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

You Might Also Like.... Check out Everyone Gets a Juice Box here

Some kids don’t fall apart at school or out in public. They hold it together all day… and then unravel the second they walk through the front door—because home is the safest place their nervous system knows.

In this episode, Dr. Arielle Schwartz (psychologist, author, and mom) shares the story of how she “followed the clues” to understand what was really going on for her son—starting long before the word dyslexia ever entered the picture. She takes us back to early signs like sensory processing challenges, a highly sensitive nervous system, and delayed language development—plus the frustration of having a bright mind with big feelings and not enough ways to get it all out.

As school demands increased, the gaps became more visible—especially around reading. Arielle describes the heartbreaking moment when her son didn’t just avoid books… he hid from them—and how the shame of feeling “different” can show up shockingly early. One turning point came from an unexpected place: a film about dyslexia that helped her finally name what she was seeing and pursue a full evaluation.

From there, she opens up about what the diagnosis clarified (and what it didn’t), how hard it can be to find the right interventionist (not just the most qualified on paper), and why felt safety is everything for kids who freeze, shut down, or hide when learning feels threatening. She also shares how advocacy with schools can be both exhausting and necessary—and how one committed teacher chose to learn, grow, and become part of the solution.

And then comes the hope-filled part: the “game changers” that helped her son begin to see himself differently—community, mentorship, movement, and being surrounded by people who reflected back what was possible. You’ll hear why programs like Project Eye to Eye mattered so much, why some kids need parents out of the homework battle to protect the relationship, and how a few key supports can slowly unwind years of shame.

This conversation is tender, honest, and deeply reassuring—especially if you’re in that phase of parenting where you’re thinking, Is it my instinct… or am I overreacting? Arielle’s story is a reminder: your noticing matters. And with the right support, your child’s future can look so much brighter than it feels right now.
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

What if some “addictive behavior” is actually a nervous system trying to cope in the only way it knows how?

In this episode, Greer sits down with Ben Branson (The Hidden 20%) to talk about the overlap between neurodivergence and addiction, especially for people who were diagnosed late and spent years chasing dopamine, trying to regulate, and not knowing why life felt so hard.

They also talk about the bigger picture: long NHS waitlists, siloed assessments, and the painfully common experience of finally getting a diagnosis… and then being handed a letter with zero meaningful support attached.

This conversation is honest, sometimes fiery, and deeply human. It’s about what needs to change, but it’s also about something quieter: how understanding your brain can bring relief, context, and self-compassion.

In this episode, we talk about

How ADHD and autism traits can link with dopamine-seeking and repetitive coping loops

Why Ben questions the “disease model” and focuses on behavior, support, and unmet needs

The reality of diagnosis without aftercare and why that “so what?” moment hurts

Why current pathways feel siloed and why whole-person support matters

Moving from awareness to acceptance to action in education, healthcare, and policy

What The Hidden 20% is building and why their goal is to eventually not need to exist

Gentle reminder: if this topic touches something tender for you, take it slow. You’re allowed to pause and come back.

GUEST LINKS:

Follow Ben on Insta

Check out the Hidden 20%

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 you’re a neurodivergent parent or you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, burnout can creep in quietly… until it suddenly doesn’t feel quiet at all.

In this episode, Greer talks with Liz (The Untypical OT) about what burnout actually is, why it’s so common in neurodivergent families, and why it’s often not your child causing it. They name the real load: the constant planning, the constant navigating, the constant advocating, and the systems that make everything harder than it needs to be.

They also talk about something that matters a lot: burnout isn’t something you can “self-care” your way out of. It’s nuanced. It’s personal. And the earlier you can recognize your warning signs, the more gently you can support yourself.

In this conversation, we cover

What burnout is (and why it’s not a personal failure)

Why burnout in neurodivergent families is so often about systems, not your child

The importance of learning your personal burnout warning signs

Why “just do self-care” can feel infuriating when you’re drowning

Tiny, realistic moments that help you come back to yourself (even 2–3 minutes)

Being more present when your brain is always ten steps ahead

Gentle reminder: you’re not failing. You’re carrying a lot, and it makes sense that your body gets tired of holding it.

GUEST LINKS:

Follow Liz on Insta

Check out her 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

If you have ever heard “they can’t communicate” and felt your stomach drop, this episode is for you.

Because communication is not a performance. It’s a connection. It’s a regulation. It’s being understood. And when we only count spoken words, we miss the ways autistic kids communicate all day long.

In this conversation, we reframe what communication actually is, talk about AAC in plain language, and share how to support non-speaking, minimally speaking, and situationally speaking people with more respect, more curiosity, and way less assumption.

Today on Neurodivergent Conversations, I’m joined by Becky, a Speech and Language Therapist and Clinical AAC Specialist with Smartbox Assistive Technology, and we are going there in the best way.

This episode is packed with the exact kind of clarity parents and educators need, including:

The difference between speech, language, and communication, and why those labels matter in assessments, school meetings, and everyday life

What AAC really means, plus what counts as AAC beyond a high-tech device

Why “non-speaking” does not mean “no thoughts,” “no understanding,” or “no personality”

How to spot communication in regulation, behaviour, body language, eye gaze, and connection

Why “presume competence” is not just a phrase, it’s a starting point that changes how adults respond

a simple way to begin at home, even if you feel stuck: noticing patterns and building a “communication dictionary” so your child feels understood

If you are searching for support with autistic communication, AAC strategies, minimally speaking autism, or neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy approaches, this episode will give you language, hope, and next steps you can actually use.

GUEST LINKS:

Smartbox Assistive Technology

GET THE LINKS

The Unfinished Idea Website

Follow me on socials:

⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices