Neurodivergent Conversations | Autism, ADHD, AuDHD, PDA, Emotional Regulation, SEND parent, Meltdowns, Special Needs Parent

What happens when two Greers sit down to talk about autism, parenting, and the truth about gut health?

n this honest and empowering episode, Greer Jones is joined by Greer McGuinness, a registered dietitian, autism mom, and researcher dedicated to helping families understand the real connection between gut health and autism.

Together, they explore what evidence-based biomedical interventions look like in everyday life — and how parents can make meaningful changes without burnout or guilt.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

What current research says about gut health and autism

How to start small with realistic dietary and environmental changes

Common nutrition myths and what actually helps

Ways to support yourself while parenting through overwhelm

Why compassion and community matter as much as science

This episode is a breath of fresh air for parents feeling overwhelmed by “all the things.” You don’t need perfection — just progress, understanding, and a supportive community.

LINKS:

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What happens when two seasoned autism moms sit down and share everything — the meltdowns, the victories, and the toothbrush hunts that never seem to end?

In this powerful episode, Greer is joined by Brittney and Tash from the Mom’s Talk Autism podcast — two brilliant, hilarious, and experienced moms who have navigated every stage of the autism parenting journey. Together, they talk honestly about what they’ve learned through years of advocacy, growth, and grace.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

The difference between early diagnosis years and seasoned parenting

How schools, systems, and culture shape advocacy

The emotional load of raising neurodivergent children

Why flexibility and humour are survival tools

How community and shared stories help parents feel less alone

Whether you’re just starting out or deep in the parenting trenches, this episode is a reminder that we learn, grow, and adapt best when we do it together.

LINKS:

Listen to Moms talk Autism Pod

Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.

Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world.

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CHECK OUT THE UNFINISHED RESOURCES- pick up play guide, meltdown guide, and more!

What’s it really like to grow up as the sibling of a neurodivergent child?

In this heartfelt conversation, Greer sits down with Ruby, a young woman whose life has been beautifully shaped by her brother Ewan, who is autistic. From childhood to adulthood, Ruby has learned empathy, adaptability, and the power of advocacy — lessons she now shares online to support other families walking a similar path.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

What it’s really like growing up with an autistic sibling

How Ruby balanced her own needs with her family’s

The importance of including and supporting siblings

How social media became a space for awareness and connection

Why kindness and understanding can change how we view neurodiversity

This conversation shines a light on the often-overlooked sibling perspective — reminding us that love, compassion, and inclusion begin at home.

LINKS
Follow Ruby’s sibling journey
Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.

Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world.

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What if dining out with your autistic child didn’t feel stressful — but safe, supported, and even joyful?

n this heartfelt episode, Greer talks with Jamie Daskalis — award-winning chef, restaurant owner, autism advocate, and mom to James — about how her son’s diagnosis inspired her to create spaces where every family feels welcome.

Together, they unpack how Myrtle Beach became an autism-certified travel destination and what every community can learn from it.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

Jamie’s journey as a mom navigating autism and early intervention

How small changes make restaurants and businesses more autism-friendly

The story behind the Champion Autism Network and Myrtle Beach’s inclusion movement

Simple, practical ways to build empathy and accessibility in your community

Whether you’re a parent, business owner, or advocate, this episode is a reminder that inclusion starts with understanding — and one person’s voice can spark city-wide change.

LINKS:

Follow Chef Jamie

Learn more about Jonny D's

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Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world.

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What happens when parenting looks completely different from what you imagined?

From unexpected autism diagnoses to “everyday grief” and learning to let go of old expectations, raising neurodivergent children is a journey filled with both heartbreak and deep joy. If you’ve ever felt torn between parenting neurodivergent and neurotypical children, this conversation will feel like a warm hug and a deep exhale.

In this heartfelt episode, Greer sits down with Leona, a mum raising a non-verbal autistic son with a learning disability and a neurotypical daughter. Together, they unpack the emotional reality of raising neurodivergent kids—the guilt, the grief, the resilience, and the surprising moments of joy that surface along the way.

Leona shares her story with raw honesty, offering encouragement and practical wisdom for parents in the early stages of diagnosis and beyond. This episode is for every parent navigating the complex emotions that come with autism parenting and neurodivergent family life.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

Navigating two very different parenting experiences (neurodivergent + neurotypical siblings)

The emotional waves of grief, guilt, and letting go of expectations

Advocating in public spaces during meltdowns

Building resilience over time and finding your community

The power of small moments of solidarity between parents

Topics Discussed:

Autism parenting and diagnosis journeys

Non-verbal autism and learning disabilities

“Everyday grief” for parents of neurodivergent children

Parenting neurodivergent and neurotypical siblings

Emotional resilience for SEN parents

Public meltdowns and advocacy phrases

Potty training and developmental differences

Finding community and letting go of “the norm”

Key Takeaways:

Grief doesn’t end at diagnosis — it appears in small, everyday moments. Acknowledging it without letting it consume you is key.

Your child’s experience isn’t always your grief. They can thrive on their own terms.

Parenting neurodivergent children means redefining family experiences, and that’s okay.

Advocating in public gets easier with time. Pre-prepared phrases help you respond calmly in stressful moments.

You’re not alone. A kind nod, shared glance, or moment of solidarity between parents can make a world of difference.

LINKS:

Follow Leona

Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.
Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world.
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Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain!
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What a year it’s been! From late-night recordings and community building to tears, laughter, and so much learning — The Unfinished Idea just turned ONE! 

This episode is a celebration — of growth, courage, connection, and the beautiful chaos that comes with being a neurodivergent family. Whether you’ve been here since episode one or are just joining, this is a moment to pause, reflect, and remember why this journey matters.

Host Greer Jones is celebrating the first anniversary of The Unfinished Idea — a podcast that grew from a simple desire to find connection in the neurodiverse world into a thriving community of understanding and hope.

In this milestone episode, Greer is joined by her husband Chris, who shares what he’s learned from being part of the journey behind the scenes. Together, they look back at the lessons, surprises, and moments that shaped the past year — and dream about what’s to come.

In this episode:

TAKEWAYS

Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.
Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world.
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Is mainstream school the only path—or just the default? For many neurodiverse children, traditional classrooms create more harm than growth. Kim shows us what education can look like when we step outside the box.

Meet Kim, an educator and advocate who supports families choosing alternative education outside the mainstream system. As a parent herself, Kim has navigated the realities of EHCPs, home education, and creating learning environments where her neurodiverse child thrives. She offers practical wisdom, encouragement, and a fresh perspective on what education can (and should) be.

TOPICS DISCUSSED
Why school isn’t right for every child
Alternative learning options in the UK
The role of EHCPs in accessing support
Neurodiverse learners and engagement
Life skills as education (finance, citizenship, etc.)
Redefining success outside mainstream systems
Supporting parents navigating decisions
The power of listening and non-judgment

TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE
Education isn’t “one size fits all”—alternative paths are valid.
Mental health and happiness must come before academics.
Gaming, hobbies, and nontraditional activities can be true learning.
Parents know their children best—trust your instincts.
Support from family and friends looks like listening, not judging.
Changing the environment—not the child—opens the door to thriving.

Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.
Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world.
You can know get the episodes on YouTube! Click here to subscribe.
Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain!
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Is ADHD just chaos—or could it actually be a different kind of order? For many families, ADHD looks like never-ending energy, constant ideas, and a pace of life others can’t imagine. But what if we stopped calling it chaos and started calling it engagement?

Meet Dr. Kelly Cagle, an educator, researcher, mom, and late-diagnosed ADHD adult. With a PhD in Education and lived experience in a neurodiverse household, Kelly bridges research and real life. She shares not just professional insights but practical tools, faith-filled encouragement, and hope for families who feel “too much.”
TOPICS DISCUSSED
ADHD in both parenting and personal life
Masking and coping strategies
Chaos vs. engagement in neurodiverse families
Movement and brain activation for focus
Parenting neurodivergent children with ADHD
Faith and identity in navigating ADHD
Listening as a tool for clarity
Building supportive communities
TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE
ADHD brains pay attention—just differently. Movement keeps focus alive.
What looks like “chaos” is often deep engagement and imagination.
Masking starts as early as age 3, shaping how girls especially present.
Listening is key—at home, in friendships, and in advocacy.
Families can (and should) redefine “normal” to fit their needs.
ADHD is not brokenness; it’s another way of being fearfully and wonderfully made.
LINKS
Connect with Dr. Kelly Cagle

Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.
Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world.
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CHECK OUT THE UNFINISHED RESOURCES

Did you know that nearly 20% of the world is neurodivergent—and that many don’t discover it until adulthood? For those of us navigating a late autism or ADHD diagnosis, the journey often feels like piecing together a puzzle we’ve been carrying all our lives. In this episode, we dive into what it really means to unmask, rebuild trust in yourself, and parent neurodivergent children with both compassion and clarity.
Today’s guest, Michele Collier, is an autistic and ADHD mom raising two autistic children. Diagnosed later in life, Michele has walked the path of confusion, self-discovery, grief, and healing—and now she shares her wisdom openly to help others feel less alone.
Together, we talk about:
-What life looked like before Michele’s diagnosis
-How parenting revealed even more about her neurodivergence
-The difference between people-pleasing and masking
-Practical tools for emotional regulation and self-trust
TAKEAWAYS FROM THIS EPISODE
Discover why so many autistic and ADHD women go undiagnosed until adulthood—and how that shapes identity.
Learn how parenting neurodivergent children can bring clarity, validation, and even healing to your own diagnosis journey.
Understand the difference between people-pleasing and masking—and why it matters for self-trust.
Explore Michele’s concept of the “sphere of comfort” and how expanding it slowly can help you thrive without burnout.
Be reminded that awareness and acceptance are not the same—and that true acceptance has to come from others, not just us.
Follow Michele Collier on Instagram

Join the Unfinished Community WhatsApp. Where you can share your everyday joys, struggles, and differences! Click here to join.
Sign up to our newsletter where we continue the conversation along with sharing helpful resources and techniques tried out by parents and professionals in the neurodiverse world.
You can know get the episodes on YouTube! Click here to subscribe.
Follow the show on all the socials @theunfinishedidea - look for the brain!
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In this bonus episode of The Unfinished Idea, I’m diving into recent comments made by President Trump about autism and medications during pregnancy. His remarks suggest a link between autism and what a mother takes while pregnant — but research has not shown this to be true.

It’s important to talk about why statements like this are harmful: they place unnecessary blame on mothers, fuel stigma, and create fear instead of hope and support. If you’re a mama who has ever questioned yourself or carried guilt, hear this: autism is not your fault.

In this episode, I unpack:

Why President Trump’s comments about autism and pregnancy are misleading and harmful

The truth about autism and what research actually tells us

How these narratives increase guilt and shame for moms

Why it’s critical to move the conversation away from blame and toward support, dignity, and acceptance

A reminder that you are not alone — whether you’re raising a neurodivergent child, loving a neurodivergent spouse, or navigating life yourself as a neurodivergent person

At the end of the day, autism isn’t about fault or blame. It’s about people — our kids, our friends, our spouses, our families. They are valuable, capable, and deeply loved.

If you’ve ever felt isolated or weighed down by guilt, I want this episode to remind you: you are not alone, and it’s not your fault.

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