
TILT Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
Feeling overwhelmed by the complexities of raising a neurodivergent child? 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, 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!
Latest episodes

Apr 25, 2025 • 47min
TPP 194a: Educator and Community Activist Jason Allen on Differently Wired Students of Color
Educator, blogger, and community activist Jason B. Allen shares his ideas for how traditional school environments need to change to better serve differently wired black students and, in particular, black and brown boys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 22, 2025 • 39min
TPP 439: Jessica Slice on What We Can All Learn from Disabled Parenting
Today we’re talking about the reality of parenting while disabled. My guest is Jessica Slice, the author of the new book Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World. A writer, advocate, and disabled mother who challenges the way society defines “fit” parenting, Jessica’s work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Disability Visibility. In this episode, Jessica opens up about the unique challenges disabled parents face, from the obstacles within the process of becoming parents to navigating a world that often feels inaccessible. We also talk about how disabled parents are often excluded from mainstream parenting conversations and why they face heightened scrutiny from Child Protective Services. Jessica shares her powerful perspective on creative adaptation — a mindset that empowers disabled parents to create a parenting approach that works for them, rather than trying to conform to systems that weren’t built with their needs in mind.Whether you’re a disabled parent, raising a disabled child, or just wanting to learn how to be a more informed and supportive ally, this episode is filled with Jessica’s honest insights and practical wisdom that challenge outdated ideas of what makes a “good” parent. About Jessica SliceJessica Slice is a disabled mom and author of Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World. She is also the co-author of Dateable: Swiping Right, Hooking Up, and Settling Down and This is How We Play, as well as the forthcoming This is How We Talk and We Belong, which was co-authored with the late Judy Heumann. She has been published in Modern Love, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Alice Wong’s bestselling Disability Visibility, Glamour, Cosmopolitan, and more. She lives in Toronto with her family. Things you'll learn from this episode
Why disabled parents are not often part of the mainstream parenting conversations
What are the challenges that disabled parents face when they're starting the process of becoming parents
Why disabled parents face more threats from Child Protective Services, and why demanding that someone parent without help can be considered discriminatory
How being disabled prepares potential parents for the parenting journey
What creative adaptation is and how it can give disabled parents the freedom to build their life from scratch
How non-disabled parents can support the disabled parents in their communities
Resources mentioned
Unfit Parent: A Disabled Mother Challenges an Inaccessible World by Jessica Slice
Jessica Slice’s website
Jessica Slice writes about disability, parenting, and poems
Jessica on Instagram
Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally by Emily Ladau
Emily Ladau on Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally (Tilt Parenting Podcast)
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Apr 18, 2025 • 43min
TPP 193a: Filmmaker Chris Baier on Helping Families Get Unstuck from OCD
Writer, filmmaker, and creative director Chris Baier talks about raising a daughter with OCD and the film their journey inspired him to produce, UNSTUCK, an award-winning short that explains OCD through the eyes of young people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 17, 2025 • 31min
You Might Also Like: Climbing the Walls, from Understood.org
Listen to an episode of Understood.org's new podcast Climbing the Wall, a 6-part series that investigates why women with ADHD have gone undiagnosed for so long… and how that changed dramatically during the pandemic, when the diagnosis of ADHD in women skyrocketed. The show asks: Why women? Why now? And how has underdiagnosis impacted women’s mental health? Learn more here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 15, 2025 • 39min
TPP 438: It’s Been 9 Years of Tilt Parenting — What’s Changed in the Movement? A Special Solocast with Debbie Reber
In this special 9-year anniversary episode, I'm doing things a little differently. Instead of a guest interview, I'm doing a solocast in which I share nine shifts I've noticed in the parenting paradigm for those of us raising neurodivergent kids over the past almost decade since I first founded Tilt. Some of the things I explore in this episode include the evolution of language within the neurodiversity movement, the increased recognition of dual diagnoses like Autistic ADHD and new identifications such as PDA, how concepts like Polyvagal theory and co-reguation have profoundly changed the ways differently wired children are understood, the importance of centering neurodivergent voices, and much more.* I’ve put together a special anniversary playlist of the podcast episodes I reference in this episode over on Spotify. To listen to that, click here.* About DebbieDebbie Reber, MA is a parenting activist, bestselling author, speaker, and the CEO and founder of Tilt Parenting, a resource, top-performing podcast, consultancy, and community with a focus on shifting the paradigm for parents raising and embracing neurodivergent children. A regular contributor to Psychology Today and ADDitude Magazine, and the author of more than a dozen books for children and teens, Debbie’s most recent book is Differently Wired: A Parent’s Guide to Raising an Atypical Child with Confidence and Hope. Resources mentioned
Dr. Megan Anna Neff and Neurodivergent Insights
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price, PhD
Are you autistic? How a 'lost generation' of women on the spectrum went under the radar (The Telegraph)
The lost girls: ‘Chaotic and curious, women with ADHD all have missed red flags that haunt us’ (The Guardian)
The Electricity of Every Living Thing: A Woman’s Walk in the Wild to Find Her Way Home by Katherine May
Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times by Katherine May
Is This Autism? A Guide for Clinicians and Everyone Else by Dr. Donna Henderson and Dr. Sarah Wayland
Dr. Stephen Porges
Brain-Body Parenting: How to Stop Managing Behavior and Start Raising Joyful, Resilient Kids by Dr. Mona Delahooke
Beyond Behaviors: Using Brain Science and Compassion to Understand and Solve Children’s Behavioral Challenges by Dr. Mona Delahooke
Deb Dana’s website, Rhythm of Regulation
Anchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deb Dana
Navigating PDA in America: A Framework to Support Anxious, Demand-Avoidant Autistic Children, Teens, and Young Adults by Ruth Fidler and Diane Gould
The Family Experience of PDA by Eliza Fricker
Normal Sucks: How to Live, Learn and Thrive Outside the Lines by Jonathan Mooney
Look Me in the Eye: My Life with Aspergers by John Elder Robison
Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally by Emily Ladau
Unmasking for Life: The Autistic Person’s Guide to Connecting, Loving, and Living Authentically by Dr. Devon Price
Executive Function Coach Seth Perler
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Apr 11, 2025 • 44min
TPP 192a: Dr. Karen Wilson on How to Know if Your Child is Ready for Elementary School
Clinical neuropsychologist Dr. Karen Wilson shares her best practices about the transition of differently wired children from preschool (or no school at all) into elementary school, including special considerations, vetting schools for fit, red-shirting practices, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Apr 8, 2025 • 48min
TPP 437: Dr. Devon Price on the Autistic Person's Guide to Unmasking for Life
I’m excited to welcome Dr. Devon Price back to the show to talk about unmasking and self-acceptance for autistic individuals. You may know about Devon’s book Unmasking Autism, and if you haven’t I highly encourage you to go back and listen to our conversation about that book on the show – I’ll have a link in the show notes or you can find it at tiltparenting.com/session292.But today, we are discussing Devon’s brand new book Unmasking for Life: The Autistic Person's Guide to Connecting, Loving, and Living Authentically, which explores what it truly means to embrace one’s identity in a world that still struggles with accessibility and inclusion. I think it’s such an important book for parents of autistic children to read, as it shares insights into what our kids ultimately need to grow up as people who can advocate for their needs and invent new ways of living, loving, and being that work with their disability rather than against it.In this conversation, we discussed the journey of self-acceptance for autistic individuals and the cultural shifts happening around neurodivergence. Devon shared insights on how parents can support their children in embracing their authentic selves while navigating a world that often prioritizes conformity. And we also talked about the impact of generational trauma on family dynamics and why redefining success beyond societal norms is crucial for long-term well-being, and much much more.There are more adults discovering their own neurodivergence through parenting their own neurodivergent child, and I think Devon’s book and everything he shared in this conversation can help anyone who is trying to live more authentically with their autism AND any parent who is raising an autistic child that wants to consider what life looks like for their child at various stages of life. This is a great one. Have a listen and please share this episode in your communities. About Dr. Devon PriceDevon Price, PhD, is a social psychologist, professor, author, and proud Autistic person. His research has appeared in journals such as the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, and the Journal of Positive Psychology. Devon’s writing has appeared in outlets such as the Financial Times, HuffPost, Slate, Jacobin, Business Insider, LitHub, and on PBS and NPR. He lives in Chicago, where he serves as an assistant professor at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Continuing and Professional Studies. Things you'll learn from this episode
Why self-acceptance is an ongoing, internal process that can be especially challenging for neurodivergent individuals
How despite progress, the world remains largely inaccessible to disabled people, making advocacy and practical life planning essential
Why friendship and love are common struggles for autistic adults and why support, self-awareness, and empowerment rather than forced conformity is critical
Where we are now — cultural awareness of neurodivergence is growing yet parents still face pressure to make their children fit societal expectations
Why the key to a fulfilling life as an autistic adult means questioning societal norms, addressing generational trauma, and embracing authentic self-expression
Resources mentioned
Unmasking for Life: The Autistic Person's Guide to Connecting, Loving, and Living Authentically by Dr. Devon Price
Devon Price on Substack
Devon Price on Medium
Unmasking Autism: Discovering the New Faces of Neurodiversity by Devon Price, PhD
Laziness Does Not Exist by Devon Price, PhD
Devon Price on Instagram
Autistic Self-Advocacy Network (ASAN)
Sarah Casper and Comprehensive Consent
The World of Estranged Parents Forums (IssenDai)
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Apr 4, 2025 • 48min
TPP 190a: Dr. Melanie Hayes Talks About Her Big Minds Micro-School and Educating 2e Children
Dr. Melanie Hayes, founder of Big Minds micro-school, shares her journey of creating an educational haven for twice-exceptional learners. She discusses the unique challenges these students face in traditional schools and the importance of fostering self-advocacy. The conversation highlights a shift to a strengths-based approach, promoting creativity and social skills in learning. Listeners will gain insights into building nurturing environments and supporting neurodivergent children, along with valuable resources for advocacy and community connection.

Apr 1, 2025 • 38min
TPP 436: Dr. John Duffy on Helping Our Struggling Teen Boys
A few months ago, I had my friend and colleague Cathy Adams on the show to talk about her book Restoring Our Girls and raising daughters to be emotionally healthy in a complicated world. I knew then that I wanted to have a similar conversation for a future episode, but this time, focusing on boys, specifically about why many teen boys are struggling right now and what we, as parents, can do to support them. I also knew exactly who I wanted to bring on the show to talk about this — Dr. John Duffy.Through his private practice, bestselling books, and media appearances on CNN, NPR, and the Today Show, John has helped thousands of parents navigate the complex world of raising teens in today’s world. And he’s really got a pulse on the complex inner lives of today’s teen boys. In this conversation, we talk about the unique mental health challenges boys are facing today, from increased isolation and anxiety to the messages they are getting from society that are leading to self-doubt and emotional struggles. We also discussed how the pandemic intensified these issues and why paying attention to the media they are consuming is key to connecting with them. John also shared how neurodivergent boys may experience these challenges differently and shared practical strategies for fostering emotional resilience and self-worth. About my guestDr. John Duffy is a Chicago-based clinical psychologist, best-selling author, keynote speaker and national media expert. He has been in private practice for 25 years, specializing in work with adolescents, young adults and their parents. Dr. Duffy has written three best-selling books intended to provide parents with the tools to help their teens and young adults thrive in this persistent age of anxiety. For more than a decade, Dr. Duffy has also spoken to thousands of parents internationally through PTA’s, Fortune 500 corporate programs, and other parenting networks.Dr. Duffy has written and contributed to articles for CNN, the Washington Post, The New York Times, Your Teen, Time and countless other media outlets. On television, he has been a regular contributing expert on NewsNation and Steve Harvey, and has shared his expertise through frequent appearances on CNN, the Today show, the Morning Blend, and hundreds of appearances on local and regional outlets. On radio, Dr. Duffy is a regularly appearing expert on WGN, WLS and NPR.He shares his current articles on his Substack titled On Parenting and Life. Things you'll learn
Why boys are facing a growing mental health crisis, with increasing isolation, lack of hope, and behavioral challenges
How the pandemic intensified boys' disconnection, highlighting a significant gender divide in mental health
How societal narratives around masculinity contribute to self-loathing and emotional struggles in boys
How parents can foster connection by engaging with their sons' interests and understanding their media influences
Why looking beyond surface behaviors helps parents support boys' emotional well-being and sense of identity
Resources
Dr. John Duffy’s website
Rescuing Our Sons: 8 Solutions to Our Crisis of Disaffected Teen Boys by Dr. John Duffy
Parenting the New Teen in the Age of Anxiety: A Complete Guide to Your Child’s Stressed, Depressed, Expanded, Amazing Adolescence by Dr. John Duffy
The Available Parent: Expert Advice for Raising Successful Teens and Tweens by Dr. John Duffy
Dr. John Duffy on Facebook
Dr. John Duffy on Instagram
Dr. John Duffy’s Substack, On Parenting & Life
Parenting the New Teen with Dr. John Duffy (Tilt Parenting Podcast)
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Mar 28, 2025 • 53min
TPP 188a: Dr. Terry Roberts on "The New Smart" and How Nurturing Creativity Will Help Children Thrive
Educator and author Terry Roberts, PhD, discusses his new book "The New Smart: How Nurturing Creativity Will Help Children Thrive," and shares his ideas surrounding the future of work, what the education model is getting wrong and why it needs to change, and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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