Is the Internet Stealing Your Child's Brain? | Rory Birkbeck, SafeSurfer

What happens when a tech entrepreneur realises the very industry he works in is disproportionately harming neurodivergent kids like his own son?

Rory Birkbeck, co-founder and CEO of SafeSurfer, is one of New Zealand's leading voices on online safety. He's also a dad navigating life with an ADHD child. In this raw, honest, and eye-opening conversation, Rory joins Freddie to talk about what it's really like raising a child whose brain runs like a Ferrari with BMX bike brakes... and why the internet was built for exactly the wrong kind of kid.

In this episode, you'll hear:

🎁 The moment Rory realised his son's ADHD wasn't a problem to fix...it was a gift to understand

🧠 Why ADHD kids are disproportionately affected by online harm (and what's really going on behind the screen)

🚫 The stat that stopped Rory in his tracks: by age 10, ADHD children may have heard 10,000 more corrective statements than their neurotypical peers

📣The creator vs. consumer distinction that every parent needs to hear

❤️‍🩹 Why "it's not that we don't trust our kids...it's that we don't trust the internet" might be the most important reframe of 2026

⚒️ Practical, real-world tips you can use tonight to create healthier tech boundaries at home

🏄‍♂️ What SafeSurfer's Kid-Safe Smartphone actually does...and why Rory built it

🛟 Where online safety is heading, and what parents need to know about AI, legislation, and the fight for our children's attention

If you've ever wrestled with your child's iPad, worried about what they're watching, or wondered whether you're winning or losing the battle for their attention, this episode is for you. You can discover more about Safe Surfer here and connect with Rory here

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EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, New Zealand’s leading child Neurodevelopmental clinic. We believe every family deserves to be an EPIC family with Extraordinary Parents and Incredible Children.

Discover more about our award-winning ADHD and ASD assessments, family therapy support, and our free tools and resources here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard, and discover strength in neurodiversity.

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When you’re a parent of a neurodivergent child, there are times when life can feel impossible. But our truly EPIC guest, Mary-Jane du Toit, is living proof that NOTHING is impossible.

Mary-Jane is a mum of a neurodiverse family and founder of Spectrum Connections - a charitable trust that provides peer support for families who have a child or teen that has Autism, Aspergers, ADHD, ADD or any other form of neurodiversity.

In this open, honest and truly inspirational podcast which is jam-packed with insights and wisdom, Mary-Jane reveals:

🧭 What it feels like to be in it for ‘the long haul’ and how the neurodiversity diagnosis of her sons became a ‘gateway’ to her mission of helping the world become a better place for neurodiverse families.

🎓 How her son’s behaviours at school and kindergarten started to lay a trail of clues that something was different about his development, which led to an autism diagnosis.

😥 Nothing will ever be ‘normal’ again - The pain that parents can go through when their child receives a neurodiversity diagnosis.

🗺️ How ‘the neurodiversity journey’ doesn’t end with a diagnosis…in fact, it’s only the beginning. However, it also gives parents the opportunity to embrace their child’s uniqueness.

🔄 The cycle of family change and how it can help parents deal with anger, frustration, overwhelm and the other emotions that arise when parenting a neurodiverse child.

🆘 When you're on the parenting journey, how to know when to ‘push through’...and when to ask for help.

Plus, you’ll discover MJ’s secret…

💡When it feels like the world is against you, how to remember, “this is a bad moment, not a bad life”

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EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealand’s leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.

Get your hands on our free resources and guides to give your family the tools to thrive here

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Education is such an important part of every child’s life. But for too many neurodiverse families, school is where they feel overlooked and overwhelmed. However, one school in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand is fighting for every child to get the specialised learning support they deserve, so they can create a future to thrive in.

This special episode of the EPIC Families Podcast features Mary Woods, Principal of Matahui School in Katikati. She has created a unique education framework that embraces each child’s unique qualities and strengths, celebrates neurodiversity, and aims to build positive self-esteem and a love of learning. 

Right now, the school’s future is under threat from a number of political and economic challenges, so we are joining this mission to protect the educational future of neurodiverse children.

Mary also reveals:

🎓 The difficulties that neurodiverse children face in everyday schooling, and how these challenges can show up.

😵‍💫 Why schooling can be so overwhelming for children, and the impacts that can arise if neurodiversity doesn’t get identified early.

📝 Tests aren’t everything - why a teacher building a strong relationship with the child can be the most powerful way to understand what is really happening.

😃 The one thing every school needs to change in order to improve the learning outcomes of your child.

🌺 How being out in nature can have a powerful impact on regulating a child’s emotions and enhancing their learning.

🫶 The secret to helping children overcome trauma and confidence issues so they can feel safe and secure.

PLUS…

🎯 The #1 education TRAVESTY in New Zealand and elsewhere that schools need to fix IMMEDIATELY

Bay Paediatrics is also supporting the Matahui School Fundraising event on July 26. If you are in the Bay of Plenty we highly recommend you join us for Conversations & Bubbles! Tickets available here: https://events.humanitix.com/conversations-and-bubbles

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EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealand’s leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How do you remain calm and composed when trying to manage a neurospicy family, AND you’re a parent with ADHD? It can feel like an impossible task…but we’ve found the neurosuperstar who has cracked the parenting code. Meet Jo Fallowfield, an Occupational Therapist and a mum with ADHD who heads up a neurodiverse family of four.

In this thrilling, honest and open episode of EPIC Families, you will discover how neurodiversity can be the thing that brings your family together.

Jo reveals…

🗺️ How feeling ‘different from the norm’ an early age and ‘stumbling through life’ as she grew up paved the pathway to her own ADHD diagnosis.

⚡️ The ‘ADHD difference’ felt so strongly by so many children and their parents…and the power of ‘difference’ being the one thing that neurodiverse families have in common.

👂 The challenges of getting professionals to ‘listen’ especially when her children didn’t fit the ‘normal’ description of ADHD.

🎓 The power of persistence and how to keep going when it feels like schools and teachers are just labelling your child as ‘naughty’ and refusing to listen when you say they need more help.

🤫 The secret to creating empathyand understand in a household that can feel chaotic and overwhelming…especially when emotions are not ‘one size fits all’

❤️ How to talk to your children about ADHD and neurodiversity.

PLUS

🔓 The joys of being a neurodiverse household and how ADHD can unlock the very BEST of your parenting talents.

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EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealand’s leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Overwhelmed to Empowered – The Real Truth About Parenting Confidence

In this powerful and deeply personal episode of the EPIC Families podcast, Freddie Bennett gets raw and real about something every parent of a neurodiverse child has faced: Overwhelm.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re failing as a parent…

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I should be better…”

If the mental load, school stress, guilt, and emotional rollercoaster of parenting a child with ADHD or Autism has you running on empty — this episode is for you.

Freddie shares his own story as a dad with ADHD, the shame spiral so many parents find themselves in, and why we often let overwhelm hold us back from the confident, connected parenting we dream of.

You’ll discover:

🫣 The 4 hidden drivers of parenting overwhelm (L.I.F.E.)

🚨 The 8 ways overwhelm shows up in everyday life — from procrastination to perfectionism

💪 Why confidence isn’t a mystery... it’s a muscle you build by keeping promises to yourself

🧠 How to shift your mindset from crisis to clarity — and finally feel like you’re back in control

This is more than just a podcast — it’s a wake-up call, a mirror, and a warm hug for every parent who feels like they’re not enough.

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EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, New Zealand’s child neurodiversity centre of excellence. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

ADHD can feel overwhelming at times. As an ADHD adult or a parent of a neurodiverse child, there are days when the struggle feels impossible. Whether it’s dealing with emotional meltdowns, rejection, self-sabotage or workplaces & schools that just don’t ‘get it’, ADHD ain’t easy.

But you are NEVER alone…and the story told by this week’s guest proves it. We were delighted to welcome Neal Mankey, Chair of ADHD UK, neurodiversity champion and a father who was diagnosed with ADHD in his early 40s. 

In this raw, open and honest episode of the EPIC Families podcast, Neal reveals how ADHD doesn’t have to be a tripwire…it can be the missing piece of the puzzle:

🗺️ The personal journey of undiagnosed ADHD in his younger years that went from ‘hyperactive kid’ to school-leaver with zero qualifications to jumping from job to job and struggling with mental health and alcohol challenges.

🔎 How an ADHD diagnosis can help to explain the aspects of our lives that we’ve struggled with for so long, and trigger a vast range of positive lifestyle changes.

⚠️ The shocking statistics highlighting the links between ADHD and mental illness in young people and adults, and the strategies that can be put in place to help.

👋 Why ‘letting go’ can be the secret to dealing with ADHD-related challenges, and how vulnerability can be your greatest strength.

❤️ The importance of creating environment that offer psychological safety and the acceptance to allow people to let their authentic strengths shine.

🎓 How to help your children thrive in a learning environment, and why ‘being their authentic selves’ may be easy to talk about…but almost impossible to achieve.

PLUS, Neal reveals:

💪 How he discovered the secret ‘confidence to not conform’ in the most unlikely of places.

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EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealand’s leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you want to unlock your child’s unique learning abilities and help them to thrive in the classroom, meet the expert who specialises in supporting the "neuro-spicy" and "neuro-sparkly" learners - those brilliant minds who process information differently and often struggle to find teachers who truly understand them.

Dani Archer is the owner of The Study Nook (https://www.thestudynook.co.nz/) - a child learning organisation that doesn’t just help students to learn, they focus on building confidence, fostering understanding and celebrating extraordinary minds.

In this fascinating episode of the EPIC Families podcast, Dani reveals:

📝 What ‘structured literacy’ is, and why it’s seen as the secret weapon to support children who are neurodiverse or with additional learning needs.

🔬 The importance of taking an individualised approach to your child’s learning…even in a classroom that wants everybody to be the same.

👀 “They’re not just being naughty” How to understand why certain behaviours creep into the playground.

⏳Why patience is a virtue for parents when it comes to helping children with their learning, but nothing matters more than TRUST.

⚠️ Hidden signs of learning difficulties - what you need to look out for in your children.

🧠 The ‘working memory’ secret that can create an individual learning breakthrough for your child.

PLUS, Dani reveals…

♥️ How to help your child build resilience and inner confidence so they’re not afraid to FAIL

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EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealand’s leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you want to cut through the clouds of confusion that appear when navigating a child neurodiversity maze, then this episode is going to light a path to clarity, certainty and confidence for your family’s future.

Meet the unstoppable Kirsty Brown: Mental health nurse practitioner and a true expert in giving neurodiverse families the tools they need to become EPIC families. Kirsty gives a straight-talking, no-nonsense masterclass in how lifestyle factors can impact ADHD symptoms and treatments, and how families can make small adjustments to experience big improvements in their lives.

In this truly epic episode, you will discover:

⚒️ The tools and habits that you need to operate at your optimal best on a day-to-day basis.

🧠 “Don’t be rigid, be smart” - The secret to creating the personal conditions for you and your family to thrive with ADHD.

🍽️ The special kind of diet that can be highly beneficial for people with ADHD.

🚀 “It’s not rocket science” - The key ways parents can overcomplicate neurodiversity…and how to take an easier approach.

🧲 Understanding HOW ADHD shows up for your child (or for you!) and putting the right structures in place to work with it, not against it.

👑 The ‘king & queen’ conundrum that might mean your child is doing the OPPOSITE of what you want them to do.

✨ Why medication isn’t always the ‘silver bullet’ families need…and what other measures they can put in place.

😇 How to help your child shift from little meltdown demon to ADHD angel

Plus, Kirsty reveals…

♥️ The most POWERFUL things parents can do to help their children embrace ADHD 

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EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealand’s leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are SO back!

Welcome to season 2 of the EPIC Families podcast!

If the ADHD journey has ever left you and your family feeling overwhelmed, underprepared or overlooked, then we have the perfect person to help you get ADHD Unlocked. Meet Tracey Rountree, a key member of ADHD New Zealand, and someone who brings a lifetime of knowledge, wisdom and lived experience to the EPIC Families podcast because she is also an ADHD mum in a neurodiverse household.

In this episode, Tracey reveals:

🙋‍♀️ “Maybe it’s ME?” - The unfortunate truth around how many parents are dismissed when the first signs of neurodivergence appear for their child.

🏆 Winning the confidence battle - How to start trusting yourself as a parent…even when other people think they know your child better than you!

👨‍🏫 The phonecall from school - Why you don’t have to fall into the ‘perfect parenting trap’ when your child’s teacher tells you they are struggling.

⚠️ The dangers of always trying to get it ‘right’, and why ‘trial and error’ could be a more powerful approach.

😵‍💫 How to be a more consistent parent in a world where you feel like you’re being pulled in 100 different directions.

⏸️ Why a strategic ‘pause’ can be a game changer when it comes to morning and evening routines.

🏷️ The debate around ‘labelling’ a child as neurodiverse, and why NOT doing so can cause additional challenges.

PLUS, Tracey helps us to unlock one of the key parenting puzzles…

💬 How to talk to your child about ADHD and wider neurodiversity

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EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealand’s leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.

Follow us on Instagram and Facebook 

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many neurodiverse families struggle with bedtime routines, falling asleep and staying asleep. But sleepless nights for children (and parents) can be a thing of the past because paediatric consultant Dr Sarah Moll returns to the EPIC Families podcast to deliver a sleep masterclass that’s definitely worth staying up for.

In her role as a consultant at Tauranga Hospital in New Zealand and co-founder of Bay Paediatrics neurodiversity clinic, Sarah has helped hundreds of families unlock the mysteries of getting a good nights’ sleep.

Sarah Reveals..

⚠️ The two main sleep challenges that neurodiverse families face (one might surprise you).

⏳What you should do if your child remains awake for longer than 30 minutes after you put them to bed.

😴 Why two different stages of sleep are VITAL for your child’s development. 

🛌 How certain ‘bad habits’ can make the difference between a dreamy sleep routine or a bedtime nightmare.

🥱 The ‘sleep hygiene’ secret, why so many parents struggle…and why it isn’t your fault.

☕️ How ‘sleepy foods’ can make bedtime easier…but a hot chocolate in the evening may be adding to your child’s sleep struggles

🔄 What to do when your child refuses to go to bed…and why consistency and routine can make all the difference.

PLUS, Sarah reveals a sleepy secret…

📝 How to create a ‘sleep diary’ that can solve the bedtime puzzle once and for all. 

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Grab your tickets for EPIC Families LIVE on March 8th and meet the experts to solve your parenting challenges! More info here.

EPIC Families is about creating Extraordinary Parents & Incredible Children. Discover how in our website here: https://www.myepicfamily.com/

Join the free EPIC Families community here. Be seen, be heard and discover strength in neurodiversity.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok.

EPIC Families is part of Bay Paediatrics, one of New Zealand’s leading child neurodiversity clinics. Discover more here: https://baypaediatrics.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.