Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children

Latest Episodes:

TPP 459: Bryan Post on Navigating Trauma in Parenting & the Healing Power of Love Aug 19, 2025

Show notes

In this conversation, I talk with child behavior and adoption expert Bryan Post about how trauma, stress, and fear can shape the way our kids behave—and how we respond as parents. Bryan shares powerful insights about what’s really going on beneath the surface when kids are acting out, especially in families with adopted or foster children. We dive into the difference between parenting from love versus fear, how oxytocin plays a role in connection and regulation, and what it takes to break out of reactive cycles and create a more peaceful, nurturing home.

About Bryan Post

Bryan Post is a leading expert in child behavior, adoption trauma, and love-based parenting. A former foster child himself, Bryan has dedicated over two decades to helping families heal through connection, compassion, and regulation. He is the founder of Fear to Love, LLC, Bondify.ai, the Post Institute for Family-Centered Therapy, and the nonprofit Leaf Wraparound. His pioneering “Fear to Love Method” and the “Stress Model” empower parents to respond to challenging behaviors with understanding rather than fear or punishment.

Bryan’s approach blends neuroscience with timeless spiritual principles, particularly the teachings of Jesus, to address trauma and attachment disruptions in children. He has authored several influential books, including From Fear to Love, The Great Behavior Breakdown, and Parenting Softly, and co-authored the bestseller Beyond Consequences, Logic, and Control.

Through media appearances, live seminars, online trainings, and digital platforms, Bryan has impacted thousands of adoptive, foster, and biological families worldwide. His AI-powered parenting app, Bondify.ai, offers real-time, trauma-informed support, making expert guidance accessible to parents everywhere. Bryan’s central message is simple yet transformative: all behavior is communication, and true healing begins with love. Learn more at www.feartolove.com and www.bondify.ai.

Things you'll learn from this episode

Why understanding trauma gives parents the insight needed to respond to behavior with empathy rather than punishment

How stress and fear often drive challenging behaviors, especially in neurodivergent children

Why love and emotional safety are essential ingredients for healing and building strong parent-child relationships

How self-regulation and simple tools like breathing help parents stay grounded and co-regulate more effectively

Why unexpressed grief in children can surface as disruptive behavior and needs compassionate attention

How connection, oxytocin, and community support create the foundation for lasting change—even if you're starting late in the game

Resources mentioned

Bryan Post’s Fear to Love website

Bryan’s YouTube Channel

Bryan on LinkedIn

Bryan on Instagram

Fear to Love on Facebook

The Emotional Brain: The Mysterious Underpinnings of Emotional Life by Joseph Ledoux

Dr. Herbert Benson / Benson-Henry Institute

Tiffany Field / The Touch Institute

ACES (Adverse Childhood Experiences)

Affect Regulation and the Origin of the Self by Allan Schore

Self-Reg: How to Help Your Child (and You) Break the Stress Cycle and Successfully Engage with Life by Dr. Stuart Shanker

Dr. Stuart Shanker on the Brain Science Behind Self-Regulation & the Impact of Stress (Tilt Parenting podcast)

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TPP 220a: Meghan Leahy on Why We Should Stop Listening to Experts Aug 15, 2025

Show notes

Parent coach, Washington Post columnist, and author of "Parenting Outside the Lines" Meghan Leahy talks about embracing imperfection and vulnerability in our parenting lives.

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TPP 458: Dr. Emily Kline on How Motivational Interviewing Helps Kids Get Unstuck Aug 12, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I’m joined by clinical psychologist Dr. Emily Kline for a deep dive into motivational interviewing—an approach to communication that helps parents move from fixing and convincing to connecting and collaborating. We talk about how to have hard conversations (think: hygiene, responsibility, and independence) in a way that respects our kids’ autonomy and actually opens the door to change.

Emily brings nearly 20 years of experience working with families, has taught at Boston University and Harvard Medical School, and is the author of The School of Hard Talks. She shares practical, compassionate insights that any parent navigating the teen and young adult years will find incredibly useful.

About Dr. Emily Kline

Dr. Emily Kline is a clinical psychologist with nearly 20 years of experience working with individuals and families in community mental health settings. She has held faculty positions at Boston University and Harvard Medical School and led research studies focused on early course psychosis, adolescent and young adult mental health, and parent-focused interventions.

Dr. Kline is the author of The School of Hard Talks: How to Have Real Conversations with Your (Almost Grown) Kids and the creator of The School of Hard Talks Online. She has published dozens of articles appearing in a range of peer-reviewed scholarly journals, textbooks, and popular magazines, and she has spoken with audiences all over the world about mental health and communication.

Dr. Kline completed her bachelor’s degree at Haverford College, her master’s and doctoral degrees at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and her clinical and post-doctoral training at Harvard Medical School. She lives in Boston with her family.

Things you'll learn from this episode

Why motivational interviewing is a powerful communication tool that can improve family dynamics

How fostering a sense of control in children leads to more thoughtful and responsible decision-making

Why validating a child’s feelings and using reflections helps deepen understanding and connection

How open-ended questions encourage more meaningful conversations and reveal what’s beneath the surface

Why advice lands better when it’s offered after establishing trust, empathy, and true understanding

How practicing these skills in low-stakes moments builds confidence for navigating harder conversations

Resources mentioned

Dr. Emily Kline’s website

Free e-course on motivational interviewing

The School of Hard Talks: How to Have Real Conversations with Your (Almost Grown) Kids by Emily Kline, PhD

The Self-Driven Child with Dr. William Stixrud and Ned Johnson (Full-Tilt Parenting)

Dr. William Miller / Motivational Interviewing

Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers

Dr. Stephen Rollnick

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TPP 214a: Alane Freund How to Support & Parent a Highly Sensitive Child Aug 08, 2025

Show notes

Licensed family therapist and international consultant on high sensitivity Alane Freund explains what high sensitivity is, how it shows up in children, teens, and adults, and gives her insights on how parents can help a highly sensitive child flourish.

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TPP 457: A Conversation with Dr. Alissa Jerud About Emotion-Savvy Parenting Aug 05, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, I’m talking with clinical psychologist and author Alissa Jerud about her new book, Emotion Savvy Parenting. We get into how parents can better understand and manage their own emotions—especially in those intense, in-the-moment situations—so they can show up more effectively for their kids. Alissa shares her ART tools (Accept, Regulate, Tolerate), and we talk about strategies for staying grounded during emotional storms, including the ones that hit in very public places.

About Alissa Jerud, PhD

Alissa Jerud, PhD is a mom of two kids, a licensed clinical psychologist, a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, and author of Emotion-Savvy Parenting: A Shame-Free Guide to Navigating Emotional Storms and Deepening Connection. In her private practice, Dr. Jerud specializes in highly effective, exposure-based treatments for anxiety-related disorders, including obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, specific phobias, and generalized anxiety disorder. Additionally, she specializes in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills training and particularly enjoys helping other parents learn research-backed strategies for accepting, regulating, and tolerating their emotions, as well as their children’s. Dr. Jerud also trains other clinicians in exposure-based treatments and frequently gives workshops on anxiety, stress, mental health, parenting, and social support to companies large and small.

Things you'll learn from this episode

Why understanding the purpose of emotions matters for helping kids (and ourselves) live more fully and authentically
How emotion-savvy parenting begins with our own emotional experience, not just managing our child’s behavior
Why acceptance is a powerful first step toward emotional regulation and meaningful change
How mindfulness helps us observe emotions without judgment, so they don’t take over our actions
Why developing the skill to tolerate intense emotions can help us navigate parenting challenges with more calm and clarity
How the cognitive triangle—linking thoughts, feelings, and behaviors—offers a helpful framework for understanding emotional reactions and building awareness

Resources mentioned

Dr. Alissa Jerud’s website, The Art & Science of Emotions

Emotion=Savvy Parenting: A Shame-Free Guide to Navigating Emotional Storms and Deepening Connection by Dr. Alissa Jerud

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy or DBT

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT

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TPP 211a: Parenting Scripts for Stressed Out Moments with Kids, with Dr. Adele Lafrance Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

Clinical psychologist and co-developer of Emotion-Focused Family Therapy (EFFT), Dr. Adele Lafrance, talks about her new book, What to Say to Kids When Nothing Seems to Work, a practical guide for parents and caregivers.

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TPP 456: Maggie Dent on How to Parent, Love & Support Today’s Teens Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

In this powerful conversation, I’m joined by beloved Australian parenting expert and author Maggie Dent to explore what it really takes to raise resilient, emotionally healthy teens in today’s ever-changing world. Drawing on her experiences as a high school teacher, mother of four boys, and trusted voice in the parenting space, Maggie shares practical, compassionate guidance for navigating adolescence with insight, humor, and heart. We dive into the realities of the teenage brain, how the digital age is reshaping childhood, and why curiosity, connection, and unconditional love are more important than ever in building strong, supportive relationships with our kids.

About Maggie Dent

Commonly known as the ‘queen of common sense’, Maggie Dent has become one of Australia’s favourite parenting authors, educators and podcasters. She has a particular interest in the early years, adolescence and resilience, and is an undisputed ‘boy champion’.

Maggie’s experience includes teaching, counselling, and working in palliative care/funeral services and suicide prevention. Maggie is an advocate for the healthy, common-sense raising of children in order to strengthen families and communities. She is a passionate, positive voice for children of all ages.

Maggie is the host of The Good Enough Dad podcast and hosted six seasons of the award-winning ABC podcast, Parental As Anything. In 2025, she appears in the genre-bending ABC TV series about the challenges of parenting modern tweens/teens, The Role of a Lifetime. She is the author of 10 major books, plus several other e-books and a prolific creator of resources for parents, adolescents, teachers, early childhood educators and others who are interested in quietly improving their lives. Her books include the 2024 release Help Me Help My Teen: supporting our teens through tough times, Girlhood: Raising our little girls to be healthy, happy and heard, Parental As Anything (a book based on her podcast released in 2021), and her bestselling boys’ books From Boys to Men and Mothering Our Boys.

Maggie is the proud mother of four wonderful sons, and an enthusiastic and grateful grandmother. She lives in the South Coast region of NSW with her good bloke Steve Mountain and their dear little dog, Mr Hugo Walter Dent.

Things you'll learn from this episode

Why the changing world requires parents to adapt, even though the core needs of children remain the same

How the teenage brain’s pruning and remodeling process impacts memory, emotional regulation, and impulse control

Why understanding gender-based differences in brain development can help parents better support behavior and learning

How compassion, curiosity, and unconditional love create a secure foundation for teens during turbulent developmental stages

Why being a steady “lighthouse” presence helps teens feel safe while learning to make their own choices

How approaching tough conversations with calm curiosity opens the door to deeper trust and connection

Resources mentioned

Maggie Dent’s website

Maggie Dent’s YouTube Channel

Help Me Help My Teen: Supporting Our Teens Through Tough Times by Maggie Dent

The Good Enough Dad Podcast

Parental As Anything Podcast

From Boys to Men: Guiding Our Boys to Grow into Happy, Healthy Men by Maggie Dent

Mothering Our Boys: A Guide for Mums of Boys by Maggie Dent

Girlhood: Raising Our Little Girls to Be Healthy, Happy and Heard by Maggie Dent

Parental As Anything: A Common-Sense Guide to Raising Happy, Healthy Kids from Toddlers to Tweens by Maggie Dent

No Matter What posters on Maggie’s website

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TPP 210a: Dr. Roberto Olivardia Talks About Kids with ADHD and Sleep Challenges Jul 25, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Roberto Olivardia, a Clinical Instructor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, talks about the relationship between ADHD and sleep challenges, and offers strategies for children struggling with sleep.

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TPP 455: A Conversation with Dr. Naomi Fisher on Neurodivergence, PDA, and Self-Directed Learning Jul 22, 2025

Show notes

In this conversation, I talk with clinical psychologist and author Dr. Naomi Fisher about self-directed education, and why it can be such a powerful approach for neurodivergent kids, especially those with a PDA profile. Naomi shares why agency is so important in learning, how traditional school can chip away at a child’s self-worth, and what it looks like when we truly support demand-avoidant kids in ways that work for them. We also get into the challenges parents face when stepping outside the norm and why keeping the parent-child relationship at the center is key.

About Dr. Naomi Fisher

Dr. Naomi Fisher is a clinical psychologist who specialises in trauma, autism and alternative education. She is the author of several books including When the Naughty Step Makes Things Worse and the Teenager’s Guide to Burnout. She runs webinars for parents and more of her work can be found at www.naomifisher.co.uk

Things you'll learn from this episode

Why agency in learning is essential for neurodivergent children to build confidence, reduce anxiety, and stay engaged
How self-directed education supports children—especially those with PDA—by minimizing pressure and honoring their natural pace
Why respecting a child’s right to say no is foundational for creating a safe, trust-based learning environment
How understanding the cycle of demand avoidance helps reframe “bad behavior” as a response to overwhelm, not defiance
Why shifting away from rigid definitions of academic success can open the door to more authentic growth and capability
How prioritizing the parent-child relationship and finding community support helps families confidently navigate less conventional paths

Resources mentioned

Dr. Naomi Fisher’s website

Naomi Fisher on Substack

A Different Way to Learn by Naomi Fisher

Eliza Fricker Talks About Parenting a Child with PDA (Tilt Parenting Podcast)

Eliza Fricker’s website

The Family Experience of PDA by Eliza Fricker

Eliza Fricker / Missing the Mark on Facebook

Changing Our Minds: How Children Can Take Control of Their Own Learning by Naomi Fisher

What Can We Do When School’s Not Working: An Illustrated Handbook for Professionals by Naomi Fisher

Dr. Ross Greene’s Collaborative and Proactive Solutions Model

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Where Do We Go From Here? Jul 20, 2025

Show notes

In this special mini-episode, Debbie reflects on the Tilt Parenting revolution nearly 10 years after it began and invites listeners to complete a short survey to help assess what’s working and what still needs to change for families raising neurodivergent kids today.

This is your chance to help shape the future of the movement to shift the parenting paradigm and ensure it continues to create more ease, possibility, and joy for neurodivergent children and their families.

Please share this episode and the survey!

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