The frank and funny podcast about parenting neurodivergent kids: autism, ADHD and PDA

Neuroshambles is the podcast that aims to shine a light on the life of parents raising autistic, ADHD and PDA children.

I’m Mark Allen - the creator and host of Neuroshambles and every episode, I talk to a different guest about the joys, the challenges and the utter, bewildering chaos of parenting kids with additional needs.

So, if your child's personality has bonus features, such as autism, ADHD, PDA or any of the other presentations that can occur when their brain is wired differently, you've come to the right place.

Who is Mark Allen?

As well as being a permanently frazzled Dad of three neurodivergent children and a podcaster, I am also a writer, neurodiversity advocate, public speaker and lapsed stand-up comedian.

My kids are Jay (12, diagnosed autistic/ADHD with strong PDA traits and a wonderfully acerbic wit), Otto (10, diagnosed autistic/ADHD with high anxiety and an infectious enthusiasm for all sports) and India (8, diagnosed autistic/ADHD, also with PDA traits and an obsessive love of animals).

I co-parent amicably and enthusiastically with their Mum, who was also recently diagnosed autistic/ADHD, so there is an awful lot of neurodiversity in our family unit. As someone who identifies as an undiagnosed neurotypical, I have had to learn how to balance the many competing needs of my family over time. 

Why did I create a podcast about parenting neurodivergency?

In the early days, I didn’t know many people who were experiencing the levels of everyday turbulence I was, so I often felt like a bit of a social outcast in the school playground. I searched for anything that could help me make sense of why my kids seemed to have different operating instructions to everyone else’s.

Although there were lots of brilliant podcasts offering advice, guidance and parenting strategies, they didn't quite hit the mark for me. I didn't need more homework - I needed to hear other people's lived experience, so I wouldn't feel so alone.

So, I decided to create my own.

What listeners are saying about Neuroshambles

Since its release in 2023, Neuroshambles has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from listeners - other parents of autistic, ADHD and PDA kids looking for a community of people who understand what it's like to parent through a lens of neurodivergence. Have a look at some of the latest reviews below and see for yourself.

Featured Neuroshambles Episodes

I have hand-picked some of my favourite episodes to get you started. In each one, you'll find honest, humorous and heartfelt discussions about the lived experience of raising kids on the autism spectrum and with ADHD, PDA or other neurodivergent traits.