The Neurodivergent Experience

Could Long COVID be making ADHD symptoms worse? In this Hot Topic, Jordan and Simon explore emerging research into the link between Long COVID, brain fog and ADHD medication. As they discuss the science, Jordan begins connecting it to his own experiences with burnout, chronic pain and executive dysfunction after the pandemic. A fascinating conversation about an area of research that's raising more...

In this week's Reddit Stories episode, Jordan and Simon discuss three thought-provoking neurodivergent dilemmas shared by the online community. They begin with a discussion around whether it's wrong to hope your future children aren't neurodivergent, exploring disability, parenting, acceptance, and whether it's society—not neurodivergence itself—that creates many of the challenges autistic and ADH...

What becomes possible when we stop demanding that every moment lead somewhere predictable? In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley explores the neurodivergent nuance of play as a powerful state of openness, learning and nervous-system flexibility. For many neurodivergent adults, life can become tightly organised around prediction, responsibility and holding everything together. Play offers a di...

A BBC News article about an ADHD employment tribunal sparks a wider conversation about what it means to be neurodivergent at work. Jordan and Simon discuss reasonable adjustments, why communication differences are often misunderstood, and whether employers are keeping up with growing awareness of ADHD and autism. They also explore the difficult question many neurodivergent people now face: should...

In our first Reddit Stories episode, Jordan and Simon discuss four real-life neurodivergent dilemmas shared by the online community. They begin with a heartfelt post from a 16-year-old worried he's "becoming an incel" after years of rejection and social isolation, exploring autism, rejection sensitivity, masking and why school can feel so overwhelming. They also discuss why so many people with ADH...

What changes when we stop trying to force an answer and become genuinely curious about what is happening? In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley explores curiosity as one of the most powerful ways we can shift the context of a difficult moment - moving from frustration, judgement and fixed conclusions into pattern, relationship and possibility. After discovering that she had mentioned curiosit...

Could a simple zinc supplement help with ADHD symptoms? In this Hot Topic, Jordan shares his personal experience after taking zinc for over two months, while Simon explores the latest research into zinc, dopamine and brain health. They discuss what the science says, how zinc may support ADHD alongside medication, and why it's no replacement for medical advice—plus plenty of laughs along the way. O...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan and Simon explore three real-life neurodivergent dilemmas inspired by online community discussions. This week they discuss feeling like you don't belong, why ADHD can make friendships and messaging so difficult, and whether coffee really affects ADHD medication. Honest conversations, lived experience, and plenty of laughs along the way. Our...

What happens when something is so vast, beautiful or mysterious that the mind has to widen in order to take it in? In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley explores the science and neurodivergent nuance of awe - the emotion that can arrive through nature, music, art, human kindness, big ideas, collective experience and the smallest details of ordinary life. Inspired by Dr Dacher Keltner’s conver...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott reflect on something many neurodivergent people quietly struggle with: birthdays . From opening presents and being sung to, to processing surprises and responding to gifts "the right way," they explore why birthdays can feel surprisingly overwhelming. They also discuss demand avoidance around replying to birt...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan and Simon explore one of the most challenging conversations in parenting: how do we support neurodivergent children without preventing them from becoming independent adults? Drawing on Jordan's experiences raising two now-successful neurodivergent adults, the conversation examines the importance of boundaries, natural consequences, resilienc...

What if the difficult person, the repeated pattern, or the weight you keep carrying is not only a burden - but also a teacher? In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley explores the phrase “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Buddha” - a playful twist on a familiar phrase that emerged from an ordinary pub conversation and opened up a deeper reflection on love, responsibility, meaning, boundaries and the hidd...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott discuss new research exploring how autistic people feel about genetic research—and why many support the science itself while remaining deeply concerned about how those discoveries could be used in the future. The conversation explores fears around genetic screening, prenatal testing, and the possibility that...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott begin by chatting about football, late-night World Cup matches, and the challenge of following a special interest that's happening in a completely different time zone. But the conversation quickly evolves into something much bigger: our relationship with our phones. From doom scrolling and revenge bedtime procrastinati...

What happens inside us when pressure rises? We may become more precise. More agreeable. More determined. More self-reliant. Faster. In Transactional Analysis, these largely unconscious responses are known as the five drivers: *Be Perfect. Please Others. Try Hard. Be Strong. Hurry Up.* In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley explores the five TA drivers through a neurodivergent lens - and explai...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Simon Scott is joined by neurodivergent mentor Sophie James to discuss a worrying trend emerging in schools and online: the word "autistic" being used as an insult. Drawing on Sophie's experiences mentoring young neurodivergent people, they explore why many autistic children and teenagers are now reluctant to disclose their diagnosis to...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Simon Scott is joined by neurodivergent mentor and advocate Sophie James for an inspiring conversation about building a career that works with your brain rather than against it. From late diagnosis and school struggles to launching her own mentoring business, Sophie shares how understanding herself changed the direction of her life. Together, Simo...

Why can we know exactly what we need to do, genuinely want to do it, and still feel unable to begin? In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley explores the shame-heavy labels of procrastination and laziness, alongside the qualities our culture tends to praise: motivation, willpower, discipline and commitment. Rather than treating difficulty beginning as a character flaw, Ashley asks a more useful...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott discuss a growing trend in the United States where families are paying tens of thousands of dollars for unapproved stem cell treatments that claim to help autistic children. Drawing on a recent investigation by The Guardian , they unpack the science behind these therapies, the lack of convincing evidence that...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Simon Scott shares some exciting personal news — he's engaged! What begins as a conversation about the proposal quickly evolves into a wider discussion about milestones, traditions, social expectations, and what happens when neurodivergent people choose to do things their own way. Simon reflects on planning a proposal that worked for both him and...

Advice culture is filled with memorable instructions: do the hard thing, get comfortable being uncomfortable, follow your passion, try your hardest, live a life of service, and remember: no pain, no gain. Each phrase carries potential wisdom. Each one also carries assumptions about the body, nervous system, health, capacity, and circumstances of the person receiving it. In this episode of Mindful...

Hi folks! There won’t be a new episode of Neurodivergent Experience this week. We’re taking a short break, but we’ll be back soon with more conversations, insights, and stories from the neurodivergent community. Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to bringing you our next episode next week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley continues the From Mask to Map series by exploring the neurodivergent nuance of Mel Robbins’ Let Them theory - a powerful idea rooted in acceptance, non-attachment, and the release of control. At its best, Let Them invites us to stop exhausting ourselves by trying to manage other people’s choices, opinions, priorities, and reactions. But for neurodivergen...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott explore a new study analysing 14 million Reddit posts and comments , revealing a major shift in how we talk about mental health online. Once dominated by discussions around depression and anxiety, platforms like Reddit are now seeing autism and ADHD take centre stage. Article: https://theconversation.com/we-a...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott return after an unexpected break to talk honestly about something many neurodivergent adults know all too well: what happens when life leaves you with nothing left in the tank.  From 72-hour work weeks and launching new projects to forgetting to record the podcast altogether, they reflect on the mounting pressure...