The Untypical Parent™ Podcast

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Parents are often told to rest more, practise self-care, or take a break when they're overwhelmed.
But what happens when the demands never stop?
In this episode, I have the absolute pleasure of talking with fellow occupational therapist, Rhiannon Crispe, where we talk about burnout, parenthood, values, boundaries, belonging and the things that truly fuel us.
Rhiannon talks about her Burn-In Model, a framework built around the idea of protecting and nurturing your inner flame.
Because burnout isn't about being weak.
It's about what happens when life asks more of us than we have available to give. 

You can connect with Rhiannon on: Instagram and LinkedIn and find out about the Burn In Framework here: https://www.burninnotout.com/the-burn-in-model

Thank you to this season’s sponsors:
Terri Wyse & Rachel Helm
They are offering EBSA support through webinars and workshops.Podcast listeners receive £5 off using this code UNTYPICALPARENT5
The sponsors of this season of the podcast are Terri Wyse https://www.instagram.com/wyseinclusion/and Rachel Helm https://www.instagram.com/helmeducationconsultancy/. Please do reach out to them if you are supporting a child or young person struggling to access school.
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Welcome to The Untypical Parent Podcast: The Bookshelf , a new series celebrating the books that shape, support, empower and sometimes just bring joy to neurodivergent families.
In this special episode, I'm joined by parent  Joanne Parry, alongside bestselling author Elle McNicoll, whose books have become deeply meaningful for many neurodivergent children and families.
Joanne shares the powerful moment her daughter first saw herself reflected in A Kind of Spark, and why Elle’s stories have become part of her family’s “quiet rebellion”, buying the books for schools, libraries and friends so more children can feel understood.
Elle talks about growing up as a high-masking autistic girl, the lack of representation she experienced, and how that inspired her to write stories where neurodivergent children are fully-rounded, loved, complicated and heroic, not reduced to stereotypes or “lessons”.
This is a warm, honest and hopeful conversation about identity, belonging and the life-changing power of books.
Books Mentioned
A Kind of Spark
Show Us Who You Are
Unapologetic Love Story
About Elle McNicoll
Elle McNicoll is a bestselling and award-winning autistic author whose books centre neurodivergent young people with authenticity, warmth and humour. Her stories have resonated with families around the world and A Kind of Spark was adapted for television by the BBC.
You can find Elle and her books here:
 Elle McNicoll Official Website
Instagram

Connect with Joanne & Family Avenues
Family Avenues

Thank you to this season’s sponsors:
Terri Wyse & Rachel Helm
They are offering EBSA support through webinars and workshops.Podcast listeners receive £5 off using this code UNTYPICALPARENT5
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The Untypical Parent Podcast
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Your life can fall apart twice, once on the outside and once in your head, and you still might not know what the real issue is. I’m joined by Chris Braid, co-host of The After Party, to talk about what happened when a mental breakdown, divorce, financial pressure, chronic pain, and emergency spinal surgery collided, and how a late ADHD diagnosis finally gave a clearer map of why things happened they way they did.

As parents, many of us carry stress that makes quick coping tools feel tempting. We explore the link between neurodiversity, depression, and addiction, plus what actually helps an ADHD brain feel regulated day to day: work that fits, creativity, music, and a movement-based mindfulness ritual through Pilates and yoga.

You don't want to miss this one. 
You can find Chris on:
Instagram: The After Party Invite
Facebook: The After Party
We spoke about AA if you need further information you can find that here

Thank you to this season’s sponsors:
Terri Wyse & Rachel Helm
Together, they are offering webinars and workshops focused on EBSA for both parents and professionals
 8th July – Webinar for School Leaders
 2nd September – Webinar for Parents & Families 
16th September – Joint Workshop (Parents + Schools) 
Podcast listeners receive £5 off using this code UNTYPICALPARENT5.
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The Untypical Parent Podcast
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A one-legged goose might not be the hero you’d expect… but maybe that’s exactly the point.
This episode is part of something new I’m trying this season.
As someone who’s dyslexic and has never really connected with traditional reading, I wanted to find a different way to explore books. So I’m inviting authors, parents and professionals to come on and share stories in a way that feels more accessible, especially for those of us who don’t see ourselves as “readers.”
In this episode, I’m joined by author Ryan Ritter, who shares the story behind his children’s book Frederick the One-Legged Goose, and how it all started with one little boy going through cancer treatment.
What began as a way to help a single child understand difference, change, and uncertainty quickly grew into something much bigger.
We talk about:
 Why representation and disability awareness matter from a young age 
 How stories can shape empathy, acceptance, and belonging 
 The power of seeing difference as a strength, not something to fix 
 Why this book isn’t just for children with disabilities… but for every child 
If we want children to grow into adults who accept difference…
 we have to start with the stories we give them.

🔗 Links & Resources
 Find Frederick the One-Legged Goose on Amazon and Waterstones
 Follow Ryan on Instagram: @RyanThe_Author_ 
 Keep an eye out for the next book: Frederick’s Hop

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One meeting can spiral into weeks of stress when you’re neurodivergent and constantly second-guessing what you said, how you came across, or what everyone “really meant.” Dr Jay Spence, a clinical psychologist and co-founder of Avro AI, talks about a different way to look at communication breakdowns: most damage comes from misunderstood difference, not bad intent.

Elaine Lee, Avro’s co-founder, shares the story behind the product. After years in high-performing tech roles, repeated burnout, and a late diagnosis of ADHD, dyslexia, and autism, she realised how often people are judged for signals that simply don’t translate across brains. Her reflections on masking, workplace friction, and repairing relationships through better understanding shape the values behind Avro AI.

We dig into what an AI meeting assistant can actually do in real life: sitting alongside Zoom or Teams, creating accurate records, then helping you prep, rephrase, and debrief with less guesswork. We also tackle the hard question head-on: does this kind of tool support authentic communication, or does it push people toward neurotypical “norms”? Jay explains why choice matters, and why the goal is a bridge, not a makeover. 

To connect with Jay and Elaine you can find them here 
And through LinkedIn
Elaine Lee
Jay Spence

Thank you to this season’s sponsors:
Terri Wyse & Rachel Helm
Together, they are offering webinars and workshops focused on EBSA for both parents and professionals.
08.07.26  School webinar
02.09.26 Parent/carer webinar
16.09.26 Joint Workshop
Podcast listeners receive £5 off using this code UNTYPICALPARENT5.
Link below to go straight to Insta
The Untypical Parent Podcast
The Untypical Podcaster
Support the show