The Yellow Ladybugs Podcast

Welcome to Episode 3 of Season 5 of the Yellow Ladybugs Podcast series.

This episode describes how interoception—the sense that helps us understand what’s happening inside our body—plays a key role in the wellbeing of autistic girls and gender-diverse young people. When interoception is underdeveloped or misunderstood, it can impact everything from recognising hunger and pain to managing emotions and setting boundaries.

We explore why interoception is often overlooked, how it connects to emotional regulation, and why building interoceptive awareness is a powerful protective factor. 

Welcome to Episode 2 of Season 5 of the Yellow Ladybugs Podcast series.

This episode describes how behaviour is often misunderstood—especially for autistic girls and gender-diverse young people whose needs may be hidden or internalised. Rather than seeing behaviour as something to manage or fix, we explore how it's actually a form of communication.

We unpack why traditional behaviour approaches often fall short, and why co-regulation—meeting young people with calm, connection, and curiosity—is a more effective and neuro-affirming path forward. 

Welcome to Episode 1 of Season 5 of the Yellow Ladybugs Podcast series. 

This episode describes how many autistic girls and gender-diverse young people are overlooked because their struggles are hidden behind a well-practised mask. This episode explores what it really means to mask, how internalising distress can lead to burnout, shutdowns, and mental health challenges, and why it’s so often misunderstood by educators, professionals, and even families.

Welcome to Episode 10  of the Yellow Ladybugs podcast series  4   "Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Students at School and Beyond." 

This podcast series is brought to you by the Victorian Department of Education and Training.

Having difficulty advocating for your rights, or even knowing what your rights are? We chat with three experts who will share their incredible insights on supporting both parents and autistic students in advocating for what they need and deserve! This is a must listen episode  for all parents and carers. 

Natasha Staheli speaks with Karen Dimmock, Sarah Hayden,  and Chenai Mupotsa-Russell.

Please find further resources for this episode attached to this podcast: 16. Supporting parents and children to advocate for themselves.pdf

You can stay up to date with all things on our websiteyellowladybugs.com.au

Welcome to Episode 9  of the Yellow Ladybugs podcast series  4 "Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Students at School and Beyond."

This podcast series is brought to you by the Victorian Department of Education and Training.

In this episode Katie Koullas CEO of Yellow Ladybugs speaks to renowned child psychiatrist Dr Alberto Veloso and explores Regulations, Ruptures and Repairs: How to Support our Ladybugs when Things Get Tough

Dr Alberto Veloso offersCompassionate advice and practical strategies to empower parents and teachers to co-regulate when relationships rupture and how and when to reflect and repair. A special look into complex mental health challenges, and how to cope when things get tough.

For further information on this episode please see our attached resource: 14. Regulation, Ruptures and Repairs.pdf

Content Warning: Please note this episode does contain references to hospital stays, mental health, family violence, self- harm, intrusive thoughts and threats to harm. 

You can stay up to date with all things on our website yellowladybugs.com.au

Welcome to Episode 8 of the Yellow Ladybugs podcast series  4  "Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Students at School and Beyond."

This podcast series is brought to you by the Victorian Department of Education and Training.

“Can’t. Not Won’t”. This important panel from our Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse students at school and Beyond Conference will explore the very hot topic of school “refusal,” and reframe this as school can’t. School can’t and school trauma are real issues for so many in our community and we explain why they cannot be solved with a tough love approach. 

Katie Koullas  chats with Louise Rogers and Tiffany Westphall both amazing advocates and creators  of the school can't Facebook group and Nicole Bester an OT with both lived and professional experience. 

Please note this episode does contain references to suicide ideality, depression and mental health issues.

Please see further resources attached to this podcast; 12. Understanding school can't and school trauma.docx

You can stay up to date with all things on our website  yellowladybugs.com.au

Welcome to Episode 7 of the Yellow Ladybugs podcast series  4  "Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Students at School and Beyond."

This podcast series is brought to you by the Victorian Department of Education and Training. 

Confused about therapy and ‘intervention’ and how to help the young ladybug in your life? This panel will utilise the clinical experience of two insightful autistic psychologists, who will unpack some of the immediate, short-term and life long impacts of commonly recommended behaviourist and compliance-based therapies, and then share their expertise on what neuro-affirming therapy and supports look like.

Katie Koullas and Natasha Staheli chat with Marie Camin and Sandhya Menon.

please note this content contains reference to ABA, mental health issues,  child sexual and physical abuse, suicide ideality, and eating disorders 

For further information on this podcast please see our resources attached  10. Neuro-affirming alternatives to behaviourism and compliance-based therapies.docx

You can stay up to date with all things on our website yellowladybugs.com.au

Welcome to Episode 6 of the Yellow Ladybugs podcast series  4   "Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Students at School and Beyond." 

This podcast series is brought to you by the Victorian Department of Education and Training. 

In this episode Natasha Staheli will be exploring what does a neuro-affirming classroom look like? Four lived experience experts share their practical advice for teachers on how to be a detective and uncover the hidden or unmet needs of autistic students, and how the make the hidden curriculum more accessible.

Natasha chats with Christina Keeble, Renae Austin, Adina Levy and Enara Tompkins.

For further resources relating to the podcast please see our attached document:  9. Neuro-affirming ways to support autistic girls and gender diverse students.pdf

You can stay up to date with all things on our website yellowladybugs.com.au

Welcome to Episode 5 of the Yellow Ladybugs podcast series  4   "Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Students at School and Beyond." 

This podcast series is brought to you by the Victorian Department of Education and Training. 

This podcast is a combination of  three popular  panels from our Yellow Ladybugs conference 2023  "Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Students at School and Beyond ".  This  hour and a half session  takes  you through the journey from early childhood, tweens and teens and beyond.

Supporting autistic girls  and gender diverse student in early childhood- A focused exploration of what internalised autism can look like in early childhood, and advice on supporting preschool-aged autistic girls  and gender diverse students in a way that is neuro-affirming and that recognises their hidden needs.

Natasha Staheli chats with Sally Baker and  Raelene Dundon (time stamp 01:30-33:00)

For further resources on this podcast please refer to the attached document: 4. Supporting autistic girls in early childhood.pdf

Supporting autistic tweens- Two lived experience experts share their advice and perspectives on supporting autistic tweens through the difficult waters of puberty, friendships, self identity and more.

Katie Koullas chats with Tiana Andrews  and Frances Brennan (time stamp 33:00-1:03:45)

For further resources on this podcast please refer to the attached document: 5. Supporting Autistic Tweens.pdf

You can stay up to date with all things on our website yellowladybugs.com.au

Supporting autistic young people in the teen years and beyond  -Two passionate youth advocates discuss some of the big issues for our autistic teens – delving into topics including identity, masking, risk-taking and stepping up into adulthood.

Katie Koullas chats with Shadia Hancock  and Siena Chumbley Contin (timestamp 1:03:50-1:34:33)

For further resources on this podcast please refer to the attached document: 6. Supporting autistic young people in the teen years and beyond.pdf

You can stay up to date with all things on our website yellowladybugs.com.au

Welcome to Episode 4 of the Yellow Ladybugs podcast series  4   "Supporting Autistic Girls and Gender Diverse Students at School and Beyond." 

This podcast series is brought to you by the Victorian Department of Education and Training. 

This podcast series is brought to you by the Victorian Department of Education and Training and Yellow Ladybugs and comes from the Yellow Ladybugs conference 2023.

This is an honest, compassionate and grounded conversation about supporting parents and carers of autistic young people. Our panellists share a mix of practical advice, and lived experience perspectives and reflections that will resonate with all of us who are on the parenting journey.

Join us as Katie Koullas chats with Joanne Hatchard, Dannielle Wilson and Yael Clark.

For further resources relating to the podcast please see our attached document: 3. Supporting parents and carers of autistic young people.pdf

You can stay up to date with all things on our website yellowladybugs.com.au