TPP 253a: Advocate and Author Jonathan Mooney on Why Normal Sucks

TPP 253a: Advocate and Author Jonathan Mooney on Why Normal Sucks

Author: Debbie Reber September 11, 2026 Duration: 43:45
I’m excited to share this powerful and gut-punching conversation with Jonathan Mooney, a self-described “do-gooder,” speaker, and writer who didn’t learn to read until he was 12-years-old. Growing up with Dyslexia, Jonathan faced a number of low expectations: he was told he would be a high-school dropout and likely end up in jail. Instead, he earned a degree in English Literature, started his first non-profit organization in his college dorm, and has gone on to write a number of books, including his latest title Normal Sucks (which, side note: should be required reading for everyone). He’s been a champion for neurological and physical diversity for more than two decades, and his award-winning advocacy projects have been featured in major media outlets across the US.  THINGS YOU’LL LEARN FROM THIS EPISODE: The powerful messages, both positive and negative, Jonathan heard from the adults in his life as a child with dyslexia What it means to pathologize difference, and how even well-meaning organizations participate in this The difficult and disturbing historical outcomes for differently-abled people, including the ideas and legacy of the Eugenics movement.  How the idea of “normal” has evolved since Jonathan started his advocacy work Why Jonathan believes that learning differences are a gift and why this is such an important concept What parents and teachers can do to help children to see their differences as strengths Protect your loved ones without spying on them. Go to https://heypolo.com/tilt or use code TILT and get 70% off your first year! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children is a space for parents who are moving at the speed their kids require. Hosted by Debbie Reber, an author and activist who understands the terrain, this podcast offers more than just advice-it offers a sense of shared experience. Each episode delves into the real-world challenges and joys of raising children with ADHD, autism, learning disabilities, Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), giftedness, or twice-exceptional (2e) profiles. You’ll hear from specialists, educators, and therapists who provide actionable strategies, but the core of the conversation is always connection. Debbie guides discussions that move beyond theory to address the daily realities: managing meltdowns, advocating within school systems, nurturing a child’s unique strengths, and preserving your own well-being in the process. It’s a resource for those moments when standard parenting approaches fall short, offering insights that are both practical and deeply empathetic. Listening to this podcast feels like a conversation with a knowledgeable friend who gets it, one that leaves you with tangible ideas and the reassurance that you’re not navigating this path alone. The focus is on building a supportive framework for your family, one episode at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Full-Tilt Parenting: Strategies, Insights, and Connection for Parents Raising Neurodivergent Children
Podcast Episodes
TPP 266a: A Conversation with Poet and Advocate LeDerick Horne [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:28
Performance poet and advocate LeDerick Horne talks about his journey with a hidden disability, his advocacy work, and how he found his love for poetry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
TPP 522: A Whole Child Approach to ADHD with Phil Boucher, M.D. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:51
Today I’m talking with Dr. Phil Boucher, a board-certified pediatrician who’s particularly interested in helping families understand and support kids with ADHD and help parents better understand their child, trust their…
TPP 521: A Conversation with Dr. Peter Gray About Restoring Childhood [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:48
I’m talking with developmental psychologist Dr. Peter Gray about his new book, Restoring Childhood: How to Set Kids Free in the Age of Anxiety, which challenges one of the dominant narratives about the youth mental healt…
TPP 519: Brendan Mahan on Overcoming the Wall of Awful [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:16
What if the reason you or your child can’t “just do the thing” is not laziness, but a Wall of Awful built from repeated frustration, shame, anxiety, and failure? Brendan Mahan breaks down the hidden emotional barrier beh…
TPP 518: Good Sleeping for Neurodivergent Kids, with Dr. Melisa Moore [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:12
​Today we’re talking about the complex and often misunderstood sleep challenges that show up in neurodivergent kids with Dr. Melisa Moore, a clinical psychologist who is board-certified in behavioral sleep medicine and h…
TPP 517: James Guttman on Becoming the Father His Autistic Son Needed [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:07
Today I’m talking with James Guttman, author of Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation. James is the father of a nonspeaking autistic son and a neurotypical daughter,…