Neuroshambles

Mark Allen
  • 5.0 (3)
  • PARENTING
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Neuroshambles is a UK parenting podcast about raising neurodivergent children. Hosted by lapsed comedian Mark Allen, this show explores autism parenting, ADHD, PDA, SEND, school struggles, family life and parental wellbeing through honest, relatable conversations - often with a healthy dose of humour, but always grounded in lived experience. Mark is raising three neurodivergent children and chats with parents, carers, advocates and professionals about the everyday challenges some families face. These aren’t lectures or masterclasses, but candid tales from the front line of parenting neurodivergent kids, as guests swap stories about what works for them - and just as importantly, what definitely doesn’t. Topics range from meltdowns, PDA-related demand avoidance and dealing with authorities, to holidays, mealtimes and the logistical chaos of daily life. Neuroshambles is for UK parents and carers who want something that feels human - supportive without being preachy, practical without being clinical. The aim isn’t to provide all the answers, but to shine a light on the absurdities and difficulties of a family life shaped by neurodivergence, offering connection, reassurance and the comfort of knowing you’re not the only one struggling to make sense of things. New episodes are released fortnightly. Check out more information on the Neuroshambles website: www.neuroshambles.com

  1. 7H AGO

    Screen Time: Part 1 - The Benefits For Neurodivergent Kids | Hannah Woods

    Description If you're a parent of a neurodivergent child and you've ever felt quietly judged for your approach to screen time, this episode of Neuroshambles is for you. Mark is joined by Hannah Woods - one of the founders of the Spectrum Squad, a neurodivergent youth group in Penarth, South Wales - to tackle one of the most requested topics the show has ever had: managing screen time with our neurodivergent kids. This is part one of a two-part deep dive of a particularly knotty topic, and it's entirely focused on the positives of screen time. Because if you're navigating autism parenting, ADHD parenting, or PDA parenting, you'll know that screens aren't just a lazy shortcut - they can be a genuine lifeline. Whether it's helping your child regulate, learn and connect with peers, or just giving you ten minutes of respite to gather your energy, screen time is doing some heavy lifting in a lot of neurodivergent households. This is an honest, relatable conversation about the gap between the parents we thought we'd be and the parents our kids actually need us to be. Part 2, covering the potential downsides of screen time, is coming in the next episode. But for now, let's hear the case for the defence.   Chapter Timestamps 00:00 - Introduction and Neuroshambles Live Announcement 02:56 - Meet the Guest: Hannah Woods 08:10 - Topic Introduction: Screen Time with Neurodivergent Kids 10:00 - How We Thought We'd Parent Around Screens (Before We Met Our Kids) 14:29 - The Stigma Around Screen Time 15:23 - Screen Time Limits, NHS Guidance and Why It Doesn't Apply to Our Kids 18:17 - Dr Naomi Fisher: It's Not the Screen, It's What's Behind It 21:59 - Screens for Regulation - Meltdowns, Overwhelm and India's Wardrobe Nook 29:29 - Special Interests, Hyperfocus and Letting Them Go Deep 39:17 - Online Connection, Belonging and the Social Value of Multiplayer Gaming 42:39 - Building Friendships Through Minecraft and Shared Play 50:04 - Sharing Content as a Love Language (YouTube Clips Count) 55:16 - Watching Online as a Gateway to Special Interests 57:40 - Screens as a Learning Tool - Laptops, Writing and Demand Avoidance 01:01:08 - Reading Apps and How They Changed Everything 01:03:20 - Self-Esteem, Gaming and Finding Your Thing 01:04:53 - Screens as a Social Bridge 01:07:44 - From 3D Printing to School Fair Entrepreneur 01:09:52 - The Parental Sanity Argument (Yes, It Counts) 01:13:16 - Screens for Sleep and Winding Down 01:15:20 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:18:22 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:22:09 - What the Flip Moments   Links to Stuff We Mention in This Episode Neuroshambles Live, Brighton (23rd July 2026) - www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1988682312330/?discount=Neuroshamblers Alternatively, search "Neuroshambles Live" on https://www.eventbrite.co.uk and use the access code “Neuroshamblers” for the discounted rate of £8 throughout May. After that, tickets go on general sale for £10. The Family Experience of PDA by Eliza Fricker - https://amzn.eu/d/02qGPcjD Dr Naomi Fisher article on screens - https://naomifisher.co.uk/tags/screens/ Bluey - https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000vbrk/bluey Gravity Falls - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravity_Falls How To Break Up With Your Phone - https://amzn.eu/d/04PSfLq9 Roblox - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roblox JusTalk Kids - https://kids.justalk.com/ MindJam - https://mindjam.org.uk/ Super Mario Odyssey - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Mario_Odyssey Audible storybooks - https://www.audible.co.uk/ Calm app - https://www.calm.com/ Greeking Out (National Geographic podcast) - https://www.nationalgeographic.com/podcasts/greeking-out/ Have Fun, Get Fit (South Wales) - https://www.facebook.com/HaveFunGetFitRossParsons/ Neurospicy Wings (South Wales) - https://www.neurospicywings.co.uk/   📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neuroshambles/ 🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles   🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com

    1h 26m

  2. APR 22

    How to be your neurodivergent child's safe person | Jo and Dotty Matthews

    If you've ever found yourself having to outline the entire day's schedule before you've even had your first coffee, or negotiating bath time as a sacred non-negotiable human right, this episode might just be the one you didn't know you needed. Mark is joined by the brilliant Jo Matthews for a deep dive into what it really means to be your child's safe person. Whether your neuroshambolic family is shaped by autism, ADHD or PDA, so many of us know the exhausting, relentless, sometimes claustrophobic experience of being the one person our child needs above all others. It's a privilege and it's hard work, but it's almost never talked about with the honesty it deserves on a neurodivergent parenting podcast. In a Neuroshambles first, this episode also features a second guest - Dotty Matthews, Jo's 19-year-old autistic daughter - who joins Mark for a candid, funny and genuinely moving conversation about what it felt like to be that child. From the early days of demanding apple juice to command her mum's attention, through to slowly learning to find safety in other people, Dotty's perspective is the kind of lived experience that makes this show worth your time. There's also a listener email from Lydia, whose 13-year-old daughter's intense attachment prompted this whole conversation - and both Jo and Dotty have something genuinely useful to say in response. Autistic parenting advice doesn't get much more grounded in lived experience than this. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:01:08 - Meet the Guest: Jo Matthews 00:03:40 - This Week's Topic: Being Your Child's Safe Person 00:04:22 - Lydia's Listener Email 00:07:06 - Dotty's Early Attachment (and the Gee Story) 00:10:25 - Transitional Objects and Starting School 00:18:58 - Co-regulation: Being Your Child's Emotional Anchor 00:25:54 - Scaffolding the Day: Structure and Predictability 00:30:54 - Being Their Executive Function 00:37:45 - Advocating for Your Child 00:43:41 - Being a Physical Safe Space (Including Co-sleeping) 00:48:05 - Being an Emotional Outlet 00:56:34 - The Guilt and Exhaustion of Being a Safe Person 01:03:12 - Attachment Theory and Building Independence 01:06:58 - When Only One Parent is the Safe Person 01:14:17 - Meet the Second Guest: Dotty Matthews 01:38:51 - It's Not All Rubbish 01:41:07 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:43:46 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:47:04 - What the Flip Moments LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Attachment Theory (John Bowlby) - https://www.simplypsychology.org/bowlby.html The Loxdale Centre, Portslade - https://www.loxdale.com/ mASCot - https://www.asc-mascot.com/ Mark's talk: "How Dads Can Show Up Better For Our Neurodivergent Kids" - https://neuroshambles.com/page-gazc-3dk8-ywa8-dnly Raising SEND kids: The Dad's Perspective (with Terry Lloyd) - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/raising-send-kids-the-dads-perspective-terry-lloyd   📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

    1h 52m

  3. APR 1

    Where is the user manual for our neurodivergent kids? | George Lewis

    If you've ever stared at a parenting book and thought "none of this applies to my child whatsoever" - this episode is for you. Mark is joined by comedian, author, and fellow parent-in-the-trenches George Lewis for a proper deep dive into one of the great unspoken challenges of neurodivergent parenting: figuring out who your kid actually is, and how to parent them, when the instruction manual simply doesn't exist. Because most parenting advice out there is written for neurotypical kids. And when you've got autistic, ADHD, or PDA children, you quickly discover that you essentially have to work it out yourself. That means years of research, trial and error, conflicting information, and the occasional moment of going "hang on… is THIS a thing I need to learn about now?" It's exhausting and exasperating, but it's also, occasionally, brilliant. This is an honest, funny and insightful autism parenting podcast episode that covers the whole messy journey - from those early days of thinking something's different but not knowing quite what, through diagnosis (including the woefully misguided NHS leaflet with their list of top tips), to the point where you cautiously start to feel like you might actually know what you're doing. If you're deep in that process right now, or just starting out, this one's for you. And if you're a seasoned neurodivergent parenting veteran, you'll recognise pretty much every single moment of it. -------------- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated) 00:00 – Intro 01:15 - Meet the Guest: George Lewis 06:28 - Topic of the Week: Writing Your Own User Manual 08:18 - Imagining parenthood vs the reality 12:04 - Apraxia of speech and George's early diagnosis journey 18:19 - Understanding autism: the spectrum, spiky profiles and the mixing desk analogy 31:32 - Navigating the NHS diagnosis route (and the unhelpful booklet you receive when they're diagnosed) 58:16 - Information overload and knowing when to put the lid back on 01:03:39 - Discovering PDA and low demand language 01:05:31 - Conflicting advice and how to navigate it 01:11:36 - Trusting your gut when some recommended approaches don't sit right 01:20:44 - It's Not All Rubbish: the positives of doing the research 01:25:52 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:28:53 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:32:24 - What the Flip! Moments -------------- LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE George Lewis website - https://www.georgelewiscomedian.com George Lewis Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/georgelewiscom George Lewis TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@georgelewiscomedian George Lewis Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/georgelewiscom George Lewis YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@georgelewiscom Autism Colour Wheel - https://community.autism.org.uk/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/4/autism-colour-wheel.pdf Government SEND white paper - https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/every-child-achieving-and-thriving Neuroshambles Episode with Kieran Rose: How Autistic Is Your Child? – https://neuroshambles.com/episode/how-autistic-is-your-child-kieran-rose Autistica - https://www.autistica.org.uk/ Pierre Novellie “Why can’t I just enjoy things?” - https://amzn.eu/d/0fL1X5Fb Fern Brady “Strong Female Character” - https://amzn.eu/d/07Uk4H6a -------------- 📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: @neuroshambles -------------- 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

    1h 36m

  4. MAR 18

    Finding your people when you have neurodivergent kids | Sam Bayley

    Mark is joined by Sam Bayley - founder of mASCot, a Sussex-based parent-to-parent support network for families of autistic, ADHD and PDA children and young adults - for a warm and genuinely uplifting conversation about one of the most important things you can do as a neurodivergent parent: find your people. They dig into why parenting a neurodivergent child can feel so isolating - especially in the early days before diagnosis, when you're still trying to crowbar your kid into situations built for neurotypical families and slowly realising it isn't working. Sam shares the story of how mASCot grew from a few breakout coffee sessions into a community supporting thousands of families, and Mark recounts the moment he first walked into Sunday Club and felt the blessed relief of a room with absolutely no judgement in it. They also get into the thornier side of finding your people - namely, the bit where you have to let go of the ones who aren't. From unsupportive friends who just aren't listening, to family members who think it's all a fad, this episode doesn't shy away from how hard it can be to protect your energy when you haven't got much of it to spare. If you're after a neurodivergent parenting podcast that feels human, honest and occasionally sweary, this one's for you. --------------------------------------------------------- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Intro 01:11 - Meet the Guest: Sam Bayley 04:01 - Topic of the Week: The Importance of Finding Your People 09:10 - How mASCot Was Born: Coffee Mornings and the Birth of Community 10:09 - Early Expectations and the Reality of Neurodivergent Parenthood 27:19 - The "Coming Home to Autism" Event That Changed Everything 31:35 - The mASCot Card: A Little Bit of Context, a Lot of Confidence 37:51 - Sunday Club and the Joy of a Non-Judgmental Space 47:59 - Inspired to Act: Hannah Woods and Spectrum Squad Penarth 52:16 - The Online Community: Why mASCot's Facebook Forum Matters 59:52 - When Lockdown Showed Us What Our Kids Already Knew 01:01:49 - Finding Your People Means Letting Go of the Wrong Ones 01:09:05 - The Tricky Business of Unsupportive Family Members 01:13:18 - It's Not All Rubbish: The Positives of Finding Your People 01:16:17 - Neurodiversity Champions: mASCot, Bill Bayley and the BNC 01:22:40 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:26:12 - What the Flip? Moments --------------------------------------------------------- LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Podcasthon - https://podcasthon.org/ mASCot - https://www.asc-mascot.com Donate to mASCot via Givey - https://www.givey.com/mascot National Autistic Society - https://www.autism.org.uk/ PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ Bristol Parent Carers Forum - https://www.bristolparentcarers.org.uk/ The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene - https://amzn.eu/d/0jkdMxga Spectrum Squad Penarth - https://www.facebook.com/groups/2039735040102766/ Brighton Neurodivergent Community (BNC) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/brightonneurodiverse --------------------------------------------------------- 📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles --------------------------------------------------------- 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

    1h 31m

  5. FEB 18

    The knotty issue of hair care | Rebecca Huseyin

    Mark is joined by returning guest Rebecca Hussain for a hilarious chat about the perils of trying to introduce any kind of hair care routine to our neurodivergent kids. It’s a knotty issue for loads of Neuroshambolic families - whether it's brushing, washing, cutting it or trying to navigate dreaded nit combs. Mark and Rebecca unpick why hair-related stuff can be so dysregulating for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids - from sensory overwhelm and loss of control, to the irrepressible instinct to run away when someone approaches them with a brush and they're already feeling overwhelmed. Rebecca explains her role as night time hair brushing ninja and Mark recounts the horror story of the time he tried to trim India's fringe himself. They also dig into the awkward realities of salons and barbers, the compromises that sometimes (briefly) work, and the grim truth that a lot of so-called “simple” solutions don’t feel simple at all when you’re parenting a child with a PDA profile, ADHD traits, or autism-related sensory sensitivities. If you’re after autistic parenting advice that feels human rather than preachy, this one will have you nodding, laughing and cringing in equal measure. CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00:37 - Intro 00:01:07 - Meet the guest: Rebecca Huseyin 00:05:36 - What’s the topic of the week? Hair care 00:08:01 - Haircuts: clippers, salons and pure dread 00:13:16 - Dealing with brushing & knots - night time ninja brushing 00:21:40 - Sensory overload: why hair care causes so much overwhelm 00:25:25 - The drama of washing their hair 00:42:34 - Barbers/hairdressers: trusting a stranger with scissors 00:47:15 - Products, routines and reducing the stakes 00:55:08 - The reason some neurodivergent’s prefer long hair 00:58:10 - The lengths we go to for a haircut 01:03:12 - Not wanting people to notice their hair 01:05:47 - Reliving Mark’s trauma of cutting India’s fringe 01:18:17 - A surprising India haircut success story 01:21:04 - It’s not all rubbish: looking at the Positives 01:22:22 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:26:10 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:31:18 - What the Flip Moments? LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE A Boy Less Ordinary (Rebecca’s blog) - https://aboylessordinary.com/ PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ Jem’s Hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/0dTSItLZ India’s hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/072vd0L6 India’s coconut scented hair brush - https://amzn.eu/d/05Er65tF Nit comb - https://amzn.eu/d/00cSPgcz Grappling with Personal Hygiene episode of Neuroshambles - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/grappling-with-personal-hygiene-rebecca-huseyin Wash and Go - https://amzn.eu/d/0cmgCDdU Danielle Jata-Hall / “PDA Parenting” - https://pdaparenting.com/ Hairport (Brighton) - https://www.brightonhairport.co.uk/ EAG Expo, Docklands - https://www.eagexpo.com/ 📣 CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

    1h 38m

  6. FEB 4

    Raising SEND kids: the dads’ perspective | Terry Lloyd

    Mark Allen is joined by Terry Lloyd for an honest, insightful and humorous chat about what it feels like to parent neurodivergent kids from a dad’s perspective. They lift the lid on why dads are always “late to the party” when it comes to recognising neurodivergence, struggling to process what it all means, and figuring out how to show up properly for your family - especially when one parent has already been doing the heavy lifting for ages. They also delve into how traditional gender roles can make everything harder, and why guilt, grief and defensiveness can quietly shape how dads respond in the early days. There are also plenty of practical, lived-experience tales about having to unlearn how we were parented, getting on the same page as your co-parent and the challenge of not accidentally becoming the bad cop. A must listen for any dads raising autistic, ADHD or PDA kids, as well as any mums interesting in hearing a different perspective of the challenges men face, but often can't articulate. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:00:37 – Intro and what’s coming up 00:01:15 – Meet the Guest: Terry Lloyd 00:04:07 – Topic of the Week: Dads and the neurodivergent parenting journey 00:05:36 – Being late to the party spotting neurodivergence (and why dads often miss it) 00:06:05 – Inheriting breadwinner v caregiver roles, and the mental load gap 00:10:47 – When your co-parent says “something’s different” 00:17:03 – Labels, diagnosis, and why denial delays support 00:25:21 – The provider/disciplinarian stereotype (and how it backfires) 00:32:07 – How our own upbringing can influence dads' approach to parenting 00:36:52 – PDA, control, and why authority dynamics don't work 00:48:34 – Before diagnosis: doubt, uncertainty, and needing clarity 00:51:20 – Grief, shame, and the emotional weight of realising your child is neurodivergent  00:55:40 – The importance of finding other dads in the same boat 01:00:07 – Learning the hard way (books and resources that helped) 01:09:54 – Advice for dads needing to get more hands-on 01:21:08 – It’s Not All Rubbish: Finding the positives 01:24:59 – Neurodiversity Champions 01:27:57 – Tiny Epic Wins 01:29:49 – What the Flip Moments 01:34:52 – Outro (how to share your stories, links to the socials and wrap-up) ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Neuroshambles website – https://www.neuroshambles.com The Journey into SEND Fatherhood (book Mark and Terry contributed to) - https://amzn.eu/d/03g3S0J7 The Explosive Child by Ross W. Greene (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/0az7Uy7e SEND Dads Drop In (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/3100788930061466 PDA Father Figures (Facebook group) - https://www.facebook.com/groups/809973900027348 Lisa Lloyd (@asd_with_a_g_and_t) - https://linktr.ee/ASDwithagandt Raising the SEN-Betweeners by Lisa Lloyd (book) - https://amzn.eu/d/01pvrF2f SAA Clothing (sensory-friendly clothing) - https://www.saaclothing.com/ Let Us Learn Too (parent/carer education campaign) - https://letuslearntoo.wordpress.com/ Amaze Sussex dads support group (run by Darren Walker) - https://amazesussex.org.uk/events/dads-group-east-sussex/ ⸻ 📣 CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles ⸻ 🎙️ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

    1h 37m

  7. JAN 21

    How broken is the healthcare system? | Dr Lucy Pocock

    Episode 50 of this neurodivergent parenting podcast takes a clear, practical look at how families in the UK end up navigating the healthcare system when they suspect their child might be autistic and/or ADHD. Mark is joined by Lucy Pocock, a registered GP and parent of a neurodivergent child, as they pull back the curtain and take a deep dive into how the system works (and why it so often doesn’t).   They talk through the routes families are typically funnelled into when they’re seeking support: school evidence, GP involvement, referrals, and the confusing reality that the pathway can look completely different depending on where you live. It’s the sort of honest, informative discussion many families of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids wish existed when they first started asking questions.   Mark and Lucy also unpack what happens once ADHD enters the mix - including medication pathways, titration, prescribing delays, and the complexities of shared care. Lucy explains why bottlenecks happen, what GPs can and can’t do, and how those constraints land on families already stretched to breaking point.   Along the way, the conversation touches on demand-avoidant (PDA) profiles, why some parents go private, and what families can realistically expect when it comes to letters and evidence for things like EHCP and DLA. It’s the kind of candid, good humoured and insightful chat that this neurodivergency parenting podcast is known for.   CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (ESTIMATED) 00:00:37 - Episode 50 intro 00:01:20 - Meet the Guest (Lucy Pocock) 00:03:07 - Topic of the Week – UK healthcare and ND referrals (the two main routes) 00:09:23 - The postcode lottery, delays, and mismatched pathways 00:17:42 - ADHD medication: shared care, titration, and why CAMHS take so long 00:27:31 - Lucy's journey with her own PDA son's diagnosis as a GP 00:34:00 - Training: Oliver McGowan and the impact within the NHS 00:37:15 - How much neurodiversity scepticism is there within the healthcare system? 00:42:00 - What can you do if your GP is not informed about neurodiversity? 00:46:15 - Are there really parents trying to take advantage of the system? 00:56:00 - What support can we ask for from our GP that we don't know about? 00:59:45 - Could GP's relieve some of the burden from CAMHS? 01:04:30 - GP limitations on prescribing drugs: melatonin and anti-depressants 01:07:00 - Shared care, Right to Choose and commissioning constraints 01:10:45 - Is the system broken? Why is support for neurodivergency such a postcode lottery? 01:20:30 - How can we fix the flaws in the healthcare system? 01:27:00 - Looking at the positives 01:30:03 - Neurodiversity Champions 01:32:27 - Tiny Epic Wins 01:35:26 - What the Flip Moments   LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE Shared care - https://www.wessexlmcs.com/guidance/understanding-shared-care-nhs-right-to-choose-and-private-providers/ Right to choose - https://adhduk.co.uk/right-to-choose/ CAMHS - https://www.youngminds.org.uk/young-person/your-guide-to-support/guide-to-camhs/ Oliver McGowan training - https://www.hee.nhs.uk/our-work/learning-disability/current-projects/oliver-mcgowan-mandatory-training-learning-disability-autism FII (Fabricated and Induced Illness) - https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/fabricated-or-induced-illness/overview/ Neuroshambles: Medicating our children | Danielle Jata-Hall - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/medicating-our-children-danielle-jata-hall Melatonin - https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/melatonin/ Neuroshambles: The Bumpy Road to Diagnosis | Tam - https://neuroshambles.com/episode/the-bumpy-road-to-diagnosis-tam Murmuration Community, Bristol - https://www.murmurationcommunitytherapy.com/ Incredible Kids, Bristol - https://incrediblekids.org.uk/   CONTACT NEUROSHAMBLES 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles   CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

    1h 40m

  8. JAN 7

    School: The Primary Years | Grace Lockrobin

    If you’ve ever felt like Key Stage 2 at school was when it all got harder - not only for your neurodivergent child, but also for you as a parent - this is the episode for you. Mark is joined by philosophy educator and fellow Neuroshambler Grace Lockrobin for a cathartic look at the ages of 7-11, which is where the wheels can start to wobble more for our autistic, ADHD or PDA kids. Together, they unpack the pressures of conformity, the nightmare of homework and the heartbreak of parents evenings. From school trips and transitions to SATs and navigating playground politics, they shine a light on why this age can be so tough - and why the system often gets it wrong. It’s warm, witty, and full of the kind of honesty that makes you feel just a little less alone when your child doesn’t quite fit the mould.  If you’re searching for an autism parenting podcast or ADHD parenting podcast that actually reflects the messy, hilarious, heartbreaking truth of raising neurodivergent children, you're in the right place. ⸻ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Intro and meet the guest 03:30 - What’s changed since we last spoke 05:50 - Intro to topic of the week 23:00 - The challenges of the shift in KS2 teaching style 10:00 - Misguided attempts to get them to "catch up" 13:00 - The role that transitions play in these difficulties 22:15 - Social cliques and friendship dynamics 35:15 - Bullying 43:00 - The difficulty of parents’ evenings 57:15 - Homework nightmares 1:00:40 - The unhelpful pressure of SATs 1:06:25 - School trips 1:12:10 - It's not all rubbish: looking at the positives 1:24:15 - Neurodiversity Champions 1:27:45 - Tiny Epic Wins 1:30:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments 1:33:50 - Wrap-up and where to find us ⸻ LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: SATs - https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2022/05/everything-you-need-to-know-about-sats/ Karate Zone - https://karatezone.com/ PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/ ⸻ CONTACT US 🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles ⸻ CREDITS 🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

    1h 35m
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3 Ratings

About

Neuroshambles is a UK parenting podcast about raising neurodivergent children. Hosted by lapsed comedian Mark Allen, this show explores autism parenting, ADHD, PDA, SEND, school struggles, family life and parental wellbeing through honest, relatable conversations - often with a healthy dose of humour, but always grounded in lived experience. Mark is raising three neurodivergent children and chats with parents, carers, advocates and professionals about the everyday challenges some families face. These aren’t lectures or masterclasses, but candid tales from the front line of parenting neurodivergent kids, as guests swap stories about what works for them - and just as importantly, what definitely doesn’t. Topics range from meltdowns, PDA-related demand avoidance and dealing with authorities, to holidays, mealtimes and the logistical chaos of daily life. Neuroshambles is for UK parents and carers who want something that feels human - supportive without being preachy, practical without being clinical. The aim isn’t to provide all the answers, but to shine a light on the absurdities and difficulties of a family life shaped by neurodivergence, offering connection, reassurance and the comfort of knowing you’re not the only one struggling to make sense of things. New episodes are released fortnightly. Check out more information on the Neuroshambles website: www.neuroshambles.com

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Allen
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    57
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Neuroshambles

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