The NeuroDADverse is more than just a podcast, it’s a weekly therapy session between two long-time friends reconnecting through the shared highs and lows of neurodivergent parenthood.
Danny is raising a six-year-old, while Ben is navigating life with two teenagers. Between them, their lived experiences span early years and adolescence, offering valuable perspective for any parent on the neurodivergent journey. Their conversations blend lived wisdom, raw honesty, and light-hearted reflection, often with Danny just entering stages that Ben has already faced. This dynamic brings warmth, curiosity, and relatable storytelling that resonates across all ages and stages of parenting.
At its heart, The NeuroDADverse exists because parenting neurodivergent children can feel incredibly isolating. Many of society’s norms simply don’t apply and it’s rare to find someone who truly hears you. This podcast was born from the need to find and grow that tribe. A space where parents can feel seen, heard, and appreciated.
Whether you’re in the thick of meltdowns, laughing uncontrollably with them or even just wondering about diagnoses you’re not alone.
Here, we speak with love, lead though our understanding and share with honesty. This is a space for ideas, laughter, and connection.
Please remember:
You are doing better than you think.
You are enough.
You are not alone.
Welcome to the NeuroDADverse.“
Real talk from two dads raising neurodivergent kids with love, laughter, and plenty of chaos.
Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok and watch us on Youtube @NeuroDadversepodcast
Theme music by Hands Up! https://www.instagram.com/handsuppunk/?hl=en
Show produced by Squid Shack Studios https://www.instagram.com/squidshackstudios/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
The NeuroDADverse is more than just a podcast, it’s a weekly therapy session between two long-time friends reconnecting through the shared highs and lows of neurodivergent parenthood.
Danny is raising a six-year-old, while Ben is navigating life with two teenagers. Between them, their lived experiences span early years and adolescence, offering valuable perspective for any parent on the neurodivergent journey. Their conversations blend lived wisdom, raw honesty, and light-hearted reflection, often with Danny just entering stages that Ben has already faced. This dynamic brings warmth, curiosity, and relatable storytelling that resonates across all ages and stages of parenting.
At its heart, The NeuroDADverse exists because parenting neurodivergent children can feel incredibly isolating. Many of society’s norms simply don’t apply and it’s rare to find someone who truly hears you. This podcast was born from the need to find and grow that tribe. A space where parents can feel seen, heard, and appreciated.
Whether you’re in the thick of meltdowns, laughing uncontrollably with them or even just wondering about diagnoses you’re not alone.
Here, we speak with love, lead though our understanding and share with honesty. This is a space for ideas, laughter, and connection.
Please remember:
You are doing better than you think.
You are enough.
You are not alone.
Welcome to the NeuroDADverse.“
Real talk from two dads raising neurodivergent kids with love, laughter, and plenty of chaos.
Connect with us on Instagram, TikTok and watch us on Youtube @NeuroDadversepodcast
Theme music by Hands Up! https://www.instagram.com/handsuppunk/?hl=en
Show produced by Squid Shack Studios https://www.instagram.com/squidshackstudios/
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episode 27 🎧 This week in our NeuroDADverse, Dan and Ben return together to unpack a week shaped by school anxiety, big educational transitions, and the invisible pressure that builds at Christmas for neurodivergent children and their families.
As routines shift and environments change, they reflect on what happens when school suddenly feels “too much,” how parents spot the early warning signs, and why this time of year can quietly amplify stress for ND kids.
In this episode, we talk about:
•When children begin to say “I’ve done enough school”
•School refusal vs emotional burnout
•Navigating a new school setting with cautious optimism
•Why parents downplay big wins to protect emotional safety
•The anxiety of wondering: “Is this the start of something harder?”
•Christmas decorations, sensory overload, and disrupted safe spaces
•The importance of predictability and quiet spaces
•Multi-generational family Christmases and ND dynamics
•Tradition, memory-making, and the joy of familiar rituals
•Why small successes matter more than perfect weeks
•Bath-time scores, regulation wins, and calmer evenings
This is an honest, reflective episode about change management in neurodivergent family life, sitting with uncertainty, celebrating progress carefully, and holding space for both joy and worry at the same time.
Chapter Breakdown
00:00 – Welcome & What This Episode Is About
01:10 – Wins, Challenges & Why This Format Matters
02:08 – Three Words of the Week: “Christmas, Changes & Coincidence”
03:27 – Family Events, Big Days & Emotional Load
04:12 – CHALLENGE: When School Suddenly Feels Too Much
05:14 – Drawing, Social Pressure & Year 9 Transitions
06:11 – Push Factors vs Pull Factors in School Refusal
06:32 – A New School Setting & A Cautious Fresh Start
07:24 – Why We Say “It’s Just Tuesday”
08:30 – Managing Expectations Without Killing Hope
09:30 – Change Fatigue & Emotional Bandwidth
10:17 – Kids Stepping Up & Independent Bedtimes
11:20 – Noticing Behaviour Shifts Before They Escalate
13:00 – Parental Anxiety: “Is This the Start of a Thing?”
15:40 – Christmas at School & Sensory Disruption
17:02 – The Power of Unchanged, Quiet Spaces
18:48 – Sitting in the Joy Without Over-Analysing It
19:22 – WIN: Unexpected ND Parenting Connections
20:18 – Big Family Christmases & Shared ND Space
21:13 – Traditions, Handmade Memories & Emotional Safety
22:24 – Chaos, Cousins & Collective Regulation
23:27 – Why Familiar People Matter More Than Perfect Settings
24:44 – Break & Reset
24:58 – WIN: Small Moments That Meant a Lot
27:23 – Christmas Deliveries, Surprise & ND Joy
29:42 – Looking Ahead to the Week Ahead
31:02 – Reflecting on the First Episodes & How Far You’ve Come
33:17 – Early Wins, First Words & Big Milestones Remembered
35:17 – Communication Growth & Emotional Safety
37:20 – Avoiding Future Fear Spirals
38:50 – Final Week of School & Mixed Emotions
41:27 – Dentist Visits, Christmas Lights & Flexibility
43:37 – Low-Pressure Festive Outings
46:14 – End-of-Term Traditions & Letting Kids Choose
49:15 – The “Franken-Tree” & Honouring ND Childhood
51:03 – Bath-Time Scores & Regulation Wins
54:09 – Talking, Trust & Growing Independence
55:15 – Closing Reflections: You’re Doing Great
🎙️ Two dads. One mission. Raising ND kids in a very NT world.
💡 If this episode resonates, whether you’re a zebra, a stripy horse, or still figuring it all out. There’s space for you in the NeuroDADverse.
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