EPISODE 21 - Learning and unlearning with Suzanne McManus
Our guest, Suzanne McManus with long brown straight hair and a fringe, wearing a navy blazer is smiling directly at the camera. Suzanne is framed by a bright pink boarder. The F**king Normal logo is in the top left and episode title is bottom right in yellow: ‘Episode 21: learning and unlearning with Suzanne McManus.
In this episode, Lauren and Rina talk with mother, advocate and BBC commissioning editor Suzanne McManus on her neurodivergent family. Suzanne candidly shares her own parenting story with great warmth, insight and a fair few laughs along the way. Her eldest son has a PDA profile of autism and this has required their family to embrace the concept of low demand parenting. While the benefits to her children are clear to see, it’s an approach that is not always easy to take, often requiring a lot of new learning and unlearning on the part of the parents. Outside of her home life, Suzanne is on a mission to see greater representation and inclusion. She talks about the recent ground-breaking BBC show that she commissioned - ‘The Assembly’, where a group of neurodivergent young people interview Michael Sheen. Suzanne also shares her plan to support carers with more flexible working opportunities in her industry.
Content Warnings
Diagnosis
Miscarriage/baby loss
Guest Biography
Suzanne McManus is mother to two boys and is the sole female in her (as she puts it) neuro-spicy household. Her husband was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago and both her kids are autistic and have ADHD. Her eldest has the PDA profile of autism. Suzanne is a BBC commissioning editor for entertainment. Her impressive portfolio includes overseeing shows like BAFTAs, Mock the Week, The Graham Norton Show, Would I Lie to You and Live at the Apollo. She is also on a mission to encourage employers (starting with the BBC) to ring fence more part time roles for people who’ve had to leave full-time work to care for family members with disabilities.
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