Autism and The Neuroverse

What if the greatest transformation for your child begins with transforming the way you see yourself?

Alta welcomes Jennifer Swann—former constitutional lawyer, TEDx speaker, founder of the Peace, Power & Possibility Institute, and mother of two children with complex needs. Jennifer shares how parenting her son with autism and her daughter with a rare neuromuscular condition completely reshaped her perspective on caregiving, possibility, and joy.

Together they explore how parents can move beyond survival mode, challenge limiting beliefs, embrace self-care without guilt, and create a life filled with peace and purpose—even in the midst of extraordinary challenges. Jennifer also shares practical tools for advocating for children, finding support, and recognizing that our children are so much more than their diagnoses.

Whether you're raising a neurodivergent child, supporting someone who is, or simply looking for a fresh perspective on resilience, this conversation offers hope, encouragement, and practical wisdom for living a fuller life.

Because sometimes the biggest shift isn't changing your circumstances—it's changing the way you see them.

When a child refuses, argues, melts down, or pushes back, what are they really trying to communicate?

In episode 76 of Autism in the Neuroverse, Alta sits down with Board Certified Behavior Analyst Heather Traeden of Balance & Behavior to discuss what challenging behaviors can teach us about a child's needs, emotions, and sense of safety. Drawing from over 25 years of experience working with children and families, Heather shares practical strategies for moving beyond power struggles and into collaboration.

Together they explore topics including defiance, emotional regulation, school refusal, elopement, communication strategies, transitions, and how parents can create environments where children feel safe enough to succeed. Heather also offers encouraging reminders that parents are often doing more right than they realize—and that small changes can make a big difference.

Whether you're a parent, educator, or caregiver, this conversation provides actionable tools and a compassionate perspective on supporting neurodivergent children and families.

What if the most powerful tool for helping neurodivergent children isn't a therapy technique, behavior plan, or intervention strategy?

According to Dr. Park, it's the relationship.

In episode 75 of Autism and the Neuroverse, Dr. Park shares the "Four C's"—a simple but powerful framework for building trust, connection, and lasting growth with neurodivergent children. Drawing from years of clinical experience and personal parenting lessons, he explains why our approach often matters more than our solutions.

Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or caregiver, these practical insights can help strengthen your relationships and create an environment where neurodivergent individuals feel understood, supported, and empowered.

Autism in girls often looks different than the traditional picture many parents and professionals expect. As a result, countless girls go undiagnosed—or are misdiagnosed with anxiety, depression, ADHD, or other mental health conditions before receiving answers that truly fit.

In episode 74 of Autism and the Neuroverse, Alta sits down with licensed psychologist Dr. Christina Feldman, founder of Neurodiverse Psychological Services, to explore why autism is so frequently missed in girls and what families can do to seek accurate evaluations and support.

Dr. Feldman also highlights an important shift in autism care: moving away from trying to change autistic individuals and instead helping them understand themselves, build on their strengths, and find environments where they can thrive.

This conversation is a must-listen for parents, caregivers, educators, clinicians, and anyone seeking a deeper understanding of autism in girls.

What does it actually look like to create a home environment that supports a neurodivergent child—not just in theory, but in the realities of everyday life?

In episode 73 of Autism and the Neuroverse, Alta sits down with licensed clinical social worker and behavior specialist Brynn Bell to explore how families can create more structure, predictability, emotional safety, and connection at home.

Brynn shares her unique family-systems approach to working with neurodivergent children and their families, explaining why routines, explicit communication, nervous system regulation, and collaborative problem-solving can dramatically reduce stress and improve relationships for everyone in the home.

Brynn also offers powerful reminders for parents navigating neurodivergence at home:

“Children do well when they understand how to do well.”

A thoughtful and deeply practical conversation for parents, caregivers, educators, and anyone wanting to better understand the needs of neurodivergent children and families.

What does autism look like in its earliest stages—and what role do pediatricians play in helping families navigate the diagnostic journey?

In this episode of Autism and the Neuroverse, Alta sits down with board-certified pediatrician Dr. Kristen Cook, founder of MomDocTalk, to discuss the realities of autism screening, diagnosis, and early intervention from a pediatrician’s perspective.

Dr. Cook explains how developmental milestones and early warning signs are evaluated during routine well-child visits, why autism diagnoses can sometimes take time, and how pediatricians collaborate with specialists to support children and families throughout the process.

Dr. Cook also addresses the overwhelming amount of misinformation families face today and shares an encouraging reminder for parents navigating uncertainty:

“You’re doing better than you think.”

A compassionate, informative episode for parents, caregivers, and professionals supporting neurodivergent children.

In episode #71 of Autism and the Neuroverse, Alta sits down with New Focus Academy therapist Jake Oakland to talk about one of the biggest challenges families face: how to truly connect with teens who are struggling emotionally—especially neurodivergent teens.

Jake shares how he creates emotionally safe spaces for autistic teens through patience, flexibility, creativity, and “accurate empathy”—a deeper form of understanding that helps parents and clinicians better see the world from a teen’s perspective.

Jake also shares insight into New Focus Academy’s growing drama program, including the upcoming student production of Beetlejuice, and explains why creative experiences can be so transformative for teens building confidence, resilience, and social connection.

A thoughtful and hopeful conversation for parents, educators, and anyone supporting neurodivergent young people.

Selective mutism is often misunderstood as shyness—but in reality, it’s a complex anxiety disorder that can deeply impact a child’s ability to communicate.

In episode 70 of Autism in the Neuroverse, Alta sits down with licensed clinical social worker Heidi Applonie, a leading specialist in selective mutism. Drawing from both professional experience and her personal journey as a parent, Heidi shares what selective mutism really is, how it shows up across different environments, and why early understanding is so critical.

They explore the connection between anxiety, the nervous system, and the “freeze” response that can make speaking feel physically impossible. Heidi also offers practical, research-backed strategies for parents, educators, and caregivers—highlighting what actually helps (and what can unintentionally make things harder).

From real-life success stories to actionable tools like “brave talking,” this conversation is filled with hope, insight, and a clear message: communication is possible—with the right support.

In this powerful live presentation, Dr. Brandon Park breaks down autism through a lens that challenges traditional thinking—framing it not as a deficit, but as a different operating system navigating a world it wasn’t built for.

From the concept of the brain as a prediction machine to the emotional toll of feeling misunderstood, Dr. Park offers a deeply human perspective on what autistic individuals experience daily—and why so many struggles stem from gaps in prediction, not capability.

He also dives into the realities of today’s world:- How AI can both support and mislead- Why gaming and social media can become both lifelines and risks- The role of control, connection, and belonging- And how families and professionals can approach support in a more collaborative, effective way

This episode is a must-listen for parents, clinicians, educators, and anyone looking to better understand neurodiversity in a rapidly changing world.

In Part 2 of this series, Dr. Park and Alta continue their conversation on relationships and boundaries—this time focusing on safety and how it shapes connection.

They explore the many layers of safety in relationships, including physical, emotional, psychological, and social safety, as well as the often-overlooked impact of rejection. Dr. Park explains why rejection can feel so deeply painful and how that pain can lead young people to make unsafe choices in an effort to connect.

This episode also introduces practical tools for teaching social awareness, including concept-driven learning, forward thinking, and role play, helping kids better understand boundaries, recognize social cues, and recover from difficult interactions.

A powerful and compassionate guide for helping young people build relationships that are not only meaningful—but safe.

3/5/26