Differences NOT Deficits

When was the last time you stopped to think about what truly brings you joy? In this episode, we explore something that sounds so simple, yet can be surprisingly difficult to answer. Through our own experiences, we reflect on how easily joy can become lost beneath expectations, responsibilities, comparison, and the pressure to take life so seriously. We also look at the important role joy plays in...

What does it really mean to begin looking within ourselves? In this episode, we explore what it looks like to begin reconnecting with ourselves—learning to listen to our bodies, recognize old patterns, and become curious about the ways we've learned to put others before ourselves. Through our own very different experiences, we talk about people-pleasing, the pull between our minds and our bodies,...

What does it really mean for a child to feel safe? We often think about safety in terms of what we can provide externally—locked doors, rules, supervision, protection. But in this conversation, we explore a different kind of safety: the kind we feel inside our own bodies. We talk about how school expectations, testing, participation, and pressure to conform can affect children in ways we may not a...

The Hidden Story of a Good Student Part 2: What I Didn't Realize School Was Teaching Me Once my body revealed the fear I had been carrying, I began looking back at my childhood through an entirely different lens. I realized that although I had been a "good student"—earning good grades, following the rules, and doing everything I was supposed to do—I wasn't thriving. I was surviving. In this second...

The Hidden Story of a Good Student Part 1: The Story My Body Was Waiting to Tell What if the patterns you've carried your entire life weren't personality traits at all? For most of my life, I believed I was simply controlling, perfectionistic, and anxious. I had no idea those patterns were protecting something much deeper. In this deeply personal first part, I share the unexpected journey that led...

Today we're joined by Jonathan Mooney, author of Normal Sucks, educator, speaker, and longtime advocate for human difference. We actually recorded this conversation quite some time ago, but after taking an unexpected pause from the podcast, it took us a little longer to share it with you. Looking back now, this conversation feels just as relevant today—perhaps even more so. Jonathan has spent his...

We're back! Not because we finally have all the answers, but because we realized we didn't need them to begin again. We honestly thought we'd return much sooner. But life had other plans. Over the past several months, we've both continued to grow in ways we couldn't have predicted, and we weren't ready to come back until we could do so as ourselves—not the versions we thought we needed to be. This...

After a long season of healing, unlearning, and deep transformation, we’re back - and starting with a little honesty about where we’ve been. In this episode, Yolandi shares her personal journey over the past year: the shifts, the letting go, the reconnection with what really matters - and how it’s shaped the podcast moving forward.

After a long season of healing, unlearning, and deep transformation, we’re back - and starting with a little honesty about where we’ve been. In this episode, Debbie shares her personal journey over the past year: the shifts, the letting go, the reconnection with what really matters - and how it’s shaped the podcast moving forward. Yolandi will be sharing her own story in the next episode. 

After a long break filled with healing and unlearning, Differences NOT Deficits is back — with deeper conversations, broader perspectives, and way more realness. This season, we’re expanding beyond neurodivergence to explore all the ways people feel “different” — and the harm in trying to make everyone “normal.” Join Debbie and Yolandi as they unmask old labels, share personal truths, and invite y...

In this episode we give a little update on what is happening with our podcast since it's been a while since we have published an episode.  We also have a discussion about the gifts, talents, contributions we see in neurodivergent people. The world is missing so much when the focus is on trying to "fix" people instead of looking at he unique gifts they have to offer. 

In this episode (part 2 of 2) I continue with an interview with Caroline Gaddy. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, please start there. Caroline is an Autistic SLP and AAC Solutions Consultant based in Virginia. She is also a disability advocate and neurodiversity educator who has presented at state and national conferences. She has worked in clinical and school-based settings as an SLP and teacher...

In this episode (part 1 of 2) Debbie interviews Caroline Gaddy. Caroline is an Autistic SLP and AAC Solutions Consultant based in Virginia. She is also a disability advocate and neurodiversity educator who has presented at state and national conferences. She has worked in clinical and school-based settings as an SLP and teacher, and is passionate about communication access, disability justice, and...

**Trigger Warning: Content Might be Sensitive to Some** In this episode (part 2 of 2) we continue with our interview with Matt Lowry. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, please start there. Matt is an autistic licensed psychological practitioner in Louisville, KY. He provides evaluations and therapy for children, teens and adults using a strengths-based approach to help autistic people in ways best...

**Trigger Warning - May Contain Sensitive Material for Some**  Today we are excited to share an interview we had with Matt Lowry. This will be part one of two episodes with Matt.  Matt is an autistic licensed psychological practitioner in Louisville, KY. He provides evaluations and therapy for children, teens and adults using a strengths-based approach to help autistic people in ways best suited f...

In this episode (part 2 of 2) we continue with our interview with Martin Moxness. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, please start there. Martin is an autistic adult who lives in Denmark and is a successful Instagram and TikTok influencer - you can find him by searching A_Different_Spectrum. He uses his personal journey and unique perspective to educate people nationwide about Autism, Tourettes as...

In this episode (part 1 of 2) we had the pleasure of interviewing Martin Moxness and we are so excited to share it with you. Martin is an autistic adult who lives in Denmark and is a successful Instagram and TikTok influencer. He also has a gift for music and photography. Martin is autistic and uses his platform to raise awareness of Autism, as well as Tourette syndrome and ADHD. During this conve...

In this episode we give you a few examples from episode 8 where we talk about the new ideas that we have been discussing on this podcast so far and how difficult it can be to embrace doing something different than what has been done for so many years.   Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

In this episode we talk about the new ideas that we have been discussing on this podcast so far and how difficult it can be to embrace doing something different than what has been done for so many years. Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Facebook: Mindsight Therapies Instagram: Mindsight Therapies

In this episode (Part 2 of 2) we continue our interview with Kim and her husband William. If you haven’t listened to Part 1, start there. Kim is an autistic occupational therapist. She has a passion for educating clinicians and challenging them to look outside the box when working with clients. She uses her personal journey and unique perspective to teach clinicians nationwide about autism, sensor...

In this episode (Part 1 of 2) we had the pleasure of interviewing Kim and her husband William. Kim is an autistic occupational therapist. She has a passion for educating clinicians and challenging them to look outside the box when working with clients. She uses her personal journey and unique perspective to teach clinicians nationwide about autism, sensory processing disorder, and eating disorders...

This episode is Part 2 of 2. In these 2 episodes we discuss how individuals developing body awareness through interoception may discover some trauma responses or adaptations that they have. These may be completely unconscious body responses that were created to protect themselves. We continue our trauma or "distress" discussion and talk about the importance of always "seeing" behavior as communica...

This episode is Part 1 of 2. In these 2 episodes we discuss how individuals developing body awareness through interoception may discover some trauma responses or adaptations that they have. These may be completely unconscious body responses that were created to protect themselves. We define what we mean by "trauma" and the importance of understanding it when learning about oneself. Yolandi shares...

Chloe is a passionate advocate for autism, bringing her unique perspective to the forefront as an Autistic Self-Advocate, Public Speaker, Co-Author, Board Member, and Teacher's Aide. Her mission is clear: to foster understanding and awareness about autism through her experiences and insights. As a co-author of the "My Interoception Workbook for Teens, Adolescents, and Adults," Chloe has played a p...

Welcome to the 2nd Episode of the Differences Not Deficits podcast! This episode focuses on explaining why Debbie and Yolandi's favorite subject includes Interoception, as told through Debbie's own personal journey.  Listen on Podbean Listen on Apple Also available on: Google Podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music, Alexa, iHeartRadio, FM player, ListenNotes, Samsung Podcast, Podchaser and BoomPlay.