230 | birthday reflections: why I let you see the human side of this work
EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kidsShow Notes
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 oday’s episode is a little different. on her birthday, dr. tay shares a more personal, behind-the-scenes reflection on life, work, mental health, medication, neurodiversity, intuition, advocacy, and what it means to show up as a full human while doing meaningful work. this episode is an honest look at why dr. tay values letting you see the human side of her life and work—not as a polished, curated version, but as a real person navigating growth, self-support, business, advocacy, and the emotions that come with being deeply invested in this work. you’ll hear about: why dr. tay chooses to share the human side of this work what happens when overthinking and perfectionism stop feeling helpful how medication, therapy, and other supports can create more capacity why understanding your own brain can change how you show up the connection between neurodiversity-affirming care, advocacy, and human rights what dr. tay is dreaming about next for her work and impact
timestamps 00:00 birthday reflections and showing the human side 04:00 authenticity, emotional capacity, and self-support 08:47 medication, mental health, and understanding your brain 16:38 intuition, signs, and trusting the process 21:21 business growth, impact, and accessibility dreams 27:48 neurodiversity, advocacy, and misinformation 36:31 personal growth, life updates, and what’s next 40:19 closing reflections and birthday request resources ⚡️ explore dr. tay’s clinical services, parent resources, and support at drtaylorday.com ⚡️ EVOLVE the membership — ongoing education, monthly masterclasses, and weekly Q+A support for parents of autistic kids ⚡️ follow dr. tay on instagram @the.dr.tay for practical autism education, behind-the-scenes reflections, and parenting insights
More from EVOLVE with Dr. Tay: the podcast for parents of autistic kids
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode wraps up our three-part series on autistic burnout. dr. tay is joined by amanda diekman, author of The Parent's Handbook for Kids in Burnout, to talk about what burnout recovery can actually look like over time and why healing is rarely linear. amanda breaks down the phases of burnout, how support needs change across each phase, what “deep rest” can look like for kids, and why parents may need to continually recalibrate between accommodation, capacity-building, safety, and trust.
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode is part 2 of our autistic burnout series. dr. tay is joined by patrick casale, a neurodivergent therapist, podcaster, entrepreneur, and group practice owner, for a conversation about what autistic burnout can feel like . patrick shares his lived experience with burnout, the overlap between autistic burnout and chronic illness, the impact of societal demands, and why recovery is rarely as simple as “just reduce demands” or “take a break.” this conversation offers both validation and practical insight for parents who are trying to better understand their child’s burnout, support recovery, and recognize early warning signs before the nervous system fully crashes.
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode kicks off a three-part series on autistic burnout. dr. tay shares what she sees clinically when autistic kids are in burnout, why it can be so confusing for parents, and why traditional approaches to depression, behavior, or school refusal may not fully capture what is happening. this is a primer episode to help you understand what autistic burnout can look like, what makes it different, and why recovery often requires time, nervous system repair, reduced demands, and support for the whole family.
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 if your child is melting down, resisting, avoiding, running, crashing, or seeming impossible to support, sensory may be part of the story. in this episode, dr. tay welcomes laura petix, occupational therapist and author of The Sensory Code, back to the podcast to talk about sensory regulation, sensory profiles, meltdowns, and how parents can start building sensory support into daily life in a way that actually fits their child.
about this episode (+ scroll for resources) 👇 this episode is for the moms who feel like some weeks they can do it all… and other weeks everything feels harder. dr. tay shares a vulnerable, real-time reflection from the depths of her luteal phase and explains why cycle tracking can be such a powerful tool for understanding mood, energy, capacity, productivity, and parenting. because your hormonal health is not separate from your autism parenting journey. your body, your nervous system, your capacity, and your regulation are all part of the ecosystem your child is living in. you’ll hear about: why the luteal phase can impact mood, energy, and capacity how cycle tracking can help reduce shame and increase self-understanding the connection between hormones, mental health, and neurodivergence why parenting often requires so much “output” energy how to adjust expectations, support, and routines around your cycle why your capacity matters in the whole-family support picture