The Neurodivergent Lens

She was diagnosed with ADHD at 16 in the US, thought she'd grown out of it, then diagnosed again in her 20s after the pandemic pulled the routine out from under her. In this episode, former GB tag rugby player and Tag Rugby World Cup bronze medallist Sophia Prout joins Meryem to talk about masking, rejection sensitivity dysphoria and the "shame spirals," and the striking contrast be...

"Think differently means at Holmewood we think differently - because we're neurodivergent." That's how one of her own students corrected Bridget Young on what her school's tagline actually means. Bridget is Head Teacher of The Holmewood School, London - a specialist school built around neurodivergent young people - and has spent more than 20 years in education. Host Meryem...

"I was told I just didn't read enough." For years, that was the explanation for Dr Rohini Sabherwal's struggles at school. It wasn't until she was 37 - mid-way through a Master's, and already a practising GP - that a chance moment revealed the truth: she's dyslexic. Host Meryem Hassan sits down with Rohini for a warm, honest and genuinely illuminating conversatio...

⚠️ CONTENT NOTE: This episode includes open discussion of suicide, bereavement by suicide, mental health crisis and hospitalisation. Please take care while listening - pause or skip if you need to. Support resources are listed below. Jon Salmon kept his mental health experience hidden for almost 20 years - but the shame he felt about being dyslexic was even harder to talk about. Host Meryem Hassan...

What does it take to build a football/soccer environment where neurodivergent players truly belong? In this episode, host Meryem Hassan is joined by Carly Williams - Head Coach of Brentford FC Women's First Team - to explore neurodivergence, elite coaching, player care, and the culture of belonging in the women's game of football/soccer. Carly shares her journey from grassroots to elite...

Do neurodivergent people lack empathy? It's one of the most damaging and persistent myths out there - particularly about autistic individuals. In Episode 5, we challenge that assumption head on, exploring how empathy is genuinely felt and expressed across neurodivergence, and why so much of the misunderstanding comes down to difference, not deficit. What This Episode Covers In this episode, w...

Does time feel like your enemy? In Episode 4, we explore why neurodivergent individuals experience time so differently - from time blindness and hyperfocus to punctuality, executive functioning, and the shame of never quite keeping up. We cover: time slippage vs time management, why the language matters, time blindness and the neurodivergent brain, hyperfocus and losing track of time completely, t...

Why Do Neurodivergent Individuals Experience Decision Paralysis? Do you freeze when faced with a decision? In Episode 3, we explore decision paralysis and the "don't knows" - unpacking why neurodivergent individuals are disproportionately affected, how alexithymia, shame, and anxiety intersect, and what self-understanding and psychological safety can unlock. In this episode, we disc...

Episode Summary Does shame hold neurodivergent people back? In Episode 2 , we unpack the links between shame, trauma, bias, disclosure, and self-worth, while also exploring resilience, creativity, advocacy, and what becomes possible on the other side of shame. What We Cover How shame can shape the neurodivergent experience The link between shame, trauma, and the internal critic Healthy shame vs to...

Episode 1: Trauma & Neurodivergence Uncovered Episode Summary In this episode of The Neurodivergent Lens , we explore how trauma shapes the neurodivergent experience — from masking, invisibility and toxic shame to dysregulation, brain fatigue and emotional intensity. Alongside the challenges, we also uncover the often-overlooked strengths that can emerge through lived experience, including res...

What if the challenges of neurodivergence also hold hidden strengths?  Season 1 explores the Nemesis and Gifts of neurodivergence - unpacking trauma, shame, time, decision-making and empathy through lived experience.  With five episodes releasing every 3 weeks , subscribe so you don’t miss what’s to come and be part of the conversation. Watch, Listen & Connect Watch & Subscribe on YouTube:...

Welcome to The Neurodivergent Lens - a podcast exploring neurodivergence through thoughtful conversations that challenge assumptions, centre lived experience, and reframe difference through a strengths-based lens.  New episodes drop every 3 weeks throughout Season 1. Subscribe so you don’t miss a conversation and let's talk neurodivergence! Watch, Listen & Connect Watch & Subscribe on...