The NeuroSpicy MomPod

This week’s episode cracked my heart open in the best way. 💞 “What Our Children Wish We Knew” is a love letter to the kids we’re raising  and  the little ones still living inside us. In this  exclusive video episode , I’m sharing not just the full podcast recording — but also an  off-script, heart-to-heart life update  about what’s been happening behind the scenes lately. (Because we know healing...

Why do some kids seem unable to go to school—no matter how much we encourage, reward, or reason with them? In this episode of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we unpack  school refusal  through a neurodivergent and trauma-informed lens. 🌻 You’ll learn how emotional distress, sensory overload, and chronic stress create a physiological response that the brain interprets as danger—and why forcing attendance...

✨  S3E7: The Hidden Cost of Neurodivergence  ✨ Let’s talk about the price of existing in a neurotypical world — the emotional labor, the job instability, the financial strain, and the silent burnout so many neurodivergent adults and parents face. In this week’s episode, Austen Marie opens up about her own journey navigating career loss, chronic overwhelm, and rebuilding from the ground up while...

In this week’s episode of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , host Austen Marie chats with  Kecia Nelson (@wholehearted_parenting) —a licensed clinical social worker and mom—about the messy, beautiful process of  reparenting yourself while parenting your kids . They dive deep into healing generational trauma, understanding the nervous system, and creating homes rooted in emotional safety and compassion. Keci...

In this week’s episode of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we’re talking about something so many of us live without realizing it — being  trained to tolerate.  From toxic workplaces to unhealthy relationships, many of us learned early on to shrink, stay quiet, and settle. Let’s unpack where that pattern comes from, how it shows up in our nervous systems, and how to start recognizing the difference between...

🎙️ Today I’m joined by Bry Bryan (@brythetherapist) —a licensed trauma therapist who works with neurodivergent kids, overwhelmed parents, and adults navigating trauma. Her own lived experiences with addiction and survival shaped the way she shows up in therapy—with compassion, honesty, and hope. Together we explore:✨ How trauma and neurodivergence overlap in complicated ways✨ What parents can do...

This week on The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we zoom out and trace the history of how society has seen neurodivergence. From myths of “divine madness,” to the rise of asylums, to the Disability Rights and Neurodiversity movements — this episode explores how far we’ve come, and why it matters right now. You’ll hear about: How ancient cultures framed differences in behavior The grim legacy of asylums &...

In this episode of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , Austen Marie sits down with educator and advocate  Olivia Couch  to explore love, autonomy, and the power of unlearning in education. Together, they dive into the role of teachers as ethnographers, the challenges of burnout, and how community and play can transform learning. Olivia also shares her journey creating the  Punk Philosophers Garage Cafe —a sa...

In this kickoff episode, I’m sharing the story behind the mic:💖 Growing up with cPTSD, undiagnosed ADHD + autism💖 How teaching TK kids helped me rewire my own nervous system💖 The breaking point that led me to walk away from my marriage & career💖 Why this podcast exists and where we’re going this season This season we’re diving into masking, sensory struggles, hyperfocus, RSD, hormones, PDA...

Season 2 Finale!  💖 We’ve officially wrapped up 20 episodes this season, and I just want to say thank you to every single listener who’s been part of this NeuroSpicy journey. From deep dives into advocacy, to raw conversations about parenting, healing, and being ND in a world that wasn’t built for us - we’ve grown so much together this season. ✨ Season 3 is already on the horizon, and it’s only...

AI can feel like magic for ADHD, autistic, and dyslexic brains, helping with emotional regulation, executive function, and communication...but what’s the hidden cost? 🤔 In this episode of The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we dig into the neuroscience, environmental impact, and mind–body connection so you can decide if AI is your ultimate accessibility tool or a shiny distraction. 💖 Support the show for ju...

Transitions are hard—especially when your neurodivergent brain is already screaming, “TOO MUCH, TOO FAST.”  In this episode, we unpack why seasonal shifts and new routines can send our nervous systems into overdrive, how to support our kids (and ourselves) through change without shame or burnout, and practical ways to reparent the younger parts of us who never got the help we needed. If you’ve eve...

Why does trying  anything new  feel like your brain is short-circuiting? Why do school transitions make our kids fall apart—and why do we spiral right along with them? In this episode of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we’re breaking down the real neuroscience behind why our bodies react to change like it’s danger. We’ll talk about intolerance of uncertainty, the freeze response, Polyvagal Theory (with a...

Do you ever feel like you have to speak up—even when it costs you everything? Like your body literally won’t let you move on when something feels unfair? That’s not you being dramatic. That’s your neurodivergent nervous system doing exactly what it was wired to do. In this episode, we’re digging into justice sensitivity: what it is, why it’s especially intense for ND folks (hi, AuDHD fam), and how...

Ever peeled the labels off water bottles like it was your job? Refused to wear jeans unless they were exactly the right softness? Couldn’t handle wet hair after a shower and didn’t know why? This week’s episode is a lighthearted but powerful dive into the subtle, often-missed signs of neurodivergence. I share personal stories, scientific insights, and a whole list of “You might be NeuroSpicy if…”...

Ever wondered why astrology feels more real than science class? Or why your nervous system calms down more in the forest than in a therapist’s office? Let’s talk about it. 🌿✨ In this episode, we explore why so many ND folks are drawn to the “woo,” how trauma and religion intertwine, and what science actually says about healing through nature, ritual, and rest. This isn’t your typical convo about...

Today, we’re breaking down the hidden trauma so many of us experienced in school—from being shamed for needing to move, to overachieving ourselves into nervous system collapse. Whether you were labeled a “problem” or praised as “gifted,” the system was never built for your brain. And that damage? It lingers. In this episode, I share personal stories, trauma-informed insights, and the neuroscience...

Why do so many neurodivergent folks find themselves stuck in toxic, one-sided, or manipulative relationships? In this episode of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we dive deep into the neuroscience of trauma bonds, rejection sensitivity, and the nervous system survival responses that keep us frozen in places we were never meant to stay. ✨ What we cover: The real reason leaving was so hard (hint: it’s not...

In this episode of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we’re talking about something that doesn’t get nearly enough airtime:  Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) . If every simple ask turns into a meltdown or negotiation, you are not alone. 💥 I break down: – What PDA actually is (hint: it’s not defiance) – How it shows up in everyday life – Why rewards, routines, and even gentle scripts can backfire – What’...

This week on  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , I'm joined by Dr. Tara Hogan—a neurodivergent mom, holistic parenting mentor, and pediatric chiropractor—to talk about parenting through a neurodivergent lens. We explore how behaviors are often nervous system signals, why self-acceptance is essential for ND parents, and how nutrition, genetics, and adrenal fatigue impact mental health. Dr. Hogan also shar...

Let’s talk money — the neurospicy way. 💸 In this episode, we’re getting real about why so many of us with ADHD, autism, or trauma backgrounds struggle with money. From unopened bills to impulse spending to feeling straight-up allergic to budgeting, we cover it all. Inside this episode: Why traditional budgeting advice doesn’t work for ND brains How financial trauma and executive dysfunction mess...

S2E8 – ND in the Workplace: Why You Hate Every Job You’ve Ever Had Ever feel like you’re “bad at working”? Spoiler: you’re not. You’re just neurodivergent in a world built for neurotypical robots. In this episode, we dive into why traditional jobs can feel like torture for ND brains — from masking and sensory overload to executive dysfunction and burnout. I share my personal story of navigating ev...

🎙️ In this heartfelt and reflective episode, I sit down with Dr. Luz Casquejo Johnston — a first-generation Filipina American, educator, and fellow neurospicy mama — to explore how our personal histories have shaped our parenting philosophies. We discuss: 💖 Navigating motherhood as first-gen daughters 🧠 Discovering our neurodivergence and its impact on parenting 🌱 Transitioning from survival mo...

Welcome back to  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , where the vibes are unfiltered and the gaslighting is… unfortunately everywhere. 😮‍💨 In this episode, I break down how gaslighting shows up in parenting, relationships, systems—and even inside our own spicy lil’ brains. 🧠✨ We’ll talk about: What gaslighting  actually  is (not just a buzzword) How it impacts neurodivergent folks What to do when you start...

Ever spiraled over a short text or convinced yourself someone  must  be mad at you based on a single emoji? 🫠 You're not alone, babe. In this episode of  The NeuroSpicy MomPod , we’re diving deep into  Rejection-Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD) —what it is, what’s  actually  happening in your brain and body, and how to support both yourself and your kids when it hits. ✨ We’re breaking down: The neu...