Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)

About Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA)

Unapologetically Whole is the podcast for anyone who’s ever felt invisible while holding everyone else together. Hosted by attorney, advocate, and lifelong caregiver Lola Dada-Olley, this show is a raw, honest invitation to reclaim your story and rebuild your sense of self without abandoning your responsibilities or values. Through deeply personal storytelling and candid conversations, Lola explores the layers we carry: as caregivers, professionals, parents, partners, and cycle-breakers navigating cultural stigma, trauma, and the pursuit of wholeness in a world that often asks us to disappear. Each episode offers a practical, three-part framework for transformation: Recognize the lane you’re in, Redefine success beyond external validation, and Reimagine what it means to truly thrive. You’ll hear real lessons from lived experience—how to hold the tension between vigilance and joy, how to honor incremental progress, and how to shine your light in a world that can feel dark. Whether you’re a caregiver, a leader, or simply someone searching for permission to exist beyond your roles, Unapologetically Whole bridges the gap between personal healing and professional reinvention, creating space for authentic community and honest growth. This podcast is the companion to Lola’s forthcoming memoir, Unapologetically Whole: A Memoir About Autism, Caregiving, and Owning Your Story, coming June 2026. If these conversations resonate with you, help us extend the reach—subscribe, share with a friend, and leave a rating or review. Your voice helps others find the hope, healing, and wholeness they deserve.

Publisher

Lola Dada-Olley

Category

education · health & fitness · society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Jul 2020

Latest episode

24 Jun 2026

Latest episodes

3 of 88 episodes have a transcript.

1. 

   24 Jun 2026

   Seeing Inner Peace as Success: A Conversation on Identity, Culture, and Personal Growth

   Send us Fan Mail This episode dives into a powerful discussion on how redefining success, embracing wholeness, and recognizing one's own lane can transform life trajectories. Lola Dada-Olley explores these themes through stories of cultural conditioning, resilience, and intentional living, offering practical insights for anyone navigating personal or professional reinvention. Main insights include: The importance of recognizing the lane you're currently in, especially when life takes unexpect...

2. 

   25 May 2026

   The Power of Story: A Short Reflection from Lola

   Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Unapologetically Whole, Lola Dada-Olley shares her journey of storytelling and the profound impact it has on both the storyteller and the audience. She emphasizes the importance of honesty in sharing personal experiences and how these stories can resonate with others, creating a sense of community and understanding. Lola reflects on the roles of caregiving and leadership, highlighting that they are intertwined with the act of sharing one's truth. She encour...

3. 

   11 May 2026

   The Story Behind a Book Cover: How Empathy and Design Shape a Memoir with Dhee Sylvester

   Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Unapologetically Whole podcast, host Lola Dada-Olley welcomes designer Dhee Sylvester to discuss the intricate process behind creating a book cover. Dhee shares his artistic journey, revealing how his background as a writer and poet informs his design philosophy. He emphasizes the importance of storytelling in design, explaining how he seeks emotional and visual cues from the text to create covers that resonate deeply with the narrative. The conversatio...

Inside a recent episode

A Family Affair: Mission Fueled Disability Advocacy with ConnectIDD

Published 16 Mar 2026 · Transcript excerpt

[…] Like we talk about that a lot and there's acknowledgement for, yes, it is hard, but we don't have, we haven't built the systems within the organizations, within the schools, within the family groups to allow that space. And Julie and the Connected team, we're working with a group specifically to help build what feels like a community of care within these organizations that open this up to families and open this up to individuals with disabilities and open this up to the staff who are committing their careers to supporting these children and adults with disabilities 40, 50, 60 hours a week. If we don't provide some support like this, then we should expect burnout and lost staff and inability to find new people forever. […]

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

243

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

38 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

6 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 62 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

62

Social presence

0

YouTube

72

Engagement

82