
Neurodiverse Love with Mona Kay
Join Mona Kay as she focuses on increasing understanding of the strengths, differences, and challenges in mixed neurotype relationships. Whether you're autistic, neurotypical or allistic, this podcast is for you! Knowing how your neurology may impact your communication style, emotional and social needs, processing speeds, sensory needs and sexual and physical intimacy desires is critical, especially in your romantic relationships. Listen in and learn about other's lived experiences, lessons learned, and strategies for understanding how neurological differences can impact your relationship.
Latest episodes

Nov 5, 2024 • 28min
Adventures in Neurodiverse Parenting-Kate and Clark Webb
Kate Webb is a neurotypical partner in a neurodiverse marriage, while Clark Webb is neurodivergent with an ASD diagnosis. They share their parenting journey, tackling the daily struggles of raising two daughters with their contrasting styles. From humorous anecdotes about chaos in their household to candid discussions on mental health, they explore their strengths and challenges. They emphasize the vital role of support and community, proving that navigating parenthood is about surviving one day at a time.

7 snips
Oct 29, 2024 • 25min
Addressing Sex and Intimacy in Neurodiverse Couple Therapy-Leslie Sickels
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
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During this episode, Leslie Sickels, LCSW discusses how intimacy and sex are healthy, natural aspects of human relationships, yet this topic often goes unaddressed in neurodiverse couples therapy. While difficulties a nd challenges related to intimate connections are not unique to neurodiverse couples, there are core areas of neurodiversity that frequently arise and can be effectively identified, addressed, and managed in neurodiverse couples therapy. Leslie aims to normalize challenges related to intimacy and sex in neurodiverse partnerships and assist couples in identifying strategies to begin speaking more opening about these areas in couuples therapy.
You can contact Leslie Sickels at LeslieSickelsLCSW.com or at LeslieSickelsLCSW@gmail.com

Oct 22, 2024 • 23min
Be YOU Again! Reversing the Impact of Unknown Neurodiversity-Natalie Roberts
If you would like to learn more about the resources available through Neurodiverse Love you can check out our website at: www.neurodiverselove.com
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During this episode with Natalie Roberts she will be sharing the truth she has lived and is so passionate about sharing, that the impact of unknown neurodiversity in your relationship is reversible and you can thrive...and flourish! You'll find clarity about what that impact is for you plus hope and possibility that you can be YOU again in your neurodiverse relationship!
You can contact Natalie at: natalie@natalieroberts.com or at www.natalieroberts.com

Oct 15, 2024 • 21min
Love Languages Through a Neurodiverse Lens-Cheryl Rhodes
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love._________________________________________________
During this episode with Cheryl Rhodes, MS, LMFT, LPC you will learn more about the benefit of understanding your love languages. You've heard this term before and know that the love languages describe different ways to express and experience love. Do you know how to determine your personal love language and that of your partner? Are there Autistic or neurodivergent love languages? This episode will answer these questions and give practical suggestions for partners to give love in ways that will be best received.
You can contact Cheryl Rhodes at: myrhodesmap@gmail.com

Oct 8, 2024 • 29min
Friendship Love Autism: Communication Challenges and the Autism Diagnosis That Gave Us a New Life Together-Michelle and Andrew Preston
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
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During this episode, Michelle and Andrew Preston share the story about how they were struggling in their relationship until Michelle read a chapter in a book that made her realize Andrew may be Autistic. She approached him about and it and they were able to go through the diagnosis process together and learned that Andrew is in fact Autistic. Learning this strengthened their bond and improved their communication. It also helped Michelle take things less personally as she began to understand that Andrew's lack of emotion had nothing to do with her, and everything to do with how his mind works.
If you are interested in learning more about Michelle and Andrew's story you can buy a copy of their book: Friendship Love Autism-Communication Struggles and Autism Diagnosis That Gave Us a New Life Together.
You can follow Michelle and Andrew on TikTok@ MichelleandAndrew or email Michelle at: michellepreston@gmail.com

Oct 1, 2024 • 25min
Interrupting the Defense Cycle: A Nervous System Perspective of Neurodiverse Relationships-Heather Parks
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
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During this episode Heather Parks busts one of the many myths that exist about neurodiverse relationships-the belief that "things will only get better if my partner changes". When we put all the responsibility for change on our partner, we can feel powerless, stuck and frustrated. But the great news is that there's a different way to create change in a relationship! And it doesn't involve coercing others to make changes or to engage with therapy! Instead, the invitation is to become more aware of our own defense modes, to focus on ourselves. It takes two to create a pattern and only one to change it! Heather shares how we are all contributing to the Relationship Defense Cycle, and how we can interrupt it so that we can have a better experience in our neurodiverse relationships.
You can contact Heather at: heather@heatherparks.co.uk or on her website at www.heatherparks.co.uk. You can also find Heather at: www.lovingdifference.net or on social media @neurodiversefamilycoach

Sep 24, 2024 • 25min
Thinking Outside the Box: Tools for Effective Neurodiverse Communication-Sarah and Larry Nannery
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
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During this episode Sarah (Autistic) and Larry (NT) share some of the most useful strategies they have developed for communicating and thriving together as partners, as lovers, and as parents. These are their most impactful tools for effective neurodiverse communication, which they learned "the hard way" in this journey of making love work together for the past 10+ years.
You will also gain insight into both perspectives, from an autistic point of view and a "neurotypical" point of view. What are their most frequent and most entrenched communication struggles? What are the best ways they've found to hack each other's daily communication styles, build long-lasting connection, and understand each other on a deeper level?
Sarah and Larry will also share many actionable strategies that can be adapted and applied to your own relationship, such as SOS/trigger words, high and low contexts, nonverbal cues, and reset moments. You will be both inspired and better prepared for the realities of successful communication between people who think and act so differently to each other.
You can contact the Nannery's on social media at:
www.sarahnannery.com
sarahnannery@outlook.com
IG & X (Twitter) @sarahnannery
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/sarahfike
Facebook: @quirkyandbright
You can also learn more communication strategies in the Nannery's book called "What to Say Next: Successful Communication in Work, Life, and Love with Autism Spectrum Disorder"

Sep 17, 2024 • 19min
Are There Simple Tools That Can Help You and Your Partner Get Along Better?-Grace Myhill
To learn more about the Neurodivere Love Conversation Cards and Workbook, the Neurodiverse Love Conference videos and the other resources available for individuals or couples in mixed neurotype relationships, check out Neurodiverse Love.
During this episode Grace Myhill, MSW shares several simple but important tools that can help neurodiverse couples communicate better and have more healthy connections.
Grace is the Director of Couples and Partner's Services at AANE and the Director of the Peter M. Friedman Neurodiverse Couples Institute at AANE. You can contact Grace at www.gracemyhill.com.

14 snips
Sep 10, 2024 • 26min
How to Get Your Needs Met in a Neurodivergent Relationship-Paul Micallef
Paul Micallef, a relationship coach and emotional intelligence trainer, specializes in supporting autistic individuals and their partners. He discusses the crucial balance of meeting personal needs versus caring for a partner's quirks. The conversation dives into the importance of self-care, boundary setting, and fostering open communication. Micallef illustrates how understanding each partner's unique needs can enhance intimacy, while also addressing the nature of perpetual conflicts in neurodivergent relationships. Clear strategies for supportive dialogue make for an insightful listen.

5 snips
Sep 3, 2024 • 31min
The Mindset Necessary for a Happy Neurodiverse Marriage-Eva Mendes
Eva Mendes, an expert in autism and ADHD, shares invaluable insights for nurturing happy neurodiverse marriages. She emphasizes the importance of trust, acceptance, and effective communication in relationships. Personal anecdotes highlight how teamwork and ongoing dialogue can deepen connections. Mendes also discusses navigating the complexities of neurodiverse communication and the benefits of premarital therapy, providing practical strategies for couples to embrace and adapt to their unique differences.