From Shame to Self-Compassion: Supporting Mental Health, Social Needs and Executive Functioning in Neurodivergent Kids
Release Date: 04/30/2025
Executive Functioning, ADHD & Autism: 5 Ways to Teach Accountability Without Shame
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
When adults tell autistic or ADHD children to be more accountable — to take more responsibility, to stop making excuses, admit when they're wrong — I understand exactly where that's coming from. The fear underneath it is real. The exhaustion is real. But here's what I also know: when we demand accountability and responsibility through shame, we're not teaching our neurodivergent kids anything. We're just making them feel bad about who they are. In this episode, I'm getting honest about something most of us don't talk about — the massive gap between what parents mean when they say...
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Autism & ADHD: Effective Ways to Teach Chores
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
ADHD & Autism: Why Chores Are So Hard and How To Teach Chores in a Way That Actually Works:) Why do chores turn into power struggles in so many ADHD and autistic families? It’s not laziness. It’s not defiance. And it’s definitely not a character flaw. In this episode of The Autism ADHD Podcast, Holly Blanc Moses sits down with adolescent psychologist Dr. Cam Caswell to unpack why chores feel like a nightmare for neurodivergent kids and teens. If you’re parenting a child with ADHD or autism and struggling with: Executive functioning challenges Chore refusal Emotional...
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Why Morning and Bedtime Routines Are So Hard for ADHD and Autistic Kids — And the Practical Supports That Help
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
Why are morning routines and bedtime routines so hard for ADHD and autistic kids? If your mornings feel chaotic… If bedtime turns into battles… If you’ve tried “sleep hygiene,” reward charts, reminders, and it still falls apart… This episode is for you. In this conversation, I sit down with occupational therapist Dr. Peyton Gemmell to talk about why routines are especially difficult for neurodivergent kids and teens — and what actually helps. Here’s what I need you to hear: It’s not laziness. It’s not defiance. It’s executive functioning, sensory processing, transitions,...
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Executive Functioning: The "Why" Behind ADHD Struggles
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
What if the problem isn’t motivation… but misunderstanding? In this episode, we dive deep into executive functioning and the powerful role of “why” in understanding ADHD and neurodivergent children and teens. Joining me is Dani Donovan — ADHD advocate, comic artist, and author of The Anti-Planner — for an honest and validating conversation about procrastination, overwhelm, shame, and the myth of laziness. If you’ve ever thought: “Why won’t they just do it?” “They know what to do — so why aren’t they doing it?” “Am I doing something wrong as a parent?” “Why...
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No One Asked Me Why: What Autistic and ADHD Children Want You To Know
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
When I was in first grade, I had a plan for Valentine's Day. A very thoughtful, very Holly plan. Every classmate was getting a Valentine. But not every classmate was getting the same coin taped inside. There were the quarter kids. The dime kids. The nickel kids. The penny kids. And one classmate got nothing. My teacher was not happy. My parents were not happy. And not one single adult that day asked me why I did it. That part — the part where no one asked — is what this episode is really about. In this episode, I talk about: ▸ The full story of the Valentine's Day coin system (and...
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People Pleasing Is Dangerous for Autistic & ADHD Kids: What Parents and Therapists Need to Know
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
People Pleasing Is Dangerous for Autistic & ADHD Kids: What Parents and Therapists Need to Know People pleasing is often labeled as being kind, flexible, or mature. But for autistic and ADHD children and teens, people pleasing is often something else entirely. It’s a self-protective survival strategy—one rooted in fear of rejection, emotional pain, and the belief that their needs are “too much.” In this episode of The Autism ADHD Podcast, I talk about why people pleasing is especially risky for neurodivergent kids and teens, how it develops, and the early warning signs adults often...
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Why Overusing the Word “Friend” Can Hurt Autistic and ADHD Children
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
We use the word friend all the time—at school, at home, on the playground. “Line up, friends.” “We don’t hit our friends.” “That’s my friend from work.” It sounds warm and inclusive, and it’s almost always said with good intentions. But for many autistic and ADHD children, language is taken literally. When we tell them everyone is their friend, they believe us. And then they expect those people to act like friends—to include them, play with them, and treat them kindly. When that doesn’t happen, the confusion can turn into hurt, self-blame, anxiety, and even depression....
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Why Neurodivergent Kids Get Labeled “Bossy”— & the 4-Steps That Change Everything
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
"Bossy." "Rude." "Demanding." "Has an attitude." If your autistic or ADHD child keeps getting these labels from teachers, family members, other parents or even yourself - this episode is for you. As an AuDHD psychologist, I see this pattern and how it silences the voices of neurodivergent children. destroying children's voices every single day. In this episode, I'll show you: What's REALLY happening when your neurodivergent child speaks directly Why YOUR nervous system reacts so strongly to their tone (and why that matters) The devastating long-term impact of constantly correcting tone The...
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The Emotional Toll of Sensory Sensitivities: What Autistic & ADHD Kids Feel That Adults Often Miss
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
Sensory experiences shape how neurodivergent kids feel, think, and show up in the world — and when those experiences are overwhelming, confusing, or dismissed, the emotional toll can be enormous. In today’s rebroadcast, Holly Blanc Moses (AuDHD therapist, evaluator, and mom) gets deeply personal, sharing powerful stories from her own childhood and adulthood that reveal what sensory differences really feel like from the inside. From the “sock struggle” to being pushed into a pool, to finally standing under a waterfall at 50 years old—Holly opens the door to understanding sensory...
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5 Signs of An Emotionally Safe Parent For Neurodivergent Children
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
In this episode of The Autism ADHD Podcast, host Holly Blanc Moses welcomes Shelly Robinson, a Certified Conscious parenting coach and founder of Raising Yourself. You don't want to miss this episode! Parents, therapists, and educators are going to LOVE this episode. Holly and Shelly cover 5 signs of emotionally safe parents, why this way of parenting is the best for both the child and the parent and how to work on becoming a safer parent. They dive into crucial topics like allowing kids to disagree respectfully, not taking their behavior personally, and the importance of self-care for...
info_outlineI'm excited to welcome Dr. Catherine Mutti-Driscoll back to The Autism ADHD Podcast for this special rebroadcast! We are chatting about neurodivergent children and their experience with self-critcism and how this is impacted by social differences, learning needs and executive functioning. Catherine and I also talk about how to move forward with self-compassion.
In This Episode You'll Learn:
- What brain shame is and how it develops in neurodivergent individuals
- How executive function challenges are brain-based skills, not character flaws
- The impact of brain shame on academic performance, social interactions, and home life
- Catherine and I talk about our journeys.
- How parent and educator expectations can unintentionally foster brain shame
- Strategies for combating brain shame and building self-compassion
- Why understanding your brain's unique wiring is crucial for mental health
Sincerely,
Holly Blanc Moses - The Mom/Neurodivergent Therapist
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