Home Podcasts Everyone Gets a Juice Box: For Parents of Neurodivergent Kids
Everyone Gets a Juice Box: For Parents of Neurodivergent Kids

Everyone Gets a Juice Box: For Parents of Neurodivergent Kids

Jessica Shaw, Understood.org 16 Episodes Jun 23, 2026

Journalist and radio host Jessica Shaw swaps celebrity interviews for a new beat: parenting kids who learn and think differently. As a mom of two, she shares the chaos, victories, and everyday struggles of neurodiverse parenting. The podcast is a space for parents to laugh, vent, celebrate wins, and tackle the messy realities of raising neurodivergent children.

Episodes

How neurodivergent kids helped build a better children’s museum Jun 23, 2026 00:20:37 Rainy Saturdays just got a whole lot better. Leslie Bushara, chief program officer of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, reveals how she’s taking notes from neurodivergent kids and their parents to build a space that’s welcoming to every kind of learner, including yours. From muted paint colors to reimagined animations, Leslie shares what happens when you actually listen to kids.  For more on thi
First-gen parents, neurodivergent kids, and redefining excellence Jun 9, 2026 00:17:06 Alison Cho grew up in a tight-knit Korean American family where Harvard and medical school weren’t just dreams, they were expectations. Alison had undiagnosed ADHD and autism, and she often felt like she was letting her parents down. Now she’s raising two neurodivergent kids of her own. And she’s navigating the same cultural expectations she grew up with, this time as the parent. In this funny and
We didn’t know we had ADHD. Then motherhood hit. May 26, 2026 00:25:20 Two experts in ADHD went decades without realizing they had it themselves. Katie Severson, a speech pathologist, and Lori Long, a child psychologist, co-run The Childhood Collective and host the Shining With ADHD podcast. But both received their own ADHD diagnoses only after becoming mothers. They talk about late diagnosis, the shame that came before it, and how it shapes their parenting.   For m
I’m an ADHD expert. My kid still can’t get help. May 12, 2026 00:23:03 Rae Jacobson has spent her career covering ADHD and neurodivergence. She hosts the Hyperfocus podcast and helps lead Understood’s editorial team. But even with all that knowledge, she still can’t get the school to evaluate her daughter for an IEP. Here’s how she’s supporting her daughter while they wait for school services. For more on this topic  Listen: The Hyperfocus podcast with Rae Jacobson
The hidden grief of parenting a neurodivergent kid Apr 28, 2026 00:19:20 Brittney Crabtree, mom of four and co-host of the Moms Talk Autism podcast, gets refreshingly honest about what she calls “grieving the gap.” That’s the particular sadness of watching your neurodivergent kid fall behind their peers. She talks about building a “friendship portfolio,” vetting safe people to open up to, and why actually feeling your feelings is the best strategy. For more on this top
Debbie Reber on homeschooling a neurodivergent kid Apr 14, 2026 00:30:04 Debbie Reber tried everything to make traditional schools work for her neurodivergent kid. Three schools. An IEP. Therapists. OTs. Educational consultants. But homeschooling? That was a hard pass.  Then her husband got a job offer on another continent and her options got very small, very fast. What followed was six years she never planned for — and wouldn’t trade for anything. For more on this top
Parenting with ADHD: Balancing chaos and consistency Mar 31, 2026 00:24:03 Parenting is hard. But parenting with ADHD adds a whole new layer of complexity.  In this episode, journalist and documentarian Danielle Elliot shares her experience as a single mom navigating routines, decision-making, and the small daily choices that shape a child’s world.  From sleep training to following her love of travel, Danielle is learning to embrace her own neurodivergence — and discover
Math mystery: How we discovered my daughter has dyscalculia Mar 17, 2026 00:25:22 Laura Jackson thought her daughter’s struggles with math were just a normal part of school — until tears, anxiety, and frustration revealed something more. After a long journey, Laura discovered her daughter has dyscalculia. So Laura worked closely with experts and used targeted strategies to support her learning. Today, her daughter is excelling in algebra and geometry, building confidence, and l
The myth of work-life balance with a neurodivergent child Mar 3, 2026 00:24:14 Laura Mayer opens up about the challenges of balancing an ambitious career with the nagging feeling that she needed more space for her neurodivergent daughter.  She shares the gut-wrenching moments of juggling long hours and the many to-dos that come along with a new diagnosis. In the end, trusting herself led to bold choices. They not only reshaped her priorities but led her to a career shift tha
Parenting regrets and giving yourself grace after an ADHD and autism diagnoses Feb 17, 2026 00:29:45 After ADHD and autism diagnoses reshaped his family, Dion Chavis began looking back at how he parented his teenage daughter — and forward at how he’s raising his young son. In this conversation, he shares the lessons he learned about academics, connection, anger, grace, and apologizing. It’s an honest look at how parenting evolves and what happens when you decide to grow alongside your kids.More o
Advocating for your child when school systems won’t bend Feb 3, 2026 00:37:22 Our episode today starts with that call from school every parent dreads… Jessica talks with mom and education advocate Tricia McGhee after a classroom discipline incident forces a bigger conversation about neurodivergent kids and school systems that just aren’t built to flex.  In this episode, we’re also looking at what happens when getting a diagnosis doesn’t lead to help or services — and why co
When “fine” isn’t fine: A dyslexia story every parent should hear Jan 20, 2026 00:42:00 Some kids don’t fall apart in public. They save it for home — because it’s the one place they feel safe enough to let go. When teachers and professionals say a child is “fine,” we parents are often left questioning our instincts. They’re the experts, right?In this episode, psychologist and mom Dr. Arielle Schwartz shares how trusting her gut led her to uncover her son’s dyslexia and sensory differ

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