Neurodivergent Conversations | Autism Spectrum, ADHD, AuDHD, PDA, Emotional Regulation, Neurodivergent parent

If your child's meltdowns, big feelings, and constant motion have ever left you wondering what is really going on underneath it all, this episode is going to give you a whole new lens. This week I'm joined by Dana Kay, founder of the ADHD Thrive Institute, who has worked with more than 1,600 families and walked this road with her own son, who was diagnosed at four and is now 16 and thriving. After years of trial-and-error with medication, Dana went back to school, dug into the science, and started looking at ADHD symptoms in a completely different way. Her big idea is one I keep thinking about: behavior is communication. Instead of asking “why is my child behaving like this,” she invites us to ask “what might be stressing his system.” We talk about the hidden stressors she sees come up again and again in her work, from gut health and food sensitivities to nutrient depletion and that cumulative “trash can” load on the body. She shares the simple, doable first step she gives overwhelmed families (hint: it starts at breakfast and involves zero perfection), plus her no naked carb rule that any tired mama can actually pull off. We also get real about what thriving truly looks like, and spoiler, it is not a perfect home with zero meltdowns. It is calmer, more connected, more ordinary in the very best way. A gentle note before you dive in: everything Dana shares here comes from her own experience and her work with families, and every child is different. Think of this as food for thought, not a prescription. Please loop in your own doctor or care team before making changes to food, supplements, or anything else for your kiddo. If you've been stuck in survival mode and quietly wondering if there's more to the story, come listen. There's so much hope in this one. Check out her website and resources here Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you're raising more than one neurodivergent kid and quietly wondering why what works for one does absolutely nothing for the other, this conversation is going to feel like such a relief. This week I'm joined by Dalisse Sequeiros, mom to two autistic boys who could not be more different, and a children's book author who turned her family's real life into stories that help other kids feel seen. Along the way, Dalisse was also diagnosed as autistic herself, so she's parenting and understanding her own brain at the same time, something she beautifully calls rewriting her own history while staying present and building her boys' future. We talk about how one son melts down in a quiet, dim room while the other needs to move and throw and be held in a safe space, and why that old saying rings so true: when you know one autistic kid, you know one autistic kid. Dalisse shares how her books started as a simple birthday social story in PowerPoint and grew into a whole series on meltdowns, masking, bullying, and confidence. And if you're in the thick of the hard days right now, exhausted and carrying that heavy dark cloud of guilt and grief, her words for you near the end are so tender. The cloud lifts. It might not get easier exactly, but it gets easier to carry. Trust your gut, let your kid just be, and remember they're moving at their own perfect pace. Come sit with us for this one. You'll walk away feeling a little lighter and a lot less alone. GUEST LINKS: Follow Dalisse Grab her books here GET THE LINKS ⁠⁠⁠The Unfinished Idea Website Join the Unfinished Community Exhausted to Empowered Course Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever tried to talk your neurodivergent child through a big feeling and just hit a wall? Same. In this episode I sat down with Katherine, a neuro-affirming counsellor and craniosacral therapist, to talk about why words are not always the way in, and what to reach for instead. We start somewhere that might gently rearrange how you think about feelings. You know the “name it to tame it” idea? Katherine reminds us that naming a feeling is actually the last step, not the first. For so many neurodivergent and highly sensitive kids, the felt experience in the body comes long before the words, and honestly our language is too small to hold all of it. She also says something I have been shouting about for years: we are not meant to tell our kids how they feel. Instead of “I see you’re sad,” we can get down on their level and ask, what is happening in your body? What do you notice in your heart, your tummy, your feet? Is there a colour for this? An animal? A character? For the kids who love to get into character, this can open a door that “use your words” never could. We get into the vagus nerve too (yes, I am obsessed, and no, you are not crazy for finding it fascinating). Katherine breaks down how our nervous system is constantly scanning for safety, why co-regulation matters so much, and why she is not a fan of the word “regulation” at all. A lot of what gets called regulation, she says, is really just asking our kids to keep their feelings in and perform calm for the world. And then there is the part for you, mama. Because you are co-regulating everyone in your house, often while running on empty. Katherine shares simple ways to come back to your own body so you can respond instead of react, and she even guides us through a short somatic exercise called the salamander (from Stanley Rosenberg’s book Accessing the Healing Power of the Vagus Nerve). It takes a couple of minutes, and I felt the shift in real time. A gentle note before you listen: Katherine is sharing from her own training and experience as a counsellor and craniosacral therapist, so think of everything here as encouragement and ideas rather than a prescription. You know your family best, so take what fits and loop in your own care team or practitioner for anything specific to you or your child. If you have ever felt like the talk-it-out approach just is not landing, this one is for you. Come listen, take a breath, and remember you are not doing any of this alone. GUEST LINKS:  Grab some great resources by Katherine here GET THE LINKS The Unfinished Idea Website Join the Unfinished Community  Exhasuted to Empowered Follow me on socials:  INSTAGRAM FACEBOOK Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

JOIN CHRISTMAS IN JULY- Come connect, have fun, and get free gifts/resources all month long! If you've ever crouched next to your child mid-meltdown, saying all the right things, and watched it make zero difference — this episode will finally explain why. And more importantly, it will make you feel a whole lot less like you're doing it wrong. Greer sits down with Nikki, founder of HushAway — a gentle, sound-based platform built specifically for neurodivergent children aged four to ten — for a conversation that is equal parts science and soul. Nikki has spent years in early education, coaching, and neurodivergent-inclusive mentoring, and she created HushAway after noticing the same gap everywhere she looked: the tools we hand children in moments of overwhelm require the exact part of the brain that's already gone offline. In this episode, Nikki walks through what's actually happening in a child's body during a meltdown — from the prefrontal cortex going offline, to cortisol flooding the system, to the amygdala firing as if there's genuine danger. And she explains, so clearly and so kindly, why "calm down," "take a breath," or "imagine a peaceful beach" simply can't land in those moments. It's not that they won't. It's that they can't. Then she talks about sound — and why it's different. Sound travels through the ear, through the cochlea, directly into the brainstem and the autonomic nervous system in milliseconds. Before a child has a single conscious thought, their body is already responding. No language required. No cooperation needed. Just softness, doing its quiet work. They also get into the 3:30pm wall — that moment when a child who has been holding it together all day at school walks through your front door and falls completely apart. Nikki reframes it in a way that will genuinely stay with you: that isn't bad behaviour. That is a child who trusts you enough to finally let go. HushAway uses soundscapes, gentle frequencies, somatic storytelling, and ASMR-inspired sounds — all curated to help a child's nervous system find its way back to safe. And it's currently heading into formal EEG research at the University of East London, which means the science is catching up with what a lot of parents are already experiencing at home. This one is for every mum who has felt helpless in the middle of the storm — and needed someone to hand her something that actually works. GUEST LINKS: Follow Hush Away Check out Hush Away more GET THE LINKS ⁠⁠⁠The Unfinished Idea Website Join the Unfinished Community Exhausted to Empowered Course Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us for Christmas in July as we connect, celebrate, and have a little fun! If you've ever cancelled plans not because you didn't want to go, but because there was just no capacity left in the house — this one's for you. In this episode, Greer sits down with Tracey Jewel Constable, a late-diagnosed neurodivergent mum raising her son Frankie, who is autistic and navigating ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder). Together, they get into the honest, unglamorous, and also genuinely beautiful reality of parenting a child with additional needs when you're also managing your own nervous system. Tracey talks about what "extra time" actually means in their house — and why it's not minutes, it's sometimes hours, or sometimes it means canceling everything and ordering Uber Eats. She shares how she and her husband use a simple battery-level check-in (think Brené Brown energy) to navigate days when capacity is low for one or both of them, and why pushing through doesn't help anyone when the tank is empty. They also dig into Frankie's ARFID journey, including what it looked like before his PEG tube — and the beautiful shift Tracey has witnessed since he's been getting the nutrition his body needs. There's so much warmth in the way she talks about his stims and zoomies coming to life. And then there's the social side — the invisible nature of neurodivergence, the comments from strangers in grocery stores, the friends who quietly drift away (Greer calls it "the silent slip away" and honestly, it's the most accurate phrase). Tracey and Greer both share how finding their people online changed everything — not a big circle, but a real one, where you don't have to mask or say you're fine when you're not. This episode ends with something worth sitting with: it's not just awareness we're after anymore. It's acceptance. And that starts with meeting people where they are — with kindness, with dignity, and with the understanding that compassion doesn't cost a thing. If you've been feeling lonely on this road, you are not alone. This community is out there, and it is waiting for you. GUEST LINKS: Follow Tracey on Instagram GET THE LINKS ⁠⁠⁠The Unfinished Idea Website Join the Unfinished Community Grab Exhausted to Empowered Course Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What actually changes when a child with ADHD becomes a teenager? In this episode, Carla names something so many families are living: as kids grow, the support systems drop (parents reminding, teachers prompting, schedules structuring)… but the expectations rise (more deadlines, longer projects, less supervision). And for ADHD brains—where the planning and regulation center is still developing—this creates a painful gap between what’s expected and what’s neurologically ready. Carla reframes what parents often interpret as “lack of motivation” as something else entirely: a regulation + structure need. She explains why teens might say, “I know what to do, but I just can’t start,” and how that isn’t defiance—it’s overwhelm and executive overload. You’ll also hear how constant reminders (even well-intentioned ones) can turn a teen’s name into correction… and how that can quietly erode self-esteem over time. Carla offers small, practical shifts that help teens feel less attacked and more supported—like pausing before speaking, lowering your voice, using “we” language, and asking “What’s the first step?” instead of “Why haven’t you started?” This is a deeply grounding conversation if you’re parenting an ADHD teen and you’re tired of the power struggles. It’s not about letting everything slide—it’s about building the kind of structure that helps your teen’s brain quiet down, so they can access their skills… and keep their confidence intact. The Wonder Project: Subscriber support makes more great content like I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs possible. The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video is available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year after a 7-day free trial.Visit IGottaAsk.com to learn more! GET THE LINKS⁠⁠⁠The Unfinished Idea WebsiteJoin the Unfinished Community Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've ever felt like you're paddling your kayak alone while your partner watches from the shore — this episode is for you. Harry Psaros is an autism advocate, author, and dad to Gus, who is graduating from Kent State University this week. Harry joins us to talk about something we don't hear enough of: what it actually looks like inside a dad's head when their child is diagnosed with autism — and why so many of them go quiet. Harry gets real about his own journey. He wasn't the hero in the early days. His wife Michelle was. She saw the signs, pushed through dismissive pediatricians, and kept advocating while Harry wrestled with his ego and his fear. It wasn't until they sat in that car, driving home from Cleveland, that something shifted — and Harry made a choice to be all in. In this conversation, you'll hear: Why dads often go silent after a diagnosis (and what's actually happening underneath that silence), the two types of dads Harry sees in his counseling work — and how to reach both of them, what it looks like to build your village when you're new to all of this, how to protect your relationship when the stress of parenting a neurodivergent child starts pulling you apart, and why Harry believes his son Gus — a happy hippie who looks for the good in everyone — is not a scarlet letter. He's a blessing. This episode is for the moms carrying the mental load. It's also for the dads who want to do better but don't know where to start. And it's for anyone who needs a reminder: your child was born out of love, and that love is still your compass. Harry's message is warm, direct, and full of hard-won wisdom from two decades on this road. You're going to want to share this one. The Wonder Project: Subscriber support makes more great content like I Gotta Ask with Annie F. Downs possible. The Wonder Project subscription on Prime Video is available in the U.S. for $8.99/month or $89.99/year after a 7-day free trial.Visit IGottaAsk.com to learn more! GUEST LINKS: Follow Harry Check out his book GET THE LINKS ⁠⁠⁠The Unfinished Idea Website Join the Unfinished Community Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If your life feels like a beautiful, noisy jumble—kids, work, relationships, responsibilities, and about 47 open tabs in your brain—this episode will feel like a deep exhale. Greer Jones sits down with Jessica Lamb (mom, business owner, podcaster, and recently diagnosed ADHDer) to talk about what it’s actually like to hold all the roles at once—especially when you don’t naturally compartmentalise and everything feels layered on top of everything else. Jessica describes family life as “chaos,” but not in a hopeless way—more like: this is the water we swim in, and we’ve learned how to live here. They get honest about the season of early motherhood and how ADHD can show up hard when executive functioning takes a hit—right when you’re trying to learn how to be a parent. Jessica shares that she’s still figuring out what “self-care” even means for her, but one thing is clear: therapy is her anchor—a predictable space to decompress and untangle the mental knots. You’ll also hear the kind of practical, real-life support that doesn’t require a perfect routine: embracing the ebbs and flows of different seasons using small “reset pockets” of time (like 30 minutes after school drop-off) to create a calmer home base the surprising power of tiny cues—like Greer’s “earrings on = I can do things” mindset shift why reframing “chaos” as manageable chaos can change how you show up day-to-day Jessica also talks about redefining success as an ADHD entrepreneur—success as the right systems, the right number of clients, and work that supports the life you actually want (not just what looks impressive from the outside). And in a moment that will make so many ADHD brains feel seen, she shares how she’s learned to stop shaming her procrastination and instead build around it—setting herself up so deadline-time focus becomes a strength, not a moral failure. This episode is for the mom who looks “put together” on the outside but feels like a duck paddling furiously underneath. It’s a reminder that you’re not behind—you’re adapting. And a little more grace (from you and from others) goes a long way. GUEST LINKS: GET THE LINKS⁠⁠⁠The Unfinished Idea WebsiteJoin the Unfinished Community Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't forget to grab your FREE ticket to the Everyday Neurodivergent Parenting Summit happening May 11-14! If you've ever felt like motherhood was supposed to be the thing that finally felt easy — and instead it somehow got harder — this episode is for you. Greer sits down with Amy Marie Hann, ADHD coach and mom of neurodivergent kids, for an honest, grounding conversation about what it actually feels like to parent with ADHD. Not the productivity-hack version. The real version — the shame, the overcommitment, the mental load that never seems to let up. Amy talks about why ADHD moms are so prone to over-extending themselves (hint: it's not a discipline problem — it's how your brain processes time and priority), and why the gap between the mom you imagined being and the mom you are right now can feel so painful. But this isn't a heavy episode. It's a hopeful one. Amy shares where to actually start when everything feels urgent and overwhelming — and it's not another complicated system. It's something much smaller, and much more doable. She also talks about why taking care of yourself isn't selfish — it's one of the most powerful things you can do for your neurodivergent kids. They also get into something that feels quietly important: safety. What it means to find environments where your family can actually exhale. And why, as the mom, you often have to be the one who goes first. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why ADHD can make motherhood feel like a character flaw, not a skill gap The hidden exhaustion of over-committing and time blindness Where to start when you're overwhelmed and the to-do list feels never-ending Why self-care for ADHD moms isn't a luxury — it's the foundation The power of modeling regulation, routine, and rest for your kids What it looks like to build a life that actually fits your brain and your family You are the right parent for your child. Even on the hard days. Especially on the hard days. GUEST LINKS: Follow Amy Marie Check out her resources GET THE LINKS ⁠⁠⁠The Unfinished Idea Website Join the Unfinished Community Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us at the Everyday Neurodivergent Parenting Summit If you've ever felt like you're living on the edge of yourself — keeping everyone else afloat while quietly disappearing — this episode was made for you. Greer sits down with Michelle Anderson, founder of JMB Inspired and host of the Radiant Moments Caregiver Oasis podcast, for an honest, deeply human conversation about what it really means to be a caregiver inside neurodivergent and medically complex family life. Together, they explore the parts of caregiving that don't get talked about enough: the always-on mental load, the invisible emotional work, the loneliness of asking for help and not knowing how, and what it feels like to one day realize you can't remember what you even like anymore. But this episode isn't just about naming the hard stuff. It's about finding your way back — in micro moments, in community, in tiny choices that say I matter too. In this episode, you'll hear about: The mental and emotional load that never really switches off — and why "just relax" isn't the answer. How micro moments and habit stacking can quietly rebuild your regulation without adding to your plate. Why "call me if you need anything" often leaves caregivers more isolated — and how to ask for and offer specific, real-life support. What it feels like to lose yourself inside a caregiving role, and the gentle, small ways you can begin to find your way back. The kind of community that actually helps — and why it's okay if it looks completely different than you expected. This conversation is warm, practical, and full of the kind of honesty that makes you exhale and think yes, that's exactly it. Whether you're a neurodivergent mom, a parent of a neurodivergent or medically complex child, or simply someone who has been carrying too much for too long — you are not alone, and you're allowed to be part of your own care plan. GUEST LINKS: Check out Michelle Listen to Radiant Moments Podcast GET THE LINKS ⁠⁠⁠The Unfinished Idea Website Join the Unfinished Community Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What if the first positive thing connected to your child’s diagnosis was… a dog in a little jacket that makes people smile? In this episode, Greer talks with Robbie Campbell from Buddy Dogs, a service within Guide Dogs UK that places specially matched dogs with children who have vision impairments—often alongside other complex needs. Robbie explains why Buddy Dogs exists: guide dogs are trained for mobility and require a level of independence that simply isn’t realistic for most children. But the companionship, confidence, and connection that dogs bring? That can be life-changing for kids and families. Robbie shares what he sees again and again: dogs becoming an “icebreaker” in public, helping kids feel more confident talking to others, and even opening doors for children to speak about their vision impairment in a new way—sometimes for the very first time. For some families, the Buddy Dog becomes a shift in the emotional story: instead of isolation and heavy equipment drawing stares, there’s a warm, inviting focus that brings people closer. You’ll also hear how Buddy Dogs are different from guide dogs: Buddy Dogs aren’t trained for mobility tasks. They’re placed for companionship and day-to-day confidence-building—and they’re typically dogs who didn’t continue down the guide dog route, but are still beautifully suited for family life. Matching is taken seriously, including what a particular dog needs and what each family’s lifestyle can support, with training and ongoing check-ins to make sure the partnership stays strong. The conversation also touches on neurodivergent families: many kids in the programme are also autistic, ADHD, or otherwise neurodivergent. Robbie describes how dogs often become natural regulators—helping with transitions, reducing anxiety, and bringing grounding presence (without being “task trained” like some assistance dogs). One story stands out: a child who arrived at a session as a whirlwind of anxiety and energy, then settled and connected once the dog entered the room—and after being matched, showed a remarkable shift in focus, communication, and calm. Greer also shares her own experience: how giving her son simple dog-care “jobs” after school (feeding, playing, petting) has helped soften the tricky transition from school to home—because sometimes that repetitive, comforting connection is exactly what a nervous system needs. This episode is a reminder that so much of disability and neurodivergence is invisible—and we never fully know what someone is carrying. Robbie’s takeaway is simple and powerful: be open, be curious, and be willing to support people as they are. GUEST LINKS: GET THE LINKS⁠⁠⁠The Unfinished Idea WebsiteJoin the Unfinished Community Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you’re parenting a child with ADHD (or you’re late-diagnosed yourself), it can feel like you’re constantly trying to “figure it out” — schedules, school, food, sleep, behaviour, emotions… all of it. In this episode, Greer talks with Dr. Jennifer Dall about approaching ADHD through a whole-person lens: not as a “fix,” but as support for real life. They unpack why the basics (sleep, movement, food, connection) matter so much — and how to build strategies with your child so it doesn’t all sit on your shoulders. What we cover Why “whole body” support matters for ADHD day-to-day The question that can change everything: “What do I need right now?” How sleep, food, water, movement, and connection can shape emotional regulation Letting go of perfection (and the guilt) — and choosing supports that fit your life How to start including your child in problem-solving so they build self-advocacy over time Helping kids understand ADHD in an age-appropriate way (and giving them time to process) A gentle takeaway You’re not failing. This is a learning process — for you and your child — and small shifts can make a big difference. GUEST LINKS: Follow Dr. Jennifer on Insta Check out her website GET THE LINKS The Unfinished Idea website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠Join the Unfinished Community Follow me on socials: ⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices