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. 3D AGO

    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
  2. FEB 9

    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
  3. FEB 2

    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
  4. JAN 12

    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
  5. JAN 5

    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
  6. 12/29/2025

    16: Interoception and ARFID, let's understand it better with Kelly Mahler

    What if our bodies are sending messages we were never taught to understand? In this episode, Laetitia is joined by Kelly Mahler, occupational therapist, interoception groupie, and author of The Interoception Curriculum. Together, they explore the power of interoception, our ability to sense internal signals like hunger, thirst, pain, and emotion, and how this sense is vital for understanding ourselves and supporting neurodivergent children. You’ll learn why many neurodivergent people have “muted” or “intense” interoceptive experiences, how these impact behaviours (like meltdowns or feeding challenges), and what it means to shift from a behaviour lens to a curiosity lens. With deep empathy and clarity, Kelly gives parents, teachers and therapists a new way to tune into what’s happening beneath the surface—and why believing the body always matters. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 What is interoception, and how it impacts emotion, regulation and daily life 🧠 The link between interoception and feeding struggles 🧠 Why some people only recognise hunger, pain or overwhelm at the last minute 🧠 The difference between muted and intense interoceptive experiences 🧠 Why "picky eating" is a surface label, and what to get curious about instead. 🧠 How to start modelling and asking curiosity questions like “What is your body telling you?” 💛 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 👇 Kelly Mahler is an award-winning occupational therapist, author, and interoception groupie known for her boundless curiosity and empathetic approach. Holding a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy, she has served school-aged children and adults for over 22 years. Kelly is the author of 12 resources, including The Interoception Curriculum, now used in over 30 countries worldwide. She enjoys speaking internationally on interoception, neuro-affirming practices, and playful strategies for inner exploration using a lens of curiosity, validation, and empathy. 💻 Website: www.kelly-mahler.com 📸 Instagram: @kelly_mahler 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.

    33 min
  7. 12/22/2025

    15: Communication breakdown: How visual support ease executive overload with Jessica Shahbazi and Jennifer Winstone

    How can we reduce communication breakdowns for neurodivergent learners, across every setting? In this affirming and practical episode, Laetitia is joined by Jess and Jenn, the co-creators of MyComms, a communication accessibility app supporting children, families, and professionals with visual supports that actually work. Drawing from years of experience across education, behaviour support, assistive tech and speech pathology, Jenn and Jess share how their unique collaboration is helping neurodivergent individuals understand and be understood in the moments that matter most. They unpack executive functioning overload, school transitions, meltdowns, and explain why visuals aren’t just helpful, they’re essential. Whether you're a parent, teacher, therapist or just visual yourself (hello Post-Its!), this episode will show you how visuals are anchors for emotional security, and how personalisation can make all the difference. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 What executive functioning overload really looks like (and how to support it) 🧠 Why visual supports are better than verbal instructions for overwhelmed nervous systems 🧠 How to make transitions and school routines easier with task breakdowns and visual cues 🧠 What “co-design” means when it comes to communication tools for kids and adults 🧠 The ripple effect of clear communication 🧠 Why assistive tech like MyComms can empower families, not replace therapists 💛 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 👇 Jess is a highly experienced and empathetic Teacher, Behaviour Support Practitioner and Inclusion Consultant with a focus on executive functioning, behaviour and meaningful inclusion. Her work spans classroom teaching, behaviour support and inclusion consulting, bringing practical expertise in creating environments that enable learning, communication and independence. Jenn is a highly experienced Speech Pathologist specialising in complex communication needs, inclusive practice and assistive technology. Jenn lectures medical students at Macquarie University and has completed senior-level leadership training through the Association of Independent Schools, building a strong foundation in education leadership, organisational change and collaborative practice. Together Jess and Jenn have created MyComms, a communication accessibility platform designed to ensure that every person can understand and be understood in the moments that matter most. Their combined transdisciplinary expertise drives a powerful focus on co-design, real-world application and tools that reduce communication barriers across home, school, health, disability and aged care settings. Through MyComms and their professional learning programmes, Jess and Jenn are championing a future where communication support is accessible, adaptable and genuinely inclusive for people of all ages and communication profiles. 💻 Website: https://www.commspec.co 📸 Instagram: @mycomms.au 📱 App Store: Download MyComms on Apple 📱 Google Play: Download MyComms on Android 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
  8. 12/15/2025

    14: Rethinking speech goals: Communication that truly supports autistic kids with Adina Levy

    How can we support neurodivergent kids to communicate in their own way? In this vibrant, practical and inspiring episode, Laetitia is joined by Adina Levy, a proud AuDHDer, speech therapist, educator, podcaster, and business coach for neurodivergent folks. Adina is the founder of both Play. Learn. Chat. and Differently Aligned Business Coaching, and she's on a mission to reframe communication goals in therapy, and in life. Together, they explore why traditional “speech” goals often do more harm than good, what it means to truly honour autonomy in communication, and how therapists and parents can reframe expectations to support neurodivergent ways of being. They dive into goal-setting that centres safety, autonomy and respect—not compliance. And if you’ve ever wondered how affirming support actually looks in real life? You’ll love Adina’s story about her daughter’s self-made AAC tool at school. ✨ Try Understanding Zoe free for 30 days – the neuroaffirming app turning every report, observation and meltdown into an actionable next step. KEY TAKEAWAYS 👇 🧠 Why “speech” is a limiting term, and how to shift our focus to communication 🧠 The harm of compliance-based goals (and how to do better) 🧠 How therapists and parents can reframe expectations in real-time 🧠 Why self-advocacy begins with being heard in your own way 🧠 What systemic change we need in professional bodies and policy 🧠 A powerful example of child-led communication support in action 💛 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 👇 Adina Levy (she/her) is a proud AuDHDer (Autistic ADHDer), Speech Therapist, Professional Educator, Podcaster, Speaker, and Business Coach for Neurodivergent folks. She runs Play. Learn. Chat. and Differently Aligned Business Coaching. Adina is on a mission to shift the perception of the global community, to understand neurodivergence as difference (which is fine!). She believes (and lives) that it's possible to be Neurodivergent and thrive. To live outside of burnout and stress. This takes greater acceptance of neurodivergence from others, shifting environments to be most supportive, and a dash of self-acceptance. 🎧 Exploring Neurodiversity Podcast: https://playlearnchat.com/exploring-neurodiversity-podcast 🎧 Differently Aligned Podcast: https://differentlyaligned.com/podcast/ 💻 Website: https://playlearnchat.com/ https://differentlyaligned.com/  📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/play.learn.chat/ https://www.instagram.com/differently.aligned 📝 Get Adina’s free guide: How Neurodiversity Affirming is Your Child’s Team? → playlearnchat.com/freebies 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.

    39 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.