This week we're talking about the stuff that keeps you up at night. Gaz shares the story of Thomas falling out of a window and the absolute terror of those few seconds. Andy talks about Lydia choking on a Remembrance Day pin and the chaos of trying to keep these kids safe when danger comes out of nowhere.

We get into the freezing weather, the battle to get hats and gloves on kids who hate anything on their heads, and why play barns are basically combat zones for autistic kids trying to navigate neurotypical chaos.

Christmas is coming and we're both in different places this year. Andy and Selena are going in with lower expectations and higher acceptance. Gaz is cautiously optimistic that Thomas might actually get what Christmas is this year after spelling Santa and reindeer on his iPad.

We talk about teeth brushing struggles, Caesar salad obsessions, school routines that actually work, and why showing a countdown number out loud can ruin a morning. There's also a bit on helping other dads through messages, the importance of reading your kid's notes before appointments, and why some politicians need to shut up about ear defenders.

Plus we're gearing up for the Christmas special at Henry Tudor House and marathon training starts soon. If you've been through any of this, you'll recognize every word.

Gaz and Andy sit down for one of the most open chats they’ve ever had. It’s been a long few weeks, and with Christmas creeping up, the lads talk about the heavy stuff that comes when things finally go quiet — the late-night fears about the future, the weight of responsibility, and that nagging thought every SEND parent has but never says out loud: what happens when we’re gone?

They dive into what it really means to be “strong” as an autism dad — not in the gym sense (though that comes up), but mentally and emotionally. How patience has replaced pride, how autism strips away ego, and how much you change when your world revolves around a child who needs you in ways you can’t explain to anyone else.

There’s reflection on how far their kids have come, what progress actually looks like, and why the little moments — eye contact, a word, a shared laugh — feel bigger than any milestone the world measures.

They also talk about physical health, mental fatigue, and the quiet importance of keeping your body strong enough to handle what’s ahead. Because being a SEND parent isn’t a sprint — it’s a marathon you didn’t sign up for, and you can’t afford to sit it out.

Heavy, hopeful, and funny in all the right places. Exactly what Dadcast does best.

#AutismDadcast #AutismAwareness #SENDParenting #AutismParents #AutismDads #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #SpecialNeedsParenting #AutismCommunity #AutismJourney #MentalHealth #FuturePlanning #Resilience #DadLife #ParentingPodcast

It’s been a few weeks, but Gaz and Andy are back — catching up on life, work, and the chaos of raising autistic kids through the madness of Q4.

Andy shares a massive update on Lydia’s first term at her new specialist school — the highs, the progress, and the tough bit where safeguarding got real. From the shock of being asked about a bruise to understanding how vital those systems actually are, the lads unpack what every SEND parent eventually learns the hard way.

Then it’s on to a “SEND-friendly” soft play that went completely off the rails — a supposed quiet session that turned into total chaos. They talk honestly about how these things should work, the frustration of token “inclusive” marketing, and how one bad experience sparked an idea: a not-for-profit, parent-run SEND centre in Shropshire where every family actually feels understood.

Plus, Thomas’s new AAC device, the “Grid” app, and how tech is transforming communication for non-verbal kids. It’s funny, raw, emotional — classic Dadcast.

#AutismDadcast #AutismAwareness #SENDParenting #AutismParents #Neurodiversity #SpecialNeedsParenting #AutismAcceptance #AutismJourney #NonVerbalAutism #ParentingPodcast #AutismCommunity #AutismDads #Safeguarding #SENDSupport #Shropshire

Gaz and Andy sit down with Jamie Jewitt, a dad of three navigating life in the public eye while raising his autistic daughter, Nora.

Jamie opens up about spotting the early signs, getting the diagnosis, and how it completely changed how he sees life, parenting, and success. He talks about the pressure of being in the public eye, dealing with trolls, the emotional rollercoaster of acceptance, and why he’s stopped worrying about milestones and started celebrating the little wins.

The lads dive deep into the raw stuff, guilt, fear, self-preservation, and those late-night “what if we’re not here one day” thoughts that every autism parent quietly wrestles with. But there’s plenty of laughter too, from Baby Shark sing-alongs to spelling “car” on the bedroom floor.

This one’s heavy, funny, and properly real. Exactly what Dadcast’s all about.

#AutismDadcast #AutismAwareness #AutisticChildren #ParentingInPublic #Neurodiversity #AutismAcceptance #Dadcast #AutismCommunity #ParentingPodcast #AutismDads #SEND #SpecialNeedsParenting #JamieJewitt #AutismJourney

This week we’ve got another dad on the mic — Daniel, a Shrewsbury local with two kids, one of whom is nonverbal and highly autistic. He takes us through their journey: spotting the signs early, navigating endless assessments, fighting councils for schooling, and the daily realities of sleep battles, food quirks, stims, and meltdowns.

We talk about the little wins that keep you going, why applying early for support is crucial, and how families juggle siblings, relationships, and money when the system drags its feet. Daniel shares brutally honest stories — from crayons, makeup, and deodorant snacks, to the joy of Disney films, hammocks, and Saturday-night dips.

There’s a lot in here for parents on the same road: the entitlements you might not know exist, how communication devices are changing lives, and why no two autistic kids — or families — look the same.

Raw, funny, heavy, and hopeful. Exactly what you’d expect from Dadcast.

We’re back after a messy week. We headed to London for the Fight for Ordinary rally in Parliament Square, stood with hundreds of parents and carers, and heard a few politicians actually sound like they get it. Ed Davey included. Met loads of you too which was class.

Then we get into the headline everyone’s shouting about. Trump and RFK Jr linking Tylenol in pregnancy to autism. We unpack the claims, the weak evidence, the fallout for mums, and why the whole “cure autism” thing hits very differently across the spectrum.

We finish with your Q&As on fitness and self care. How to find time when you’re wrecked, why steps beat excuses, and Andy’s big weight loss update.

Heads up on the video. It’s only on Andy this week because Gaz’s camera SD card got corrupted. Tech gremlins had us. Audio’s all good.

Raw, a bit funny, a bit heavy. Standard Dadcast.

In this episode, Gaz and Andy dive into the Telepathy Tapes — the podcast that claims some non-verbal autistic kids can communicate telepathically. Sounds mad, but could there be something in it? The lads weigh up the hype, the hope, and the science.They also share a shocking story from the park when Andy’s daughter Lydia was cruelly targeted by strangers — and how that ties into the toxic rhetoric creeping into politics and SEND reform. On top of that, they talk EHCP battles, the Fight for Ordinary rally in London, and what all this means for families like ours.It’s raw, emotional, and unfiltered — with a bit of Joe Rogan, aliens, and quantum physics thrown in too.

In this episode, Gaz and Andy talk about the chaos and emotions of the new school term. Andy’s daughter Lydia is starting school for the first time, while Gaz’s son Thomas faces the rollercoaster of returning after six weeks off. From anxious mornings to unexpected meltdowns, the lads share what these transitions really look like at home.

They also dive into your listener questions — from how to handle strangers talking to your non-verbal child, to navigating EHCPs, therapy pressures, and the ever-controversial screen time debate.

There’s honesty, plenty of laughs, and even a few tangents about aliens, telepathy, and Trump’s autism claims.If you’ve ever felt the sting of judgement in public or the weight of education battles, this one’s for you.

In Episode 15 of Autism Dadcast, we’re joined by Michael Hibberd — former AFL premiership player turned firefighter — as he opens up for the first time about life as a dad to Sunday, his four-year-old daughter with profound autism.

We chat about the early red flags, diagnosis, meltdowns in public, the emotional gut-punch of milestone checklists, and the unexpected joy in small wins (like hearing “Mum” for the first time).

Michael shares how nothing — not pro sport, not firefighting — prepared him for the relentlessness of autism parenting. But he also talks about humour, resilience, and the importance of getting on the same page as your partner early on.

This one’s raw, relatable, and full of the stuff most people don’t say out loud.

Timestamps

0:00 – Meet Michael

1:22 – From footy to firefighting

3:00 – Finding the podcast

4:45 – About Sunday

10:00 – Early signs & missed milestones

13:00 – Diagnosis & the toll of the system

18:00 – Early intervention & therapy

21:00 – Public meltdowns & anxiety

26:00 – Small wins that hit different

30:00 – Food issues & sensory quirks

33:00 – Routine, sleep & locks on doors

36:00 – Funding, NDIS & red tape

40:00 – Why nothing prepares you

44:00 – Friends, family & being understood

49:00 – Advice for other dads

55:00 – The good, the bad & the [literal] ugly

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This week we’re joined by Sean, dad to six-year-old twin girls Lily and Isla, who were both diagnosed as autistic last September. Sean opens up about the early signs — from their tunnel vision focus and delayed speech to sensory sensitivities and hearing loss — and how he first dismissed the idea that anything was “wrong.”

He talks about the nursery teacher who first raised concerns, the emotional struggle of taking it personally, and the turning point when a speech therapist helped him accept the diagnosis and map out a plan for their development. We get into EHCP battles, the fight for one-to-one support to keep Isa safe, and the small changes that made a huge difference — like using routines, reducing meltdowns through communication, and putting toys in Tupperware so the girls had to ask for them.

It’s an honest look at the mix of guilt, learning, and pride that comes with raising autistic children — plus the moments that make it all worth it, like Lily’s incredible number skills and Isla’s growing sentences.