Autism Parenting Secrets

Welcome to Episode 326 of Autism Parenting Secrets.
This week, I’m joined by Tyler Hudson, author of The Missing Lyrics: A Father’s Story of Autism, Grief, and a Society in Denial.
Tyler’s son Lyric is 18 and has profound autism. Our sons are close in age, and while every family’s journey is unique, there are many commonalities in what we’ve experienced.
Tyler has a remarkable ability to put words around complicated and emotionally charged experiences that many parents have felt but struggled to articulate.
We talk about the grief that can accompany this journey, how a parent’s perspective changes over time, the enormous breadth of the autism spectrum, and the courage required to question prevailing narratives and stand up for what you believe is right.
We also explore the importance of presuming competence and recognizing that a child who struggles to communicate may understand far more than we realize.
And we confront a distinction that sits at the heart of Tyler’s advocacy: accepting, loving, and supporting people with autism today does not mean we stop asking difficult questions about why so many children are struggling or seeking to prevent unnecessary suffering for future generations.
Those goals are not in conflict.


The secret this week is…
We Need Acceptance AND Prevention


You'll Discover:
Why Hope Changes As The Journey Unfolds (3:11)
How Grief Can Lead To Acceptance (13:22)
Why The Autism Spectrum Needs More Distinction (22:10)
The Difference Between Being Nice And Doing What’s Right (39:56)
Why Presuming Competence Matters So Much (47:33)


About Our Guest:
Tyler Hudson is a husband, father of three, musician and advocate for families living at the deep end of the spectrum. From Texas, now living in Tasmania, Tyler speaks openly about grief, disability, and the responsibility we owe future generations.
https://tylerhudsonmusic.com/


References in this Episode:
The Missing Lyrics: A Father's Story of Autism, Grief, and a Society In Denial by Tyler Hudson


Additional Resources:
To learn more about personalized 1:1 support go to www.elevatehowyounavigate.com


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Welcome to Episode 325 of Autism Parenting Secrets.
This week, I'm joined by Nadia Elkhatib, host of the Biohacking Autism podcast.
Nadia holds a master's degree in computer science and spent her career in Silicon Valley tech, bringing that same engineer's mindset to more than twenty years of helping her son Jimmy.
Measure. Test. Adjust. Repeat.
Nadia believes parents need to become the CEO of their child's health. That doesn't mean doing everything yourself. It means owning the strategy, understanding the data, recognizing patterns, asking better questions, and building the right team around you.
Rather than continually chasing symptoms, Nadia has increasingly looked to longevity and biohacking for a more foundational answer:
How can we help the body do its job better?
That has led her to focus deeply on metabolic health and nervous system regulation.
We also explore why caregiver health can't be overlooked. The better you function, the better equipped you are to make decisions, lead the journey, and show up for your child.
And Nadia gets a firsthand look at another form of biohacking as we review her All-In Parent Assessment and identify opportunities to make an already strong parent even stronger.


The secret this week is…
You CAN Biohack Autism


You'll Discover:
Why biohacking puts parents back in the driver's seat (5:33)
Why the buck ultimately stops with the parent (8:10)
Why it's time to stop chasing symptoms (12:03)
Why starting with what you can control matters (28:49)
Why you can't bypass caregiver health (57:56)


About Our Guest:
Nadia Elkhatib is the host of Biohacking Autism, a podcast about real solutions for people with autism and the ones who love them. She holds a master's degree in computer science and spent her career in Silicon Valley tech, bringing that same engineer's mindset to raising her son with severe autism: measure, test, adjust, repeat. She is now building a private Biohacking Autism community where members get her ongoing research and current protocols, along with access to leading autism, longevity, and biohacking experts. Every episode of the show runs on two tracks: practical protocols for the person on the spectrum and healthspan and longevity for the moms, dads, and caregivers supporting them.
biohackautism.com


References in this Episode:
Biohacking Autism Podcast
Dave Asprey
Dr. Neil Nathan


Additional Resources:
To learn more about personalized 1:1 support go to www.elevatehowyounavigate.com


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Welcome to Episode 324 of Autism Parenting Secrets.
This week, I'm joined by Sarah Kernion, founder of INCHSTONES and mother of three children, including two with profound, non-speaking autism and whole body apraxia.
Parents see things others simply can't.
You are with your child across thousands of ordinary moments. You notice subtle changes in behavior, connection, sleep, digestion, regulation, communication, and development.
Those observations aren't insignificant.
They're clues.
Yet it's easy to discount what you see when you're sitting across from a doctor, therapist, teacher, or other professional with years of training and expertise.
Sarah makes a powerful case for a different posture.
You don't need to know more than the experts.
But you do need to recognize that you bring something to the table that no one else can: an extraordinarily deep understanding of your child.
That means becoming more than an advocate. It means becoming an intentional observer, noticing patterns, documenting what you see, asking better questions, and trusting yourself enough to bring those observations forward.
We also explore the importance of asking not only "What is this?" but "Why might this be happening?"
And Sarah shares the idea at the heart of INCHSTONES: progress isn't only found in the big milestones we're conditioned to look for.
It's also found in the tiny moments of connection, growth, and development that are easy to miss when we're focused only on how far our child still has to go.
Those inchstones matter.


The secret this week is…
Your Ability To NOTICE Is A Superpower


You'll Discover:
Why your observations about your child are incredibly important clues (3:53)
How to show up differently in conversations with practitioners (10:21)
Why becoming a better observer changes your role in your child's care (21:07)
Why asking "Why might this be happening?" can reveal more (31:36)
Why inchstones deserve to be celebrated alongside milestones (39:02)


About Our Guest:
Sarah Kernion is the founder of INCHSTONES, host of the Inchstones podcast, and a national advocate for families raising children with profound autism.
She is the mother of three children, including Milly and Mack, who both have profound, non-speaking autism and whole body apraxia.
Through honest storytelling and conversations with leading researchers, physicians, and fellow caregivers, Sarah explores the intersection of science, advocacy, and the lived reality of raising children with the highest support needs.
Her work invites parents to notice the small moments that often reveal the biggest truths because inchstones, not milestones, change lives.
www.inchstones.co


References in this Episode:
Meadow Health
Additional Resources:
To learn more about personalized 1:1 support go to www.elevatehowyounavigate.com


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Welcome to Episode 323 of Autism Parenting Secrets.

This week, I'm joined by returning guest Beth Lambert, Executive Director of Documenting Hope and author of A Compromised Generation.

After more than two decades immersed in children's health, Beth is more hopeful than ever.

Why?

The science has changed.

Our understanding of the microbiome, nervous system, metabolism, environmental stressors, and other contributors to chronic childhood conditions has exploded.

More practitioners are applying this knowledge clinically.

And more parents are sharing stories of children making remarkable progress.

But having more information and more options doesn't necessarily make a parent's job easier.

In fact, it can make discernment even more important.

Your child is unique.

There is no universal roadmap, perfect practitioner, or silver bullet.

The opportunity is to gather good information and support while becoming increasingly clear about what makes sense for your child.

We also explore something parents can easily overlook: you are part of your child's environment.

Your nervous system, energy, decisions, consistency, and ability to regulate matter.

Supporting yourself isn't taking attention away from your child. It can be foundational to helping your child feel safe and thrive.

Beth also shares why in-person community can be so powerful and what she's most excited about at Documenting Hope's upcoming Health & Healing Expo in Orlando, November 21-22.

The future is changing quickly. There are more reasons for hope, more tools available, and more possibilities opening up for families.



The secret this week is…

Healing Is More Possible Than You Think



You'll Discover:

Why there’s more reason for hope than ever before (1:26)

Why YOU are your child’s most important decision-maker (7:00)

Why commitment beats chasing the next intervention (15:42)

How community can create unexpected breakthroughs (23:05)

Why the future of children’s health could look radically different (32:48)



About Our Guest:

Beth Lambert is a former healthcare consultant and teacher. As a consultant, she worked with pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, and other healthcare companies to evaluate industry trends.

She is the author of A Compromised Generation: The Epidemic of Chronic Illness in America's Children and co-author of Brain Under Attack: A Resource for Parents and Caregivers of Children with PANS, PANDAS, and Autoimmune Encephalitis.

Beth founded Epidemic Answers in 2009 and currently serves as Executive Director of Documenting Hope. She attended Oxford University, graduated from Williams College, and holds a Master's Degree in American Studies from Fairfield University.

www.beth-lambert.com/documenting-hope



References in this Episode:

Health & Healing Expo by Documenting Hope, November 21–22, 2026 | Orlando, Florida + Virtual

Healing Together by Documenting Hope

A Compromised Generation by Beth Lambert

Brain Under Attack by Beth Lambert



Additional Resources:

To learn more about personalized 1:1 support go to www.elevatehowyounavigate.com



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Welcome to Episode 322 of Autism Parenting Secrets.

This episode is about discernment, intuition, nervous system regulation, and learning how to think independently when navigating your child’s health challenges.

Dr. Cammy Benton shares the painful experience that pushed her beyond conventional medicine after one of her daughters became severely ill.

Despite being a physician herself, she found herself dismissed, gaslit, and pressured to ignore her own instincts while her child continued deteriorating.

What followed completely transformed how she views medicine, parenting, and healing.

You’ll hear why curiosity, humility, and critical thinking matter so much when choosing practitioners and making decisions for your child.

You’ll also hear why nervous system regulation is essential if parents want to access their own intuition clearly.

This is not about rejecting medicine. It’s about remaining conscious, engaged, and empowered while navigating complex decisions.

The secret this week is…

Don’t Hand Over Your AUTHORITY

You'll Discover:

Why fear can cause you to doubt your own instincts (14:11)

How fear can cloud your ability to make good decisions (34:31)

Why curiosity and humility lead to better healthcare decisions (26:39)

Why you shouldn’t outsource your discernment to anyone (32:04)

Why regulating yourself helps your child thrive (36:14)

About Our Guest:

Dr. Cammy Benton, MD is a functional medicine physician, IFM-certified and currently completing a longevity fellowship with A4M. Since 2016, she has owned Benton Integrative, a holistic concierge practice in Huntersville, North Carolina. A graduate of medical school in 2000 and Family Medicine residency in 2004, she has spent over two decades studying integrative modalities including nutrition, homeopathy, Ayurveda, sexual health, functional medicine, and psychedelic medicine. She is a Founding Director of Physicians for Informed Consent, advocating for truly informed medical choice, and is also a student of ancient healing traditions.

https://www.bentonintegrative.com/

Additional Resources:

To learn more about personalized 1:1 support go to www.elevatehowyounavigate.com

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