All Brains Grow

What If It’s Not a Motor Issue, But a Belief Issue?

In this solo episode, I share a powerful question a dad recently asked me about his autistic son—one that opened the door to a much deeper conversation about motivation, brain development, and how we teach.
His son has psychomotor difficulties with his hands but loves cooking. Should he be encouraged to pursue it, even if it's hard? Or is that setting him up to fail?
We explore why ability is only part of the story—and why belief, emotional safety, and how we teach matter just as much as what we teach. I walk you through the principles of BioPlay, how to create a learning environment that feels joyful and light, and why fun is not a luxury—it's a requirement for growth.
If you’ve ever wondered how to support your child’s passions while still being realistic, or how to strike the balance between challenge and compassion, this episode is for you.
Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for resources on how best to support your neurodivergent child at home and in real life.

The Sensory Obsession with Dr Lynette Louise

What if your autistic child never learns to like something like sand? Will it hold them back? Will it mean they’re not “regulated”? In this episode, I’m joined once again by my mentor, Dr. Lynette Louise, to unpack one of the most misunderstood topics in the world of autism: sensory regulation.
I open the conversation with a story about my autistic brother—his intense stims, the sounds, the taps, the stillness. These sensory experiences are deeply familiar to so many of us, but what do they actually mean? Are they obstacles to learning? Clues to something deeper? Or simply part of the child’s natural way of being?
Together, we challenge the way sensory sensitivities are often pathologized or treated like checkboxes in therapy. From a parent worrying about her son’s aversion to sand to the over-reliance on sensory rooms and swings, we dive into how misunderstanding sensory behavior can distract us from the real work of connection, teaching, and growth.
Dr. Lynette reminds us: it’s not about fixing everything—it’s about understanding what matters to your child and what doesn’t. Because sometimes, nothing bad happens if your child doesn’t like sand.
This episode is an invitation to look beyond the obsession with regulation and see the child in front of you.
Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for resources on how best to support your neurodivergent child at home and in real life.

A Phone Call with My Autistic Brother

Every evening around 5pm, Milo calls. It’s a rhythm as familiar as the streets of Paris he walks while on the phone. In this episode, I share one of those calls. It might sound like a simple sibling exchange, full of repeated phrases, reminders, and offbeat transitions, but listen closely, and you’ll hear something much deeper.
This isn’t just a phone call. It’s a window into neurodivergent communication, into the rituals that bring comfort, connection, and meaning for my autistic brother. It’s also a reminder that a person's behaviors, however repetitive or "different", don’t limit their capacity for independence, love, or joy.
I recorded this conversation not because it was extraordinary, but because it was ordinary. Because it reflects a truth I want every parent, sibling, and loved one of an autistic person to understand: your child, your sibling, your person can live a rich, connected, meaningful life. Even if they repeat things. Even if the way they engage looks different.
Let this episode be a small invitation to listen differently, love more fully, and believe in what’s possible.
 
Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for resources on how best to support your neurodivergent child or loved one.

Playtime With Purpose

If you’ve ever sat on the floor surrounded by toys thinking, “What am I even doing?” — this episode is for you.
I used to hear “Just play with him, that’s how he’ll learn!” all the time when my son was little. So I tried. I got on the floor. I brought out the toys. I used every technique I knew as a professional. But it still felt… off. Boring. Exhausting. Honestly, like a waste of time.
It wasn’t until I shifted how I saw play — not as a goal, but as a response — that things started to click.
In this solo episode, I’m sharing the exact mindset change that helped me turn play from something I dreaded into one of the most powerful tools for connection and learning with my child. Especially if your child is neurodivergent, this can be the missing piece that makes play feel meaningful again.
I’ll walk you through:
How to become more magnetic than a screen (without acting like a clown)
Why chasing milestones makes play harder — and what to do instead
The power of fast, positive feedback (for them and for you)
If play feels pointless, or like it only leads to shutdowns or meltdowns, maybe you don’t need to change what you’re doing… just how you’re looking at it.
This one’s especially for the tired parents who’ve quietly given up on play. There’s another way—and it works.Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for resources on how best to support your neurodivergent child.

Hearing from the Other Side - The Husband Version with Tarek El Hajj

In this deeply personal and long-awaited episode, I sit down with someone you’ve heard about —but never from: my husband, Tarek.
For the first time ever, he shares his side of our journey as parents navigating the unknown. From the early signs of our son Talal’s silence, to the heartbreak and relief of finally getting a diagnosis—Tarek opens up about what it felt like to be a father, a partner, and a man in a moment where everything felt uncertain.
We talk about the panic attacks, the misdiagnoses, the grief timelines that didn’t match, and the heavy guilt I carried for not seeing what he saw sooner. We talk about hearing loss, about autism fears, about being “crazy” in the face of denial. And most of all, we talk about what it really means to co-parent a disabled child—when your emotional experiences look nothing alike.
This is not a perfect story. It’s a raw one. It’s the story of two people who processed their son’s needs on entirely different timelines—and still found a way to meet in the middle.
This is for every parent who has ever felt out of sync with their partner, every father who stays quiet because he thinks he has to, and every family searching for clarity when the world is giving none.
It’s also a reminder: Your story matters—even if it doesn’t look like everyone else’s.
Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for support & resources to learn how to best help your neurodivergent child.

Making Periods Fun: The Most Underrated Conversation About Autistic Girls with Emilee Coblentz

What if we approached periods not with dread — but with cupcakes, herbal pads, and real conversations about autonomy, hormones, and radical love?
In this heartfelt and raw episode, journalist and mother Emilee Coblentz joins Louloua to talk about parenting her autistic teenage daughter through puberty — and everything that came with it: the medication, the aggression, the grief, the joy, and the quiet revolution of learning to accept what is, rather than chase what might be.
They dive into the parts of autism parenting rarely talked about — from how sensory-friendly period products made all the difference, to how a mirror at the dinner table helped reduce messy eating, to what it means to let your child be fully seen in a world that often tries to hide them.
This conversation is for any parent who's ever wrestled with control, faith, fear — and still decided to love louder.
🔗 Show Notes & Resources:
Emilee’s essay on the diagnosis process in USA Today
Puberty resources for autistic teens  by autistic authors):
The Autism-Friendly Guide to Periods by Robyn Steward 
Menstruation visual support
The Honey Pot Co. herbal-infused pads Emilee recommends
Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for support & resources

Hormones and Hugs: The Chalak Family Story

Riwa Derbas Chalak joins me from Lebanon to share the story of her son Ziad, who is now 14 and entering a new phase of his autism journey. As Ziad moves through adolescence, Riwa opens up about the shifts her family has made—stepping away from traditional therapy, encouraging independence, and embracing real-life learning.
We talk about what it means to trust your instincts as a parent, the emotional toll of changing course after years of structure, and the powerful wins that come with seeing your child grow. From cooking and rock climbing to working without a shadow teacher, Ziad’s progress is a reminder that milestones don’t stop after early intervention—they evolve.
This is a conversation about hope, courage, and the ongoing process of finding what works—together, as a family.
 
Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for support and resources

Communicating with My Deaf Son

When my son wasn't talking yet, I felt lost. As a neurotherapist, I thought I had the tools — but nothing was working. I didn’t know yet that he was deaf, and every day felt like a guessing game. In this episode, I share the raw, honest journey of trying to connect with him before we had answers.
If you're in that uncertain communication space — waiting for a diagnosis, wondering what’s “wrong,” or feeling like your child just can’t or won’t communicate — this episode is for you. I’ll walk you through the shift I made that changed everything: from waiting and worrying… to shaping communication in real time.
You’ll learn:
Why “wait and see” isn’t enough
What it means to “shape as you wait”
How to respond in ways that help your child want to communicate
Why improving brain function is key — no matter the diagnosis
This episode is part story, part strategy — and it’s all heart.
Don’t miss the free upcoming workshop on Tuesday April 29 with Dr. Lynette Louise and Krystel Alhayek. We’ll be diving even deeper into the tools that get kids communicating — with or without words.
Save your seat at: www.allbrainsgrow.com/registerapril29

Healing Through Fitness: Joelle’s Transformation

When Joelle Lahlouh became a mother, nothing prepared her for what was to come. In this moving episode, Joelle opens up about raising her son Mounir, who was later diagnosed with a rare genetic condition and autism. She shares the emotional journey of unlearning everything she thought motherhood would be, navigating uncertainty, and hitting rock bottom — before choosing a new path rooted in healing, resilience, and self-prioritization.
We talk about the power of mindset, the critical role fitness played in her recovery, and how supporting your own well-being as a parent can be the most impactful way to support your child.
Whether you're a parent, professional, or someone touched by neurodivergence, Joelle’s story will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and reminded that strength can look like starting over.
 
Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for support and resources.

Autism Myths or Inconvenient Truths? 5 autism beliefs that may be stopping growth

In this heartfelt and honest conversation, Host Louloua Smadi El Hajj and guest Krystel Alhayek come together for Autism Awareness Month to unpack 5 common myths about autism that may be standing in the way of real growth—for parents, professionals, and autistic individuals themselves.
From the damaging belief that autistic children are just being “difficult,” to the myth that they always need supervision or must be “fixed” to live a happy life, this episode invites you to gently unlearn and reframe outdated ideas. Louloua and Krystel bring their personal and professional experiences to the table, offering real-life examples, thoughtful reflections, and a much-needed reminder: when we change the lens, we change the possibilities.
✨ Whether you’re a parent, teacher, therapist, or just curious about how to better support autistic individuals, this episode will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and hopeful.
💬 Have more myths you think we should bust? Send them our way—we’d love to keep the conversation going.
Head to www.allbrainsgrow.com for parent support and resources