About Us

The Not Your Mama's Autism (NYMA) Podcast is our family's journey into autism through a multigenerational and multicultural lens. The NYMA story first starts in the Chicago area in the 1980s, where my family was given a then little-known diagnosis called autism that changed its trajectory, to the present day.

Challenge, triumph, hope and resilience are recurring themes.  NYMA takes listeners through an array of thought-provoking subjects, like, treatments and marriage therapy through colorful narration. 

The blueprint that provides the basis for this rich story is my baby brother, now a man who lives with both autism and an intellectual disability.  He is my greatest teacher, and it is with him in mind, that we bring this story to you. 

As of January 2026, the Not Your Mama's Autism platform has been rebranded to Unapologetically Whole, to reflect an evolution in our story that includes caregiver mental health, wellness and owning one's whole story... unapologetically. To learn more, check out loladadaolley.com and unapologeticallywhole.com.