Neurodivergent Conversations | Autism Spectrum, ADHD, AuDHD, PDA, Emotional Regulation, Neurodivergent parent

If you’re a neurodivergent parent or you’re parenting a neurodivergent child, burnout can creep in quietly… until it suddenly doesn’t feel quiet at all.

In this episode, Greer talks with Liz (The Untypical OT) about what burnout actually is, why it’s so common in neurodivergent families, and why it’s often not your child causing it. They name the real load: the constant planning, the constant navigating, the constant advocating, and the systems that make everything harder than it needs to be.

They also talk about something that matters a lot: burnout isn’t something you can “self-care” your way out of. It’s nuanced. It’s personal. And the earlier you can recognize your warning signs, the more gently you can support yourself.

In this conversation, we cover

What burnout is (and why it’s not a personal failure)

Why burnout in neurodivergent families is so often about systems, not your child

The importance of learning your personal burnout warning signs

Why “just do self-care” can feel infuriating when you’re drowning

Tiny, realistic moments that help you come back to yourself (even 2–3 minutes)

Being more present when your brain is always ten steps ahead

Gentle reminder: you’re not failing. You’re carrying a lot, and it makes sense that your body gets tired of holding it.

GUEST LINKS:

Follow Liz on Insta

Check out her podcast

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The ⁠⁠⁠Unfinished Idea website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Join the Unfinished Community!

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If you have ever heard “they can’t communicate” and felt your stomach drop, this episode is for you.

Because communication is not a performance. It’s a connection. It’s a regulation. It’s being understood. And when we only count spoken words, we miss the ways autistic kids communicate all day long.

In this conversation, we reframe what communication actually is, talk about AAC in plain language, and share how to support non-speaking, minimally speaking, and situationally speaking people with more respect, more curiosity, and way less assumption.

Today on Neurodivergent Conversations, I’m joined by Becky, a Speech and Language Therapist and Clinical AAC Specialist with Smartbox Assistive Technology, and we are going there in the best way.

This episode is packed with the exact kind of clarity parents and educators need, including:

The difference between speech, language, and communication, and why those labels matter in assessments, school meetings, and everyday life

What AAC really means, plus what counts as AAC beyond a high-tech device

Why “non-speaking” does not mean “no thoughts,” “no understanding,” or “no personality”

How to spot communication in regulation, behaviour, body language, eye gaze, and connection

Why “presume competence” is not just a phrase, it’s a starting point that changes how adults respond

a simple way to begin at home, even if you feel stuck: noticing patterns and building a “communication dictionary” so your child feels understood

If you are searching for support with autistic communication, AAC strategies, minimally speaking autism, or neurodiversity-affirming speech therapy approaches, this episode will give you language, hope, and next steps you can actually use.

GUEST LINKS:

Smartbox Assistive Technology

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The Unfinished Idea Website

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What if you are not “too much,” “too chatty,” “too sensitive,” or “just rude”
What if your brain has been working overtime for decades, and a diagnosis is not a label, but permission to finally offer yourself grace?

In this episode, we talk about what it feels like to be diagnosed with ADHD later in life, the quiet shame so many women carry, and the surprisingly practical supports that can change your day-to-day.

Today on Neurodivergent Conversations, I’m sitting down with Lisa, who was encouraged toward her own late ADHD diagnosis through her daughter Michelle’s journey, and who now leads Lexie’s Voice, a nonprofit supporting families touched by autism and developmental disabilities.

We chat about:

what “loving yourself” can look like in the form of pursuing diagnosis and support

the moment medication made her handwriting slow down and finally match her thoughts

how masking can look like people pleasing, and why it can actually be about soothing your own nervous system

the social “whiplash” of being deeply present, then forgetting details later, and the systems that help

the mother daughter shift when your adult child starts protecting their limits (and what it can teach you about asking for what you need)

why “you’ve met one autistic person, you’ve met one,” and what that means for how we show up with compassion

You will leave with language for what you have been experiencing, and a few gentle ideas you can try this week if your brain is always five steps ahead of your body.

GET THE LINKS

⁠⁠⁠Check out the refreshed website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Learn about the ⁠⁠⁠Exhausted to Empowered Collective⁠⁠⁠

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SPONSOR LINKS:

Check out ADHD Central!
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Marriage can feel hard for so many reasons… and when you’re in a neurodivergent household, it can feel like there are extra layers you can’t always name.

In this solo episode, Greer shares a very honest snapshot of her marriage: she has ADHD, her husband is autistic, and they’re raising an autistic/ADHD child (with another little one whose “brain type” they’re still learning). She talks about the real stress points, the growth they’ve fought for, and the small “language tools” that have made communication feel safer and more doable.

Greer also opens up about a turning point from about five years ago—when she was close to leaving—and what helped them start repairing: individual counselling, marriage counselling, and learning how their brains work.


Why marriage can feel especially heavy in an ADHD/autism relationship


How miscommunication often comes from what wasn’t said (or how something landed)


The difference between being near each other… and actually feeling connected


Practical phrases that reduce conflict (like “10 minutes to dream” and “10-minute tap out”)


Why scheduling hard conversations can help neurodivergent nervous systems feel safer


How “survival seasons” can look like couch time—and why that can be okay (for a while)


A gentle reminder: you’re on the same team, and you’re not alone

If you’re in a season where it feels like you’re roommates, not partners—there’s no shame in that. You’re carrying a lot. This episode is your reminder that help is allowed, connection can be rebuilt, and sometimes the first step is simply finding words that work for your brains.
If this episode lands for you, share it with a friend who’s trying to love well in a neurodivergent home—and needs to feel a little less alone.GET THE LINKS⁠⁠⁠Check out the refreshed website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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If you are in a neurodivergent relationship we are doing a webinar talking about the everyday realities. The joys and challenges while being or being married to a neurodivergent person. Join us Feb. 12, at 8pm UK, replay is available!

What if the thing that feels impossible, moving countries with a sparkly-brained kid, could actually become the start of your child feeling more supported, more understood, and more free?

In this episode, we talk about the kind of preparation that helps autistic kids feel safe in big change, how to keep the vibe hopeful even when the logistics are a lot, and what it looks like to build community when you are new, anxious, and navigating a language barrier.

Today on Neurodivergent Conversations, I’m joined by Alexis Nicole from Mommashive, a travel and lifestyle creator living in Portugal after relocating from the United States with her family.

We get into the real, practical stuff you actually want when you are considering a move or a big trip with an autistic child, like:

why some autistic kids do better with more notice (not less), and how Alexis used previews, videos, and even paperwork to reduce anxiety

how to involve your child in downsizing and planning so it feels like something happening with them, not to them

what school can look like in Porto, including language support and why integration mattered to their family

the surprising ways travel (RV life and cruising) supported social confidence and new routines

how community can start online when you are nervous in real life, including the role of Facebook groups and creator communities

a few tiny “try it and see” regulation idear sweet in your bag, shared as an anecdotal tool that helped Alexis in the moment

This one is especially for the parent who is thinking, “I want to give my child more world, but I’m scared I’ll make everything harder.” You are not alone, and you are not the only one doing a ton of prep behind the scenes.

GUEST LINKS:

Follow Alexis over at Mamashive on Instagram

GET THE LINKS

⁠⁠⁠Check out the refreshed website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠Learn about the ⁠⁠⁠Exhausted to Empowered Collective⁠⁠⁠

Follow me on socials:

⁠⁠⁠INSTAGRAM⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠FACEBOOK⁠⁠⁠

SPONSOR LINKS:

Check out ADHD Central and their great tools!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices