The Untypical Parent™ Podcast

• 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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• Demand Avoidance Decoded

  Enjoyed the episode, got a suggestion or a question send me a textWhat actually is PDA?Speech and language therapist Libby Hill cuts through the confusion with clarity and compassion, drawing on decades of clinical experience and her work with leading PDA researchers."There's demand avoidance, and then there's PDA," Libby explains, highlighting the crucial differences that parents and professionals often miss. While many children resist external demands for logical reasons—sensory discomfort, lack of interest, or burnout—true PDA involves an illogical resistance even to things the person wants to do. This distinction isn't just academic; it fundamentally changes how we should support these children.Libby and I discuss the struggles parents face when it comes to PDA. The shame, isolation, and burnout experienced when supporting a child or young person with a PDA profile. "Who do you confide in?" she asks, highlighting how parents frequently suffer in silence, afraid to share their reality even with close family. Whether you're a parent seeking answers, a professional enhancing your knowledge, or someone who suspects they might have a PDA profile themselves, this conversation provides invaluable insights. People and support that were discussed in the episode:Sally Cat: https://www.facebook.com/SallyCatPDAPDA Society website: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ and helpline: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/support-and-training/Libby mentions the PDA practice guidelines which you can find here: https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/research-professional-practice/identification-and-diagnosis-process/You can find Libby here: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInAnd her new book "Born Naughty"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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