NeuroDADverse

Welcome to Episode 31 of The NeuroDADverse , Ben and Dan talk openly about what happens after a diagnosis, when clarity arrives, but emotions are still catching up. This week includes a major family milestone for Ben: a formal ADHD diagnosis , and the complex feelings that follow. Relief. Validation. Grief. Confusion. Pride. And the quiet work of helping a child rebuild their sense of self after y...

Episode 30 🎧 In the NeuroDADverse this week, Ben and Dan return for the first episode of 2026, reflecting on the strange reset that comes with a new year, especially when neurodivergent family life doesn’t pause for calendars. This week includes a significant medical scare, a broken foot, hospital visits, difficult sensory decisions, and the careful balance between safety, regulation, and trust....

Episode 29 🎧 This week, Ben and Dan reflect on the strange, in-between days of Christmas and New Year, a time full of transitions, heightened expectations, social pressure, and emotional regulation challenges for neurodivergent children and their families. This episode explores what Christmas actually feels like inside an ND household: the joy, the overwhelm, the near-meltdowns, the patience requ...

Episode 28 🎧 Welcome to The NeuroDADverse , Ben and Dan sit down for a festive end-of-term reflection unpacking a week filled with school pressure, academic anxiety, sensory challenges, and unexpectedly joyful family moments. As Christmas approaches, they talk honestly about how neurodivergent children experience transitions, expectations, and traditions very differently and why calm, familiarity...

Episode 27 🎧 This week in our NeuroDADverse, Dan and Ben return together to unpack a week shaped by school anxiety, big educational transitions, and the invisible pressure that builds at Christmas for neurodivergent children and their families. As routines shift and environments change, they reflect on what happens when school suddenly feels “too much,” how parents spot the early warning signs, a...

In Episode 26 🎧 of The NeuroDADverse, Dan takes the mic solo for a shorter update because we know how ND life can be, work life, and Christmas life all collided at once. In this 17-minute snapshot, he shares a surprisingly joyful Santa visit, a medical challenge that’s emerging for Frankie, some sleep regression, and a week full of giggles, growth, and unexpected calm. This episode covers: • Brea...

🎧 Episode 26 of The NeuroDADverse, Ben and Dan open up about a week full of twists, school decisions, sickness bugs, sensory waves, and the unpredictable rhythms of raising neurodivergent children. From navigating college open days to managing school refusal, advocating for reasonable adjustments, supporting anxious teens, and finding small yet meaningful wins, this episode is a grounded, honest...

Episode 24 🎧 This week's NeuroDADverse finds Ben and Dan reflecting on a week that swung between emotional breakthroughs, nostalgic setbacks, and unexpected moments of calm. From college open evenings and ND overwhelm, to wildlife parks full of memories (both joyful and fraught), they open up about: • Supporting your neurodivergent child through college choices • How to scaffold independence with...

🎧 Episode 23 of The NeuroDADverse podcast, Dan and Ben open up about a week filled with radical acceptance, a kitchen showdown and a sobriety milestone. We unpack: The emotional toll of watching your child struggle with school How ND kids are often perceptive in ways mainstream education can’t support Ben’s personal reflection on 8 years of sobriety and how it’s shaped his parenting A Frankenstei...

🎧 Episode 22 This week, Ben and Dan dive into the beautiful chaos of raising neurodivergent teens, that messy middle ground where independence collides with anxiety, sensory overwhelm, and the parental urge to hold on just a little longer. From fireworks and dark winter nights to bath time routines and growing social freedom, the dads unpack how it feels to let their kids explore the world while...

🎧 Episode 21 of The NeuroDADverse Podcast This week, Dan and Ben find themselves trapped between the chaos of roadworks, fireworks, overstimulation and somehow still manage to come out with a few surprising wins. From drilling-induced dysregulation and unexpected sprinting escapes, to carved pumpkins and new friendship breakthroughs, the dads reflect on the difficult balance of structure, flexibi...

🎧 Episode 20 - Happy Halloween! 🎃👻 This week’s episode lands just in time for Halloween and it’s full of the real-life trick-or-treat moments of parenting neurodivergent kids. Dan opens up about a tough week navigating the fallout of Frankie’s haircut last week and the emotional sting that comes when connection feels lost. Ben reflects on his own experiences with Oscar’s dysregulation, gaming f...

🎧 Episode 19: The NeuroDADverse Podcast This week’s episode dives into one of Dan’s toughest parenting moments yet, where the process of a 'simple' haircut spirals into heartbreak. Also in this raw, honest episode, Ben discusses another week of having 'tough' topic conversations with Oscar after an incident on the way to school. Another week of tales where parenting neurodivergent and things don’...

Episode 18 🎧 This week in the NeuroDADverse, Ben and Dan share the emotional chaos, quiet victories, and the messy beauty of raising neurodivergent kids. From last-minute school appointments to bath time breakthroughs, it’s a week full of real-life parenting moments where nothing goes to plan—but everything somehow comes together. 🎙️ Highlights include: Ben’s solo-parenting chaos (and cuddles) Ma...

Episode 17 🎧 In this powerful and emotionally grounded episode, Ben and Dan dive deep into one of the most difficult parenting moments they’ve faced yet: discussing the recent misinformation spreading online about the causes of autism, specifically, false claims linking paracetamol during pregnancy to autism. We explore: •How Ben approached this sensitive topic with his childern Oscar and Mabel....

Episode 16 🎧 This week’s episode is a “breakfast bar” edition, recorded early doors and full of raw honesty. Ben opens up about a particularly emotional parenting moment involving boundaries, teenage exploration, and sober reflection. Meanwhile, Dan talks about the sudden arrival of the “Week 4 Wobble” and how Frankie’s eating and sleep patterns are shifting as he adjusts to school routines. Othe...

🎧 Episode 15 This week, Ben and Dan explore the emotional tightrope of raising neurodivergent teens during school term chaos. Ben shares the heavy emotional load of supporting Mabel through school-related overwhelm, where advocacy, compassion, and a newly diagnosed ADHD perspective all collide. There’s honest discussion about balancing being a teacher and a parent — and how not every school inter...

🎧  Episode 14 – Development wins, School Wobbles & Hair Hammocks This week, Ben and Dan unpack another emotional rollercoaster in the NeuroDadverse. From Oscar's snack-time independence (and a perfectly sassy strut) to Mabel navigating school photo overwhelm and GCSE prep, this one’s full of vulnerability, advocacy, and the everyday nuance of neurodivergent parenting. Meanwhile, Dan refl...

🎧 Episode 13 – Positive Energy, Car Symbols & School Wins In this heartfelt episode, Dan and Ben reflect on the surprising joys and ongoing challenges of getting their neurodivergent kids back into the school routine. From bath time meltdowns to unexpectedly peaceful transitions, the dads talk about managing expectations, building emotional safety, and honouring small wins. Ben shares a speci...

🎧 Episode 12 – Shoe Heels, Shelf Battles & Strutting into September Ben and Dan wrap up summer with a high-energy, high-emotion episode full of wardrobe challenges, unexpected wins, and bold self-expression. As the kids prep for a new school year, Ben takes us through an emotional decluttering session with Oscar, which turns into a sensory-sensitive sorting game (with a surprise echolalia mom...

🎧 Episode 11 – Forgotten Needs, Heartwarming Teens & Neurodivergent Room Chaos. This week on The NeuroDADverse, Ben reflects on a parenting moment where he forgot to communicate accessibility with Oscar and how a simple bedroom reorganisation turned into an emotional reminder about invisible needs. Dan feels like a new man after sleeping more in the past four days than he has in the past two...

🎧 Episode 10! In a very special episode of The NeuroDADverse, Ben and Dan welcome their first guest: Ben’s wife, Laura, who opens up for the first time about her brand new ADHD diagnosis at 44. This candid conversation unpacks Laura’s experience of going through the assessment process, the emotional weight of late diagnosis, and the joyful, if surprising, validation that followed. Elsewhere, it’s...

🎧 Episode 9 – Transitions, Teen Independence & The First-Ever Perfect Bath This week on The NeuroDadverse, Ben and Dan reflect on the sometimes messy, sometimes magical balancing act of parenting neurodivergent kids over the summer. They cover emotional transitions, the challenge of growing teen independence, gaming boundaries, family sleepovers, unexpected sibling support, and how routines d...

🎧 Episode 8 – Finding Comfort in Chaos This week on The NeuroDADverse, Ben and Dan reflect on the small but powerful wins that make parenting neurodivergent kids so rewarding. From managing tricky transitions at the SEND gym to celebrating social breakthroughs at the beach, it’s a conversation filled with honest insight, humour, and hard-earned lessons. Oskar navigates a challenging week with mom...

🎧 Episode 7 – Pride, Parenting & Penalties In this shorter then usual episode in The NeuroDADverse, Ben and Dan reflect on a summer weekend packed with big moments. From marching at Pride to navigating teenage boundary testing, all while trying to keep family life connected and calm. Oscar embraces Pride with a homemade non-binary flag, Mabel shines as a supportive ally, and the family enjoys...