Working to Work

In this episode, I speak with Yasmine Dankwah, the creator of Pathways, a podcast exploring how people try to find their way into the creative industries through skills development programmes. Drawing on her own experiences, Yasmine reflects on the realities of navigating these opportunities, from the process of applying to dealing with rejection. We talk about how Pathways emerged as a creative r...

What happens when a scientist turns his attention to his own mind? Assistant professor Youngmin Park shares how he began questioning the science behind ADHD, and what honesty looks like when you’re living the research. In this second part of my conversation with Youngmin Park, a mathematical biologist and professor at the University of Florida, we turn our attention to his YouTube channel, A...

I became aware of Youngmin through his YouTube channel ADHD Mathematician, in which he explores the research that underpins ADHD and, in a non-prescriptive way, shares his own journey with neurodivergence as it relates to his work, personal life, and sense of self. We’ll be talking more about the channel in the second part of this episode, but in this first hour, Youngmin spoke about his jou...

I sat down with Abbas Zahedi, a multidisciplinary artist working across sound, installation, and socially engaged practice. Their process-based, site-sensitive approach responds to space, history, and community, shaping work that resists easy categorisation. In this episode, we explore how neurodivergence informs Abbas’s creative practice, their non-linear path into the art world, and the ch...

Talented musician and illustrator Joanna Sternberg speaks with me about the themes in their music, the dangers of people pleasing, inspirations, navigating the industry, and the empowering impact of trusted friends. We also speak about the benefits and challenges that come from neurodivergent diagnoses, including autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. Joanna offers suggestions for how aspiring musicians can...

YouTuber Shaun speaks with Sam about his character ‘Jack Tisson’ — created to explore the causes of, and potential solutions to, challenges he’s experienced with work, and his wider life. Shaun's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@UC3rlvVTY6_AevLtr9rQjQnQ

Artist and Writer Elinor Rowlands speaks with Sam about navigating a creative career as a neurodivergent person and the work they’re doing to support other autistic/ADHD artists to thrive through their Magical Women project. 00:00 Coming up in this episode 05:58 What Elinor believes creative practice offers that is essential for neurodivergent artists 08:44 Barriers Elinor has experienced in...

Daniel Wilson (Meadow House, Post Electronics, Oscillatorial Binnage) joins Sam to discuss being labelled an outsider musician—how he relates to the term, and whether it connects to neurodivergence. They explore the challenges of sustaining a creative career outside conventional structures and how Dan’s approach to sound and music reflects a truly divergent way of thinking—one th...

In this episode of Working to Work, I speak with Justin Borge, a ChatGPT enthusiast who has found innovative ways to use AI to support his ADHD. We explore how AI can be a non-judgmental, always-available tool that helps neurodivergent individuals enhance their strengths and overcome challenges in work and creativity. Topics covered: • How Justin first started using ChatGPT and how it evolved...

Shakira Alleyne reflects on how rigid structures in creative programs can stifle participation, especially for neurodivergent individuals. Sharing her experience with unstructured environments, she highlights the importance of autonomy and flexibility in helping people thrive and feel included.

Featuring Robin Blamires’ epic sound-piece 'The Audio Rainbow', exploring his passion for radio, the challenges of finding fulfilling creative work, and their broader impacts. Robin's Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/robinblamires 00:00 Coming up in this episode 00:47 Sam's episode introduction 03:19 The Audio Rainbow 57:57 Sam's final thoughts

Sam speaks with Shakira Alleyne, an autistic and ADHD musician and filmmaker, about their creative journey and the challenges neurodivergent musicians face. They discuss the inspiration behind Shakira’s film Neurodiversity in Music and the barriers uncovered during its making. The conversation digs into what makes creative spaces truly inclusive, how mental health and neurodivergence interse...

Responding to the Government's Manifesto for Work on BBC Radio

In this clip cut from the full episode, Sir Robert Buckland outlines the key findings from the Buckland Review of Autism Employment, which focuses on breaking down barriers autistic individuals face in the workforce. He discusses crucial steps, such as reducing stigma and launching the Neurodiversity Employers Index, as well as the review’s 19 recommendations. Sir Robert also explains the ne...

In this episode, I follow up with Sir Robert Buckland to discuss the findings of his review on autism and employment. We explore key barriers that neurodivergent individuals face in the workforce and the practical recommendations outlined in the report. From improving recruitment processes to making workplaces more inclusive, we cover what needs to change to better support autistic and neurodiverg...

In this episode, I speak with Rebecca McGinnis, Senior Managing Educator of Accessibility at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, about the limitations of traditional inclusion models. We explore how her work in creating more meaningful inclusion for disabled visitors goes beyond basic accessibility and draw parallels to the workplace, particularly for neurodivergent workers. We discuss how genuine inc...

In this clip from Working to Work episode 13, I speak with Nanette Mellor, a charity CEO who has worked at Drake Music, the Brain Charity, Mencap, and other organisations supporting disabled individuals. Nanette shared how job tailoring and job carving, innovative practices that allow roles to be customised for individual strengths, benefit neurodivergent individuals and those with disabilities. W...

In this second part of my interview with charity CEO, Nanette Mellor (Brain Charity, Drake Music, Mencap) we discuss how to hire in ways that accommodate common neurodivergent needs, and practices to create a work culture that allows a diverse workforce to thrive, including job tailoring and carving. Nanette's interview with Eric Pines: https://medium.com/authority-magazine/neurodiversity-in-the-w...

For this episode, I spoke with Nanette Mellor, a disability and neurodiversity specialist, most recently working as the CEO of Drake Music, about their work championing neurodivergent strengths. Our conversation touches on how neurodivergent differences might be better understood and accommodated in education; what diagnoses might look like in the future; and whether some of the skills historicall...

I spoke with autism researcher Professor Anna Remington, Director of CRAE at UCL, about the notion of 'perceptual capacity'. The discussion covered what perceptual capacity is, its significance for neurodivergent people (spoiler: many autistic people have a high perceptual capacity), and how understanding and working with one's perceptual capacity can improve effectiveness and mitigate challenges...

Dr Anna Remington, Director at the Centre for Research in Autism and Education (CRAE) at University College London the notion of Perceptual Capacity, its relevance to neurodivergent people, and it's roots in Nilli Lavie's 'Load Theory'.

In this previously unreleased section of my interview with Dani Noreen (the Punk Rock Autistic / Neurodiversity Unbound), we discuss responses to the word 'why' in work settings. Its use often sparks unintended negative reactions, and we dissect the disconnect between intentions and perceptions.

Zareen Ali, CEO of Cogs AI, founded Cogs to create a non-pathologising mindfulness app specifically designed to support neurodivergent people. In our conversation, we discussed the experiences that led Zareen to create the app and how she balances the expectations of leading a company with the common challenges neurodivergent people face. We also discussed how Zareen has approached creating an inc...

Dani ‘the Punk Rock Autistic’ Noreen joins Sam to discuss how they created employment that works for them. For more on Dani’s work see: https://neurodiversityunbound.com/ 00:00 coming up in this episode 00:41 sam’s episode intro 06:50 evolution from punk rock autistic to neurodiversity unbound 09:54 the different elements of ‘neurodiversity unbound’ 12:37 how da...

Sam joined Dotun Adebayo for BBC Radio 5 Live’s inaugural ‘Neurodiversity Phone-in,’ the best parts of which are collected in this episode.