The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast

Can the brain learn new ways to think, adapt, and grow? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz is joined by Janelle Peters, Mental Health Counsellor, and Amy Bujak, Social Worker, from Coast Mental Health's Brain Training Team. Together, they explore cognitive remediation, neuroplasticity, and practical strategies that help individuals strengthen attention, mem...

How can creativity help us understand ourselves, process our experiences, and connect with others? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz sits down with poet and mental health advocate Samantha Merz to explore the relationship between neurodivergence, creativity, identity, and self-expression. Samantha shares how she discovered poetry at age 19 and how writing...

What if the way you experience the world could become the foundation of a story? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz sits down with filmmaker Nicola Rose, director, producer, and writer of the feature film  Magnetosphere . The film follows 13-year-old Maggie as she navigates her first crush, a family move, and her unique experience of synesthesia, all s...

What does it really mean to be a neurodivergent student in higher education today? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz hands the mic to Hussein and Zion, two university students from the Venture for Canada entrepreneurship program, for a powerful conversation with Jenna Ignaczak, Malka Finkelstein, and Maddie Sardone from the Neurodiversity Students Associat...

What if education systems were designed to recognize and nurture every learner's strengths? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz sits down with educator, advocate, and thought leader Angus Chan to discuss neurodiversity, inclusive education, and the future of learning. Angus shares his personal journey through higher education as a neurodivergent student and...

What does it mean to lead with inclusion in mind? In this special trailer episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , we explore the intersection of leadership, neurodiversity, and higher education. Building on themes from our conversation with Dr. Craig Wells about self-discovery and communication, this upcoming discussion shifts the focus to the systems that shape access, belonging, and...

What happens when healing begins with finally being yourself? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz sits down with Dr. Craig Wells, D.O., to explore neurodivergent identity, unmasking, trauma recovery, relationships, parenting, and the lifelong journey of self-discovery. Drawing from both lived experience and professional practice, Dr. Wells shares insights in...

Can we live with ADHD and still choose self-compassion over shame? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz sits down with Emily Fitzpatrick, a CBC video journalist, to discuss ADHD, late diagnosis, self-acceptance, and what it means to live with grace instead of guilt. Emily shares her personal journey of understanding her neurodivergence and how greater self-aw...

What if success wasn't defined by society's expectations—but by what truly matters to you? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz sits down with autism advocate, speaker, author, and educator Becca Lory Hector to discuss late autism diagnosis, identity, belonging, and the journey toward authentic living. Diagnosed autistic at age 36, Becca shares how receiving...

What happens when a late diagnosis finally gives you the answers you've been searching for? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz sits down with Becky Bishop to discuss neurodiversity, education reform, advocacy, and the impact of receiving an ADHD diagnosis later in life. Becky shares how her diagnosis brought both validation and clarity, while also prompting...

What happens when you stop trying to fit in and start embracing who you truly are? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz sits down with Tamsyn Hawken, a mental health mentor supporting university students across the UK, to discuss autism, ADHD, identity, belonging, and the journey toward self-discovery. Drawing from her experiences as a queer neurodivergent wo...

How do self-advocacy and self-compassion transform life for neurodivergent individuals and families? In this episode of  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast , host Paul Cruz sits down with Sarah Russell, founder of  The Neurodivergent Report , to discuss ADHD, parenting, advocacy, and the power of embracing neurodivergent identity. Drawing on her background in sociology and lived experienc...

Welcome to  The Neurodiversity Voices Podcast . In this special launch episode, host Paul Cruz and volunteer co-hosts Livia Ward, Letara Couto, Karen Habashi, and Gino Akbari introduce themselves and share the personal experiences that inspired them to create a podcast dedicated to neurodivergent stories, lived experience, inclusion, and community. Together, they discuss their backgrounds in...