Autism Inclusion in the Christian Church – with Sunita Theiss

Autism Inclusion in the Christian Church – with Sunita Theiss

Author: Carolyn Kiel May 26, 2025 Duration: 34:01

CW: Eating disorder, death of a parent.

Sunita Theiss is an autistic, ADHD and PDA* parent, writer, and advocate. A second-generation Indian American, she has a rich background in communications, marketing, and storytelling, and has found several ways to support and encourage families raising neurodivergent kids.

Sunita is passionate about creating opportunities for culturally responsive support in a way that helps families honor both their values and their children's needs. She is a regular contributor to PDA North America's Insights and Key Ministry's blog, and her writing has been featured in many publications, including Business Insider and Christianity Today. 

*PDA is most often defined as Pathological Demand Avoidance or Pervasive Drive for Autonomy.

During this episode, you will hear Sunita talk about:

  • Discovering her own neurodivergence after she had her children
  • Her experience growing up as an undiagnosed neurodivergent kid in a South Asian family in the U.S. state of Georgia
  • How raising her children has affected how she views her neurodivergence
  • Growing up in the Hindu community and living as a Christian as an adult
  • Writing about her experience in church as a neurodivergent parent of neurodivergent children
  • How "low demand parenting" works for her and her family

Join Sunita's writing workshop and/or coaching services:

Read Sunita's writing at sunitatheiss.com/writing, on Instagram @sunitatheiss and on Substack.

The book that Sunita mentions in this episode is called "The Myth of Good Christian Parenting" by Kelsey McGinnis and Marissa Burt.

Watch the video of this interview on YouTube.

Read the episode transcript.

Follow the Beyond 6 Seconds podcast in your favorite podcast player.

Subscribe to the FREE Beyond 6 Seconds newsletter for early access to new episodes.

Support or sponsor this podcast at BuyMeACoffee.com/Beyond6Seconds!

*Disclaimer: The views, guidance, opinions, and thoughts expressed in Beyond 6 Seconds episodes are solely mine and/or those of my guests, and do not necessarily represent those of my employer or other organizations. These episodes are for informational purposes only and do not substitute for professional medical advice. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.*


Hosted by Carolyn Kiel, Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people moves past the snap judgments that so often define how neurodivergent people are perceived. Each conversation here is an invitation to listen deeply, exploring the nuanced realities of entrepreneurs, artists, advocates, and other neurodivergent individuals as they share their own experiences in their own words. You’ll hear personal accounts that challenge stereotypes, not through abstract arguments, but through the vivid details of lived experience-the unique pathways to creativity, the challenges navigated in work and relationships, and the personal definitions of success and well-being. This podcast creates a space where identity is explored with authenticity, highlighting the strengths and perspectives that arise from thinking differently. Tuning in means connecting with stories that are as diverse and dynamic as the neurodivergent community itself, offering genuine insight into mental health, societal norms, and the richness of human cognition. Carolyn guides these discussions with a focus on depth and connection, ensuring every episode goes far beneath the surface to celebrate the vibrance of neurodiversity.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Beyond 6 Seconds: Neurodiversity stories from neurodivergent people
Podcast Episodes
The Young Autistic Adult's Independence Handbook – with Haley Moss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:21
Haley Moss is a neurodiversity expert, public speaker and author of four books that guide neurodivergent individuals through professional and personal challenges. We talk about Haley's latest book, "The Young Autistic Ad…
Ticcing My Way Through Life – with Britney Wolf [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:59
Britney Wolf is a passionate Tourette Syndrome advocate who is trying to beat the stigmas surrounding the disorder. Through social media, speaking events and more, she takes every opportunity to let the Tourette Syndrome…
Fabulously Tourette – with Peter Zhao [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:35
Content warning: Mentions of racism/racist language, suicidal thoughts and auditory hallucinations Peter Zhao grew up in Nanjing China and then in Bayside Queens, New York. Now he lives in Long Island, New York, works in…
Nonspeaking autistic self advocacy – with Noah Seback [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 18:42
Noah Seback cannot speak -- however, he has a lot to say. Noah is a nonspeaking autistic young man with apraxia, which has made it impossible for him to communicate reliably for most of his life. Then, at the age of 16,…
Autistic and ADHD mother and life coach – Kori Tomelden [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
Kori Tomelden is a late diagnosed autistic ADHDer, life strategist for autistic and ADHD women & a transformational purpose coach. She lives in Albany, NY where she is raising a neurodivergent family. Her older daughter…
Autistic is a powerful word [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:17
For World Autism Day, I've recorded a solo episode where I explain how my thinking has evolved about the word "autistic" – how I was once scared of it, how I overcame my outdated views and biases associated with it, and…