Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
Debbie Reber
Feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of raising a neurodivergent child? Full-Tilt Parenting is here to help. Hosted by parenting activist and author Debbie Reber, this podcast is your go-to resource for navigating life with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), giftedness, and twice-exceptional (2e) kids. With expert interviews and candid conversations, you'll discover practical solutions for things like school challenges and refusal, therapy options, and fostering inclusion, social struggles, advocacy, intense behavior, and more — all through a strengths-based, neurodiversity-affirming lens. Whether you're struggling with advocating for your child at school or seeking ways to better support their unique needs, Debbie offers the guidance and encouragement you need to reduce overwhelm and create a thriving, joyful family environment. It's like sitting down with a trusted friend who gets it. You’ve got this, and we’ve got your back!
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 27, 2026 • 48min
TPP 326a: Educator Sam Young on Reimagining Socializing for Twice-Exceptional Students
Sam Young, a neurodivergent educator and two-time Fulbright scholar who runs Young Scholars Academy, discusses reimagining social lives for twice-exceptional kids. He explores how online communities can be valid social spaces. He highlights interest-driven programs, alternatives like improv and D&D, and building supportive environments that focus on strengths rather than deficits.
Mar 24, 2026 • 37min
TPP 496: Dr. Ellen Braaten on Helping Teens and Tweens Discover What they Love to Do
Dr. Ellen Braaten, clinical psychologist and Harvard Medical School associate professor who studies ADHD and motivation, discusses why motivation is not fixed. She explains how identity, responsibility, and real-world experience fuel interest. Practical tools like values inventories and workbook activities help tweens and teens discover meaningful pursuits.
Mar 20, 2026 • 44min
TPP 303a: Dr. Joseph Lee Talks About the Importance of SEL / Social and Emotional Learning
Dr. Joseph Lee, a psychiatrist and SEL educator focused on mental healthiness, joins to unpack social and emotional learning. He defines SEL, discusses youth mental health trends, classroom integration and mindfulness, and addresses the political backlash. Practical ideas for parents and the stakes of deprioritizing SEL are highlighted.
Mar 19, 2026 • 18min
TPP 495: Schooling, Detours, and Launch — What I’d Do (and Not Do) Again
A parent reflects on an unconventional schooling journey and the value of staying flexible. The conversation highlights choosing a gap year to build maturity and reduce pressure. Homeschooling during a big move is defended as a practical choice. Emphasis is placed on prioritizing relationship over rigid timelines and learning to let go while still offering support.
Mar 17, 2026 • 45min
TPP 494: Lindsay Lyons on Navigating Hard School Conversations Around Inclusion, Equity, and Neurodivergence
Lindsay Lyons, an educational justice coach and former NYC special education teacher with a PhD, helps families and schools hold meaningful conversations about inclusion, equity, and neurodivergence. She discusses creating emotionally safe spaces, centering student voice, restorative practices, and sustaining year-long support for real change. Practical strategies for engaging families and navigating politically fraught school climates are highlighted.
Mar 13, 2026 • 39min
TPP 293a: Catherine Newman on How Kids Can Learn Social Skills and Ways to be a Good Human
Catherine Newman, writer focused on parenting and relationships and author of What Can I Say?, offers a fresh, practical take on teaching social skills to kids and teens. She talks about why in-person skills still matter, how to make guidance accessible and inclusive for neurodivergent kids, and concrete ways parents and educators can model and practice curiosity, empathy, and presence.
Mar 10, 2026 • 42min
TPP 493: Patty Laushman on Parenting for Independence: Strategies for the Transition to Adulthood
Patty Laushman, author and autism life coach who founded Thrive Autism Coaching, helps neurodivergent teens and adults and their families. She reframes independence as positive interdependence. She explains common “stuckness” patterns, the skills-capacity-readiness model, and her SBN framework of Support, Boundaries, and Nudges. Practical, compassionate strategies for the transition to adulthood.
Mar 6, 2026 • 28min
TPP 018: 11-year-old Asher Shares Challenges and Strategies Surrounding His Social Life
An 11-year-old talks about real-life friendship challenges and how he keeps connections alive across distance. He shares what happens when meltdowns occur and how he recovers. Strategies for handling mean kids, managing group anxiety, and planning to stay calm are discussed. Practical tips for starting at a new school and finding friends who fit round out the conversation.
Mar 3, 2026 • 34min
TPP 492: Laura Key on ADHD Aha Moments, Parenting, and Burnout
Laura Key, VP of Content Strategy at Understood.org and host of ADHD Aha!, speaks from professional expertise and lived ADHD experience as a mom of neurodivergent kids. She discusses late diagnosis aha moments, the emotional labor and invisible executive function demands parents carry, the difference between crisis-focused strengths and daily overwhelm, and burnout’s micro and macro forms.
Feb 27, 2026 • 35min
TPP 372a: Dr. Megan Anna Neff on Self-Care for Autistic People
Dr. Megan Anna Neff, a neurodivergent clinical psychologist and author, offers concise guidance grounded in lived experience and clinical work. She explores self-care as collective, addresses internalized ableism, sensory and interoception differences, PDA-specific strategies, co-regulation, and how workplace advocacy can be a form of self-care. Practical, community-centered approaches are highlighted.
