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Artwork for Born to Be Free: Supporting Neurodivergent Clients to Learn, Play, & Thrive

Born to Be Free: Supporting Neurodivergent Clients to Learn, Play, & Thrive

Meg Ferrell
Autism
Neurodiversity
Occupational Therapy
Mental Health
Pediatric Feeding Practices
Get Permission Approach
Autism Spectrum Disorder
Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Disability Justice
Pathological Demand Avoidance
Representation Of Autistic Characters
Education
Speech-Language Pathology
Trauma
Autistic Neurotype
Child-Led Therapy
Continuing Education
ADHD
Inclusivity
Therapeutic Practices

A podcast for professionals looking to support the deepest wellbeing of their neurodivergent clients. We focus on lived experiences, research, affirming practices, intersectionality, and the practical ways we can support authentic wellbeing. Visit learnplaythrive.com/podcast/

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes124Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
RelationshipsEducationCoursesSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Born to Be Free: Supporting Neurodivergent Clients to Learn, Play, & Thrive

Latest Episodes

Ever wondered how to apply Dr. Ross Green's model of Collaborative & Proactive Solutions to your work with PDA clients? Today's guest, AuDHD mental health therapist Stacey Curnow, is writing a book about it with Dr. Green's collaboration and oversigh... more

The folks at PDA North America recently surveyed over 2,000 families about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance, or the Pervasive Drive for Autonomy). What they learned has major implications for your clinical practice. In today’s episode, you'll hear ... more

When it comes to helping neurodivergent folks find playful, engaging ways to do the things they need to do, ADHD content creator Dani Donoval is the most creative person I’ve ever met. By the end of this episode, you’ll be grabbing a 20-sided die and... more

This episode is a deep and nuanced exploration into the seemingly competing needs of being Autistic and being ADHD. We call these folks AuDHD-ers, and they're often faced with both the need for routines that comes with being Autistic and the craving ... more

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Recent Guests

Stacey Kernow
Audi-HD-er, family therapist and founder of Asheville Family Counseling
Asheville Family Counseling
Episode: How to Work in Collaboration With Your PDA Clients with Stacey Curnow
Diane Gould
Founder and executive director of PDA North America
PDA North America
Episode: Safety, Trust, & Authenticity: How PDA Experiences Can Inform Our Practices with Diane Gould, Ruth Hevelone, and Michele Kleinmann
Ruth Hevelone
Late diagnosed ADHD, PDA, parent advocate, and community member
PDA North America
Episode: Safety, Trust, & Authenticity: How PDA Experiences Can Inform Our Practices with Diane Gould, Ruth Hevelone, and Michele Kleinmann
Michele Kleinmann
Co-author of the PDA Experience Report and health communication researcher
PDA North America
Episode: Safety, Trust, & Authenticity: How PDA Experiences Can Inform Our Practices with Diane Gould, Ruth Hevelone, and Michele Kleinmann
Dani Donovan
Author of The Anti-Planner; ADHD advocate and educator
ADHD advocate; antiplaner.com
Episode: Tools That Get Neurodivergent Folks Through Feeling Stuck, Overwhelmed, Unmotivated, Disorganized, and Discouraged with Dani Donovan
Bowen Marshall
AudiHD psychotherapist, PhD, LPCC
Private practice; expert on autism and ADHD co-occurrence
Episode: When Your Client Needs Novelty & Routines All At Once: Supporting AuDHDers with Dr. Bowen Marshall, LPCC, PhD
Matt Lowry
Autistic Licensed Psychological Practitioner
Autistic Voice Project / Autistic Centered Therapy (Autistic Voice Project)
Episode: When Your Autistic Client Also Has OCD, Depression, Anxiety or Other Co-Occurrences: Affirming, Person-Centered Practices with Matt Lowry, LPP
Vanessa Castañeda Gill
CEO and co-founder of Social Cipher, a neurodiversity-focused edtech company
Social Cipher
Episode: AuDHDers, Executive Function, & Social-Emotional Wellbeing with Vanessa Castañeda Gill
Dr. Devon Price
Social psychologist and author of 'Unmasking for Life'
Loyola University Chicago
Episode: Five Core Skills to Help Your Autistic Clients to Unmask for Life with Dr. Devon Price

Host

Meg Farrell
Host of Two Sides of the Spectrum; shows focus on neurodiversity-affirming practices and autism advocacy

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 461 ratings
  • Great Resource

    As a therapist and coach who works with neurodiverse adult clients, I love this podcast. I love listening, as well as recommending it to to my clients.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Dr. Nicole Theron Parkes
    United States4 months ago
  • Moving us all forward

    This podcast got me through my first years as a clinician and continues to help me become the practitioner that I want to be. I’ve taken something useable from every episode I’ve listened to. And, I was moved to write a review after listening to the episodes featuring Dr. Gillian Boudreau. I loved every word. I appreciated the offering that working toward our own liberation and freedom as clinicians will help us as we join clients on their journey to be their authentic selves. But, it seemed lik... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ResonantSpeech
    United States10 months ago
  • I'm not directly a practitioner working with autistic clients (such as ot or slp). However, as a swim instructor who works with lots of autistic kiddos, and as a mom of an autistic kiddo, i love hearing ways we can be affirming in helping kids thrive in many areas of life!

    Podcast Addict
    5
    VileT
    2 years ago
  • Thank you!

    You are amazing ❤️

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Divergent Minds
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Excellent resource for understanding autism from a neurodiversity affirming perspective

    This is a regular inclusion on my list of psychoeducational resources I provide in my neurodiversity affirming evaluations I complete with children. I love the introduction of a variety of topics and how it helps direct me to other resources I can also direct families to.

    María Pitale, PsyD

    Licensed psychologist specializing in autism evaluations

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    María Pitale, PsyD
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Many reviews highlight the importance of autistic voices and neurodiversity-affirming perspectives.
Listeners praise the show for providing practical, actionable strategies that professionals can apply immediately.
Fans describe the podcast as transformative for clinical practice and family understanding of autism.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#73
United States/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#15
Canada/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#232
United Kingdom/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#234
Canada/Education
Apple Podcasts
#38
Australia/Education/Courses
Apple Podcasts
#208
France/Education/Courses

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Tools That Get Neurodivergent Folks Through Feeling Stuck, Overwhelmed, Unmotivated, Disorganized, and Discouraged with Dani Donovan
Q: How can providers use these ideas in sessions with clients of different ages?
By modeling curiosity, play, and nonshaming exploration, providers can help clients identify their interests, co-create goals, and practice self-advocacy—translating inside-work strategies into practical steps with real-world relevance.
Tools That Get Neurodivergent Folks Through Feeling Stuck, Overwhelmed, Unmotivated, Disorganized, and Discouraged with Dani Donovan
Q: Why is the anti-planner more effective than traditional executive-function supports?
The anti-planner acknowledges that one size does not fit all; it offers a range of strategies tailored to different barriers (stuck, overwhelmed, unmotivated, disorganized, discouraged) and lets users switch between tools as needed, reducing the shame and failure cycle commonly seen with single-solution approaches.
Tools That Get Neurodivergent Folks Through Feeling Stuck, Overwhelmed, Unmotivated, Disorganized, and Discouraged with Dani Donovan
Q: Danny, how did you wind up learning so deeply about ADHD and creating the anti-planner?
Danny describes discovering ADHD late in life, inspired by personal experience, family stories, and a shift from viewing ADHD as a flaw to understanding it as a different way of processing tasks. This culminated in building tools that address multiple barriers and staging concepts like 'must-haves' versus 'nice-to-haves' to combat perfectionism and inertia.
AuDHDers, Executive Function, & Social-Emotional Wellbeing with Vanessa Castañeda Gill
Q: What role does identity formation and social connection play in your programming for preteens-to-teens, and how do Lego Foundation partnerships influence that?
Identity formation is central; the world builder and character creator let kids express who they are, their passions, and the people around them. LEGO Foundation's learning-through-play principles inform the design to ensure joy, meaningful engagement, and social interaction, while giving kids agency to create and iterate in safe spaces.
Five Core Skills to Help Your Autistic Clients to Unmask for Life with Dr. Devon Price
Q: Can you introduce us to the first skill, which is acceptance of change, loss, and uncertainty?
Acceptance of change is about recognizing that autistic individuals often struggle with unfamiliar situations due to their different processing style and learning to gradually embrace change.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers on affirming, neurodiversity-affirming practices for autistic and other neurodivergent clients, with a strong emphasis on lived experience, practical strategies, and collaboration across families, clinicians, and researchers. Episodes frequently explore topics like executive functioning, emotional and energy regulation, trauma-informed care, culturally safe therapy, and inclusive, child-led approaches that push back against norm-based expectations. A notable strength is the focus on authentic autistic voices, applicability of strategies in real-world settings, and bridging clinical practice with advocacy and community building. The format often blends personal narratives with evidence-informed techniques, making it useful ... more

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this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 124 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Stacey Kernow
2. Diane Gould
3. Ruth Hevelone
4. Michele Kleinmann
5. Dani Donovan
6. Bowen Marshall
7. Matt Lowry
8. Vanessa Castañeda Gill

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