The Unfinished Idea | Autism Spectrum, ADHD, AUDHD, Neurodiverse parent

The Unfinished Idea | Autism Spectrum, ADHD, AUDHD, Neurodiverse parent

What’s it really like parenting a child with ADHD and autism? How can parents, teachers, and communities better support neurodivergent children? How do autistic and ADHD individuals experience the world? Each week, we explore these questions with practical strategies, emotional insight, and real stories. I’m Greer — a mum of two boys (and two dogs!) raising a child with special educational needs (SEN) alongside my husband. Our daily life looks different from the norm, but it’s full of love, advocacy, and growth. I started this podcast to create a space for parents of neurodivergent kids, educators, and allies to learn, connect, and build understanding together. You’ll hear parenting tips, advocacy guidance, sensory strategies, and personal reflections that shine a light on both the joys and challenges of neurodivergent parenting. Through heartfelt solo episodes and guest interviews, we’ll talk about EHCP or IEP processes, school support, emotional regulation, and the big feelings that come with raising ND kids. Whether you’re here as a parent of an autistic or ADHD child, a late-diagnosed adult, a teacher seeking insight, or someone wanting to understand the neurodivergent world, this podcast is your space to grow, connect, and know you’re not alone. Welcome to The Unfinished Idea — a podcast all about parenting, autism, ADHD, and life in a neurodivergent family. Here, we open up honest conversations about neurodiversity, raising neurodivergent children, and navigating the everyday realities of SEN parenting.

Episodes

November 6, 2025 25 mins
What happens when the professional helping others with ADHD realizes… she has it too? After years of supporting ADHDers as a psychologist, Dr. Janina Maschke experienced her own “aha” moment — a late ADHD diagnosis that changed everything. In this powerful and eye-opening episode, Greer sits down with Dr. Janina Maschke — psychologist, ADHD coach, researcher, and author of A Feminist Guide to ADHD. Together, they unpack how ADHD o...
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What happens when two Greers sit down to talk about autism, parenting, and the truth about gut health? Between misinformation online and the pressure parents face to “do it all,” this conversation brings clarity, compassion, and science back into focus. 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 rea...
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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? This conversation is raw, real, and filled with laughter — a masterclass in resilience, advocacy, and finding joy in the chaos of parenting neurodivergent kids. In this powerful episode, Greer is joined by Brittney and Tash from the Mom’s Talk Autism podcast — two brilliant, hila...
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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? While the world often focuses on parents and diagnoses, siblings live a story that’s rarely told — one of deep love, quiet resilience, and unspoken understanding. In this heartfelt conversation, Greer sits down with Ruby, a young woman whose life has been beautifully shaped ...
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What if dining out with your autistic child didn’t feel stressful — but safe, supported, and even joyful? In Myrtle Beach, that dream is already a reality. Thanks to one mom’s advocacy, this coastal city has become a national model for autism-friendly dining and travel. 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...
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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 epis...
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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. H...
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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 e...
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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 resea...
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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 compas...
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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 s...
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CHECK OUT UNFINISHED RESOURCES & MERCH! What if even the simplest request—like “put on your shoes”—triggered a fight-or-flight response? For families raising a child with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), this is everyday reality. Misunderstood, under-researched, and often dismissed, PDA presents unique challenges for both children and parents navigating a system that doesn’t always recognize it. Meet Jessie Townz, a mom rais...
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What if everything you thought was “just your personality” turned out to be ADHD? For many late-diagnosed adults, that lightbulb moment brings both relief and grief. Laurie’s story shines a light on what it means to navigate identity, unmasking, and daily life with ADHD in a world that often misunderstands neurodivergence. Meet Laurie Faulkner, a content creator and advocate who was diagnosed with ADHD at 23 after years of feeling...
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What happens when a system designed to support children with additional needs fails them instead? Across the UK, families are facing rejected applications, endless bureaucracy, and years of waiting for vital services. Behind the statistics are real children, real parents, and stories of resilience and determination. Today we dive into the fight for fair education and support for neurodivergent children. This week, Greer speaks wit...
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Did you know that children with ADHD often hear over 20,000 corrective messages by the age of 10? Imagine the weight of that shame and self-doubt as they enter the already turbulent teenage years. For parents raising neurodivergent teens, the shift from childhood to adolescence can feel like everything changes overnight. But you’re not alone in this. In this episode, I sit down with Jheri South, mom of seven neurodivergent kids, A...
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Sleep Isn’t a Luxury—It’s a LifelineIf you’re raising or supporting a neurodivergent child, you already know how tough bedtime can be. Meltdowns, 2 AM wake-ups, and total bedtime resistance are all too common. But what if there were real, gentle strategies that actually worked? In this episode, I speak with Lindsey Clark, sleep coach and neurodivergent parenting specialist, about why ND kids and adults often struggle with sleep—an...
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Getting the Diagnosis Is Just the BeginningWhat happens after the diagnosis? For so many late-diagnosed adults—especially those with ADHD or autism—it sparks a whole journey of unmasking, grieving, relearning, and reclaiming identity.In this episode, Hayley Honeyman shares her powerful story of being diagnosed with ADHD and autism in her early 20s, the internal resistance she felt at first, and how those diagnoses changed everythin...
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Why Time Feels So Hard (And What You Can Do About It)If you’ve ever said, “I just lost track of time” or felt totally frozen before a 2 PM meeting… you’re not alone.Time blindness, energy crashes, and planning overwhelm are part of the neurodivergent experience—especially for those with ADHD, autism, or PDA.But here’s the good news: there are practical tools that actually work for your brain. In this episode, we’re talking about ti...
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Why You Need to Know About ARFIDEver been told your child is “just a picky eater”? What if it’s something more?ARFID—Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder—is often misunderstood or completely missed, especially in neurodivergent kids. In this episode, we dive into what ARFID really is, how it shows up differently from regular picky eating, and how parents can get the right support without shame or blame. Meet Our Guest: Michel...
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What if small changes to your child's breakfast—or even their bath—could help with meltdowns, anxiety, sleep, or focus? Brain health is often overlooked in conversations about neurodivergence, but it might just be the missing piece you’ve been searching for.In this episode, we explore how everyday nutrition can powerfully support your neurodivergent child—and you too. Lucinda Miller is a naturopath, founder of NatureDoc, and auth...
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