Parenting Autism and ADHD

An ADHD brain that’s always on the go can easily push you into a life lived on the edge. You work harder, say yes to more and keep sprinting long after your nervous system is done. Trying to slow down naturally fails so you start relying on something else that will put the brakes on for you, something to take the edge off. For my guest Hamish Niven, the host of The Brave Man Project podcast, that...

Neurodiverse people aren’t “too sensitive.” Our brains are processing far more than most people´s. In this episode I explore five everyday behaviours often seen in autistic and ADHD people but rarely seen in others - rehearsing conversations, crashing after socialising, being overwhelmed by background noise, forgetting basic needs like food and water, and only realising what was really going on ho...

For so many ADHD brains, nights aren’t restful, they’re busy, creative, and wired. You’re exhausted, your head hits the pillow… but suddenly you’re wide awake, building entire business plans in your mind while the rest of the house is out cold. But that might not mean you’re broken. Ancient human sleep patterns, artificial light, and the hunter–farmer theory explain a lot of what is going on with...

Let me ask you something uncomfortable. Can we punish neurodiversity out of our kids? If  they shout ground them. If they swear, take the phone. If they melt down, raise your voice louder. Will that fix it, or are we trying to discipline a nervous system that's already overwhelmed?  Today, I'm joined by Lauren O'Carroll, founder of Positively Parenting, a professional ADHD coach as seen on Channel...

What happens when your child is doing fine academically, but socially they're drowning? They might understand the material, they can answer the questions, they might even be top of the class, or maybe they're struggling academically because of the environment. Either way, there's an impact, the transitions, the crowds, the shifting expectations, the executive function load. It's building, and slow...

Neurodiverse people aren’t broken – we’re wired differently. What works for most other people doesn’t always work for us, especially when it comes to getting things done, motivating ourselves and handling stress. In this episode I dive into five common phrases parents that can really backfire with ADHD and autistic kids (and adults): “just try harder,” “be more disciplined,” “break it down into sm...

Today, Cliff welcomes Lisa Bond, who is herself neurodiverse. Lisa is a training, learning and development specialist who has hands on experience of counselling, advocacy, and litigation for neurodiverse families. Lisa works for AYC Psychology who offer a range of neurodiverse assessment services and is the founder of Impact Training. She lives in a Rainbow house of neurodiversity she and her son...

When it comes to sex and porn, many of us feel it’s “wrong” to talk to our kids – especially if they’re autistic, ADHD or highly sensitive. But if we don’t talk, the internet will, and it won’t explain the difference between entertainment and reality, or help them process what they’ve seen. Today I’m joined again by sex educator Cath Hakanson to explore how to have calm, age-appropriate conversati...

I’m celebrating the 50th episode with two very special guests – my daughter Eva and my wife. This is an honest, funny, and tender look inside our “neuro-spicy” family life. We talk about the everyday chaos of ADHD and autism (spills, mess, time blindness, zoning out), how we tag-team as parents when emotions run high, and how we turn things like bike crashes and Roblox scams into gentle safety les...

Today's guest shouldn't be here - and that's exactly why this episode matters. He felt like an impostor talking about neurodiversity because this isn't his specialty. But this isn't about labels or limitations. It's about what we can become in spite of them. Think about the last time you argued with yourself. That voice that says not good enough, don't mess this up. Today we're meeting it head on...

Does your child “just not get out of bed” for school? Maybe mornings dissolve into stand‑offs, shouting, threats of consequences… and yet nothing changes. You’re exhausted, they’re shut down, and everyone keeps telling you it’s “behaviour,” “laziness,” or “bad parenting.” In this solo episode, Cliff gently pulls back the curtain on what’s really happening for many autistic, ADHD, and otherwise neu...

Does your child come home from school, barely say a word, and vanish into their room? Maybe you get a grunt, “What’s for dinner?” and suddenly the whole house flips - doors slam, voices rise, and you’re wondering, “How did we get here again?” Most people will tell you it’s screen time, hormones, or “just teenagers.” But what if it’s not a behaviour problem at all—what if it’s anxiety and overload,...

In this episode, Cliff and his daughter Eva have a candid, unfiltered conversation about the proposed UK social media ban for under‑16s. They explore how platforms like YouTube and gaming chats help many autistic and ADHD kids regulate, connect and unwind – and why a blanket ban could do more harm than good. Eva shares why she and many of her friends and classmates who are also neuro-divergent and...

Today, I'm joined by Ravinol Chambers a filmmaker, founder of Be Inspired Films, and a fellow dad navigating life with a neuro divergent child. Together, we explore his family's journey from early challenges in mainstream school through to diagnosis overwhelm and finding the right environment where his son could thrive.  We also look at how storytelling is changing outcomes. Including, the example...

This episode explores how time blindness, sleep disruption, and executive functioning challenges contribute to increased anxiety and meltdowns in neurodivergent children during the clock change. Cliff explains how circadian rhythm shifts impact emotional regulation, focus, and overall functioning in children with ADHD and autism. In this solo episode, Cliff gets right to the heart of how the recen...

I'm delighted to welcome back a returning guest to the show, Tash Hutcheson, a neuro diversity life coach who works with parents and individuals navigating ADHD, autism, and anxiety. In this conversation, we explore anxiety in the neurodivergent world, why it can feel so intense, and how things like environment, expectations and our inner dialogue can amplify that experience.  We also talk about t...

Today, Cliff is joined by Kirsty Heap an HR professional and advocate for neurodiversity in the workplace. As someone who has been diagnosed with both dyslexia and ADHD Kirsty brings both professional expertise and lived experience to the conversation. Together, they explore what neurodiversity really means inside organisations, how workplaces can better support neurodivergent employees, and why u...

When you’re parenting an autistic or ADHD tween through puberty, sex education can feel like one more overwhelming thing you’re supposed to “get right” - without ever having been shown how. Today, Cliff talks with sexologist and late‑diagnosed autistic mum Cath Hakanson about what real‑world sex ed looks like in neurodivergent families: awkward, imperfect, and built from dozens of tiny, everyday m...

How do you respond when your child’s behaviour feels like pure chaos—defiance, aggression, shutdowns—and nothing you try seems to work? In this solo episode, Cliff unpacks a powerful reframe of that situation explaining why what you are seeing is not likely to be down to disobedience or bad parenting. Cliff shares practical ways to reduce flashpoints, calm things down and teach your children to im...

Today, I'm delighted to be joined by Helen Valentino, a late, diagnosed ADHD shamanic practitioner, cacao ceremony facilitator, and podcast host. It's such a pleasure to have Helen with me today. If you've experienced ADHD burnout, anxiety or struggled when your child is dysregulated and you want to better understand anxiety and neuro diversity. These conversations are for you, and remember, it al...

Today's episode is about stress, anxiety, the inner critic, and why regulation always starts with us as the adults. I'm delighted to be joined by the founder of Love. Heal. Believe. -  Dolly Oksman, a special education teacher with more than a decade of experience supporting children with autism, and someone who is deeply passionate about self-regulation, self-care and helping caregivers stay calm...

Today's episode is for Children's Mental Health Week. I'm delighted to be joined by my daughter Eva, and together, we're talking about belonging, feeling seen and heard, and what actually helps when children are struggling with overwhelm, shutdowns and big emotions. This is a gentle, honest conversation, not from theory, but from lived experience, about what children really need to feel safe, unde...

Today, Cliff is joined by Helen Foster who shares her experiences, insights, and hard-earned lessons from navigating EHCP process with her young son. They talk honestly about recognising early signs, gathering evidence, managing overwhelm, using technology to help  and what it's really like advocating for a non-verbal child within a system that can often feel confusing and stacked against families...

Today. I'm joined by Andy Ryan, a late, diagnosed autistic professional who works with organisations to help them better understand support and value neurodivergent people in the workplace. In this conversation, we talk about masking, burnout, psychological safety, leadership and why so many work environments unintentionally make life harder for neurodivergent people, even when the intention is go...

This episode is going to be a little different because I co**ed up. I forgot to press record at the start and instead of cutting it out, we've kept it in, because that moment is exactly what today's conversation is about. It's such a pleasure for me to welcome Kathryn Lovewell from kind mind Academy, and we're talking about anxiety, the inner critic and self-compassion. Whether you are an adult or...