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In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott explore a new study analysing 14 million Reddit posts and comments, revealing a major shift in how we talk about mental health online. Once dominated by discussions around depression and anxiety, platforms like Reddit are now seeing autism and ADHD take centre stage.Article: https://theconversation.com/we-analysed-14-million-reddit-posts-to-reveal-a-striking-shift-in-how-we-talk-about-mental-health-283059The conversation unpacks why more people are turning to social media, podcasts, and online communities to understand themselves and seek support. Jordan and Simon reflect on the value of lived experience, how finding relatable stories can reduce shame and isolation, and why so many neurodivergent people feel they've learned more from community than from traditional services.A thoughtful and balanced conversation about the internet, identity, and what happens when lived experience becomes one of our most powerful sources of knowledge.Our Sponsors:
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Nyck Walsh, writer, therapist, and advocate, who shares their journey to identifying as Autistic and ADHD later in life.Nyck reflects on growing up feeling fundamentally different — navigating school, relationships, and work without the language to understand why things felt harder than they seemed for others. Like many late-identified adults, they developed ways to cope, adapt, and push through, often at the expense of their own well-being.It wasn't until adulthood, through a combination of burnout, reflection, and exposure to neurodivergent experiences, that Nyck began to recognise themselves, leading to a deeper understanding of their needs, identity, and way of being.This is a conversation about unlearning, self-acceptance, and choosing a different way forward.
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott return after an unexpected break to talk honestly about something many neurodivergent adults know all too well: what happens when life leaves you with nothing left in the tank. From 72-hour work weeks and launching new projects to forgetting to record the podcast altogether, they reflect on the mounting pressure of adulthood, the fear of burnout, and the guilt that can come with taking time for yourself. Simon opens up about juggling the demands of the Autistic Culture Podcast Network while struggling to switch off, while Jordan shares how gaming, photography, and embracing his inner child have helped him navigate periods of stress and boreout. A funny, vulnerable, and deeply relatable episode about burnout, adulthood, and remembering that sometimes the most important thing you can do is give yourself permission to simply be.Our Sponsors:
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Katharine Gates, a writer, artist, and long-time creative who identified as Autistic and ADHD after a lifetime of questioning herself.Katharine shares how she spent decades feeling like the “odd one out” — academically gifted, outwardly successful, yet constantly struggling with everyday life, relationships, and a persistent sense that something didn't quite fit.After 40 years of therapy, misdiagnoses, and searching for answers, it was a period of Autistic burnout that finally led her to recognise her neurodivergence and begin to reframe her life.This is a conversation about being misunderstood for decades — and what changes when you finally understand yourself.
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott open up about imposter syndrome — the belief that you're never good enough, never qualified enough, and that one day everyone will “figure you out.”With humour and honesty, they share personal stories of childhood bullying, masking, perfectionism and self-doubt, and how growing up misunderstood leaves many autistic and ADHD adults feeling like their achievements aren't real. From turning down opportunities to assuming every success is luck, they explore why confidence is so difficult for neurodivergent minds.They discuss how imposter syndrome shows up in work, relationships, creativity and social media — and how therapy, self-compassion and supportive people can slowly rewrite the story.They explore:Why imposter syndrome is so common for autistic & ADHD adultsGrowing up hearing you're “lazy,” “too much,” or “not trying”How masking and people-pleasing destroy self-worthThe fear of failure — and the fear of successSocial media, comparison and anxietyWhy confidence takes time and why small wins matterWhen self-criticism becomes self-harmWhy reaching out can save people from spiralling aloneThis is a raw, validating conversation for anyone who has ever worked twice as hard and still felt like a fraud. If you struggle to believe in yourself, this episode is proof that you're not alone — and that healing is possible.Our Sponsors:
The sound of Autistic culture is here. And we're just getting started!On June 22nd, we will officially launch the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, the first global podcast network built by Autistic creators to document and celebrate the full breadth of Autistic life through audio.The Autistic Culture Podcast Network brings together more than 25 creator-led podcasts from across the UK, Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand, covering hobbies and interests, health and wellness, identity and advocacy, and the ordinary rhythms of everyday life.Taken together, these shows offer something powerful: a wider and more internally consistent public record of who Autistic people are, what we care about, what we create, and how we live.That matters culturally.It matters politically.And it matters personally.Because when a community is represented only through challenge, the hardest parts of that experience can begin to stand in for the whole. A broader cultural record creates more room for recognition, dignity, belonging, and connection. It helps Autistic people see one another more clearly. It helps families, clinicians, educators, and institutions build deeper cultural literacy. It expands the public imagination around what Autistic life looks and sounds like.This is one small part of a much larger movement toward Autistic cultural self-definition.And we would love for you to be part of it.Please join us on June 22 as we launch the Autistic Culture Podcast Network, help us share it with your communities, and help us welcome more people into this growing conversation.
In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott react to controversial headlines claiming people with ADHD and anxiety “shouldn't automatically get blue badges” — and unpack the wider stigma surrounding invisible disabilities.The discussion explores the public backlash around disabled parking permits for hidden disabilities, including ADHD, autism, anxiety, dyspraxia, and other non-visible conditions. Jordan and Simon reflect on why so many people still struggle to understand disability unless it is physically obvious, and how media narratives often frame disabled people as “cheating the system.”Funny, fiery, and deeply honest — this episode is a passionate discussion about disability, stigma, support systems, and why invisible disabilities are still disabilities.Our Sponsors:
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Dale Pickles — host of Sendcast and Managing Director of B Squared — for a wide-ranging conversation on late diagnosis, education systems, and what it really means to support neurodivergent people.Dale shares how he grew up surrounded by special education — yet still missed his own Autism and ADHD. It wasn't until 2023, prompted by supporting his daughter through her diagnosis journey, that everything finally clicked.This is a conversation about understanding yourself, supporting the next generation, and rethinking systems that weren't built for neurodivergent minds.
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott explore the exhausting reality of procrastination, executive dysfunction, and navigating deadlines as neurodivergent adults.From forgotten weddings and last-minute panic buying to missed emails, time blindness, and overwhelming admin tasks, they unpack how procrastination is rarely about laziness — and far more often linked to anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, and fear of failure.They discuss practical coping strategies too, including body doubling, breaking tasks into smaller steps, momentum-building, and learning to work with your brain rather than against it.Funny, chaotic, painfully relatable, and deeply honest — this episode is a raw look at the emotional reality of executive dysfunction and the hidden energy cost of simply trying to keep up.Our Sponsors:
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Jason Killian, an engineer, hiking instructor, and long time member of the club, who shares his journey to understanding himself as Autistic in his 40s.Growing up in a neurodivergent household, Jason was unknowingly accommodated in early childhood. Despite strong academic performance, Jason struggled with social integration, bullying, and later workplace dynamics, experiences that only made sense years later through the lens of Autism.This is a conversation about understanding your needs, building a life that fits, and what changes when you finally have the right framework.
In this Hot Topic episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott discuss a new study exploring whether magnetic brain stimulation could help autistic children with communication difficulties.The conversation dives into the complicated ethical questions surrounding emerging neurodivergent research: where is the line between support and “fixing”? Can new technologies genuinely improve quality of life, or are researchers still approaching autism through a deficit-based lens?A thoughtful, balanced, and deeply neurodivergent discussion about science, ethics, identity, and the future of autism support.Our Sponsors:
In this Neurodivergent Reddit Stories episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott unpack three relatable neurodivergent struggles: dyspraxia and coordination issues, the confusing world of neurotypical “social greasing,” and the never-ending battle with sleep.Funny, chaotic, emotional, and painfully relatable — this episode is a deep dive into the everyday realities of living in a neurodivergent brain.Our Sponsors:
The Hot Topic is back! In this return episode, Jordan James and Simon Scott react to actor Tom Hardy publicly revealing that he is neurodivergent.The conversation explores why representation matters, especially when someone as widely respected and traditionally “masculine” as Tom Hardy openly discusses being on the spectrum, as well as Tom Hardy's collaboration with Tatami Fightwear on a new neurodiversity-themed jiu-jitsu clothing range, with profits supporting autism charities.A funny, passionate, and honest return for the Hot Topic episodes — exploring celebrity representation, neurodivergent identity, and why visibility still matters.Our Sponsors:
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Danielle Procope Bell, PhD, an Autistic Black feminist scholar and Assistant Professor of Africana Studies at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.Danielle shares how she knew from early childhood that she was different, finding other children chaotic, preferring books and structure, and feeling an invisible glass wall between herself and others.Like many late-identified adults, Danielle's recognition journey deepened after her son's Autism diagnosis, when family patterns suddenly came into focus and helped her understand herself in a new way.This is a conversation about identity, lineage, belonging, and what becomes possible when you finally see yourself clearly.
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott are joined by author, advocate, and lived experience ambassador Paul Stevenson for a powerful conversation about Tourette's Syndrome, ADHD, late diagnosis, masking, trauma, and finding strength through neurodivergence.Paul reflects on growing up in a time when neurodivergence was misunderstood and punished, sharing how years of masking, shame, and feeling “different” shaped his life before eventually receiving diagnoses of Tourette's Syndrome and ADHD later in adulthood.Together, they discuss neurodivergent strengths, workplace accommodations, education reform, creativity, anxiety, community, and the importance of helping young neurodivergent people feel seen before life teaches them to hide themselves.A deeply honest and inspiring conversation about resilience, self-understanding, and the power of opening doors for others.About Paul Stevenson:Paul Stevenson is a lived experience ambassador at Genius Within, international speaker, author, and advocate for neurodiversity and inclusion. He is widely recognised for his work raising awareness around Tourette's Syndrome, ADHD, and neurodivergent lived experience.Paul is the author of My Tics and Me, an educational children's book designed to promote understanding and acceptance of neurodiversity from an early age.3 Men with Tourette's go on holiday (National Geographic Taboo Series)Our Sponsors:
This interview features Rachel Miller and Letty Bejarano, two women excelling in trades like welding, sheet metal work, and crane operation. They share their journeys, challenges, and advice for women interested in entering these fields, highlighting the importance of union apprenticeships, implementing boundaries, and overcoming workplace barriers.Letty is a a sheet metal worker, welder, and silversmith. She's an HVAC installer and welder who works out in the field on places like hospitals, casinos, and data centers.Rachel is a crane operator apprentice and a welder. Her current apprenticeship role as of recording is as an oiler, where she works with crane operators. She assists the crane operator by checking fluids each morning and does maintenance.**NOTE: This was a live podcast recording, so I appreciate your extra patience with the background noises, particularly during the beginning when there are some loud kiddos. Thank you, and I promise it is worth the listen!Contact Info:Letty Bejarano - GuestLetty Bejarano (Instagram)Rachel Miller - GuestRachel Miller (Instagram)Weldher Workshop (Instagram)Julie Berman - Hostwww.womenwithcooljobs.com@womencooljobs (Instagram)Julie Berman (LinkedIn)Send Julie a text!!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I absolutely LOVE being the host and producer of "Women with Cool Jobs", where I interview women who have unique, trailblazing, and innovative careers. It has been such a blessing to share stories of incredible, inspiring women since I started in 2020.If you have benefitted from this work, or simply appreciate that I do it, please consider buying me a $5 coffee. ☕️ https://www.buymeacoffee.com/julieberman Thank you so much for supporting me -- whether by sharing an episode with a friend, attending a LIVE WWCJ event in Phoenix, connecting with me on Instagram @womencooljobs or LinkedIn, sending me a note on my website (www.womenwithcooljobs.com), or by buying me a coffee! It all means so much.
Warning: This episode includes discussion of terminal cancer, sudden bereavement, grief, burnout, and mental health struggles. Please listen with care.In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Scott Simpson, a late-identified Autistic and ADHD creator, former broadcast journalist, and widowed father who has been raising his son solo since 2016.After decades working in radio, Scott's life began to unravel through grief, burnout, and the collapse of the structures that had quietly supported him for years. What followed was a search to understand executive functioning, ADHD, and eventually Autism.Together, Angela and Scott explore hidden support needs, burnout after loss, Autistic shutdown, identity through memoirs and community, and why many late-identified adults only recognise their needs once life's scaffolding disappears.This is a conversation about grief, structure, survival, and finally understanding yourself.
In this special episode of the Candid Comms podcast, you'll hear the speech Rachel Miller gave at her book launch. She hosted an event on 30 April 2026, to mark the publication of Successful Change Communication: how to inform, involve and inspire employees. Tune in to discover her speech from the night, the story behind the book, the process and her thoughts on communicating change successfully. Signed copies can be purchased via allthingsic.com. Or use the code CANDIDCOMMS on the koganpage.com website to save 25% off your order. Thank you for tuning in.
In this episode of The Neurodivergent Experience, Jordan James and Simon Scott explore the often-overlooked concept of boreout, and how it can feel almost identical to burnout, especially for neurodivergent people.They unpack how under-stimulation, not just stress or overwhelm, can lead to symptoms like anxiety, low mood, apathy, fatigue, and loss of motivation. From feeling “sick with boredom” to questioning why nothing feels engaging, they reflect on how easy it is to mislabel boreout as burnout. The conversation breaks down the key differences: burnout driven by too much, boreout driven by too little — but both leading to similar emotional and physical exhaustion.A relatable and eye-opening conversation about balance, stimulation, and why neurodivergent people often feel like they're constantly walking a tightrope between too much and not enough.We're really excited to now be part of the Autistic Culture Podcast Network — a space dedicated to amplifying neurodivergent voices, lived experience, and real conversations. Being part of this network means we can reach more people and continue building this community together.Our Sponsors:
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes KW Raney, a therapist, creative, and podcast host who identified as AuDHD in adulthood after years of misdiagnosis, burnout, and self-blame.As a child, KW was labelled with oppositional defiant disorder and grew up believing he was difficult, lazy, and broken. But decades later, recognition of ADHD, and later Autism, helped him reframe the struggles that had followed him since childhood.Together, Angela and KW explore the cost of wrong labels, Autistic burnout, meltdowns mistaken for behavioural problems, sensory overwhelm, masking through work and education, and the long process of learning how to accommodate yourself instead of fighting yourself.
The podcast's most frequent guest is back to share more of her invaluable insight, knowledge and IC know-how. Rachel Miller, founder of All Things AI, change expert and author, is synonymous with the internal communication profession. And she has a new book out: Successful Change Communication: How to Inform, Involve and Inspire Your Employees. It's a practical handbook for any organisation navigating change, which, in 2026, is more relevant than ever. Host Katie and Rachel discuss the catharsis of writing a book about change, the emotional impact of change programmes, the most common mistakes organisations make, Rachel's four-part Cloverleaf model for assessing communication, AI in the workplace and the importance of marking the end of change. Share your thoughts – use #TheICPodcast
What would you actually do if an alien showed up and asked to be taken to your leader? Neil deGrasse Tyson, Paul Mecurio, and astrophysicist Charles Liu explore fan questions about physics of near-light-speed travel, Dark Forest Theory from The Three Body Problem, and whether the universe itself might be conscious. NOTE: StarTalk+ Patrons can listen to this entire episode commercial-free here: https://startalkmedia.com/show/cosmic-queries-take-me-to-your-leader/ Thanks to our Patrons Zach Dixon, Bethanny Rodgers, Alan Albright, Pam J Lockhart, Victor Wu, Finch, Serenity Oh, Nick DiBartolomeo, Christopher Johnson, CodinThorFather, HarleyWayne, Glyn R. Buck, C.Avalos, Christopher Irwin, Andreas, Bob Pflugfelder, Brad Ryan, Michael House, Linda Resch, Bonny Matles, Amagerikaner, Titilebon, Jim Peterson, Charity Durio, James Runyon, Anthony Onofrio, perirocha@outlook.com, Yuriko Coenen, Devon, Kathryn Karl, Toby, Daniel Boring, Lazeez K., Jenayalynn Riojas, M.S., Jim Conyngham, Rachel Miller, Robert Pokorski, Joseph Britto, Steve Lloyd, James, Souvik Biswas, Mtamanika Youngblood, Nirav Umaretiya, Scott Hinkelman, Charles Doaty, Fridthjoff, Nirav Shah, James Orazietti, Dejan Tomic, insigpilot, Michael Bentt, Dakota Rogers, Michael Baca, Michael Stoerzer, Justin Wells, Joshua Zimmer, Christopher Wystup, Patricia Stoll, George Alva, Melih Ozbek, Melih Ozbek, Twnzmama2, Candice Tripp, Gary Landry, Dan Baker, Greg Engelberg, DANIEL DAILY, Fluffybirb, Tamás Mihályi, Jason Vogel, For those who come after - title of my sex tape, Loreto Gonzalez Pizarro, ali, Rolen Yoshinaga, Isak Walther, Gwynn, Steven Roberts, Pete Carpenter, Paul Munn, Erik Martinez, Vishnu Kumar Kalidasan, tshimself, Jacob Tucker, Chasiti, Nick, Priscilla Brogren, Kitalahara, Kerry Gallagher, Frederico Gomes, Shane, Tom Myles, Kurt Geib, Carlos Guillen, Simon Plückebaum, stacyanne77@me.com, Tim Wren, Patrick Kennedy, Chris Herrera, James McClure, and Alita Pappas for supporting us this week. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of StarTalk Radio ad-free and a whole week early.Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
Send us Fan MailTitle: Providence Rent Stabilization Debate: Insights from City Council President Rachel MillerThis episode delves into the complex political and social dynamics surrounding rent stabilization in Providence, Rhode Island. City Council President Rachel Miller shares her perspective on the ongoing debate, the influence of special interests, and the urgent need to prioritize residents' survival amid a soaring housing crisis.Key Topics: The current state of Providence's rent stabilization proposals and the political stalemate The impact of rent hikes on long-term residents and the city's future How misinformation campaigns by corporate landlords complicate policy discussions The importance of effective communication and community engagement in shaping policy The broader national and global context influencing local housing debates The significance of building support within the council and navigating opposition The potential for rent stabilization to provide immediate relief and long-term solutions The political implications of current debates for upcoming elections The role of advocacy and community voices in influencing policy outcomes Timestamps: 00:00 - Overview of rent stabilization controversy in Providence 00:31 - Council efforts to build support and address community concerns 01:05 - Personal stories illustrating housing affordability crisis 01:47 - Likelihood of political shifts among council members 02:02 - Addressing the information gap and communicating carve-outs 02:51 - Influence of corporate interests and misinformation campaigns 03:38 - Community engagement and correcting myths 04:47 - Outsized influence of corporate landlords on policy 05:17 - The city's survival and the impact of external networks 05:57 - The long-term decline of residents and housing stress 06:16 - Balancing growth with protection of existing residents 07:08 - The global and national context of housing issues 07:35 - The urgency of implementing bold policies despite imperfections 08:11 - The political reality and support from renters 08:48 - Evidence suggesting regulation does not harm construction 09:14 - The threat of well-funded interests stopping progressive policies 09:46 - The historical opposition from mayoral leadership10:19 - Building a political roadmap and election implications10:49 - Ongoing efforts to engage different viewpoints11:16 - Attempts to strengthen and improve legislation12:05 - The significance of the initial council approval and upcoming electoral accountability12:54 - Final thoughts on potential political shifts and the future of rent stabilizationResources & Links:Rachel Miller - Providence City Council PresidentAdditional insights on rent control policies: National Low Income Housing CoalitionRelated discussion on urban housing debates: Bartholomew Town PodcastConnect with Rachel Miller:LinkedIn Support the showFollow Bill on Instagram and YouTube
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Sha'mya Jones, a graphic designer and entrepreneur who was diagnosed as Autistic in early childhood — but didn't learn about it until she was a teenager.Sha'mya shares what it was like to grow up knowing she was different but not understanding why, navigating school, relationships, and identity without the language to describe her experience. From early academic success to social challenges and bullying, her story reflects the complexity of being both supported and left in the dark.Together, Angela and Sha'mya explore masking, college burnout, creative identity, and what it means to build a life and business that reflects who you truly are.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Daria Brown, creator of Affect Autism and host of the We Chose Play podcast.Daria shares her journey from parent advocate to late-identified Autistic adult, reflecting on the decade between her son's diagnosis and her own. What began as a search for how to support her son eventually led to a deeper understanding of herself, reframing lifelong traits, parenting experiences, and ways of relating to the world.They discuss DIR Floortime, rejecting compliance-based approaches, and the role of connection, regulation, and play in both parenting and personal growth.This is a conversation about unlearning, identity, and what happens when the lens finally shifts.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Shyloe Fayad, a late-diagnosed Autistic school counsellor and somatic experiencing practitioner based on the stolen land of the Syilx people of the Okanagan in Canada.Shyloe works both within schools and in private practice, supporting neurodivergent people, mixed race communities, and teens and adults navigating depression and anxiety.Together, Angela and Shyloe explore sensitivity, boundaries, and the quiet but radical act of honouring your own needs in a culture that often teaches you not to.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Carolyn Kiel, host of the award-winning podcast Beyond 6 Seconds, who discovered she was Autistic not before, but through her podcasting journey.Together, Angela and Carolyn explore late discovery through connection, the limits of traditional narratives around autism, workplace misunderstandings, and how language and self-understanding can transform everyday life.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Michael Kelly, a late-diagnosed Autistic artist and recent PhD graduate in design whose work explores how art can help us think about thinking.Michael's path to diagnosis began unexpectedly during his wife Susie's autism assessment. After sitting in on several sessions as her carer, the clinician suggested that Michael pursue an assessment as well, leading to his own diagnosis a year later.Together, Angela and Michael explore childhood solitude and special interests, creative practice as a way of understanding the mind, and how art can disrupt the systems that shape our thinking.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Tigz Rice, an empowerment photographer whose work centres on helping people feel truly seen in their own bodies.Diagnosed with ADHD and autism in her late 30s, Tigz reflects on the subtle signs that were present throughout childhood — from early hyperfocus on computers and photography to lifelong curiosity about how things work. What began as a casual exploration of ADHD eventually led to a dual diagnosis that reframed decades of experience and self-understanding.Together, Angela and Tigz explore late discovery, high masking, creative hyperfocus, and how learning her neurodivergent “user manual” has changed how she treats herself.
This episode of the Candid Comms podcast focuses on Rachel's new book, which is about to be published. You'll discover the history behind it, how the book came to be and what you can expect. Rachel has written two books. Internal Communication Strategy: design, develop and transform your organizational communication was published in 2024. Successful Change Communication: how to inform, involve and inspire employees is being published by Kogan Page in April 2026. You can order them via your favourite bookstore or find them online including Amazon (affiliate link), Waterstones, Barnes & Noble and Foyles. Or see the All Things IC website to order a signed limited edition. Rachel's books are available to order or pre-order today from your favourite bookshop. Or use the code CANDIDCOMMS via www.koganpage.com to save 25%. Resources: Enhance intranet from Rachel and Jon Miller. See the All Things IC Inner Circle page of Rachel's website to find out more about the next cohort: https://www.allthingsic.com/1-2-1/the-all-things-ic-inner-circle/ Full show notes can be found at www.allthingsic.com/podcast Useful links: Explore the All Things IC Live website and purchase tickets Add your name to receive Rachel's monthly Water Cooler newsletter. All show notes: allthingsic.com/podcast. Rachel's All Things IC website, featuring 1800 free blog posts. All Things IC Online Masterclasses, where you can enrol in training. Find Rachel on Instagram @rachelallthingsic or LinkedIn. Thank you for stopping by, Rachel Miller, Founder, All Things IC.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Jenna Goldstein, a late-diagnosed Autistic school psychologist who left the public education system after recognising its incompatibility with neurodiversity-affirming practice.Jenna first recognised her own autism after her three-year-old daughter was identified. As she turned to Autistic voices for understanding, what began as advocacy for her child became a deeper self-recognition. Within months, she self-identified, and years later sought a formal diagnosis from an Autistic evaluator to connect more dots and model an Autistic identity for her children.This is a conversation about human rights, blueprint-building, leaving systems that harm, and crafting lives that actually work for autistic nervous systems.
This episode of the Candid Comms podcast launches season eight. Thank you for tuning in! Rachel has written two books. Internal Communication Strategy: design, develop and transform your organizational communication is out now. You can order it via your favourite bookstore or find it online including Amazon (affiliate link), Waterstones, Barnes & Noble and Foyles. Or see the All Things IC website to order a signed limited edition. Her upcoming book, Successful Change Communication: how to inform, involve and inspire employees, will be published by Kogan Page in April 2026. It is available to pre-order today from your favourite bookshop. Or use the code CANDIDCOMMS via www.koganpage.com to save 25%. Resources: Enhance intranet from Rachel and Jon Miller. See the All Things IC Inner Circle page of Rachel's website to find out more about the next cohort: https://www.allthingsic.com/1-2-1/the-all-things-ic-inner-circle/ Full show notes can be found at www.allthingsic.com/podcast Useful links: Explore the All Things IC Live website and purchase tickets Add your name to receive Rachel's monthly Water Cooler newsletter. All show notes: allthingsic.com/podcast. Rachel's All Things IC website, featuring 1800 free blog posts. All Things IC Online Masterclasses, where you can enrol in training. Find Rachel on Instagram @rachelallthingsic or LinkedIn. Thank you for stopping by, Rachel Miller, Founder, All Things IC.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Amy Kriewaldt, a late-diagnosed Autistic, ADHD, and PDA mother of three neurodivergent children.Amy grew up a hyperlexic piano prodigy, praised for talent and performance while quietly navigating sensory overwhelm, situational mutism, perfectionism, and crushing internal expectations. It wasn't until her children began receiving diagnoses that she started to recognise herself in their traits, and ultimately heard the words that changed everything: “Oh, I think you're Autistic.”Together, Angela and Amy explore hyperlexia, auditory processing differences, late self-recognition, self-compassion, memoir writing as a reframing, ADHD medication, self-medication through alcohol and caffeine, and the shift from compliance-based education to connection-centred learning.This is a conversation about reframing failure, advocating fiercely, rewriting your past, and building systems that support autistic people across the lifespan.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Claire Samuels, a proud Autistic speech-language pathologist whose journey to self-recognition unfolded inside the very system she would later question.Claire began her career as a Registered Behaviour Technician (RBT) in the ABA industry, believing what she was told: that ABA was the gold standard for Autistic children. She loved the kids she worked with and believed she was making a positive impact. But as she read autistic voices, learned about interoception, and began recognising her own sensory and regulatory differences, cracks in the framework began to show.Together, Angela and Claire explore ABA, nuance, Autistic self-recognition, masking, sensory processing, burnout, and what it means to move from compliance-based therapy to connection-based communication.This episode is about shifting lenses, from behaviour to nervous systems, from control to connection, and from moral judgment to regulation.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Julie Farrell, a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD writer, activist, and co-founder of The Inklusion Guide, a resource dedicated to making literature events accessible to disabled people.Julie shares her slow, layered journey toward understanding her neurodivergence — from burnout, migraines, and chronic illness labels, to finding herself mirrored in Autistic writers like Katherine May, to sobbing through the documentary Seeing the Unseen and finally knowing in her bones.Together, Angela and Julie explore masking, shutdowns mislabelled as anxiety, CPTSD, creative identity, freelance work as nervous system regulation, and the relief of receiving a diagnosis in a supportive, affirming environment. They also talk about ADHD medication, menstrual cycle titration, EMDR therapy, and what it feels like to “precipitate out of the hot goo” and become solid for the first time.This episode is also about Autistic joy — about stars, navigation, grief, and how Julie's late father taught her to look up at the night sky and find her way.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Helen Shaddock, a multidisciplinary artist, writer, and PhD researcher whose work explores autism, eating distress, OCD, and healing through creativity.Helen was diagnosed with anorexia at 13 and spent the next 25 years moving through eating-disorder pathways that never fully explained her experience. It wasn't until her late 30s — after years of treatment, physical injury, and burnout — that an occupational therapist recognised what others had missed: Helen was Autistic.Helen and Angela explore the long overlap between eating distress, OCD, and autism, how Autistic regulation was repeatedly misread as pathology, and how late diagnosis reframed decades of self-blame. Helen shares her experiences around interoception, stimming, routine, sensory regulation, and the difference between Autistic eating and eating disorder treatment.This episode is also about creative becoming — how art, writing, and storytelling can be tools for survival, meaning-making, and identity reconstruction.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Tara for one of the most difficult and important conversations the Club has held.⚠️ Content notice: This episode includes discussion of violence, sexual abuse, child harm, and coercive control. Listener discretion is strongly advised. Please pause or skip as needed and take care of yourself.Tara is a late-diagnosed Autistic woman, a mother, and a survivor of severe childhood abuse, abduction, and exploitation. She shares her story not for shock, but to illuminate how Autistic girls and women are uniquely vulnerable — especially when they grow up without protection, language, or recognition of their neurodivergence.Together, Angela and Tara explore survival as an Autistic trait, truth-telling as both a strength and a liability, vulnerability to cults and exploitative systems, and the long road to healing through prolonged exposure therapy. Tara's story is harrowing — but it is also a testament to resilience, instinct, and the life-saving power of being believed.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Abbey Thompson — a librarian, classically trained vocalist, prize-winning baker, gamer, social justice bard, and self-described random fact machine.Abbey is a fat, queer, neurodivergent woman living in Los Angeles with two orange cats and a deep commitment to creativity without perfection.Diagnosed with ADHD in her 40s and later recognising she was also Autistic, Abbey describes how finally naming her neurodivergence didn't just bring understanding — it brought permission. Permission to be loud, to be big, to be joyful, to be mediocre, and to exist without apology.Together, Angela and Abbey explore late identification, fatness and bullying, perfectionism, burnout, AuDHD, creativity as regulation, and the radical act of letting go of shame. This episode is an invitation to stop fixing yourself — and start living.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Sarma Melngailis, a late-identified Autistic woman whose life unfolded in public long before she had language for her neurodivergence.Sarma was once a celebrated New York restaurateur and entrepreneur. Years later, she became the subject of global scrutiny following a highly publicised documentary that framed her story through scandal rather than context. She was not diagnosed as Autistic until age 51, after everything had already happened.In this conversation, Sarma speaks candidly about sensory overwhelm, being misread as cold or suspicious, vulnerability to coercive control, and how not knowing she was Autistic shaped her relationships, business decisions, and sense of self. This episode is not about scandal — it's about what happens when a life is interpreted through the wrong lens, and what becomes possible when the right one finally arrives.
The Autistic Culture Podcast Network is officially open for new podcast pitches, and we're calling on Autistic creators to help shape the future of an Autistic-led audio network. This short promo invites storytellers, culture-builders, deep divers, and passionate voices to bring their ideas to life, whether they're rooted in special interests, history, art, games, science, sound, or navigating work and school systems.You don't need fancy gear or a perfect plan, just your perspective, your curiosity, and the topics your brain could talk about forever. If you've been dreaming of starting a podcast that reflects lived experience, culture, and joy, this is your sign.Pitch deadline: January 31, 2026Apply here or Email: info@autisticculturepodcast.comWe can't wait to hear what you're dreaming up!
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes George Watts, a neurodivergent researcher, parent, and PhD candidate whose path into autism research began before realising they were autistic themselves.George first studied autism from the outside, absorbing dominant behavioural frameworks and evidence-based models that promised to “help” Autistic people. It wasn't until they encountered Autistic voices, community, and their own reflection in the literature that their understanding — and their life — fundamentally shifted.Together, Angela and George explore late identification, burnout, childbirth, internalised deficit models, the harm of behaviourism, and what becomes possible when Autistic people stop being studied in isolation and start building community together. This episode centres Autistic quality of life — not as an abstract metric, but as a lived, relational experience grounded in belonging, autonomy, and joy.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Julie M. Green, a writer, Autistic mother, and late-identified Autistic woman whose self-recognition unfolded through parenting. Julie's story begins not with her own diagnosis, but with her son's. As she learned how to support an Autistic child, she slowly began to recognise familiar patterns in herself — sensory sensitivity, rigidity, perfectionism, chronic illness, and lifelong shyness that had always been framed as personality flaws rather than neurodivergence.Together, Angela and Julie explore maternal guilt, masking across decades, self- and formal diagnosis, and what changes — and what doesn't — when you finally have language for your nervous system.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Becca Engle, an Autistic educator, author, and advocate whose early disability was recognised, but whose autism was not fully named until adulthood.Becca was identified as disabled at age three and was once non-speaking. She was repeatedly told she would never be independent, never succeed academically, and never become a teacher. Instead, she grew up navigating education systems that focused on compliance over understanding — systems that demanded silence, masking, and endurance rather than support.Together, Angela and Becca explore early childhood diagnosis without clarity, the harm of behaviour-based interventions, masking in higher education, autistic anger as a catalyst for advocacy, and what it means to design learning environments that support regulation rather than control.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Monique Lindner — a late-identified Autistic woman whose life once revolved around relentless achievement, overwork, and endurance.Monique was a high-performing systems thinker, corporate leader, and entrepreneur who learned early how to push through trauma, chronic pain, sleep deprivation, and sensory overload. What finally cracked the façade wasn't a dramatic breakdown — it was a slow unravelling, followed by a single, unexpected question from her book editor that sent her down a ten-month path toward understanding her neurodivergence.Together, Angela and Monique explore late identification, masking, Autistic burnout, trauma, friendship loss, unmasking, psychic pattern-matching, and what happens when you stop explaining yourself and start protecting your nervous system.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon sits down with Sean Hawthorne, a late-identifying Autistic adult who is still in the very middle of discovery — not the end of the journey. Sean spent decades performing a socially acceptable version of himself: the reliable friend, the focused finance professional, the guy who shaped his interests to fit in and kept his sensory overwhelm hidden. But in 2021, a catastrophic burnout forced him to confront a truth he could no longer outrun.Together, Angela and Sean explore autistic burnout, somatic reconnection, cultural and religious messaging, unmasking, identity, self-diagnosis, and the relief of realising you were never broken — you were misunderstood.
In this week's meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Georgina Banks - Autistic, ADHD, chronically ill, and the founder & CEO of AuDHD UK, a suicide-prevention charity reshaping access to diagnosis and support across the UK.Georgina spent nearly a decade searching for answers while doctors dismissed her chronic illness, sensory overwhelm, and burnout as “anxiety.” In today's conversation, she shares how late discovery helped her finally understand her body, her needs, and her mission — and how she turned personal pain into a national effort to save neurodivergent lives and to support hundreds of adults still fighting to be believed.This episode includes a discussion of suicide. Please listen with care.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Mike Matthews — a late-diagnosed Autistic dad, writer, music obsessive, and dry-witted survivor of misdiagnosis, medical gaslighting, and five years of unanswered burnout.Together, Angela and Mike explore the messy middle between “something is wrong” and “oh — it's autism,” the years lost to misunderstanding, the grief and relief of late self-discovery, and the unexpected joy of building a life that actually fits.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon welcomes Amber Covucci — a late-diagnosed Autistic attorney, mother of two, and brilliant pattern-matcher who spent decades thinking she was “just sensitive” before discovering she was Autistic in her mid-30s.Together, Angela and Amber explore Autistic motherhood, masking, sensory life, high-achieving burnout, and raising neurodivergent kids while still learning how to accommodate their own needs.
In this meeting of The Late Diagnosis Club, Dr Angela Kingdon sits down with Aletha Shapiro, a mother of four, activist, costume designer, and creator of Autistic/ADHD pride, whose recent appearance on Bravo's Wife Swap: Housewives Edition became a masterclass in what happens when reality TV meets neurodivergent truth-telling.Together, Angela and Aletha unpack late diagnosis, self-advocacy, reality TV ethics, gatekeeping, burnout, and the liberation that comes from finally understanding your neurodivergence. This one is a ride.
More than just mechanical! Keep older adult patients on their feet, literally! Learn to map the Age-Friendly 5Ms Framework onto multifactorial risk factor assessment and management and incorporate other evidence-based fall prevention interventions with the expertise of an interdisciplinary team. We are joined by geriatrician Alyson Michener (@AlysonMichener University of Pennsylvania) and physical therapist Suzanne Zukoski (Good Shepherd Penn Partners). Claim CME for this episode at curbsiders.vcuhealth.org! Patreon | Episodes | Subscribe | Spotify | YouTube | Newsletter | Contact | Swag! | CME Show Segments Intro Rapid fire questions Case Terminology Applying the Geriatric 5Ms Framework Physical Therapist Assessment Targeted Diagnostic Testing Multifactorial Risk Factor Assessment and Management Anticoagulation and Falls Discharge Disposition Exercise Programs Home Modifications Outro Credits Producer: Abigail Schmucker, MD; Rachel Miller, MD, MSEd Writers: Abigail Schmucker, MD; Rachel Miller, MD, MSEd; Alyson Michener, MD; Suzanne Zukoski, MSPT, MSG, GCS Show Notes: Abigail Schmucker, MD Infographic and Cover Art: Rachel Miller, MD, MSEd Hosts: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP Reviewer: Leah Witt, MD Showrunners: Matthew Watto MD, FACP; Paul Williams MD, FACP Technical Production: PodPaste Guest: Alyson Michener, MD; Suzanne Zukoski, MSPT, MSG, GCS Disclosures Alyson Michener and Suzanne Zukoski report no relevant financial disclosures. The Curbsiders report no relevant financial disclosures. The production of this episode was supported by the Penn Geriatrics AGE-SMART Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Grant. This podcast content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the Health Resources and Services Administration or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Sponsor: Continuing Education Company Visit CMEmeeting.org/curbsiders and use promo code Curb30 to get 30% off all online courses and webcasts. Sponsor: Doximity Visit doxgpt.com to start using it today. Sponsor: Freed Use code: CURB50 to get $50 off your first month when you subscribe! Sponsor: FIGS FIGS is offering 15% off your first purchase at Wearfigs.com with the code FIGSRX.