Autism, ADHD & Anxiety: Trying to Be “Good Enough” Almost Killed Me
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
This episode is deeply personal. Today, I’m sharing a part of my story that I've hidden for a very long time. Elizabeth Le Forest is walking with me through painful topics such as anxiety, perfectionism, chronic illness, masking, people pleasing, burnout, and what happens when a neurodivergent person spends their life trying to prove they are worthy of love, belonging, and support. For years, I wore a heavy mask. I learned to push through it all with a smile Rejection Exhaustion Pain. Fear. Overwhelm. I learned to disconnect from my body and my needs because somewhere along the...
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“Why ‘Bad Behavior’ Isn’t Bad Parenting — And the Harmful ‘Raised Right’ Myth About Autism & ADHD”
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
If you’ve ever felt that gut punch… The side eye. The comment. The subtle (or not so subtle) message that your child is “too much”… or that you’re somehow getting it wrong as a parent… I get it! In this episode of The Autism ADHD Podcast, I’m talking about something that so many parents and therapists experience… but we don’t talk about enough: The “good kid / bad kid” narrative The “they were raised right” comments And the damage this causes for autistic and ADHD kids — and their families This episode was inspired by two real-life moments that happened just...
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Neurodivergent Moms of Autistic & ADHD Kids: Your Burnout Makes Sense & It Didn't Start With Motherhood
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
I want to start with something I say to burned-out moms — and I mean it every single time I say it: Your burnout makes sense. Not the kind of "makes sense" that's just being nice. The kind that means there is a real, biological, neurological explanation for why you feel the way you feel. And it started long before you became a mom. That's a nervous system that was already running on empty — and finally hit its limit. In this episode, I'm joined by Elizabeth LeForest — AuDHD somatic coach, trauma-informed practitioner, and someone who has lived this from the inside out. We go deep, and...
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Sex, Drugs & What Neurodivergent Kids Actually Hear — And Why Safe Communication Changes Everything
THE AUTISM ADHD PODCAST
Let me tell you about the time I performed Madonna's "Like a Virgin" at my elementary school talent show. I was nine. I rolled around on the floor. I sang every single word. I thought the audience was speechless because I was that talented. I had absolutely no idea what the word virgin meant. Nobody asked what song I'd picked. Nobody explained it to me. And I didn't know what I didn't know. This episode is full of stories like that one — real, honest, cringe-worthy stories from my own childhood as an autistic and ADHD kid navigating a world full of words, slang, and confusing situations. The...
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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...
info_outlineADHD & 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 meltdowns over "simple" tasks
- Fear about your child's future
- Power struggles at home
This conversation will change how you see chores forever.
You’ll learn:
✔ Why chasing compliance actually builds resentment
✔ The difference between responsibility and obedience
✔ How executive functioning impacts task initiation
✔ Why chores are an adult priority (not a teen priority)
✔ How to teach life skills without shame
✔ A neurodiversity-affirming approach to building ownership
✔ How to reduce conflict while increasing competence
This episode is essential listening for:
- Parents of ADHD and/or autistic children and teens
- Therapists and psychologists working with neurodivergent families
- Educators
- Parenting coaches
If you want to raise responsible, confident kids without damaging connection — this episode is for you!
Sincerely, Holly Blanc Moses, The Mom/Neurodivergent Therapist
P.S. I've got more goodness for you!
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Create a learning environment where your child can focus, regulate, and engage—not just survive
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Build the skills that will serve them for life—organization, time management, and speaking up for their needs
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Turn recess and group work from nightmare to opportunity with structured, supportive approaches
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Don't miss this opportunity to access 135 neurodiversity-affirming accommodations for only $27.95
Thank you for your advocacy!
After you get your guide, you can also access these free resources below:) ⬇️
🌟 Get your FREE "Get To Know My Child Snapshot"
Parents click here, Therapists click here, Educators click here
⭐️ Hey Therapists! Come on over for NEURODIVERSITY-AFFIRMING CONTINUING EDUCATION
Enhance your therapeutic approach with our affirming and engaging trainings while earning CE credits to fulfill your professional development requirements, as our courses are approved by the NBCC.
⭐️ Welcome to our PARENT MASTERCLASSES WITH Q&A
Each live class is packed with supportive strategies on the topics parents want most. Can't make it live? No worries, because you'll get the replay. Sign up to be the first to know when the next masterclass is scheduled.
Parents, click here for your masterclasses
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Parents, come on over and join the Autism ADHD Facebook Group for Parents
Therapists & educators, join the Facebook Group for professionals
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About Holly Blanc Moses
Holly Blanc Moses is a neurodivergent psychologist, speaker, consultant, continuing education provider, and host of The Autism ADHD Podcast, Autism ADHD TV, and parent masterclasses.
About Dr. Cam
Dr. Cam Caswell, PhD—“The Teen Translator”—is an adolescent psychologist, parenting coach, TEDx speaker, and host of the Parenting Teens with Dr. Cam podcast. With over 20 years of experience and a teen of her own, Dr. Cam combines professional expertise with personal insight to help parents stop yelling, start connecting, and rebuild trust at home. With over 330K followers on Instagram, she’s a trusted voice for parents who want practical, compassionate support, not more guilt. As one parent shared, "I learned more in 20 minutes than in 4 years of struggling with my teen."
Her mission: Empower parents. Uplift teens. Transform families.