1 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: It's the Happy Families podcast. It's the podcast for the. 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:11,000 Speaker 2: Time poor parent who just once answers Now. One of 3 00:00:11,039 --> 00:00:13,239 Speaker 2: the coolest things about having my own podcasts is that 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:14,880 Speaker 2: when I read a book that I really like, I 5 00:00:14,920 --> 00:00:17,640 Speaker 2: can reach out to the author of that book, and 6 00:00:17,720 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 2: more often than not, I mean not every time, but 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 2: more often than not, they say, Hey, so glad you 8 00:00:21,920 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 2: like the book. 9 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:23,840 Speaker 1: Let's chat. 10 00:00:24,000 --> 00:00:26,560 Speaker 2: And so today I'm talking with two authors, both who 11 00:00:26,560 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 2: have written books about raising neurodivergy kids, and both books 12 00:00:31,480 --> 00:00:34,600 Speaker 2: just really spoke to me. They sang to my soul. 13 00:00:35,200 --> 00:00:36,800 Speaker 2: The first book that we're going to talk about is 14 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:42,720 Speaker 2: called Square Me Round World. Square Me Round World, obviously 15 00:00:42,800 --> 00:00:44,960 Speaker 2: riffing off the idea that there's square pegs and round 16 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,880 Speaker 2: of holes. The author of the book is Chelsea Luca. Chelsea, 17 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:52,479 Speaker 2: thank you so much for well for joining me on 18 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:55,600 Speaker 2: the podcast, but for writing this fantastic book. Tell me 19 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 2: about the book for people who who have not idy 20 00:00:58,040 --> 00:00:59,960 Speaker 2: what Square Me Around World is really about. What's the deal? 21 00:01:00,320 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: Thank you so much for having on your show. It's 22 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,800 Speaker 1: just an absolute joy. I could talk about my book 23 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:10,880 Speaker 1: all day. So Square Me Around World came about, you know, 24 00:01:11,040 --> 00:01:15,360 Speaker 1: rather impulsively, as sometimes the best ideas do. When I 25 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 1: wrote a short story for one of my children in 26 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,160 Speaker 1: relation to neurodivigent friendships and how they can look really 27 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:27,600 Speaker 1: different to what we see as this, you know, stereotypical friendships, 28 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,600 Speaker 1: and it very quickly escalated to seven short stories, all 29 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:35,560 Speaker 1: of which were actually written on the note application of 30 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:41,760 Speaker 1: my mobile phone, mostly at midnight, And so I shared 31 00:01:41,800 --> 00:01:44,759 Speaker 1: those stories with a few friends and they were all saying, 32 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,920 Speaker 1: you know, oh, these are so amazing. These give some 33 00:01:47,000 --> 00:01:50,240 Speaker 1: really beautiful insights into, you know, what life is like 34 00:01:50,360 --> 00:01:52,320 Speaker 1: for people when they, you know, live in a world 35 00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:54,680 Speaker 1: that doesn't really feel like it fits them very well. 36 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,680 Speaker 1: So I had a few people encouraging me to publish it, 37 00:01:58,400 --> 00:02:02,880 Speaker 1: and I and then impossibly decided, of course that was 38 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:04,320 Speaker 1: going to publish it, and it was going to be 39 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: a fantastic book and got all these amazing people on board, 40 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:12,920 Speaker 1: like the beautiful illustrator Eliza Frica absolutely made the book 41 00:02:12,919 --> 00:02:17,160 Speaker 1: as well. Her illustrations are perfection. And so what came 42 00:02:17,240 --> 00:02:20,280 Speaker 1: out of it was a collection of short stories which 43 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:23,799 Speaker 1: kind of describe a bunch of different elements of what 44 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,280 Speaker 1: life can feel like when you're somebody that is growing 45 00:02:27,360 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: up in a world that doesn't feel like it was 46 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: essentially made for you. 47 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:34,799 Speaker 2: I remember reading that friendship story and just the way 48 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: the kids either got each other or didn't get each other. 49 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 2: I love the story about Rosie putting on her mask 50 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 2: every day she goes to school and then coming home 51 00:02:42,200 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 2: and taking it off, but then not being able to. 52 00:02:44,760 --> 00:02:46,680 Speaker 2: Every time I read a story, I kind of got 53 00:02:46,680 --> 00:02:48,480 Speaker 2: those you know when you get goosebumps on your arms, 54 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:51,240 Speaker 2: you sort of get those chills because you just know 55 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:53,399 Speaker 2: that this resonates. There are people who are going through 56 00:02:53,400 --> 00:02:57,919 Speaker 2: this every single day. It touched every part of I think, 57 00:02:57,919 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 2: what's important? What's your back around Chelsea? You've you've mentioned 58 00:03:01,639 --> 00:03:03,480 Speaker 2: you've got kids. Tell me a bit more about that. 59 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: I'm a late identified autistic ADHD, a psychologist. I have 60 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:13,399 Speaker 1: two neurodivergent children, and I also have supported auto stick 61 00:03:13,440 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: and ADHDER clients in my private practice, you know, for 62 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,600 Speaker 1: coming up I think almost close to ten years now. 63 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: So I kind of say I've got the trifector in 64 00:03:23,320 --> 00:03:27,119 Speaker 1: terms of having a bunch of different insights into autostick 65 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:31,160 Speaker 1: an ADHD life, and so I think that that's really, 66 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:33,720 Speaker 1: you know, made it possible for me to be able 67 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: to provide a bunch of different insights into different experiences, 68 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:41,480 Speaker 1: you know, because obviously every autistic person is not the same, 69 00:03:41,560 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 1: every h ADHD is not the same. People's experiences are 70 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:49,400 Speaker 1: so diverse. So you know, I really tried to draw 71 00:03:49,440 --> 00:03:53,120 Speaker 1: on my own personal experience, and you know what I 72 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: really would have liked to have read when I was, 73 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:58,440 Speaker 1: you know, little me and not really going, I don't 74 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 1: know how this whole world thing works. It's a bit strange. 75 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:04,320 Speaker 1: And then you know, obviously some of these concepts I've 76 00:04:04,360 --> 00:04:07,720 Speaker 1: been explaining to my children along the way, and then 77 00:04:08,280 --> 00:04:10,600 Speaker 1: you know, the clients I work with every day just 78 00:04:10,920 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: all feeling so alone in their experiences that are really 79 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:19,000 Speaker 1: shared experiences, and I really just wanted to promote, you know, 80 00:04:19,080 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 1: that real connection that people have without knowing they have 81 00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: that connection. 82 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 2: Chelsea, You've done it beautifully. The book is called Squamy 83 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 2: Round World, Stories of Growing Up in a World Not 84 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 2: Built for You. Thank you so much for sharing your 85 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 2: time and sharing the story of how this book came 86 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 2: to be on the Happy Families. 87 00:04:35,839 --> 00:04:39,040 Speaker 1: Podcast, thank you so much for having me up. 88 00:04:39,080 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 2: Next, we talk to another author of another fantastic book 89 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:48,960 Speaker 2: for neurovigent kids. It's called Wonderfully Why It. Stacy Lucas 90 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,920 Speaker 2: is the author of another book for neurodivigent people or 91 00:04:51,920 --> 00:04:54,840 Speaker 2: about neurodvigent people. It's called Wonderfully Why, One hundred inspiring 92 00:04:54,920 --> 00:04:59,000 Speaker 2: stories of neurodivergent people who changed the world. Stacy tell 93 00:04:59,080 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 2: us about the book. 94 00:05:00,160 --> 00:05:03,840 Speaker 3: Okay, so the book contains a hundred stories about new 95 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:11,760 Speaker 3: divergent individuals who includes ADHD autism. It also has trouettes 96 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:17,359 Speaker 3: and dyslexia, and they're just inspiring stories about things that 97 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 3: have achieved in their lives despite maybe having challenges as well, 98 00:05:22,279 --> 00:05:25,080 Speaker 3: particularly when they were younger, a growing up. 99 00:05:25,480 --> 00:05:28,160 Speaker 2: Okay, So a book that's really looking at people who 100 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 2: are neurodivergent and telling their stories. I got the sense 101 00:05:32,279 --> 00:05:34,080 Speaker 2: that it was kind of like those And I don't 102 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:36,000 Speaker 2: know if this inspired or not. Tell me if I'm wrong, 103 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 2: but those books, I can't remember what they call, like 104 00:05:39,160 --> 00:05:42,040 Speaker 2: rebel girls and there's this is that kind of thing. 105 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:46,440 Speaker 3: That was my inspiration because I was coming with those books. 106 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,919 Speaker 3: But I noticed that I really didn't complain many nerdivert 107 00:05:50,200 --> 00:05:54,440 Speaker 3: nicol and so that was my idea was behind it. 108 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:56,280 Speaker 2: Yeah, Okay, so I can imagine that a lot of 109 00:05:56,360 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: people who are raising kids with ADHD, kids that have 110 00:06:00,200 --> 00:06:03,560 Speaker 2: level one, level two, even level three autism, or kids 111 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:06,960 Speaker 2: who have any kind of neurological or psychological challenges or 112 00:06:07,000 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 2: additional needs would look at this and say, I kind 113 00:06:10,400 --> 00:06:12,760 Speaker 2: of like the idea of this. But who was a 114 00:06:12,760 --> 00:06:14,960 Speaker 2: big surprise to you? Who did you? Who would you 115 00:06:15,000 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 2: never have even thought was neurodivergent until you did the 116 00:06:17,839 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 2: research and started to write the book. 117 00:06:19,800 --> 00:06:23,440 Speaker 3: Oh, there's so many, Like Richard bransaid, has one had 118 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:24,080 Speaker 3: no idea. 119 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:27,680 Speaker 2: He's successful, He's done okay, hasn't he? I mean, the 120 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:29,360 Speaker 2: ADHD hasn't stopped him. 121 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:35,200 Speaker 3: It's unbelievable. He's dyslexi. So he's got two things and 122 00:06:35,279 --> 00:06:39,000 Speaker 3: he's achieved extraordinary things. And it was around the time 123 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 3: that the Musk came out and announced that he had autism, 124 00:06:45,320 --> 00:06:48,320 Speaker 3: and that was surprising, Like, these are huge names that 125 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:54,120 Speaker 3: achieved extraordinary themes. And yeah, they had a neurot divergence. 126 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 3: And also with that when they were young, some really 127 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 3: big challenges, particularly at school. I mean Richard branch was 128 00:07:06,200 --> 00:07:09,600 Speaker 3: told that he was hopeless. It's school and he was 129 00:07:09,680 --> 00:07:13,280 Speaker 3: never going to be able to achieve anything. And yet 130 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 3: he's going to prove those teaching that's wrong with a 131 00:07:17,600 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 3: lot of children that are your I divergent, find all 132 00:07:21,880 --> 00:07:25,360 Speaker 3: difficult and that the after get to a lot of 133 00:07:25,360 --> 00:07:28,560 Speaker 3: the stories in the book because these one hundred people 134 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,080 Speaker 3: often also struggle during schooling as well. 135 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 2: How important is representation do you think when you look 136 00:07:36,120 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 2: at the people around you who have different diagnoses and 137 00:07:39,000 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 2: challenges for them to be able to see these stories, 138 00:07:41,480 --> 00:07:44,000 Speaker 2: what does that do for them? 139 00:07:44,160 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 3: Well, it makes them feel that they're not alone firstly. Secondly, 140 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 3: it gives them the feeling that everything will be okay. 141 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,280 Speaker 3: I might be having some challenges at the moment, but 142 00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,440 Speaker 3: look at these people and what they were able to 143 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 3: achieve in their lives. Maybe I'll be able to do 144 00:08:01,480 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 3: something like that too. That's very important. 145 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,120 Speaker 2: The Rebel Girls books have absolutely blown up. They were 146 00:08:08,160 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 2: worldwide phenomenons. They were so successful. What's the initial feedback 147 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:13,960 Speaker 2: being for Wonderfully Wired? 148 00:08:15,200 --> 00:08:18,760 Speaker 3: Really? So far, it's been amazing. I've had really positive 149 00:08:18,800 --> 00:08:24,880 Speaker 3: feedback from parents of being a divergent to children who 150 00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 3: said that they've been benefit from the book because it 151 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:34,000 Speaker 3: gave them a sense of hope and for their child. Also, 152 00:08:34,400 --> 00:08:37,920 Speaker 3: our health professionals working with your divergent children have really 153 00:08:38,040 --> 00:08:44,319 Speaker 3: joyed it. Teachers, schools so so far, very positive. 154 00:08:45,200 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 2: Congratulations Stacy. Stacy Lucas is the author of the book 155 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:51,840 Speaker 2: Wonderfully Wired. It's basically brief bios of one hundred people 156 00:08:51,880 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 2: from all around the world, males females, representation right across 157 00:08:56,320 --> 00:08:59,319 Speaker 2: the board, and something that can give your kids hope 158 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,040 Speaker 2: even if things are hard right now, they don't necessarily 159 00:09:02,200 --> 00:09:04,720 Speaker 2: have to stay hard for the rest of their lives. 160 00:09:04,840 --> 00:09:06,720 Speaker 2: Stacy's so glad you jumped onto the podcast with me 161 00:09:06,800 --> 00:09:09,720 Speaker 2: to share this today. Really really wish you the very 162 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:12,000 Speaker 2: best with wonderfully Wide. Hope it goes well for you. 163 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:15,080 Speaker 2: Thank you, justin thanks for having me on Absolute pleasure. 164 00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 2: Stacy Lucas is the author of Wonderfully Wired. We'll link 165 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,560 Speaker 2: to it in our show notes. You can google Amazon, 166 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 2: whatever it is, go wherever you need to to buy 167 00:09:22,640 --> 00:09:25,560 Speaker 2: the book. If you're dealing with any of those challenges 168 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 2: that come with raising neurodivergent kids, I think that you're 169 00:09:28,280 --> 00:09:32,120 Speaker 2: going to find it inspirational, hopeful, and provide the kids 170 00:09:32,120 --> 00:09:34,840 Speaker 2: with a sense of representation that they can grow up 171 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 2: to feel like life is worth living and make a 172 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:41,199 Speaker 2: contribution and do well, even if they're not feeling particularly 173 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:44,720 Speaker 2: competent right now. The Happy Family podcast is produced by 174 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:47,439 Speaker 2: Justin Roland for Bridge Media. Craig Bruce is our executive producer. 175 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:50,199 Speaker 2: For more information about making your family happy, I check 176 00:09:50,200 --> 00:09:52,839 Speaker 2: the show notes for Wonderfully Wired, or visit us at 177 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 2: happyfamilies dot com dot au