Neuroshambles

Have you ever felt like the odd one out in your own family? In this episode, Mark chats with Kirsty Hockenhull, a fellow self-diagnosed neurotypical in the midst of a chaotic, neurodivergent household. They discuss how it feels to be the lone neurotypical in a family teeming with autism, ADHD, and PDA - touching on everything from helping them navigate everyday social conventions to how to cope wh...

What happens when you hit a wall, and there’s no one around to help you up again? Liz Evans joins Mark to talk about parental burnout: what it looks like, why it’s so common, and the stigma around admitting you're not coping. Liz discusses her own experiences of parental burnout, and shares her knowledge of how to spot the signs of impending burnout, before offering guidance on strategies we can i...

Despite what some people believe, getting an autism or ADHD diagnosis for your child is far from straightforward. It's a frustrating, emotional and exhausting journey - no matter which diagnosis pathway you travel.  In this special episode, Mark speaks to Tam, who is his former partner, current co-parent and long time friend. They discuss the diagnosis process of their three neuro-exceptional kids...

Why do so many autistic and ADHD kids put on a brave face at school - only to melt down at home? Masking is a survival strategy for so many of our neurodivergent children. Pete Wharmby joins Mark to talk about why they do it, what the long terms affects are on their sense of self, and how we can help them unmask safely. They explore the school environment, social pressures and internalised expecta...

What do you do when you find out that you know more than the “experts” who are supposed to be helping you? In this episode, Mark is joined by Charlotte Mountford to talk about navigating services and seeking support for neurodivergent children. This episode deals with the familiar frustration of having to deal with the professionals who are gatekeepers to the accommodations our neurodifferent kids...

Why do simple hygiene routines, like brushing teeth or taking a bath, feel like impossible mountains to climb when you're raising ADHD, autistic or PDA kids? Rebecca Huseyin joins Mark to discuss one of the most frustrating (and least talked about) aspects of neurodivergent parenting: personal hygiene. They explore how sensory sensitivities, executive dysfunction, and demand avoidance can turn eve...

Mark welcomes back the phenomenal Heidi Mavir, who is an  author, a neurodivergent advocate, activist, public speaker and Mum of a neurodifferent son (20, diagnosed autistic with a tic disorder, as well as suspected dyslexia and  Ehlers Danlos Syndrome). They pick up on a topic they very briefly touched on in the previous episode they recorded, which is whether there's any truth to the commonly-he...

Should you medicate your child? And how do you cope with the guilt, fear and stigma that comes with making that decision? Danielle Jata-Hall joins Mark for a candid, compassionate and non-judgemental chat about medication. They discuss the medication journeys they've been on with their own kids, from overcoming their initial misgivings and dealing with the judgement of others, to the administrativ...

What was it like to raise an autistic child 30 years ago? Mark has a fascinating chat with Stephanie - his wonderful neighbour from over the road, whose autistic son is now an adult. They discuss how parents of autistic children were able to navigate the process of understanding how best to raise their kids, without access to the internet, social media or the breadth of information we have availab...

Belle joins Mark to explore why transport can be a sensory, emotional and logistical nightmare when you’re raising neurodivergent children. They discuss unpredictable delays, overcrowding, transitions and the sheer panic that sets in when you realise that things are not going to go as planned. It’s funny, affirming and will make you feel seen if you’ve ever had to navigate a journey with your auti...

Lisa Lloyd joins Mark to tackle one of the toughest parts of neurodivergent parenting - judgement. From strangers tutting in the supermarket to relatives offering “helpful” advice, it can feel like the world is watching, and disapproving. They swap tales about comments they receive from people judging their children ("He's not autistic, he's just naughty"), judging their parenting ("He wouldn't ac...

Comparison is the thief of joy - and nowhere is that truer than in SEND parenting. Samuel Wilson returns to talk with Mark about resisting the pressure to keep pace with neurotypical milestones. They explore how school, family, and social media can fuel comparison, and the emotional impact of feeling like you’re “behind”. Samuel shares how he’s learned to celebrate his child’s progress on their ow...

It’s a question many parents of neurodivergent children have whispered: “Is this behaviour just a result of their neurotype - or is my kid actually an arsehole?” Mark is joined by Kate Ebbutt for an unfiltered chat about the guilt, fear and frustration behind this very real concern. They explore compassion fatigue, judgement from others, and the emotional toll of parenting children who challenge e...

What does a meaningful conversation with a neurodivergent child actually look like? Mark chats with inspirational autism advocate Kieran Rose to unpack language and communication, and offer some fascinating insights into the different communication styles between neurodivergents and neurotypicals. They discuss situational mutism, hyperverbalism, small talk and monotropism to shine a light on why c...

Fussy eating takes on a whole new meaning when your child is neurodivergent. Dee McMahon joins Mark to talk about mealtime battles, safe foods and the stress that food can cause for both kids and parents. Mark and Dee take a deep dive into the soul crushing nightmare of trying to feed their neurodifferent kids something remotely resembling a balanced diet. From the trauma of putting together meal...

Say cheese? Not a chance. Claire Quigley-Ward joins Mark to rant and reflect about why getting a photo of the whole family feels impossible when you’re parenting autistic, ADHD or PDA children. They discuss the absolute nightmare of trying to take a "normal" photo of our kids - from the challenges of getting them to stay still and not be distracted, to their inability to pose for the camera and th...

Raising one neurodivergent child is tough. Raising several, with sibling dynamics in the mix, is a whole different level. In this episode, Mark chats with Jess Cain about sibling relationships, fairness, jealousy, and the surprising ways kids can support one another. They share anecdotes about the difficulties they face when trying to balance the wildly different needs of all of their children, wh...

In this autism and PDA parenting podcast episode, Lisa Galley joins Mark to talk about the long, often frustrating process of teaching neurodivergent children the life skills they'll need when they're an adult. As they cover the diverse range of topics under the umbrella of life skills, Lisa offers some valuable (and occasionally comforting) insights into how her kids have acquired skills, such as...

Board games, video games, a nice, relaxing game of crazy golf - fun for all the family, right? Not if you have neurodivergent kids. In this episode, Mark is joined by Dan Clark to explore how seemingly simple games can quickly spiral into chaos and meltdown when you’re parenting autistic, ADHD or PDA children. They chat about fairness, turn-taking, emotional regulation and why Monopoly might be th...

Loud hand dryers, echoey classrooms, ticking clocks - for neurodivergent kids, the world can feel painfully loud. Lauren Palfrey joins Mark to talk about auditory sensitivity - from extreme reactions to loud noises and meltdowns when confronted with contrasting sounds and the fascinating topic of misophonia. They explore meltdowns triggered by hand dryers, how to handle noisy siblings, and the tra...

Why is mealtime such a battleground in neurodivergent households? Mark reunites with Liam Mullone to discuss the daily drama of feeding neurodivergent kids, from food aversions and arguments about cutlery to why they simply don't have the capacity sit still and "eat nicely". They explore how control, routine and sensory needs all play a part in what (and how) kids eat, and the pressure parents fee...

How do you help a child who experiences emotions like a hurricane? In this powerful episode, Mark is joined by Grace Lockrobin to explore why emotional regulation is so difficult for autistic, PDA and ADHD children, and what parents can do to support them. They discuss emotional literacy, shutdowns, and the blurry line between PDA-related anxiety and perceived defiance. Mark and Grace also discuss...

Getting out the front door can feel like a military operation when you’re parenting autistic, ADHD or PDA kids. Comedian Hatty Ashdown joins Mark to talk about how something so basic becomes so complicated. They swap stories about endless distractions, sensory meltdowns and the sheer unpredictability of transitions. Hatty shares the small wins and epic fails she’s had trying to leave the house wit...

Meltdowns over itchy labels, battles over socks, and school uniform trauma. Steph Curtis joins Mark to talk about sensory sensitivity and the daily challenge of getting dressed when you’re parenting an autistic or PDA child who would much rather be naked - even in the most inappropriate moments. They unpack how seemingly small things - like seams or fabrics - can derail a whole morning, and what s...

In this funny and deeply personal conversation, Mark sits down with writer and fellow parent of neurodivergent kids, Samuel Wilson, to explore what it feels like to live - and parent - from the outside looking in. They discuss isolation on the school playground, the judgment we feel from parents of neurotypicals and the joy of finding other parents of SEND kids who understand the realities. If you...