Neuroshambles

In this episode, Mark takes a typically sideways look at the idea of hobbies – those wholesome after-school activities that see neurotypical kids flourish… but which, for many neurodivergent families, are either a logistical nightmare, a sensory minefield, or a fast track to public meltdown.

Joining him is the brilliant Nicole Bateman – podcast host (Conversations with a SEND Mum), former teacher, trainer, and founder of The Friend...

This week, Mark dives into the chaotic, absurd and quite often traumatic world of shopping with neurodivergent children. If you’ve ever emerged from a supermarket having to impulse buy paracetamol just to get you through the shop, then this one’s for you.

Joining Mark is the brilliant Helen Stuart – a mum of six (four of her own and two step-children - all diagnosed or suspected neurodivergent), home edu...

In this long-overdue episode, Mark is joined by the brilliant Helen Daniel, who is a qualified teacher, sensory mentor, public speaker and founder of Outside the Box Sensory, as they dig into the myriad challenges of early years education and what it means for our neurodivergent kids.

Helen brings a unique perspective not only as a parent of an autistic child (diagnosed autistic, suspected ADHD), but also as a late-diagnosed autist...

Have you ever felt like the odd one out in your own family? In this episode, Mark chats with Kirsty Hockenhull, a fellow self-diagnosed neurotypical in the midst of a chaotic, neurodivergent household. They discuss how it feels to be the lone neurotypical in a family teeming with autism, ADHD, and PDA - touching on everything from helping them navigate everyday social conventions to how to cope when your emotional needs are the onl...

This episode shines a light on the tricky subject of parental burnout, which isn't widely discussed in relation to the challenges of raising neurodifferent kids. Mark chats with the magnificent Liz Evans of "The Untypical OT Talks" podcast, who is a parent of a 14-year old boy (undiagnosed neurotypical) and a 13-year old boy (diagnosed autistic, with sensory processing difficulties and suspected Ehlers Danlos Syndrome...

In this special episode, Mark speaks to Tam, who is his former partner, current co-parent and long time friend. They discuss the long and arduous diagnosis journeys of their three neuro-exceptional kids, who each followed completely different routes in the UK - from NHS/CAMHS and private diagnosis, to the "Right to Choose" pathway.

This is a uniquely intimate and candid episode, where both parents reflec...

This episode takes a deep dive into why so many of our neurodivergent children feel the need to mask their autistic traits in social situations. Mark chats to fabulous guest, Pete Wharmby, who, as well as being a parent of a 10 year old girl (suspected autistic, but if anyone's going to be able to spot one, it's Pete), is also an author, a tutor, a conference speaker and a prolific advocate for the neurodivergent comm...

This episode deals with the familiar frustration of having to deal with the experts who are gatekeepers to the accommodations our neurodifferent kids need. From teachers, whose evidence you have to seek in order to get a diagnosis, to CAMHS specialists, GPs, occupational therapists and paediatricians - the list of professionals we need to interact with is dizzying.

Mark talks to wonderful guest Charlotte...

Mark talks to the tremendous Rebecca Huseyin, who is a blogger, trainer, neurodiversity advocate and Mum of a neurodifferent son (13, diagnosed autistic with a PDA profile and suspected ADHD). They swap tales of the ludicrous lengths they go to when trying to navigate personal hygiene tasks, such as cleaning hands, wiping faces, brushing teeth, having baths, cutting fingernails and wiping bums.

There are...

Mark welcomes back the phenomenal Heidi Mavir, who is an  author, a neurodivergent advocate, activist, public speaker and Mum of a neurodifferent son (20, diagnosed autistic with a tic disorder, as well as suspected dyslexia and  Ehlers Danlos Syndrome). They pick up on a topic they very briefly touched on in the previous episode they recorded, which is whether there's any truth to the commonly-held belief that autistics don't feel...

In response to several requests from listeners, this episode is all about the complexities of giving medication to our neurodivergent kids.

Mark speaks to the tremendous Danielle Jata-Hall, who is an author, award-winning blogger and a disability campaigner. She has three children (13, 11 and 8 - all diagnosed Autistic with a PDA profile, as well as a blend of ADHD, Anxiety and potential bipolar disorder).

Mark and Danielle discuss...

What was it like to raise an autistic child 30 years ago? Mark has a fascinating chat with Stephanie - his wonderful neighbour from over the road, who has a 31 year old son (diagnosed autistic with moderate learning difficulties, OCD and anxiety). 

They discuss how parents of autistic children were able to navigate the process of understanding how best to raise their kids, without access to the internet, social media or the breadth...

Mark welcomes back former guest "Belle", as they discuss the perils of transport. "Belle" has two neurodivergent children - a 9-year old girl (diagnosed autistic with sensory processing disorder and a PDA profile), and a 7-year old boy (diagnosed autistic with Tourette Syndrome and suspected ADHD). Alongside Mark's three neurodivergent kids (with a giddy blend of autism, ADHD, anxiety and PDA), they have a trove of transport-relate...

Mark chats to the magnificent Lisa Lloyd about the judgement they regularly receive from outsiders as parents of neurodivergent kids. Lisa has two children - an 11-year old boy (diagnosed autistic) and a 7-year old girl (diagnosed autistic, with a PDA profile) and, as a prominent content creator on social media (@asd_with_a_g_and_t), she is no stranger to being judged by people who don't have a neurodivergent child, much less a clu...

Mark discusses the innate human desire to "keep up with the Joneses" with returning guest Samuel Wilson, who is an author and parent of two children: an 8-year old daughter (on the autism pathway, with Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Visual Impairment and Sensory Processing Disorder) and a 5-year old son (suspected neurotypical).

They discuss how unhelpful that can be in the early days of your diagnosis journey and how liberating it is wh...

A potentially controversial episode, this one, where Mark chats to an old friend, Kate Ebbutt (Mum to 11 year-old neurotypical and 9-year old diagnosed ADHD/suspected autistic humans). They talk candidly about something they've both found themselves worrying about in their darker moments - am I raising an arsehole? They dissect the behaviours that qualify someone as being "an arsehole" and discuss to what extent they can be fairly ...

Mark chats to the inspirational Kieran Rose. As well as being autistic/ADHD himself, Kieran has three autistic/ADHD children (11, 14 and 15) as well as an autistic wife.

Kieran is an author, academic, trainer, consultant and all round font of knowledge on autism, so this episode contains some fascinating insights into the different communication styles between neurodivergents and neurotypicals when having a conversation.

As well as...

Kicking off season 2 of Neuroshambles, Mark chats to the wonderful Dee McMahon who also has three neurodivergent children: a 16-year old boy, (diagnosed Autistic/ADHD with anxiety disorder) a 13-year old girl (diagnosed ADHD with Dyslexia/Dyscalculia) and a 9-year old boy (diagnosed Autistic with ARFID).

Mark and Dee take a deep dive into the soul crushing nightmare of trying to feed their neurodifferent kids something remotely res...

In the final episode of this season, Mark chats with Claire Quigley Ward, who is an ADHD Coach and host of the All Aboard ADHD podcast. As well as being diagnosed ADHD herself, Claire has two neurodivergent children - a 13-year old boy (diagnosed ADHD) and an 8-year old girl (suspected ADHD with PDA traits). They discuss the absolute nightmare of trying to take a "normal" photo of our kids - from the challenges of getting them to s...