SEND Parenting Podcast

EP 142 Saying yes until she failed changed everything


Listen Later

Burnout has a way of making even the smallest task feel impossible. We open with a lifeline for parents raising neurodivergent children, then sit down with campaigner and founder Agnes Agyepong to trace how postnatal depression and isolation became the spark for two powerful vehicles of change: the Glow Mama Awards and a research-led movement tackling maternal and SEND inequalities.

Agnes shares the surprising role social media played in her recovery—authentic posts, wry humour, and micro-moments of solidarity that made her feel seen. That insight grows into Glow Mama, a people’s choice awards platform celebrating the creators who keep mothers going at 3 a.m. From there, Agnes dives into the Black maternal health crisis and the environmental factors that stack the odds against families long before labour begins, culminating in the Black Child Clean Air Report and cross-sector partnerships. The throughline is clear: these are public health problems that show up in clinics, classrooms, and on our streets.

We dig into SEND inequity with lived experience. Agnes talks about being treated with suspicion when her son was self-harming, becoming a school governor to be heard, and the way adultification bias and rigid behaviour policies fast-track exclusions before support arrives. We challenge the outdated, industrial model of schooling and argue for personalised education that works for every brain. Practical guidance runs throughout: why a Year 3 screening won’t secure legal protections, how an Educational Psychologist’s report unlocks exam access and durable support, and how to build an evidence trail that proves whether a school can meet need.

If you want clear next steps, we’ve got them: back petitions so policymakers see the data, write your MP so SEND rises in local triage, connect with specialist groups for Education Other Than At School pathways, and join community networks that share tactics without gatekeeping. Neurodivergent thinkers are not problems to be fixed; they are the innovators we need. Subscribe, share with a caregiver who needs hope, and leave a review to help more families find real tools and real change.

💬 Connect with Us

🌱 Join our SEND Parenting Private WhatsApp Community — a safe space to share, learn, and feel supported by parents who truly understand.

Ready to go deeper?
Become part of the ADHD Warrior Mum’s Recharge Station — your space for group coaching, expert guidance, real connection, and the calm you deserve.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

SEND Parenting PodcastBy Dr. Olivia Kessel


More shows like SEND Parenting Podcast

View all
Happy Mum Happy Baby by Giovanna Fletcher

Happy Mum Happy Baby

357 Listeners

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett by DOAC

The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett

8,349 Listeners

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee by Dr Rangan Chatterjee: GP & Author

Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee

3,747 Listeners

Happy Place by Fearne Cotton

Happy Place

1,133 Listeners

The Wellness Scoop by The Wellness Scoop

The Wellness Scoop

1,325 Listeners

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day by Elizabeth Day and Sony Music Entertainment

How To Fail With Elizabeth Day

1,203 Listeners

Sh**ged Married Annoyed by Chris & Rosie Ramsey

Sh**ged Married Annoyed

1,222 Listeners

ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast by Kate Moryoussef

ADHD Women's Wellbeing Podcast

178 Listeners

ZOE Science & Nutrition by ZOE

ZOE Science & Nutrition

2,060 Listeners

At Peace Parents Podcast by Casey

At Peace Parents Podcast

365 Listeners

ADHD Chatter by Alex Partridge

ADHD Chatter

276 Listeners

The Hidden 20% by The Hidden 20%

The Hidden 20%

39 Listeners

Begin Again with Davina McCall by Begin Again

Begin Again with Davina McCall

559 Listeners

The RAISE Podcast by Coral and Natalie Golding

The RAISE Podcast

12 Listeners

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson by WNTT

We Need To Talk with Paul C. Brunson

292 Listeners