Do you like podcasts, or watching YouTube videos, rather than, or as well as reading? Recently I realised that I'm a visual learner and struggle with holding onto auditory input - when I was younger I had no clue that everyone learns in different ways. During my school years I would spend a lot of time writing notes and learning from those, because spoken words just didn't sink in. I think 'in one ear and out the other' was a very valid phrase for me!
So I was late to switch on to podcasts and to be honest I didn't feel I had the time for them anyway. I drive our daughter a long distance to school three times a week but we listen to music of her choosing in the car (does anyone else not have control of their own car radio?!). Any other car trips I make tend to be very short, not long enough to enjoy a podcast. When I'm not 'officially' working I spend a lot of my time on the computer at home, writing for my blog and sharing social media posts, and there's no way I can concentrate on someone talking while I am writing/typing. I don't even listen to music while I'm at the computer, because I'm a lyrics person - I like to sing along to music, whether that's out loud or silently in my head. As a mum, I am able to multitask in many ways, but listening to someone else's words while writing my own words is not one of them!
A couple of years ago (before I fell down a couple of stairs and badly damaged my ankle, ouch. I'm still feeling the effects of that a year later), I used to walk a dog for an old couple (via the Cinnamon Trust, a great scheme that you can read more about here: cinnamon.org.uk ) and that was when I first began listening to podcasts. I started with Stephen Bartlett's Diary of a CEO; there's no denying he welcomes great quality podcast guests talking about a range of subjects and I was particularly fascinated by any episodes with a psychology aspect, delving into how our minds work. But then I began to seek out podcasts that talked about Pathological Demand Avoidance, along with any covering autism, ADHD, and neurodivergence as a whole.
More AUDIO and VISUAL PDA information
After writing our book, the opportunity arose to share our experiences on a handful of podcasts. I was apprehensive at first but I quickly began to feel more comfortable with chatting. Partly because there wasn't a live audience, but also because the talks were on a subject close to my heart - my family! I love it when the conversation on these podcasts extends in different ways; I'm always open to any questions and I can't wait to see what discussions come up next.
I've just recorded another today. I'll keep you posted with that and any future podcasts I do but in the meantime I thought it might help to share a list of podcasts I have taken part in, along with those that I have enjoyed listening to. Some of these podcasts are also posted on YouTube which is great for those who prefer videos!
Podcasts I've been a guest on, talking about PDA
SEND in the Experts
Georgina Durrant, author of three awesome books including her latest, SEND Strategies for the Primary Years*, hosts a great podcast called SEND in the Experts. Her most recently published episode was her chat with me and I hope you enjoy listening as much as I enjoyed chatting! One of her earlier episodes is a conversation with representatives from the PDA Society, also definitely worth a listen.
This podcast is also available on Apple here or via Amazon Music unlimited (you can sign up for a free Amazon Prime trial for 30 days via this link, just remember to put a reminder in your diary if you won't want to carry on!). Our conversation was also video recorded and you can view that on YouTube here:
Stories About Autism
James is well known for being the dad of two young autistic boys and one of the few guys sharing a SEND dad viewpoint on social media. This was one of the first podcasts I ever recorded for, back in 2018. Before I even started writing our book!
James has had lots of great guests on his show over the past few years so I highly recommend checking other episodes out too. The Stories About Autism podcast is available on Apple too.
Calm the Chaos
Dayna Abraham is an American mum and author of the book Calm the Chaos*. We covered all sorts in our chat, and the episode is called Unravelling PDA: A Conversation with Steph Curtis.
Calm the Chaos Parenting podcast is also available on Apple podcasts, and there is a YouTube video of our chat 'Unraveling PDA: What Every Parent Should Know' too:
Evolve with Dr Tay
Dr. Taylor Day (Dr Tay!) is a licensed psychologist specialising in neuroaffirming care for autistic children and their families, including very early diagnosis and early intervention. I loved chatting with her about all things PDA - my episode is Number 112, 'A parent's path to supporting her PDA teen with Steph Curtis':
I'd also like to highlight the episode titled What is PDA? where Dr Tay gives a balanced view of some of the questions being brought up in the world of PDA, especially in America where PDA is less well known.
Let's Talk Small Talk
This is a fairly new podcast, hosted by Libby Hill from Small Talk Speech and Language Therapy. I was honoured to be Libby's first guest!
Neuroshambles
Mark is a dad of three young children and he has started this podcast recently. Each episode tries to shine a slightly irreverent, humorous light on different aspects of living with neurodivergent children. Mark and I chatted about sensory issues and struggles with clothing:
Also available on Apple podcasts here: Struggles with clothing | Steph Curtis
Let's Talk Autism
After bumping into lovely Meesh and Christelle at the BAPS Awards I was invited onto their well-established Let's Talk Autism podcast. So many other great episodes worth checking out too!
The Empowered Parent with Dana Baltutis
Dana is a late diagnosed autistic speech pathologist based in Australia, working with parents and therapists who live and work with Neurodivergent children and individuals. Her podcast is intended to help parents to grow their confidence and skills in communicating, interacting and understanding their children so that they can be the empowered parents they are destined to be for their children! We chatted about Navigating the Complexities of Autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in Family Life.
VIDEOS:
Here's some videos of me sharing our experiences:
Finding Cooper's Voice
Newnham Family Forum
A couple of years ago I was thrilled to be asked to speak at the Nenham College Family Forum event in Cambridge, alongside Carly Jones MBE. The whole recording can be found on YouTube at Newnham Family Forum 2022: Girls on the Spectrum.
PDA Dad UK
Three years ago, when I was part way through writing our book, I got the chance to chat with Duncan Casburn who has posted many great videos on YouTube under the name PDA Dad UK. Here's my episode with him:
I do have my own YouTube channel with some videos on too but I don't think I'm a natural in front of the camera, sadly. Every now and again I think about updating the clips but even the thought of recording myself always makes me cringe so I don't know if I'll ever manage to do that! My channel is www.youtube.com/@stephstwogirls
Other PDA podcasts
InTune Pathways
Kristy Forbes is a mum and adult PDAer living in Australia. I could listen to her voice all day - such clear explanations and descriptions of what it's like to be Pathologically Demand Avoidant and suggestions of how to help. Her podcast is here:
Missing the Mark
Eliza Fricker is author of The Family Experience of PDA, Can't Not Won't and several other books. Her podcast titled Autism and the Education System is a short series of just four episodes, but all worth taking the time to listen to. Mainly covering aspects of struggles with school.
Making the Shift
Jessie & Chris are a couple of speech and language practitioners from California who share neurodiversity affirming ways to strengthen social-emotional development and regulation in Autistic students. In this episode of their podcast Making the Shift they chat with Dr Tay, sharing thoughts on how you might recognise whether your child has PDA
Also available on YouTube: Does my child have PDA? and on Apple podcasts at Ep. 63: Does My Child Have PDA?
Journeys with PDA Coffee Chat
Heather and Kerissa are two American moms who share their stories from an authentic and real perspective, talking about their own neurodivergence and what brought them to the journey of Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) autism profile. In this episode they chat with Clare Truman, author of The Teacher’s Introduction to Pathological Demand Avoidance, about supporting PDA children and young people to access education.
PDA Parents
Caitie and Casey are two American parents who have hosted some episodes discussing PDA:
Across the Neurodivide Podcast
Duncan PDA Dad UK also hosts a great podcast with the fabulous Tigger Pritchard who many of us in the community know and respect for being a brilliant neurodivergent advocate. Their episodes can be found on YouTube here: Across the Neurodivide.
Other podcasts on Neurodiversity
The Hidden 20%
Hosted by Autistic & ADHD enterpeneur Ben Branson. He chats with 'neurodivergent creatives' and there are lots of great episodes so far. I'm highlighting one of the early episodes with Carrie Grant: "What is normal?"
Last year I reviewed the Grants' book A Very Modern Family and I could honestly think I could listen to either Carrie or David speak for hours. Such kind and beautiful souls, with gorgeous voices!
Womenkind Collective
I loved this talk with Emily Katy about autism and her book, Girl Unmasked:
In her book, Emily shares about how she was sectioned at the age of 16 after extreme anxiety attacks, self-harm and OCD. It was only after that happened that she was diagnosed autistic. She tells her story so honestly and I think we can all learn a lot from her.
The Village Lantern Podcast
This episode (Season 3 episode 6) is a chat about a workshop with the incredible Dr Ross Greene. If you haven't heard about him yet, I highly recommed checking out his website livesinthebalance.org.
Who We Are Now
And last in the podcast list but very definitely not least is one of the best podcast episodes I have ever listened to. Who We Are Now is hosted by of Top Gear Fame and his daughter Izzy. The episode on Lotus brains and the truth about the autism spectrum was with autistic author and speaker Pete Wharmby:
Let me know if you know of any others I could add to my list!
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