In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by special guest Kit Birks - writer, adventurer, mental health activist and recovering addict living with ADHD and bipolar disorder. Kit speaks with raw honesty, breaking the silence around mental illness and vowing that no one should ever feel as alone or misunderstood as she once did. Kit shares a deeply personal account of her journey to an ADHD diagnosis at 26, during her recovery from addiction, followed by a bipolar diagnosis a year later, and how her experiences have fuelled her passion for helping others through her record breaking solo trek "Stride Beyond Silence," on which she has just embarked, to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by expert guest Sarah Ockwell-Smith to discuss ADHD and explosive behaviours. Sarah is a well-known parenting expert, author, and the mother of four young adults, including a son with ADHD. She has ADHD and autism herself. Sarah busts some myths about explosive behaviour in children, provides practical strategies for parents looking for help, challenges the term “naughty”, and emphasises the importance of focusing on wellbeing, accepting our children the way they are.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by special guest Caragh McMurty - Team GB Olympic rower, and the Co-founder of Neurodiverse Sport - to discuss the challenges and strengths of neurodivergence in sport; sharing her personal journey to receiving an autism diagnosis and suspecting ADHD. Caragh speaks passionately about the danger of relying too heavily on labels and is determined to challenge common neurodiversity misconceptions to ensure athletes at all levels feel supported - from grassroots to elite competition. Along with the transformative power of sports to empower neurodivergent children to learn, grow and self-regulate.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by expert guest Dr Alessio Bellato, to explore the link between ADHD and emotional regulation. Whilst not part of the DSM-5 criteria, emotional dysregulation can significantly impact children with ADHD. Alessio shares insights on how it shows up, the impact it can have, and what parents can do to support their child’s emotional wellbeing. Dr Alessio is a Lecturer in Child and Adolescent Mental Health at the University of Southampton and a Psychologist with expertise in Child Psychiatry and Psychology.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by expert guest Douglas Hamer. Packed with guidance for parents, he lays out the facts on SEND Law and breaks down the legal essentials of EHCPs: what they are, how to get one, and what to do when things get complicated. He also explains Elective Home Education (EHE) and EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than At School). Douglas is a specialist SEND solicitor who brings both professional expertise and personal lived experience of neurodivergence to his work.

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by special guest Rachel Fuller - composer and singer-songwriter - to share her inspiring ADHD story. Diagnosed with ADHD in her late 40s, she reflects on childhood challenges within the confines of mainstream education. Rachel’s story offers hope for parents, showing how ADHD creativity can lead to a rich, fulfilling career and deep understanding of difference.

As seen on TV! Find out more about All Aboard ADHD on The One Show, which aired on BBC One – and get links to watch it yourself.

After a year of hard work and training, I am very proud to announce my official status as an AACC Certified ADHD Coach! Find out how, why – and who this will help.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by expert guest Professor Emily Simonoff to discuss the fascinating link and crossover between ADHD and autism in children. A dual diagnosis was only possible from 2013, following her pivotal study in 2008 that was one of the first to establish that ADHD and autism can and do coexist. She and Claire discuss the complexity of this crossover, stressing the importance of rigorous professional assessment to accurately diagnose both conditions. Emily is a professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at King's College London, and honorary Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at the South London and Wardsley NHS Foundation Trust. Professor Emily's research and clinical focus is on neurodevelopmental disorders in children and young people and their overlap with other mental disorders.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire and Professor Joel Talcott discuss how the Universal Classroom project aims to address the crisis in special educational needs (SEN) provision in UK primary education by identifying children’s individual learning needs early, reducing the reliance on formal diagnostic labels and providing free, non-proprietary tools for teachers to assess and support children's cognitive skills. Joel is Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience at Aston University. His core research lies in interdisciplinary cognitive neuroscience, particularly in relation to the neurodevelopmental conditions that impact the learning and achievement outcomes of approximately 5% of all children and adults worldwide. 

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Kate Peers - mum of 3 boys, owner of Department Store for the Mind, and Youth Mental Health First Aid England Trainer. Kate shares her story raising three boys, including her middle son diagnosed with ADHD and ASD, along with some wonderful examples of the difference the right help and support can make to children with ADHD - and their parents.

In this episode of  the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by expert guest Lucinda Miller - family naturopath, functional medicine practitioner, author, coach and mentor for kids with ADHD and autism - to discuss how the food can affect the mood, behaviour and concentration of children with ADHD and other neurodevelopmental conditions. This episode offers judgement-free insight and practical, achievable strategies for parents facing the very real food challenges of their neurodivergent children.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, we hear from Dr. Naomi Fisher, a clinical psychologist specialising in neurodiversity and trauma, for a fantastic discussion around demand avoidance, and pathological demand avoidance (PDA), along with the positive impact of low demand parenting on children with ADHD. Dr Naomi provides some all-too familiar examples of how conventional parenting techniques can backfire with those who are demand avoidant, describing what is really going on for our children.

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Marsha Martin - a former behavioural therapist, neurodiversity awareness consultant and the founder of Black SEN Mamas - who sheds light on the additional prejudices and the barriers that she faces as a “minority within a minority”, to help raise awareness of ADHD and the experiences of mothers in the Black community. Marsha describes some of the systemic and cultural barriers faced, emphasising the importance of community support and advocacy.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire meets with Dr Shu-Shih (Stone) Hsieh to discuss how exercise positively impacts ADHD symptoms in children. Dr Stone is a senior lecturer in the Department of Psychology at Kingston University. His ActiGamer research at BREAD Lab focuses on the effects of exercise on cognition and ADHD symptoms in school aged-children. Together they explore the many wide-ranging benefits of exercise for children with ADHD, the brain mechanisms involved in the positive effects of exercise, and why it’s important to diversify exercise choices for children with ADHD.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Professor Samuele Cortese for a comprehensive exploration of ADHD medications and how they work, so that parents listening can make informed decisions for themselves and their children. Professor Samuele Cortese, the #1 ADHD expert in the world according to Expertscape, is currently Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the University of Southampton and Honorary Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for Solent NHS Trust. Professor Cortese’s main research interests are in neurodevelopmental disorders, with a focus on ADHD. This must-listen episode covers everything you need to know about ADHD medication.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by parent guest Mark Allen - a former stand-up comedian who now juggles working in IT, with being a writer, Neuroshambles podcast host, and dad to three neurodivergent children, who have a combination of diagnoses including ADHD, Autism and PDA. Mark describes how differently ADHD presents in his children and speaks of the relief that came with the diagnoses, allowing him to better understand and support his children.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Dr Samantha Hiew - a highly sought-after neurodiversity keynote speaker and trainer - who founded ADHD girls at the age of 40, after a decade of existential anxiety living with undiagnosed ADHD. Together they discuss to discuss the signs, causes, and prevention of ADHD burnout in children and teenagers. As well as sharing some insight into Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD) and how this can play a part in triggering burnout.

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Jamie Gilbert, Assistant Head Teacher of a school for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health needs.  Jamie (aka Mr G) has been teaching SEMH children with a range of neurodivergent conditions, including ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, for over 10 years. Together they discuss the different ways we can build trust and foster positive relationships with ADHD children - and the amazing benefits of doing so for children and adults alike. 

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Hester Grainger - a former TV and BBC Radio presenter, certified ADHD coach, and mum of two neurodivergent teenagers. Hester speaks honestly and openly about her journey raising children with ADHD and autism, managing life as a neurodivergent parent, and her own journey with ADHD having been diagnosed later in life at 43.