Neuroshambles

Mark is joined by Sam Bayley - founder of mASCot, a Sussex-based parent-to-parent support network for families of autistic, ADHD and PDA children and young adults - for a warm and genuinely uplifting conversation about one of the most important things you can do as a neurodivergent parent: find your people.

They dig into why parenting a neurodivergent child can feel so isolating - especially in the early days before diagnosis, when you're still trying to crowbar your kid into situations built for neurotypical families and slowly realising it isn't working. Sam shares the story of how mASCot grew from a few breakout coffee sessions into a community supporting thousands of families, and Mark recounts the moment he first walked into Sunday Club and felt the blessed relief of a room with absolutely no judgement in it.

They also get into the thornier side of finding your people - namely, the bit where you have to let go of the ones who aren't. From unsupportive friends who just aren't listening, to family members who think it's all a fad, this episode doesn't shy away from how hard it can be to protect your energy when you haven't got much of it to spare.

If you're after a neurodivergent parenting podcast that feels human, honest and occasionally sweary, this one's for you.

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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Intro
01:11 - Meet the Guest: Sam Bayley
04:01 - Topic of the Week: The Importance of Finding Your People
09:10 - How mASCot Was Born: Coffee Mornings and the Birth of Community
10:09 - Early Expectations and the Reality of Neurodivergent Parenthood
27:19 - The "Coming Home to Autism" Event That Changed Everything
31:35 - The mASCot Card: A Little Bit of Context, a Lot of Confidence
37:51 - Sunday Club and the Joy of a Non-Judgmental Space
47:59 - Inspired to Act: Hannah Woods and Spectrum Squad Penarth
52:16 - The Online Community: Why mASCot's Facebook Forum Matters
59:52 - When Lockdown Showed Us What Our Kids Already Knew
01:01:49 - Finding Your People Means Letting Go of the Wrong Ones
01:09:05 - The Tricky Business of Unsupportive Family Members
01:13:18 - It's Not All Rubbish: The Positives of Finding Your People
01:16:17 - Neurodiversity Champions: mASCot, Bill Bayley and the BNC
01:22:40 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:26:12 - What the Flip? Moments

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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:

Podcasthon - https://podcasthon.org/

mASCot - https://www.asc-mascot.com

Donate to mASCot via Givey - https://www.givey.com/mascot

National Autistic Society - https://www.autism.org.uk/

PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/

Bristol Parent Carers Forum - https://www.bristolparentcarers.org.uk/

The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene - https://amzn.eu/d/0jkdMxga

Spectrum Squad Penarth - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2039735040102766/

Brighton Neurodivergent Community (BNC) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/brightonneurodiverse

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📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles

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🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Mark is joined by returning guest Rebecca Hussain for a hilarious chat about the perils of trying to introduce any kind of hair care routine to our neurodivergent kids. It’s a knotty issue for loads of Neuroshambolic families - whether it's brushing, washing, cutting it or trying to navigate dreaded nit combs.

Mark and Rebecca unpick why hair-related stuff can be so dysregulating for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids - from sensory overwhelm and loss of control, to the irrepressible instinct to run away when someone approaches them with a brush and they're already feeling overwhelmed.

Rebecca explains her role as night time hair brushing ninja and Mark recounts the horror story of the time he tried to trim India's fringe himself. They also dig into the awkward realities of salons and barbers, the compromises that sometimes (briefly) work, and the grim truth that a lot of so-called “simple” solutions don’t feel simple at all when you’re parenting a child with a PDA profile, ADHD traits, or autism-related sensory sensitivities.

If you’re after autistic parenting advice that feels human rather than preachy, this one will have you nodding, laughing and cringing in equal measure.

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00:37 - Intro
00:01:07 - Meet the guest: Rebecca Huseyin
00:05:36 - What’s the topic of the week? Hair care
00:08:01 - Haircuts: clippers, salons and pure dread
00:13:16 - Dealing with brushing & knots - night time ninja brushing
00:21:40 - Sensory overload: why hair care causes so much overwhelm
00:25:25 - The drama of washing their hair
00:42:34 - Barbers/hairdressers: trusting a stranger with scissors
00:47:15 - Products, routines and reducing the stakes
00:55:08 - The reason some neurodivergent’s prefer long hair
00:58:10 - The lengths we go to for a haircut
01:03:12 - Not wanting people to notice their hair
01:05:47 - Reliving Mark’s trauma of cutting India’s fringe
01:18:17 - A surprising India haircut success story
01:21:04 - It’s not all rubbish: looking at the Positives
01:22:22 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:26:10 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:31:18 - What the Flip Moments?

LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
A Boy Less Ordinary (Rebecca’s blog) - https://aboylessordinary.com/

PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/

Jem’s Hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/0dTSItLZ

India’s hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/072vd0L6

India’s coconut scented hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/05Er65tF

Nit comb - https://amzn.eu/d/00cSPgcz

Grappling with Personal Hygiene episode of Neuroshambles - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/grappling-with-personal-hygiene-rebecca-huseyin

Wash and Go - https://amzn.eu/d/0cmgCDdU

Danielle Jata-Hall / “PDA Parenting” - https://pdaparenting.com/

Hairport (Brighton) - https://www.brightonhairport.co.uk/

EAG Expo, Docklands - https://www.eagexpo.com/

📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles

🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod

📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles

🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Mark Allen is joined by Terry Lloyd for an honest, insightful and humorous chat about what it feels like to parent neurodivergent kids from a dad’s perspective.

They lift the lid on why dads are always “late to the party” when it comes to recognising neurodivergence, struggling to process what it all means, and figuring out how to show up properly for your family - especially when one parent has already been doing the heavy lifting for ages.

They also delve into how traditional gender roles can make everything harder, and why guilt, grief and defensiveness can quietly shape how dads respond in the early days. There are also plenty of practical, lived-experience tales about having to unlearn how we were parented, getting on the same page as your co-parent and the challenge of not accidentally becoming the bad cop.

A must listen for any dads raising autistic, ADHD or PDA kids, as well as any mums interesting in hearing a different perspective of the challenges men face, but often can't articulate.

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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)

00:00:37 – Intro and what’s coming up
00:01:15 – Meet the Guest: Terry Lloyd
00:04:07 – Topic of the Week: Dads and the neurodivergent parenting journey
00:05:36 – Being late to the party spotting neurodivergence (and why dads often miss it)
00:06:05 – Inheriting breadwinner v caregiver roles, and the mental load gap
00:10:47 – When your co-parent says “something’s different”
00:17:03 – Labels, diagnosis, and why denial delays support
00:25:21 – The provider/disciplinarian stereotype (and how it backfires)
00:32:07 – How our own upbringing can influence dads' approach to parenting
00:36:52 – PDA, control, and why authority dynamics don't work
00:48:34 – Before diagnosis: doubt, uncertainty, and needing clarity
00:51:20 – Grief, shame, and the emotional weight of realising your child is neurodivergent 
00:55:40 – The importance of finding other dads in the same boat
01:00:07 – Learning the hard way (books and resources that helped)
01:09:54 – Advice for dads needing to get more hands-on
01:21:08 – It’s Not All Rubbish: Finding the positives
01:24:59 – Neurodiversity Champions
01:27:57 – Tiny Epic Wins
01:29:49 – What the Flip Moments
01:34:52 – Outro (how to share your stories, links to the socials and wrap-up)

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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE

Neuroshambles website – https://www.neuroshambles.com

The Journey into SEND Fatherhood (book Mark and Terry contributed to) - https://amzn.eu/d/03g3S0J7

The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/0az7Uy7e

SEND Dads Drop In (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3100788930061466

PDA Father Figures (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/809973900027348

Lisa Lloyd (@asd_with_a_g_and_t) - https://linktr.ee/ASDwithagandt

Raising the SEN-Betweeners by Lisa Lloyd (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/01pvrF2f

SAA Clothing (sensory-friendly clothing) - https://www.saaclothing.com/

Let Us Learn Too (parent/carer education campaign) - https://letuslearntoo.wordpress.com/

Amaze Sussex dads support group (run by Darren Walker) - https://amazesussex.org.uk/events/dads-group-east-sussex/

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📣 CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES

🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles

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🎙️ CREDITS

🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Episode 50 of this neurodivergent parenting podcast takes a clear, practical look at how families in the UK end up navigating the healthcare system when they suspect their child might be autistic and/or ADHD. Mark is joined by Lucy Pocock, a registered GP and parent of a neurodivergent child, as they pull back the curtain and take a deep dive into how the system works (and why it so often doesn’t).

 

They talk through the routes families are typically funnelled into when they’re seeking support: school evidence, GP involvement, referrals, and the confusing reality that the pathway can look completely different depending on where you live. It’s the sort of honest, informative discussion many families of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids wish existed when they first started asking questions.

 

Mark and Lucy also unpack what happens once ADHD enters the mix - including medication pathways, titration, prescribing delays, and the complexities of shared care. Lucy explains why bottlenecks happen, what GPs can and can’t do, and how those constraints land on families already stretched to breaking point.

 

Along the way, the conversation touches on demand-avoidant (PDA) profiles, why some parents go private, and what families can realistically expect when it comes to letters and evidence for things like EHCP and DLA. It’s the kind of candid, good humoured and insightful chat that this neurodivergency parenting podcast is known for.

 

CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)

00:00:37 - Episode 50 intro

00:01:20 - Meet the Guest (Lucy Pocock)

00:03:07 - Topic of the Week – UK healthcare and ND referrals (the two main routes)

00:09:23 - The postcode lottery, delays, and mismatched pathways

00:17:42 - ADHD medication: shared care, titration, and why CAMHS take so long

00:27:31 - Lucy's journey with her own PDA son's diagnosis as a GP

00:34:00 - Training: Oliver McGowan and the impact within the NHS

00:37:15 - How much neurodiversity scepticism is there within the healthcare system?

00:42:00 - What can you do if your GP is not informed about neurodiversity?

00:46:15 - Are there really parents trying to take advantage of the system?

00:56:00 - What support can we ask for from our GP that we don't know about?

00:59:45 - Could GP's relieve some of the burden from CAMHS?

01:04:30 - GP limitations on prescribing drugs: melatonin and anti-depressants

01:07:00 - Shared care, Right to Choose and commissioning constraints

01:10:45 - Is the system broken? Why is support for neurodivergency such a postcode lottery?

01:20:30 - How can we fix the flaws in the healthcare system?

01:27:00 - Looking at the positives

01:30:03 - Neurodiversity Champions

01:32:27 - Tiny Epic Wins

01:35:26 - What the Flip Moments

 

LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE

Shared care - https://www.wessexlmcs.com/guidance/understanding-shared-care-nhs-right-to-choose-and-private-providers/

Right to choose - https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/

CAMHS - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/

Oliver McGowan training - https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/learning-disability/current-projects/oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-learning-disability-autism

FII (Fabricated and Induced Illness) - https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/fabricated-or-induced-illness/overview/

Neuroshambles: Medicating our children | Danielle Jata-Hall - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/medicating-our-children-danielle-jata-hall

Melatonin - https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/melatonin/

Neuroshambles: The Bumpy Road to Diagnosis | Tam - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/the-bumpy-road-to-diagnosis-tam

Murmuration Community, Bristol - https://www.murmurationcommunitytherapy.com/

Incredible Kids, Bristol - https://incrediblekids.org.uk/

 

CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES

🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles

🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod

📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles

 

CREDITS

🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

If you’ve ever felt like Key Stage 2 at school was when it all got harder - not only for your neurodivergent child, but also for you as a parent - this is the episode for you. Mark is joined by philosophy educator and fellow Neuroshambler Grace Lockrobin for a cathartic look at the ages of 7-11, which is where the wheels can start to wobble more for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids.

Together, they unpack the pressures of conformity, the nightmare of homework and the heartbreak of parents evenings. From school trips and transitions to SATs and navigating playground politics, they shine a light on why this age can be so tough - and why the system often gets it wrong.

It’s warm, witty, and full of the kind of honesty that makes you feel just a little less alone when your child doesn’t quite fit the mould. 

If you’re searching for an autism parenting podcast or ADHD parenting podcast that actually reflects the messy, hilarious, heartbreaking truth of raising neurodivergent children, you're in the right place.

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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):

00:00 - Intro and meet the guest

03:30 - What’s changed since we last spoke

05:50 - Intro to topic of the week

23:00 - The challenges of the shift in KS2 teaching style

10:00 - Misguided attempts to get them to "catch up"

13:00 - The role that transitions play in these difficulties

22:15 - Social cliques and friendship dynamics

35:15 - Bullying

43:00 - The difficulty of parents’ evenings

57:15 - Homework nightmares

1:00:40 - The unhelpful pressure of SATs

1:06:25 - School trips

1:12:10 - It's not all rubbish: looking at the positives

1:24:15 - Neurodiversity Champions

1:27:45 - Tiny Epic Wins

1:30:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments

1:33:50 - Wrap-up and where to find us

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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:

SATs - https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sats/

Karate Zone - https://karatezone.com/

PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/

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CONTACT US

🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com

📧 Email: [email protected]

📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles

🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod

📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles

🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles

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CREDITS

🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com