This episode of Neuroshambles, will resonate will all parents of neurodifferent kids, as Mark discusses difficulties with transition with the wonderful autism advocate, Pete Wharmby. Together, they delve into the messy, stressful, and often misunderstood world of transitions – from seemingly small everyday routines to major life changes.

Whether it’s leaving the house, going into school, or prying them away from screen time, transitions can often be a sensory, emotional and logistical nightmare for autistic, ADHD and PDA kids (and adults). But why exactly are they so hard – and what can we do to ease the load?

This is a funny, heartfelt, and cathartic episode full of insight, compassion and practical suggestions, as well as a much-needed sense of solidarity for anyone who’s ever dreaded their kids being invited to a birthday party.

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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):

00:00 – Intro and why this is only part one

03:30 – Meet the guest: Pete Wharmby

12:00 – Transitions: What they are and why they’re so difficult

19:00 – Fear of the unknown

25:00 – Why birthday parties can be so anxiety-inducing

32:00 – Strategies for smoother transitions to the unknown

40:00 – School and powerlessness

48:00 – Holidays, Google Earth and visual planning

55:00 – Fear of the Known: Why school can feel like a punishment

1:03:00 – Processing struggles and instruction overload

1:13:00 – Fixable triggers and simple (free) accommodations

1:20:00 – The double-edged sword of hyperfocus

1:24:00 – Neurodiversity Champion: Fight For Ordinary

1:26:30 – Tiny Epic Wins

1:29:00 – What the Flip? Moments

1:33:00 – Wrap-up and tease for part 2

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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION:

Pete Wharmby website - https://petewharmby.com/

Untypical by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/8gGK6v4

What I Want to Talk About, by Pete Wharmby - https://amzn.eu/d/6tY0kZQ

Fight for Ordinary - https://disabledchildrenspartnership.org.uk/fight-for-ordinary/

Google Maps Street View - https://www.google.com/streetview/

Google Earth - https://earth.google.com/web/

Ordnance Survey Maps - https://shop.ordnancesurvey.co.uk/

Albion In The Community - https://bhafcfoundation.org.uk/

Monotropism and Autism Theory - https://monotropism.org/

Interoception - https://www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/professional-practice/interoception-wellbeing

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CONTACT US

🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com

📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com

📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles

🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod

📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles

🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles

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CREDITS

🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

In this episode of Neuroshambles, Mark Allen is joined by devoted dad and fellow Neuroshambler Mark Holborow, for a refreshingly honest look at the difficulties of holding down a job, while raising neurodivergent kids and trying (often unsuccessfully) to keep those two worlds from colliding.

They discuss naked Zoom call interruptions and the emotional labour of school drop-offs, as well as the guilt, the resilience, and the accidental skillsets parents of ND kids develop.

It’s a cathartic, relatable deep dive into the realities of navigating employment when your home life is anything but typical – with plenty of laughs, rants, and candid talk about autism, ADHD, PDA and neurodivergent parenting.

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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):

00:00 – Intro & Listener Survey Feedback 05:30 – Meet the Guest: Mark Holborough 10:00 – The Challenges of working parents 16:30 – Working from Home with neurodifferent Kids 25:00 – Background chaos, interruptions and client calls 33:00 – The emotional guilt of being the breadwinner 40:00 – Supporting the non-working Parent 53:00 – How open can you be at work? 1:00:00 – Hiding a child at work: Real life stories 1:07:00 – Why parents of neuro-exceptional kids make great employees 1:13:00 – The economic cost of caring 1:26:00 – The Positives 1:29:00 – Neurodiversity Champions 1:33:00 – Tiny Epic Wins 1:37:00 – What the Flip? Moments 1:41:00 – Wrap-up and thanks

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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:

• Neuroshambles Listener Survey: https://forms.gle/2wFVupe4HumCYym6A
• LSE Report – The Economic Case for Prioritising Autism in Policy and Reform: http://lse.ac.uk/cpec/assets/documents/Autismeconomics.pdf
• The Sunflower Alliance – raising awareness of hidden disabilities: https://hdsunflower.com/
• BUPA Medical Insurance: https://www.bupa.co.uk/health/health-insurance-ppc-b

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CONTACT US

🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles

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CREDITS

🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com

To kick off Season 3, Mark welcomes back Neuroshambles favourite Heidi Mavir - bestselling author, speaker, fearless advocate and proud neurodivergent parent - for a lively and cathartic deep dive into swearing. From F-bombs on the trampoline to grandparent-safe alternatives, they explore how language, context, and neurodivergent wiring all shape how (and why) our kids swear.

This warm and witty episode unpacks the relationship between swearing and regulation, impulse control, PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), sensory overload, and social context. Expect plenty of laughs, the occasional C-bomb, and a ton of relatable chaos for anyone raising autistic, ADHD, or otherwise differently-wired kids.

Whether you’re a proudly sweary household or struggling to police your neurodivergent child's potty-mouth moments, this episode is packed with nuance, honesty, and a surprising amount of empathy - even for those who hate bad language.

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CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS (Estimated):

00:00 - Welcome Back & Meet the Guest: Heidi Mavir 03:00 - School Turbulence, Burnout & Finding Your Flow 08:00 - Why Swearing Is This Week’s Topic 12:00 - What Is a Swear Word Anyway? 18:00 - Swearing, Context & Cultural Taboos 25:00 - Family Rules: “Nana Swears” vs “F-Bombs at Home” 33:00 - Parenting Through Swearing: Where Do You Draw the Line? 41:00 - PDA, Equalising Behaviour & Rage Rooms 50:00 - When the Swears Are Aimed at You 58:00 - Swearing as a Self-Regulation Strategy 1:03:00 - Should We Be Policing Swearing at All? 1:12:00 - Swearing and Impulse Control in ADHD 1:17:00 - Teaching Context Without Policing Expression 1:25:00 - Workarounds, Wordplay & Sweary Shenanigans 1:30:00 – Tiny Epic Wins 1:35:00 – What the Flip? Moments 1:40:00 - Wrap-Up & Where to Find Heidi

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LINKS TO STUFF WE MENTION IN THIS EPISODE:

• Heidi Mavir website - https://www.heidimavir.com/
• Heidi’s “Your child is not broken” book - https://amzn.eu/d/cjoih9W
• Eliza Fricker “Can’t not won’t” book - https://amzn.eu/d/91m7voc
• PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) - https://www.pdasociety.org.uk/what-is-pda/
• “F*ck you I won’t do what you tell me”, song lyric by Rage Against The Machine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWXazVhlyxQ

• Lindsay McGlone - https://www.instagram.com/rollinwithlindsay_/

• Reclaimed Means Business - https://lindsaymcglone.kartra.com/page/RMB2025

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CONTACT US

🌐 Website: www.neuroshambles.com 📧 Email: hello@neuroshambles.com 📸 Instagram: @neuroshambles 🎵 TikTok: @neuroshamblespod 📘 Facebook: Neuroshambles 🧵 Threads: @neuroshambles

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CREDITS

🎶 Theme music by Skilsel on Pixabay: pixabay.com