Neuroshambles

The knotty issue of hair care | Rebecca Huseyin

Mark is joined by returning guest Rebecca Hussain for a hilarious chat about the perils of trying to introduce any kind of hair care routine to our neurodivergent kids. It’s a knotty issue for loads of Neuroshambolic families - whether it's brushing, washing, cutting it or trying to navigate dreaded nit combs.
Mark and Rebecca unpick why hair-related stuff can be so dysregulating for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids - from sensory overwhelm and loss of control, to the irrepressible instinct to run away when someone approaches them with a brush and they're already feeling overwhelmed.
Rebecca explains her role as night time hair brushing ninja and Mark recounts the horror story of the time he tried to trim India's fringe himself. They also dig into the awkward realities of salons and barbers, the compromises that sometimes (briefly) work, and the grim truth that a lot of so-called “simple” solutions don’t feel simple at all when you’re parenting a child with a PDA profile, ADHD traits, or autism-related sensory sensitivities.
If you’re after autistic parenting advice that feels human rather than preachy, this one will have you nodding, laughing and cringing in equal measure.
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS
00:00:37 - Intro00:01:07 - Meet the guest: Rebecca Huseyin00:05:36 - What’s the topic of the week? Hair care00:08:01 - Haircuts: clippers, salons and pure dread00:13:16 - Dealing with brushing & knots - night time ninja brushing00:21:40 - Sensory overload: why hair care causes so much overwhelm00:25:25 - The drama of washing their hair00:42:34 - Barbers/hairdressers: trusting a stranger with scissors00:47:15 - Products, routines and reducing the stakes00:55:08 - The reason some neurodivergent’s prefer long hair00:58:10 - The lengths we go to for a haircut01:03:12 - Not wanting people to notice their hair01:05:47 - Reliving Mark’s trauma of cutting India’s fringe01:18:17 - A surprising India haircut success story01:21:04 - It’s not all rubbish: looking at the Positives01:22:22 - Neurodiversity Champions01:26:10 - Tiny Epic Wins01:31:18 - What the Flip Moments?
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
A Boy Less Ordinary (Rebecca’s blog) - https://aboylessordinary.com/
PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
Jem’s Hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/0dTSItLZ
India’s hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/072vd0L6
India’s coconut scented hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/05Er65tF
Nit comb - https://amzn.eu/d/00cSPgcz
Grappling with Personal Hygiene episode of Neuroshambles - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/grappling-with-personal-hygiene-rebecca-huseyin
Wash and Go - https://amzn.eu/d/0cmgCDdU
Danielle Jata-Hall / “PDA Parenting” - https://pdaparenting.com/
Hairport (Brighton) - https://www.brightonhairport.co.uk/
EAG Expo, Docklands - https://www.eagexpo.com/
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
 

Raising SEND kids: the dads’ perspective | Terry Lloyd

Mark Allen is joined by Terry Lloyd for an honest, insightful and humorous chat about what it feels like to parent neurodivergent kids from a dad’s perspective.
They lift the lid on why dads are always “late to the party” when it comes to recognising neurodivergence, struggling to process what it all means, and figuring out how to show up properly for your family - especially when one parent has already been doing the heavy lifting for ages.
They also delve into how traditional gender roles can make everything harder, and why guilt, grief and defensiveness can quietly shape how dads respond in the early days. There are also plenty of practical, lived-experience tales about having to unlearn how we were parented, getting on the same page as your co-parent and the challenge of not accidentally becoming the bad cop.
A must listen for any dads raising autistic, ADHD or PDA kids, as well as any mums interesting in hearing a different perspective of the challenges men face, but often can't articulate.
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:00:37 – Intro and what’s coming up00:01:15 – Meet the Guest: Terry Lloyd00:04:07 – Topic of the Week: Dads and the neurodivergent parenting journey00:05:36 – Being late to the party spotting neurodivergence (and why dads often miss it)00:06:05 – Inheriting breadwinner v caregiver roles, and the mental load gap00:10:47 – When your co-parent says “something’s different”00:17:03 – Labels, diagnosis, and why denial delays support00:25:21 – The provider/disciplinarian stereotype (and how it backfires)00:32:07 – How our own upbringing can influence dads' approach to parenting00:36:52 – PDA, control, and why authority dynamics don't work00:48:34 – Before diagnosis: doubt, uncertainty, and needing clarity00:51:20 – Grief, shame, and the emotional weight of realising your child is neurodivergent 00:55:40 – The importance of finding other dads in the same boat01:00:07 – Learning the hard way (books and resources that helped)01:09:54 – Advice for dads needing to get more hands-on01:21:08 – It’s Not All Rubbish: Finding the positives01:24:59 – Neurodiversity Champions01:27:57 – Tiny Epic Wins01:29:49 – What the Flip Moments01:34:52 – Outro (how to share your stories, links to the socials and wrap-up)
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Neuroshambles website – https://www.neuroshambles.com
The Journey into SEND Fatherhood (book Mark and Terry contributed to) - https://amzn.eu/d/03g3S0J7
The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/0az7Uy7e
SEND Dads Drop In (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3100788930061466
PDA Father Figures (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/809973900027348
Lisa Lloyd (@asd_with_a_g_and_t) - https://linktr.ee/ASDwithagandt
Raising the SEN-Betweeners by Lisa Lloyd (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/01pvrF2f
SAA Clothing (sensory-friendly clothing) - https://www.saaclothing.com/
Let Us Learn Too (parent/carer education campaign) - https://letuslearntoo.wordpress.com/
Amaze Sussex dads support group (run by Darren Walker) - https://amazesussex.org.uk/events/dads-group-east-sussex/
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📣 CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
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🎙️ CREDITS🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
 

How broken is the healthcare system? | Dr Lucy Pocock

Episode 50 of this neurodivergent parenting podcast takes a clear, practical look at how families in the UK end up navigating the healthcare system when they suspect their child might be autistic and/or ADHD. Mark is joined by Lucy Pocock, a registered GP and parent of a neurodivergent child, as they pull back the curtain and take a deep dive into how the system works (and why it so often doesn’t).
 
They talk through the routes families are typically funnelled into when they’re seeking support: school evidence, GP involvement, referrals, and the confusing reality that the pathway can look completely different depending on where you live. It’s the sort of honest, informative discussion many families of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids wish existed when they first started asking questions.
 
Mark and Lucy also unpack what happens once ADHD enters the mix - including medication pathways, titration, prescribing delays, and the complexities of shared care. Lucy explains why bottlenecks happen, what GPs can and can’t do, and how those constraints land on families already stretched to breaking point.
 
Along the way, the conversation touches on demand-avoidant (PDA) profiles, why some parents go private, and what families can realistically expect when it comes to letters and evidence for things like EHCP and DLA. It’s the kind of candid, good humoured and insightful chat that this neurodivergency parenting podcast is known for.
 
CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED)
00:00:37 - Episode 50 intro
00:01:20 - Meet the Guest (Lucy Pocock)
00:03:07 - Topic of the Week – UK healthcare and ND referrals (the two main routes)
00:09:23 - The postcode lottery, delays, and mismatched pathways
00:17:42 - ADHD medication: shared care, titration, and why CAMHS take so long
00:27:31 - Lucy's journey with her own PDA son's diagnosis as a GP
00:34:00 - Training: Oliver McGowan and the impact within the NHS
00:37:15 - How much neurodiversity scepticism is there within the healthcare system?
00:42:00 - What can you do if your GP is not informed about neurodiversity?
00:46:15 - Are there really parents trying to take advantage of the system?
00:56:00 - What support can we ask for from our GP that we don't know about?
00:59:45 - Could GP's relieve some of the burden from CAMHS?
01:04:30 - GP limitations on prescribing drugs: melatonin and anti-depressants
01:07:00 - Shared care, Right to Choose and commissioning constraints
01:10:45 - Is the system broken? Why is support for neurodivergency such a postcode lottery?
01:20:30 - How can we fix the flaws in the healthcare system?
01:27:00 - Looking at the positives
01:30:03 - Neurodiversity Champions
01:32:27 - Tiny Epic Wins
01:35:26 - What the Flip Moments
 
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE
Shared care - https://www.wessexlmcs.com/guidance/understanding-shared-care-nhs-right-to-choose-and-private-providers/
Right to choose - https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/
CAMHS - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/
Oliver McGowan training - https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/learning-disability/current-projects/oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-learning-disability-autism
FII (Fabricated and Induced Illness) - https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/fabricated-or-induced-illness/overview/
Neuroshambles: Medicating our children | Danielle Jata-Hall - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/medicating-our-children-danielle-jata-hall
Melatonin - https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/melatonin/
Neuroshambles: The Bumpy Road to Diagnosis | Tam - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/the-bumpy-road-to-diagnosis-tam
Murmuration Community, Bristol - https://www.murmurationcommunitytherapy.com/
Incredible Kids, Bristol - https://incrediblekids.org.uk/
 
CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
 
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
 

School: The Primary Years | Grace Lockrobin

If you’ve ever felt like Key Stage 2 at school was when it all got harder - not only for your neurodivergent child, but also for you as a parent - this is the episode for you. Mark is joined by philosophy educator and fellow Neuroshambler Grace Lockrobin for a cathartic look at the ages of 7-11, which is where the wheels can start to wobble more for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids.
Together, they unpack the pressures of conformity, the nightmare of homework and the heartbreak of parents evenings. From school trips and transitions to SATs and navigating playground politics, they shine a light on why this age can be so tough - and why the system often gets it wrong.
It’s warm, witty, and full of the kind of honesty that makes you feel just a little less alone when your child doesn’t quite fit the mould. 
If you’re searching for an autism parenting podcast or ADHD parenting podcast that actually reflects the messy, hilarious, heartbreaking truth of raising neurodivergent children, you're in the right place.
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Intro and meet the guest
03:30 - What’s changed since we last spoke
05:50 - Intro to topic of the week
23:00 - The challenges of the shift in KS2 teaching style
10:00 - Misguided attempts to get them to "catch up"
13:00 - The role that transitions play in these difficulties
22:15 - Social cliques and friendship dynamics
35:15 - Bullying
43:00 - The difficulty of parents’ evenings
57:15 - Homework nightmares
1:00:40 - The unhelpful pressure of SATs
1:06:25 - School trips
1:12:10 - It's not all rubbish: looking at the positives
1:24:15 - Neurodiversity Champions
1:27:45 - Tiny Epic Wins
1:30:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments
1:33:50 - Wrap-up and where to find us
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
SATs - https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sats/
Karate Zone - https://karatezone.com/
PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
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CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
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CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
 
 

How autistic is your child? | Kieran Rose

What do we mean when we describe someone as “severely autistic”? Why is it so hard to explain what being autistic actually means? And how useful (or harmful) are terms like high-functioning, low-functioning, profound autism, or even Asperger’s?
Kieran Rose returns for a deep dive into the language we use to describe autism - and why it often does more harm than good. He and Mark explore the flaws in functioning labels, the dangers of ranking autistic traits, and how trying to quantify someone’s autism usually misses the point.
In a wide-ranging and compassionate chat, Mark and Kieran explore how complex, deeply personal and often contradictory this topic is - both for parents and for autistic people themselves. What starts as a provocative question ends up as a fascinating conversation about diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, identity, education, eugenics, power, and prejudice.
A powerful, enlightening and empowering episode - a must-listen for anyone parenting autistic kids who’s ever felt under pressure to explain, justify or minimise their child’s neurodivergence.
 
📍 CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Intro: Meet Kieran Rose
04:30 - Life in a Fully Neurodivergent Household
08:00 - Topic of the Week: How Autistic Is Your Child?
12:00 - Labels, Bias, and the Stigma Around Autism
18:00 - High vs Low Functioning: Where It Comes From
23:00 - What Even Is Autism?
28:30 - The Flawed Legacy of Asperger’s
35:00 - Identity vs Diagnosis
42:00 - DSM-5 Levels of Autism: Why They Don’t Work
49:00 - Profound Autism and The New York Times Article
55:00 - A Counterpoint: The Voices We Don’t Hear
1:00:00 - Co-occurring Conditions and the Real Source of Needs
1:07:00 - Clinical Labels vs Lived Experience
1:14:00 - Mark’s Imposter Syndrome as an Autism Parent
1:18:00 - What’s the Alternative?
1:23:00 - Final Thoughts: Humanising, Not Diagnosing
1:27:00 - Neurodiversity Champions
1:33:00 - Tiny Epic Wins
1:39:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments
1:43:00 - Wrap-up & Where to Find Us
🔗 LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Kieran Rose website - https://theautisticadvocate.com/
Eugenics - https://www.newscientist.com/definition/eugenics/
Asperger Syndrome - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism/the-history-of-autism/asperger-syndrome
Hans Asperger - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Asperger
Lorna Wing - https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/lorna-wing-an-autism-hero
DSM-5 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-5
PDF Download of DSM-5 - https://ia800707.us.archive.org/15/items/info_munsha_DSM5/DSM-5.pdf
New York Times article: The Autism Spectrum Is Too Broad - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/opinion/autism-diagnosis-category-stigma.html
Greta Thunberg - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49918719
What is monotropism? - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism
Ehlers Danlos Syndromes - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndromes/
Communication First - https://communicationfirst.org/
Autism Central - https://www.autismcentral.org.uk/
Kieran Rose Animated Guide to Monotropism - https://youtu.be/qUFDAevkd3E?si=diwlbe4AHRcxfjQF
Kieran Rose Animated Guide to The Double Empathy Problem - https://youtu.be/qpXwYD9bGyU?si=7bnGR2UsrCgLa_hL
 
KIERAN'S HOMEWORK
Kieran Rose Blog: Autism, it’s Labels and the Language of Pathologising Rhetoric - https://theautisticadvocate.com/autism-its-labels-and-the-language-of-pathologising-rhetoric/
Sunday Times article: Extra time in exams ‘unhealthy’ for children with ADHD and autism - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/extra-time-exams-unhealthy-children-adhd-autism-k820s56zh
TES magazine article: Sami Timimi: Why ‘invented’ SEND labels are disabling pupils - https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/sami-timimi-interview-problems-with-send-diagnosis-adhd-autism
Yahoo News: Badenoch says motability cars not for people with ADHD - https://uk.news.yahoo.com/badenoch-motability-cars-not-people-135341300.html?guccounter=1
📣 CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
🎙️ CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Kids refusing medical help | Michelle Parton

Why won’t our neurodivergent kids just take the bloody Calpol? Michelle Parton joins mark to explore the baffling and emotionally loaded issue of kids who resist medical help.
Mark and Michelle swap tales of their kids’ iron-willed resistance to all forms of treatment - even when they’re clearly in pain, bleeding, or itching uncontrollably. Together, they explore the many reasons this might be happening - from sensory issues and PDA to past trauma, masking, and a fundamental lack of trust in strangers in latex gloves.
It’s funny, cathartic, at times heartbreaking - definitely one for any parent of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids who have ever tried (and failed) to put a plaster on their dysregulated child before they bleed out!
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 – Intro & Meet the Guest: Michelle Parton
03:00 – Topic of the Week: Refusing Medical Help
08:00 – Kids hiding injuries
13:00 – Dysregulation about the prospect of going to the doctor
17:30 – Trust issues with medical professionals
23:00 – Lyme disease and the unholy nightmare of blood tests
29:00 – Trying to administer medication
35:00 – The impact of sensory overwhelm: Plasters, creams & the taste of medication
42:00 – The added complication with PDA kids
47:00 – The role that masking might play
54:00 – How alexithymia and interoception can influence things
59:00 – The impact of past traumatic experiences
1:04:00 – The positives
1:06:00 – Neurodiversity Champions
1:10:00 – Tiny Epic Wins
1:14:00 – “What the Flip?” moments
1:18:00 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Us
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Lyme Disease - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/
Alexithymia - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4ky5qgrlpo
Interoception - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/interoception-wellbeing
Beyond Creative Education - https://www.beyondcreativeeducation.org.uk/
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CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
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CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
 

Difficulty with transitions - Part 2 | Pete Wharmby

In part two of this deep dive into transitions, Mark reunites with Pete Wharmby to look at more reasons they can cause such a monumental challenge for autistic, ADHD and PDA kids (and adults).
From difficulties pulling our kids away from screen-time and replacing a broken fridge, to the regular flashpoint of brushing teeth, Mark and Pete share real-life strategies that can make these transitions more manageable - or at the very least a bit more fun.
Pete shares what he wishes more teachers understood, and Mark reflects on how small wins in transition can change the whole feel of a day.
Essential for any parent of neurodivergent kids who has ever said “we need to leave now”… and regretted it instantly.
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Welcome back and reintroducing Pete Wharmby
02:30 - Recap of what we covered in episode 45 and why transitions affect all neurodivergent kids
06:10 - Screen time, flow states and Pete's oil tanker analogy
16:45 - The role that monotropism plays in transitions
27:00 - Strategies: lead-In Times, choice and routines
36:40 - Understanding how PDA affects transitions and why it’s not just defiance
46:00 - Strategies for control-driven transitions (e.g. declarative language)
55:30 - Difficulty throwing stuff away: fridges, crocs and clinging to familiarity
1:04:30 - Schools as the perfect storm of transitional triggers
1:15:20 - The positives
1:18:00 - Neurodiversity Champions
1:20:40 - Tiny Epic Wins
1:23:15 - "What the flip?" moments
1:26:00 - Wrap-up and thanks
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Pete Wharmby website - https://petewharmby.com/
Untypical by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/8gGK6v4
What I Want to Talk About, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/6tY0kZQ
What is monotropism? - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism
Last One Laughing - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LOL:_Last_One_Laughing_UK
Ausome Training, Cothu course - https://ausometraining.com/cothu-with-pete-wharmby
Declarative language - https://lifeskillsadvocate.com/blog/declarative-language-for-neurodivergent-communicators/
Anna Freud - https://www.annafreud.org/
Georgia Pavlopoulou (LinkedIn) - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-georgia-pavlopoulou-651a042a
Neuro Nook Storytime - https://www.neuronookstorytime.com/
Bedknobs and Broomsticks - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bedknobs_and_Broomsticks
Silksong - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hollow_Knight:_Silksong
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CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
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CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay

Difficulty with transitions - Part 1 | Pete Wharmby

This episode of Neuroshambles, will resonate will all parents of neurodivergent kids, as Mark discusses difficulties with transition with the wonderful autism advocate, Pete Wharmby. Together, they delve into the messy, stressful, and often misunderstood world of transitions – from seemingly small everyday routines to major life changes.
Whether it’s leaving the house, going into school, or prying them away from screen time, transitions can often be a sensory, emotional and logistical nightmare for parents of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids. But why exactly are they so hard – and what can we do to ease the load?
In part one if this two part special, they discuss the neurological and emotional roots of transition difficulties, and how demand avoidance, anxiety and executive dysfunction play a role.
This is an insightful, heartfelt, and cathartic episode full of insight, compassion and practical suggestions, as well as a much-needed sense of solidarity for anyone who’s ever dreaded their kids being invited to a birthday party.
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 – Intro and why this is only part one
03:30 – Meet the guest: Pete Wharmby
12:00 – Transitions: What they are and why they’re so difficult
19:00 – Fear of the unknown
25:00 – Why birthday parties can be so anxiety-inducing
32:00 – Strategies for smoother transitions to the unknown
40:00 – School and powerlessness
48:00 – Holidays, Google Earth and visual planning
55:00 – Fear of the Known: Why school can feel like a punishment
1:03:00 – Processing struggles and instruction overload
1:13:00 – Fixable triggers and simple (free) accommodations
1:20:00 – The double-edged sword of hyperfocus
1:24:00 – Neurodiversity Champion: Fight For Ordinary
1:26:30 – Tiny Epic Wins
1:29:00 – What the Flip? Moments
1:33:00 – Wrap-up and tease for part 2
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION:
Pete Wharmby website - https://petewharmby.com/
Untypical by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/8gGK6v4
What I Want to Talk About, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/6tY0kZQ
Fight for Ordinary - https://disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk/fight-for-ordinary/
Google Maps Street View - https://www.google.com/streetview/
Google Earth - https://earth.google.com/web/
Ordnance Survey Maps - https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/
Albion In The Community - https://bhafcfoundation.org.uk/
Monotropism and Autism Theory - https://monotropism.org/
Interoception - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/interoception-wellbeing
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CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com
📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com
📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles
🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod
📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles
🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
—
CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

Managing the work/shambles balance | Mark Holborow

How do you hold down a job when your home life is full-on chaos? Mark is joined by fellow dad Mark Holborow to take a refreshingly honest look at the difficulties of holding down a job, while raising neurodivergent kids and trying (often unsuccessfully) to keep those two worlds from colliding..
They explore the dubious benefits of working from home, burnout, discrimination, and what happens when employers don’t understand - or care - about your home life.
Mark Holborrow shares his career journey and how he’s built boundaries that actually work. Mark Allen opens up about the guilt of trying to “do it all”.
It’s a cathartic, relatable deep dive into the realities of navigating employment when your home life is anything but typical - with plenty of laughs, rants, and candid talk about autism, ADHD, PDA and neurodivergent parenting.
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 – Intro & Listener Survey Feedback05:30 – Meet the Guest: Mark Holborough10:00 – The Challenges of working parents16:30 – Working from Home with neurodifferent Kids25:00 – Background chaos, interruptions and client calls33:00 – The emotional guilt of being the breadwinner40:00 – Supporting the non-working Parent53:00 – How open can you be at work?1:00:00 – Hiding a child at work: Real life stories1:07:00 – Why parents of neuro-exceptional kids make great employees1:13:00 – The economic cost of caring1:26:00 – The Positives1:29:00 – Neurodiversity Champions1:33:00 – Tiny Epic Wins1:37:00 – What the Flip? Moments1:41:00 – Wrap-up and thanks
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Neuroshambles Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/2wFVupe4HumCYym6A
LSE Report – The Economic Case for Prioritising Autism in Policy and Reform: http://lse.ac.uk/cpec/assets/documents/Autismeconomics.pdf
The Sunflower Alliance – raising awareness of hidden disabilities: https://hdsunflower.com/
BUPA Medical Insurance: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health/health-insurance-ppc-b 
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CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
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CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com
 

Swearing | Heidi Mavir

Why do so many neurodivergent kids swear - loudly, creatively and often at the worst possible moment? Heidi Mavir returns for a lively and cathartic deep dive into swearing.
From F-bombs on the trampoline to grandparent-safe alternatives, they explore how language, context, and neurodivergent wiring all shape how (and why) our kids swear.
They explore the relationship between swearing and regulation, impulse control, PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), sensory overload, and social context. Heidi shares her take on separating language from intent, and Mark talks about learning when it's best to simply look the other way.
Whether you’re a proudly sweary household or struggling to police your neurodivergent child's potty-mouth moments, this insightful autism parenting podcast episode is packed with nuance, honesty, and a surprising amount of empathy - even for those who hate bad language.
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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):
00:00 - Welcome Back & Meet the Guest: Heidi Mavir03:00 - School Turbulence, Burnout & Finding Your Flow08:00 - Why Swearing Is This Week’s Topic12:00 - What Is a Swear Word Anyway?18:00 - Swearing, Context & Cultural Taboos25:00 - Family Rules: “Nana Swears” vs “F-Bombs at Home”33:00 - Parenting Through Swearing: Where Do You Draw the Line?41:00 - PDA, Equalising Behaviour & Rage Rooms50:00 - When the Swears Are Aimed at You58:00 - Swearing as a Self-Regulation Strategy1:03:00 - Should We Be Policing Swearing at All?1:12:00 - Swearing and Impulse Control in ADHD1:17:00 - Teaching Context Without Policing Expression1:25:00 - Workarounds, Wordplay & Sweary Shenanigans1:30:00 – Tiny Epic Wins1:35:00 – What the Flip? Moments1:40:00 - Wrap-Up & Where to Find Heidi
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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Heidi Mavir website - https://www.heidimavir.com/
Heidi’s “Your child is not broken” book - https://amzn.eu/d/cjoih9W
Eliza Fricker “Can’t not won’t” book - https://amzn.eu/d/91m7voc
PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/what-is-pda/
“F*ck you I won’t do what you tell me”, song lyric by Rage Against The Machine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ
Lindsay McGlone - https://www.instagram.com/rollinwithlindsay_/
Reclaimed Means Business - https://lindsaymcglone.kartra.com/page/RMB2025
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CONTACT US
🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles
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CREDITS
🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com