Differently Brained

Buckle up benevolent audience and listen to us get a little hot under the collar in this episode. This time we've talking about the "Neurodivergent Tax" and how it affects us and makes us more than a bit cranky at times. This is one of those times. The Neurodivergent Tax is, to be very brief, the extra cost involved in simply existing as a member of society when you are neurodivergent. Things such...

Hello friends, welcome to the Differently Brained Masquerade! We are delighted to have your attention while we ramble on about something very common amongst neurodivergent folks: Masking! We've mentioned it in episodes before, but haven't ever dedicated a whole episode - UNTIL NOW! Jacinta and Lachlan talk about why they mask, how they mask, what they mask, when they mask, and where the mask - the...

In this episode, Jacinta and Lachlan chat with occupational therapist and neurodiversity advocate Frances McCafferty about PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), autonomy, and what it means to create truly neurodiversity-affirming spaces. Frances, who founded Embrace Neurodiversity with her husband, shares her personal perspective as an autistic PDAer, what PDA actually feels like from the inside, h...

This week Jacinta and Lachlan talk to artist and academic Drew Pettifer. As an austistic ADHDer, Drew chats about growing up queer and neurodivergent, finding connection through creativity, and why telling overlooked stories—especially queer ones—matters so much (as well as the intersections between queer identity and neurodivergent identity).  It's a fascinating interview and was a pleasure talki...

It's getting colder out there, listeners, so why not curl up with an episode of Differently Brained and a cozy video game? Lachlan and Jacinta chat about what a cozy game is (and what it isn't), how they help us regulate and feel safe and calm, and some recommendations for you to try out. Resources: Gaming statistics in Australia - Australia Plays 2023 Report - Interactive Games and Entertainment...

You must listen to this podcast episode before venturing forth! Gather one and all and listen as Lachlan interviews Jess C. Wheatley and Declan Nathan about a hobby that is growing seemingly exponentially in popularity and accessibility - Dungeons and Dragons (or, more broadly, tabletop roleplaying games). We discuss how these games have helped people to express their creativity, explore their per...

Writer Alaina Dean joins Jacinta and Lachlan in "the studio" to talk about her approach to literary rejections. She has been undertaking a years long project to get her writing out to as many publications as possible and, in the meantime, accrue 100 rejections! Somehow Alaina managed to find a secret cheat code that allows her to re-frame what it means to succeed. Listen to find out! Resources: ht...

Welcome back to the Differently Brained soapbox! We have started releasing these on a fortnightly basis, but it seems right to share this one with you all right off the back of part 1. We hope you didn't actually dump your smartphones after listening to the last episode. Especially because in this one Jacinta and Lachlan discuss how they might actually be, you know, kinda good for mental health. M...

It's the 21st Century and Smartphones are commonplace. Perhaps TOO commonplace! In part one of this "deep dive" (into their own personal relationships with smartphones), Jacinta and Lachlan chat about just how much smartphones suck and what they do to their mental health. But we like to be fair (and balanced) at Differently Brained), so make sure to tune in next time for counterarguments to our ow...

This is fine. Everything is fine. Doomscrolling -- the very contemporary phenomenon that so many of us just can help but fall victim to! Jacinta and Lachlan chat about what Doomscrolling is, why we do it, what it does to the brain, and maybe how we can mitigate it.   RESOURCES: Mayo Clinic Article: Doomscrolling: Stop the scroll, protect your mental health - Alisa Bowman Wired Article: How to Stop...

Sorry for the delay with this one! Today, Jacinta and Lachlan are joined by two guests, the inimitable Clem Bastow and Jo Case! They have just released a beautiful new anthology titled Someone Like Me , which showcases works of creative nonfiction and memoir of Autistic women and gender-diverse people. It was a pleasure to chat with them, and we hope to have them back on the show some day!   Resou...

Are you in need of some education on ADHD? Or perhaps some advocacy and youth work? Or maybe even a DJ for your event? Well look no further - in today's episode Jacinta talks to Georgia Zentrich, The ADHD Educator.  They discuss ADHD stigma, managing schedules, the challenges posed by the mental health care system, and more (including DJing) Georgia has an Instagram And you can find the resources...

This one is a bit late, apologies all! In today's episode, Jacinta tells us all about her recent journey through Europe. How did it affect her? How can neurodivergent people prepare themselves for travel? Was it worth it? Are Jacinta and Lachlan the most beautiful singers you've ever heard? Jump aboard and find out!

Join us in welcoming back Ashley Kalagian Blunt - author, podcaster and friend of the show. In this episode we chat about her brand new book, 'Cold Truth', a tech-noir crime thriller. The conversation delves into the writing process, cybersecurity, technology anxiety, crypto-currency warnings, and more! ASHLEY'S BOOKS: COLD TRUTH — Ashley Kalagian Blunt DARK MODE — Ashley Kalagian Blunt HOW TO BE...

It's a new year, friends, and a brand new season of Differently Brained! We're really excited to get back into the swing of things and give you all a year's worth of podcast goodness with different brains aplenty. Just like in 2024 we've come up with two new 'guiding words/intentions' for 2025 (No Spoilers as to what we chose, you'll just have to listen!) Welcome back, y'all, we missed you!   REFE...

Who's that guy? Who's that guy? It's Rutho! Welcome to the second of our wrap up episodes for 2024. This time, Lachlan looks  back on the year and his intention of "RECALIBRATING". Some of the resources mentioned: The Pulling | Book | Scribe Publications (Adele's Book) WISE Employment | Disability Employment Services | Workforce Australia | NDIS Watch BEEF | Netflix Official Site Lana Eileen (@lan...

We're back baybeeeeeeee! And not a moment too soon (considering the end of the year is hurtling towards us). In this, our first of two wrap-up episodes, Jacinta reflects on the year that was. Has she, indeed, "BUILT"? Some of the resources mentioned: The Pulling | Book | Scribe Publications (Adele's Book) Simply Happy Organisation - Narelle King - Professional Organiser - Yoga Teacher Candles – La...

Okay, we know, this one is a bit late and hastily edited, but nevertheless it is here! A supercut of many of our guest episodes from series 1 of Differently Brained sharing their favourite resources and representations dealing with mental health and neurodivergence.  Of course, if you want something more comprehensive, do go back and listen to the full episodes. In speaking order, the guests you w...

DISCLAIMER: As always it's important to state that we at Differently Brained are not medical professionals, and this episode contains our personal testimonies of being on medication. Furthermore, we have always been staunchly in favour of treatment for mental illness. The experiences in this episode have been shared as a means of conversation, and not for the dissemination of advice or education....

DISCLAIMER: All information presented in this episode was correct at the time of recording in July of 2024. Since then, some circumstances have changed, namely the Minister for the NDIS. ____________________________________________________________ The NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) - great idea, almost consistently failing in practice. There are a lot of folks who have had issues tryi...

It's been discussed before that some neurodivergent folks don't really vibe with idioms. Either they don't understand them, find them frustrating and trite, or don't parse the context together. Jacinta is one such neurodivergent person with this particular pet peeve (is that an idiom?) and Lachlan tests out some of the more egregious examples on her to figure out why.

One of our favourite things to ask our guests on Differently Brained is what resources or media show quality representation.  This time, however, the discussion is all about what shows or movies make us feel comfy and a bit more regulated. In this very short episode you'll hear Jacinta and Lachlan talk about the things they never get tired of watching over and over and over and over and over again...

It's been roughly 18 months since we started this podcast, and we thought it'd be high time to reflect on the process, what we've learned and what we've struggled with. A behind-the -scenes look at Differently Brained. But more than that, this is an episode in which we hype each other.  Love us. Love our show.  

Beau Windon is a neurodivergent author of Wiradjuri heritage who, in a first for Differently Brained, joined us in person for a chat! Beau talks to us about his identity, the creative process as a neurodivergent writer, and his PhD focus on Neurodivergent Aesthetics. Check out Beau's website, containing his writing, here !   Resources: Neuroqueer Heresies by Dr. Nick Walker Phil Smith