What does neurodiversity really mean — and how can parents navigate the joy, confusion and exhaustion that can come with it?

In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Amanda Kirby, a leading expert in neurodiversity, co-founder and CEO of Do-IT Solutions, and author of more than ten books. Drawing on over 40 years of clinical experience — and her own life as a parent and grandparent in a neurodivergent family — Amanda brings practicality and compassion to a topic that can often feel overwhelming.

Together, we explore the tension between the medical model and the neurodiversity movement, why children rarely fit neatly into diagnostic "boxes", and how labels can both open doors and create confusion. Amanda shares practical strategies for navigating transitions, preparing in manageable three-year "chunks", building organisation into family life, prioritising sleep, and forming constructive partnerships with schools. We also talk about the emotional reality for parents — the self-doubt, the fatigue, the systems that can feel adversarial — and why being "consistently inconsistent" is part of being human.

You can find out more about Professor Kirby and her work here: https://doitprofiler.com/about-us/

How can we help our children make and keep friends — especially when friendships feel messy, painful or confusing? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Eileen Kennedy-Moore, a clinical psychologist, author and friendship expert. Together, we explore why friendship is so foundational to children's wellbeing and why almost every child will struggle socially at some point. Eileen explains how parents can support the development of perspective-taking — the essential skill that underpins healthy, lasting friendships. We talk about what to say when children come home upset and why empathy must come before problem-solving. Eileen shares practical, memorable tools, including her "maybe game" for broadening perspective and her "soft criticism" framework for addressing unkind behaviour. This episode is full of usable language to help you support your child's friendships with confidence. You can find out more about Dr Eileen and her work here: https://eileenkennedymoore.com/ including her podcast for children called Dr Friendtastic A Long-Form Special: Living in the Age of Diagnosis with Dr Anna Hutchinson and Dr Libby Nugent Diagnosis in mental health and neurodiverity is on the rise - what's really going on and what does this mean for children, families, and society? In this special long-form episode, the first in a series of extended conversations, I'm joined by Dr Libby Nugent and Dr Anna Hutchinson, both clinical psychologists. Together, we explore the role of diagnosis in modern life, particularly in the fields of mental health and neurodiversity, where increasing numbers of children and adults are being assessed and identified, while waiting lists continue to grow. We discuss how diagnoses can validate pain, reduce shame, and help people make sense of their experience, while also considering their limitations, the power they hold within systems, and the broader historical and political context in which they sit. This is an in-depth conversation about both the usefulness and the risks of psychiatric labels — and what families might need to consider as they navigate them.

How do you hold on to your cultural identity while raising children in a different cultural environment? In this episode, I'm joined by Margaret Taribo, a visionary community leader and CEO of Parenting Skills to Go and Distinct Family Services. Together, we explore what culturally appropriate parenting really means in a diverse society. We talk about identity, belonging and the tensions that can arise when home culture and peer culture don't always align. Margaret shares powerful reflections from both her professional work and her lived experience, offering thoughtful insight into how parents can celebrate their heritage while helping their children integrate confidently into the world around them. You can find out more about Margaret and her work here:

YouTube (Echoes of Our Community): https://www.youtube.com/@MEEWithMargarettaribo/

Parenting Skills to Go: https://www.parentskills2go.org/

How can parents help children recover when things don't go to plan? In this episode, I'm joined by Ramita Anand, teacher, educational mentor, and creator of the Elevate programme, a mentoring programme supporting preteen girls.

Together, we explore how parents can support children to navigate setbacks, build resilience, and experience repair after mistakes, disappointments, or struggles. We talk about why mistakes matter, how growth actually happens through challenge, and the role parents play in creating emotional safety while not rushing in to rescue. We also reflect on modelling resilience as parents, normalising difficulty, and helping children learn that struggling doesn't mean failing — it means growing.

You can find more about Ramita and her work at https://www.elevate-ra.com/ramita-anand/

What if your child's behaviour isn't about disobedience, defiance, or "pushing boundaries" — but about what's happening in their nervous system? In this episode, I'm joined by Emily Hughes, parenting coach and founder of Finding Flow Parenting, to explore what parents can do to become a nervous-system-aware family. Emily invites us to move beyond seeing children's behaviour as wilful or intentional, and instead to understand it through the lens of the nervous system. When we do this, she explains, we gain a far more accurate and compassionate picture of what is really going on for our children — and for ourselves. We talk about why behaviour such as running away, aggression, or hitting often reflects a child's nervous system moving into fight or flight, rather than "naughtiness" or defiance. Emily shares how reframing behaviour in this way can reduce shame, soften our parental reactions, and help us stay more grounded in moments that would otherwise escalate. You can find out more about Emily and her work at https://findingflowparenting.coach/

Parenting is demanding for everyone, but for parents with ADHD, it can feel especially overwhelming. In this episode, I'm joined by Michaela Thomas, clinical psychologist and neurodiversity specialist, to explore what parenting looks like when your own executive functions are under constant strain.

Parenting is, in itself, a huge executive function task, requiring constant planning, organising, remembering, emotional regulation, and managing transitions, often under pressure. For parents with ADHD, this can create a persistent sense of falling short, even when they are trying incredibly hard.

We explore why shame and self-criticism are so common, particularly for those diagnosed later in life, and the "double whammy" many families experience when parents with ADHD are raising children with similar neurodivergent traits.

If you're a parent with ADHD and you often find yourself asking, "Why can't I just manage this?", this episode is for you. It's a reminder that difficulty is not failure, and that being a good parent does not mean getting it right all the time.

Michaela offers further support through her Reset course, which is designed to help parents gently reset their nervous systems and reduce overwhelm. You can find out more here: https://thethomasconnection.co.uk/reset/

What should parents really know about ADHD medication, beyond the headlines and fears?

In this episode, I'm joined by Professor Peter Hill to explore one of the questions parents ask most often and worry about: ADHD medication.

Together, we unpack what ADHD medication actually does in the brain, why stimulant medications can be so effective when ADHD is significantly impairing a child's life, and how they help children move from constant distraction into task-focused thinking.

Professor Hill explains complex neuroscience in a clear, grounded way, helping parents understand concepts like the frontal lobes, what default mode network is, and why medication can support attention, self-control and emotional regulation rather than suppressing a child's personality.

We also talk openly about the different types of ADHD medication, including stimulant and non-stimulant options, short-acting versus long-acting preparations, and how decisions are usually made in clinical practice. Importantly, we address side effects, safety, appetite and sleep, and some of the most common fears parents carry, including concerns about addiction.

What can you do when your child feels so distressed that school becomes impossible? How do you support them without getting pulled into the panic yourself?

In this episode, I'm joined by clinical psychologist Dr Carolyne Keenan for a compassionate and deeply informative conversation about Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) — a challenge that has become increasingly common, particularly since the pandemic, and it can leave parents feeling worried, confused and often quite alone.

EBSA isn't about a child who "won't go" to school; it's about a child who can't. Their level of distress is so high that getting through the school gate feels insurmountable. Carolyne explains why this happens, what early signs parents can look out for, and why EBSA is rarely about refusal, but about emotional safety.

We also discuss how to collaborate with schools, how to spot patterns in your child's week, and how small, flexible adjustments can make the school environment feel more manageable. Above all, Carolyne reminds us that your relationship with your child is the anchor. Whatever challenges arise, the battle should never be between you and your child.

If you'd like to explore more of Carolyne's work, she offers parent Power Hours, a new EBSA course launching in early 2026, and a free downloadable survival guide. https://www.carolynekeenan.co.uk/

How do you protect children from unhelpful food and body talk when celebrations revolve around eating and family gatherings? What can parents do when well-meaning relatives, social media, or conversations about weight loss creep into festive meals? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Anna Colton, Consultant Clinical Psychologist and eating disorder specialist, to explore how parents can manage food and diet chat around children during the festive season. Drawing on questions sent in by parents, we talk about navigating comments from grandparents shaped by decades of diet culture, handling conversations about weight loss injections, and the powerful messages children absorb about bodies, worth and self-control – often without adults realising. Together, we reflect on why commenting on children's eating can undermine their ability to trust their bodies, how to set boundaries with family members, and why pre-empting difficult conversations can make such a difference. This episode offers guidance to help parents protect their children's relationship with food, not just at Christmas, but all year round. More from Dr Colton https://www.dranna.co.uk/

Have you ever wondered why some children seem to shrink inside themselves after a mistake, while others recover quickly and move on? In this episode, I'm joined by Dr Stephen Blumenthal, clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst and author, to explore an emotion that touches every family but is so often misunderstood: shame. Drawing on his decades of clinical experience, Stephen explains how shame is both a normal and necessary part of human development, helping children understand social boundaries and navigate relationships. But when shame is constant or overwhelming, it can shape how a child thinks and feels about themselves in ways that are not helpful. We discuss what shame actually is and how it differs from guilt. Stephen offers examples of how everyday parenting moments can either support healthy development or unintentionally tip a child into feeling defective, exposed or alone. We also explore the role of emotional connection in protecting children from pathological shame, why ruptures can be repaired, and how parents' own histories influence the way we respond to our children. Stephen shares thoughtful guidance on how parents can stay emotionally present, set boundaries in a loving way, and help young children and teenagers build resilience without slipping into criticism or humiliation. If you're a parent – or supporting any young person growing up in an increasingly judgemental world – this episode offers clarity, reassurance and practical insight. More from Dr Blumenthal: https://stephenblumenthal.com