Refrigerator Moms

Hosts Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen explore the controversial term "virtual autism," coined by Romanian psychologist Marius Zomfier in 2018 to describe behavioral abnormalities in children aged 0-3 exposed to excessive screen time. The discussion clarifies that virtual autism is not real autism and examines the developmental impacts of early screen exposure. Through social media posts from conc...

Hosts Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen address listener feedback on the title of their episode on siblings, clarifying their intention wasn't to pit neurotypical against neurodivergent siblings, but rather show all siblings united against the challenges neurodivergence can bring to family dynamics. They discuss their recent op-ed about RFK Jr.'s autism statements, emphasizing support for productiv...

Hosts Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen welcome their own children, Ethan and Rosalie, to discuss the profound impact of growing up as siblings to neurodivergent family members. The conversation explores "glass child syndrome" - when siblings feel invisible due to the intense focus on a high-needs child. Through candid personal stories, they examine childhood anxiety, PTSD, depression, and the long...

The Refrigerator Moms podcast relaunches with this first episode. Julianna Scott and Kelley Jensen dive deep into the pervasive issue of mom guilt that plagues autism parents. Drawing from their 20+ year friendship and experience raising autistic children, they debunk the harmful "Refrigerator Mother Theory" while offering practical strategies for managing guilt and prioritizing self-care. The duo...