The Neurodivergent Experience

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Simon Scott is joined by Ashley Dupuy to explore why the news feels so overwhelming — especially for neurodivergent brains. With relentless headlines, graphic footage, political division, and algorithm-driven doom-scrolling, they unpack how constant exposure to crisis can heighten anxiety, disrupt sleep, and intensify black-and-white thin...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Simon Scott is joined by Ashley Dupuy to explore the emotional reality of unmasking as a neurodivergent adult — especially after late diagnosis. With Jordan still in New Zealand, Simon and Ashley dive into identity shifts, grief, anger, boundaries, and the destabilising question so many people face: Who am I without the mask? They discuss how mask...

If the word gratitude has ever made you roll your eyes, this episode is for you. This isn’t about toxic positivity or pretending everything is fine. It’s about neuroscience. In this episode, Ashley explores how gratitude reshapes your Reticular Activating System (RAS) — the brain’s internal filter that decides what gets noticed. For neurodivergent nervous systems wired for intensity, pattern recog...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott explore the powerful impact of the British biographical drama I Swear — a neuroaffirming film based on the life of John Davidson, who developed Tourette’s syndrome as a child and later became a speaker and advocate. They reflect on their wider experiences of being neurodivergent — the bullying, blame, masking, rejection...

In this milestone 100th episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott reflect on self-sabotaging behaviours — from procrastination and perfectionism to impulsivity, addiction, rigid thinking, and negative self-talk. They share personal stories about turning down opportunities, abandoning creative projects, gaming addiction, risk-taking, substance use, phone dependence, an...

Seeing your life clearly doesn’t mean seeing it harshly. In this episode of Mindful Mondays, we explore how mindset and reframing shape not just how we think - but how our nervous system experiences the world. Many neurodivergent and highly sensitive people live with a loud inner commentary. Thoughts can feel convincing, critical, and fixed - yet thoughts are not facts. Together, we explore: * Gro...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott react to a BBC story about schools opening specialist units for autistic pupils — and question whether these plans are about support, or simply about moving autistic children out of sight. They unpack concerns around lumping autistic children together across wide age ranges, the overuse of special units as a c...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott explore the overlap — and important differences — between executive dysfunction and pathological demand avoidance (PDA), and why both can make everyday tasks feel overwhelming. They unpack how executive dysfunction is linked to planning, organisation, and overload, while PDA is driven by anxiety, autonomy, and threat r...

Resilience is often misunderstood. It’s not about pushing through at all costs, pretending you’re fine, or never getting overwhelmed — especially if you’re sensitive or neurodivergent. Real resilience is something far more human, far more embodied. In this episode of Mindful Mondays, we explore what resilience actually looks like in the nervous system — the ability to move through challenge, to fe...

⚠️This episode includes discussion of suicide, mental health crises, and systemic failures in neurodivergent healthcare. Listener discretion is advised, and we encourage you to prioritise your wellbeing while listening ⚠️. In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott respond to reports that the NHS is once again restricting access to ADHD assessments in...

In this season 3 opening episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott revisit a foundational question from the very first episode of the podcast: what makes me neurodivergent? Returning to the topic with years of lived experience, self-understanding, and community insight, they reflect on how their understanding of autism, ADHD, and neurodivergence has evolved. They expl...

In this final episode of our January series on The Anatomy of a Breakthrough, we arrive at strategy - not as hustle, force, or rigid self-improvement, but as a creative, embodied collaboration with your own life. Throughout the month, we’ve explored how real change unfolds when state comes first, story begins to soften, and strategy is allowed to emerge from alignment rather than pressure. In this...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott are joined by hypnotherapist and breathwork practitioner Ashley Bentley to unpack the release of “Autistic Barbie” by Mattel — and why representation isn’t always as simple as it sounds. Rather than rejecting the doll outright, the conversation explores the risks of giving autism a visual “look.” Jordan expla...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott are joined by hypnotherapist and breathwork practitioner Ashley Bentley to explore slow burn meltdowns — the kind that build quietly over time rather than exploding all at once. They discuss how ongoing pressure, unmet needs, and emotional overload can simmer beneath the surface for weeks, months, or even years before...

We don’t change our lives through effort alone. We change them by shifting the stories we live inside. In this episode of Mindful Mondays, we explore the second pillar in the anatomy of a breakthrough: story - the inner narratives that quietly shape our identity, behaviour, and sense of what’s possible. You’ll discover: Why the brain naturally operates in stories and metaphors How stories form thr...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott respond to the killing of a mother by an ICE agent in the United States — and the wider political climate that made it possible. Speaking from a neurodivergent perspective shaped by heightened justice sensitivity and pattern matching, Jordan and Simon unpack how state violence, misinformation, and authoritari...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott are joined by Jordan’s wife, Sylvia, to reflect on 25 years of marriage as a neurodivergent couple. This is an honest account of what a long-term partnership looks like when autism, ADHD, burnout, emotional regulation, and differing communication styles are part of everyday life. They speak openly about misunderstandin...

This week on Mindful Mondays, we continue our January series on The Anatomy of a Breakthrough, turning our attention to the first and most essential element of change: your state. Before we can rewrite our stories or find the right strategy, we need to understand the condition of our nervous system - because when we’re dysregulated, overwhelmed, or operating from threat, meaningful change simply c...

January often invites us to push harder, fix ourselves, or finally “get it right.” But for the neurodivergent brain and nervous system, real change requires a very different starting point. In this opening episode of our January series, Ashley Bentley introduces a compassionate, neuroscience-informed framework for breakthrough inspired by Tony Robbins’ work and refined through years of therapeutic...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott react to the news that Tom Holland is neurodivergent, and why that kind of representation actually matters. They discuss Tom Holland’s openness about dyslexia and ADHD, his experiences with creativity, and how embracing his inner child has helped him navigate both life and his craft. The conversation also exp...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott reflect on the past year — sharing personal wins, hard-earned growth, and the moments that changed how they see themselves as autistic adults. Together, they explore how connection, shared lived experience, and honest conversation have helped them move forward — both personally and through the podcast itself. They also...

As the year draws to a close, many of us feel the pull toward change - resolutions, goals, and the quiet pressure to become someone “better” next year. But what if real change begins with meeting yourself differently? In this final Mindful Monday of the year, Ashley Bentley explores why self-acceptance - not self-criticism - is the true foundation for lasting transformation. Through grounded psych...

In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott examine how age limits, apprenticeships, and “youth-focused” career pathways quietly exclude neurodivergent adults — particularly those diagnosed later in life or whose paths didn’t follow a linear timeline. They explore why these systems penalise late bloomers, how autistic and ADHD people are expected to “g...

In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience , Jordan James and Simon Scott unpack what it means to be a passionate neurodivergent person in a world that often mistakes intensity for arrogance, aggression, or rudeness. Drawing on stories from work, friendships, family life, advocacy, sport, pop culture, and online spaces, they explore how Autistic and ADHD traits like directness, honesty, and...

December has a way of pulling us back into old roles, familiar dynamics, and unspoken expectations - especially around family, work, and social obligations. For many neurodivergent people, this can quietly activate stress, self-doubt, and the urge to explain or perform. In this episode of Mindful Mondays, Ashley Bentley explores Radical Permission - the practice of doing December your way. We look...