THE AUS-SUM DAD

The Aus-Sum Dad Podcast is a real, honest, and hope-filled show for parents raising neurodivergent kids—and for anyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t quite fit the mold.

Hosted by Brian Smith, a neurodivergent dad of four, this podcast blends real-life parenting, personal growth, faith, and advocacy with stories of neurodivergent heroes, practical encouragement, and raw conversations about identity, purpose, and resilience.

This isn’t a “perfect parenting” podcast. It’s about showing up, learning out loud, and choosing connection over shame. Episodes range from short reflections and scripted insights to deeper talks on autism, ADHD, mental health, education, and what it means to raise—and be—an Aus-Sum human in a world that doesn’t always understand.

If you’re a parent, educator, caregiver, or neurodivergent adult looking for clarity, courage, and community—you belong here.

🎧 New episodes weekly
💛 You are not broken. You are Aus-Sum.

Listen on:

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Episodes

6 days ago

Before we get to Mozart, we need to talk.
This episode opens with a candid reflection on something many neurodivergent individuals and parents quietly wrestle with: the pressure to view neurodivergence only through struggle, loss, or limitation. This isn’t a rant born from anger—it’s an invitation to reframe the story, to make space for honesty and hope at the same time.
From there, we dive into the life of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart—a musical genius whose brilliance, intensity, humor, and social differences didn’t always fit the expectations of his world. Through a modern neurodiversity lens, we explore how deep focus, emotional sensitivity, creativity, and misunderstood behavior can coexist with extraordinary gifts.
This episode isn’t about diagnosing the past. It’s about recognizing patterns, understanding context, and challenging the idea that being different means being broken.
If you’re neurodivergent, raising a neurodivergent child, or feeling worn down by the weight of other people’s expectations, this episode is a reminder: struggle can be real without defining the whole story.
Difference can carry difficulty—and beauty—at the same time.

Tuesday Feb 03, 2026

Albert Einstein didn’t just think outside the box—he questioned why the box existed at all.
In this episode of The Aus-Sum Dad Podcast, we explore the life of Albert Einstein through a modern neurodiversity lens, looking at curiosity, deep focus, unconventional learning, and the traits that often show up in minds that think differently.
This isn’t about labeling or diagnosing the past. It’s about understanding how the very qualities once misunderstood or discouraged can become powerful drivers of creativity, discovery, and impact.
If you or your child learn differently, struggle in traditional systems, or feel out of step with the world around you, Einstein’s story is a reminder that difference is not deficiency.
Some of the brightest ideas in history came from minds brave enough to think differently.

Friday Jan 30, 2026

Nikola Tesla didn’t think like everyone else—and that might be exactly why the world still runs on his ideas.
In this episode of The Aus-Sum Dad Podcast, we explore the life of Nikola Tesla through a modern neurodiversity lens, looking at the intense focus, sensory sensitivity, routines, imagination, and social differences that shaped one of history’s most brilliant—and misunderstood—minds.
This isn’t about diagnosing the past. It’s about recognizing the traits we now talk about in autism and neurodivergence, and how those traits can be sources of creativity, innovation, and world-changing impact.
If you’ve ever been told you’re “too much,” “too quiet,” “too obsessed,” or “too different,” Tesla’s story might feel surprisingly familiar.
Because sometimes being wired differently isn’t a weakness—it’s the spark that lights the world.

Monday Jan 19, 2026

Leonardo da Vinci changed the world — but the world didn’t know how to handle him.
In this episode, we explore what happens when a brilliant, nonlinear mind is placed inside systems that demand speed, consistency, and predictability. From unfinished masterpieces to misunderstood work habits, Leonardo’s story mirrors the struggles many neurodivergent people face today — and shows how difference can be the source of genius.
If you’ve ever been called distracted, inconsistent, or “full of potential but lacking follow-through,” this episode is for you.
🎧 Support the podcast & join our community:   patreon.com/theaussums

Tuesday Jan 13, 2026

In this first episode, I open up about my story, my family, and why The Aus-Sum Dad Podcast exists. We talk honestly about growing up feeling “different,” learning to understand neurodiversity, and how parenting changed everything. This episode sets the tone for what’s ahead — encouragement, real stories, hope, and a space where neurodivergent minds are valued, not “fixed.” If you’ve ever felt misunderstood, this is for you.

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