Shows
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
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastFinding Each Other in the Hardest Moments of Neurodivergent ParentingEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textHave you ever felt completely alone while managing your child's meltdown in public? That moment when all eyes seem to be on you, judging your parenting skills, and you just wish someone would silently acknowledge they understand what you're going through?The Typically Untypical movement was born from exactly this experience. In this deeply personal episode, I share how witnessing a parent's struggle with their distressed child in a doctor's waiting room sparked an idea that's growing into something much bigger than...2025-07-0822 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastIs A Good Enough Parent, Good Enough?Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textHave you ever felt overwhelmed by the pressure to be the perfect parent? Take a deep breath – you're not alone, and this conversation might be exactly what you need to hear.Speech and language therapist Ruth Jones talks with me about the concept of being a "good enough" parent, when I ask her if she is the perfect parent. We talk about:• The liberating concept of being a "good enough" parent instead of striving for perfection• How COVID-19 impacte...2025-07-0154 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastDyslexic Parenting (part 2): My Brain Uses a Postage Stamp When Others Have A4 PagesEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textPart 2Ever wondered what it's like navigating complex systems with dyslexia while trying to advocate for your children's needs? The mental gymnastics can be exhausting, yet this challenge remains largely invisible in discussions about parenting.When a dyslexic parent faces walls of text in emails, dense reports, or complicated forms, what neurotypical brains process effortlessly becomes a cognitive marathon. As I share in this episode, my working memory operates on a "postage stamp" while others enjoy an entire A4 page—mea...2025-06-2422 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastThe Consent Compass: Navigating Parenting Beyond "Because I Said So"Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat happens when we throw away the parenting rulebook and embrace our authentic, imperfect selves? In this fascinating conversation with Jen Wilson (aka Irregular Jen), we explore the radical idea that perfect parenting is not only impossible—it's not even desirable.Jen, founder of the International Day of Consent and self-described "rebel with a cause," challenges conventional parenting wisdom with refreshing honesty. "Anyone who claims they're the perfect anything can get lost," they declare early in our discussion, setting the stage for a...2025-06-1756 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastDyslexic Parenting part 1: When Your Kids Outspell You: The Hidden Impact of Dyslexia on ParentingEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textOn this episode of The Untypical Parent, I’m sharing something personal about what it’s really like to parent with dyslexia. This is Part 1 of a two-part deep dive, and it's one I’ve wanted to do for a long time. What’s in store?Dyslexia touches so many areas of my life, far beyond reading and writing. As a parent, it shows up in ways that are often invisible—but very real. In this episode, I open up about my ow...2025-06-1022 min
The Untypical Parent™ Podcast"The Lone Neurotypical Crouton in a Spicy Neurodivergent Soup"Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textEver felt like you're the only parent struggling while everyone else seems to have it all figured out? Then this raw, honest conversation with Mark is exactly what you need.A self-described "undiagnosed neurotypical" dad raising three neurodivergent children. Mark candidly shares when he stopped seeing his son's behaviour as defiance and started understanding it as communication. Mark talks about how he learned to meet his children where they are rather than forcing them to meet expectations.We t...2025-06-0356 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastSafety In Plan! - You what?!? Why parents need plans.Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textPlans can provide safety, reduce anxiety, and create a sense of control for parents in additional needs families when everything feels chaotic. They help reduce cognitive load and mental demand, giving us space to be more present with our children.• Plans work best when they're flexible and adaptable to changing circumstances• Written plans take pressure off our working memory, especially during stressful moments• Types of plans include burnout recovery, community outings, safety during dysregulation, and exit strategies• Planning ahead helps ma...2025-05-2024 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastBeyond Attendance: Parenting Through EBSA & NeurodivergenceEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textIn this episode I talk with Clare Baker from Restlessminds UK. Clare and I go deep into the raw realities of parenting, neurodivergence, and the often unseen emotional toll of navigating a broken education system. Clare shares her powerful story of becoming a mum at 19, being diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and why she chose to remove her daughter from mainstream education to protect her mental health.We unpack:💥 Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)💥 Advocacy for SEN children and ne...2025-05-131h 16
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastIt's Not That No One Is Helping.....Maybe We're Not Letting ThemEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textThe Untypical Parent Talks to HerselfWhy we often say "no" even when we desperately need support? In this episode, I’m talking about something so many of us struggle with—accepting help. You know that pressure to have it all together and do everything ourselves? Yep, that. I get into how thinking of help as some kind of transaction can actually make it harder to let people in, and how sometimes we push support away so much that people stop...2025-05-0625 min
The Untypical Parent™ PodcastWhen The Typical 9-5 Employment Doesn't Fit Your FamilyEnjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat happens when your perfectly planned approach to parenting collides with the unpredictable reality and it doesn't end up fitting the job description! Helen Buzdugan knows this territory intimately. As a late-diagnosed ADHDer, careers advisor, and founder of True To You Careers, Helen shares her raw, emotional journey from parenting, discovering not only hers but her children's neurotype, from juggling work and parenting, to burnout and then recovery.Helen's story begins with a self-confessed perfectionist approach to parenthood, to her noticing the...2025-04-2957 min