Best It S Not Supposed To Be Easy Podcasts (2025)

1
41. CONFESSION: Mums wrote in anonymously… and what they shared wrecked me 10:33

Play Pause

44m ago10:33

10:33

⚠️ Content Warning : This episode contains heavy confessions. These themes may be triggering for listeners with trauma histories or postnatal depression. Please listen with care and step away if you need to. These confessions prove you’re not broken, you’re not failing — and you’re definitely not alone. For the first time, Jane reads out anonymous …

1
40. HORMONES: The Perimenopause Crash – Progesterone, Stress, and the Rage Nobody Warned Us About 17:49

18h ago17:49

17:49

Perimenopause can feel like being blindsided by a hormonal crash no one prepared you for. Mood swings, rage, insomnia, and anxiety get dumped in the ‘mum stress’ basket — as if biology crashing is just bad attitude. For ADHD mums, the mix of perimenopause and neurodivergence is like juggling knives while the floor gives way. This episode calls out …

1
39. CONFESSION: Can You Love Someone and Still Dread S*x? 14:21

6d ago14:21

14:21

‘Not tonight’ isn’t rejection — it’s survival. You can be deeply in love, feel safe and connected, and still feel absolutely no desire for sex. For neurodivergent mums, it’s not about being broken. It’s about being depleted. Burnout, overstimulation, resentment, and chronic executive load all take a toll — and desire doesn’t grow in captivity. This…

1
38. QUICK RESET: The Hallway Hook That Saved My Sanity 8:46

8d ago8:46

8:46

School mornings feel like hostage negotiations — not routine. Missing shoes, weird sock meltdowns, vanishing library bags… and still the world says ‘just get more organised’. But ADHD families don’t run on habits — we run on cues. In this Quick Reset, Jane shares the one simple change that turned mornings from chaos into something survivable: the h…

1
37. HORMONES: Histamine + Hormones – Why You Feel Like You’re Falling Apart 21:19

8d ago21:19

21:19

Doctors said anxiety. It turns out, for many ADHD mums, it’s actually hormones colliding with histamine. This episode kicks off our hormone mini-series with ADHD & women’s health naturopath Kylie Smart, exploring how histamine interacts with oestrogen, stress, and ADHD — and why so many mums are dismissed as “hysterical” or “anxious” when the truth…

1
36. QUICK RESET: They said don't label him, so he suffered in silence 17:42

14d ago17:42

17:42

‘Don’t label her,’ they said. Now she cries herself to sleep, wondering why she’s too much. 💔 That’s what happens when kids grow up different but unsupported. The world never calls it ADHD — it calls it bossy, weird, difficult. And children believe it. In this Quick Reset, Jane McFadden unpacks the real cost of avoiding diagnosis. Parents often fea…

1
35. You Were the Good Girl. That’s Why You’re Falling Apart Now. 30:43

15d ago30:43

30:43

You keep the house running. You hold the emotions. You never say no. And still, part of you wonders if you’re doing enough. This solo episode isn’t just about perfectionism or people pleasing — it’s about the deeper pattern so many ADHD mums live inside without realising it: good girl conditioning. Jane peels back the layers of expectation, guilt, …

1
34. Is It Social Anxiety — or Is It Autism 33:57

17d ago33:57

33:57

You can’t ‘train’ a brain to enjoy being flooded with noise, light, smells, and chaos. You can only push it until it shuts down — or shuts you out. Yet families are told every day that ‘exposure therapy’ will fix sensory overwhelm. In this episode, we talk about why that’s not just wrong — it’s dangerous. You’ll learn: How to tell the difference be…

1
33. CONFESSIONS: I Don’t Always Like Being a Parent 12:45

22d ago12:45

12:45

Sometimes parenting feels like being pecked to death by tiny, unstable chickens. We love our kids fiercely — but that doesn’t mean we have to love every single moment of raising them. In this unfiltered Quick Reset, Jane says the thing so many ADHD mums are scared to admit out loud: I don’t always like being a parent. And no — that doesn’t make you…

1
32. QUICK RESET: My child is being bullied and I'm supposed to stay calm 28:34

21d ago28:34

28:34

Your child comes home from school withdrawn, teary, or exploding in rage — and you’re expected to stay calm. Every cell in your body wants to burn the system down, but the school says ‘We’re handling it’. You can see your child’s spark dimming, and you’re being told to keep your emotions in check so you’re not labelled ‘the emotional mum’. Psycholo…

1
31. The ADHD Mum’s Guide to Surviving School Mornings Without Tears (Theirs or Yours) 33:04

24d ago33:04

33:04

If school mornings in your house feel like a high-stakes obstacle course — socks missing, bags unpacked, emotions running high — this episode will feel like a deep breath you didn’t know you needed. Jane is joined by Sharon Collon from The Functional Family to talk about how to survive those brutal pre-school hours without burning every ounce of pa…

1
30. MY UPDATE: The Lipedema Op: The Invisible Illness You Weren’t Supposed to Notice 15:49

29d ago15:49

15:49

If you’ve already heard MY UPDATE: What Happens When You Lose the Meds That Helped You Survive, you know Part 1 ended on the decision to have lipedema surgery after years of chronic pain, medical dismissal, and the sudden loss of ADHD medication. This is what happened next. In this follow-up episode, Jane takes you behind the curtain of the surgery…

1
29. MY UPDATE: What Happens When You Lose the Meds That Helped You Survive 12:30

30d ago12:30

12:30

This isn’t just about medication. It’s about the pattern so many ADHD mums find themselves in — chasing answers, finding partial relief, and then hitting a wall you never saw coming. In this raw, unfiltered episode, Jane shares the deeply personal story of what happened when her body could no longer tolerate ADHD medication — and how a lifetime of …

1
28. ADHD Meds, Access & Equity — What Families Need Policymakers to Hear 34:59

1M ago34:59

34:59

With Special Guest: NSW Minister for Mental Health, Rose Jackson 💬 “It shouldn’t cost thousands of dollars and 12 months on a waitlist just to feel like a functioning parent.” For years, ADHD families have been begging for change — and this time, someone in government actually listened. In this landmark conversation, Jane is joined by NSW Minister …

1
27. CONFESSIONS: 10 Things That Scare Me as an ADHD Mum 13:47

1M ago13:47

13:47

This episode isn’t polished. It’s not another “mum guilt” talk with a tidy little bow. It’s a confession — 10 brutally honest fears that live under the surface of parenting with ADHD. The kind you lie awake thinking about. The kind you’re scared to say out loud. From burnout to school calls, masking to medical forms — this Quick Reset is for the mu…

1
26. QUICK RESET: Why You Keep Waking at 3am — And It’s Not Just Anxiety 13:06

1M ago13:06

13:06

If you’ve ever jolted awake at 3:11am spiralling over something you said in 2019 — you are not alone. This Quick Reset is for the mums lying in bed, exhausted but wired, wondering if their brain is broken. (Spoiler: it’s not.) In this raw and validating episode, Jane unpacks the real reasons so many neurodivergent women are waking up in the middle …

1
25. The Emotional Load of Raising Neurodivergent Girls and How to Lighten It 41:01

1M ago41:01

41:01

What if the exhaustion you're carrying isn’t about your daughter’s needs — but about the systems stacked against her? In this fiercely honest conversation, Jane sits down with Katie Koullas, founder of Yellow Ladybugs, to unpack the invisible weight neurodivergent mums carry while raising autistic and ADHD girls. From masking to missed diagnoses, p…

1
24. QUICK RESET: The ADHD Myth of 'Just try Harder' 14:23

1M ago14:23

14:23

If you’ve ever stood frozen in the kitchen, fully aware of what needs doing — and still couldn’t start — this episode is for you. This week’s Quick Reset tears apart the toxic myth that ADHD mums just need to “try harder.” Jane unpacks what’s actually happening when your brain stalls, and why shame, not laziness, is often the real culprit. From inn…

1
23. ADHD Meds Won’t Fix Everything – Now What? 34:45

1M ago34:45

34:45

With special guest: Jayde Couldewell from Beyond the Bump If you thought finally getting a diagnosis and trying meds would be the end of your chaos — but you’re still overwhelmed, melting down, or yelling into the void — this one’s for you. In this raw, funny, and emotionally honest episode, Jane is joined by Jayde Couldewell to talk about what rea…

1
22. QUICK RESET: Why self-care feels like another f*cking task 12:24

2M ago12:24

12:24

If someone tells you to take a bubble bath one more time, you might scream. This Quick Reset is a no-filter, nervous-system-level rant for every ADHD mum who’s been told that a massage will fix her burnout. Jane unpacks why the whole self-care industry is fundamentally mismatched to neurodivergent mums — and how pretending we feel better after one …

1
21. SCHOOL SERIES: The Future of Neurodivergent Education: What Needs to Change? 50:01

2M ago50:01

50:01

If you've ever walked out of a school meeting wondering how it could all feel so wrong — this episode is for you. In the powerful final instalment of the ADHD Mums School Series, Jane is joined by neurodivergent educator Millie Carr to reimagine what school could be — if we stopped prioritising performance over people. Together, they unpack how tra…

1
20. SCHOOL SERIES: How to Choose a School That Won’t Break Your Kid (or You) 29:43

2M ago29:43

29:43

If you're a neurodivergent parent staring down the impossible decision of where to send your child to school — this episode is for you. Forget the glossy brochures and test score spreadsheets. In this raw, strategic conversation, Jane and Millie Carr walk you through the real questions to ask, the red flags to watch for, and how to trust your gut w…

1
19. SCHOOL SERIES: When School Stops Feeling Safe 23:32

2M ago23:32

23:32

If your child holds it together at school but falls apart at home — this episode is for you. In this raw and deeply validating conversation, Jane is joined again by educator Millie Carr to unpack what happens when school is no longer emotionally or psychologically safe for neurodivergent kids. From missed warning signs to outright shutdown, we expl…

1
18. QUICK RESET: Why you are bad at asking for help and what to do instead 14:41

2M ago14:41

14:41

If the words ‘let me know if you need anything’ make you panic instead of feel supported — this one’s for you. This Quick Reset is a nervous system-level sigh of relief for the mums who feel safest surviving in silence. If you’ve ever shut down instead of speaking up, snapped when someone finally offered to help, or felt like asking for support mea…

1
17. QUICK RESET: How We Survive the 3–6PM Sh*t Show When Kids Are Coming Down Off Meds 14:24

2M ago14:24

14:24

If your afternoons feel like a slow-motion train wreck — tears, yelling, slammed doors, and you hiding in the pantry with a chocolate bar — this episode is for you. This Quick Reset speaks directly to the ADHD mums stuck in the brutal 3–6PM rebound window (or 3–9PM if your house is really on fire). When the stimulant meds wear off, the chaos ramps …

1
16. QUICK RESET: No meds, No plan, and no help..... but yet they're still calling us undiagnosed 12:44

2M ago12:44

12:44

If you’ve spent hours calling pharmacies, chasing down scripts, or fighting tears in front of your child’s school — this episode is for you. This week’s Quick Reset is a brutally honest look at the ADHD medication shortage and what it’s actually costing families. It’s not just about pills. It’s about access, function, and survival. If you’ve been t…

1
15. QUICK RESET: He wants the Maldives but we can't even manage the park 19:17

2M ago19:17

19:17

If your partner’s dreaming of overseas holidays while you’re barely surviving the playground — this episode is for you. This Quick Reset is a brutally honest look at what 'holiday' means when you’re the default parent, the nervous system regulator, and the one who never actually gets to rest. If your body flinches at the word “vacation” because it …

1
14. QUICK RESET: I Cancel Plans Because I Don’t Have the Energy to Fake My Personality 14:54

3M ago14:54

14:54

This one is for the mums who cancel plans and then spiral into shame — not because you don’t care about your friends, but because you’re tired of becoming someone else just to belong. This Quick Reset goes straight into the emotional cost of masking, people-pleasing, and being ‘palatable’ in social spaces when you’re already running on empty. If yo…

1
13. SCHOOL SERIES: When They Just Don’t Get It: Navigating School with Neurotypical Parents 27:20

3M ago27:20

27:20

This one’s for every mum who’s watched the birthday party photos roll in and realised — again — your child wasn’t invited. Or stood awkwardly at the school gate while other parents chatted like you weren’t even there. In this raw and necessary episode, Jane tackles the quiet grief of social exclusion: not just for our neurodivergent kids, but for u…

1
12. QUICK RESET: I can’t stop snapping when my child does this one thing 14:24

3M ago14:24

14:24

If you’ve ever found yourself raging over a sock battle, losing it over a tantrum, or feeling shame after snapping at your child — this episode will meet you right there. It’s not just that your child is being ‘difficult’. It’s that their big feelings might be waking up parts of you that were never allowed to exist. This Quick Reset unpacks the lin…

1
11. SCHOOL SERIES: Reducing Stress Behaviours in the Classroom: Connection, Co-Regulation & Neuro-Aware Teaching 47:51

3M ago47:51

47:51

If you’ve ever been told your child is ‘defiant’, ‘rude’, or ‘lazy’—this episode is for you. Tania Waring is back to unpack how stress behaviours are misread as misbehaviour in classrooms. Drawing on her PhD research into co-regulation and inclusive education, Tania explains what’s really going on for ADHD and autistic students—and why the classroo…

1
10. QUICK RESET: Why am I bracing for impact when nothing is wrong? 9:23

3M ago9:23

9:23

If you can’t sit still even when nothing’s wrong... If you're checking your emails like a debt collector is chasing you... If your heart races during peaceful moments... This episode is for you. In this raw and validating Quick Reset, Jane peels back the misunderstood layers of 'anxiety' to reveal something many ADHD mums live with daily — high-fun…

1
9. SCHOOL SERIES: IEP Meetings Are Broken — Here’s What to Say Instead 20:24

3M ago20:24

20:24

You walk into a school meeting hoping for support—and walk out feeling like the unreasonable parent again. In this no-fluff episode, Jane is joined by returning guest and neuroaffirming educator Millie Carr to rip the curtain off how Individual Education Plans (IEPs) are actually playing out in real classrooms. From broken communication and missing…

1
8. QUICK RESET: Advocating for Your Child Shouldn’t Break You — But It Often Does 17:28

3M ago17:28

17:28

Why does getting support for your child feel like a full-time job… with no sick leave? In this solo episode, Jane dives into the exhausting, invisible labour of advocacy – and why neurodivergent mums are often left navigating broken systems without a map, a translator, or a break. From IEP meetings to GP appointments, this is the episode for every …

1
7. SCHOOL SERIES: The Great Gaslighting: When Schools Say We Don’t See It 24:18

3M ago24:18

24:18

What happens when schools insist your child is fine - but everything in your gut says otherwise? In this powerful instalment of our school mini-series, Jane is joined again by Millie Carr - teacher, parent, and neurodivergent advocate - to unpack one of the most maddening experiences families face: being gaslit by educators who don’t “see” the stru…

1
6. NDIS Is Making Psychology Support Harder To Access And The New Budget Rules 52:27

4M ago52:27

52:27

You’re not imagining it — psychology funding is reducing from NDIS plans. And neurodivergent families are being hit the hardest. In this critical solo episode, Jane breaks down the real impact of recent NDIS changes, including the hidden rollout of Section 33, why psychology is being reframed as a ‘Medicare issue’, and how support for emotional reg…

1
5. SCHOOL SERIES: Your Child Isn’t ‘Acting Out’ — They’re Burning Out 52:37

4M ago52:37

52:37

If your kid has been labelled ‘disruptive’, ‘too much’, or has a 'behaviour problem’ at school - this episode is for you. In this raw, honest, and fiercely educational conversation, Jane is joined by Tania Waring - lawyer-turned-PhD researcher, mum of three neurodivergent boys, and longtime education advocate. They go into what’s really happening w…

1
4. Advanced ADHD + Neurodivergent Myths.....Busted :) 33:04

4M ago33:04

33:04

You’ve already heard the basics: ADHD isn’t just for boys. Autism isn’t all hand-flapping. Great. But what about the deeper stuff? In this solo episode, Jane takes a sledgehammer to the most persistent, harmful, and advanced myths that are still sabotaging ADHD and autistic women. From the dangerous praise of ‘high functioning’ to the weaponisation…

1
3. SCHOOL SERIES - Burnout Starts in the Classroom — And Follows Them Home 18:37

4M ago18:37

18:37

If your child’s after-school meltdowns seem to come out of nowhere — they don’t. They’re just not being seen. In this second episode of the School Series, Jane is joined again by neurodivergent educator and mum Millie Carr to unpack how burnout builds silently in classrooms and explodes at home. From sensory overwhelm and executive dysfunction to c…

1
2. SCHOOL SERIES When School Becomes the Trauma — What No One Tells ADHD Parents 28:56

4M ago28:56

28:56

If your child holds it together all day at school only to fall apart the second they get home—this episode is for you. In this brutally honest conversation, Jane is joined by teacher, parent, and neurodivergent advocate Millie Carr to unpack the invisible trauma happening behind ‘good behaviour’ in classrooms. From silent shutdowns to explosive rag…

1
1. Season 3 Starts Here: No More Explaining – ADHD Tools That Actually Work 14:29

4M ago14:29

14:29

You’ve read the listicles. You’ve sat in the paediatrician’s office explaining what your child’s meltdown actually meant — again. You’re not confused. You’re exhausted. Season 3 is here — and it’s not about awareness anymore. It’s about tools, systems, scripts, and sustainable change. This season, Jane is done explaining ADHD to the masses. If you’…

1
88. Mothers Day: I Made the Lunches, Booked the Table, and Still Felt Invisible 18:04

4M ago18:04

18:04

You made the reservation. You packed the gifts. You wiped the tears, booked the table, and still felt… like no one saw you. If Mother’s Day makes you feel flat, ragey, or quietly devastated—you’re not ungrateful, you’re unsupported. In this raw solo episode, Jane shares the truth about what ADHD mums, solo parents, and neurodivergent women are real…

1
87. Season 2 RECAP: The Year ADHD Mums Stopped Apologising 41:39

4M ago41:39

41:39

If you made it through Season 2 while juggling meltdowns, meds, late-night Googling, school chaos, and trying to figure out dinner while being told to ‘get off your phone’—you’re not just surviving. You’re reshaping the narrative. In this raw and honest wrap-up, Jane reflects on what really went down in Season 2: the burnout, the backlash, the brea…

1
86. What the World's Biggest ADHD Meds Study Really Revealed 24:24

4M ago24:24

24:24

ADHD Meds: Are They Safe Long-Term? What the World's Largest Study Just Told Us You’re sitting in the paediatrician’s office, staring at a tiny tablet in your hand, wondering if giving it to your child makes you a bad parent—or a better one. Sound familiar? In this solo episode, Jane breaks down the world’s biggest ADHD medication study—just publis…

1
85. Real Tools for Real Rage (Mum Rage Part 2) 26:42

4M ago26:42

26:42

Okay, so you’ve screamed into your car steering wheel. Now what? In Part 2, Jane and clinical psychologist Dr Jacinta Thompson return to bring the goods: the actual, practical tools ADHD mums can use to manage rage without pretending to be zen all the time. From self-coaching scripts to nervous system hacks, this episode gives you permission to be …

1
84. I Love My Family… But I’m So F**king Angry (Mum Rage Part 1) 39:28

5M ago39:28

39:28

If you've ever felt like you were about to rage-clean the entire house, scream in your car, or book a one-way ticket to anywhere then here, this episode is for you. We’re diving into mum rage, sensory overload, and the shame spiral that follows—because if just regulating your emotions was that easy, none of us would be listening to this episode. Dr…

1
83. Too Much? Or Just Misunderstood: ADHD, RSD & the Power of Emotional Intensity 27:20

5M ago27:20

27:20

Ever been called ‘a bit much’? Apologised for your personality before someone’s even asked your name? You’re not alone - and you’re not the problem. In this solo episode, Jane cracks open the messy reality of emotional intensity, ADHD, and rejection sensitive dysphoria (RSD). From 2am spiral sessions to crying because someone didn’t wave back - thi…

1
82. ADHD or PTSD? Why So Many Women Are Misdiagnosed with Amanda Moses 43:56

5M ago43:56

43:56

Too many women walk into a psych’s office knowing something’s not right—and walk out with a label that only tells half the story. ADHD or PTSD? Or both? In this episode, Jane chats with senior psychologist, educator, and PhD candidate Amanda Moses, whose work centres on complex, highly masked neurodivergent presentations. Together, they tackle one …

1
81. You’ve Tried Everything… They Still Won’t Eat: Real Strategies for ARFID at Home 42:02

5M ago42:02

42:02

You’re not overreacting. You’ve spent hundreds trying to keep their “safe foods” stocked, only for them to refuse it the next day. You’ve stood in the kitchen, holding a full lunchbox, wondering how they’ll get through the day - and how you’ll keep holding it together. This isn’t just fussy eating. And this episode isn’t just more information - it’…

1
80. Executive Function, School Stress, and Support That Actually Works with Sue Larkey 28:01

5M ago28:01

28:01

Ever feel like you’re the only one holding everything together - school schedules, emotional meltdowns, forgotten socks, and all? And somehow, despite all that effort, your child’s teacher still doesn’t quite get it? You’re not imagining it - and you’re definitely not alone. In this episode, Jane sits down with educator and special ed expert Sue La…