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Neuroshambles

Neuroshambles

Auteur(s): Mark Allen
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À propos de cet audio

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.

Copyright 2023 All rights reserved. Hygiène et mode de vie sain Psychologie Psychologie et santé mentale Relations Éducation des enfants
Épisodes
  • School: The Primary Years | Grace Lockrobin

    School: The Primary Years | Grace Lockrobin
    Jan 7 2026

    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
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    1 h et 35 min
  • How autistic is your child? | Kieran Rose

    How autistic is your child? | Kieran Rose
    Dec 3 2025
    This week, Mark is joined once again by the brilliant Kieran Rose, AKA The Autistic Advocate – writer, educator, and parent of three neurodivergent children. Together, they take a deep (and sometimes uncomfortable) dive into one of the most contentious topics in neurodiversity parenting: labels. What do we mean when we describe someone as “severely autistic”? Why is it so hard to explain what being autistic actually means? And how useful (or harmful) are terms like high-functioning, low-functioning, profound autism, or even Asperger’s? In a wide-ranging and compassionate chat, Mark and Kieran explore how complex, deeply personal and often contradictory this topic is - both for parents and for autistic people themselves. What starts as a provocative question ends up as a fascinating conversation about diagnosis, co-occurring conditions, identity, education, eugenics, power, and prejudice. Not one to miss. Make a cuppa, maybe two - this one’s long. But worth it. 📍 CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated): 00:00 - Intro: Meet Kieran Rose 04:30 - Life in a Fully Neurodivergent Household 08:00 - Topic of the Week: How Autistic Is Your Child? 12:00 - Labels, Bias, and the Stigma Around Autism 18:00 - High vs Low Functioning: Where It Comes From 23:00 - What Even Is Autism? 28:30 - The Flawed Legacy of Asperger’s 35:00 - Identity vs Diagnosis 42:00 - DSM-5 Levels of Autism: Why They Don’t Work 49:00 - Profound Autism and The New York Times Article 55:00 - A Counterpoint: The Voices We Don’t Hear 1:00:00 - Co-occurring Conditions and the Real Source of Needs 1:07:00 - Clinical Labels vs Lived Experience 1:14:00 - Mark’s Imposter Syndrome as an Autism Parent 1:18:00 - What’s the Alternative? 1:23:00 - Final Thoughts: Humanising, Not Diagnosing 1:27:00 - Neurodiversity Champions 1:33:00 - Tiny Epic Wins 1:39:00 - “What the Flip?” Moments 1:43:00 - Wrap-up & Where to Find Us 🔗 LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE: Kieran Rose website - https://theautisticadvocate.com/ Eugenics - https://www.newscientist.com/definition/eugenics/ Asperger Syndrome - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/what-is-autism/the-history-of-autism/asperger-syndrome Hans Asperger - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Asperger Lorna Wing - https://www.autism.org.uk/what-we-do/news/lorna-wing-an-autism-hero DSM-5 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DSM-5 PDF Download of DSM-5 - https://ia800707.us.archive.org/15/items/info_munsha_DSM5/DSM-5.pdf New York Times article: The Autism Spectrum Is Too Broad - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/opinion/autism-diagnosis-category-stigma.html Greta Thunberg - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-49918719 What is monotropism? - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/what-is-monotropism Ehlers Danlos Syndromes - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/ehlers-danlos-syndromes/ Communication First - https://communicationfirst.org/ Autism Central - https://www.autismcentral.org.uk/ Kieran Rose Animated Guide to Monotropism - https://youtu.be/qUFDAevkd3E?si=diwlbe4AHRcxfjQF Kieran Rose Animated Guide to The Double Empathy Problem - https://youtu.be/qpXwYD9bGyU?si=7bnGR2UsrCgLa_hL KIERAN'S HOMEWORK Kieran Rose Blog: Autism, it’s Labels and the Language of Pathologising Rhetoric - https://theautisticadvocate.com/autism-its-labels-and-the-language-of-pathologising-rhetoric/ Sunday Times article: Extra time in exams ‘unhealthy’ for children with ADHD and autism - https://www.thetimes.com/uk/education/article/extra-time-exams-unhealthy-children-adhd-autism-k820s56zh TES magazine article: Sami Timimi: Why ‘invented’ SEND labels are disabling pupils - https://www.tes.com/magazine/teaching-learning/general/sami-timimi-interview-problems-with-send-diagnosis-adhd-autism Yahoo News: Badenoch says motability cars not for people with ADHD - https://uk.news.yahoo.com/badenoch-motability-cars-not-people-135341300.html?guccounter=1 📣 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
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    1 h et 55 min
  • Kids refusing medical help | Michelle Parton

    Kids refusing medical help | Michelle Parton
    Nov 19 2025

    This week, Mark is joined by Michelle Parton – a long-time Neuroshambles listener and parent of two neurodivergent children. They explore one of the more baffling challenges of raising our kids: why do so many of them flat-out refuse medical assistance?

    From hiding lava lamp injuries to meltdown-inducing blood tests, Mark and Michelle swap tales of their kids’ iron-willed resistance to all forms of treatment – even when they’re clearly in pain, bleeding, or itching uncontrollably. Together, they explore the many reasons this might be happening – from sensory issues and PDA to past trauma, masking, and a fundamental lack of trust in strangers in latex gloves.

    It’s funny, cathartic, at times heartbreaking – definitely one for anyone who’s ever tried (and failed) to administer Calpol to a deeply suspicious neurodifferent child.

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    CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):

    00:00 – Intro & Meet the Guest: Michelle Parton

    03:00 – Topic of the Week: Refusing Medical Help

    08:00 – Kids hiding injuries

    13:00 – Dysregulation about the prospect of going to the doctor

    17:30 – Trust issues with medical professionals

    23:00 – Lyme disease and the unholy nightmare of blood tests

    29:00 – Trying to administer medication

    35:00 – The impact of sensory overwhelm: Plasters, creams & the taste of medication

    42:00 – The added complication with PDA kids

    47:00 – The role that masking might play

    54:00 – How alexithymia and interoception can influence things

    59:00 – The impact of past traumatic experiences

    1:04:00 – The positives

    1:06:00 – Neurodiversity Champions

    1:10:00 – Tiny Epic Wins

    1:14:00 – “What the Flip?” moments

    1:18:00 – Wrap-Up & Where to Find Us

    ⸻

    LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:

    Lyme Disease - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lyme-disease/

    Alexithymia - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg4ky5qgrlpo

    Interoception - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/interoception-wellbeing

    Beyond Creative Education - https://www.beyondcreativeeducation.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
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    1 h et 23 min
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