Walking The Neurodiversity Path: Our Path in Parenthood & Self Discovery

About Walking The Neurodiversity Path: Our Path in Parenthood & Self Discovery

Exploring parenthood, self-discovery and thriving with neurodiversity. Parenting and personal growth can feel like uncharted territory... especially when neurodiversity is part of the journey. Walking the Neurodiversity Path is a space for open, honest conversations about raising neurodiverse children while also navigating your own path of self-discovery, acceptance, and growth. Hosted by Coty Walker, certified Health and Life Coach, this podcast brings together parents, professionals, and lived experiences to share real stories, practical tools, and moments of encouragement. From the challenges of parenting and self-care to embracing strengths and finding community, we walk this path together, reminding you that you’re not alone. Whether you’re a parent of a neurodiverse child, someone exploring your own identity, or simply curious about the many ways brains can thrive, this podcast offers inspiration, resources, and hope for every step of the journey.

Publisher

Coty Walker / What If You Fly Coaching

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Oct 2025

Latest episode

28 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

17 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   28 Aug 2026

   Coming Back Differently: Neurodivergence, change & The September Reset

   Coming Back Differently: Neurodivergence, Change & the September Reset After taking a step back over the summer, I’m returning to the podcast with a conversation about change, transitions, and the neurodivergent brain. Why can getting “back to normal” feel so overwhelming, even when the change is positive? We explore how transitions draw on executive functioning, why change can dysregulate our nervous system, and how there can be a sense of loss hidden inside even the most exciting new beginnings. I also share three simple questions I’m asking myself as September approaches: What structure do I need back? What do I want to bring with me from summer? And what needs to change instead of simply returning to normal? Because maybe coming back doesn’t mean going back, perhaps we’re meant to come back differently.

2. 

   26 May 2026

   Who Would I Have Been If I Had Known?: The Grief of Late Neurodivergent Diagnosis

   What happens when a late neurodivergent diagnosis brings not only relief… but grief? In this solo episode, Coty Walker explores the often unspoken emotional side of discovering ADHD or neurodivergence later in life, the mourning of the life you could have had if you had understood yourself sooner. Together, we explore: the grief of years spent masking and overcompensating the shame many neurodivergent adults silently carry mourning relationships, opportunities, and self-worth the complicated emotions of parenting while unsupported yourself anger, identity reconstruction, and nervous system exhaustion and the healing that can begin when we replace self-judgment with compassion If you’ve ever wondered:“Who would I have been if I had known sooner?” …this episode is for you. You are not alone. And it is not too late to rebuild your relationship with yourself from a place of awareness, compassion, and acceptance. website: https://whatifyoufly.ca/Instagram: @what_if_you_fly_coachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotywalker/

3. 

   12 May 2026

   Why So Many Girls With ADHD Go Undiagnosed: The Hidden Face of ADHD in Girls and Women - A conversation with Katie Bertie

   In this episode of Walking the Neurodiversity Path, Coty Walker sits down with UK based ADHD and dyslexia specialist, teacher, and neurodivergent parent Katie Bertie for an honest conversation about why so many girls and women with ADHD continue to go unnoticed, misunderstood, or misdiagnosed for years. Together, they explore the hidden presentation of ADHD in girls, including masking, perfectionism, emotional sensitivity, people pleasing, anxiety, and the deep impact of growing up feeling “different” without understanding why. Katie shares insights from both her professional and personal experience supporting neurodivergent children, teens, and families, while Coty opens up a compassionate space for conversations many women are only now beginning to have later in life. Whether you are a parent, educator, late-diagnosed woman, or someone trying to better understand the neurodivergent experience, this conversation offers insight, validation, compassion, and hope. Katie is offering us a free 3 part parent guide: 3 simple steps you can take to support your ADHD/dyslexic teen fearlessly, so they can tackle school and life with confidence and joy.Dowload it here: https://gift.katiebertieeducation.com/coty To learn more about Katie Bertie and her work, visit:Her website: www.katiebertieeducation.comSubstack: https://substack.com/@katiebertieLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiebertie/

4. 

   28 Apr 2026

   Understanding Myself Later in Life: A Conversation With Lotti on ADHD, Identity and Self-Acceptance

   In this candid and deeply personal episode, Coty sits down with her close friend Lotti to explore what it means to be diagnosed with ADHD later in life. Through honest reflections, moments of humor, and stories from their friendship, they unpack the complexity of identity, the realities of navigating stigma, especially as professionals, and the ongoing journey of making sense of yourself. This conversation is a gentle reminder that understanding doesn’t happen overnight, and that self-acceptance is not a destination, but a process. If you’ve ever questioned how your brain works or felt like you’re figuring things out later than others, this episode will resonate.

5. 

   23 Apr 2026

   Sensory Overload & Change, Why Small Things Feel Big

   In this honest and personal episode, Coty Walker explores how sensory overload and resistance to change can make even the smallest things feel overwhelming. From avoiding a new microphone to struggling with clothing tags, Coty shares her own experiences to uncover a deeper truth: when our nervous system is stretched, what looks like overreacting is often our brain trying to protect us. This episode is a gentle reminder that you’re not alone and that instead of pushing through, there may be a different way forward. If you’ve ever felt stuck, overwhelmed by small tasks, or resistant to change, this conversation will help you better understand what’s really going on beneath the surface.website: https://whatifyoufly.ca/Instagram: @what_if_you_fly_coachingLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cotywalker/

6. 

   1 Apr 2026

   The Shift from Correction to Compassion in ADHD: A Conversation with Krista Van Iderstine

   In this episode of Walking the Neurodiversity Path, Coty Walker sits down with Registered Occupational Therapist and ADD coach Krista Van Iderstine for a deeply personal and thought-provoking conversation about what it really means to support ADHD. Diagnosed as an adult, Krista brings both professional expertise and lived experience to her work. Together, Krista and Coty explore the limitations of traditional ADHD approaches that focus heavily on behavior modification, productivity, and “fixing” challenges, often without addressing the inner emotional world. This conversation invites a powerful shift: from constant correction to self-understanding, from pressure to compassion, and from relying solely on systems to developing a deeper relationship with yourself. If you’ve ever felt like you’re working harder than everyone else just to keep up, or like the systems that are supposed to help you just aren’t enough...this episode offers a refreshing and validating perspective. You are not broken. And there is another way. Krista Van Iderstine’s website-Befriending Your Brain OT & Coaching Services:https://www.kristaotcoach.com/index.html For Krista’s meditations on Free Insight Timer app-her teacher profile coming soon and you will be able to search her name in the app Krista Van Iderstine’s meditations on Free Soundcloud app: https://on.soundcloud.com/vZWX07B7hA4WkWTo9o Other resources mentioned during podcast Kristin Neff self-compassion researcher website: https://self-compassion.org/ Kristin Neff TED talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKEtknqHTjo

7. 

   6 Mar 2026

   ADHD in a World That Feels Like It’s Falling Apart

   In this episode of Walking the Neurodiversity Path, Coty Walker explores how constant exposure to global crises, breaking news, and social media can deeply impact ADHD and other neurodiverse nervous systems. When the world feels overwhelming, ADHD brains (wired to respond to urgency and emotional intensity) can easily become caught in cycles of anxiety, hyperfocus on negative news, and emotional exhaustion. Coty shares insights on why this happens, how it particularly affects teenagers whose brains are still developing, and what we can do to protect our mental and emotional well-being. Through practical strategies like setting boundaries with media, reconnecting with the body, and focusing on what we can influence in our daily lives, this episode offers compassionate guidance for neurodiverse individuals and parents navigating uncertain times.

8. 

   4 Feb 2026

   You’re Not Broken: A Kinder Way to Think About Productivity

   February can be a heavy month for neurodivergent minds. The new year energy has faded, expectations are still loud, and exhaustion, self-doubt, and shame often begin to surface. If productivity feels harder than it “should” right now, you’re not imagining it, and you’re not failing. In this episode of Walking the Neurodiversity Path, Coty Walker invites you into a gentler, more honest conversation about productivity, one that offers relief rather than pressure. This episode explores why traditional productivity systems were never designed for neurodivergent brains, the emotional cost of forcing ourselves to fit them, and how burnout often comes from working against our nervous systems. Coty shares compassionate reframes, gentle experiments, and a powerful reminder that rest is not a reward, it’s regulation. If you’ve ever wondered why things feel harder for you, this episode is here to remind you: you’re not broken, you’re navigating systems that don’t understand your brain.

9. 

   8 Jan 2026

   When January Doesn’t Go as Planned: The Myth of the Fresh Start for Neurodivergent Individuals

   January often comes with loud expectations: fresh starts, big goals, and pressure to begin the year at full speed. In this gentle solo episode, Coty reflects on starting the year sick and depleted, and how quickly one setback can turn into a story of failure, especially for neurodivergent nervous systems. Through personal insight and a neurodiversity lens, she explores why rigidity and productivity culture can be dysregulating for both kids and adults, and why winter invites rest, not pushing. This episode is a reminder that health is emotional and nervous-system based, micro-resets are always available, and gentleness is not giving up, it’s regulation. If your year hasn’t gone as planned, you haven’t failed. This is your micro-reset.

10. 

    1 Jan 2026

    In His Own Words: Living With ADHD in a World Not Built for You - An Interview with My Son Jayden

    In this episode of Walking the Neurodiversity Path, Coty interviews her son Jayden about living with severe ADHD and the challenges of navigating engineering school. Jayden speaks candidly about focus, hyperactivity, pressure, and what it feels like to learn in a system not designed for neurodivergent minds. This is not a how-to episode, it’s a compassionate conversation centered on understanding, dignity, and lived experience. An important listen for parents, students, and anyone touched by ADHD.

11. 

    17 Dec 2025

    ADHD & the Holidays: Why This Season Feels So Hard

    The holidays can be joyful, but for many ADHD and neurodiverse people, they can also be overwhelming and emotionally draining. In this episode of Walking the Neurodiversity Path, Coty Walker explores why the holiday season often intensifies overstimulation, disrupted routines, people-pleasing, boundary challenges, executive function struggles, impulsive spending, and rejection sensitivity. Through personal reflection and lived experience, Coty reframes these challenges as neurological realities, not personal failures. This conversation is an invitation to release perfection, honor your capacity, and approach the season with more awareness, self-compassion, and choice. If the holidays feel harder than they “should,” this episode reminds you that you’re not broken, and you’re not alone.

12. 

    26 Nov 2025

    The High Cost of Being Misunderstood

    Being misunderstood comes with an emotional cost — one that many neurodivergent people carry for a lifetime.In this episode, Coty explores the hidden wounds created by misdiagnosis, harsh labels, and years of feeling “too much” or “not enough.” Through compassion and clarity, she helps you recognize how these experiences shape identity, self-worth, and the way we parent and relate to others. Most importantly, she offers a new narrative, one rooted in acceptance, truth, and healing.If you or your child have ever felt misunderstood, this episode will feel like a deep exhale.

13. 

    17 Nov 2025

    Embracing who we are - Interview with GregT

    Welcome back to Walking the Neurodiversity Path, a space for honest conversations about growth, parenting, and what it truly means to thrive with a neurodivergent mind. Today’s episode is a special milestone, I’m welcoming my very first guest, Greg Travnicek, better known as Greg T, the owner of The Image Stop, a web design and hosting company here in Calgary. Greg joins me to share his personal journey of discovering his neurodivergence. Together, we explore his journey of acceptance and self-understanding. Greg opens up about the strategies that support him, how he practices self-compassion and his overall outlook on life and work. If Greg’s story resonates and you’d like to connect with him, he shares where to find him at the end of the episode. Thank you for joining us, and for walking this path with us.Remember: every step toward understanding yourself is an act of courage and care.

14. 

    4 Nov 2025

    Perfection Isn't the Goal. Why Imperfect is More Honest

    In this short episode, I open up about perfection, how it shows up in neurodiversity, and how it almost stopped me from making this podcast. We talk about the pressure to “have it all together,” why so many neurodivergent brains don’t begin unless they can do something perfectly, and the power of choosing authenticity over performance. This episode is a reminder that connection doesn’t come from perfection, it comes from being real.

15. 

    27 Oct 2025

    Unmasking My ADHD: Finding Myself Beneath the Coping

    The cost of hiding who we are and the freedom that comes with showing up authentically. After my car accident, I thought I was just healing from a concussion. Months of therapy later, I realized there was something deeper, the exhaustion of years spent masking, pushing through, and performing to a level it wasn't realistic. In this episode, I talk about the cost of masking — especially for women and moms who lose themselves behind caregiving, expectations, and perfection. I share the moment I realized it wasn’t just about recovery — it was about rediscovery. We’ll explore what it means to unmask, to start asking “What do I need?” instead of “What do others need from me?” and why it’s never too late to ask for help, to set aside time for yourself, and to reconnect with your real self beneath the layers of doing.

16. 

    21 Oct 2025

    My ADHD Awakening, When I Realized It Wasn’t Just My Kids...

    In this first episode of Walking the Neurodiversity Path, Coty Walker opens up about her family’s journey with ADHD, from advocating for her first son’s diagnosis in Switzerland, to missing the signs in her second son, to finally recognizing her own neurodiversity after a car accident. Through honesty and compassion, Coty explores how parenting, self-discovery, and changing seasons of life often lead us back to ourselves.

17. 

    20 Oct 2025

    Walking the Neurodiversity Path — One Step at a Time

    Walking the Neurodiversity Path is a podcast of honest conversations about parenting, ADHD, and self-care for neurodiverse individuals and caregivers.Each episode shares personal stories, expert insights, and practical tools to help listeners move from surviving to thriving with compassion, clarity, and community.

Contact Walking The Neurodiversity Path: Our Path in Parenthood & Self Discovery

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.