The PDA Parenting Podcast

Amy Kotha
  • 5.0 (10)
  • PARENTING

 A podcast for parents raising PDA autistic kids and teens. Real talk, personal stories, and practical tools to move from chaos to connection - hosted by parent coach Amy Kotha. 

  1. JAN 29

    PDA, Food Preoccupation, and Weight Gain: Nervous System Parenting for Neurodivergent Kids

    If you’re parenting a PDA child or teen and food feels scary right now, this episode is for you. Many PDA kids experience food preoccupation, binge-like eating, weight changes, or rigid food preferences - often as a response to stress, loss of autonomy, or nervous system overload. In this episode, we explore food and eating through a nervous-system-informed, non-diet-culture lens, so you can respond with clarity instead of fear. You’ll learn: Why binge-like eating and food rigidity are coping strategies, not character flawsHow restriction, pressure, and “fixing” increase threat for PDA nervous systemsWhy felt safety must come before behavior changeHow dopamine, sensory regulation, and stress relief intersect with eatingThe subtle ways diet culture fuels parental panic, even when we think we’ve rejected itThis episode is especially supportive for parents familiar with nervous system parenting and concepts from Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors: A Course for Parents by Robyn Gobbel (the base of my now-open PDA parent program!) but who feel activated, scared, or stuck when food and weight concerns arise. You don’t have to solve this today. Regulation, curiosity, and compassion matter much more than control or perfection. Scope & Safety Note This episode discusses eating patterns that can emerge as nervous system responses to stress and demand, particularly in PDA children and teens. This conversation is not intended to diagnose or rule out eating disorders and is not a substitute for medical, nutritional, or mental health care. Some children do experience eating disorders and require individualized, professional support. If you have concerns about your child’s physical safety, growth, or medical risk, please seek appropriate professional care alongside listening. Resources Mentioned Ellyn Satter Institute – Feeding relationships & division of responsibilityKatja Rowell, MD – Child feeding & body trustSOS Feeding Therapy – Nervous-system-informed feedingSTAR Institute – Feeding therapy & sensory integration Interested in deeper support?  Enrollment is opening next week for my 4-month nervous-system-informed program for parents of PDA children and teens. This is for parents who want practical guidance, regulation support, and low-demand strategies - without pressure or “fixing” their child. The core of this program is Raising Kids With Big, Baffling Behaviors: A Course for Parents (created by Robyn Gobbel and adapted for PDA by Amy Kotha). You can learn more and see if it feels like a fit by clicking HERE.

    20 min

  2. JAN 9

    Why Traditional Parenting Programs Don’t Work for PDA Families - and What I Do Instead

    Traditional parenting programs often don’t work for PDA families - not because parents aren’t trying hard enough, but because the structure itself creates pressure. In this episode, I share why I stopped offering a weekly parenting class and what flexible, PDA-informed support can look like instead. What if the problem isn’t you - or your child - but the structure of the support you’ve been offered? In this episode, I’m sharing why I stopped offering a traditional weekly parenting class for PDA families - and what I created instead. After listening closely to PDA parents, it became clear that rigid schedules, fixed weekly meetings, and pressure to “keep up” often make support inaccessible - even when parents deeply want help. Here, I talk about: Why traditional parenting programs often don’t work for PDA familiesHow nervous system safety impacts a parent’s ability to access supportWhy flexibility and autonomy matter just as much for parents as they do for kidsHow I redesigned my parent education and coaching program to fit real lifeWhat it means to look at the environment - not the child or parent - when something isn’t workingThe educational foundation of this work is the Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors: A Course for Parents by Robyn Gobbel, which I offer under license and integrate through a PDA-informed lens with coaching support. This program is offered on a rolling enrollment basis, with space for up to 12 families at a time. When the program is full, families are invited to join a waitlist until an opening becomes available. Whether or not this program is the right fit for you, my hope is that this episode offers reassurance, permission, and a reminder that needing a different structure doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. To learn more or check current availability, visit my website: www.amykcoach.com/parentcourse

    9 min

  3. 12/19/2025

    When Learning Shuts Down: PDA, School Trauma, and Why Traditional Education Stops Working (Part 2)

    The PDA Parenting Podcast

    49 min

  4. 12/17/2025

    When Learning Shuts Down: PDA, School Trauma, and Why Traditional Education Stops Working (Part 1)

    What happens when learning shuts down - at school, at home, everywhere? In Part One of this two-part conversation, I’m joined by educator and consultant Danielle Rodda to talk about why learning becomes unsafe for so many PDA and neurodivergent kids. In this episode, we explore: Why compliance-based education doesn’t work for PDA nervous systemsHow school trauma and chronic pressure shut learning downWhy “more supports” still aren’t enoughThe emotional weight parents carry when nothing seems to helpThis episode is about context and permission - understanding that when learning stops, it’s not because you or your child are failing. Note: This conversation continues in Part Two, where we shift into rebuilding safety around learning, unlearning harmful narratives, and what learning can look like once pressure is removed. Support for Parents: 12-Week Course Now Open If this episode resonates, I want you to know you don’t have to navigate this alone! Registration is currently open for the 12-week parent course:  Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors, created by Robyn Gobbel and adapted specifically for PDA families and led by Amy Kotha. ✨ Bonus Session Included: Danielle Rodda, Neurodivergent Consulting, will join us for a bonus session focused on PDA + learning, unlearning, and the return to learning.  🔗 Registration is open now:  Click HERE for details! To connect with Danielle Rodda: @danielleroddaconsulting IG Substack daniellerodda.ca

    42 min

  5. 12/02/2025

    The “Good Mom” Myth: How PDA Parents Can Break Free from Holiday Judgment and Comparison

    The holidays hit PDA parents harder - and it’s not your fault. In this episode, we break down why judgment, comparison, overwhelm, and the “good mom” myth intensify this time of year - and what’s really happening inside your nervous system and your child’s. You’ll learn:  • why your child’s overwhelm triggers your own  • how identity friction fuels shame  • why holiday environments activate threat states  • the parallel process between your nervous system and theirs  • how comparison becomes a safety strategy  • the difference between belief work and crisis work  • how SOOTHE supports in-the-moment connection And if you already know you want deeper support, the 12-week January program  (created by Robyn Gobbel) is the next step - where we get deeper, turn these nervous system tools into lived, everyday practice and gain parenting confidence. Registration opens this week!  Limited enrollment. Click HERE for Details + Registration! * Mentioned in episode: 'Echolocation for worth' concept comes from the work of Kara Loewentheil

    18 min

  6. 11/13/2025

    Talking About Adoption, Autism & Identity: What to Do When You’re Afraid to Get It Wrong

    In this episode, Amy explores why some kids - especially adopted, autistic, or PDA-identifying kids - avoid talking about their story, whether it’s adoption, trauma, or a new diagnosis. Using personal experiences from raising her two daughters, she explains how these conversations activate the nervous system and why avoidance is often about safety, not refusal. You’ll learn how to share your child’s story without triggering demand avoidance, how to “drip in” information gently over time, and why honesty paired with safety builds stronger identity and self-esteem. Amy also introduces her SAFE Story Framework to help parents approach disclosure with confidence and connection. Mentioned in This Episode Focus on the Nervous System to Change Behavior workshop (created by Robyn Gobbel, adapted for PDA and led by Amy Kotha) - December 5th @ 12 PM ETRaising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors  - a Parent Course (created by Robyn Gobbel, adapted for PDA and led by Amy Kotha) the 12-week parenting experience beginning January 12th, 2026         Doors Open!!  Click HERE for details + registration!

    18 min

  7. 11/04/2025

    You Don’t Have to Fix Your Child: The Shift That Changes Everything

    In this episode, Amy speaks directly to the part of every parent that whispers, “You’ve got to fix this.” Drawing from her own journey - from years of researching and even attending graduate school to understand her child’s behavior - she shares what she’s learned about the nervous system, safety, and why trying to “fix” our children keeps both parent and child stuck in a cycle of stress. Listeners will hear how Amy reframed her approach to parenting a neurodivergent, PDA-profile child - and how understanding safety as the foundation for behavior can transform family life. This episode is a powerful reminder that parenting isn’t about control; it’s about connection, curiosity, and co-regulation. In This Episode, Amy Shares: Why the “fix-it” mindset is so common (and so exhausting) for parentsHow understanding the nervous system changes everything about behaviorThe role of safety and connection in regulating both parent and childHow parents can step out of fear and into curiosity - even on hard daysWhat it means to create “cues of safety” for both yourself and your childMentioned in This Episode: Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors – A Parent Course Developed by Robyn Gobbel, MSW, and adapted for PDA parents/led by Amy Kotha. ➡️ Click HERE for details + registration!Bonus Session inside the January 12-week course with Danielle Rodda, Neurodivergent Consulting: Exploring unschooling and homeschooling for PDA kids - how to lower pressure, rebuild trust, and make learning feel safe again.  Connect with Amy: Instagram → @amykcoachWebsite → www.amykcoach.com

    15 min

  8. 10/13/2025

    From Fear to Hope: Parenting Through Crisis with Compassion

    In this heartfelt episode, Amy opens up about a recent family crisis that brought her to her knees - and the quiet resilience that helped her rise again. Through personal reflection, she explores the science of co-regulation, the role of community in healing, and what clinical psychologist Dr. Matt Zakreski calls “psychological capital” - hope as something we can actively build through small acts of connection. You’ll leave with compassion, clarity, and a practical 5-step plan for crisis moments - so you can respond with love, not fear. Resources Mentioned: Dr. Matt Zakresky — In the Business of Hope: How to Keep Believing When Things Feel Impossible Dr. Mona Delahooke — The Developmental Iceberg: Looking Below the Surface of Challenging Behaviors Crisis & Suicide Lifeline (U.S.) — Call or text 988 Find a Helpline (International) — findahelpline.com 📄 Download Amy’s ND-Accommodating Family Safety Plan - a neurodivergent-affirming guide to help you stay grounded and prepared during emotional storms.  ❤️ Get your free copy by clicking HERE  Join the waitlist for Amy’s new 12-week parent course:  “Raising Kids with Big, Baffling Behaviors - a course for parents” - created by Robyn Gobbel and led by Amy Kotha.  Adapted for families raising sensitive, PDA, or neurodivergent kids who need a new kind of understanding. Join the Waitlist → Click HERE

    38 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

 A podcast for parents raising PDA autistic kids and teens. Real talk, personal stories, and practical tools to move from chaos to connection - hosted by parent coach Amy Kotha. 

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Kotha
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The PDA Parenting Podcast
  • Show Website
    The PDA Parenting Podcast

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