Moms Talk Autism Podcast

What happens when a parent’s personal experience leads them to explore emerging treatments that medicine is still studying?

This week, Tash and Shannon sit down with Dr. Eric Weiss, a physician, father, and advocate for continued research into autism care.

Dr. Weiss shares how raising an autistic child changed the direction of his career and led him to explore emerging approaches, including stem cell therapy and the possible role of inflammation in autism.

We talk about his personal journey, what he has observed in his work, and why conversations around newer or less-established treatments can be complicated, especially in a community that has seen its share of overpromising, cure culture, and families desperate for answers.

Our goal in this episode is not to tell you what to believe or what treatment to choose. It’s to have an open conversation, ask questions, and explore one family and physician’s perspective while keeping the well-being and individuality of autistic people at the center.

As always: stay curious, do your research, and make decisions with the professionals who know your child best.

This episode is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. The views shared are those of our guest, and we encourage families to research carefully and consult qualified healthcare professionals before making treatment decisions.

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What if what looks like anxiety, rigidity, or “just part of autism” is actually OCD?

This week, Brittney, Tash, and Shannon sit down with clinician and mom of four neurodiverse children, Natalia Aiza, to talk about how OCD can show up in neurodivergent kids—and why it can sometimes be difficult to recognize.

We get into fear, compulsions, anxiety, and the overlap that can make it hard for parents to know what they’re actually seeing.

Natalia also shares what families may want to pay attention to and why understanding the reason behind a behavior can change the way we support our kids.

Because sometimes the behavior isn’t the whole story.

Sometimes fear is driving a lot more than we realize.

Instagram: @letstalk.ocd

Website: www.kairoswellnesscollective.com 

Books and other resources: https://nataliaaiza.com/

IOCDF.org

Dr. Eli Lebowitz

Breaking Free Books

Children’s Yale-Brown OC Scale (CYBOCS)

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How much should we expect from our kids?

And how do we know when we’re asking too much… or not enough?

This week, we’re revisiting a conversation about one of the hardest parts of parenting neurodivergent kids: balancing support and accommodation with opportunities to build independence, resilience, and confidence.

Our kids may need things to look different. They may need more time, more support, or a completely different path. But that doesn’t mean we stop giving them chances to learn, adapt, experience consequences, and discover what they’re capable of.

The hard part is figuring out where that line is for your child.

We talk about expectations, limitations, coping skills, independence, and why there is no one-size-fits-all answer.

At the end of the day, we keep coming back to the same things: know your child, communicate in whatever way works for your family, and lead with love.

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When does helping actually stop helping?

This week, we’re talking about the very blurry line between supporting our kids and accidentally doing too much for them.

As parents of autistic and neurodivergent kids, it can be hard to know when to step in, when to wait, and when to let them struggle a little so they can build confidence and independence.

We get into self-care skills, hygiene, sibling dynamics, puberty, patience, and the importance of presuming competence - even when our instinct is screaming at us to just do it for them.

And sometimes the bigger challenge is looking at ourselves and asking the uncomfortable question: are we helping… or are we getting in the way?

It’s a balancing act - guiding them, supporting them, protecting them, and still giving them room to grow.

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What if some of the things we’ve been taught about autism aren’t actually the whole story?

This week, we’re joined by Jonathan Alderson, author of Challenging the Myths of Autism, to talk about the beliefs and assumptions that can shape the way we approach autistic children—and what happens when we start questioning them.

We get into why there is no one-size-fits-all approach, how to figure out what may actually be helpful for your individual child, and why the order in which therapies and supports are introduced can matter.

But one of the biggest takeaways from this conversation has less to do with a specific therapy and more to do with the relationship itself.

The way we approach our kids matters. The trust, connection, attitude, and intention between a child and the adults supporting them can become the foundation for everything else.

This is part one of our conversation with Jonathan. In part two, we dig deeper into ThriveGuide and how families can begin building a more individualized roadmap for support.

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