Neuroshambles
Mark Allen
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About This Podcast
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
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Recent Episodes
S3E16 School "Avoidance": Part 1 - What it is and how to spot it | Heidi Mavir
If you are a parent or carer of a neurodivergent child, the chances are that school attendance has been a topic that has kept you awake at night. Whether you know it as school refusal, emotionally…
S3E15 Screen Time: Part 2 - The Downsides For Neurodivergent Kids | Hannah Woods
This week we're back with part two of a candid, deep dive into screen time. Last time we covered all the good stuff - the regulation, the social connection, the sense of mastery. This time, we're…
S3E14 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…
S3E13 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…
S3E12 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…
S3E11 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…
S3E10 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…
S3E9 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…
S3E8 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…
S3E7 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…
S3E6 How autistic is your child? | Kieran Rose
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,…
S3E5 Kids refusing medical help | Michelle Parton
Why won’t our neurodivergent kids just take the bloody Calpol? Michelle Parton joins mark to explore the baffling and emotionally loaded issue of kids who resist medical help. Mark and Michelle swap…
S3E4 Difficulty with transitions - Part 2 | Pete Wharmby
In part two of this deep dive into transitions, Mark reunites with Pete Wharmby to look at more reasons they can cause such a monumental challenge for autistic, ADHD and PDA kids (and adults). From…
S3E3 Difficulty with transitions - Part 1 | Pete Wharmby
This episode of Neuroshambles, will resonate will all parents of neurodivergent kids, as Mark discusses difficulties with transition with the wonderful autism advocate, Pete Wharmby. Together, they…
S3E2 Managing the work/shambles balance | Mark Holborow
How do you hold down a job when your home life is full-on chaos? Mark is joined by fellow dad Mark Holborow to take a refreshingly honest look at the difficulties of holding down a job, while raising…
S3E1 Swearing | Heidi Mavir
Why do so many neurodivergent kids swear - loudly, creatively and often at the worst possible moment? Heidi Mavir returns for a lively and cathartic deep dive into swearing. From F-bombs on the…
S2E22 Surviving the summer holidays | Lisa Galley
The Summer holidays. Six weeks of unstructured time. No routine. No school. Mark and Lisa Galley explore why the this can be such a challenging experience for parents of autistic, ADHD or PDA kids…
S2E21 Swimming | Hatty Ashdown
For autistic children - or those with ADHD, PDA, and other forms of neurodivergency, swimming can be simultaneously a magical sensory experience and an absolute logistical nightmare. Hatty Ashdown…
S2E20 Tackling Ignorance - Part 2 | Jo Matthews
Following on from part 1, fan favourite Jo Matthews joins Mark once more for another laughter-filled, cathartic rant through the most mind-bogglingly ill-informed things people have said about…
S2E19 Tackling Ignorance - Part 1 | Jo Matthews
In this episode, Mark is joined once again by the brilliant Jo Matthews for a cathartic, hilarious, and occasionally sweary dive into the unfiltered reality of parenting autistic, ADHD and PDA…
Frequently Asked Questions
Neuroshambles has published 59 episodes since October 2023, covering topics in Comedy, Comedy Interviews.
Neuroshambles is currently highly active with new episodes every 2 weeks. Average episode length is 1h 22m.
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