All Brains Grow

What if the word “stop” is doing more harm than good? As caregivers, siblings, and parents of neurodivergent and disabled children, we often ask behaviors to stop, not out of frustration or lack of love, but because we want our loved ones to be accepted, included, and safe in the world. In this video, I talk about two essential steps when responding to behaviors: Step 1: Choose love and acceptance...

Does my autistic or neurodivergent child understand what I’m saying? This is a question so many parents carry quietly, and one I’ve asked myself countless times, as a sister, mother and neurotherapist. In this episode, I share why believing that our children understand, truly understand, can change the entire trajectory of their lives. After years of working with families and growing up alongside...

After 28 episodes, I’m closing this season with a quiet reflection on the voices that shaped this past year: parents, siblings, therapists, educators, and experts. And the ones I hope to hear more from in the next. You’ll hear moments from the most personal interviews, people who were brave enough to say things out loud they’d never said before. And you’ll hear from the mothers I sat with, private...

Joan Koenig didn’t just teach music, she redefined how it should be taught. In this fun episode, I sit down with Joan in the heart of her music school, surrounded by pianos, harps, and joyful noise, to talk about what truly makes a child learn. From welcoming my deaf son into her classroom with open arms, to creating a school where joy and discipline live side by side, Joan challenges the traditio...

Ever felt like you're stuck in the middle? Between professional advice, school expectations, and your own gut instinct? In this episode, Yasmine D. Chamseddine joins us to unpack the quiet tension so many parents feel when navigating therapy, education, and advocacy. From late diagnoses and school pressure to the unspoken rules of “collaboration,” we explore what happens when everyone has a plan f...

We all want to create change, in our lives, in our children, in our families. But sometimes, without realizing it, our desire for growth turns into pressure, frustration, or even quiet rejection. In this episode, Louloua shares the hard truth about where real, lasting change actually begins: not with fixing what’s wrong, but with loving what is. She unpacks the difference between change driven by...

What if speech therapy wasn’t just about the child, but about empowering the parent too? In this episode, I reconnect with Sarah Oudet, a speech therapist, autism researcher, and mother of three, to explore how her professional and personal journeys have come full circle. Years ago, Sarah coached me through a parent-led speech program for my son, Talal. What stayed with me was this: the sessions w...

In this solo episode, I share a powerful question a dad recently asked me about his autistic son—one that opened the door to a much deeper conversation about motivation, brain development, and how we teach. His son has psychomotor difficulties with his hands but loves cooking. Should he be encouraged to pursue it, even if it's hard? Or is that setting him up to fail? We explore why ability is only...

What if your autistic child never learns to like something like sand? Will it hold them back? Will it mean they’re not “regulated”? In this episode, I’m joined once again by my mentor, Dr. Lynette Louise, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in the world of autism: sensory regulation. I open the conversation with a story about my autistic brother—his intense stims, the sounds, the taps,...

Every evening around 5pm, Milo calls. It’s a rhythm as familiar as the streets of Paris he walks while on the phone. In this episode, I share one of those calls. It might sound like a simple sibling exchange, full of repeated phrases, reminders, and offbeat transitions, but listen closely, and you’ll hear something much deeper. This isn’t just a phone call. It’s a window into neurodivergent commun...

If you’ve ever sat on the floor surrounded by toys thinking, “What am I even doing?” — this episode is for you. I used to hear “Just play with him, that’s how he’ll learn!” all the time when my son was little. So I tried. I got on the floor. I brought out the toys. I used every technique I knew as a professional. But it still felt… off. Boring. Exhausting. Honestly, like a waste of time. It wasn’t...

In this deeply personal and long-awaited episode, I sit down with someone you’ve heard about —but never from: my husband, Tarek. For the first time ever, he shares his side of our journey as parents navigating the unknown. From the early signs of our son Talal’s silence, to the heartbreak and relief of finally getting a diagnosis—Tarek opens up about what it felt like to be a father, a partner, an...

What if we approached periods not with dread — but with cupcakes, herbal pads, and real conversations about autonomy, hormones, and radical love? In this heartfelt and raw episode, journalist and mother Emilee Coblentz joins Louloua to talk about parenting her autistic teenage daughter through puberty — and everything that came with it: the medication, the aggression, the grief, the joy, and the q...

Riwa Derbas Chalak joins me from Lebanon to share the story of her son Ziad, who is now 14 and entering a new phase of his autism journey. As Ziad moves through adolescence, Riwa opens up about the shifts her family has made—stepping away from traditional therapy, encouraging independence, and embracing real-life learning. We talk about what it means to trust your instincts as a parent, the emotio...

When my son wasn't talking yet, I felt lost. As a neurotherapist, I thought I had the tools — but nothing was working. I didn’t know yet that he was deaf, and every day felt like a guessing game. In this episode, I share the raw, honest journey of trying to connect with him before we had answers. If you're in that uncertain communication space — waiting for a diagnosis, wondering what’s “wrong,” o...

When Joelle Lahlouh became a mother, nothing prepared her for what was to come. In this moving episode, Joelle opens up about raising her son Mounir, who was later diagnosed with a rare genetic condition and autism. She shares the emotional journey of unlearning everything she thought motherhood would be, navigating uncertainty, and hitting rock bottom — before choosing a new path rooted in healin...

In this heartfelt and honest conversation, Host Louloua Smadi El Hajj and guest Krystel Alhayek come together for Autism Awareness Month to unpack 5 common myths about autism that may be standing in the way of real growth—for parents, professionals, and autistic individuals themselves. From the damaging belief that autistic children are just being “difficult,” to the myth that they always need sup...

What does it really feel like growing up with an autistic sibling? In this intimate and emotional conversation, I'm joined by my youngest sister, Yasmine Smadi, for the first time on All Brains Grow. Together, we open up about what it was like growing up in a loud, unpredictable home shaped by love, neurodivergence, and therapy programs—centered around our autistic brother, Milo. Yasmine reflects...

Ever feel like your emotions are getting in the way of how you want to show up in tough moments? In this episode, I share The Reset Strategy—a powerful mindset shift that helps you pause, clear the noise, and respond with intention. Whether you're navigating conflict, meltdowns, or your own overwhelm, this tool can help you break free from emotional loops and get back to what matters most. 💬 Want...

When guiding a neurodivergent child, how do we balance teaching them new skills while respecting who they inherently are? In this powerful conversation, I sit down with Dr Lynette Louise, neurotherapist, mother of eight (six with special needs), and creator of BioPlay, to explore the art of teaching, motivation, and connection. We discuss: ✅ The difference between teaching and changing a child ✅...

Supporting neurodivergent children in learning, communication, and daily life requires more than just structure—it requires flexibility. In this episode of All Brains Grow, I sit down with Krystel Alhayek, a neurodiversity specialist and my teammate at All Brains Grow, to explore how adapting our approach can lead to real progress for children who think and learn differently. We discuss: - Why fle...

Are you constantly running on empty? Do you feel like no matter how much “self-care” you do, burnout keeps creeping back in? You’re not alone. Parents of autistic and dyspraxic/ developmental coordination disorder (DCD) kids experience some of the highest levels of stress, anxiety, and exhaustion, yet their own well-being is often overlooked. In this episode of All Brains Grow, I sit down with cli...

As parents, we want to teach our kids everything—how to navigate the world, how to grow, how to thrive. But when does teaching become too much? When does guiding turn into pushing? And how do we strike the balance between structure and freedom? Jessy is the perfect example of this. A lifelong educator, she spent years shaping how children learn, only to realize that when it came to raising her aut...

Raising children who are deeply connected to their culture, proud of their heritage, and confident in their identity is more important than ever. In this episode, I sit down with Deema Al Alami, a Palestinian educator, author, and advocate, who has spent over 16 years shaping the way children and families engage with Arabic culture through literature and education. From co-authoring books like “48...

Join me as I explore The Developing Child Center in Dubai with neuro-pediatric occupational therapist Raghida Ashkar. From her personal journey in post-war Lebanon to her work with neurodiverse children, Raghida shares her empathetic, hands-on approach to therapy while guiding us through the center’s neuroscience and sensory rooms. Her philosophy is simple yet profound: believe in every child's po...