Journeys With PDA Coffee Chat Podcast

In this episode of the Journeys with PDA Coffee Chat podcast, hosts Heather and guest co-host Dusty welcome special guest Dr. Joy Eberhardt DeMaster.

Dr. Joy Eberhardt DeMaster joins the conversation to break down the relationship between PDA, PANS, and PANDAS through a parent-led, integrative, and neurodiversity-affirming lens. Key topics covered:

• What PDA means and why the term “persistent drive for autonomy” resonates with many families
• How PANS/PANDAS can show up as a sudden, dramatic change in a child
• Why sleep, eating, toileting, sensory overwhelm, handwriting, and separation anxiety can all be red flags
• How to distinguish baseline PDA traits from an abrupt medical change
• What parents can bring to appointments to help clinicians take concerns seriously
• Testing considerations, including throat, nose, and other swabs
• The importance of looking for infection, inflammation, and symptom support together
• How to tell autistic burnout apart from PANS/PANDAS in broad terms
• Why continued symptoms after treatment may mean more evaluation is needed

To download the QR code resource page mentioned go to: https://orchid-pediatrics.kit.com/573c5cfba3

Learn more about Dr. Joy at https://orchidpediatrics.com/

Follow in Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.pda.doc/

Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Orchid-Pediatrics/100080652554270/

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpdanstagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

In this episode of the Journeys with PDA Coffee Chat podcast, hosts Heather and Kerissa welcome special guest Sarah Mireles.

Sarah Mireles, LPCC, CLC, is a neurodivergent therapist and founder of Sarah Mireles Therapy with more than 10 years of experience supporting neurodivergent teens, young adults, and their families across hospital, residential, and outpatient settings. After seeing families cycle through therapy, treatment programs, and medications while continuing to feel overwhelmed and stuck, Sarah came to believe that lasting progress requires a home environment designed to support neurodivergent functioning. This led her to create a parent training program focused on helping families build the skills and conditions that support sustainable change. Her practical, compassionate approach centers on emotion regulation, openness to feedback, mental flexibility, and maintaining connection and communication, helping parents move from worry and trial-and-error toward greater confidence and clarity. Through her practice, Sarah provides therapy, coaching, and parent training for families navigating ADHD, autism, PDA, OCD, anxiety, depression, and other complex mental health needs.

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpdanstagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

In this episode of the Journeys with PDA Coffee Chat podcast, hosts Heather and Kerissa welcome special guest and friend of Journeys With PDA, Bailey Hoffner.

Bailey is a poet, mother, white woman, neuroqueer, autistic PDAer, and recovering neuro-conformer. Her well-being is grounded in autonomy, trust, growing self-awareness, and mutual, unconditional love. She currently serves as the Metadata Librarian at Oklahoma State's Edmon Low Library (remotely). In her own research, she is particularly interested in the convergence of libraries and autism. To that end, she is working with autistic librarians across the globe on a research project entitled, “Perceptions and discourses of autism in Library and Information Science literature: a critical interpretive synthesis,” with the purpose of laying a strong foundation for all future research related to autism and libraries.
 

You can find out more about Bailey at www.substack.com/@badfrench

To learn more about the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) autism profile, visit our website at https://journeyswithpda.com/

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpdanstagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

In this episode of the Journeys with PDA Coffee Chat podcast, hosts Heather and Kerissa welcome special guest Rike Brand, author of "PDA Parenting."

Rike Brand is the author of the German-language #1 category bestseller "Neustart PDA" and a mother of two. Her journey as a parent sparked her interest in PDA. With a background in cultural anthropology, she has spent years deeply immersed in the PDA community, learning from families, advocates, and lived experience. A seasoned nonfiction author and entrepreneur, Rike combines her research and storytelling skills to create practical, empathetic guidance for parents navigating the complexities of neurodivergent and PDA children. She is an active part of the PDA community on Instagram.

You can find out more about Rike Brand on Instagram @rikebrand.

You can find her book here:

"PDA Parenting"At Journeys With PDA, we offer connection, community & co-regulation. (And a few laughs!)
The hosts, Heather & Kerissa, and any special guests cannot diagnose or prescribe treatments. All information is for educational purposes.

• To learn more about the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) autism profile, visit our website at https://journeyswithpda.com/

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpdanstagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

In this episode of the Journeys with PDA Coffee Chat podcast, hosts Heather and Kerissa welcome special guests Doris and Rick Bowman from Bowman Consulting Group, and the authors of "Your FBA is a Fantasy!" and its sequel, "Facing the Fantasy, Finding the Way Forward."

Over the course of more than 20 years in special education, Doris and Rick Bowman—known internationally as “Team Bowman”—have become leading voices in helping schools and organizations better support youth with significant behavioral, emotional, and mental health needs. 

You can find more information about Team Bowman by visiting:

bowmanconsultgroup.com/capacity-builders/

facebook.com/trauma.informed.fbas.and.behavior.support.plans

instagram.com/trauma_and_resilience_training/?hl=en

Their books are available on Amazon.

• Your FBA is a Fantasy!: A Guidebook to Creating Truly Trauma-Informed, Neuro-Affirming Functional Behavior Assessments & Behavior Support Plans
• Facing the Fantasy, Finding the Way Forward: Every Educator's Guide to Moving Beyond Behavior Management to Lasting Behavioral Change Using Neuroscience-Aligned, Trauma-Informed Practices

At Journeys With PDA, we offer connection, community & co-regulation. (And a few laughs!)
The hosts, Heather & Kerissa, and any special guests cannot diagnose or prescribe treatments. All information is for educational purposes.

• To learn more about the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) autism profile, visit our website at https://journeyswithpda.com/

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpdanstagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

In this episode of the Journeys with PDA Coffee Chat podcast, hosts Heather and Kerissa welcome special guests Caryn and Georgina, who share their insights on Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and their experiences as educators and authors. They discuss the importance of understanding PDA, the impact of language and labels, and the need for autonomy in children. The conversation also delves into their books, 'Olive's Day' and 'Willow's Day', which aim to provide resources for families and educators to better support children with PDA. The guests emphasize the significance of compassion, inclusivity, and the role of peers in creating supportive environments for neurodivergent children.

• Olive’s Day: Understanding and Navigating PDA – a neuro-affirming story bringing to life the lived experience of children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (Persistent Drive for Autonomy). It offers educators, families, and pupils a psychologically informed way to understand autonomy, anxiety, and emotional safety. Purchase: https://a.co/d/0NzXnRD
• Willow’s Day: Repairing Harm & Building Bridges – a gentle, child-centred introduction to restorative justice, showing how apologies and accountability can repair relationships and build resilience. Purchase: https://a.co/d/aR07WK7

Caryn Price (MA Special & Inclusive Education, MSc Psychology)  & Georgina Benger (MEd Restorative Justice, Cantab)

Instagram: https://rb.gy/44filv

We offer connection, community & co-regulation. (And a few laughs!)
Journeys With PDA (Heather & Kerissa) and any special guests cannot diagnose or prescribe treatments. All information is for educational purposes.

To learn more about the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) autism profile, visit our website at https://journeyswithpda.com/

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpdanstagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

In this episode, Heather and Kerissa engage in a deep conversation with Sarah Martin, a registered dietitian nutritionist, about the challenges of eating for individuals with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and the complexities of Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID). They explore the differences between selective eating and ARFID, the importance of responsive feeding therapy, and how to build positive relationships around food. The discussion emphasizes the need for individualized approaches to nutrition and the significance of autonomy and safety in feeding practices.

 "The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, a medical recommendation, diagnosis, or treatment suggestion. It is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified physician or other health care provider."

Sarah Martin, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist dedicated to educating and empowering neurodivergent individuals and families to nourish their relationships with food and eating. A late-diagnosed AuDHD PDAer and parent of 3 neurodivergent children, Sarah is in the startup process for her company, Kindred Noodle, to provide neurodivergent-affirming nutrition education and support for her community. She brings a unique understanding of PDA to her work. 

Part 1 with Sarah can be found here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2055881/episodes/17007022

Part 2 with Sarah can be found here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2055881/episodes/17281792

Connect with Sarah on Facebook and Instagram @KindredNoodle or email [email protected].

We offer connection, community & co-regulation. (And a few laughs!)
Journeys With PDA (Heather & Kerissa) and any special guests cannot diagnose or prescribe treatments. All information is for educational purposes.

To learn more about the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) autism profile, visit our website at https://journeyswithpda.com/

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpdanstagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d
 

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

In this episode, Heather and Kerissa chat with Rachel Crupi & Brad Broyles.

Rachel and Brad are from Polaris Academy in Mesa, Arizona. Polaris Academy is a transformative autism academy dedicated to empowering neurodiverse children.

Find out more about Polaris Academy: www.polarisacademy.org
Connect with Rachel: [email protected] 

Connect with Brad: [email protected]

We offer connection, community & co-regulation. (And a few laughs!)
Journeys With PDA (Heather & Kerissa) and any special guests cannot diagnose or prescribe treatments. All information is for educational purposes.

To learn more about the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) autism profile, visit our website at https://journeyswithpda.com/

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpda
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

In this episode, Heather and Kerissa chat with Rachel Crupi, M.S., BCBA-LBA. 

Rachel Crupi is the Director of Behavior Services at Polaris Academy in Mesa, Arizona. Polaris Academy is a transformative autism academy dedicated to empowering neurodiverse children.

Find out more about Polaris Academy: www.polarisacademy.org
Connect with Rachel: [email protected]


We offer connection, community & co-regulation. (And a few laughs!)
Journeys With PDA (Heather & Kerissa) and any special guests cannot diagnose or prescribe treatments. All information is for educational purposes.

To learn more about the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) autism profile, visit our website at https://journeyswithpda.com/

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpda
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d
 

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com

In this episode, Heather and Kerissa continue their discussion on nutrition and eating challenges faced by neurodivergent individuals, particularly those with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). They are joined by dietitian Sarah Martin, who shares her insights on the complexities of feeding neurodivergent children, the importance of autonomy in eating, and practical strategies for parents. The conversation emphasizes breaking away from traditional food norms, understanding sensory issues, and creating a supportive environment for healthy eating habits.

"The information provided is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice, a medical recommendation, diagnosis, or treatment suggestion. It is not intended to replace consultation with a qualified physician or other health care provider."

Sarah Martin, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist dedicated to educating and empowering neurodivergent individuals and families to nourish their relationships with food and eating. A late-diagnosed AuDHD PDAer and parent of 3 neurodivergent children, Sarah is in the startup process for her company, Kindred Noodle, to provide neurodivergent-affirming nutrition education and support for her community. She brings a unique understanding of PDA to her work.  

Part 1 with Sarah can be found here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2055881/episodes/17007022

Connect with Sarah on Facebook and Instagram @KindredNoodle or email [email protected].

We offer connection, community & co-regulation. (And a few laughs!)
Journeys With PDA (Heather & Kerissa) and any special guests cannot diagnose or prescribe treatments. All information is for educational purposes.

To learn more about the Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) autism profile, visit our website at https://journeyswithpda.com/

Heather & Kerissa are Certified PDA Trainers. They offer advocacy, education & family support through one-on-one coaching sessions.
You can connect with Heather & Kerissa through their website and on social media.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeyswithpdanstagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeys_with_pda/

🍎 Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/journeys-with-pda-coffee-chat-podcast/id1681327230

📲 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5TelhjJN6J3Dt8PPfKEm6k?si=a85f893540a142c0

💻YouTube Video Podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaSyUriZW2txMrh8vGLdljVFTf_VgK03d
 

Support the show

https://journeyswithpda.com