The NeuroSpicy MomPod

What happens when burnout doesn't end after you leave the environment that caused it? This week on The NeuroSpicy MomPod, we're exploring the five stages of burnout, the physiological effects of chronic stress, and why recovery can take years. Drawing from my own experience, we discuss neurodivergence, motherhood, financial insecurity, and the systemic conditions that make healing so diffi...

Your child knew how to do it yesterday. So why can't they do it today? This week, I'm joined by Stephanie Kerwin, founder of Village of Littles, to explore how nervous system overload affects neurodivergent children's access to skills, communication, and emotional regulation. We're talking PDA, school expectations, sensory overwhelm, and why supporting your child's nervous syst...

Maybe my social media isn't as random as it looks! ✨ This week on The NeuroSpicy MomPod, we're exploring the surprising connections between neurodivergence, narcissistic abuse, workplace challenges, poverty, and nervous system safety. Most importantly, we're talking about moving beyond shame and self-blame to find understanding, support, and community. Because healing was never meant...

Welcome to Season 5 of The NeuroSpicy MomPod! In this deeply personal premiere, Austen Marie reflects on a seemingly simple question from a cleaning client: "How has neurodivergence affected your life?" The answer turns out to be far more complicated than she imagined. From growing up with undiagnosed neurodivergence and childhood trauma to navigating an abusive marriage, workplace mistr...

What if, instead of judging ourselves for the things we struggle with, we got curious about  why  they’re hard? This week on  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , I’m joined by Josh, co-founder of  re-RIGHT , for a conversation about what it actually feels like to move through the world with a neurodivergent brain...especially when you spent most of your life without knowing you had one. Josh is late-diagnosed...

Postpartum mental health is finally getting the national attention it deserves, but what does postpartum look like when you're already living with a NeuroSpicy nervous system? This week, we're looking at the research connecting ADHD and autism with increased rates of perinatal depression, anxiety and stress, and exploring why sleep deprivation, sensory overload, executive dysfunction, horm...

What happens when we forget that the rights we inherited had to be fought for? This week, we’re following the imaginary string through Aktion T4, American eugenics,  Buck v. Bell , forced sterilization, the disability rights movement, Section 504, the ADA, and the rhetoric and policies raising alarm for neurodivergent and disabled Americans in 2026. This is a heavier episode, but an important one...

In this episode I'm joined by Lee Alberts , a late-diagnosed AuDHDer, disability justice advocate, and future mental health counselor, for one of my favorite conversations we've had on the podcast. We dive into what late diagnosis can uncover, why so many neurodivergent girls were missed growing up, the overlap between autism, ADHD, trauma, and chronic illness, and how learning to understa...

What if changing a child's life doesn't begin with perfect parenting but with one safe relationship? In this episode of The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we're exploring the groundbreaking Kauai Longitudinal Study, one of the most influential resilience studies ever conducted, and the neuroscience behind why one caring adult can change the trajectory of a child's life. Together we'll unp...

Why can two people hear the exact same words and walk away with completely different understandings of the conversation? In this episode of The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we're putting on our teacher hats and diving into the neuroscience of communication. Together, we'll explore the difference between top-down and bottom-up thinking, how our brains construct meaning, and why neurodivergent and ne...

Why can you feel lonely even when you're surrounded by people? In this episode of The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we explore the hidden connection between neurodivergence, chronic isolation, autistic burnout, ADHD, and nervous system regulation. You'll learn why loneliness isn't the same as being alone, why connection can feel so exhausting, and how to build relationships that feel safe instea...

Why do some people seem to feel the weight of the world more deeply than others? In this episode of The NeuroSpicy MomPod, we're exploring existential depression, a form of depression that often affects highly reflective, gifted, and neurodivergent individuals. We discuss the difference between clinical depression and existential depression, the neuroscience behind pattern recognition and just...

What if some of the beliefs you hold most strongly about yourself aren't actually facts... they're stories? In this episode of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we're exploring how language shapes identity, why the messages we hear as children become the stories we tell ourselves as adults, and what neuroscience can teach us about rewriting those narratives. From my years in the classroom to my...

In this episode of The NeuroSpicy MomPod, we’re digging into DARVO, “Deny, Attack, Reverse Victim and Offender” and why manipulative dynamics can be especially confusing for neurodivergent people who grew up masking, over-explaining themselves, and learning to distrust their own instincts. Through personal stories, neuroscience, and psychology, we explore how chronic invalidation impacts the nervo...

In today’s episode, we’re talking about what it actually looks like to create a nervous system-friendly home as a neurodivergent person, parent, teacher, or caregiver… especially when you’re doing it without unlimited money, energy, or support. We dive into practical, low-cost accommodations that can reduce sensory overload and help support executive functioning, including lighting, visual clutter...

This week on  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , I’m joined by neuroscientist and late-diagnosed autistic adult Michelle Karth for an incredibly validating conversation about autistic masking, late diagnosis, nervous system burnout, chronic stress, sensory overwhelm, and why so many neurodivergent women were completely missed growing up.  We dive into the neuroscience behind masking, why burnout can feel phy...

What if your child isn’t refusing… but actually  can’t ? In this episode, we’re unpacking one of the most powerful mindset shifts in parenting... the difference between “won’t” and “can’t.” Because what looks like defiance is often something much deeper: nervous system dysregulation. I’m joined by Stacey Curnow, AuDHDer, family therapist, and founder of Asheville Family Counseling, who specializes...

Why do we stay in situations that don’t align with what we know? Why do we ignore red flags… justify our choices… or struggle to accept new information...even when it’s right in front of us? In this episode, we’re breaking down  cognitive dissonance , the psychological tension that happens when our beliefs, behaviors, and identity don’t line up. We explore the science behind it, including the work...

Welcome back to your newest obsession -  The NeuroSpicy MomPod  💖 In today’s episode, I’m joined by Gabriel Hannans, a special education teacher, registered behavior technician, author of  Parent Behavior Encyclopedia , and a powerful voice at the intersection of parenting, education, and social justice. This conversation goes  deep . We unpack what behavior actually is (and why it’s so often mis...

“You don’t look neurodivergent.” If you’ve ever heard that or felt like your struggles weren’t “visible enough” to be taken seriously...this episode is for you. In this episode of The NeuroSpicy MomPod , I’m breaking down what it actually means to “look” neurodivergent, and why so many people, especially adults, women, and high-masking individuals, are overlooked, misdiagnosed, or not believed. Af...

In this episode, we’re breaking down the difference between growth mindset and fixed mindset—and how the way we speak to ourselves shapes what we believe is possible. We explore where these beliefs come from, how they show up in our lives, and why this conversation is especially important for neurodivergent individuals navigating systems that were never built for them. This is your reminder that y...

Before we dive in, a quick note 💛 The audio and video are slightly out of sync in parts of this episode. Thank you for your patience and understanding as you listen through! Also, I want to acknowledge and apologize for something I caught after recording: I accidentally used the terms “authoritarian” and “authoritative” interchangeably at times. To clarify, I was always referring to authoritarian...

In this episode of The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we explore learned helplessness , a psychological pattern that develops when someone is repeatedly placed in situations where their actions don’t seem to matter. Over time, the brain adapts by assuming that effort is pointless and that belief can begin to shape everything from motivation to emotional response. This conversation breaks down the research be...

Welcome to Season 4 of The NeuroSpicy MomPod. 💖 This podcast is a space where we explore neurodivergence, nervous system regulation, trauma, healing, and rebuilding life with more awareness and compassion. In this opening episode, I share the deeper story behind why this podcast exists... from my years as a teacher studying psychology and nervous system regulation, to navigating CPTSD, leaving an...

This episode closes out Season 3 of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod! There’s no recap and no personal update here. Instead, this conversation centers on staying grounded, trusting the process, and tending to our nervous systems when everything feels loud and uncertain. This episode isn’t about forcing optimism or pretending things are okay. It’s about presence, regulation, and remembering what we  can  hol...