Parenting Autism and ADHD

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...

Today, Cliff is joined by Sean McNicholas from New Me Therapy. Sean shares his incredible journey from struggling through school and adult life with undiagnosed ADHD to becoming a therapist specialising in autism ADHD, anxiety, trauma, and brain health. Together, Cliff and Sean look at masking in school, and Sean offers a fresh perspective on why it can actually work in your favour if the school s...

In this special episode, Cliff shares highlights from a powerful conversation his daughter Eva and I had on Helping Teachers Thrive, a brilliant podcast hosted by teacher Tem. They discuss how Eva’s notebook helps her regulate and stay engaged, explore sensory overwhelm, mind breaks, fidget toys, and the small classroom changes that can completely transform a child’s experience. Whether you’re a t...

This episode is dedicated to a friend of Cliff´s, Jamie, who first told him about the Inner Chimp Paradox and recommended the book and the techniques he and Eva are exploring, today. Everyone has an inner chimp that self-blame voice, which nags them, shames them, and tells them they are rubbish at everything. It is normal, but people with neurodiverse brains feel criticism more deeply, so if their...

Today, Cliff is joined once again by his daughter Eva and Yo Jeff a dating coach and published author of The Hip Hop Dating Guide that is available on Amazon. Check the description for the link. Last time Jeff was here, he talked to Eva about confidence, friendships and building skills. Today, they're catching up on how she got on with those challenges, the progress she's made. They also discuss h...

Today, Cliff is joined by Vicky, founder of the happy, healthy unicorn. Her daughter was diagnosed with severe non-verbal autism at four years old, and what happened next completely changed their lives. Vicky shares how nutrition, gut health and tiny step by step changes helped her daughter move from daily struggle to real progress, and how any parent can start making gentle changes without overwh...

Eva is back. Today, we're talking about executive function, or, as we like to call it, your brain's superhero - it´s CEO. We discuss why it sometimes goes on strike and what you can do to quickly kickstart it. The conversation also dives deep into digital IDs, freedom of speech, and Eva provides some teenage honesty, including what it's like to create and share online. EPISODE REVEALS Executive fu...

Today, in this slightly different episode, Cliff talks about something that hit a nerve with a lot of parents and teachers, and probably even with people who are neuro diverse that don't have kids - the comments Richard Tice from Reform UK, made about neuro divergent children and labelling. Cliff also welcomes his mum to the episode to share personal and family experiences of neurodivergence acros...

Cliff speaks with Lara Barnes, the founder of Brain Development UK. Lara helps children with autism, ADHD and learning differences by rebuilding the foundation of the brain through sensory work and primitive reflex integration. She shares some simple tests you can do at home and the details of exercises and tools you can buy and use yourself to significantly help your child. If your child struggle...

Today, Cliff speaks with Jodie Steele about her experience with ADHD burnout, how it affected her health, her family and her life, and the steps she took to recover and rebuild. This episode is an honest look at what burnout really feels like when you have ADHD, and what can help you find your way back. EPISODE REVEALS True ADHD burnout goes far beyond exhaustion; it can trigger a severe, life-thr...

For today’s Parenting ADHD and Autism episode, Cliff sits down to chat with Alison Kerr, a mum who discovered her own neurodivergence through her daughter’s autism and ADHD diagnosis. She opens up about the hormonal and neurodivergent roller coaster that has shaped her life and the healing path that helped her find balance again. In particular, she talks about a condition that is far more prevalen...