Mummel Road - Podcast: Recent Episodes
Emily Baitch
Parenting can be a tough gig, parenting a child with additional need can be even tougher! How would I know? I am a parent of 3 beautiful children one of whom has a disability. Professionally, I also support parents of children with additional needs. I wanted to bring my personal perspective and my professional knowledge and network together to offer listeners a place to learn and feel comfort. There will be something for everyone on the Mummel Road podcast. Wanting to know more? You can find me on socials @mummelroadEnjoy!Em
In this episode of the Neurolicious Podcast, hosts Emily and her step in co host daughter Annabel, discuss two prevalent challenges faced by families: mealtimes in small homes and school refusal. They emphasize the importance of connection over the physical setting of meals and explore the complexities of school refusal through a neuroaffirming lens. The conversation highlights strategies for creating predictable environments and fostering emotional support, particularly for neurodiverse children.
Mealtimes don’t require a perfect setting—they can happen anywhere, with connection at the heart. We appreciated the recent Mamamia Parenting Outloud episode, which explored the unique challenges faced by families navigating limited space during mealtimes. This is a conversation close to our hearts, as we support families in similar situations every day. At Mummel Road, we’re committed to breaking down barriers and thinking creatively to help families foster meaningful connection, no matter the size or layout of their home.
Predictability in mealtimes helps build routine.
For regular updates and recaps of episodes, please keep and eye on our Facebook or instagram page
If you are wanting to support this podcast, please subscribe and follow our podcast.
Mummel Road Community Programs is a registered charity offering adolescents on the autism spectrum the opportunity to engage with their community in a meaningful way. To learn more about our charity or donate please read more here
Mummel Road Members get weekly support session with Emily, our advanced positive behaviour support practitioner. Learn more about our members hub here.
If you are wanting to share your story with the Neurolicious Community, please reach out to us at info@mummelroad.com.au
🎙️ In this episode of Neurolicious, we are pulling back the covers on one of the most common yet complex challenges faced by families of children on the autism spectrum: sleep.
We’re diving into:
- Why sleep can be tricky for neurodivergent kids
- The role of melatonin and when it might help (or not)
- How to build bedtime routines that work
- Signs your child may be overtired—and how that shows up in their behaviour
- When it’s time to reach out to professionals for a sleep plan that actually sticks
Whether your little one is wide awake at midnight or struggling with early morning meltdowns, this episode is packed with relatable insights, gentle guidance, and practical tools to support better sleep—for your child and your whole family.
So grab a warm drink, get comfy, and let’s talk bedtime without the burnout. 🛏️💤
For regular updates and recaps of episodes, please keep and eye on our Facebook or instagram page
If you are wanting to support this podcast, please subscribe and follow our podcast.
Mummel Road Community Programs is a registered charity offering adolescents on the autism spectrum the opportunity to engage with their community in a meaningful way. To learn more about our charity or donate please read more here
Mummel Road Members get weekly support session with Emily, our advanced positive behaviour support practitioner. Learn more about our members hub here.
If you are wanting to share your story with the Neurolicious Community, please reach out to us at info@mummelroad.com.au
🎙 Episode #5: The Emotional Rollercoaster of RSD
Welcome back to another episode of the Neurolicious Podcast with Emily & Kylee! In this episode, we unravel the complexities of Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)—a phenomenon that can make even the smallest perceived rejection feel like an emotional earthquake.
🔍 What’s Inside This Episode?
- What is RSD? We break down the symptoms, from intense emotional reactions to the lingering self-doubt that follows.
- Why is it so tough to navigate? Whether it’s avoiding social situations, overanalyzing interactions, or struggling with self-worth, RSD can feel like an invisible force shaping daily life.
- The ADHD & Autism Connection—why neurodivergent individuals often experience RSD more intensely.
- Real-life scenarios—ever felt like a casual comment ruined your whole day? We explore how RSD can amplify emotional responses.
- Coping strategies—from self-awareness to practical tools, we discuss ways to manage the emotional waves of RSD.
💡 Why You Should Listen:
If you’ve ever felt like rejection hits harder than it should, this episode is for you. Emily & Kylee bring insight, humor, and real talk to help you understand and navigate RSD with confidence.
🎧 Tune in now and let’s unpack the emotional whirlwind together!
For regular updates and recaps of episodes, please keep and eye on our Facebook or instagram page
If you are wanting to support this podcast, please subscribe and follow our podcast.
Mummel Road Community Programs is a registered charity offering adolescents on the autism spectrum the opportunity to engage with their community in a meaningful way. To learn more about our charity or donate please read more here
Mummel Road Members get weekly support session with Emily, our advanced positive behaviour support practitioner. Learn more about our members hub here.
If you are wanting to share your story with the Neurolicious Community, please reach out to us at info@mummelroad.com.au
In this eye-opening episode of Neurolicious, we sit down with Antoinette Spear, General Manager of Autism Swim, to explore a crucial yet often overlooked topic—the relationship between autism and water safety.
Antoinette dives deep into why children on the autism spectrum are more likely to be drawn to water and the alarming risks associated with wandering. She explains why ensuring these children are water-safe isn’t just beneficial—it’s imperative.
We also discuss the challenges autistic children face in mainstream swimming lessons, from sensory sensitivities to communication barriers, and how these obstacles can hinder their ability to learn life-saving skills. Antoinette shares valuable insights into what makes autism-specific swim teachers different—their strategies, adaptive techniques, and specialized approaches that foster engagement and boost participation.
This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, and swimming instructors looking to create safer and more inclusive aquatic experiences for autistic children. Join us as we make waves toward greater awareness and action in water safety.
For regular updates and recaps of episodes, please keep and eye on our Facebook or instagram page
If you are wanting to support this podcast, please subscribe and follow our podcast.
Mummel Road Community Programs is a registered charity offering adolescents on the autism spectrum the opportunity to engage with their community in a meaningful way. To learn more about our charity or donate please read more here
Mummel Road Members get weekly support session with Emily, our advanced positive behaviour support practitioner. Learn more about our members hub here.
If you are wanting to share your story with the Neurolicious Community, please reach out to us at info@mummelroad.com.au
In this heartfelt episode, Kylee dives into the messy, beautiful world of kindness—especially when life gets tough. She opens up about the challenges of parenting with ADHD, shedding light on the mental load that comes with it and how it intersects with life’s everyday struggles.
Through raw and honest storytelling, Kylee reflects on a moment with a client that deepened her understanding of grace and empathy. She reminds us that while everyone faces hardships, the weight of those challenges can look very different depending on personal circumstances and privilege.
This conversation is an invitation to lean into compassion—not just for others, but for ourselves too. From the highs and lows of parenting to the power of community support, Kylee encourages listeners to step up, offer help where they can, and most importantly, extend grace to those who might need it most. A reminder that sometimes, the greatest gift we can give is understanding.
Enjoy!!
For regular updates and recaps of episodes, please keep and eye on our Facebook or instagram page
If you are wanting to support this podcast, please subscribe and follow our podcast.
Mummel Road Community Programs is a registered charity offering adolescents on the autism spectrum the opportunity to engage with their community in a meaningful way. To learn more about our charity or donate please read more here
Mummel Road Members get weekly support session with Emily, our advanced positive behaviour support practitioner. Learn more about our members hub here.
If you are wanting to share your story with the Neurolicious Community, please reach out to us at info@mummelroad.com.au
When Emily’s son, Charlie, received an autism diagnosis, it wasn’t the ending of a journey—it was the beginning of a profound transformation. In this episode, Emily shares her deeply personal experience navigating the emotional highs and lows of the diagnostic process, the challenges of adjusting family life, and the unexpected resilience she found along the way.
Rather than measuring success by traditional milestones, Emily redefined quality of life for her family—shifting the focus to connection, emotional growth, and celebrating progress in ways that felt authentic to Charlie’s needs. She discusses how small wins—like Charlie engaging with sensory activities, transitioning successfully between spaces, and finding joy in routines—became their new markers of achievement.
Through candid reflections, practical insights, and heartfelt moments, Emily’s story reminds us that parenting a neurodivergent child isn’t about fitting into conventional expectations—it’s about embracing a unique and meaningful journey. Tune in to explore the beauty of acceptance, adaptation, and advocacy, and learn how rethinking success can open the door to a truly fulfilling experience for both parent and child.
Keen to read more? Read about some of the strategies that helped Emily and her family here.
Thanks for listening
For regular updates and recaps of episodes, please keep and eye on our Facebook or instagram page
If you are wanting to support this podcast, please subscribe and follow our podcast.
Mummel Road Community Programs is a registered charity offering adolescents on the autism spectrum the opportunity to engage with their community in a meaningful way. To learn more about our charity or donate please read more here
Mummel Road Members get weekly support session with Emily, our advanced positive behaviour support practitioner. Learn more about our members hub here.
If you are wanting to share your story with the Neurolicious Community, please reach out to us at info@mummelroad.com.au
The Neurolicious Podcast brings valuable insights to parents navigating autism. In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges of puberty.
Meet Leeanne Hawke
Leeanne Hawke is a mother, advocate, and expert by experience in raising a child with autism. Her journey with her 17-year-old son has given her unique insights into the challenges and joys of parenting a neurodivergent teenager.
Leeanne’s approach combines practical wisdom with heartfelt empathy, making her an invaluable resource for other parents on similar paths. Her openness about both the struggles and triumphs offers a realistic view of life with an autistic teen.
Through her experiences, Leeanne has become a beacon of hope and support for the autism community, sharing strategies that have worked for her family and offering encouragement to others.
This episode discusses instances of children becoming agitated and using aggression as a form of communication. If you are concerned about someone in your home please seek support from these resources:
https://www.familyrelationships.gov.au/talk-someone/advice-line
https://www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au/
https://intouch.org.au/
https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
For regular updates and recaps of episodes, please keep and eye on our Facebook or instagram page
If you are wanting to support this podcast, please subscribe and follow our podcast.
Mummel Road Community Programs is a registered charity offering adolescents on the autism spectrum the opportunity to engage with their community in a meaningful way. To learn more about our charity or donate please read more here
Mummel Road Members get weekly support session with Emily, our advanced positive behaviour support practitioner. Learn more about our members hub here.
If you are wanting to share your story with the Neurolicious Community, please reach out to us at info@mummelroad.com.au
No form of parenting is that easy, most parents are familiar with the usual struggles -no sleep, no 'me time', no more free weekends, and well the list goes on and on. Parenting a child on the autism spectrum can be even more challenging. Welcome to our world. A world of fun, a bit of stress, and a whole bunch of interest in neurodiversity. We are surrounded by neurodivergence in both our personal and professional lives and we are welcoming you into our space. Enjoy!
For regular updates and recaps of episodes, please keep and eye on our Facebook or instagram page
If you are wanting to support this podcast, please subscribe and follow our podcast.
Mummel Road Community Programs is a registered charity offering adolescents on the autism spectrum the opportunity to engage with their community in a meaningful way. To learn more about our charity or donate please read more here
Mummel Road Members get weekly support session with Emily, our advanced positive behaviour support practitioner. Learn more about our members hub here.
If you are wanting to share your story with the Neurolicious Community, please reach out to us at info@mummelroad.com.au
The launch of The Neurolicious Podcast marks the end of an era of loneliness for parents navigating the neurodiverse world.
When a Paediatric Developmental Educator and a mum of a child on the autism spectrum teams up with a Paediatric Occupational Therapist with a recent diagnosis of ADHD, we truly become the brains trust and support team that you need.
We explore the topics that people find hard to unpack, we talk about our daily struggles both at home and at work and we offer really useful and practical ideas to help make your load slightly lighter.
Parenting in general can bring feelings of isolation and confusion, add neurodiversity into the mix and it can, at times, feel crippling.
Let's get into it.
You'll hear more from us on the 16th May when we have an official launch.
Em and Kylee
For regular updates and recaps of episodes, please keep and eye on our Facebook or instagram page
If you are wanting to support this podcast, please subscribe and follow our podcast.
Mummel Road Community Programs is a registered charity offering adolescents on the autism spectrum the opportunity to engage with their community in a meaningful way. To learn more about our charity or donate please read more here
Mummel Road Members get weekly support session with Emily, our advanced positive behaviour support practitioner. Learn more about our members hub here.
If you are wanting to share your story with the Neurolicious Community, please reach out to us at info@mummelroad.com.au
Leeanne opens up about her experiences of being a parent of a child who is on the autism spectrum. Leeanne beautifully articulates the importance of looking for, and recognising an individual's strengths and interests and making this the narrative to what makes them unique. Leeanne feels so passionate about sharing her story because of the heartbreak that she and her husband, Glenn, have experienced when people have placed their son Riley's deficits at the centre of their perspective of him. Riley loves the Wiggles and the colour red; he loves wearing a red shirt - which he looks fantastic in!! Riley enjoys watching himself in the mirror while he plays the guitar. Riley loves shopping centres, going on familiar road trips with his family and being a part of his school community. I could go on for a long time, but I want to paint the picture for you that Riley has plenty to offer his school, his community and is friends. All we need to do is open our eyes and minds to Riley and look at the world from his perspective.
There will be so many parents who will be able to relate to this story, I would love to hear your stories of what makes your child brilliant. What would we see if we looked at the world from your child's perspective?
Do your children sometimes feel uncertain or anxious? Does or did your child experience separation anxiety when you dropped them off at school? Do you feel overwhelmed sometimes. or feel the world closing in on you?
Have you wondered what strategies that you could use to help in these situations? Kylie wondered theses questions in her role as a teacher and then as a mum. What could she do to support he people she loved and supported through these difficult times?
She embarked on a journey to learn about mindfulness. What she learnt gave her the skills to support her family along with thousands of other families across Australia and the world. Kylie founded Head and Heart Mindfulness and this is her story. Enjoy.
All too often I hear parents of children with additional needs say "I would love for my child to learn to swim but no one can cater for their individual needs". This is a heart-breaking story to hear, especially in a country such as Australia where learning to swim is such a huge part of our culture and society. I have been really interested in delving more into the people behind businesses that cater for children with additional needs. What prompted their move into this field, why do they want to go the extra mile in offering specialised services, and what are their take home messages after embarking on a journey to offer children with additional needs and their families a place where they can access skills, services, or education. Take a listen and let me know your thoughts on Dean's story.
No parent wants to receive a call from their child's school informing them that they are not welcome in their classroom or in their school community. Unfortunately, these calls are not uncommon. Mostly, they are done with the safety and well being of all the students at the school in mind, which I completely understand. My quick hit today is simply a reminder for all carers, educators, and therapists to ensure that if they do need to call a child's parents, that they consider telling them one positive thing that occurred that day or even that week. I have been found crying at home by my husband after one of these calls and I understand the heartbreak that can follow these conversations. Please tread lightly with parents, please deliver news or reports with an anecdote of a positive thing that their child has done. Please be mindful that your words will remain with those parents for weeks or months to come.
Thanks on behalf of all parents who are raising children with additional needs.
Steve Innes work for Kurri Kurri Community Services in the Hunter Valley. Together with his colleagues, Steve is paving the way for individuals with disabilities to gain employment and social inclusion. Steve explains how workplaces in all industries can reframe their understanding and attitudes towards individuals with disabilities; seeing them as an asset rather than a burden. This is a really interesting conversation and one that I would love you to listen to.
If you are like me and you are the parent of a child with a disability this is a terrific episode for you to engage with.
Enjoy!
Screen time is part of the daily routine of many children. Screen time can definitely be a calm and peaceful time for many children. However excessive screen time can cause some problems such as poor muscle tone, excessive weight gain and a lack of involvement in outdoor or community based activities.
My quick hit today offers you some helpful tips on how to support your child to transition from their screen time to another activity.
Parental guilt is something that every parent feels from time to time. You let you child eat bad food, you let your child stay up too late, you don't enforce homework, you feel like you aren't 'DOING' enough! Sound familiar?? Well, it is!! This feeling of parental guilt is so common.
For parents of children with a disability or additional need, the feeling of guilt can be magnified. The therapy homework, the behaviour management tools, the doctor's appointments can be exhausting- leaving very little fuel in the tank to be the very best version of your parenting self ALL THE TIME. I support the most wonderful parents who at times all feel guilty but seeing what they do for their child is extraordinary. I want everyone to take some time to think about all the things that you HAVE done for your child! Let's flip the coin and think positively- focus on what you are doing to make your child the brilliant human that they are. I would love to hear your stories of this concept. Please share your little wins with us all because I promise you that other parents are waiting to say "you're an incredible parent"!!
The parents that I know are time poor, and quite frankly, so am I!!
I have created fortnightly 2 minutes of information to help navigate you through all kinds of tricky things.
How good!
Enjoy
In his previous career, Farmer Jesse was a high school science teacher. He found that he wasn't able to offer his students the kind of supportive and differentiated learning material within the constraints of his classroom. As a result, he chose to begin educating students at his farm, giving them the opportunity to learn about regenerative farming and how to grow sustainable food for their community.
It was an absolute pleasure to have this conversation with Jesse. He is a true advocate for children with varied learning needs and he has been a real beacon of hope for families around the Hunter Valley.
Friendships can be strained when someone's child receives a diagnosis. It can be a difficult time for everyone to navigate. Take a listen for some practical advice to ensure that you can be the type of friend that you want to be.
Principal Jono has such a fantastic insight into the social and emotional needs of children. Jono and I spoke about so many things, and we could have chatted for hours longer. Jono has some terrific advice for parents who are sending their children to school in 2022. He also offers his fellow teachers some words of wisdom and gives his opinion on important topics such as inclusive education and integration and how the two differ. I can't wait for you to hear this fantastic episode. I am keen to interview Principal Jono again so please send in your feedback and questions for him. Thanks!!
I never would have imagined that my small business where I support families who have children with additional needs would develop into a space where I was interviewing the most amazing people for a podcast and offering families from all over Australia and the world online information and resources to support their child when they need it the most.
Who am I though? What do I do? How did my business merge into the online scene and why did I start a podcast? Listen to find out more.
I am so excited to have you here. You are now part of the Mummel Road online community. This is a place where you can find support, information, and comradery. Join the Mummel Road Members Hub http://www.mummelroad.com.au or join me on social media @mummelroad.
I can't wait to get to know you all.
Em