tracker) - https://learn.lisagalley.com/meltdownsguide
Different Minds: How We Can Help Our Autistic School Children Thrive, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/0cE2Sjcq
Neuroshambles mailing list sign-up (with free PDF of What the Flip moments) - https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
📬 Sign up to the Neuroshambles mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Why is sleep such a battle for neurodivergent kids? | Michelle Cyril
The issue of how to navigate sleep with our neurodivergent kids is one of the most requested topics on Neuroshambles, so Mark brought in someone who actually knows what she's talking about. This episode tackles …
Notes de l’épisode
The issue of how to navigate sleep with our neurodivergent kids is one of the most requested topics on Neuroshambles, so Mark brought in someone who actually knows what she's talking about. This episode tackles the question that haunts pretty much every household raising neurodivergent kids: how do you get them to sleep, keep them asleep, and stop them waking up at some ungodly hour demanding an apple?
Mark is joined by Michelle Cyril, a children's nurse and fully qualified paediatric sleep consultant who specialises in supporting families of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids. She's also a parent of neurodivergent twins herself, so this isn't advice from someone lecturing from a textbook - it's advice from someone who's been on the sharp end of three-hour bedtime battles too.
Mark and Michelle break bedtime down into its component parts of chaos: the bedtime routine itself, actually getting to sleep, staying asleep through the night, and waking up - wether that’s ludicrously early, or begrudgingly late. They cover why traditional sleep advice is largely useless for neurodivergent kids, how PDA turns bedtime into a demand minefield, and dive into the knotty issue of melatonin. Anyone wondering whether melatonin is safe, why GPs are so reluctant to prescribe it, or why their kid can't seem to switch their brain off at night will find answers here.
Whether it's a PDA profile, an ADHD brain that won't switch off, or a kid who just runs unnervingly hot in bed, there's something in this episode for most Neuroshamblers.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated)
00:01:48 - Meet the Guest: Michelle Cyril
00:04:00 - Topic of the Week: Why Sleep Is Such a Battle
00:13:39 - The Traditional Sleep Advice That Just Doesn't Work
00:16:13 - Making Bedtime Routines Fun Instead of Boring
00:26:35 - PDA, Demand Avoidance and Bedtime
00:34:06 - Getting to Sleep: Busy Brains and Familiar Stories
00:45:11 - The Melatonin Debate
00:58:39 - Staying Asleep: Night Waking and Anxiety
01:10:46 - The Early Morning Wake-Up Struggle
01:17:23 - The Impact of Poor Sleep on Parents
01:23:02 - Sleep Deprivation and Its Ripple Effects
01:26:44 - Finding the Silver Linings
01:28:39 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:31:48 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:35:58 - What the Flip?LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Neuroshambles mailing list sign-up (with free PDF of What the Flip moments) - https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
Michelle Cyril, Family Sleep Specialist - https://familysleepspecialist.co.uk/
Busy Brains at Bedtime (Michelle's free download) - https://familysleepspecialist.co.uk/busy-brains-guide/
Greeking Out (National Geographic podcast) - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/greeking-out/
Michael Gradisar - https://winksleep.online/about-michael-gradisar
Confusional Arousals - https://www.sleepfoundation.org/parasomnias/confusional-arousal
Neuro Embrace, Madeleine Woolgar - https://www.neuro-embrace.com
ARFID Life UK - https://www.facebook.com/p/ARFID-Life-UK-61569140673395/
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
📬 Sign up to the Neuroshambles mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
CREDITS
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
School “avoidance”: Part 2 - The impact on families and what we can do about it | Heidi Mavir
Part two of our deep dive into EBSA for neurodivergent children is essential listening for anyone navigating the school avoidance minefield as a parent or carer of a neurodivergent child - whether they are …
Notes de l’épisode
Part two of our deep dive into EBSA for neurodivergent children is essential listening for anyone navigating the school avoidance minefield as a parent or carer of a neurodivergent child - whether they are autistic, ADHD, PDA profile, or any combination of the above.
Heidi Mavir returns to offer her advice as someone who has lived every corner of this experience - not only in her own life, but also through her advocacy work with thousands of families affected by barriers to attendance. In this episode, we dig into the real-world impact - the emotional, financial and logistical strain it places on families.
We also look at practical things parents can actually do if their child is experiencing barriers to attendance - from how absences should be coded at school, to what the Children's Wellbeing Bill means for home education rights, to when a part-time timetable might help and when it's just a sticking plaster.
If you're wrestling with EBSA daily and you’re looking for advice that's rooted in lived experience, this is the episode for you.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:01:28 - Meet The Guest
00:03:25 - Topic of the Week: Barriers to Attendance Part 2
00:03:59 - Parental Blame and Being Doubted by School Professionals
00:09:32 - Attendance Targets, Fines, and Rewarding Full Attendance
00:13:23 - "Make Home Less Appealing" and Other Unhelpful Advice
00:17:49 - Why Exposure Therapy Doesn't Work for EBSA
00:21:35 - The Emotional, Financial and Relational Impact on Parents
00:35:34 - What You Can Actually Do: Practical Advice for Families
00:53:15 - Home Education, Deregistering and the Children's Wellbeing Bill
01:11:46 - EOTAS and When School Just Isn't the Right Shape
01:15:07 - It's Not All Rubbish: Specialist Settings and What Works
01:20:05 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:25:19 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:31:10 - What the Flip!LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Neuroshambles mailing list sign-up (with free PDF of all What the Flip moments from all 59 episodes) - https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
Your Child Is Not Broken book, Heidi Mavir - https://www.heidimavir.com/i-wrote-a-book
Your Child Is Not Broken free Facebook community - https://www.facebook.com/groups/eotasmatters
Heidi Mavir: The Marble run - https://www.heidimavir.com/the-marble-run
Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Act - https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3909
Section 19 of Children and Families Act - https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2014/6/section/19
EOTAS, EOTIS, EOTISC - https://www.ipsea.org.uk/home-education-and-education-otherwise
Not Fine in School - https://www.notfineinschool.co.uk
Define Fine - https://www.definefine.org.uk/
SEND Advocacy Limited (Alice) - https://www.sendadvocacy.com/
Audhdacious Humans - https://www.audhdacious.com/
Make and Create Club - https://www.audhdacious.com/make-and-create/club/
Eliza Fricker and "Can't Not Won't" - https://amzn.eu/d/0bMMrrwa
📣 CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
📬 Sign up to the Neuroshambles mailing list: https://preview.mailerlite.io/forms/2414072/190019322933937234/share
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com
School "Avoidance": Part 1 - What it is and how to spot it | Heidi Mavir
If you are a parent or carer of a neurodivergent child, the chances are that school attendance has been a topic that has kept you awake at night. Whether you know it as school refusal, emotionally based school …
Notes de l’épisode
If you are a parent or carer of a neurodivergent child, the chances are that school attendance has been a topic that has kept you awake at night. Whether you know it as school refusal, emotionally based school avoidance, or one of a dozen other terms, it is one of the most stressful and isolating things a family can go through.
As a neurodivergent parenting podcast, Neuroshambles has been asked about this topic more than almost any other, so this week’s guest is one of the best in the business. Heidi Mavir is a best-selling author, public speaker, late-identified autistic and ADHD adult, and one of the most knowledgeable and tireless advocates for SEND families in the UK. Her own journey with her son Theo, who went from full school attendance to none at all in the space of a few months at the age of fourteen, gives her both the lived experience and the hard-won expertise to talk about this topic like very few others can.
This is Part 1 of a two-part episode, so here we focus on what barriers to attendance actually looks like in neurodivergent children and young people - from the terminology chaos to the sensory nightmare of school environments, the morning meltdowns, the masking, the after-school explosions, the physical symptoms, and ultimately what can happen when it all builds up into burnout. Part 2 will focus on the family impact and what you can actually do about it.
If you are a parent trying to make sense of what is happening with your child and school, this one is for you.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:01:37 - Meet the Guest - Heidi Mavir
00:05:08 - What is EBSA? Unpacking the Terminology
00:19:01 - Why School is a Sensory and Emotional Minefield
00:30:40 - The PDA Dimension - Demand Avoidance in School
00:35:27 - Early Signs of Barriers to Attendance
00:42:00 - Fight, Flight, Freeze, Fawn and Flop - Polyvagal Theory
00:45:33 - After-School Meltdowns and the Masking Behind Them
00:52:19 - Physical Symptoms - When the Body Tells the Story
00:57:01 - What Changes Outside of School?
01:03:41 - How Barriers to Attendance Build Up Gradually Over Time
01:07:42 - Autistic Burnout - When It All Catches Up
01:17:22 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:20:13 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:23:04 - What the Flip?
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Your Child Is Not Broken by Heidi Mavir - https://www.heidimavir.com/i-wrote-a-book
EOTAS Matters - https://www.heidimavir.com/forfamilies
PDA Society: School Distress - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/what-helps-guides/pda-and-emotionally-based-school-avoidance-ebsa/
Kieran Rose: School Induced Trauma - https://theautisticadvocate.com/school-refusal-or-school-induced-trauma-rethinking-ebsa-ebsna-and-the-harm-we-call-help/
Audhdacious Humans - https://www.audhdacious.com/
Polyvagal Theory - https://www.polyvagalinstitute.org/whatispolyvagaltheory
Scouts UK - https://www.scouts.org.uk/
Heidi Mavir/Rachel Filmer webinar on SEND Reform Proposals - https://eotasmatters.kartra.com/page/WhitePaperWebinar
Black SEN Mamas - https://blacksenmamas.com/
Rachel Filmer - https://www.instagram.com/sendra.uk/
Not Fine in School - https://www.notfineinschool.co.uk
Square Peg - https://www.teamsquarepeg.co.uk/
Define Fine - https://www.definefine.org.uk/
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles/
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Screen Time: Part 2 - The Downsides For Neurodivergent Kids | Hannah Woods
This week we're back with part two of a candid, deep dive into screen time. Last time we covered all the good stuff - the regulation, the social connection, the sense of mastery. This time, we're braving the …
Notes de l’épisode
This week we're back with part two of a candid, deep dive into screen time. Last time we covered all the good stuff - the regulation, the social connection, the sense of mastery. This time, we're braving the darker side of the coin.
Mark is joined again by Hannah, mum to nine-year-old Henry (autistic, ADHD, PDA profile) and six-year-old Thea (suspected neurotypical). Together they work through the thornier aspects of neurodivergent parenting and screen time - addiction, in-game spending, safeguarding and parental controls. They also take an honest look at crushing guilt and the shame that often lies underneath it, as well as how to handle transitions off screens without descending into full-scale conflict.
For anyone trying to navigate neurodivergency parenting without a rulebook, this episode won't give you all the answers, but it will make you feel considerably less alone.
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:01:10 - Meet the Guest
00:02:34 - This Week's Topic: Screen Time - The Difficult Bits
00:03:48 - Screen Addiction, ADHD and the Dopamine Loop
00:16:12 - Managing Screen Time: Swapping One Dopamine Hit for Another
00:21:57 - In-Game Spending, Roblox and Robux
00:29:16 - Safeguarding and Online Safety
00:34:10 - Parental Controls: A Full-Time Job
00:46:52 - Are Screens Putting Our Kids Off Other Kinds of Play?
00:50:39 - Using Screens as a Tool for Transitions and Outings
00:56:38 - Getting Them Off Screens: Transition Strategies That (Sometimes) Work
01:01:45 - Parental Guilt, Shame and Societal Judgement
01:12:46 - It's Not All Rubbish
01:15:12 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:21:43 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:25:48 - What the Flip Moments
------------
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Neuroshambles Live, Brighton (23rd July 2026) - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988682312330/?discount=Neuroshamblers
Alternatively, search "Neuroshambles Live" on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk and use the access code “Neuroshamblers” for the discounted rate of £8 throughout May. After that, tickets go on general sale for £10.
Screen time: Part 1 episode - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/screen-time-part-1-the-benefits-for-neurodivergent-kids-hannah-woods
ADHD and dopamine - https://www.additudemag.com/brain-stimulation-and-adhd-cravings-dependency-and-regulation/
Roblox - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roblox
Grow a garden - https://growa-garden.io/
Apple parental controls - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/105121
Google parental controls - https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/15077835?hl=en
Microsoft parental controls - https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/family-safety
Crunchyroll - https://www.crunchyroll.com/
Tech Smart Parenting book by Catherine Knibbs - https://amzn.eu/d/0iqIy0cv
Holidays Episode of Neuroshambles - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/holidays-dr-hildi-mitchell
Cards against humanity - https://amzn.eu/d/08Dn7YIt
Smartphone Free Childhood - https://www.smartphonefreechildhood.org/
Spectrum Squad Penarth - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2039735040102766/
------------
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
------------
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Screen Time: Part 1 - The Benefits For Neurodivergent Kids | Hannah Woods
Description If you're a parent of a neurodivergent child and you've ever felt quietly judged for your approach to screen time, this episode of Neuroshambles is for you. Mark is joined by Hannah Woods - one of …
Notes de l’épisode
Description
If you're a parent of a neurodivergent child and you've ever felt quietly judged for your approach to screen time, this episode of Neuroshambles is for you. Mark is joined by Hannah Woods - one of the founders of the Spectrum Squad, a neurodivergent youth group in Penarth, South Wales - to tackle one of the most requested topics the show has ever had: managing screen time with our neurodivergent kids.
This is part one of a two-part deep dive of a particularly knotty topic, and it's entirely focused on the positives of screen time. Because if you're navigating autism parenting, ADHD parenting, or PDA parenting, you'll know that screens aren't just a lazy shortcut - they can be a genuine lifeline. Whether it's helping your child regulate, learn and connect with peers, or just giving you ten minutes of respite to gather your energy, screen time is doing some heavy lifting in a lot of neurodivergent households.
This is an honest, relatable conversation about the gap between the parents we thought we'd be and the parents our kids actually need us to be. Part 2, covering the potential downsides of screen time, is coming in the next episode. But for now, let's hear the case for the defence.
Chapter Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction and Neuroshambles Live Announcement
02:56 - Meet the Guest: Hannah Woods
08:10 - Topic Introduction: Screen Time with Neurodivergent Kids
10:00 - How We Thought We'd Parent Around Screens (Before We Met Our Kids)
14:29 - The Stigma Around Screen Time
15:23 - Screen Time Limits, NHS Guidance and Why It Doesn't Apply to Our Kids
18:17 - Dr Naomi Fisher: It's Not the Screen, It's What's Behind It
21:59 - Screens for Regulation - Meltdowns, Overwhelm and India's Wardrobe Nook
29:29 - Special Interests, Hyperfocus and Letting Them Go Deep
39:17 - Online Connection, Belonging and the Social Value of Multiplayer Gaming
42:39 - Building Friendships Through Minecraft and Shared Play
50:04 - Sharing Content as a Love Language (YouTube Clips Count)
55:16 - Watching Online as a Gateway to Special Interests
57:40 - Screens as a Learning Tool - Laptops, Writing and Demand Avoidance
01:01:08 - Reading Apps and How They Changed Everything
01:03:20 - Self-Esteem, Gaming and Finding Your Thing
01:04:53 - Screens as a Social Bridge
01:07:44 - From 3D Printing to School Fair Entrepreneur
01:09:52 - The Parental Sanity Argument (Yes, It Counts)
01:13:16 - Screens for Sleep and Winding Down
01:15:20 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:18:22 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:22:09 - What the Flip Moments
Links to Stuff We Mention in This Episode
Neuroshambles Live, Brighton (23rd July 2026) - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988682312330/?discount=Neuroshamblers
Alternatively, search "Neuroshambles Live" on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk and use the access code “Neuroshamblers” for the discounted rate of £8 throughout May. After that, tickets go on general sale for £10.
The Family Experience of PDA by Eliza Fricker - https://amzn.eu/d/02qGPcjD
Dr Naomi Fisher article on screens - https://naomifisher.co.uk/tags/screens/
Bluey - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000vbrk/bluey
Gravity Falls - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_Falls
How To Break Up With Your Phone - https://amzn.eu/d/04PSfLq9
Roblox - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roblox
JusTalk Kids - https://kids.justalk.com/
MindJam - https://mindjam.org.uk/
Super Mario Odyssey - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Odyssey
Audible storybooks - https://www.audible.co.uk/
Calm app - https://www.calm.com/
Greeking Out (National Geographic podcast) - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/greeking-out/
Have Fun, Get Fit (South Wales) - https://www.facebook.com/HaveFunGetFitRossParsons/
Neurospicy Wings (South Wales) - https://www.neurospicywings.co.uk/
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/
🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com
How to be your neurodivergent child's safe person | Jo and Dotty Matthews
If you've ever found yourself having to outline the entire day's schedule before you've even had your first coffee, or negotiating bath time as a sacred non-negotiable human right, this episode might just be …
Notes de l’épisode
If you've ever found yourself having to outline the entire day's schedule before you've even had your first coffee, or negotiating bath time as a sacred non-negotiable human right, this episode might just be the one you didn't know you needed. Mark is joined by the brilliant Jo Matthews for a deep dive into what it really means to be your child's safe person.
Whether your neuroshambolic family is shaped by autism, ADHD or PDA, so many of us know the exhausting, relentless, sometimes claustrophobic experience of being the one person our child needs above all others. It's a privilege and it's hard work, but it's almost never talked about with the honesty it deserves on a neurodivergent parenting podcast.
In a Neuroshambles first, this episode also features a second guest - Dotty Matthews, Jo's 19-year-old autistic daughter - who joins Mark for a candid, funny and genuinely moving conversation about what it felt like to be that child. From the early days of demanding apple juice to command her mum's attention, through to slowly learning to find safety in other people, Dotty's perspective is the kind of lived experience that makes this show worth your time.
There's also a listener email from Lydia, whose 13-year-old daughter's intense attachment prompted this whole conversation - and both Jo and Dotty have something genuinely useful to say in response. Autistic parenting advice doesn't get much more grounded in lived experience than this.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:01:08 - Meet the Guest: Jo Matthews
00:03:40 - This Week's Topic: Being Your Child's Safe Person
00:04:22 - Lydia's Listener Email
00:07:06 - Dotty's Early Attachment (and the Gee Story)
00:10:25 - Transitional Objects and Starting School
00:18:58 - Co-regulation: Being Your Child's Emotional Anchor
00:25:54 - Scaffolding the Day: Structure and Predictability
00:30:54 - Being Their Executive Function
00:37:45 - Advocating for Your Child
00:43:41 - Being a Physical Safe Space (Including Co-sleeping)
00:48:05 - Being an Emotional Outlet
00:56:34 - The Guilt and Exhaustion of Being a Safe Person
01:03:12 - Attachment Theory and Building Independence
01:06:58 - When Only One Parent is the Safe Person
01:14:17 - Meet the Second Guest: Dotty Matthews
01:38:51 - It's Not All Rubbish
01:41:07 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:43:46 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:47:04 - What the Flip Moments
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Attachment Theory (John Bowlby) - https://www.simplypsychology.org/bowlby.html
The Loxdale Centre, Portslade - https://www.loxdale.com/
mASCot - https://www.asc-mascot.com/
Mark's talk: "How Dads Can Show Up Better For Our Neurodivergent Kids" - https://neuroshambles.com/page-gazc-3dk8-ywa8-dnly
Raising SEND kids: The Dad's Perspective (with Terry Lloyd) - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/raising-send-kids-the-dads-perspective-terry-lloyd
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Where is the user manual for our neurodivergent kids? | George Lewis
If you've ever stared at a parenting book and thought "none of this applies to my child whatsoever" - this episode is for you. Mark is joined by comedian, author, and fellow parent-in-the-trenches George Lewis …
Notes de l’épisode
If you've ever stared at a parenting book and thought "none of this applies to my child whatsoever" - this episode is for you. Mark is joined by comedian, author, and fellow parent-in-the-trenches George Lewis for a proper deep dive into one of the great unspoken challenges of neurodivergent parenting: figuring out who your kid actually is, and how to parent them, when the instruction manual simply doesn't exist.
Because most parenting advice out there is written for neurotypical kids. And when you've got autistic, ADHD, or PDA children, you quickly discover that you essentially have to work it out yourself. That means years of research, trial and error, conflicting information, and the occasional moment of going "hang on… is THIS a thing I need to learn about now?" It's exhausting and exasperating, but it's also, occasionally, brilliant.
This is an honest, funny and insightful autism parenting podcast episode that covers the whole messy journey - from those early days of thinking something's different but not knowing quite what, through diagnosis (including the woefully misguided NHS leaflet with their list of top tips), to the point where you cautiously start to feel like you might actually know what you're doing.
If you're deep in that process right now, or just starting out, this one's for you. And if you're a seasoned neurodivergent parenting veteran, you'll recognise pretty much every single moment of it.
--------------
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated)
00:00 – Intro
01:15 - Meet the Guest: George Lewis
06:28 - Topic of the Week: Writing Your Own User Manual
08:18 - Imagining parenthood vs the reality
12:04 - Apraxia of speech and George's early diagnosis journey
18:19 - Understanding autism: the spectrum, spiky profiles and the mixing desk analogy
31:32 - Navigating the NHS diagnosis route (and the unhelpful booklet you receive when they're diagnosed)
58:16 - Information overload and knowing when to put the lid back on
01:03:39 - Discovering PDA and low demand language
01:05:31 - Conflicting advice and how to navigate it
01:11:36 - Trusting your gut when some recommended approaches don't sit right
01:20:44 - It's Not All Rubbish: the positives of doing the research
01:25:52 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:28:53 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:32:24 - What the Flip! Moments
--------------
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
George Lewis website - https://www.georgelewiscomedian.com
George Lewis Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/georgelewiscom
George Lewis TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@georgelewiscomedian
George Lewis Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/georgelewiscom
George Lewis YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@georgelewiscom
Autism Colour Wheel - https://community.autism.org.uk/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/4/autism-colour-wheel.pdf
Government SEND white paper - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/every-child-achieving-and-thriving
Neuroshambles Episode with Kieran Rose: How Autistic Is Your Child? – https://neuroshambles.com/episode/how-autistic-is-your-child-kieran-rose
Autistica - https://www.autistica.org.uk/
Pierre Novellie “Why can’t I just enjoy things?” - https://amzn.eu/d/0fL1X5Fb
Fern Brady “Strong Female Character” - https://amzn.eu/d/07Uk4H6a
--------------
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: @neuroshambles
--------------
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Finding your people when you have neurodivergent kids | Sam Bayley
Mark is joined by Sam Bayley - founder of mASCot, a Sussex-based parent-to-parent support network for families of autistic, ADHD and PDA children and young adults - for a warm and genuinely uplifting …
Notes de l’épisode
Mark is joined by Sam Bayley - founder of mASCot, a Sussex-based parent-to-parent support network for families of autistic, ADHD and PDA children and young adults - for a warm and genuinely uplifting conversation about one of the most important things you can do as a neurodivergent parent: find your people.
They dig into why parenting a neurodivergent child can feel so isolating - especially in the early days before diagnosis, when you're still trying to crowbar your kid into situations built for neurotypical families and slowly realising it isn't working. Sam shares the story of how mASCot grew from a few breakout coffee sessions into a community supporting thousands of families, and Mark recounts the moment he first walked into Sunday Club and felt the blessed relief of a room with absolutely no judgement in it.
They also get into the thornier side of finding your people - namely, the bit where you have to let go of the ones who aren't. From unsupportive friends who just aren't listening, to family members who think it's all a fad, this episode doesn't shy away from how hard it can be to protect your energy when you haven't got much of it to spare.
If you're after a neurodivergent parenting podcast that feels human, honest and occasionally sweary, this one's for you.---------------------------------------------------------
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Intro
01:11 - Meet the Guest: Sam Bayley
04:01 - Topic of the Week: The Importance of Finding Your People
09:10 - How mASCot Was Born: Coffee Mornings and the Birth of Community
10:09 - Early Expectations and the Reality of Neurodivergent Parenthood
27:19 - The "Coming Home to Autism" Event That Changed Everything
31:35 - The mASCot Card: A Little Bit of Context, a Lot of Confidence
37:51 - Sunday Club and the Joy of a Non-Judgmental Space
47:59 - Inspired to Act: Hannah Woods and Spectrum Squad Penarth
52:16 - The Online Community: Why mASCot's Facebook Forum Matters
59:52 - When Lockdown Showed Us What Our Kids Already Knew
01:01:49 - Finding Your People Means Letting Go of the Wrong Ones
01:09:05 - The Tricky Business of Unsupportive Family Members
01:13:18 - It's Not All Rubbish: The Positives of Finding Your People
01:16:17 - Neurodiversity Champions: mASCot, Bill Bayley and the BNC
01:22:40 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:26:12 - What the Flip? Moments---------------------------------------------------------
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Podcasthon - https://podcasthon.org/
mASCot - https://www.asc-mascot.com
Donate to mASCot via Givey - https://www.givey.com/mascot
National Autistic Society - https://www.autism.org.uk/
PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
Bristol Parent Carers Forum - https://www.bristolparentcarers.org.uk/
The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene - https://amzn.eu/d/0jkdMxga
Spectrum Squad Penarth - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2039735040102766/
Brighton Neurodivergent Community (BNC) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/brightonneurodiverse
---------------------------------------------------------
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles---------------------------------------------------------
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.comThe knotty issue of hair care | Rebecca Huseyin
Mark is joined by returning guest Rebecca Hussain for a hilarious chat about the perils of trying to introduce any kind of hair care routine to our neurodivergent kids. It’s a knotty issue for loads of …
Notes de l’épisode
Mark is joined by returning guest Rebecca Hussain for a hilarious chat about the perils of trying to introduce any kind of hair care routine to our neurodivergent kids. It’s a knotty issue for loads of Neuroshambolic families - whether it's brushing, washing, cutting it or trying to navigate dreaded nit combs.
Mark and Rebecca unpick why hair-related stuff can be so dysregulating for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids - from sensory overwhelm and loss of control, to the irrepressible instinct to run away when someone approaches them with a brush and they're already feeling overwhelmed.
Rebecca explains her role as night time hair brushing ninja and Mark recounts the horror story of the time he tried to trim India's fringe himself. They also dig into the awkward realities of salons and barbers, the compromises that sometimes (briefly) work, and the grim truth that a lot of so-called “simple” solutions don’t feel simple at all when you’re parenting a child with a PDA profile, ADHD traits, or autism-related sensory sensitivities.
If you’re after autistic parenting advice that feels human rather than preachy, this one will have you nodding, laughing and cringing in equal measure.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS00:00:37 - Intro
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
00:01:07 - Meet the guest: Rebecca Huseyin
00:05:36 - What’s the topic of the week? Hair care
00:08:01 - Haircuts: clippers, salons and pure dread
00:13:16 - Dealing with brushing & knots - night time ninja brushing
00:21:40 - Sensory overload: why hair care causes so much overwhelm
00:25:25 - The drama of washing their hair
00:42:34 - Barbers/hairdressers: trusting a stranger with scissors
00:47:15 - Products, routines and reducing the stakes
00:55:08 - The reason some neurodivergent’s prefer long hair
00:58:10 - The lengths we go to for a haircut
01:03:12 - Not wanting people to notice their hair
01:05:47 - Reliving Mark’s trauma of cutting India’s fringe
01:18:17 - A surprising India haircut success story
01:21:04 - It’s not all rubbish: looking at the Positives
01:22:22 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:26:10 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:31:18 - What the Flip Moments?A Boy Less Ordinary (Rebecca’s blog) - https://aboylessordinary.com/
PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
Jem’s Hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/0dTSItLZ
India’s hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/072vd0L6
India’s coconut scented hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/05Er65tF
Nit comb - https://amzn.eu/d/00cSPgcz
Grappling with Personal Hygiene episode of Neuroshambles - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/grappling-with-personal-hygiene-rebecca-huseyin
Wash and Go - https://amzn.eu/d/0cmgCDdU
Danielle Jata-Hall / “PDA Parenting” - https://pdaparenting.com/
Hairport (Brighton) - https://www.brightonhairport.co.uk/
EAG Expo, Docklands - https://www.eagexpo.com/
📣 CONTACT US🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🎙️ CREDITS🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Raising SEND kids: the dads’ perspective | Terry Lloyd
Mark Allen is joined by Terry Lloyd for an honest, insightful and humorous chat about what it feels like to parent neurodivergent kids from a dad’s perspective. They lift the lid on why dads are always “late to …
Notes de l’épisode
Mark Allen is joined by Terry Lloyd for an honest, insightful and humorous chat about what it feels like to parent neurodivergent kids from a dad’s perspective.
They lift the lid on why dads are always “late to the party” when it comes to recognising neurodivergence, struggling to process what it all means, and figuring out how to show up properly for your family - especially when one parent has already been doing the heavy lifting for ages.
They also delve into how traditional gender roles can make everything harder, and why guilt, grief and defensiveness can quietly shape how dads respond in the early days. There are also plenty of practical, lived-experience tales about having to unlearn how we were parented, getting on the same page as your co-parent and the challenge of not accidentally becoming the bad cop.
A must listen for any dads raising autistic, ADHD or PDA kids, as well as any mums interesting in hearing a different perspective of the challenges men face, but often can't articulate.
⸻
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:00:37 – Intro and what’s coming up
00:01:15 – Meet the Guest: Terry Lloyd
00:04:07 – Topic of the Week: Dads and the neurodivergent parenting journey
00:05:36 – Being late to the party spotting neurodivergence (and why dads often miss it)
00:06:05 – Inheriting breadwinner v caregiver roles, and the mental load gap
00:10:47 – When your co-parent says “something’s different”
00:17:03 – Labels, diagnosis, and why denial delays support
00:25:21 – The provider/disciplinarian stereotype (and how it backfires)
00:32:07 – How our own upbringing can influence dads' approach to parenting
00:36:52 – PDA, control, and why authority dynamics don't work
00:48:34 – Before diagnosis: doubt, uncertainty, and needing clarity
00:51:20 – Grief, shame, and the emotional weight of realising your child is neurodivergent
00:55:40 – The importance of finding other dads in the same boat
01:00:07 – Learning the hard way (books and resources that helped)
01:09:54 – Advice for dads needing to get more hands-on
01:21:08 – It’s Not All Rubbish: Finding the positives
01:24:59 – Neurodiversity Champions
01:27:57 – Tiny Epic Wins
01:29:49 – What the Flip Moments
01:34:52 – Outro (how to share your stories, links to the socials and wrap-up)⸻
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Neuroshambles website – https://www.neuroshambles.com
The Journey into SEND Fatherhood (book Mark and Terry contributed to) - https://amzn.eu/d/03g3S0J7
The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/0az7Uy7e
SEND Dads Drop In (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3100788930061466
PDA Father Figures (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/809973900027348
Lisa Lloyd (@asd_with_a_g_and_t) - https://linktr.ee/ASDwithagandt
Raising the SEN-Betweeners by Lisa Lloyd (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/01pvrF2f
SAA Clothing (sensory-friendly clothing) - https://www.saaclothing.com/
Let Us Learn Too (parent/carer education campaign) - https://letuslearntoo.wordpress.com/
Amaze Sussex dads support group (run by Darren Walker) - https://amazesussex.org.uk/events/dads-group-east-sussex/
⸻
📣 CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles⸻
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.comHow broken is the healthcare system? | Dr Lucy Pocock
Episode 50 of this neurodivergent parenting podcast takes a clear, practical look at how families in the UK end up navigating the healthcare system when they suspect their child might be autistic and/or ADHD …
Notes de l’épisode
Episode 50 of this neurodivergent parenting podcast takes a clear, practical look at how families in the UK end up navigating the healthcare system when they suspect their child might be autistic and/or ADHD. Mark is joined by Lucy Pocock, a registered GP and parent of a neurodivergent child, as they pull back the curtain and take a deep dive into how the system works (and why it so often doesn’t).
They talk through the routes families are typically funnelled into when they’re seeking support: school evidence, GP involvement, referrals, and the confusing reality that the pathway can look completely different depending on where you live. It’s the sort of honest, informative discussion many families of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids wish existed when they first started asking questions.
Mark and Lucy also unpack what happens once ADHD enters the mix - including medication pathways, titration, prescribing delays, and the complexities of shared care. Lucy explains why bottlenecks happen, what GPs can and can’t do, and how those constraints land on families already stretched to breaking point.
Along the way, the conversation touches on demand-avoidant (PDA) profiles, why some parents go private, and what families can realistically expect when it comes to letters and evidence for things like EHCP and DLA. It’s the kind of candid, good humoured and insightful chat that this neurodivergency parenting podcast is known for.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:00:37 - Episode 50 intro
00:01:20 - Meet the Guest (Lucy Pocock)
00:03:07 - Topic of the Week – UK healthcare and ND referrals (the two main routes)
00:09:23 - The postcode lottery, delays, and mismatched pathways
00:17:42 - ADHD medication: shared care, titration, and why CAMHS take so long
00:27:31 - Lucy's journey with her own PDA son's diagnosis as a GP
00:34:00 - Training: Oliver McGowan and the impact within the NHS
00:37:15 - How much neurodiversity scepticism is there within the healthcare system?
00:42:00 - What can you do if your GP is not informed about neurodiversity?
00:46:15 - Are there really parents trying to take advantage of the system?
00:56:00 - What support can we ask for from our GP that we don't know about?
00:59:45 - Could GP's relieve some of the burden from CAMHS?
01:04:30 - GP limitations on prescribing drugs: melatonin and anti-depressants
01:07:00 - Shared care, Right to Choose and commissioning constraints
01:10:45 - Is the system broken? Why is support for neurodivergency such a postcode lottery?
01:20:30 - How can we fix the flaws in the healthcare system?
01:27:00 - Looking at the positives
01:30:03 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:32:27 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:35:26 - What the Flip Moments
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Shared care - https://www.wessexlmcs.com/guidance/understanding-shared-care-nhs-right-to-choose-and-private-providers/
Right to choose - https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/
CAMHS - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/
Oliver McGowan training - https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/learning-disability/current-projects/oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-learning-disability-autism
FII (Fabricated and Induced Illness) - https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/fabricated-or-induced-illness/overview/
Neuroshambles: Medicating our children | Danielle Jata-Hall - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/medicating-our-children-danielle-jata-hall
Melatonin - https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/melatonin/
Neuroshambles: The Bumpy Road to Diagnosis | Tam - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/the-bumpy-road-to-diagnosis-tam
Murmuration Community, Bristol - https://www.murmurationcommunitytherapy.com/
Incredible Kids, Bristol - https://incrediblekids.org.uk/
CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
School: The Primary Years | Grace Lockrobin
If you’ve ever felt like Key Stage 2 at school was when it all got harder - not only for your neurodivergent child, but also for you as a parent - this is the episode for you. Mark is joined by philosophy …
Notes de l’épisode
If you’ve ever felt like Key Stage 2 at school was when it all got harder - not only for your neurodivergent child, but also for you as a parent - this is the episode for you. Mark is joined by philosophy educator and fellow Neuroshambler Grace Lockrobin for a cathartic look at the ages of 7-11, which is where the wheels can start to wobble more for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids.
Together, they unpack the pressures of conformity, the nightmare of homework and the heartbreak of parents evenings. From school trips and transitions to SATs and navigating playground politics, they shine a light on why this age can be so tough - and why the system often gets it wrong.
It’s warm, witty, and full of the kind of honesty that makes you feel just a little less alone when your child doesn’t quite fit the mould.
If you’re searching for an autism parenting podcast or ADHD parenting podcast that actually reflects the messy, hilarious, heartbreaking truth of raising neurodivergent children, you're in the right place.
⸻
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Intro and meet the guest
03:30 - What’s changed since we last spoke
05:50 - Intro to topic of the week
23:00 - The challenges of the shift in KS2 teaching style
10:00 - Misguided attempts to get them to "catch up"
13:00 - The role that transitions play in these difficulties
22:15 - Social cliques and friendship dynamics
35:15 - Bullying
43:00 - The difficulty of parents’ evenings
57:15 - Homework nightmares
1:00:40 - The unhelpful pressure of SATs
1:06:25 - School trips
1:12:10 - It's not all rubbish: looking at the positives
1:24:15 - Neurodiversity Champions
1:27:45 - Tiny Epic Wins
1:30:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments
1:33:50 - Wrap-up and where to find us
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
SATs - https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sats/
Karate Zone - https://karatezone.com/
PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
⸻
CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
⸻
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
How autistic is your child? | Kieran Rose
What do we mean when we describe someone as “severely autistic”? Why is it so hard to explain what being autistic actually means? And how useful (or harmful) are terms like high-functioning, low-functioning …
Notes de l’épisode
What do we mean when we describe someone as “severely autistic”? Why is it so hard to explain what being autistic actually means? And how useful (or harmful) are terms like high-functioning, low-functioning, profound autism, or even Asperger’s?
Kieran Rose returns for a deep dive into the language we use to describe autism - and why it often does more harm than good. He and Mark explore the flaws in functioning labels, the dangers of ranking autistic traits, and how trying to quantify someone’s autism usually misses the point.
In a wide-ranging and compassionate chat, Mark and Kieran explore how complex, deeply personal and often contradictory this topic is - both for parents and for autistic people themselves. What starts as a provocative question ends up as a fascinating conversation about diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, identity, education, eugenics, power, and prejudice.
A powerful, enlightening and empowering episode - a must-listen for anyone parenting autistic kids who’s ever felt under pressure to explain, justify or minimise their child’s neurodivergence.
📍 CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):00:00 - Intro: Meet Kieran Rose
04:30 - Life in a Fully Neurodivergent Household
08:00 - Topic of the Week: How Autistic Is Your Child?
12:00 - Labels, Bias, and the Stigma Around Autism
18:00 - High vs Low Functioning: Where It Comes From
23:00 - What Even Is Autism?
28:30 - The Flawed Legacy of Asperger’s
35:00 - Identity vs Diagnosis
42:00 - DSM-5 Levels of Autism: Why They Don’t Work
49:00 - Profound Autism and The New York Times Article
55:00 - A Counterpoint: The Voices We Don’t Hear
1:00:00 - Co-occurring Conditions and the Real Source of Needs
1:07:00 - Clinical Labels vs Lived Experience
1:14:00 - Mark’s Imposter Syndrome as an Autism Parent
1:18:00 - What’s the Alternative?
1:23:00 - Final Thoughts: Humanising, Not Diagnosing
1:27:00 - Neurodiversity Champions
1:33:00 - Tiny Epic Wins
1:39:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments
1:43:00 - Wrap-up & Where to Find Us
🔗 LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:Kieran Rose website - https://theautisticadvocate.com/
Eugenics - https://www.newscientist.com/definition/eugenics/
Asperger Syndrome - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism/the-history-of-autism/asperger-syndrome
Hans Asperger - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Asperger
Lorna Wing - https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/lorna-wing-an-autism-hero
DSM-5 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-5
PDF Download of DSM-5 - https://ia800707.us.archive.org/15/items/info_munsha_DSM5/DSM-5.pdf
New York Times article: The Autism Spectrum Is Too Broad - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/opinion/autism-diagnosis-category-stigma.html
Greta Thunberg - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49918719
What is monotropism? - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism
Ehlers Danlos Syndromes - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndromes/
Communication First - https://communicationfirst.org/
Autism Central - https://www.autismcentral.org.uk/
Kieran Rose Animated Guide to Monotropism - https://youtu.be/qUFDAevkd3E?si=diwlbe4AHRcxfjQF
Kieran Rose Animated Guide to The Double Empathy Problem - https://youtu.be/qpXwYD9bGyU?si=7bnGR2UsrCgLa_hL
KIERAN'S HOMEWORK
Kieran Rose Blog: Autism, it’s Labels and the Language of Pathologising Rhetoric - https://theautisticadvocate.com/autism-its-labels-and-the-language-of-pathologising-rhetoric/
Sunday Times article: Extra time in exams ‘unhealthy’ for children with ADHD and autism - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/extra-time-exams-unhealthy-children-adhd-autism-k820s56zh
TES magazine article: Sami Timimi: Why ‘invented’ SEND labels are disabling pupils - https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/sami-timimi-interview-problems-with-send-diagnosis-adhd-autism
Yahoo News: Badenoch says motability cars not for people with ADHD - https://uk.news.yahoo.com/badenoch-motability-cars-not-people-135341300.html?guccounter=1
📣 CONTACT US🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
🎙️ CREDITS🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Kids refusing medical help | Michelle Parton
Why won’t our neurodivergent kids just take the bloody Calpol? Michelle Parton joins mark to explore the baffling and emotionally loaded issue of kids who resist medical help. Mark and Michelle swap tales of …
Notes de l’épisode
Why won’t our neurodivergent kids just take the bloody Calpol? Michelle Parton joins mark to explore the baffling and emotionally loaded issue of kids who resist medical help.
Mark and Michelle swap tales of their kids’ iron-willed resistance to all forms of treatment - even when they’re clearly in pain, bleeding, or itching uncontrollably. Together, they explore the many reasons this might be happening - from sensory issues and PDA to past trauma, masking, and a fundamental lack of trust in strangers in latex gloves.
It’s funny, cathartic, at times heartbreaking - definitely one for any parent of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids who have ever tried (and failed) to put a plaster on their dysregulated child before they bleed out!
⸻
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 – Intro & Meet the Guest: Michelle Parton
03:00 – Topic of the Week: Refusing Medical Help
08:00 – Kids hiding injuries
13:00 – Dysregulation about the prospect of going to the doctor
17:30 – Trust issues with medical professionals
23:00 – Lyme disease and the unholy nightmare of blood tests
29:00 – Trying to administer medication
35:00 – The impact of sensory overwhelm: Plasters, creams & the taste of medication
42:00 – The added complication with PDA kids
47:00 – The role that masking might play
54:00 – How alexithymia and interoception can influence things
59:00 – The impact of past traumatic experiences
1:04:00 – The positives
1:06:00 – Neurodiversity Champions
1:10:00 – Tiny Epic Wins
1:14:00 – “What the Flip?” moments
1:18:00 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Us
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Lyme Disease - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/
Alexithymia - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4ky5qgrlpo
Interoception - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/interoception-wellbeing
Beyond Creative Education - https://www.beyondcreativeeducation.org.uk/
⸻
CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
⸻
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Difficulty with transitions - Part 2 | Pete Wharmby
In part two of this deep dive into transitions, Mark reunites with Pete Wharmby to look at more reasons they can cause such a monumental challenge for autistic, ADHD and PDA kids (and adults). From difficulties …
Notes de l’épisode
In part two of this deep dive into transitions, Mark reunites with Pete Wharmby to look at more reasons they can cause such a monumental challenge for autistic, ADHD and PDA kids (and adults).
From difficulties pulling our kids away from screen-time and replacing a broken fridge, to the regular flashpoint of brushing teeth, Mark and Pete share real-life strategies that can make these transitions more manageable - or at the very least a bit more fun.
Pete shares what he wishes more teachers understood, and Mark reflects on how small wins in transition can change the whole feel of a day.
Essential for any parent of neurodivergent kids who has ever said “we need to leave now”… and regretted it instantly.
⸻
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):00:00 - Welcome back and reintroducing Pete Wharmby
02:30 - Recap of what we covered in episode 45 and why transitions affect all neurodivergent kids
06:10 - Screen time, flow states and Pete's oil tanker analogy
16:45 - The role that monotropism plays in transitions
27:00 - Strategies: lead-In Times, choice and routines
36:40 - Understanding how PDA affects transitions and why it’s not just defiance
46:00 - Strategies for control-driven transitions (e.g. declarative language)
55:30 - Difficulty throwing stuff away: fridges, crocs and clinging to familiarity
1:04:30 - Schools as the perfect storm of transitional triggers
1:15:20 - The positives
1:18:00 - Neurodiversity Champions
1:20:40 - Tiny Epic Wins
1:23:15 - "What the flip?" moments
1:26:00 - Wrap-up and thanks
⸻
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:Pete Wharmby website - https://petewharmby.com/
Untypical by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/8gGK6v4
What I Want to Talk About, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/6tY0kZQ
What is monotropism? - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism
Last One Laughing - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LOL:_Last_One_Laughing_UK
Ausome Training, Cothu course - https://ausometraining.com/cothu-with-pete-wharmby
Declarative language - https://lifeskillsadvocate.com/blog/declarative-language-for-neurodivergent-communicators/
Anna Freud - https://www.annafreud.org/
Georgia Pavlopoulou (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-georgia-pavlopoulou-651a042a
Neuro Nook Storytime - https://www.neuronookstorytime.com/
Bedknobs and Broomsticks - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedknobs_and_Broomsticks
Silksong - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Knight:_Silksong
⸻
CONTACT US🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
⸻
CREDITS🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay
Difficulty with transitions - Part 1 | Pete Wharmby
This episode of Neuroshambles, will resonate will all parents of neurodivergent kids, as Mark discusses difficulties with transition with the wonderful autism advocate, Pete Wharmby. Together, they delve into …
Notes de l’épisode
This episode of Neuroshambles, will resonate will all parents of neurodivergent kids, as Mark discusses difficulties with transition with the wonderful autism advocate, Pete Wharmby. Together, they delve into the messy, stressful, and often misunderstood world of transitions – from seemingly small everyday routines to major life changes.
Whether it’s leaving the house, going into school, or prying them away from screen time, transitions can often be a sensory, emotional and logistical nightmare for parents of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids. But why exactly are they so hard – and what can we do to ease the load?
In part one if this two part special, they discuss the neurological and emotional roots of transition difficulties, and how demand avoidance, anxiety and executive dysfunction play a role.
This is an insightful, heartfelt, and cathartic episode full of insight, compassion and practical suggestions, as well as a much-needed sense of solidarity for anyone who’s ever dreaded their kids being invited to a birthday party.
—
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 – Intro and why this is only part one
03:30 – Meet the guest: Pete Wharmby
12:00 – Transitions: What they are and why they’re so difficult
19:00 – Fear of the unknown
25:00 – Why birthday parties can be so anxiety-inducing
32:00 – Strategies for smoother transitions to the unknown
40:00 – School and powerlessness
48:00 – Holidays, Google Earth and visual planning
55:00 – Fear of the Known: Why school can feel like a punishment
1:03:00 – Processing struggles and instruction overload
1:13:00 – Fixable triggers and simple (free) accommodations
1:20:00 – The double-edged sword of hyperfocus
1:24:00 – Neurodiversity Champion: Fight For Ordinary
1:26:30 – Tiny Epic Wins
1:29:00 – What the Flip? Moments
1:33:00 – Wrap-up and tease for part 2
—
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION:
Pete Wharmby website - https://petewharmby.com/
Untypical by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/8gGK6v4
What I Want to Talk About, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/6tY0kZQ
Fight for Ordinary - https://disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk/fight-for-ordinary/
Google Maps Street View - https://www.google.com/streetview/
Google Earth - https://earth.google.com/web/
Ordnance Survey Maps - https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/
Albion In The Community - https://bhafcfoundation.org.uk/
Monotropism and Autism Theory - https://monotropism.org/
Interoception - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/interoception-wellbeing
—
CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
—
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Managing the work/shambles balance | Mark Holborow
How do you hold down a job when your home life is full-on chaos? Mark is joined by fellow dad Mark Holborow to take a refreshingly honest look at the difficulties of holding down a job, while raising …
Notes de l’épisode
How do you hold down a job when your home life is full-on chaos? Mark is joined by fellow dad Mark Holborow to take a refreshingly honest look at the difficulties of holding down a job, while raising neurodivergent kids and trying (often unsuccessfully) to keep those two worlds from colliding..
They explore the dubious benefits of working from home, burnout, discrimination, and what happens when employers don’t understand - or care - about your home life.
Mark Holborrow shares his career journey and how he’s built boundaries that actually work. Mark Allen opens up about the guilt of trying to “do it all”.
It’s a cathartic, relatable deep dive into the realities of navigating employment when your home life is anything but typical - with plenty of laughs, rants, and candid talk about autism, ADHD, PDA and neurodivergent parenting.
⸻
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 – Intro & Listener Survey Feedback
05:30 – Meet the Guest: Mark Holborough
10:00 – The Challenges of working parents
16:30 – Working from Home with neurodifferent Kids
25:00 – Background chaos, interruptions and client calls
33:00 – The emotional guilt of being the breadwinner
40:00 – Supporting the non-working Parent
53:00 – How open can you be at work?
1:00:00 – Hiding a child at work: Real life stories
1:07:00 – Why parents of neuro-exceptional kids make great employees
1:13:00 – The economic cost of caring
1:26:00 – The Positives
1:29:00 – Neurodiversity Champions
1:33:00 – Tiny Epic Wins
1:37:00 – What the Flip? Moments
1:41:00 – Wrap-up and thanks⸻
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
- Neuroshambles Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/2wFVupe4HumCYym6A
- LSE Report – The Economic Case for Prioritising Autism in Policy and Reform: http://lse.ac.uk/cpec/assets/documents/Autismeconomics.pdf
- The Sunflower Alliance – raising awareness of hidden disabilities: https://hdsunflower.com/
- BUPA Medical Insurance: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health/health-insurance-ppc-b
⸻
CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles⸻
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Swearing | Heidi Mavir
Why do so many neurodivergent kids swear - loudly, creatively and often at the worst possible moment? Heidi Mavir returns for a lively and cathartic deep dive into swearing. From F-bombs on the trampoline to …
Notes de l’épisode
Why do so many neurodivergent kids swear - loudly, creatively and often at the worst possible moment? Heidi Mavir returns for a lively and cathartic deep dive into swearing.
From F-bombs on the trampoline to grandparent-safe alternatives, they explore how language, context, and neurodivergent wiring all shape how (and why) our kids swear.
They explore the relationship between swearing and regulation, impulse control, PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), sensory overload, and social context. Heidi shares her take on separating language from intent, and Mark talks about learning when it's best to simply look the other way.
Whether you’re a proudly sweary household or struggling to police your neurodivergent child's potty-mouth moments, this insightful autism parenting podcast episode is packed with nuance, honesty, and a surprising amount of empathy - even for those who hate bad language.
⸻
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Welcome Back & Meet the Guest: Heidi Mavir
03:00 - School Turbulence, Burnout & Finding Your Flow
08:00 - Why Swearing Is This Week’s Topic
12:00 - What Is a Swear Word Anyway?
18:00 - Swearing, Context & Cultural Taboos
25:00 - Family Rules: “Nana Swears” vs “F-Bombs at Home”
33:00 - Parenting Through Swearing: Where Do You Draw the Line?
41:00 - PDA, Equalising Behaviour & Rage Rooms
50:00 - When the Swears Are Aimed at You
58:00 - Swearing as a Self-Regulation Strategy
1:03:00 - Should We Be Policing Swearing at All?
1:12:00 - Swearing and Impulse Control in ADHD
1:17:00 - Teaching Context Without Policing Expression
1:25:00 - Workarounds, Wordplay & Sweary Shenanigans
1:30:00 – Tiny Epic Wins
1:35:00 – What the Flip? Moments
1:40:00 - Wrap-Up & Where to Find Heidi⸻
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
- Heidi Mavir website - https://www.heidimavir.com/
- Heidi’s “Your child is not broken” book - https://amzn.eu/d/cjoih9W
- Eliza Fricker “Can’t not won’t” book - https://amzn.eu/d/91m7voc
- PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/what-is-pda/
- “F*ck you I won’t do what you tell me”, song lyric by Rage Against The Machine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ
Lindsay McGlone - https://www.instagram.com/rollinwithlindsay_/
- Reclaimed Means Business - https://lindsaymcglone.kartra.com/page/RMB2025
⸻
CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles⸻
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Surviving the summer holidays | Lisa Galley
The Summer holidays. Six weeks of unstructured time. No routine. No school. Mark and Lisa Galley explore why the this can be such a challenging experience for parents of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids and why the …
Notes de l’épisode
The Summer holidays. Six weeks of unstructured time. No routine. No school. Mark and Lisa Galley explore why the this can be such a challenging experience for parents of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids and why the concept of a “relaxing summer” is more often myth than reality.
Touching on the common parental feelings of boredom, guilt and the ever-present FOMO, this is a candid, humorous and insightful look at what parents experience over the summer when it seems like we're under house arrest with our neurodivergent kids.
Lisa shares strategies for low-demand structure and building in recovery time. Mark opens up about the fantasy of “the perfect summer” and how letting go of that can actually make things more enjoyable.
Essential listening for anyone trying to survive the school holidays and come out of it with their sanity (mostly) intact.
⸻
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Intro & Meet the Guest: Lisa Galley
04:00 - Introducing the topic of the week
06:30 - The burden of boredom
10:00 - Dealing with guilt of not providing the "perfect" summer
17:00 - The loss of spontaneity and the rampant FOMO
26:30 - The unspoken impact on working parents
30:00 - Attempting to go on holiday
34:00 - The importance of summer holidays for our kids
38:00 - Q&A: Answering listeners' summer holiday questions
41:00 - Testing out home education in the summer
45:00 - How to help yourself as a parent
47:30 - The challenges of co-parenting in the summer holidays
58:00 - Advice from listeners
1:03:00 - The positives of the summer holidays
1:05:00 - Neurodiversity Champions
1:08:30 - Tiny Epic Wins
1:11:30 - "What the Flip?" moments
1:16:30 - Outro and Season Wrap-Up⸻
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
- Lisa Galley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/school_run_mum_autism/
- Parent Carer Cheerleeding Squad Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/parentcarercheerleadingsquad
- Special Assistance at airports - https://www.caa.co.uk/passengers-and-public/special-assistance/accessing-special-assistance/
- We're Not Your Typical Podcast - https://were-not-your-typical-podcast-258bbca3.simplecast.com/
- Let’s Talk Neurodivergent Kids Podcast - https://pod.link/1442067009
- Legoland Windsor Accessibility Pass - https://www.legoland.co.uk/plan-your-day/before-you-visit/accessibility/
- "Holidays" episode of Neuroshambles - https://pod.link/1710455546/episode/2b5dc7973b418c9d6069ced370c409b9
- "Hobbies" episode of Neuroshambles - https://pod.link/1710455546/episode/19a31193017cd7413d681ff3b36119eb
- Lisa Galley's Summer Survival Guide - https://lisagalley.myflodesk.com/survival
⸻
CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles⸻
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
Swimming | Hatty Ashdown
For autistic children - or those with ADHD, PDA, and other forms of neurodivergency, swimming can be simultaneously a magical sensory experience and an absolute logistical nightmare. Hatty Ashdown joins Mark to …
Notes de l’épisode
For autistic children - or those with ADHD, PDA, and other forms of neurodivergency, swimming can be simultaneously a magical sensory experience and an absolute logistical nightmare. Hatty Ashdown joins Mark to dive into the deceptively simple but totally chaotic world of swimming.
From the infuriating act of trying to get them to swim in the first place, to negotiating the changing room routine, navigating the lockers and dealing with their antics in the pool, Mark and Hatty share candid and hilarious tales of what it’s like to take your neuro-exceptional brood swimming - and why we keep doing it, despite the enormous faff.
This is a funny, heartfelt and painfully relatable episode about parenting neurodivergent kids that is well worth a listen if you've ever had to try to retrieve your child from inside a locker.
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Intro & Meet the Guest: Hatty Ashdown
06:00 - Topic of the Week: Swimming
09:00 - Why do neurodivergent kids love swimming?
15:00 - The challenge of teaching neurodivergent kids to swim
30:30 - The massive faff of a swimming trip: Hatty's routine
37:00 - The massive faff of a swimming trip: Mark's routine
42:00 - The chaos of changing rooms
46:30 - The stress of the lockers
53:00 - Shenanigans in the pool
59:30 - Losing their goggles
1:04:00 - The Positives: the joy of swimming
1:08:00 - Neurodiversity champions
1:12:00 - Tiny epic wins
1:15:00 - What the Flip? Moments
1:20:00 - Wrap-Up and Where to Find Hatty⸻
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
• Hatty Ashdown’s Website – https://hattyashdown.com/
• Funny Mummies Podcast: Basics – https://pod.link/1451332466
• Funny Mummies Podcast: VIP (Patreon) – https://www.patreon.com/FunnyMummiesPodcast
• Bella Ramsey (Neurodiversity Champion) – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bella_Ramsey
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CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
⸻
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com
Tackling Ignorance - Part 2 | Jo Matthews
Following on from part 1, fan favourite Jo Matthews joins Mark once more for another laughter-filled, cathartic rant through the most mind-bogglingly ill-informed things people have said about raising autistic …
Notes de l’épisode
Following on from part 1, fan favourite Jo Matthews joins Mark once more for another laughter-filled, cathartic rant through the most mind-bogglingly ill-informed things people have said about raising autistic, ADHD, PDA and otherwise neurodivergent kids.
In this episode, Mark and Jo go deeper into strategies for pushing back against ignorance without burning out.
They discuss when to educate, when to ignore, and how to protect your peace when it feels like the world has no idea what you’re going through.Jo shares practical approaches for raising awareness in schools and extended families, and why some battles just aren’t worth fighting.
This one’s full of laughter, reassurance, solidarity and a few tactical comebacks for the next time someone says, “They seem fine to me.”
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Intro & Meet the Guest: Jo Matthews Returns
05:30 - "Have you tried a routine?"
10:30 - "Have you tried a parenting course?"
13:30 - “Have you tried changing their diet?”
17:00 - "Why don't you take their screens away?"
20:00 - "Does he have mild autism?"
25:30 - Good autism v bad autism
29:00 - “We’re all a bit autistic"
34:30 - "ADHD is just an excuse"
37:00 - “It doesn't define him”
41:00 - "There's nothing wrong with him"
43:00 - Medical v Social models of disability
47:30 - "My kid does that"
50:00 - “He'll eat when he's hungry"
52:30 - “He'll grow out of it"
54:30 - “He doesn't look autistic"
56:30 - “But, he can talk, so he can’t be autistic”
59:00 - “ADHD is just for boys”
1:01:30 - "What's wrong with him?"
1:02:30 - "I bet he's good at maths"
1:04:30 - "I don't know how you do it"
1:07:00 - Misguided empathy: "I know how you feel"
1:09:00 - "But I do that and I'm not autistic"
1:14:00 - The completely batshit mental comments
1:20:00 - Neurodiversity Champions
1:21:30 - Tiny Epic Wins
1:25:00 - "What the flip?" moments
1:27:30 - Wrap-up & contact info
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
The medical vs social models of disability: www.scope.org.uk/about-us/social-model-of-disability/
Autism assessments (AQ Test): www.embrace-autism.com/aq-10/#test
- Bowles Outdoor Centre - www.bowles.rocks
⸻
CONTACT US
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
⸻
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com
Tackling Ignorance - Part 1 | Jo Matthews
In this episode, Mark is joined once again by the brilliant Jo Matthews for a cathartic, hilarious, and occasionally sweary dive into the unfiltered reality of parenting autistic, ADHD and PDA kids. From "It's …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode, Mark is joined once again by the brilliant Jo Matthews for a cathartic, hilarious, and occasionally sweary dive into the unfiltered reality of parenting autistic, ADHD and PDA kids.
From "It's just a label" and "He’s fine with me" to "You just need to push them out of their comfort zone", this is part one of a two-part special on the unsolicited commentary we all get, whether it’s from strangers, family members, or well-meaning-but-utterly-wrong professionals. The kind of comments that pretend to be supportive but are really just dismissive, ignorant, or unhelpfully optimistic.
Together, Mark and Jo share personal stories, listener submissions, and a few moments of pure rage-laughter, as they unpack why these statements cut so deep - and how to push back with humour, honesty, and the occasional incredulous raise of the eyebrow.
If you've ever encountered the ignorance of strangers and you're looking for a neurodivergent parenting podcast that makes you feel seen, this is the one for you.
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 – Intro & Meet the Guest: Jo Matthews
06:00 – “It's just a label”
08:00 - The story of Rube Waddell
16:00 - "Stop Mollycoddling your child"
21:00 - "You let them win too much"
22:30 - "Can't you just make them do it?"
26:00 - "You should make their home life more unpleasant"
28:00 - "Your parenting is wishy washy"
31:00 - "Children just need boundaries"
36:00 - "You need to push them out of their comfort zone"
43:00 - "Are you too afraid to say no?"
48:00 - "How will they manage in the real world?"
52:00 - "Sometimes, it's a choice"
54:00 - "They're just trying to get their own way"
01:02:00 - "They're fine when they're with me"
01:07:00 - The Positives
01:09:30 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:12:00 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:14:30 - What the Flip?
01:17:00 - Wrap-Up & What’s Coming in Part Two⸻
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
- Rube Waddell - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Waddell
- "Am I raising an arsehole?" episode of Neuroshambles -https://pod.link/1710455546/episode/a313c1057becbcd2e24d64c5bf94820e
- "The Explosive Child" book - https://drrossgreene.com/the-explosive-child.htm
⸻
CONTACT US
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles⸻
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com
Why can't they stick with a hobby? | Nicole Bateman
In this episode, Nicole Bateman joins Mark to explore why neurodivergent kids often struggle to take up hobbies - those wholesome after-school activities that see neurotypical kids flourish… but which, for many …
Notes de l’épisode
In this episode, Nicole Bateman joins Mark to explore why neurodivergent kids often struggle to take up hobbies - those wholesome after-school activities that see neurotypical kids flourish… but which, for many parents of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids are either a logistical nightmare, a sensory minefield, or a fast track to public meltdown.
Together, they explore the myths, pressures and downright ridiculousness of what “having hobbies” means when you are parenting neurodivergent children.
Nicole shares how she’s reframed success and what helps her child engage without pressure. Mark opens up about the guilt, the frustration and the financial strain of trying to nurture interests that never seem to last past the first session.
They cover what actually works, what definitely doesn’t, and the benefits of learning to follow your neurodifferent child's lead, so you can meet them where they're at, rather than where you want them to be.
It’s an honest, often funny conversation about persistence, passion and letting go of neurotypical timelines.
STUFF WE COVER:00:00 – Intro & Meet the Guest: Nicole Bateman
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
03:00 – The fantasy of hobbies vs the reality
08:00 – Issues with trust and accessibility
13:00 – After-school clubs
18:00 – The Summer holiday hobby void
25:00 – Trying to force your neurodivergent children to have a hobby
33:00 – Social disconnect in group settings
39:00 – When your best intentions fail
44:00 - Environmental barriers to adopting a hobby
47:00 – Competitive Sport: Gift or Curse?
53:00 – Caesar-or-Nothing syndrome & hobby avoidance
59:00 – Drop-off disasters
1:07:00 – What *does* work?
1:12:00 – It's not all rubbish: A look at the positives
1:15:00 – Neurodiversity Champions
1:23:00 – Tiny Epic Wins
1:26:00 – What the Flip? Moments
1:29:00 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Nicole- Nicole Bateman’s Website – Friendly SEND Advisor and Super Sensory Squad: https://nicolebateman.co.uk/
- Conversations with a SEND Mum – Nicole’s podcast: https://conversationswithasendmum.buzzsprout.com/
- Super Sensory Squad Book – ‘Buzz’s Birthday’ and other penguin-based sensory tools: https://www.thesupersensorysquad.com/
- Cub Scouts: https://www.scouts.org.uk/cubs/being-a-cub/joining-cubs/
- Lisa Lloyd reel - Neurotypicals watching what their parents watch: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIzCFBxNzxT
- “Why Can’t I Just Enjoy Things?” by Pierre Novellie – Caesar-or-nothing brains and comedy insight: https://amzn.eu/d/dSZA4dC
- Minecraft Club - Online Social Group for 7-14 year olds: https://minecraftclub.co.uk/
- Press Play - Stop frame animation workshops in Sussex: https://pressplayfilms.co.uk/
- Boogie Beat - Music and movement classes: https://boogiebeat.co.uk/
- Sam Mills – Disability Tennis Brighton: Email [email protected] for information
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
CREDITS🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com
The nightmare of shopping | Helen Stuart
Shopping - whether it’s for clothes, food or shoes - can be a sensory, emotional and logistical nightmare when you’re parenting autistic or ADHD children. Helen Stuart joins Mark to discuss why “just popping to …
Notes de l’épisode
Shopping - whether it’s for clothes, food or shoes - can be a sensory, emotional and logistical nightmare when you’re parenting autistic or ADHD children. Helen Stuart joins Mark to discuss why “just popping to the shops” is a long-held pipedream.
They share tales from the front line of their own shopping trip traumas, and discuss how sensory overload, PDA, and unpredictable environments make supermarkets and shopping centres feel like hostile territory.
Helen explains the practical steps her family takes to get through it - and when they just opt out entirely. Mark shares how even a trip to the corner shop has to be planned like a military operation, and how public perception adds a whole extra layer of pressure.
A funny, honest episode that every neurodivergent parenting family will relate to.
STUFF WE COVER:00:00 – Intro & Listener Feedback
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
02:00 – Meet the Guest: Helen Stuart
06:00 – Topic of the Week: Shopping
13:00 – Why Supermarkets Are Sensory Torture
19:00 – The Emotional Toll of Trolleys and Comments
25:00 – PDA Autonomy, Meltdowns, and the Elsa Cup Incident
33:00 – Supermarket Sweep, PDA-Style
39:00 – Self-Checkouts vs Human Interaction
45:00 – Clothing & Footwear Battles
52:00 – Lush, Libraries and Return Rage
59:00 – When Book Tokens Become a Poisoned Chalice
1:04:00 – The Positives (Yes, Really!)
1:10:00 – Neurodiversity Champions
1:16:00 – Tiny Epic Wins
1:20:00 – What the Flip? Moments
1:23:00 – Wrap-Up & Thrive Together InfoPDA Society - Support and resources for families living with a PDA profile: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk
Supermarket Sweep - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarket_Sweep_(British_game_show)
Sunflower Lanyard Scheme - For invisible disabilities: https://hiddendisabilitiesstore.com
Waterstones Book Tokens - https://www.waterstones.com/help/gift-cards-and-vouchers/32
H&M - https://www2.hm.com/en_gb/kids.html
Skechers - https://www.skechers.co.uk/kids/
Lindsay's Swim School - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063580090089&sk=about
Nelson Street Church, Rochdale - https://www.nelsonstreetchurch.org/
Thrive Together Training website – https://thrivetogethertraining.co.uk
Thrive Together Training Facebook page – www.facebook.com/thrivetogethertraining
Thrive Together Training Instagram account – www.instagram.com/thrivetogethertraining
⸻
CONTACT US🎧 Do you have a “What the flip?” moment or a tiny epic win to share?
📧 Email us: [email protected]⸻
FOLLOW US📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles⸻
CREDITS🎶 Theme tune by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com
School: The Early Years | Helen Daniel
Starting school is a big deal for any child – but for neurodivergent children, it can be the beginning of a long and complicated relationship with the education system. Mark is joined by Helen Daniel to explore …
Notes de l’épisode
Starting school is a big deal for any child – but for neurodivergent children, it can be the beginning of a long and complicated relationship with the education system. Mark is joined by Helen Daniel to explore what happens when the school system isn’t built for your child.
They discuss transitions, sensory overload, academic gaslighting and the slow-burning isolation that builds in the school playground (for kids and parents alike), as they dissect the emotional rollercoaster of watching your child struggle in a system not built for them.
Together, they share tips for advocating for your child while staying sane – and what they wish they’d known from the beginning.
If you’re looking for an autism, ADHD or PDA parenting podcast episodes about starting school, this one is essential listening.
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STUFF WE COVER:
00:00 – Intro & Listener Message
01:45 – Meet the Guest: Helen Daniel
06:00 – Topic of the Week: Early Years & School
21:00 – Sensory Profiles and Unrealistic Expectations
34:00 – ND Communication Styles & Social Hierarchies
47:00 – Parent Isolation and Drop-Off Struggles
56:30 – School Pickup Dread & Neurodivergent Burnout
1:03:00 – What Needs to Change in Education
1:04:45 – Neurodiversity Champions
1:09:00 – Tiny Epic Wins
1:14:00 – What the Flip? Moments
1:17:00 – Wrap-Up & Helen’s Book Plug⸻
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Outside the Box Sensory (Helen’s website for talks, training and resources) - https://outsidetheboxsensory.com
Follow Helen on Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/otbsensory
Follow Helen on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/outsidetheboxsensory
Helen’s book – Neurosensory Divergence: Autistic Languages and Inclusion (Amazon): https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CV4PSMH7
The Double Empathy Problem – Dr. Damian Milton: https://reframingautism.org.au/miltons-double-empathy-problem-a-summary-for-non-academics
Heidi Mavir Neuroshambles Empathy Episode - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-avrx7-17af07c
Pete Wharmby Neuroshambles Masking Episode - https://www.podbean.com/ew/pb-cke9u-18156f6
Progressive Education – Resources for alternative provision and inclusive practice: https://www.progressiveeducation.org
Grove Neurodivergent Mentoring & Education – Interest-based communities for ND kids: https://www.gr0ve.org/
Silent Disco - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_disco⸻
CONTACT US
🎧 Got a “What the flip?” moment or a tiny epic win to share?
📧 Email us: [email protected]⸻
FOLLOW US
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles⸻
CREDITS
🎶 Theme tune by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com
Being the token neurotypical | Kirsty Hockenhull
Have you ever felt like the odd one out in your own family? In this episode, Mark chats with Kirsty Hockenhull, a fellow self-diagnosed neurotypical in the midst of a chaotic, neurodivergent household. They …
Notes de l’épisode
Have you ever felt like the odd one out in your own family? In this episode, Mark chats with Kirsty Hockenhull, a fellow self-diagnosed neurotypical in the midst of a chaotic, neurodivergent household. They discuss how it feels to be the lone neurotypical in a family teeming with autism, ADHD, and PDA - touching on everything from helping them navigate everyday social conventions to how to cope when your emotional needs are the only ones not being accommodated for.
They discuss the challenges of bridging two worlds - interpreting “neurotypical” rules for neurodivergent loved ones, while also learning where those same social norms should be thrown out of the window altogether.
There are candid insights into parenting styles, navigating brutal honesty (“Mum, why are you so old?” or “Dad, you should iron your face!”), and the realisation that sometimes your greatest strength is simply having enough “spoons” to hold it all together.
A light-hearted but deeply affirming neurodivergent parenting podcast episode for mixed-neurotype families.
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Pizza Express - https://www.pizzaexpress.com/
The Great Escape - https://greatescapefestival.com/
Wife Swap - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wife_Swap_(British_TV_series)
Gorilla Gym - https://amzn.eu/d/bpK6C0G
Angela Barnes – https://www.angelabarnescomedy.co.uk/
The Stimming Pool - https://www.thestimmingpool.com/
Electric Palace Cinema, Hastings - https://www.electricpalacecinema.com/
Lucy Bronze – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xriJ8wZm1w4⸻
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions, or any “What the flip?” moments you’d like to share, feel free to email us:
⸻
FOLLOW US
Instagram: instagram.com/neuroshambles
TikTok: tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
Facebook: facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: threads.net/@neuroshambles⸻
CREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay:
https://pixabay.com/Thank you for listening and being part of the Neuroshambles community. If you enjoyed this episode, please tell a friend, leave a review, or share it on social media. Have a nice life!
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