Autism Dadcast

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

🧠 New episodes drop every Thursday at 6pm

🎧 Listen on Spotify, Apple & all major platforms

📲 Guest application via Linktree in our Instagram bio

#AutismDadcast #AFL #MichaelHibberd #AutismParenting #Neurodiversity #SEND #ParentingUnfiltered #AutismDad #RealTalk

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.

Jessie Hewitson joins us for a deep, honest convo about ADHD — what it really is, what it isn’t, and why so many kids are being let down. Jessie’s an autistic journalist, mum, and author of How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child and How to Raise a Happy ADHD Child. She’s also ADHD herself, so everything she shares is lived.

We talk about executive dysfunction, rejection sensitivity, what ADHD medication actually feels like, and how to support kids with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Jessie also breaks down why EHCPs are so bloody hard to get, and how to stand your ground with the local authority without losing your mind.

One of the most informative and relatable episodes we’ve recorded so far. If you’ve ever felt gaslit by the system or doubted yourself as a parent — this one’s for you.

This week Gaz and Andy finally sit down with fellow autism-dad Chris—the guest who famously got stuck in Cardiff last month. He’s juggling three children under five, a 5-year-old son (Kit) with profound autism and mosaic Patau syndrome (mosaic trisomy 13), and the kind of sleep schedule that would scare a Navy SEAL. Expect honesty, gallows humour and a ton of practical hacks.

This week we dive head-first into the internet’s most stubborn rumour: “Do childhood vaccines cause autism?” Spoiler… they don’t — but the guilt, fear and rabbit-holes are real.In this honest, no-filter chat we cover:

0:00 – Intro & why this feels risky

2:00 – The Google spiral: how new parents meet the myth5:00 – Andrew Wakefield’s infamous 12-kid “study” (and the hidden money trail)

10:00 – Massive follow-up research (500k to 14 million children = no link)

18:00 – Parental guilt, regression stories & the search for someone to blame

26:00 – Genes, environment, plastics, pollution — what might be happening

34:00 – Trust issues: Big Pharma, politics & COVID fallout

47:00 – Would you press the “remove autism” button? A raw debate

52:00 – Take-aways: ditch the blame, back the science, support the kidsPlus: 1960s archive footage that proves autism existed pre-MMR, a shout-out to NeuroSpicy Apparel, and plans for next week’s guest dad.

👍 Like, comment, subscribe, and share with anyone still worried about the jab.🔔 New episodes every week — because autistic families need real talk, not click-bait.

Double digits, baby! Episode 10 is here – just the two of us this time, back to basics and diving deep into the absolute mess that's unfolding with EHCP reforms.

We’re unpacking:

• The rumours (and real fears) around scrapping EHCPs in mainstream schools

• SEND units replacing legal protection for autistic kids

• How the government and media are playing divide and conquer

• MPs doing photo ops while families panic

• And the dark history we really don’t want to go back to…

But it’s not all doom. There’s hope and joy too – like Thomas counting to 100 (yes, really!) and Lydia smashing new milestones. We talk about those small moments that hit you like a freight train and why screen time and spoons can be a big deal.

This one's raw, funny, furious, and emotional – exactly what this podcast is all about.

👇 Drop us a comment, share your thoughts, and join the community. We're all in this together.

#AutismDadcast #EHCPReform #SENDCrisis #AutismParenting #Neurodiversity #DadsOfAutisticKids #SpecialNeedsParenting

Welcome to Episode 9.5 of the Autism Dadcast. Yeah, 9.5. Because Gaz forgot to hit record the first time.

Luckily, second time was even better.

This week we’ve got Ben on — pro wrestler, cancer survivor, autism dad.

Ben shares:

• How being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma at 30 changed his whole outlook on life

• His “miracle” son Ethan, born against the odds during COVID

• The brutal reality of feeling useless when Ethan was in hospital as a newborn

• Navigating EHCP chaos (wrong names and all)

• Choosing special school over mainstream

• The constant fight to get Ethan the right support

• Meltdowns in Tesco vs getting body-slammed in the ring

• Honest chats about denial, guilt, and learning what works

• His wife being “like a dog with a bone” when fighting the local authority

  
  

It’s raw. It’s real. It’s proper dad stuff — the stress, the laughs, the wins that keep you going.

If you're a parent of an autistic child, you’ll get it.

If you're not, you’ll learn a lot.

Hit subscribe and join us every Thursday at 6pm for new episodes.

Autism Dadcast: Honest, vulnerable, sometimes funny conversations about fatherhood, autism, and everything in between.

Listen on Spotify, Apple, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts.

#AutismDadcast #AutismParenting #Neurodiversity #SEND #Fatherhood #Podcast

-Jason joins us this week to talk about fighting for his daughter's autism diagnosis – and ending up with one himself.We talk about:- The EHCP process and being that parent who won't stop calling- Navigating mainstream school with selective mutism- Figuring out what's autism and what's learned behaviour in siblings- Meltdowns at the school gate- Trying (and failing) at gymnastics, then finding joy in swimming- Getting an adult autism diagnosis and looking back at childhood- Why dads need something just for them to copeHonest, raw, funny in places, and very real.Watch the full episode and don't forget to subscribe for more real talk about autism parenting.#AutismDadcast #AutismParenting #SEND

In our first ever guest episode, Allan told us about his lad’s Mario Kart obsession.He’s not just watching it — he’s directing it.From character selection to track choice, he’s there whacking the corner of the telly like it’s a touchscreen.Shouting out names. Repeating catchphrases. Telling Allan exactly what to press and when.It’s not a game to him.It’s a system. A world he understands.And he’s in control.It’s moments like this where you really see how our kids engage with the world — their own way, their own rules.And it’s bloody brilliant.#AutismDadcast #MarioKartMagic #AutismParenting #FirstGuestEpisode #NeurodivergentJoy #SENDParenting #AutisticVoices #ParentingWins