Neurodivergent Pulse

Laetitia Andrac

Neurodivergent Pulse is a heartfelt, practical podcast for parents, allies, and neurodivergent adults. Hosted by Laetitia (founder of Understanding Zoe, the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step) with guest pulse checks from her daughter Zoe. Each 20–30 min episode features expert guests with lived experience, sharing honest stories and actionable insights for real life.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    24: Unschooling Neurodivergent Kids: Trusting curiosity over curriculum with Melissa Crockett-Joyoue

    What if learning didn’t have to follow a curriculum? In this deeply honest and thought-provoking conversation, Laetitia is joined by Melissa, founder of Weave ND, an online community supporting neurodivergent unschooling families around the world. Melissa shares the personal story that led her family to unschooling — a journey that began with school refusal, trauma, and a deep realisation that traditional schooling wasn’t supporting her neurodivergent child’s wellbeing. Together, they explore what unschooling actually means, how learning can emerge through everyday life and special interests, and why regulation and connection are the true foundations of learning. This episode offers a powerful invitation to rethink education not as something delivered through rigid systems, but as something woven into life, curiosity and relationships. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 What unschooling really means (and why it’s not “doing nothing”) 🧠 Why regulation and nervous system safety are essential for learning 🧠 The hidden emotional toll of forcing neurodivergent kids into unsuitable environments 🧠 How special interests can become powerful gateways to learning 🧠 Why unschooling often requires parents to do their own healing and unlearning 🧠 The importance of community support for neurodivergent parents navigating alternative education 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today  ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Melissa lives in Aotearoa (New Zealand), is Māori, AuDHD, and the mama of two unschooled neurodivergent children. Her own journey into unschooling began through supporting her children’s needs and discovering that traditional schooling wasn’t providing the safety, flexibility and regulation they required to thrive. Through that experience, Melissa developed a deep passion for helping other families on similar paths. She is the founder of Weave ND, an international online membership community supporting neurodivergent unschooling families. Her work focuses particularly on supporting neurodivergent parents and Indigenous families navigating alternative education pathways. Melissa’s work centres on connection, community, and empowering families to trust their children’s natural curiosity and capacity to learn. 💻 Weave ND Community: https://weave-community.mn.co/ 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weave_nd | https://www.instagram.com/mama.weaves 🌍 The Unschooling Summit: https://www.theunschoolingsummit.org/a/2148243842/FdCazbjk 📸 Summit Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theunschoolingsummit 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1CV2ETKab7/?mibextid=wwXIfr ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.  She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.  Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.  Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

    34 min
  2. 2 MAR

    23: The art of belonging and ADHD with Madeleine Jaine Lobsey

    What if ADHD wasn’t about deficit… but about innovation? In this energising and deeply affirming conversation, Laetitia is joined by Madeleine Jaine Lobsey, transformational leader, creative strategist, autistic/ADHD founder of Wondiverse, and host of Neurodelight. Together, they unpack the misconceptions around ADHD (especially in women), the hidden cost of masking, and the profound power of creativity and play as tools for regulation and belonging. Madeleine shares her late diagnosis journey at 49, the grief and empowerment that followed, and how embracing her neurodivergence unlocked a new level of leadership, advocacy and community design. This episode is a powerful reminder: when you allow people to be, magic happens. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 ADHD is fundamentally about regulation - not laziness or lack of focus 🧠 How creativity and play create safe spaces for self-expression 🧠 The grief and empowerment of late diagnosis 🧠 Why divergent thinking drives innovation 🧠 Choice and control as foundations for co-regulation at home 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today  ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Madeleine Jaine Lobsey is a sought-after leader in transformational leadership, with over 20 years’ experience empowering individuals and organisations to create bold impact. She has delivered coaching, mentoring and facilitation programs across Australia, New Zealand, South Korea and globally — working with Members of Federal Parliament, senior educators, Olympians, not-for-profit founders and leaders in science, business and the arts. Since 2020, Madeleine has immersed herself in the disability and not-for-profit sector, becoming a respected voice in neurodivergence, inclusion and community design. In 2022, she joined The A List, a national organisation supporting autistic and neurodivergent young people. As General Manager, she formed major partnerships — including LEGO Australia — and helped launch the groundbreaking Social Hubs for Teens program. In 2024, Madeleine founded Wondiverse, a neurodivergent-led social enterprise dedicated to creating a world where all neurotypes can work and play together. Through Wondiverse, she now leads the federally funded Create Space Arts Initiative in partnership with The A List and the Department of Social Services. Her leadership has earned national recognition, including: 🏆 Westfield Local Hero🏆 2024 Changemaker of the Year🏆 Dare Magazine’s Top 50 Australians Over 50 Madeleine is also the host of A Different Brilliant (Autism Spectrum Australia – ASPECT) and her own podcast Neurodelight. She first imagined “Wondiverse” at age eight as an imaginary business rooted in wonder and possibility. Today, that childhood vision has evolved into a thriving social enterprise grounded in joy, belonging and transformation. Madeleine is proudly autistic/ADHD and parents neurodivergent children. Her lived experience and fierce commitment to inclusion shape every aspect of her work. 💻 Website: https://wondiverse.com.au 📸 Instagram: @wondiverse ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.  She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.  Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.  Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

    25 min
  3. 23 FEB

    22: Wilderness within and ADHD with Kaya Lyons

    What if “wild” wasn’t something to tame… but something to understand? In this grounded and expansive conversation, Laetitia is joined by Kaya, trauma-sensitive Occupational Therapist, author, speaker and founder of Active OT For Kids and Camp Reset. Together, they explore the concept of The Wilderness Within - a powerful metaphor for understanding our nervous system, our protective responses, and the untamed, free parts of ourselves often labelled as “too much”. Kaya shares how ADHD, big emotions and so-called “behaviours” are not problems to fix but signals to understand. Through the lens of polyvagal theory, play, movement and connection to nature, this episode invites you to meet yourself (and your child) with curiosity instead of judgement. This is a conversation about safety, embodiment and reclaiming the wild in a world that often asks us to shrink. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why “wild” can be a strength - not a flaw 🧠 The difference between protection and behaviour 🧠 How the nervous system shifts between safety and survival 🧠 Why curiosity dissolves judgement 🧠 Practical ways to notice early cues in your body before overwhelm escalates 🧠 How 30 seconds of presence can reset your nervous system 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today  ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Kaya Lyons has long recognised that resilience is rooted in a child's ability to connect inwardly. As a specialist in childhood trauma, she has witnessed how adversity can unsettle regulation and erode a sense of security. Through guiding thousands of children and families, Kaya has observed the healing potential of cultivating inner awareness as both a stabilising and empowering skill. Her insights are informed by both her professional experience and her role as a loving mother of three, walking alongside her own children through life’s challenges. This dual perspective inspires her to create playful, practical resources that foster connection, offering children and caregivers alike the opportunity to feel acknowledged, supported, and strengthened. 💻 Website: https://activeot4kids.com/ 📸 Instagram: @kayaflyons 📘 The Wilderness Within: https://activeot4kids.com/the-wilderness-within/ 📚 Order via Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/wilderness-within-childrens-regulation-resilience/dp/1764430409 ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.  She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.  Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.  Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

    25 min
  4. 16 FEB

    21: ADHD Mornings: Why they feel impossible and what helps with Johanna Badenhorst

    What does a “successful” morning look like when you’re neurodivergent? In this real, funny and deeply resonant episode, Laetitia is joined by Johanna Badenhorst, Clinical Psychologist, ADHD mentor and host of the ADHD Her Way podcast, for a raw conversation about the everyday chaos that comes with ADHD mornings and how to meet them with more self-compassion and less shame. Together, they unpack the visible and invisible demands that shape the start of our days from executive dysfunction and transitions to sensory overload and morning meltdowns. Johanna shares personal stories (including the magic of a well-timed coffee and a cuddly puppy) and offers simple, sustainable strategies that honour our nervous systems. Whether you're a parent, practitioner or just trying to get out the door in one piece, this episode is full of wisdom and warmth for anyone navigating mornings with a neurodivergent brain. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why mornings are so hard for ADHDers and what’s really going on 🧠 The power of predictability and visual tools 🧠 How to reduce transition stress for kids and adults 🧠 What happens when shame enters the chat and how to respond with compassion 🧠 Little rituals that can reset your nervous system and your day 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today  ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Johanna Badenhorst is a Clinical Psychologist, ADHD expert, business mentor, mum of two, and host of the ADHD Her Way podcast – a fun but informative show designed to support overwhelmed mums and busy entrepreneurs. With over a decade of experience in both government and private practice, Johanna brings a rare combination of clinical insight, lived experience and community-building to everything she does. Following her own late ADHD diagnosis after becoming a mum, Johanna became passionate about helping other neurodivergent women and parents thrive – not just survive. Her work now focuses on helping ambitious women drop the mask and build a life and business that actually works for them. 💻 Website: www.johannabadenhorst.com 🎧 Podcast: ADHD Her Way ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.  She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.  Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.  Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

    29 min
  5. 9 FEB

    20: What is ARFID and why a word shift may be needed with Natasha Lane

    What if feeding differences weren’t seen as problems, but as natural expressions of neurodivergence? In this episode, Laetitia is joined by Natasha Lane, a proudly autistic ADHDer, dietitian, feeding therapist, parent and grandparent whose lived experience deeply informs her work. Through her practice, Eating and Feeding, Natasha supports neurodivergent families navigating feeding challenges, food shame, and neuronormative expectations around eating. Together, they explore what it means to support neurodivergent children (and their families) with food, without judgment or pressure to “fix” anything. Natasha shares her passionate belief that food differences are not inherently disordered and that naming the harm caused by the systems around us is a key part of healing. Whether you're a parent, educator or practitioner, this episode is full of gentle reframes, practical wisdom, and honest insights that challenge outdated narratives and leave space for every person to be fully themselves. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 How neurodivergent eating is often misunderstood 🧠 Why we need to be careful with labels, especially for kids 🧠 Rethinking what a “balanced” plate looks like 🧠 Practical ways to advocate for neurodivergent needs at school and beyond 🧠 Why supporting a child’s eating often starts with healing the parent’s own story 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today  ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Natasha Lane is an autistic ADHDer, dietitian, feeding therapist, parent, and grandparent. Her own experiences with food and eating were often misunderstood, and like many of the young people and families she now supports, she was labelled “fussy,” “quirky,” or “too hard” when in reality, she was autistic. That lived experience is the heart of her practice, Eating and Feeding. Natasha believes in naming the harm caused by neuronormative expectations, challenging the pressure to conform, and creating space where people can truly be themselves. She works with young people who are tired of being treated like a problem to fix, and with parents who are exhausted by systems that were never built for neurodivergent families. Her home is her sanctuary—alive with the gentle chaos of family life, two little dogs underfoot and two curious cats watching it all unfold. It’s this warmth, honesty, and lived experience that makes her voice such a powerful guide for families. 💻 Website: eatingandfeeding.com.au 📸 Instagram: @eating.and.feeding ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.  She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.  Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.  Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

    28 min
  6. 2 FEB

    19: Building relationships with neurodivergent young people with Isobel Ziatas

    How do we build authentic, lasting relationships with neurodivergent young people, especially when traditional approaches fall short? In this deeply thoughtful episode, Laetitia is joined by psychologist and connection advocate Isobel Ziatas, whose work at The Kidd Clinic centres on truly seeing, hearing, and respecting young people on their own terms. Together, they unpack how connection grows not from quick tricks or surface-level rapport but from curiosity, consistency and deep attunement. Isobel brings nuance to what “trust” really means, how to spot signs of safety beyond words, and the subtle magic of small, sensory-aligned moments. From the PACE and NEST frameworks to memes, fidgets and “most generous interpretations”, this episode is a masterclass in what it means to relate without demand and co-create space that honours difference. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why trust isn’t a checkbox, and how safety shows up differently for every young person 🧠 The PACE approach: Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy 🧠 What to do when we get it wrong: scripts and strategies for repair 🧠 “Most generous interpretation” – a simple mantra for keeping curiosity alive 🧠 Sensory regulation and how fidgets become portals to connection 🧠 How to honour communication preferences, even if it means dropping the “therapy voice” 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today  ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Isobel is a Registered Psychologist and presenter at The Kidd Clinic. She works from a neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-based lens, supporting neurodivergent young people and their families. Her work centres on nervous system safety, connection, and understanding behaviour through compassion rather than compliance. 🖥️ Website: www.kiddclinic.com.au 📘 PACE Framework: ddpnetwork.org/about-ddp/meant-pace 🛠️ NEST Approach: spectrumgaming.net/the-nest-approach 📚 Most Generous Interpretation - Dr Becky Kennedy: Good Inside (book) 📖 Related blog posts: • Building Relationships • Ways We Connect 📄 Kidd Clinic Resource: Types of Connection ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.  She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.  Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.  Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

    31 min
  7. 12 JAN

    18: Play is learning: How curiosity helps neurodivergent kids thrive with Angie Casella and Kaycee Larney

    What if play was never just a break from learning but the learning itself?  In this deeply insightful episode, Laetitia speaks with Angie and Kaycee, the sister duo behind Curious Me, an award-winning, community-led organisation dedicated to creating inclusive, outdoor play spaces for neurodivergent children. Together, they explore the power of curiosity-led, unstructured play and why messy, chaotic, and even “non-functional” play is essential for learning, regulation, and connection.  From rough-and-tumble to special interests, this episode busts myths about what play should look like and makes space for what it actually is: a vital, validating part of every child’s development. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or therapist, this episode is your permission slip to reimagine play, trust your child’s process, and let go of outdated adult agendas. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why real play is self-directed, freely chosen and intrinsically motivated 🧠 How neurodivergent children process trauma, emotions, and sensory needs through play 🧠 What “risky play” teaches children about boundaries, safety and resilience 🧠 Why special interest play (like lining cars) is meaningful and doesn’t need to be redirected 🧠 How adults can reflect on their own biases around play, and make space for children to lead 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today  ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Angie & Kaycee are the co-founders of Curious Me, an award-winning, community-focused organisation all about play. They create spaces where children explore and connect through curiosity-led, outdoor play that celebrates individuality and neurodiversity. Grounded in children’s rights, playwork, and play advocacy, Curious Me is driven by the belief that play is real and every child belongs. Through their powerful mix of lived experience and educational expertise, Angie and Kaycee are helping adults and children reclaim the joy and purpose of unstructured, inclusive play. 💻 Website: www.curiousme.com.au 📸 Instagram: @_curiousme 📘 Facebook: Curious Me ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.  She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.  Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.  Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

    35 min
  8. 5 JAN

    17: Raising Neurodivergent kiddos, embracing the chaos with Tracey Jewel

    What if your child didn’t need fixing and neither did you? In this beautifully candid episode, Laetitia is joined by Tracey Jewel, AuDHD mum, carer, and founder of Inclusive Mamas Club. Together, they explore the daily chaos, grief, and magic that come with raising neurodivergent children and how flipping the script from “doing it right” to radical acceptance can change everything. Tracey shares her lived experience navigating life with her son Frankie, and the moment she realised all the tools and resources in the world don’t matter if we’re not resourcing ourselves. She shares how embracing chaos doesn’t mean giving up; it means showing up. For our kids. For ourselves. For the micro-moments of joy in between. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why chaos is part of the neurodivergent parenting landscape, and why that’s okay. 🧠 Letting go of “perfect routines” and mainstream parenting books. 🧠 Why sensory tools shouldn’t just be for our kids. 🧠 Grief, joy and the power of noticing micro moments. 🧠 How to reconnect to your inner child and create new norms that fit your family. 🧠 What radical acceptance actually looks like in daily life. 💛 Love what you heard? Subscribe, share with your care village, and leave us a review so more families can find this support. 🔗 Try Understanding Zoe for free today  ABOUT THE GUEST 👇 Tracey Jewel is an AuDHD mum and carer to her son, Frankie. With over 15 years of experience in the disability space and a postgraduate qualification in Social Impact, Tracey brings deep lived and professional insight into how neurodivergent families are supported—and often overlooked. She is the founder of Inclusive Mamas Club, a not-for-profit peer community for mums and carers of neurodivergent children. Through storytelling, resources, and safe-space connection, Tracey is helping caregivers feel less alone and more empowered to rewrite the rulebook and reclaim joy in the everyday. 💻 Website: www.inclusivemamasclub.com 💛 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inclusivemamasclub/  ABOUT THE HOST 👇 Laetitia Andrac (Autistic & ADHDer) is an award-winning entrepreneur, international speaker, and podcast host.  She is the bestselling author of Light It: How to Trust Your Intuition and Build a Thriving Business. With over 15 years of experience in consulting, strategy, and innovation, Laetitia has worked with industry leaders like Deloitte and Telstra.  Inspired by my journey as a neurodivergent parent, she co-founded Understanding Zoe, an AI-driven solution dedicated to supporting caregivers of neurodivergent children.  Her passion is creating a more neuroinclusive world, where everyone can thrive—whether in their homes, communities, or workplaces.

    27 min

About

Neurodivergent Pulse is a heartfelt, practical podcast for parents, allies, and neurodivergent adults. Hosted by Laetitia (founder of Understanding Zoe, the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step) with guest pulse checks from her daughter Zoe. Each 20–30 min episode features expert guests with lived experience, sharing honest stories and actionable insights for real life.