The Unfinished Idea

• Brain Health & Neurodivergence: Simple Nutrition That Makes a Big Impact

  What if small changes to your child's breakfast—or even their bath—could help with meltdowns, anxiety, sleep, or focus? Brain health is often overlooked in conversations about neurodivergence, but it might just be the missing piece you’ve been searching for.In this episode, we explore how everyday nutrition can powerfully support your neurodivergent child—and you too. Lucinda Miller is a naturopath, founder of NatureDoc, and author of Brain Brilliance. She has worked with over 11,000 families—many raising autistic, ADHD, PDA, or sensory-sensitive kids.She joins us today to share bite-sized, practical tools to improve brain health using food, supplements, and simple routines. In this episode, Lucinda shares:Why neurodivergent brains are both brilliant and delicateFour foundational nutrients every ND family should know aboutHow to spot signs of deficiency in everyday behaviorsSimple nutrition hacks for picky eaters, anxious kids, and sensory avoidersReal-life tips for stressed-out, sleep-deprived parentsWe talk about brain health for neurodivergent children, including how nutrition impacts emotional regulation, sensory sensitivity, and executive function. We explore the roles of Omega-3, magnesium, iron, and zinc in supporting ADHD, PDA, and autistic kids, and how to make changes even with selective eaters. Lucinda also shares why so many families benefit from gut health testing, what signs to look for when nutrients are low, and how mothers can also support their own brains in the process. TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODEA high-protein breakfast is one of the most effective ways to support a neurodivergent brain.Omega-3s are critical for executive function and emotional regulation—and most kids don’t get enough.Magnesium can help with anxiety, sleep, and constipation, and is easily absorbed through Epsom salt baths.Low iron levels are often linked to selective mutism, low energy, and sensory mouth behaviors like chewing on shirts.Zinc can reduce emotional eating, food refusal, and social withdrawal.Neurodivergent brains are incredible—but they often require more support to thrive.Parents' brain health matters too—foggy thinking, burnout, and overwhelm can be eased through nutrition. Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world. You can know get the episodes on YouTube! Click here to subscribe. Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain! InstagramFacebookLinkedInTikTokWebsite Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  39:42

  --------

  39:42
• Helping Neurodivergent Kids Communicate: Speech Cards, Selective Mutism & the Find Your Voice App

  Did you know that some autistic and PDA children can speak—but sometimes just can’t? In these moments of shutdown, anxiety, or selective mutism, words disappear, but the need to communicate remains.In this episode, we explore a tool that’s quietly changing the game for families navigating nonverbal moments with their kids.Meet Tara and Steve Harnwell-Jones—parents, creatives, and the team behind Find Your Voice, a communication card set and app designed for children who are non-speaking or selectively mute. In this episode, they share:How their daughter’s struggle to speak during PDA-driven anxiety led to designing a new kind of communication toolWhy most tools felt too “childish” or hard to decode, and how they fixed thatThe unexpected way their app is helping not just kids—but teens, adults, and even stroke survivorsWhat makes this resource so accessible, universal, and effectiveHow design, dignity, and simplicity can unlock powerful communicationThis episode covers the power of visual communication tools for nonverbal children, the daily realities of parenting an autistic or PDA child, and the role of design in creating something children actually want to use. We explore selective mutism, emotional regulation during meltdowns, and why traditional speech cards often fall short. You’ll hear how Tara and Steve turned their family’s need into a resource that supports children, teens, and even adults through anxiety and shutdowns—whether at home, in school, or in public spaces. You don’t have to be completely nonverbal to need communication tools—many kids freeze or shut down during anxiety.The Find Your Voice app and card system acts as a bridge, helping kids break through the “stuck” moments.Simple, cool design isn’t just aesthetic—it builds dignity and increases use, especially for older children.These tools are now helping adults too, including those with stroke recovery or anxiety.Communication isn't just about speaking—it's about being understood and feeling safe.The best solutions are often born from lived experience and a little bit of DIY courage. Maybe you aren't traveling at the moment but are still looking for fun (& easy) activities to do. Check out t⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he sensory play guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ that I have created back with 50 fun (& tested) activities all with things you have at in your house. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! ⁠Click here to join⁠.⁠Sign up to our newsletter⁠ where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world. You can know get the episodes on YouTube! ⁠Click here to subscribe⁠. Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain! ⁠Instagram⁠ ⁠Facebook⁠ ⁠LinkedIn⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠ ⁠Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  26:10

  --------

  26:10
• Beyond Words: Redefining Communication in Neurodivergent Families

  Did you know up to 40% of autistic children are non-speaking—yet they have so much to say? What if communication wasn’t about words but about connection? In a world built around verbal communication, how do we truly hear and understand our neurodivergent kids? In this heartwarming and practical conversation, Greer sits down with Charlotte, a mom raising two non-speaking boys, to unpack what real communication looks like in a neurodivergent family. Charlotte shares her lived wisdom, challenges, and the beauty she’s discovered in connecting with her children beyond spoken language. During this episode, you’ll hear about: The many ways non-verbal children communicate How to create a communication-rich environment at home The emotional journey of parenting non-speaking children Practical tools for yes/no questions, pointing, and AAC devices Why connection is at the heart of communication TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE - Communication isn’t just words—it’s eye contact, gestures, pointing, and shared moments of connection. -Using AAC devices, yes/no boards, and intuitive connection can open pathways to understanding your child’s needs. -It’s okay if your family’s communication looks different from others. -Charlotte’s journey will encourage you to slow down, observe, and celebrate the small moments that are actually big wins. -You’ll leave this episode with fresh hope and practical ideas to support your neurodivergent child’s communication journey—without pressure to “fix” them. -You are not alone in navigating the beauty and challenges of parenting non-verbal or minimally verbal children. Maybe you aren't traveling at the moment but are still looking for fun (& easy) activities to do. Check out t⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he sensory play guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ that I have created back with 50 fun (& tested) activities all with things you have at in your house. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world. You can know get the episodes on YouTube! Click here to subscribe. Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain! Instagram Facebook LinkedIn TikTok Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  36:15

  --------

  36:15
• Through a Father’s Eyes: Raising Neurodivergent Kids with Rob

  Did you know that over 75% of parenting conversations about autism center on moms? But what about dads—especially those raising neurodivergent kids as primary caregivers? In today’s episode, we hear the rarely shared perspective of a father navigating the highs, heartbreaks, and hope of raising autistic children. Greer sits down with Rob Gorski—widely known online as The Autism Dad—a father & advocate who has spent over a decade documenting his real, raw journey of raising autistic children. Rob brings honesty, wisdom, and warmth to a conversation that is both deeply personal and universally needed. In this episode, Rob and Greer talk about: Why we don’t hear enough from fathers in the ND parenting world How Rob became the primary caregiver for his autistic children The emotional weight of “fix it” culture and silent grief What parenting out loud really looks like, in all its messy beauty Celebrating small wins and shifting family roles Why dads deserve safe spaces to speak Greer and Rob explore what it means to parent autistic children through a father's eyes, diving into the emotional weight of being a primary caregiver in a world that often overlooks dads in neurodivergent families. They unpack the evolving nature of parenting roles, especially when traditional gender expectations don't fit, and talk openly about the mental health challenges that can come with caregiving. Their conversation touches on the importance of honest, real-time parenting moments, the value of celebrating small wins, and the deep need for community and connection among families navigating autism, ADHD, and neurodiversity. Listeners will come away with a deeper understanding of how fatherhood is experienced within the world of neurodivergent parenting, especially when dads take on caregiving roles that society often overlooks. Rob’s vulnerability highlights the pressure men can feel to fix what isn’t broken, and how that narrative can lead to quiet grief and burnout. This episode reminds us that parenting doesn’t have to be perfect to be meaningful—sometimes, the interruptions and chaos are what make it real. It’s also a powerful example of how conversations like this can break stigma, encourage emotional honesty, and challenge outdated parenting expectations. Most importantly, it reassures listeners that showing up with love, consistency, and authenticity is enough—and that no one is alone in this journey. 🎧 Don’t forget to share this episode with a friend, leave a review, or come join the Unfinished Community—where we talk about the real stuff and remind each other we’re never alone on this journey. Maybe you aren't traveling at the moment but are still looking for fun (& easy) activities to do. Check out t⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠he sensory play guide⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ that I have created back with 50 fun (& tested) activities all with things you have at in your house. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to join⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world. You can know get the episodes on YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  26:19

  --------

  26:19
• Late Diagnosis, Self-Discovery & Neurodivergent Relationships with Savannah

  I sit down with Savannah—one of those people you instantly click with. Though we've never met in person, our conversation felt like chatting with a longtime friend. Savannah shares her story of being diagnosed with both autism and ADHD as an adult, and how that late diagnosis became a turning point in how she sees herself, her relationships, and the way she moves through the world. If you're a woman who’s been diagnosed with ADHD or autism later in life, or you’ve always felt a little “different” but never had the words to explain why, this episode is going to speak directly to your heart. Savannah opens up about the grief and relief that often follow a diagnosis, the clarity that comes with understanding your neurotype, and how she’s using her experience to bring more awareness and advocacy into the world. We also dive into what it looks like to navigate a relationship where different neurotypes meet—how communication shifts, what support can look like, and why honoring each other’s needs is vital. Savannah brings both vulnerability and joy to the table, reminding us that neurodivergence isn’t something to fix—it’s something to understand, embrace, and live fully within. This is a conversation filled with honesty, laughter, and those powerful moments where you feel seen. Whether you’re just starting to explore your own neurodivergent identity or deep in the journey, this episode offers encouragement, insight, and the kind of connection that reminds you you’re not alone. 🎧 Don’t forget to share this episode with a friend, leave a review, or come join the Unfinished Community—where we talk about the real stuff and remind each other we’re never alone on this journey. Maybe you aren't traveling at the moment but are still looking for fun (& easy) activities to do. Check out t⁠⁠⁠⁠he sensory play guide⁠⁠⁠⁠ that I have created back with 50 fun (& tested) activities all with things you have at in your house. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Check it out here!⁠⁠⁠⁠ Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to join⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠Sign up to our newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠ where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world. You can know get the episodes on YouTube! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Click here to subscribe⁠⁠⁠⁠. Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain! ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Website Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  --------  

  56:23

  --------

  56:23

More Health & Wellness podcasts

Trending Health & Wellness podcasts

About The Unfinished Idea

The Unfinished Idea: Podcasts in Family