Podcast Picks

First: Check out one of this month's picks

Then: Use the feedback form to let us know what you thought

And: Join the conversation at our next Parents Together meetings

Feedback for "Starobin Counseling Blog: Things I Learned as a (Neurotypical) School Counselor for Neurodivergent Students" highlights reflections on behavioral modeling and raises deep questions about the complexities of masking.

• Modeling Accountability: The reader highly valued the reminder that parents and educators are constantly modeling behavior for children. They noted that even when modeling "not-great" behavior, it still serves as a powerful opportunity to model how to admit mistakes and make amends.

• The Dilemma of Masking: A major area of concern and questioning centered on masking. Having recently raised masking as a concern in their teenager's IEP meeting, the parent expressed a strong desire to help their child recognize and honor personal boundaries instead of masking through overwhelming, "too-big" challenges.

• Distinguishing Masking vs. Coping: Because the parent is unsure if their teen is even aware of their own masking behavior, they raised a critical question: how can parents, teens, and the adults working with them learn to notice the difference between masking, appropriate coping, and exploring identity?

The feedback for "Acting Breakdown: This Actress Destroyed Every Autism Cliche" focuses on appreciation for authentic representation of neurodiversity in mainstream media

Key points from listener feedback include:

• Mainstream Representation: One listener expressed deep gratitude for thoughtful depictions of autism appearing in mainstream media, noting that because neurodiversity is so normalized in their own life, they often forget that not everyone understands or "gets it"

• .Authenticity of Experience: They loved how Dr. King verbalizes her inner monologue.  One listener highlighted that this kind of verbalization is incredibly helpful for explaining and illustrating the neurodivergent experience to people who do not have lived experience with autism

Feedback for the podcast episode "Complicated Kids Podcast: Your Nervous System Matters" centered on the connection between a parent's regulation and a child's ability to self-regulate.

Key takeaways from the feedback include:

• Co-regulation Awareness: A listener noted that their own level of regulation directly impacts their child's ability to self-regulate, and conversely, a child's dysregulation can dysregulate the parent.

• The "Smoke Alarm" Metaphor: A major sticking point was the idea that a child's behavior is not a "fire" to be put out, but rather a "smoke alarm". While one might be able to help the "smoke" clear (e.g., by "opening windows" or calming the situation), the alarm will continue until the underlying source is addressed.

• Practical Application: A listener found value in having a plan for "big behavior"—even something as simple as breathing—to avoid adding to the chaos.

• Future Reflection: A respondent expressed interest in using the "smoke alarm" metaphor as a shared family vocabulary to identify when family members are "smoking" or when they are the ones setting off alarms.

Feedback for the podcast episode "The Testing Psychologist: Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) with Dr. Donna Henderson" focused on the importance of early identification and understanding the root causes of behavior.

Key insights from the feedback include:

• Recognition of PDA Traits: One listener noted that they had long suspected their child fit the PDA profile. They shared that before receiving an autism diagnosis, their child was diagnosed with Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD) and exhibited "classroom-clearing behaviors" similar to those described by Dr. Henderson.

• The Value of Early Awareness: A significant reflection for a listener was whether having PDA "on the radar" for both parents and professionals earlier would have helped the family find the right diagnosis sooner.

• Prioritizing the "Why": The most impactful message was Dr. Henderson’s emphasis on pausing to understand what lies underneath a behavior. This reminded the listener of the value of investing time into understanding the motivation behind challenging behaviors—such as through ABC (Antecedent-Behavior-Consequence) tracking—before attempting to solve them.

• Questions on Formal Diagnosis: A listener raised questions about the practical necessity of a formal PDA profile. They wondered if a child is already being supported by curious and effective parenting, what additional "actionable information" a confirmed PDA profile would provide.