Shows
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastHolding The Line: Boundaries, Burnout, And Brave Parenting with Chrissa from Sunshine SupportEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textIn this episode of The Untypical Parent Podcast, I’m joined by Chrissa Wadlow from Sunshine Support, and this one turns into a proper real-life chat (the kind I know so many of us need).Chrissa shares her journey as a SEND parent, including the very real reality of battling systems, being judged, and the toll that takes on your health and your whole family.From there we get into boundaries, not ju...
2026-03-031h 01
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastWhen Is It the Right Time? EOTAS, School Trauma & The Fear of Letting GoEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textLiving in a neurodivergent family can feel like walking barefoot through a dark room full of Lego.In this episode, I share a powerful metaphor from listener Lindsay Morris, and then take you into something very real happening in my own family right now.After four years of recovery, support and rebuilding trust through an EOTAS package (Education Otherwise Than At School), my son is considering returning to school.And I am terrified.Not because he...
2026-02-2416 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastParenting Stress & Burnout: How to Step Back From the Edge with Dr Lee DavidEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat if the smallest straw isn’t the cause of your collapse, but the clue you’ve been carrying too much for too long? We sit down with Dr Lee David, GP, CBT therapist, author, and host of The Choice Space, to make stress understandable, visible, and workable for real families navigating complex lives.We start by ditching the myth of the perfect parent and unpack why children need different versions of us. From there, Lee maps the physiology and psychology of stre...
2026-02-1753 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastThe Wins That Matter: Strengths, Self-Esteem & Neurodivergent ParentingEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textParenting in a neurodivergent family is many things. Boring is most definitely not one of them.In this episode, I reflect on a listener message from Carla Berlin that perfectly captures something so many of us live every day: the exhaustion, the unpredictability, and those incredible moments where our children completely amaze us. The wins that might seem small to others, trying a new food, speaking up, managing an environment they couldn’t before, can feel absolutely monumental in our families....
2026-02-1011 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastYou’re Not Alone: Autism, ADHD, School Struggles, Diagnosis & Parenting with Greer JonesEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a text “I learned quickly that I am my child’s voice. No one else will care the way I do.” This quote from Greer captures the heart of our conversation. Greer shares her experience of autism, ADHD, school systems, and the realities of raising a neurodivergent child in the UK.Originally from the US and now based in England, Greer opens up about trusting her “mama gut,” facing dismissal from professionals, advocating fiercely for her son, and discovering her own ADHD along...
2026-02-0337 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastMy brain has a soundtrack - anyone else?Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textThis week I share a comment from a listener. Sharon Thompson wrote what it’s like parenting in a neurodivergent family, the realities people don’t always see, and the strength it takes to keep showing up.And in amongst that I’m bringing a little lightness too… because I’ve realised something about myself, I regulate with singing.But I also think in songs.Words and phrases trigger lyrics, and yes, sometimes I even treat everyone to a “perfect” song line… unt...
2026-01-2711 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastFostering children with SEND: the highs, the lows, and a lot of love with Jordan Garratt from Sensory ClassroomEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textContent Note: This episode includes discussion of foster care, trauma, low mood and suicidal feelings. If these topics are difficult for you, please take care while listening. If you are struggling, please consider speaking to someone you trust or seeking support. In the UK & ROI, Samaritans are available 24/7 on 116 123 or at samaritans.org. Jordan Garratt, founder of Sensory Class, joins us to tell the story few people know about: the teacher who fell in love wi...
2026-01-2053 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastParenting in a neurodivergent family is...... like riding a bike with a flat tyre...Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textIn this short series, parents in neurodivergent families tell us what it's really like. In this episode Laura explains "parenting in a neurodivergent family is like riding a bike with a flat tyre, with a blindfold on, one hand tied behind your back… oh and I just realised the other wheel fell off". If this episode rings true leave a message in the comments to let other parents know they aren't alone. If you'd like to contribute to the show plea...
2026-01-1311 min
Lizness SchoolS2E11: Memoir Writing with John Evans, The Values BridgeToday's episode starts with a conversation with John Evans, a Lecturer in Nonfiction in the Creative Writing Department at Stanford University. John was Liz's memoir writing teacher during her year as a Fellow in Stanford's Distinguished Careers Institute. Their conversation is about why people get interested in memoir writing and why being in a memoir writing group can be so meaningful. John leads groups and workshops through Memoir Mentors His two published memoirs are Young Widower: A Memoir (University of Nebraska Press, 2014), and Should I Still Wish: A Memoir. (University of Nebraska Press, 2017)In the second half o...
2026-01-0838 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastWhy Parenting Feels So Hard When You Have ADHD & RSD with Laura KerbeyEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textIn this episode, Laura Kerbey, author and founder of PAST (Positive Assessments, Support and Training), shares her lived experience of growing up undiagnosed with ADHD, and how that shaped not only her childhood but adulthood and parenthood as well.Laura talks honestly about how deeply she wanted to be a parent, alongside how challenging parenting felt while living with undiagnosed ADHD and Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). She opens up about the overwhelm, the self-doubt, and the low moments, but also the joy...
2026-01-0651 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastI Dropped A Ball And Nearly Missed Christmas: Life In A Neurodivergent FamilyEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textIn this bonus episode of The Untypical Parent Podcast, I admit something slightly embarrassing: I dropped a ball… a Christmas-shaped ball. Somewhere between broken legs, work deadlines, end-of-term chaos, questionable diary scheduling, and trying to remember if we own wrapping paper (I can't find any and the shops have sold out), I genuinely thought Christmas was still 1.5 weeks away. (It isn’t.)So, let’s talk about the mental load, especially in neurodivergent families. If your brain feels like an open browser with 8...
2025-12-2315 minLizness SchoolS2E10: Liz and Leah Review Their GoalsOn today's episode, Liz and Leah review the goals they each set at the beginning of the school year. BUT FIRST, a listener supplies our searched-for alternative word for retirement. Tune in to hear it.At the end of the episode, we have an assignment for listeners to execute over the holiday break. Our first episode in 2026 will include our experience taking Suzy Welch's Values Bridge Assessment. You can do it too. take it here.We'll be back on January 8th to discuss the Values Bridge and interview Stanford Memoir Writing teacher John Evans.
2025-12-1834 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastUntypical Parenting: Friends, Laughter and ConnectionEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textUntypical Parenting One Year OnThe best stories start where the script stops working. Marking a full year of The Untypical Parent Podcast, we sit down with two people who helped shape it from day one, Charlotte from Badger Education, my first-ever guest, and Sam, from Something Profound, the first sponsor, to explore what it really takes to raise neurodivergent kids without a rulebook. This is a celebration, yes, but it’s mostly an unfiltered look at brave choices, messy progress, and th...
2025-12-1654 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastNeurodivergence, Dadhood, Diagnosis, And Doing Your Best with David from Neuro Dad's DiaryEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat if “perfect” parenting is the wrong goal, and honest repair is the real superpower? I sit down with David, the Dad behind NeuroDad’s Diary, to explore what changes when a late ADHD diagnosis reframes years of anxiety, overwhelm, and self-critique. He shares how sensory triggers, bedtime chaos, and the relentless unpredictability of young kids land in a neurodivergent nervous system.We unpack the invisible load many neurodivergent parents carry: the thoughts you bottle during meltdowns and the guilt that piles up whe...
2025-12-0250 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastSquirrels, Penguins, And ParentingEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textIn this episode I sit down with Steph Simpson, a late-identified ADHD mom on a pathway for autism assessment, to explore how a simple language shift—calling ADHD “squirrels” and autism “penguins”—reshaped her family’s daily life. Instead of labels that freeze kids in place, her home uses playful cues to redirect with warmth. When she glitches mid-task, a quiet “Mom, squirrels” brings her back without shame. The same approach helps her children navigate transitions, toothbrushing, and sensory overload.Steph takes us through the emo...
2025-11-1834 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastWhen Your Parenting Plane Gets Diverted to AmsterdamEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat happens when your carefully planned parenting journey takes an unexpected turn? For Archie, specialist ADHD nurse prescriber and director of ADHD Care Limited, raising a neurodivergent child meant learning to embrace a completely different path than the one he'd imagined.This deeply honest conversation explores the complexity of neurodivergent family life through both professional expertise and raw personal experience. Archie shares his journey raising an autistic/ADHD, 10-year-old son, alongside a 6-year-old neurotypical daughter, describing the unique challenges this creates for...
2025-11-0454 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastBDD: What is it? Early Signs, Misdiagnosis, and How Parents Can HelpEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textI sit down with Sam Milburn to unpack body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), what it is, why it hides in plain sight, and how parents can spot early signs. We share practical next steps, from navigating CAMHS to using scripts that break reassurance loops without breaking trust.We cover:• BDD defined • Early signs in teens including checking, avoidance and reassurance seeking• Why shame and lack of insight delay help and fuel misdiagnosis• The impact at home, school and with...
2025-10-2149 min
Conversations with a SEND MumDyslexia, ADHD and Parent burnout: Nicole Bateman chats with Liz EvansIn this episode of Conversations with a SEND Mum, Nicole sits down with Liz Evans; an Occupational Therapist, mum, and the brilliant mind behind The Untypical OT.Together they dive into an honest chat about dyslexia, parental burnout, and what it really means to live and work while navigating neurodivergence as both a parent and professional.Liz shares her journey with dyslexia and how it has shaped the way she approaches her work and supports families. Nicole opens up about her own ADHD diagnosis, how it helped her understand her patterns of overwhelm and hyperfocus, a...
2025-10-0836 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastAutistic Girls, Women and Non Binary People with Cathy from The Autistic Girls NetworkEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textKathy Wassell, CEO and founder of the Autistic Girls Network Charity, talks with me about her journey creating supportive spaces for neurodivergent individuals, particularly women and girls who are often missed in traditional diagnostic pathways.What began as a simple online community has blossomed into a charity serving over 32,000 members, providing training to schools, and offering vital support to neurodivergent girls and non binary people across the UK in a variety of ways.We dive into a range of...
2025-10-0745 min
New Hampshire Has IssuesClean Energy (is not scary) with Sam Evans-BrownCelebrity guest! Liz asks Sam Evans-Brown to do some heavy lifting as Liz learned zero things about anything "energy" related in high school. As much as Liz hates change, it's time to learn a little bit.Tune in to get answers to questions like, "What's a watt?" and "What kind of outlet do you need for an electric vehicle?" and "Is Massachusetts doing things worse than New Hampshire?" and "What on earth is 'net metering'?!"...and many more.New episodes on Tuesdays.Become a supporter of the show -->...
2025-09-3052 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastDemand Avoidance Decoded with Libby HillEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat actually is PDA?Speech and language therapist Libby Hill cuts through the confusion with clarity and compassion, drawing on decades of clinical experience and her work with leading PDA researchers."There's demand avoidance, and then there's PDA," Libby explains, highlighting the crucial differences that parents and professionals often miss. While many children resist external demands for logical reasons—sensory discomfort, lack of interest, or burnout—true PDA involves an illogical resistance even to things the person wants to do. This...
2025-09-2348 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastWhy Neurodivergent Parents Are EpicEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textIn this episode, Jodie talks about her journey from unconsciously trying to be the “perfect yummy mummy” to showing up as her real, neurodivergent self in parenting. A big turning point was her eldest daughter’s autism diagnosis, which set her on a path of self-discovery and completely shifted how she saw both herself and her role as a parent.She shares openly about the tough stuff too — battling the education system, being on the receiving end of parent blame, and going through...
2025-09-0955 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastNavigating the September Back-to-School / Learning Shifts in Rhythms for Neurodivergent FamiliesEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textEver noticed how we pour endless energy into helping our kids through back-to-school transitions, but we completely forget about ourselves? Welcome back to the Untypical Parent podcast for Season Three, where we're diving straight into what can be one of the most challenging times of year for neurodivergent families.Those end-of-summer transitions create what I call "shifts in rhythms" - those jarring changes that affect our entire household's equilibrium. While we're busy preparing and getting ready to support our children with the...
2025-09-0222 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastF1 & Sparkles: How Racing Cars Connected UsEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textThe summer holidays bring a unique rhythm to neurodivergent families with a "sweet spot" emerging between the transition from school and the anxiety of returning. This episode explores finding connection through our children's special interests during these periods.• Taking time for one-on-one connections with each child through their special interests• Experiencing the joy of witnessing someone talk about their "glimmers" or passionate interests• How a trip to Silverstone created meaningful connection with my Formula 1-loving son• Remembering to use your chi...
2025-08-1231 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastParenting with Chronic Illness: Finding Your PathEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textChronic illness doesn't come with a parenting manual. That's why this conversation with Rebecca (the Chronically Resilient OT) feels like a breath of fresh air for anyone trying to raise children while managing their own health challenges."Perfect is the enemy of done," Rebecca reminds us, cutting straight through the guilt that plagues so many parents with chronic conditions. Drawing from her unique perspective as both an occupational therapist and someone living with chronic illness and neurodivergence, she offers practical wisdom that...
2025-08-0550 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastParenting On High Alert: Living with Childhood EpilepsyEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat happens when your child's first seizure changes everything? Nicole Bateman, host of "Conversations with a Send Mum" podcast, takes us beyond the stereotypical understanding of epilepsy into a world most people never see. "Before my son had his first seizure, when I heard the word epilepsy, I would think of flashing lights and shaking on the floor," Nicole shares, before telling us that there are over 40 different types of seizures, each manifesting in unique ways. Most surprising? Only a very amount o...
2025-07-2938 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastFinding Your Neurodivergent Family's Holiday Sweet SpotEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textPLEASE NOTE THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE OF NAME FOR THE VIDEO AND TOP TIPS DOWNLOAD. IT IS NOW CALLED THE NEURODIVERGENT FAMILY HOLIDAY GUIDE - it does what is says on the tin.Ever felt like your family is the only one struggling through what should be a blissful vacation experience? You're definitely not alone. The gap between holiday expectations and reality can be enormous, especially for families navigating additional needs.Stepping away from the glossy brochure images of...
2025-07-2318 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastADHD, Hormones & Parenting: What no one tells you aboutEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textSarah West shares her journey as a late-diagnosed ADHD woman navigating the challenges of perimenopause while parenting two neurodivergent daughters. She explains how declining estrogen levels during perimenopause can significantly worsen ADHD symptoms by further reducing dopamine production.• Understanding the complex relationship between hormones and ADHD symptoms• Recognising how perimenopause can amplify existing ADHD challenges• Differentiating between ADHD symptoms and perimenopause effects• Finding ADHD coaches with proper training and credentials• Advocating for yourself within healthcare systems that often dismiss wo...
2025-07-1554 min