Neuroshambles
A fortnightly podcast about the ludicrous realities of being a parent of neurodivergent kids. Lapsed comedian Mark Allen has three kids - two diagnosed autistic with ADHD and one highly-suspected autistic. Each episode, he swaps stories with his guests about the challenges they’ve had dealing with seemingly simple events, such as birthday parties, holidays, mealtimes, and leaving the house.
Episodes

Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Grappling with personal hygiene | Rebecca Huseyin
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Mark talks to the tremendous Rebecca Huseyin, who is a blogger, trainer, neurodiversity advocate and Mum of a neurodifferent son (13, diagnosed autistic with a PDA profile and suspected ADHD). They swap tales of the ludicrous lengths they go to when trying to navigate personal hygiene tasks, such as cleaning hands, wiping faces, brushing teeth, having baths, cutting fingernails and wiping bums.
There are some hilarious anecdotes of the lengths to which Mark and Rebecca go to encourage their kids to engage in hygiene tasks - from fake drowning them in the bath, cleaning their teeth like a Victorian ghost and introducing the concept of "special dry".
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
The Lighter Side of PDA Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/LighterPDA/
Rebecca Huseyin blog (A Boy Less Ordinary) - https://aboylessordinary.com/
SENDIASS - (Google for your local county SENDIASS details)
PDA Society - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/
Proprioception and Interoception: https://www.autismspeaks.org/sensory-issues
Oranurse unflavoured toothpaste - https://oranurse.co.uk/unflavoured-toothpaste/
Little teeth toothpaste - https://www.aquafresh.com/en-gb/our-products/kids-oral-care/little-teeth-toothpaste/
Big teeth toothpaste - https://www.aquafresh.com/en-gb/our-products/kids-oral-care/big-teeth-toothpaste/
The Prism Cat - https://linktr.ee/KyraChambers
Tesco Mobile Sensory Box - https://bettersociety.net/tesco-mobile-sensory-box.php
Insanity Arcade, Poole - https://www.insanityarcade.com/home
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Do our kids feel empathy? | Heidi Mavir
Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Wednesday Jan 15, 2025
Mark welcomes back the phenomenal Heidi Mavir, who is an author, a neurodivergent advocate, activist, public speaker and Mum of a neurodifferent son (20, diagnosed autistic with a tic disorder, as well as suspected dyslexia and Ehlers Danlos Syndrome). They pick up on a topic they very briefly touched on in the previous episode they recorded, which is whether there's any truth to the commonly-held belief that autistics don't feel empathy (spoiler alert - that view is abject nonsense).
They dissect the very concept of empathy to try and understand why it's viewed as so important to neurotypicals, what "the double empathy problem" is and why our kids' way of displaying and responding to empathy is so varied.
This is a genuinely insightful episode that gives a lot of food for thought when considering whether our own kids are able to feel empathy.
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Heidi Mavir EOTAS Matters website - https://www.heidimavir.com/
"Your Child Is Not Broken" by Heidi Mavir - https://amzn.eu/d/8di4y0X
"Why Can't I Just Enjoy Things?" by Pierre Novellie - https://amzn.eu/d/fd51tDR
"How To Win Friends and Influence People" - https://amzn.eu/d/fd51tDR
The Double Empathy Problem - https://reframingautism.org.au/miltons-double-empathy-problem-a-summary-for-non-academics/
"I Didn't See You There" by Charlotte Gail - https://amzn.to/3PUk4n1
Sesame Street Introduce Autistic Character - https://youtu.be/dKCdV20zLMs
Muppet Christmas Carol - https://youtu.be/JXaVI60BFJM
Heidi Mavir on TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@heidimavir
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics, suggestions for neurodiversity champions or any "What the flip?" moments you'd like to share, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
Medicating Our Children | Danielle Jata-Hall
Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
Wednesday Dec 11, 2024
In response to several requests from listeners, this episode is all about the complexities of giving medication to our neurodivergent kids.
Mark speaks to the tremendous Danielle Jata-Hall, who is an author, award-winning blogger and a disability campaigner. She has three children (13, 11 and 8 - all diagnosed Autistic with a PDA profile, as well as a blend of ADHD, Anxiety and potential bipolar disorder).
Mark and Danielle discuss the medication journeys they've been on with their own kids, from overcoming their initial misgivings and dealing with the judgement of others, to the administrative nightmare of trying to get medication prescribed by medical professionals.
They compare different prescription pathways and share their experiences of the difficult process of titration - not to mention the rigamarole of actually getting their kids to take the medication we've fought so hard to get for them.
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
"The Journey Into S.E.N.D Fatherhood" book - https://amzn.eu/d/0qwN0il
Danielle Jata-Hall blog - https://pdaparenting.com/
Newbold Hope - https://www.newboldhope.com/
FII (Fabricated or Induced Illness) - https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/fabricated-or-induced-illness/overview/
"The Parent's Guide to ADHD Medicines" book - https://amzn.eu/d/i2e73JM
Shared Care - https://www.england.nhs.uk/medicines-2/regional-medicines-optimisation-committees-advice/shared-care-protocols/
"I'm Not Upside Down, I'm Downside Up" book - https://amzn.eu/d/avsMxy2
"Black Rainbow" book - https://amzn.eu/d/he1Nd8K
"Steph's Two Girls" blog with tips on getting your child to take medication - https://www.stephstwogirls.co.uk/2020/01/top-tips-when-your-child-wont-take.html
"A boy less ordinary" blog - https://aboylessordinary.com/
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Wednesday Nov 27, 2024
How far have we come? | Stephanie (from over the road)
Wednesday Nov 27, 2024
Wednesday Nov 27, 2024
What was it like to raise an autistic child 30 years ago? Mark has a fascinating chat with Stephanie - his wonderful neighbour from over the road, who has a 31 year old son (diagnosed autistic with moderate learning difficulties, OCD and anxiety).
They discuss how parents of autistic children were able to navigate the process of understanding how best to raise their kids, without access to the internet, social media or the breadth of information we have available now?
This is an enlightening and surprisingly uplifting episode, which shines a light on just how far society has come in a relatively short space of time, when it comes to understanding, supporting and championing our neurodivergent kids.
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Disneyland, Paris - https://www.disneylandparis.com/en-gb/
Echolalia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echolalia
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle - https://amzn.eu/d/boDv6wN
Rain Man - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain_Man
The Essential Different, Simon Baron Cohen - https://amzn.eu/d/3Y5xgWv
Gentle Parenting - https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/on-babies/202405/gentle-parenting-doesnt-mean-permissive-parenting
Leonardo Da Vinci - https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/leonardo-da-vinci-adhd-health-mona-lisa-a8927641.html
Social Stories - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/communication/communication-tools/social-stories-and-comic-strip-coversations
Supported Employment - https://www.base-uk.org/about/members/brighton-hove-city-council
Fare Share - https://fareshare.org.uk/
Oxfam - https://jobs.oxfam.org.uk/jobs/home/
Leonardslee Gardens - www.leonardsleegardens.co.uk/
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Coping with transport | "Belle"
Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Wednesday Nov 13, 2024
Mark welcomes back former guest "Belle", as they discuss the perils of transport. "Belle" has two neurodivergent children - a 9-year old girl (diagnosed autistic with sensory processing disorder and a PDA profile), and a 7-year old boy (diagnosed autistic with Tourette Syndrome and suspected ADHD). Alongside Mark's three neurodivergent kids (with a giddy blend of autism, ADHD, anxiety and PDA), they have a trove of transport-related horror stories to tell.
As well as discussing tales of travelling on buses, planes, trains, boats and cars, there are also more Neurodiversity Champions, Tiny Epic Wins and What The Flip moments, as well a particularly insightful proposal to create a demand-avoidant sat nav.
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Gatwick Airport Special Assistance - https://www.gatwickairport.com/passenger-guides/special-assistance.html
Ferry cabins (DFDS) - https://www.dfds.com/en-gb/passenger-ferries/onboard/newhaven-dieppe/sleeping
Jen Marillat, Dramatherapist - https://jenmarillat.com/
Health and Care Professions Council - https://www.hcpc-uk.org/
The British Association of Dramatherapists - https://www.badth.org.uk/
EMDR Therapy - https://www.bacp.co.uk/about-therapy/types-of-therapy/eye-movement-desensitisation-and-reprocessing-emdr
Riding For the Disabled Association (RDA) - https://rda.org.uk/
Aspens, East Sussex - https://www.aspens.org.uk/
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Judgement From Outsiders | Lisa Lloyd (@asd_with_a_g_and_t)
Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Mark chats to the magnificent Lisa Lloyd about the judgement they regularly receive from outsiders as parents of neurodivergent kids. Lisa has two children - an 11-year old boy (diagnosed autistic) and a 7-year old girl (diagnosed autistic, with a PDA profile) and, as a prominent content creator on social media (@asd_with_a_g_and_t), she is no stranger to being judged by people who don't have a neurodivergent child, much less a clue about how to raise one.
Mark and Lisa swap tales about comments they receive from people judging their children ("He's not autistic, he's just naughty"), judging their parenting ("He wouldn't act like that if he was my son") and judging the entire concept of neurodivergency ("It's just a label"). They discuss the misconceptions that cause people to act this way, as well as the appropriate responses you can give them in return.
This is a great one to listen to if you've ever been told that "He doesn't look autistic" or "Everyone's a bit on the spectrum".
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Raising the Sen-Betweeners, Lisa Lloyd - https://amzn.eu/d/4hm6Sb0
SEND Reform England - https://www.sendreformengland.com/
Lisa Lloyd Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/asd_with_a_g_and_t/
Lisa Lloyd TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@asd.with.a.g.and.t
Lisa Lloyd Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ASDwithGandT
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
TikTok:https: www.tiktok.com/@neuroshamblespod
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Keeping up with the Joneses | Samuel Wilson
Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Wednesday Oct 16, 2024
Mark discusses the innate human desire to "keep up with the Joneses" with returning guest Samuel Wilson, who is an author and parent of two children: an 8-year old daughter (on the autism pathway, with Cerebral Palsy, Cerebral Visual Impairment and Sensory Processing Disorder) and a 5-year old son (suspected neurotypical).
They discuss how unhelpful that can be in the early days of your diagnosis journey and how liberating it is when you finally let go of the expectations of being "normal" and embrace your family in all of their neuroshambolic glory.
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Simpsons clip - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=784seqWxsMk&t=469s
Dad La Soul - https://www.dadlasoul.com/
BBC Woman’s Hour - https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0022ss7
India Croc replacement saga - https://www.instagram.com/p/C9hLMewpBH6/
"Lend a Hand", Samuel Wilson's book - www.littlestepspublishing.co.uk/books/lend-a-hand
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
Am I raising an arsehole? | Kate Ebbutt
Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
Wednesday Oct 02, 2024
A potentially controversial episode, this one, where Mark chats to an old friend, Kate Ebbutt (Mum to 11 year-old neurotypical and 9-year old diagnosed ADHD/suspected autistic humans). They talk candidly about something they've both found themselves worrying about in their darker moments - am I raising an arsehole? They dissect the behaviours that qualify someone as being "an arsehole" and discuss to what extent they can be fairly applied to our neurodivergent kids.
They also discuss to what extent the gentle parenting approach could be contributing to this behaviour, as well as recounting experiences of times where they've had to explain their parenting choices to neurotypicals who struggle to understand their approach.
Please note, if you are offended by the word arsehole, it is sprinkled liberally throughout the episode, so this one might not be for you.
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
"The Explosive Child" book - https://drrossgreene.com/the-explosive-child.htm
Gentle Parenting - https://www.parents.com/parenting/better-parenting/style/what-is-gentle-parenting/
National Trust - https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/
RAM (Random Access Memory) - https://www.ign.com/articles/what-is-ram
Sheffield Queer Parents - https://sites.google.com/view/sheffield-queer-parents
Angling 4 Education - https://www.angling4education.com/
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
Conversation | Kieran Rose
Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
Wednesday Sep 18, 2024
Mark chats to the inspirational Kieran Rose. As well as being autistic/ADHD himself, Kieran has three autistic/ADHD children (11, 14 and 15) as well as an autistic wife.
Kieran is an author, academic, trainer, consultant and all round font of knowledge on autism, so this episode contains some fascinating insights into the different communication styles between neurodivergents and neurotypicals when having a conversation.
As well as topics such as situational mutism, hyperverbalism and monotropism, Mark and Kieran swap tales about the fact they're never able to finish a conversation without being interrupted and discuss the perils of group conversation and their very different takes on the ridiculous neurotypical habit of engaging in small talk.
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
Neurodive Podcast - https://soundcloud.com/neurodivepod/kieranrose
Kieran's website - https://theautisticadvocate.com/
Maori word for autism - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-40493398
KIERAN'S RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER READING:
A short (and very inexhaustive) list of Autistic advocates and allies no longer with us, who have made a phenomenally constructive difference to the narratives around Autistic and Neurodivergent people, but who never get the recognition of lauded non-Autistic people:
Jim Sinclair
Don't mourn for us - Jim Sinclair wrote one of the pivotal texts in the reframing of Autistic experience (opens as a PDF):
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://philosophy.ucsc.edu/SinclairDontMournForUs.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwik86zq-smIAxWCWUEAHQ2NH5UQFnoECCQQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3WfDEINrbr2olYTgiO6ZKl
A book about Jim:
https://amzn.eu/d/3qalj4l
Donna Williams
Conceptualised a model of advocacy based on an inside-out approach - that observation based on your own or a normative experience can only take you so far.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Williams
She produced a massive number of books:
https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-donna-williams-pid-199891
Mel Baggs:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_Baggs
An old (quality is indicative of its age, so please bear with it) video on two parts that off a deep challenge to normative assumptions around communication and experience:
https://youtu.be/JnylM1hI2jc?si=IaPhwkiYn1vRmmlp
Dinah Murray
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinah_Murray
Co-creator of the theory of monotropism:
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1362361305051398
A basic introduction:
https://youtu.be/qUFDAevkd3E?si=SMiSDEoiNcDtV2eg
Steve Silberman
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Silberman
The author of Neurotribes, a game changing book that brought a model of different, not less into the mainstream:
https://amzn.eu/d/clw0AD8
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/

Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Food, laborious food | Dee McMahon
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Wednesday Sep 04, 2024
Kicking off season 2 of Neuroshambles, Mark chats to the wonderful Dee McMahon who also has three neurodivergent children: a 16-year old boy, (diagnosed Autistic/ADHD with anxiety disorder) a 13-year old girl (diagnosed ADHD with Dyslexia/Dyscalculia) and a 9-year old boy (diagnosed Autistic with ARFID).
Mark and Dee take a deep dive into the soul crushing nightmare of trying to feed their neurodifferent kids something remotely resembling a balanced diet. From the trauma of putting together meal plans and shopping lists, to the sense of nervous trepidation when trying to introduce their kids to new foods and the wounded pride they experience when food they've slaved away at is dismissed without even being tried.
They also take an in-depth look at the more serious side of food issues, when they discuss Dee's personal account of her boy's recent diagnosis of ARFID (Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder).
LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:
ARFID - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avoidant/restrictive_food_intake_disorder
ARFID Community Facebook Group - www.facebook.com/groups/arfid/
mASCot website: https://www.asc-mascot.com/
mASCot Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/221337174595596/
To make a donation to mASCot, so they can continue their amazing work: https://www.givey.com/mascot
Evelina Clinic, London - www.evelinalondon.nhs.uk
Sainsbury's pasta stars - https://www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/sainsburys-stars-500g?
Spruce tips - www.foragerchef.com/spruce-tips/
CONTACT US
If you have any feedback about the show, ideas for topics or suggestions for neurodiversity champions you'd like us to give a shout out to, you can email: hello@neuroshambles.comFOLLOW US
Instagram: www.instagram.com/neuroshambles
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Neuroshambles
Threads: www.threads.net/@neuroshamblesCREDITS
The Neuroshambles theme tune was created by Skilsel on Pixabay: https://pixabay.com/