Shows
The PDA Parenting PodcastVoice, Vision, and Validation: A Conversation With Diane Gould on Empowering Neurodivergent LivesIn this powerful episode of The PDA Parenting Podcast, host Amy Kotha is joined by Diane Gould, LCSW - a veteran therapist, late-diagnosed autistic woman, and Director of PDA North America. Diane shares her personal journey to discovering her neurodivergence and how it informs her professional mission to amplify PDA awareness and advocacy across the continent.Together, Amy and Diane dive into what it truly means for neurodivergent individuals - especially those with a PDA profile - to find their voice in a world that often misunderstands them. From school struggles and masking to identity, self-advocacy, and...2025-07-2946 minThe PDA Parenting PodcastLife with a PDA Sibling: A Raw Conversation with DeviWhat is it really like to grow up with a sibling who has PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) autism? In this powerful episode, I sit down with my daughter Devika -an autistic, ADHD teen herself - to talk about her personal experience as the sister of a PDA child. Devi shares openly about the emotional ups and downs, how family dynamics were affected, and what helped her feel seen in a home where one child needed constant support.This heartfelt conversation touches on the invisible sibling role, neurodivergent family dynamics, and the unique challenges of being both a...2025-07-1743 minThe PDA Parenting PodcastSupporting the Siblings of PDAers: Roles, Repair, & Real TalkHow does growing up with a PDA sibling shape a child’s identity, needs, and voice? In this episode of The PDA Parenting Podcast, Amy Kotha explores the often overlooked experience of siblings in families raising a child with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA autism).Drawing from her own family’s story and her experience as a parent coach, Amy shares:How PDA shapes family dynamics and sibling rolesPersonal reflections on her daughter Devi’s journey as the sister of a PDAer2025-06-1418 minThe PDA Parenting PodcastInside the PDA Experience: Conversations With Maya on Feeling TrappedIn this powerful and deeply personal episode, Amy is joined by her daughter Maya - who shares her lived experience as a PDA autistic teen. Together, they explore the PDA experience of feeling trapped: at school, in the medical system, and inside her own mind.From second-grade meltdowns to high school shutdowns to hospital sensory overwhelm, Maya speaks candidly about what “feeling trapped” really means for someone with a PDA profile. Amy and Maya discuss nervous system overwhelm, the importance of autonomy, why being heard matters, and how PDAers often struggle to express what’s happening intern...2025-06-0255 minThe PDA Parenting PodcastFeeling Trapped: What it's Like for PDA Kids - and ParentsIn this episode, Amy Kotha explores the powerful theme of feeling trapped - a core experience for many PDA autistic kids and a familiar reality for their parents, too. She breaks down what “trapped” looks like at different ages and shares five ways to help everyone in the family feel more free.For PDAers, trapped doesn’t just mean physically stuck - it’s about a lack of autonomy, emotional overwhelm, and a nervous system in constant survival mode. Amy walks through how this shows up in kids, teens, and parents alike, and offers strategies to break th...2025-06-0220 minThe PDA Parenting PodcastWhen Their Struggles Become Ours: Parenting Through the Ups and DownsIn this reflective solo episode, Amy Kotha shares a deeply personal story about parenting her PDA daughter through a major life transition - and how her daughter’s struggles unexpectedly derailed her own plans.Amy explores what happens when parenting a child with PDA autism pulls us off our own path and into their emotional storms. From delayed podcast launches to insights about co-regulation, enmeshment, and grace, this episode offers validation and practical wisdom for parents feeling stuck. You’ll learn how to stay grounded, reframe guilt, and remember that your needs matter too.If this...2025-06-0214 minThe PDA Parenting PodcastPDA & Social Masking: Understanding Hidden StrugglesIn Part 2 of our introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), host Amy Kotha explores the social characteristics that make this autism profile so complex - especially masking, fluctuating social skills, and the surprising ways demand avoidance shows up in relationships.Amy shares personal stories and expert insights to help parents recognize common PDA traits like masking at school, social burnout, resistance to hierarchy, and people-centered obsessive behaviors. Learn how PDAers can seem socially skilled yet struggle deeply with internal demands and regulation. Understanding these patterns is key to providing brain-based, empathetic support at home.If...2025-06-0221 minThe PDA Parenting PodcastWhat Is Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)? A Parent's GuideIn this inaugural episode of The PDA Parenting Podcast, host Amy Kotha - parent coach and mom to a teen with PDA autism - introduces the concept of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Learn about the key characteristics of PDA, its impact on children's behavior, and why understanding this profile is crucial for effective parenting.Amy shares her personal journey navigating the complexities of raising a child with PDA, shedding light on the challenges and breakthroughs along the way. This episode covers:An overview of PDA and its distinction within the autism spectrumThe neurological underpinnings of PDA...2025-05-2815 min
The Power in Motion PodcastParenting Neurodivergent Children with Love and Understanding with Amy KothaIn this episode of the Power in Motion podcast, we sit down with Amy Kotha, a mother turned coach for parents of neurodivergent children. Amy shares her personal journey from a career in IT and real estate to becoming a dedicated advocate and coach for parents of neurodivergent kids, stemming from her experiences parenting two adopted, neurodivergent teenagers from Calcutta, India. She delves into the complexities and challenges of understanding and advocating for her childr...2024-05-1545 min
Chitty Chats with StacyWhat is the Hardest Part of ParentingToday's guest is Amy Kotha. Amy is a parent coach who specializes in working with moms who have adopted. We discuss parenting, trauma, resilience, adoption, and how this journey of motherhood does not always go the way we planned. Amy's vulnerability and strength is a gift to all of us. In this episode, Stacy Nation, a licensed clinical social worker, interviews Amy Kotha. Stacy starts by giving a brief introduction about her work, and her relationship with Amy. Then Amy starts to talk about who she is, her journey from being a parent to a life and...2023-12-1435 min