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How do we balance discipline and connection in parenting? When is it more important to teach, and when should we simply connect? In this eye-opening episode, I sit down with Karen Abou Jaoude and Sarah Raslan, founders of The Wise Parent, to explore these nuanced qu...

It can feel like there’s a never-ending list of things that aren’t going well. International wars, children dying, disease, and the helpless feeling you can’t do anything about it.

This is magnified by feeling hopeless in your own home. You’re on the seemingly never-ending hamster wheel of app...

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In this solo episode of All Brains Grow, I share a raw and personal story about transforming my 15-month-old daughter’s chaotic sleep patterns into peaceful nights—and the profound lessons it taught me about the science of change.

What does it really take to chang...

Autism has gone through diagnostic, cultural, and labeling changes over the years. But for something that is so prevalent — 1 in 36 US children are autistic — we know very little about it. Often the focus in autism discussions is on socializing and accommodations, but we know that there are biolog...

There’s a reason why your habits never stick, and it has nothing to do with passion, motivation, or laziness.

It’s your brain prioritizing what it knows will give you a reward. You see, your brain processes a lot of information. When something is new, it doesn’t know if the work is worth it. S...

If you’ve ever wondered why typical self-care like bubble baths, exercise, and makeup don’t work for you, you’re probably a mom of a neurodivergent child. With so many examples in pop culture, self-care can feel like a joke. Putting another thing on your to-do list is more likely to cause burnout ...

We take socialization for granted. It’s assumed that we naturally pick up communication, independence, and friendship because this is often how it works for neurotypical children. For neurodivergent children, socialization needs to be explicitly taught. This is where your role as a parent, caregiv...

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What does it take to raise a child with cerebral palsy while balancing family, career, and an uncertain future? In this deeply moving episode, I sit down with Leila Nashabe to hear her inspiring journey of raising her daughter Maya, who defied all odds to become a d...

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Talking about sexual health is hard enough, but in the Middle East, it’s a whole new level of taboo—especially when it comes to individuals with autism and disabilities. In this compelling episode, I sit down with Dr. Asmahan Saleh Khalil, a behavioral therapist and...

Meltdowns, characterized by a heightened emotional response and loss of control, can be triggered by various factors, ranging from sensory overload to stress and anxiety.

While we can’t always control our child’s environment, we can learn to recognize patterns, control our reactions, and suppo...

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For the very first guest episode of the All Brains Grow podcast, I couldn’t think of anyone better to start with than my mom, Rim Smadi. She’s the reason this podcast exists. Growing up, I watched her raise my autistic brother, Milo, with what seemed like effortless...

Autism has gotten more recognition over the years — whether that’s through pop culture, autistic people speaking up, or more advocates for neurodiversity. While this has resulted in more research, therapies, and support, it also means that there are more theories about what autism is and what caus...