Send us Fan Mail Lola Dada-Olley's heartfelt reflection on embracing wholeness, integrating multiple identities, and living authentically. She shares her journey through trauma, resilience, and the power of storytelling to inspire others to step into their full selves. Key Topics The importance of integrating different aspects of identity The role of storytelling in healing and empowerment Overcoming trauma and embracing resilience Takeaways Wholeness is a daily decision, not a destination. Comp...
Apr 27, 2026•10 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Unapologetically Whole, host Lola Dada-Olley engages in a heartfelt conversation with Victoria Petelin, the creative director of Wise Ink Media. Wise Ink is the publisher of Lola's upcoming book. Lola and Victoria discuss the journey of writing and publishing a memoir, the complexities of the publishing industry, and the importance of authenticity in storytelling. Victoria shares insights into the hybrid publishing model and the creative process behind memoir ...
Apr 13, 2026•41 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Send us Fan Mail Most caregivers lead quietly, often unseen, but their daily acts of purpose shape future generations. On this episode of Unapologetically Whole , Lola Dada-Olley reveals the profound leadership hidden within everyday caregiving and how purpose over perfection is the true mark of a whole family. Lola shares her own journey navigating systemic obstacles for her children with autism, illustrating how advocacy is not just a skill, but a form of leadership that transforms lives. You’...
Mar 28, 2026•11 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Send us Fan Mail In this engaging conversation, Lola Dada-Olley speaks with Michael and Julie Thomas, co-founders of ConnectIDD, a disability empowerment agency. They discuss their journey as a married couple, the challenges faced in the nonprofit sector, and the importance of community support in advocating for individuals with disabilities. The Thomases share insights on transitioning from nonprofit leadership to entrepreneurship while raising children, navigating uncertainty in the disability...
Mar 16, 2026•1 hr 8 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Send us Fan Mail In this conversation, Lola Dada-Olley shares her personal journey of navigating the complexities of caregiving, trauma, and the pursuit of wholeness. She reflects on the challenges faced as a caregiver, the impact of trauma on her life, and the importance of embracing vulnerability and compassion. Lola emphasizes that healing is a continuous process and encourages listeners to redefine their understanding of success and leadership in a way that honors their experiences and promo...
Feb 28, 2026•9 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode, Lola Dada-Olley speaks with Neresia Osborne, therapist, mother, advocate and lifetime caregiver. This episode only scratches the surface in unlocking the depth of her personal account of navigating birth trauma, systemic racism, and rediscovery. This episode offers clear insights into how one could possibly recognize their own lane, redefine success on their own terms, and build resilience through authentic self-awareness. Because parts of her journey d...
Feb 12, 2026•57 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Unapologetically Whole, Lola Dada-Olley shares her personal journey of self-advocacy and wholeness, exploring themes of identity, caregiving, and resilience. Through intimate reflections and powerful storytelling, she encourages listeners to own their stories and advocate for themselves with intention and courage. Takeaways: Your story matters and deserves to be told. Self-advocacy is a muscle that grows with use. Wholeness is the integration of all parts of y...
Jan 29, 2026•9 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Send us Fan Mail Summary In this conversation, Lisa Hurley and Lola Dada-Olley explore the complexities of healing, emphasizing that it is a non-linear journey filled with ups and downs. They discuss the importance of embracing stillness and practicing gratitude as essential components of emotional well-being. Takeaways Healing is definitely not linear. Sometimes healing can feel like it's going up and down. Periods of stillness are important in the healing process. Trusting stillness is crucial...
Jan 15, 2026•30 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Send us Fan Mail Not Your Mama’s Autism had its finale episode in December 2025. Unapologetically Whole is the dawn of a new podcast, guided by the same host, Lola Dada‑Olley, but shaped by a deeper, more expansive mission. After five years of honest conversations about disability, culture, and family, Lola is stepping into a new season, one that honors where she’s been while widening the lens to include every woman who has ever disappeared in service to others. This trailer marks the bridge bet...
Jan 14, 2026•2 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Send us Fan Mail Summary This conversation explores the complexities of neurodiversity, particularly autism, within the Caribbean context. Lisa Hurley reflects on her personal experiences growing up in a society that lacks awareness and understanding of neurodivergence. She discusses the cultural perceptions of autism, the challenges faced by individuals who do not fit the stereotypical image of autism, and the need for greater visibility and acceptance. Takeaways Cultural perceptions shape the ...
Dec 15, 2025•1 hr•Season 7Ep. 13
Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode, Lola Dada-Olley and Tosan Olley reflect on their journey through autism advocacy, sharing insights from their experiences over the past five years. They discuss the universality of autism, the power of storytelling, and the importance of embracing wholeness while breaking generational cycles. The conversation highlights the intersections of race, disability, and neurodivergence, and sets the stage for their transition to a new podcast identity, 'Unapol...
Dec 10, 2025•35 min•Season 7Ep. 12
Send us Fan Mail SUMMARY In this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, hosts Lola and Tosan Olley discuss the various transitions their family is experiencing, including changes in their children's education, their own career roles, and the impact of policy changes on caregiving. They reflect on the importance of community support, self-care, and the lessons learned from navigating these transitions. The conversation also touches on their shift from audio storytelling to a visual medium, em...
Aug 27, 2025•38 min•Ep. 11
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we discuss Sensory Overload , a film about how three communitiesnavigate oral care and the world in general with sensory sensitivities in mind.It's also a film about neurodivergence, sensory differences, and how the worldcan be better designed to accommodate people. It's a Vox Media produced film in partnership withHaleon and Sensodyne as part of Sensodyne's Sensory Inclusion Initiative, amission to build better sensory inclusion in oral care. This episode featu...
May 17, 2025•43 min•Ep. 10
Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism, host Lola Dada-Olley speaks with licensed social worker and BCBA Larissa Heise about the complexities of challenging behavior in neurodivergent individuals. They discuss the definition of challenging behavior, trends observed in recent years, the importance of identifying triggers, and the role of sensory needs. Larissa emphasizes the need for individualized approaches to support, the common misconceptions surrounding challengin...
Apr 01, 2025•40 min•Ep. 9
Send us Fan Mail Summary Dr. Theresa Haskins, a professor, researcher, consultant, corporate executive, mom, wife, and advocate, joins the podcast. She shares her journey as an advocate for her children and a self-advocate. Dr. Haskins discusses the diagnosis process for her children and the challenges they faced. She also talks about her experience studying educational psychology and getting her PhD in education. She emphasizes the importance of choice and autonomy in education and the need for...
Mar 01, 2025•50 min•Ep. 8
Send us Fan Mail Summary Breanna Kelly, a licensed social worker and BCBA, shares her journey into the field of autism and her passion for supporting individuals with co-occurring conditions. She emphasizes the importance of understanding and acknowledging the experiences and needs of individuals with disabilities, as well as the significance of cultural competence in providing effective care. Breanna discusses the challenges within the medical system and the need for collaboration and holistic ...
Feb 01, 2025•47 min•Ep. 7
Send us Fan Mail Summary In this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism podcast, Lola Dada-Olley and her husband, Tosan Olley, discuss the complexities of navigating reproductive healthcare for their daughter, who is on the autism spectrum. They share their journey from recognizing the onset of puberty to preparing for their daughter's first period, emphasizing the importance of communication, family support, and collaboration with healthcare providers. The couple reflects on the emotional challenges...
Jan 01, 2025•29 min•Ep. 6
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism Podcast, host Lola Dada-Olley speaks with Annette Addo-Yobo, the first immigrant-born Miss Texas, about her journey from Ghana to the U.S., her advocacy for autism awareness, and the importance of representation. Annette shares her personal experiences as a sibling caregiver, the cultural stigma surrounding autism, and her aspirations to influence policy and support families navigating the challenges of autism. The conversation highlight...
Dec 11, 2024•49 min•Ep. 5
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism podcast, host Lola Dada-Olley engages her son Fela in a heartfelt discussion about the transition from middle school to high school. They explore the various high school options available, the importance of extracurricular activities like band, and the challenges that come with academic rigor. Fela shares his personal experiences and offers advice to other students facing similar transitions, emphasizing the importance of hard work and r...
Nov 26, 2024•18 min•Ep. 4
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Not Your Mama's Autism podcast, LolaDada-Olley interviews Danielle Meadows, an executive director at JPMorganChase, about the importance of disability employment and the initiatives takenby the Business Solution Team (BEST) to promote neuro-inclusion. They discussthe evolution of the BEST program, common misconceptions about disabilityinclusion, the challenges faced in the employment landscape, and thesignificance of public policy in supporting individuals wit...
Oct 07, 2024•32 min•Ep. 3
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Lola Dada-Olley and her husband Tosan discuss their journey with their daughter Alero, who is on the autism spectrum.They share their decision-making process regarding Alero's education, includingthe challenges of navigating special education services, the impact of thepandemic, and the importance of adaptability in parenting. They reflect ontheir choice to temporarily withdraw Alero from school for therapy and thesubsequent decision to reintegrate her into a su...
Sep 24, 2024•34 min•Ep. 2
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dr. Kim Floyd, a professor of special education and an innovator, discusses her evolution in the education space and her role in standing up a center focused on assistive technology with people with disabilities. She shares her journey into special education, the development of a multidisciplinary approach, and the importance of trauma-informed practices in education. Dr. Floyd also highlights the unique challenges and strengths of rural communities in special e...
Aug 31, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 1
Send us Fan Mail Growing up alongside a sibling with autism can transform your life's blueprint in the most unexpected ways. in this episode, we're joined by the remarkable Nadia Hamilton, who shares the touching saga of her brother, Troy, and how his journey on the autism spectrum has awakened a legacy of empowerment and innovation. Nadia's candid recount of the joys and hurdles they faced together unfolds into the creation of a transformative tool - Magnus cards - that now aids individuals wit...
Feb 12, 2024•37 min•Ep. 10
Send us Fan Mail Every January, my husband Tosan and I brace ourselves for the impact of the 'January reset' on our family's finances. As parents of a child with complex medical needs, we're no strangers to the avalanche of medical bills that come with insurance deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums starting anew. Our latest episode offers an intimate conversation where we peel back the curtain on the financial challenges that families like ours face, diving into the intricacies of insurance po...
Jan 30, 2024•22 min•Ep. 9
Send us Fan Mail Our 2023 year in review episode is here. We discuss the ups and downs that is/was 2023, including a life changing family trip to Barcelona, an ice storm that prevented travel to our daughter's therapy, a short term caregiver crisis, the myth of work-life balance and so much more. https://notyourmamasautism.com/ https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/ https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/ Support the show www.loladadaolley.com...
Dec 21, 2023•27 min•Ep. 8
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Addis Gonte, Non-Profit CEO and Disability Inclusion Advocate. We talk about how a car accident changed his life, resulting in traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. We also speak on how his life changing accident led him on a new path to founding a non-profit, called Able Mindset , and many lessons learned along the way. https://notyourmamasautism.com/ https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/ https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasAutism/ Sup...
Nov 29, 2023•39 min•Ep. 7
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, my husband, Tosan, and I have a conversation about the transition we've made and are making into the start of adolescence. Our kids, a boy and a girl, are now both pre-teens and our daughter has an intellectual disability. We talk about the special considerations we have to think through and make as we raise neurodivergent children who are undergoing a new life phase. One day at a time. This episode is also available in video form on YouTube . https://notyourmam...
Sep 18, 2023•26 min•Ep. 6
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we speak with Janelle Johnson, a licensed marriage and family therapist, Founder of Bridges Family Life Center, PLLC , Mom, Wife and Self-Advocate. We talk about her own autism self-diagnosis, how she became a therapist, her own philosophy on "masking", her decision to eventually self-ID, raising an autistic child and her views on so much more. As always, we appreciate the support. If you like what you hear, please share, subscribe and give our podcast a 5 star ...
Aug 09, 2023•46 min•Ep. 5
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we speak with Dr. Tade Akere, a mother, wife, businesswoman turned psychologist and advocate. She is the mother of an adult autistic son and a neurodivergent and mental health advocate serving patients through her Illinois based practice. She is also the host of the webseries Dr. Tade Talks and the author of the book, No! Not My Son!: An African Mother's Journey Through Life with Autism . In this episode, we walk through her family's autism journey, cultural sti...
Jul 09, 2023•54 min•Ep. 4
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I speak with Tim Markle , the Southern Regional Center Director at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Waisman Center . We speak about delivery of health care to diverse populations, his own experience as a dad to an autistic son and how understanding the power of forgiveness has allowed him to become a better person, father, husband and advocate. https://notyourmamasautism.com/ https://www.instagram.com/notyourmamasautism/ https://www.facebook.com/NotYourMamasA...
Jun 06, 2023•37 min•Ep. 3
