The Untypical Parent™ Podcast

• Neurodivergence, Dadhood, Diagnosis, And Doing Your Best

  Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat if “perfect” parenting is the wrong goal, and honest repair is the real superpower? I sit down with David, the Dad behind NeuroDad’s Diary, to explore what changes when a late ADHD diagnosis reframes years of anxiety, overwhelm, and self-critique. He shares how sensory triggers, bedtime chaos, and the relentless unpredictability of young kids land in a neurodivergent nervous system.We unpack the invisible load many neurodivergent parents carry: the thoughts you bottle during meltdowns and the guilt that piles up when you can’t process in the moment. David’s therapy-informed micro-journaling—quick notes you revisit later—turns swirling stress into a map you can actually navigate. We also talk masking as a parent: when to contain, when to be real, and why repairs matter more than flawless reactions. David names the isolation many fathers feel at parent groups, the stigma that says men shouldn’t struggle, and the logistics that make support hard to access. He’s candid about burnout, seasonal lows, and the rituals that help him reset—decompression time, honest check-ins with his partner, and knowing when to tag out. If you’re a neurodivergent parent—or love one—this is the episode for you. Listen, share with a dad who needs to hear this, and if it resonates, please follow podcast and leave a review so more families can find the support they deserve.You can find David here on Instagram - neurodadsdiaryWe also spoke about David's t-shirt on the podcast, so here is a shout-out to Born Anxious. You can also find them on Instagram hereSupport the showI'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I support parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to protect against burnout and go from overwhelmed to more moments of ease. 🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_otAnd if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please use the text link at the top or you can email at:[email protected].

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• Squirrels, Penguins, And Parenting

  Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textIn this episode I sit down with Steph Simpson, a late-identified ADHD mom on a pathway for autism assessment, to explore how a simple language shift—calling ADHD “squirrels” and autism “penguins”—reshaped her family’s daily life. Instead of labels that freeze kids in place, her home uses playful cues to redirect with warmth. When she glitches mid-task, a quiet “Mom, squirrels” brings her back without shame. The same approach helps her children navigate transitions, toothbrushing, and sensory overload.Steph takes us through the emotional whiplash of diagnosis: the relief of being seen, the shock of a double whammy, and the end of the “I’m making it up” refrain. We also dive into her book, Squirrels, Odd Socks and Side Quests—born as a manual for her husband and now a neurodiversity-affirming series. Bite-sized chapters, black-and-white illustrations for colouring, hidden squirrels for fidgety focus, it’s built for real brains in real homes. Steph closes with the habits that anchor her parenting: model the mess, own the repair, and let kids watch you be kind to yourself so they learn to do the same.If you’re navigating ADHD, autism, masking, or just the relentless side quests of family life, this conversation offers language, tools, and a gentler way to measure progress. Listen, share with a friend who needs the reframe, and leave a review to help more families find us.You can connect with Steph on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SquirrelSideQuestsAnd you can find her book in places like Amazon.Support the showI'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I support parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to protect against burnout and go from overwhelmed to more moments of ease. 🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_otAnd if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please use the text link at the top or you can email at:[email protected].

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• When Your Parenting Plane Gets Diverted to Amsterdam

  Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat happens when your carefully planned parenting journey takes an unexpected turn? For Archie, specialist ADHD nurse prescriber and director of ADHD Care Limited, raising a neurodivergent child meant learning to embrace a completely different path than the one he'd imagined.This deeply honest conversation explores the complexity of neurodivergent family life through both professional expertise and raw personal experience. Archie shares his journey raising an autistic/ADHD, 10-year-old son, alongside a 6-year-old neurotypical daughter, describing the unique challenges this creates for siblings, marriages, and personal identity. With refreshing candour, he dismantles the myth of perfect parenting and reveals how even mental health professionals struggle with adaptation.Archie talks gently about having a neurodivergent child is a bit like planning a trip to Italy but having your plane diverted to Amsterdam – all your preparations suddenly irrelevant as you navigate unfamiliar territory. This metaphor beautifully captures the emotional adjustment parents face, not abandoning dreams but reimagining them in unexpected contexts.The conversation delves into practical strategies too – from managing morning micro-transitions to creating dedicated spaces where fathers can openly discuss parenting challenges. Archie's perspective as a dad brings much-needed balance to conversations often dominated by maternal voices, highlighting how men frequently lack opportunities to express vulnerability around parenting struggles.Whether you're raising neurodivergent children or simply wanting to better understand those who do, this episode offers profound insights about acceptance, self-compassion, and finding support in unexpected places. As Archie reminds us, "You're doing better than you think" – words every parent occasionally needs to hear.You can find Archie here: On Instagram and via his podcast here Support the showI'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I support parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to protect against burnout and go from overwhelmed to more moments of ease. 🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_otAnd if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please use the text link at the top or you can email at:[email protected].

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• BDD: What is it? Early Signs, Misdiagnosis, and How Parents Can Help

  Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textI sit down with Sam Milburn to unpack body dysmorphic disorder (BDD), what it is, why it hides in plain sight, and how parents can spot early signs. We share practical next steps, from navigating CAMHS to using scripts that break reassurance loops without breaking trust.We cover:• BDD defined • Early signs in teens including checking, avoidance and reassurance seeking• Why shame and lack of insight delay help and fuel misdiagnosis• The impact at home, school and with friends• Is there a neurodivergence overlap• How to approach schools, GPs and CAMHS with evidence• Parent scripts to step off the reassurance treadmill• And resources from the BDD Foundation and Sam’s support groupYou can find information about BDD and the support Sam offers here:https://bddfoundation.org/https://www.beyondbdd.co.uk/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyond_bdd/And Sam's Facebook group Body Dysmorphic Disorder Support for Parents and Carers: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bddcarersupport/Support the showI'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I support parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to protect against burnout and go from overwhelmed to more moments of ease. 🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_otAnd if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please use the text link at the top or you can email at:[email protected].

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• Autistic Girls, Women and Non Binary People with Cathy from The Autistic Girls Network

  Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textKathy Wassell, CEO and founder of the Autistic Girls Network Charity, talks with me about her journey creating supportive spaces for neurodivergent individuals, particularly women and girls who are often missed in traditional diagnostic pathways.What began as a simple online community has blossomed into a charity serving over 32,000 members, providing training to schools, and offering vital support to neurodivergent girls and non binary people across the UK in a variety of ways.We dive into a range of topics, such as diagnosis and why recognition matters. The launch of the Haven online school designed specifically for neurodivergent girls and non-binary young people who struggle in traditional educational settings. And of course, we talk about autistic girls, women and non-binary people.You can find more information about the Autistic Girls Network here:Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInCathy's book: Nurturing Your Autistic Young Person: A Parent’s Handbook to Supporting Newly Diagnosed Teens and Pre-TeensSupport the showI'm Liz, The Untypical OT. I support parents and carers in additional needs and neurodivergent families to protect against burnout and go from overwhelmed to more moments of ease. 🔗 To connect with me, you can find all my details on Linktree:https://linktr.ee/the_untypical_otAnd if you'd like to contact me about the podcast please use the text link at the top or you can email at:[email protected].

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